Creston Valley Advance, November 14, 2013 by Black Press Media Group

I’m sure that apple cider is very tasty! Serving the Creston Valley since 1948

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Volume 65, No. 46

Program could improve firefighting service

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Local ciders hit farmers’ market BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff

Mad Trapper and William Tell ciders made on JRD Farms in Erickson are now available at the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market. “It just sort of came to me one day,” Dave Mutch said of the idea to produce non-alcoholic ciders and sparkling ciders. “People aren’t drinking alcohol, especially in public, as they used to and this is a great alternative.” The William Tell Juice Company now offers old-fashioned sparkling apple and pear cider, as well as Mad Trapper old-fashioned apple cider. The sparkling ciders will have a special appeal for those who want nonalcoholic beverages to serve at parties and dinner. Crisp and clean apple and pear flavours will match nicely with a variety of food dishes and the bubbles will lend a celebratory air to the occasion. “It’s a nice addition to gift baskets, too,” he said. The white-print-on-black-background labels are highlighted with just a drop of colour. A red apple and green pear lend a whimsical touch to the classic design. The William Tell name “just dropped out of the sky,” Mutch said.

BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff

Facing declining volunteer numbers, Creston Valley fire departments have joined forces in a plan to ensure adequate response to local emergencies. “Recruiting efforts continue to interest new individuals but we are facing a greater loss each year of experienced members,” Creston Fire Rescue Chief Michael Moore told a Creston Valley services committee (Regional District of Central Kootenay areas A, B and C, and the Town of Creston) meeting on Nov. 7. Moore said Creston Fire Rescue and the Canyon-Lister and Wynndel-Lakeview fire departments are increasingly challenged to keep their numbers of volunteer firefighters at suitable levels. Reasons given are predominantly workrelated, he said. Some firefighters are now employed out of town, returning only on their days off, while others are relocating in search of employment. Training new firefighters typically takes three to five years, Moore said. One solution, he said, has the support of the three fire departments.

Brian Lawrence

LEST WE FORGET — The annual Remembrance Day ceremony was held

at the cenotaph in front of the Royal Canadian Legion on Monday. Hundreds attended the event, which included a flypast by members of the Creston Valley Flying Club (above) and the laying of wreaths by member of the legion, as well as residents. For more photos, visit www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca/community.

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wenty-seven quilts and more than two dozen pairs of mohair slippers were part of the latest shipment of food, clothing and toys for the isolated Northern Manitoba community of Shamattawa last month. Members of the Beehive Quilters (right), who are also part of the Quilts for Kids group, gather at the Creston Museum regularly to make items to donate to charitable causes. The quilts and slippers will be included in a four-pallet shipment, one of which will be apples, once again donated by Shukin Orchards. • • •n ollowing the recent Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines late last week, the Canadian government has announced that it will

match dollar for dollar donations made to several charities. Among them, noted retired Creston Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor Ian Cotton, is the Adventist

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Creston Valley Advance Thursday, November 14, 2013

Christmas cards by artists, seniors to support TAPS BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff

A collaboration involving a service club, an artist and several special needs students and seniors will help raise funds for the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors. Fabric artist and painter Eileen Gidman worked with the Prince Charles Secondary School students and seniors to help create artwork for Christmas cards in a fundraiser sponsored by the Creston Rotary Club. “As community services chair, I wanted to create a short-term project that had an intergenerational aspect to it,” said Rotarian Brenda Silkie. “I deeply believe that young and old persons spending time together offer each other something amazing. As well, I want-

ed to design a project that could raise the understanding of Rotary in this community a tiny bit, by focusing on Rotary’s commitment to literacy and youth.” Silkie recruited Gidman to work with students Jackson Goossen and Nikki Lohrer, along with several seniors who are TAPS members. The cards, designed and printed by Imagine Ink, will be sold at the Krafty Kronys fall craft sale on Saturday, and at the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market. “I am deeply indebted to Eileen Gidman, who has offered her time to oversee our art sessions,” Silkie said. “You need running shoes to lope around the table and keep six or seven people moving forward with the creation of their pictures.”

