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2014 in Review: A look back at August in the Creston Valley

Home-built plane places second; affordable housing project breaks ground; public piano unveiled downtown...
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Simone Wiebe trying out the public piano at its unveiling in downtown Creston.

Editor Brian Lawrence compiled this brief look back at some of the goings on in the Creston Valley over the last 12 months, gleaned from the pages of the Advance.

7 — Michael Wigen and Dennis Miller had recently flown Gord Hudson’s plane on its biggest trip, to western Washington’s July 10-12 Arlington Fly-In, where it competed in the plans-built category, placing second. For Hudson — who doesn’t have a pilot’s licence — the prize was a high point of a 45-year project; he started building the plane in 1969 in Calgary.

14 — About 40 local residents, committee members and dignitaries gathered at an empty 25th Avenue South lot on Aug. 12 to celebrate the impending construction of a six-unit affordable rental housing development. The Creston Valley Community Housing Society worked closely with BC Housing, the Town of Creston, Columbia Basin Trust and the federal and provincial governments to raise funds. The complex at 215 25th Ave. S. will contain four three-bedroom and two two-bedroom units. A low profile design will allow it to blend in with neighbouring residences

•Nearly 350 visiting fruit pickers experienced the Creston Valley’s generosity on Aug. 6 when they enjoyed a free lunch at the Erickson Covenant Church for the second consecutive year. The whole community got involved as volunteers served the visiting workers food donated by other churches and individuals. The pickers were shocked, an organizer said, when they were invited in 2013 — and the organizers were, as well, when 300 showed up instead of the expected 100.

•A 57-year-old Creston woman was killed in a two-vehicle collision in Yahk on Aug. 11. The female driver of a Nissan was pronounced dead at the scene, while her male travelling companion was taken to hospital by air ambulance with undisclosed injuries. The four travellers in a northbound Ford were uninjured.

21 — Although Valley Community Services Society now owned a premises that houses administrative and some program functions, it wouldn’t get a permissive tax exemption from the town of Creston until 2017, if at all. Mayor Ron Toyota explained at the Aug. 12 meeting that council had adopted a policy to limit permissive tax exemption requests to a once-in-three-years window. He also cautioned that unless a future council increases the existing cap (1.75 per cent of total municipal taxes), full exemptions might not be available to non-profits.

•A public piano was unveiled in the Canyon Street Walkthrough on Aug. 12, brightly painted by artist and Creative Fix owner Brandy Hunt. The unveiling was combined with an art show featuring 15 paintings by Hunt, and featured musical entertainment by Creston Community band leader Monte Anderson on the new piano, after which members of the public had a chance to try it out.

28 — A new sign on a Cedar Street church is intended to align traditional Christian beliefs with the 21st century. Grace Christian Fellowship is the updated brand of the former Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church and much thought has been given to the new name, said Pastor Stephen Schneider. Each word in the name was chosen with the intent to describe beliefs of the congregation.