LOCAL TALENT | Vernon’s own Son Real receives not one, but two Juno award nominations [B1]
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Cory captures Carnival spirit LISA VANDERVELDE
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Morning Star Staff
fter four years of combing through garage sales and dropping in on second-hand stores, Cory Maksymchuk completed his collection of Vernon Winter Carnival pins. It started with Cory, a Grade 4 student at Beairsto Elementary, looking for his birth year pin and that of his parents, Terry and Kelly Maksymchuk, and it took off from there. “It became a mission for him to see how many he could get,” said Kelly. Every year the Vernon Winter Carnival comes out with a new pin design that goes with that year’s Carnival theme. Cory scoured for the pins that were first made in 1961, until he was left with eight of the elusive buttons he couldn’t track down. “The 1961 was the hardest to find,” said Cory. “They didn’t make that many and they made a duplicate.” Thanks to the help of the Vernon Winter Carnival office, Cory was able to purchase the eight remaining pins from their old inventory. The Maksymchuk family’s love of the carnival, and garage saleing, made the project a fun bonding experience. Terry grew up in Vernon and has lots of fond Carnival memories and he continues the tradition of attending the parade and watching the hot air balloons with his family. “Carnival brings with it a sense of community,” said Kelly. “In winter it’s something to look forward to and it doesn’t matter how
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Cory Maksymchuk, nine, has collected a Vernon Winter Carnival button for every year of Carnival. cold it is – everyone still goes out to the events.” While Cory collected the pins he learned about the Vernon Winter Carnival history as people shared their Carnival stories. Terry and Kelly are proud of their son’s dedication to collecting the Carnival pins and
all the effort he put in to learning the history behind them. He hunted and collected one of every pin produced, even the years a duplication was made. Cory thinks the 2016 pin is pretty cool. “It’s the first year they are having a metal one.”
Events today at the Vernon Winter Carnival include the 24th annual Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, Balloon Glow (Kin Race Track) and B.C. Championship Snow Sculpture Competition (Silver Star). The parade begins at noon Saturday (27th Street). For all the events visit vernonwintercarnival.com
Armstrong calls for no school closures ROGER KNOX Morning Star Staff
The possibility of closing a school in Armstrong is not sitting well with a group of teachers, employees and parents. A letter to Spallumcheen council signed by 20 teachers and support workers at Armstrong Elementary calls for the North OkanaganShuswap School District to consider keeping all four of the city’s schools open and operational. “All of our four main schools have a lot to offer, be it playing fields, parks or gyms, that are utilized by the whole community and make it a wonderful place to live,”
states the letter. “Each school has more than 250 students. Please do not let our school district sell off our schools.” School district trustees held a committee of the whole meeting Tuesday to discuss input gathered at three town hall meetings in Armstrong, Enderby and Salmon Arm, as well as input collected via letter or e-mail. After two-and-a-half hours of discussion, recommendations that will be brought forward as motions at the Feb. 9 public board meeting include amalgamating the current four Armstrong and area schools into two kindergarten to Grade 7
schools, and one Grade 8-12 secondary school. That means one of the four schools would close with AES as the potential leading candidate. “This is a short-term plan,” said Jamie Schrauwen, who has two kids at AES and is the school’s Parent Advisory Council treasurer. “We have three kindergarten classes at AES. Eventually, those kids need to go somewhere.” The teachers see no benefit to Armstrong and Spallumcheen in closing any of its schools, particular the “old brick school” on Pleasant Valley Road. “Armstrong Elementary School
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A petition stating “We, the people of Armstrong and Spallumcheen, DO NOT want any school to close and would continue to look at other areas for cost savings,” had garnered nearly 300 signatures by noon Thursday. The petition is available at the Armstrong library, Nor-Val Rentals, post office, Fortune Creek Pharmacy and Margarieta’s Place restaurant. Spallumcheen council voted to invite either ArmstrongSpallumcheen trustee, Bob Fowler or Kelly Rowe, to an upcoming council meeting to update the situation. See related stories on page A6
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looks like a school, functions like a school, it is a school,” wrote the teachers. “It is historically the first consolidated school in B.C. and a proud showcase for this district. “We are not a museum.” There are currently fourth generations of family members at the school which has been the hub of the community for more than a century. “When you think of Armstrong, you think of that school,” said Kim Weston, who has two children attending AES. Said Schrauwen: “If this school were to close, it would break my heart.”
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