LOCAL nEWs

www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca 3

Brian Lawrence

Creston Mayor Ron Toyota purchased the first set of fundraising Christmas cards from Creston Rotary Club member Brenda Silkie at Creative Fix on Tuesday.

Experience

From page 1 A firefighter work experience program could be initiated to utilize graduates of firefighting training programs, giving them experience in return for making themselves available for on-call duty. Under the program, fire academy graduates would commit to nine to 12 months in the community, participating in a variety of activities to give them experience. In return, they would be provided with dormitory-type accommodation and a small stipend — possibly $200 a month — to help with student loan payments. Several communities in British Columbia have used such a program with success, Moore said. Benefits, he said, include improved fire service response in the short- and long-term, low financial impact, better rural fire protection and increased community services. “This is a great program,” Area B director John Kettle said. He added that stabilizing firefighter numbers is critical because Arrow Creek residents have recently approved a proposal to add fire protection in their area. The service will be provided by a contract with the Town of Creston. Kettle said he expects Kitchener will follow suit. “All of our firefighters have seen this presentation,” said Canyon-Lister Fire Department Chief Glenn Guthrie,. “There is a 100 per cent buy-in to the proposal.”

Cider

Lorne Eckersley

A closeup look at the labels on William Tell Juice Company bottles.

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From page 1 He liked it because the Swiss legend “is a good story” and evokes the image of an apple. Coincidentally, Nov. 18 is reputed to be the date on which the marksman saved his life by using his crossbow to shoot an apple off the head of his son, Walter, in a single attempt in 1307. To mark the occasion, bottles of old fashioned sparkling apple and pear cider, regularly priced at $9.99, are being sold at two for $18. Mad Trapper old-fashioned apple cider, sold in 1.89- and 3.78-litre jugs, has been a hit at the farmers’ market, Mutch said. The market and Creative Fix are the only local outlets — in Nelson, the products can be found at Kootenay Co-op and Culinary Conspiracy — but orders can also be arranged by messaging Mutch on the William Tell Juice Company Facebook page. William Tell Juice Company products are made entirely from local fruit and even the labels were designed locally. And there are more products anticipated down the road. Next spring should see the release of apple and pear cider vinegar. Peach and cherry old-fashioned ciders are planned from the 2014 harvest.

e Try a G rilled Veggi h! ic w Zensation Sand

LOCAL nEWs

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Thursday, November 14, 2013 Creston Valley Advance

Over 40 calls for RCMP, but none on Saturday BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff

Creston RCMP responded to 44 calls from Nov. 4-10, a period in which no calls were received on a Saturday for the first time in memory, Chris Harland said on Tuesday. November 4 •A female seen near Highway 3 and Helen Street bearing the sign “Broke and hungry” was gone when police went to check, presumably having hitched a ride. •The male who was arrested last week after a series of car thefts and break-ins confessed to police that he had crashed another stolen car near Gray Creek. Police were then able to recover the vehicle. •An elderly Fifth Avenue South resident reported having an ongoing problem with a “dangerous” neighbor. Police are investigating. •After investigating a report from Wenger Road about a possible fraud, police concluded no crime had been committed. •Police received information that an unknown Canyon man has declared himself a Freeman on the Land. •A blue Larson 16- or 18-foot boat with Evinrude motor and EZ Loader trailer was found in the Ryan Station Road area near Yahk. Anyone with information about it can contact the RCMP. •An irate male did more than $1,000 damage by throwing himself at a parked vehicle on Cook Street. November 5 •A 1999 JDJ flat-deck utility trailer was stolen from Ashton Drive in Wynndel in the past two weeks. •Police assisted Crowsnest Pass RCMP by taking a statement in an alleged sexual assault case. •A female reported that she was the victim of financial and verbal abuse by her husband when she lived in Edmonton. •A bicycle reported stolen from the 1600 block of Cedar Street was later recovered and returned to the owner. •No injuries resulted when a black Chevrolet pickup pulled out onto Northwest Boulevard and collided with a white 1995 Dodge Spirit. •A nearby resident complained about traffic activity on Seventh Avenue South, where he says drugs are being sold. •Police investigating a complaint about loud music being played for two days on Goat River Road South were unable to find the source. November 6 •A female was ticketed after she collided with a railway service vehicle working on the tracks

