NEWS Will the Racing Days tradition continue? Page 8
LIFESTYLES Follow The Great Hike through Princeton and area Page 17
SPORTS
Curling season has begun Page 19
SPOTLIGHT $1.10 Includes TAX
The Similkameen
Volume 65 Issue 48
Wednesday, November 27, 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.
Jessie’s Arts goes viral
Local artist Jessica McIvor’s art page on Facebook has garnered well over 2,000 likes since November 13. Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
Jessie’s Arts joined Facebook on November 13, 2013 with thanks to the help of Jessica McIvor’s support worker, Becky Vermette. Nicki McIvor, Jessica’s mom was quite hesitant at first not wanting her daughter to have to deal with any negativity...but she agreed to the page. Within hours comments about Jessica’s artwork began to show up on the page, in a couple days requests for custom orders and within five days, Jessie’s Arts had received 1000 likes. Jessica McIvor was born and raised in Princeton. She has lived here all of her 30 years with the exception of living in Kelowna for a couple of years to receive medical care for her heart. Jessica was born with Down Syndrome and had two holes and a blockage in her heart, which caused her to be very ill for quite some time. “She is all good now,” said mom Nicki, “We are lucky and it is lovely to have her. We are never bored,” she adds with a chuckle. Jessica graduated from Princeton Secondary School in 2002. She has volunteered at the Princeton and District Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Wick’s Law Office and on the Trans Canada Trail. In her day group, New Beginnings, Jessica enjoys helping to organize special events —especially the dances. Drawing began for Jessica around the age of three. “I remember when I was little, about three - in the old place, I grabbed crayons and felts and
See JESSICA - Page 2
Weather Watch Wednesday
High 2/Low -3
Thursday
High 3/Low -3
Friday
High 3/Low -1
Saturday
High 2/Low -1
Sunday
High 1/Low -1
Lisa Carleton/Spotlight
Jessica McIvor loves to dance, sing and create art. She enjoys giving her artwork to people because she,“wants everybody to be happy.” Jessie’s Arts on Facebook has given Jessica the opportunity to share her joy and her art with more people and faster than anyone could have imagined.
Town Hall moves to new home Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
Negative air quality tests resulting from contamination by the former dry cleaning site adjacent to the Town Hall, were reported to Mayor and Council earlier this year. The costs of correcting this problem would be significant. An initiative to keep the historic Courthouse building had been already started. Looking at costs for repairing the two buildings, Council made the decision and authorized an upgrade of the Court House to accommodate the Town Hall offices until a new Town Hall could be decided upon. The following upgrades and repairs were then implemented;
“Upgrades of the front entry and roof coverage of the existing steps. Upgrades of the rear entry for handicapped accessibility and provision of handicapped parking Cleaning up the building exterior including minor repairs and a complete paint application. Updates to the interior of the main floor of the building including some limited floor plan improvements to accommodate all of the town hall functions with the exception of a Council Chamber (Council meetings will continue to be held at the Library until a more permanent Town Hall facility becomes available)
See TOWN - Page 4
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