ALDERGROVE STA AR Your Hometown Community Newspaper for over 55 Years
| Thursday, July 25, 2013
Waterman on Team B.C. at Canada Games PAGE 4
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Page 11: All-Girls Team at Bat for Provincials ‘Extreme’ Lawnmower Racers a Hit
Rec centre costs rise Will cost $50 million to build, Township council informed By DAN FERGUSON Aldergrove Star
HARRY HUNT PHOTO
The Extreme Lawnmower Races on the Aldergrove Athletic park BMX track proved to be a big attraction for fairgoers at Aldergrove Fair Days this year.
101st Fair attracts record crowds By KURT LANGMANN Aldergrove Star
Brilliant, sunny weather brought out families by the droves for a record-breaking 101st edition of the annual Aldergrove Fair on the weekend. Fair spokesperson Karen Long said attendance over the three days was in excess of 5,000, resulting in record gate receipts. The fair also enjoyed a record number of vendors with more than 100 booths, as well as a record number of volunteers helping out on the fairgrounds. This year’s wide range of activities and good weather helped bring about the big bump in attendance. For example, the Friday evening Fair Days Show ‘n’ Shine attracted 137 entrants, compared to a third of that figure for last year’s car show, held under grey, drizzling skies. The fair’s time-tested favourites — the
Canadian Fast Draw Championships, the Farmhand Challenge, the Antique Tractor Pull, the Chili Cook-off — were as successful as ever. The Agricultural Association’s display of garden produce and crafts also featured over 160 exhibits this year inside the Kinsmen Community Centre. However, several new features proved to be big hits. One of the most popular attractions on Saturday and Sunday was the Extreme Lawnmower Races. The modified little riding garden tractors are usually raced on flat farmland where they can easily achieve speeds of 80 k/ph, but the riders were challenged by the converted BMX track at the Aldergrove Athletic Park. The humps and bumps of the track slowed them down somewhat, as the tractors have virtually no suspension, but the derring-do of the
riders and flying mud that caked the racers was highly entertaining to watch. The return of the midway rides and carnival games was well-received by young and old alike this year, and the main stage featured a wide range of local musicians and performers. This year’s raffle of a weekend in Aldergrove, worth over $2,000, was a successful fundraiser for the Fair Days Society. Winner of the grand prize was Madeline Crozier. Amanda Stillwell was picked for the second prize of $1,000 worth of garden equipment, and Jennifer Packham was third prize winner. The FarmHand Challenge winners for 2013 are: first - Cody Utas, second Natasha Busch, third - Stephanie Busch. See page 3 for more photos from the Fair and check for updates on the Star’s website: www.aldergrovestar.com
The Township of Langley will either have to find another $15 million or start cutting features from the planned Aldergrove recreation centre. The news was delivered to the Monday afternoon meeting of council ( July 22) by way of a consultant’s report. BTY Group of Vancouver estimated the cost of constructing a community centre with a new three-storey aquatic centre and two-storey ice arena at $50.3 million, more than the $35.5 million “spending envelope� originally approved by council. The report was the first detailed conceptual design cost estimate prepared for the project. The document was filed by Recreation, Culture and Parks director David Leavers along with his own report. The Leavers report said some of the increased cost is because the consultant measured the gross floor area of the conceptual design at 84,000 square feet, up from the architect’s estimate of 76,250 square feet. “It is important to note that [the original projected cost of $35.5 million was based on] this total gross area and these costs had not been confirmed previously by a qualified quality surveyor� Leavers stated. The director said start of construction should be delayed until the funding issue can be sorted out. “Staff would only be confident in moving forward at this time with a total project budget of approximately $50,000,000,� Leavers said. He added staff believe some savings can be found to reduce the figure below the consultant’s estimate, including funding from other sources such as federal and provincial grants. On top of the new $50 million construction cost estimate, Leavers said staff have also identified another $3 million in “off-site� costs connected with upgrading roads, water and sewer connections to accommodate the new centre. Councillor Kim Richter called the revised figures “shocking� and said for that cost, the community should get the 50 metre, eight-lane pool residents originally wanted instead of the 25 metre, six-lane pool approved by council. Councillor Charlie Fox hinted some cuts to the project could be required. “It may take longer to get some of the amenities we planned for,� Fox said. “It may not be all that we wanted,� Councillor Steve Ferguson said much the same, sounding doubtful additional funds will be found. SEE: Page 4
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