on Crusher Road. She failed to make a complete stop, hit the vehicle and went into the ditch. No injuries resulted. •When police contacted a female who was reported to be driving with kids in the back seat who weren’t wearing seatbelts, she admitted to being in the wrong, saying there weren’t enough belts for the number of passengers she had. She was given a verbal warning. •When police attended a site on Highway 3 at 38th Avenue after getting a report of a vehicle in the ditch, they found two occupants. The driver had no licence and was arrested when police learned the vehicle had been reported stolen from Fort McMurray, Alta. •Later, two intoxicated males were found walking in the 3600 block of Masuch Road. A check revealed they had also been in the vehicle previously mentioned. They were arrested for being drunk in public and on outstanding warrants, then transferred to Cranbrook police cells. November 7 •Six horses reported to be loose on private property on Smith Road were recovered by their owner a short time later. •A female reported a possible theft on Aldrich Road and is applying for a peace bond against the suspect. •A female in the 2900 block of Highway 3 complained about receiving harassing phone calls from a male. •When police arrived at an accident scene 20 kilometres east of Kootenay Pass, they found a car down a bank, having slid off Highway 3 in poor road conditions. There were no injuries, but the owner-driver admitted to having no licence when she was located. •The registered owner of an Alberta vehicle reported to be speeding and tailgating on Highway 3/95 near Yahk was issued a warning. November 8 •A black Samsung Galaxy cell phone was reported stolen in a Prince Charles Secondary School classroom. •The male sender of unwanted emails to a female was warned to stop. •An elderly male driver was reported to have nearly hit three pedestrians and a retaining wall near Highway 3/21 intersection. When contacted, he said he didn’t recall any problems at that location. •Investigating a complaint about shots fired on Kootenay River Road, police found a small bush party at the old ferry landing, where firecrackers had been set off. The party was not considered a problem. November 10 •A male reported his 2006 green Ford F-150 had been stolen while he was in a pub in the 800 block of Canyon Street. He called the next day to report he had found the truck parked behind the pub. •A 40-year-old male died suddenly in the Duck Lake area, not of suspicious circumstances. •Police found no evidence that reported drug activity at a 20th Avenue residence was being conducted.

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 8 (KOOTENAY LAKE)

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING at 1:00 P.M. BOARD MEETING at 5:00 P.M. (times are PST) Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Board Office, 570 Johnstone Road, Nelson Video Conferencing to Creston at: Creston Education Centre, 617-11th Ave. South Public Welcome

LOCAL nEWs

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, November 14, 2013

www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca 5

Tims donates $5,040 to CVH Tuck Shop Advance Staff

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. “I would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s campaign such an overwhelming success,” said Creston Tim Hortons manager Scott Seitz. The Tuck Shop is run by volunteers, who raise money to support health care at CVH.

Nationally, Tim Hortons owners support more than 500 charities through the annual Smile Cookie fundraiser. Last year, the campaign raised $5 million. Funds from last year’s Smile Cookie campaign helped to furnish a new private room at the hospital. “Supporting the Creston Valley Hospital Tuck Shop through the Smile Cookie campaign to purchase muchneeded equipment for the local hospital ensures that the funds raised in our community stay in our community,” said Seitz. “I think that’s something we can all share a smile about.”

