news Renovations begin to house Town Offices Page 1 & 2
COMMUNITY Was Mr. Rempel your teacher in 1963? Page 6
SPORTS
Skating club and basketball team fundraiser Page 11
SPOTLIGHT $1.10 Includes TAX
The Similkameen
Volume 64 Issue 34
Wednesday,August 21, 2013
Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.
Tulameen River flows with brass
During the weekend music festival, Orkestar Slivovica took a walk down to the Brown Bridge swimming hole. Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
It’s been often said that every person and every place has a story to tell and if places could actually speak, our very own Tulameen River would have a unique story to boast about. During this past weekend, the sixth annual Princeton Traditional Music Festival was held in the down town core. One hundred plus performers filled Veterans Square and the museum grounds from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Princeton Library was host to an acoustic stage and the Golden Hills Ice Cream Parlour as an open mic stage on Saturday as well. During the heat of the afternoon, Orkestar Slivovica, a Balkan Brass Band out of Vancouver, took a break from the festival—danced and played their way down Bridge Street and right into the Tulameen River. “They went straight in playing their instruments, some of them with just their face and instrument poking out of the water,” explained Lucy Nylund and Kay Goglin, two locals who were enjoying the festival. “It was just great,” they added. The three day festival began early evening on Friday with welcomes from festival founders, Rika Ruebsaat and Jon Bartlett, Mayor Frank
See FESTIVAL - Page 2
Weather Watch Wednesday
High 28/Low 8
Thursday
High 26/Low 10
Friday
High 23/Low 11
Saturday
High 24/Low 11
Sunday
High 28/Low 8
Lisa Carleton/Spotlight Aviva! The Raks Sharqi belly dancer who performed during the weekend, leads the festival parade followed by Orkestar Slivovoca and other performers as well as anyone who wanted to join in as the ending celebration to a successful Princeton Traditional Music Festival weekend.
Court House will house Town Offices Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
With the removal of the large ramp in front of the building, renovations to the Court House began last week in order to prepare it for the Town Offices relocation. Negative air quality tests resulting from contamination by the former dry cleaners site beside the Town Hall have resulted in Councils decision to make the move. “The levels are low, within safety standards,” said Rick Zerr, Chief Administrative Officer. (CAO) Because of the test results, the current Town Hall would require a “significant investment in the building to correct the problem.” Council is being proactive and protective of the Town
Princeton
employees and have authorized upgrades to the Court House to house Town Offices until a more permanent solution is decided upon. EBA, Engineering Consultants Ltd., A Tetra Tech Company is the environmental firm that is working on the town Hall and the contaminated site next to it. EBA will make the final determination of what will need to be done with both of the properties. “The renovations to the Court House will be done with full respect to it’s heritage and original design,” said Zerr. In a announcement released on Friday, the extent of the renovations to the Court House will include; “Upgrading of the front entry and roof coverage of the existing steps.
See TOWN HALL - Page 2
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