Princeton water is good and cheap page 3
SPOTL SPOT SPOTLIGHT LIGHT
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The Similkameen
Volume 65 Issue 25
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Library users win battle to retain hours
Hats off to graduates
Andrea DeMeer Spotlight Staff
Princeton residents have won their battle to keep their local library open 20 hours a week. Last week council announced it has reached an agreement with the Okanagan Regional Library to fund extra staff hours in order to keep the doors open. “It is a victory,” said councillor Rosemary Doughty, who is the municipality’s representative on the ORL. “It’s a win-win for Princeton to be sure.” The ORL agreed to finance current open hours for the balance of this year. Town council has committed an additional $10,330 for 2016 to maintain the service. Last fall, after a funding and service review of its 29 branches, the ORL indicated it would reduce open hours at the Princeton location to 15 from 20. The initiative was planned to shave $17,000 annually off the library’s operating budget, and help bridge the $61,327 gap between the yearly cost of running the library and the library tax collected. The ORL’s original position was that the service hour cuts were non-negotiable. Concern over the reduced hours resulted in a public meeting this spring where 50 people attended and voiced strong objections to any cuts in library service. “It was very upsetting,” said Doughty. “I’m not surprised people came out. The library is one of our core values. It supports so many programs and so many individuals and you can’t take away from that.” Don Nettleton, financial manager for the ORL, said under the new agreement, while the open hours will remain the same, there will be some reduction in staff hours. “It will be a little less staff hours but enough staff hours that we can keep it open 20 hours,” he told ...continued on Page 9
Andrea DeMeer
After four years of high school and two hours of ceremony the Class of 2015 was ready to celebrate Saturday afternoon and capped commencement in the traditional “hats off” fashion. See the Spotlight’s Graduation Special Section B. Andrea DeMeer Spotlight Staff
Sporting everything from dress shoes to runners and flip flops, a procession of future teachers, metal fabricators, tattoo artists, police officers, nurses and mechanics made its way across the stage Saturday at Princeton Secondary School’s 2015 commencement ceremonies. More than $31,000 in awards and bursaries was handed out to 34 graduating students in front of approximately 400 guests. Brynne Johnston was the top prize earner, receiving awards totaling $4050. Morgan Grigg earned $3,850 in prizes and Alex Burke received $3,000. Several dignitaries addressed the graduating class. Princeton Mayor Frank Armitage’s career advice to the group was to “pick a field you enjoy. You’d be amazed at how that works out and the money will look after itself.”
MP Alex Atamanenko brought greetings from the House of Commons, and suggested the graduates consider politics as a passion or an avocation. “I would strongly encourage you to take part in the coming federal election…There are people from all the political parties here who would love to have young people involved.” The retiring federal member did not rule an early career in politics for any of the graduates, noting he recently worked with an MP from Quebec who was elected at the tender age of 19. “I have always felt even when I was a teacher, and I firmly believe it now, that politics is a noble profession.” PSS English teacher Richard Jensen delivered a challenging commencement address. “I do not wish you a life of happiness. I wish you a life of purpose – the type of life when you leave this world it is not measured by a trail of belongings but by a legacy.” ...cont. on Page 12
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