Committee discusses CBT funding, transit BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff A new funding program from the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) needs agreement about what area will be covered, Kootenay Employment Services general manager Hugh Grant said at the Nov. 7 Creston Valley services committee (Regional District of Central Kootenay areas A, B and C, and the Town of Creston) meeting. The Community Directed Funds Initiative, which will provide $200,000 annually for social, environmental and economic projects, requires broad support from community members and elected officials. “The CBT is not imposing boundaries,” said CBT community initiatives director Gary Ockenden. While the area of Yahk to Creston has been determined by a group of citizen representatives, other communities have yet to sign on. When the CBT agreed to give the East Shore a separate $50,000 pot of money, other areas began to question why they shouldn’t get the same treatment. “Lower Kootenay, Bountiful and KitchenerMoyie all want to be distinct,” Kettle said. “We’ll get there,” Ockenden said about the challenge of determining the fund’s boundaries. “This is a great idea, but keep the politicians out of it,” Kettle said. “Once you put us into it, we politicize it and it changes the dynamic completely. If we are involved it does a disservice to the program.” Ockenden said some areas have chosen to do just that, while others have included elected representatives on their committee. “It’s their choice and what works for one might not work for another,” he said. “I think we are making this more complicated than it needs to be,” said Creston Mayor Ron Toyota. •Options to increase the cost efficiency of Creston Valley’s transit system were also discussed at the meeting. 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-

FOR THE RECORD Last week's story about a service dog and a Canadian armed forces veteran erroneously reported that the dog came from the Pet Adoption and Welfare Society. In fact, the German shepherd was provided by a private donor. We apologize to the donor for the error.

Brian Lawrence

Tim Hortons donated $5,040 to the Creston Valley Hospital Tuck Shop. From left: Tuck Shop volunteer Sheila Lawson, nurse Carolyn Hawton, Tim Hortons assistant manager Erica Seitz, Tim Hortons manager Scott Seitz, Tuck Shop co-ordinator Mabel McCowan and hospital lab manager Sylvia Main.

booked on-demand service, reducing the community bus service to three days a week from five, and eliminating the community shuttle route service altogether. Matheson made his presentation at the request of directors, who heard from BC Transit representatives earlier this year. The community bus is one of three BC Transit services in the Creston Valley. A HandyDart system is used to transport qualified users from their residence to a destination, and Interior Health sponsors a regular run to Cranbrook for health appointments. All are highly subsidized through taxation, with only a small portion of the costs being carried by ridership fees. 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. After discussion of the options, and identifying a potential need to expand the health appointment run to East Shore residents, Matheson was directed to present other options in February.

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Thursday, November 14, 2013 Creston Valley Advance

Triple C leadership

P.O. Box 1279 • 1018 Canyon St. • Creston, B.C. • V0B 1G0 Phone: 250-428-2266 • Fax: 1-250-483-1909 www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca Published Thursdays except statutory holidays Alex O. Carruthers, Founder All rights reserved. Contents copyright by the Creston Valley Advance. Any reproduction of material contained in this publication in whole or in part is forbidden without the expressed written consent of the Publisher. Copyright in letters and other materials submitted to the Publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. It is agreed that The Creston Valley Advance will not be responsible for errors or omissions and is not liable for any amount exceeding the cost of the space used and then only such portion where the errors actually appeared. We reserve the right to edit or reject any submission or advertisement that is contrary to our Publishing guideline.

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Letters to opinion line are welcome on any topic of local or general interest. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers; publication does not imply endorsement by this newspaper. Letters should be either e-mailed, double-spaced and typewritten or legibly handwritten, and generally not exceed 500 words. Letters will be edited in the interests of style, clarity, legality, brevity and taste, as necessary. The Advance reserves the right to refuse publication of any submission. All letters must be signed and include place of residence and telephone number. E-mail letters to editor@crestonvalleyadvance.ca; drop them off at, or mail them to P.O. Box 1279, 1018 Canyon St., Creston, B.C., V0B 1G0.

