FRIDAY
S I N C E
1 8 9 5
MARCH 23, 2012
Fight Night features four main events
Vol. 117, Issue 59
110
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Page 15
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF
ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALM SALMO
Airport budget increase slashed despite extra scheduled flights BY VALERIE ROSSI Times Staff
VALERIE ROSSI PHOTO
Fruitvale Mayor Patricia Cecchini, village administrator Lila Cresswell, BV Manor director Bev Piccolo and Montrose resident Mary Gay are after an energy upgrade for the Beaver Valley Manor Society in Fruitvale.
Communities battle in lights-out competition The participant with the highest pledges in the FortisBC Earth Hour Challenge will receive bragging rights and $5,000 BY VALERIE ROSSI Times Staff
A global challenge that has households and businesses turning off lights for one hour to raise awareness on climate change could result in some much needed cash for one non-profit organization in the region. Residents who pledge to switch off during Earth Hour from 8:30-9:30 p.m. March 31 will add to their community’s chance to win the FortisBC Earth Hour Challenge. The community with the highest votes will receive bragging rights and $5,000 worth of energy-efficient upgrades for a non-profit of its choice.
Locally that includes Trail’s Family and Individual Resource (FAIR) Centre Society, the Rossland Council for Arts and Culture (Miners’ Hall), the Beaver Valley Manor Society, the Salmo Public Library, Castlegar’s Habitat for Humanity and Nelson Cares Society. “We are currently wasting money on utility costs and wasting valuable energy resources,” said Gail Lavery, FAIR executive director. “We have the ability to apply for grants to supplement projects, including energy-upgrading projects, but at this point do not have the money available for the in-house contribution that funders generally require.” FAIR is looking to update its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in its main three-story building, built in 1979. Located in the former School District 20 building in East Trail, this facility houses
all of FAIR’s programs except for its pregnancy outreach and parenting programs, transition, second-stage housing and regional crises line. Fruitvale and Montrose have joined forces in hopes of gaining a financial boost for a lighting upgrade for Beaver Valley Manor, which has been an affordable housing option for seniors living in the valley for about 40 years. “Our rent is so low and we’re a non-profit so there isn’t a lot of funding to do a lot of upgrading,” explained Bev Piccolo, who is a director on the manor’s board. Piccolo has had a soft spot for the home for a good portion of her life, as her parents were among those who started up the facility. “I was there when they did the ribbon cutting,” she smiled. “When I retired I wanted to do something and I thought about it for a while and decided this was the place
PRESENT THIS COUPON BEFORE MARCH 31st to receive the special price s 7ASH 6ACUUM s #HECK AND !DJUST
PLUS s POINT COURTESY s #OOLANT CONDITION INSPECTION AND STRENGTH TEST INCLUDED s 3HUTTLE 3ERVICE s 4IRE 0RESSURE FREE s &REE mUID TOP UPS s ,IGHT #HECK
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that I wanted to spend some time at and give back to the community.” As of Thursday afternoon Salmo was in the lead with about 20 per cent of the vote out of the 17 participating communities. Kay Hohn, chair of the Salmo Public Library board, said the money would help the village either update its lighting or replace doors and windows at the aging facility. The challenge fits in nicely with Salmo’s push to expand and renovate the entire facility, a capital campaign started last spring for the library’s 50 years of service. The library has already raised $30,000 for its $50,000 goal through fundraising initiatives and local contributions. Those looking to support their community can make a pledge by visiting www.fortisbc.com/earthhour before 4:30 p.m. March 31.
Increased flight service to the Trail Airport may attract more riders but the regional district is now taking the conservative route when it comes to budgeting for airport improvements this year. The East End Services Committee has decided to phase in a hefty increase to its $90,000 airport budget, cutting an initial 140 per cent hike ($126,000) in half ($64,000) this week after re-examining goals which include implementing a full-time employee as well as paving a stopway beside the runway. It was decided at Wednesday’s meeting that the potential for a staffer won’t play out until the fall – saving about $40,000 in an anticipated salary – and that ridership will likely stay or climb from last year’s approximate 18,000 customers, rather than the 16,000 originally included in its draft budget (a savings of approximately $14,000). Trail councillor Robert Cacchioni said he was the only member on the committee who voted against adjusting the draft budget, which will be finalized at the end of the month. “I’m excited about the fact that the service is increasing,” he said, adding that he doesn’t need a study to tell him the airport’s impact to the economic condition of the area. “We’re hopefully going to hit 30,000 passengers a year.” Service upgrades for the volunteer-run airport were already a hot topic at the round table prior to Pacific Coastal announcing its schedule improvements Wednesday. The Richmond-based airline will run an evening trip to and from Vancouver Sunday through Friday and add an additional Saturday flight starting April 10, which coincides with the sixyear anniversary of operation at the local facility. The new spring/summer schedule will offer the latest departure time (just after 6 p.m. Sunday-Friday) in the region. “I think it’s great, all of the airport attendees are very happy with the news,” said airport volunteer Don Nutini. “I think that our biggest concern is that we have to do something there to be able to handle that increase in traffic and not necessarily for Pacific Coastal, we have an increase in traffic even now with the medivacs that are coming in and out of there,” he said. Nutini is one of the five volunteers who help run the airport and while it is a passion for these hard working retirees, he feels a paid position is needed in the future.
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