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Creston Valley in 2013: A look back at November

Wildlife area seeking centre operator, local sparkling cider developed, notes found on roof after 25 years...
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Nesta Oler

At this time, we present our annual year in review, looking back at the events of 2013 as recorded in the pages of the Creston Valley Advance.

NOVEMBER

7—After more than two decades of running it, the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Authority began looking for a credible and experienced organization to operate its Wildlife Interpretation Centre.

Provincial legislation is expected to rescind the Creston Valley Wildlife Act and bring it under the B.C. Wildlife Act and the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations. That would align the local area with other wildlife management areas in B.C. but won’t allow it to operate the centre, nor does the mandate of Ducks Unlimited Canada, which will begin operating the area once the legislation changes.

“Everybody really wants to make it work,” said manager Marc-André Beaucher. “Even though they don’t want to operate it doesn’t mean they want to shut it down, because they recognize the importance of it.”

•A 22-year-old Cranbrook man was arrested following a series of crimes from Kimberley to Creston. The suspect faced nine charges, including theft of a Toyota in Kimberley, theft of a GMC Yukon from Creston, theft of a Hyundai Sante Fe from Gray Creek, break-ins to residential properties and theft and assault with a weapon in Kimberley.

14—Options to increase the cost efficiency of Creston Valley’s transit system were discussed at the Nov. 7 meeting of the local services committee (Regional District of Central Kootenay areas A, B and C, and the Town of Creston).

Randy Matheson, research analyst for the RDCK, outlined four options for local regional directors to consider for the BC Transit service. They included making no changes, replacing the community shuttle route service with pre-booked on-demand service, reducing the community bus service to three days a week from five, and eliminating the community shuttle route service altogether.

Without changes to the system, taxpayer share of the BC Transit service are expected to increase by more than 10 per cent in 2014, Matheson said. Costs have been unchanged in the last five years.

•The William Tell Juice Company began offering old-fashioned sparkling apple and pear cider, as well as Mad Trapper old-fashioned apple cider, made on JRD Farms in Erickson, and available at Creston Valley Farmers’ Market and Creative Fix.

Dave Mutch’s products are made entirely from local fruit and even the labels were designed locally. Apple and pear cider vinegar are anticipated in the spring, and peach and cherry old-fashioned ciders are planned from the 2014 harvest.

•For a fourth year, Tim Hortons held a successful Smile Cookie campaign, again raising $5,040 for the Creston Valley Hospital Tuck Shop, and delivering the cheque on Oct. 31. The Tuck Shop is run by volunteers, who raise money to support health care at CVH.

•A collaboration involving the Creston Rotary Club, fabric artist and painter Eileen Gidman, seniors and several special needs students would raise funds for the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors, with those involved creating Christmas cards.

21—When Terry-Joe Henry and her husband were re-shingling their roof on 24th Avenue North last spring, they came across an unexpected surprise. A series of notes — written by Miriam Anderson and her cousin, Lise Salatino (née Floer)  — appeared, tucked under shingles and having survived the elements as long as 25 years.

“I’m not sure whose idea it was to write notes,” said Anderson. “I remember writing them and thinking about some family far into the future who would discover them. I assumed they’d be curious about who had lived in the house before and I wanted them to know about all of us.”

•The Canadian Union of Postal Workers proposal for Canada Post to get into the banking business isn’t likely to get much support from Creston town council. The first item on the Nov. 12 regular meeting agenda was a request for support from CUPW to help stem service and job cuts to Canada Post. A motion to receive the proposal for information was passed unanimously without discussion.

28—As part of National Addictions Awareness Week, six members of the Lower Kootenay Band spent the night in Millennium Park on Friday, with the temperature dropping to -12 C.

“In some areas of the country, that’s a warm night,” said Chief Jason Louie.

“As someone who hasn't experienced sleeping in the cold, or even without a roof over my head, I felt what it was like to be in the cold, to feel the hard surface I slept on,” said Lisa Three Feathers. “It has opened my eyes a lot. I pray for all those who are without shelter to be looked after and watched over and not to have to go through this much longer. I feel for what homeless people go through everyday. This was just one night, but one that I hope brings awareness to all.”