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“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Those words, not surprisingly, come from Abraham Lincoln. And they provide an apt backdrop to the shenanigans we have been witnessing on the political stage in recent times. First, let me admit that I have been well and truly amused at the trials faced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the Senate scandal, and tribulations of that most bizarre of all current Canadian political creatures, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. I suppose in the latter case, my amusement leans more toward dismay when I see Toronto residents jump to Ford’s defense, vowing to support him as he rehabilitates himself after having been outed as a drunk, a crack cocaine user and a liar. Now, in many situations, a “cast the first stone” attitude might be taken as admirable. But in Ford’s case, this gong show, train wreck of behaviour really warrants no such forgiveness. He’s a politician who has a take-no-prisoners approach of his position, a guy who bulldozes those who get in his way and says whatever he needs to say to maintain his position of power. Given that the role of mayor isn’t an especially great power base — it comes with only one vote on council — the person filling it has to be primarily satisfied with being a spokesperson and having as a high a public profile as he or she aspires to. In Ford’s case, it’s not so difficult to see how he’s attracted a

and Pamela Wallin and others with high profiles were surely made in the knowledge that they would make Canadians even more cynical than they have been about this chamber of political whores and wheezy, weaselly hasbeens. Make no mistake — Harper knows that the much-anticipated Supreme Court opinion on Senate reform isn’t going to give him carte blanche to overhaul it. The Constitution is Lorne Eckersley clear — that can’t happen without the support of the provinces. The Senate was created assumes) simply dismiss Ford’s to protect them from a federal govastonishingly bad behavior because they like his political bent. ernment that runs roughshod and it will not be in provinces’ best interKeep in mind that this tale of ests to let it become a toothless intrigue has crimes up to and extension of the feds. Think about it including murder swirling around — Harper, having stacked the it. Perhaps it comes down to a “better the bully we know” conclu- Senate with those who will do his bidding, has already managed to sion from a population that is so turn it into an extension of the down on politicians that keeping Prime Minister’s Office. Do you the worst possible choice in office really think provinces like Quebec means things can’t get any worse. are going to turn over the Senate At the other extreme is Harper, a keys to him, even if he already has squeaky clean public figure if there taken its doors off the hinges? ever was one. And yet I sense a Ford and Harper might not be growing unease that his cut from the same cloth, but they Machiavellian manipulations to disare evidence of Lincoln’s observacredit the Senate and pave the way tion that adversity can bring out for its reform are all just too, too the best in people but power is an much for the average Canadian. entirely different kettle of fish. It’s no secret that Harper Theirs is an us-against-them phiembraces the old Reform concept losophy, one that leaves all too of a Triple E Senate. Making the many out in the cold. That they country’s second house of sober will eventually implode is undenisecond thought equal, elected and able. What remains to be seen is effective has its appeal. But by any the devastation they will leave in measure, his methods of reaching their wake. the goal have been Triple C — Lorne Eckersley is the publisher of clever, cunning and combative. Appointing the likes of Mike Duffy the Creston Valley Advance. large following, having vowed to shrink civic government and grease the skids for the business community. It’s not easy to watch otherwise reasonable people (one

This is the Life

Diligent effort is needed

In recent A Zen’s-Eye View columns, I presented the first three of eight practices of awakening beings: 1) have few desires, 2) know how much is enough and 3) enjoy serenity. The fourth awakening is diligent effort. We realize diligent effort when we engage wholeheartedly and ceaselessly in wholesome practices. That is why it is called “diligent effort.” It is choosing an activity that promotes total physical and spiritual well-being without diluting that activity with harmful behaviours. The Buddha said, “Monks, if you make diligent effort, nothing is too difficult. That’s why you should do so. It is like a thread of water piercing through a rock by constantly dripping. If your mind continues to slacken, it is like taking a break from hitting stones before they spark; you can’t get fire that way. What I am speaking of is ‘diligent effort.’ ” The opposite of diligent effort is indolence or laziness about wholeheartedly and consistently engaging spiritual practice — whether that practice is going to church, attending a regular yoga class or getting up early and attending morning meditation at the Creston zendo. In a broader view, spiritual practice could include taking regu-

lar walks, eating in way that supports our health or exercising regularly at the pool. Laziness that prevents us from healthful activities is much more subtle than the kind

Zen's-Eye View Kuya Minogue

that plunks us in front of our computer to gobble up salty, fatty foods as we watch six consecutive episodes of Breaking Bad. The second kind of laziness is the result of not taking care of the first kind. It’s laziness on steroids. Spiritual laziness and neglect of spiritual practice lead to backsliding into being controlled by many desires and into no longer knowing how much is enough. It causes disturbances in our minds and bodies so that we no longer enjoy serenity. For these reasons, it is necessary to strive diligently in our efforts to interrupt addictive patterns that lead us to overeating, excessive use of intoxicating substances and couch/computer potatoing. Freedom from these habitual and

harmful patterns of self indulgence can only be realized when we develop awareness of the extent to which our laziness prevents us from diligent spiritual practice. It’s obvious that we can’t break the hold of harmful habits until we are aware of them. For this reason, noticing when we have fallen into laziness is the first step to freeing ourselves from the prison of habitual harmful actions. It is as the Buddha said, “If you make diligent effort, nothing is too difficult.” For example, with diligent effort at eating a diet for optimal health, exercising and engaging in spiritual practices, we can solve many of our lifestyle dis-ease. But it takes diligent effort and unflagging vigour in spiritual practice. Suggested practice: Notice when laziness has crept in to affect your decisions about how to spend your time. When you notice that laziness has taken control, choose to do something different, something that will enhance your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Kuya Minogue is the resident teacher at the Creston Zen centre. She will be offering a beginners’ meditation class at 7-8:30 p.m. Jan 9, 16, 23 and 30. This course is by donation. For more information, contact her at 250-428-6500.

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, November 14, 2013

Fortis profits from smart meter opt-out To the Editor: I made an inquiry with FortisBC in regard to the new digital, a.k.a. smart, meters that are being installed across B.C. in the near future. There is an optout program for those of us who have researched and found evidence that our health can be compromised by these devices. The information I received from a Fortis employee states that a one-time fee of $110 will be charged to all customers who wish to opt out, and Fortis will charge $22 for each manual reading. I feel these prices are extremely high, so I did some calculating. If 2,000 metered residents of Creston opt out, Fortis will collect an upfront fee of $220,000. Wow! If each of those 2,000 meters is read every second month (as is now done), there will be six readings each year; therefore, Fortis would collect

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reading fees of $264,000 per year. This is highway robbery, and is bullying to those of us who want to keep our analog meters into accepting smart meters. Allowing five minutes to read each meter would take approximately four weeks of work for one Fortis meter reader every second month (five minutes times 2,000 homes equals 167 hours). The non-read months in Creston could be spent reading meters in a town similar to Creston, generating double the profit previously estimated, which would be $528,000 in readings and $440,000 in upfront fees. Reading analog meters would be a full-time job for one Fortis employee. If that employee earns $60,000 annually and the vehicle lease and operation cost $40,000 annually, there is a cost to Fortis of $100,000, while income derived is $528,000, which leaves a profit of $428,000. Multiply this by 10 years. I thought Fortis was controlled by the government! If Fortis expenses are $100,000, that divided by 4,000 bi-monthly meter readings (24,000 annually) equals approximately $4 per read. Allowing Fortis to earn a profit, double the cost to $8 and leave our analog meters alone.

www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca 7

I have not researched how many residents wish to keep their analog meters, but I would venture a guess it is all who have done the research on negative health effects. There is also a privacy issue; however, that will be left for a future letter. Sandy Buckmaster Creston

Bank won’t replace melted polymer bills To the Editor: Do not leave any of the new polymer banknotes in your pockets while doing laundry because they melt. It did happen to someone and the bank said, “Sorry, we can’t do anything about that.” Great customer service, eh? Ursula Bzdel Creston

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Another look at the lookout

ship of several community entities with the ministry, took place in varied ways depending on individual circumstances. In one case, restoration of the lookout was done from the ground up by a local off-road group. In other cases, it happened with volunteer labour and funding by individuals and the local town. In addition, in another case, Recreation Sites and Trails BC (a ministry branch) contributed $10,000, while a local company matched that amount and the local outdoors club to provide public recreEd McMackin agreed ation and historic education. Other volunteer contributors because of its run-down condition, the have been outdoor societies and Wildfire elevated cabin, according to some, looks Management Branch staff. Restoration of better from a distance than from close lookouts have been prime examples of up. With a good pair of binoculars or a community co-operation and teamwork. spotting scope, to the northeast from Typical improvements on lookouts Erickson or Lister, one can see this his- have been replacing damaged doors and toric landmark situated on the north and windows, installing new sub-floors, roof higher hump, Mount Thompson, of a repairs, exterior painting, restructuring series of humps known as the Thompson and straightening walls. That’s a lot of Range, flanking the east of Canyon. Now, work for one season, especially when it is with lots of snow blanketing Mount in the short-seasoned high country, so the Thompson, unless you can hike or snow- following season work may be installing mobile, or can’t make it to the top any- durable flooring and touch-up jobs. This how, the best view is from the valley. (For is somewhat the story of the Bickford more information on the lookout, see Lookout at Chetwynd, which is pretty Out There in the Oct. 24 Advance.) much the same basic design as the Mount Fire lookouts have been an integral Thompson lookout. Googling “BC fire part of B.C.’s Forests Ministry’s forest lookouts” can turn up some interesting fire protection for decades. According to stories and photos. B.C.’s Ministry of Forests, Lands and The Mount Thompson lookout ceased Natural Resource Operations, last year, to be used for forest fire detection in the the ministry’s centennial, five lookouts early 1980s. Recently, the wildfire branch across B.C. completed restoration. These has determined it to be no longer useful refurbished lookouts, including Mount for that purpose and, so, has destined it Buchanan at Kaslo, and Mara, Thornhill, for removal. The branch approached Nahatlatch and Owen Hill at other loca- Recreation Sites and Trails BC to see if tions, will enhance opportunities for they were interested in it as a recreation residents and tourists in those locations site. They rejected it on the basis of poor to continue enjoying B. C.’s forests and accessibility, costs of repairs (in view of natural spaces. How has this happened? cuts in funding) and, perhaps, for the lack While experiencing cutbacks, ministry of strong local interest, and so on. branches purposed to redevelop a number However, as one last effort, they will of lookout sites across the province. agree to developing the Mount Thompson Determination of which lookouts would lookout site if a local organization or other be refurbished depended on several crite- entity will agree to take full responsibility ria, including accessibility, condition of the for it, partnering with Recreation Sites lookout, cost of repairs and the level of and Trails BC and other local supportive serious local support, especially in the individuals and groups for funding and way of an established organization or contributions of labour and materials. other entity that was able to ultimately This agreement must happen by spring take over the lookout. Lookout restoration 2014, otherwise steps will be taken to for recreational use, supported by partner- remove the Mount Thompson lookout. So One of the best views of the top of Mount Thompson and the old fire lookout from the Creston Valley can be had from Lister. Another good view can be seen from Erickson. Unfortunately,

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The Mount Buchanan fire lookout near Kaslo gives an idea of what the Mount Thompson lookout could be like with windows, doors, new paint and a catwalk.

far, to my knowledge, the Creston community has not yet met that challenge. In other places, communities have seen their lookouts as focal points of use and interest by outdoor groups, local residents, tourists, and recreation and survival groups. Once, when spending several hours on Mount Thompson, I accounted for as many as two dozen visitors. Then and other times, local residents were bringing their out-of-town guests to view the valley, and others were local hiking groups and hikers from other areas. So the lookout site gets enough use to deem it worthy of refurbishing for its recreational, tourist, safety and environmental and historical education values. It has potential for being a greater valuable asset to the Creston Valley communities. Any questions can be directed to myself or to Recreation Sites and Trails BC. Ed McMackin is a biologist by profession but a naturalist and hiker by nature. He can be reached at 250-866-5747.

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8 www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca

Thursday, November 14, 2013 Creston Valley Advance

Lord helps prevent people from burning out

Deeply troubled by seeing good people in their prime time being burned out, crippled or virtually destroyed, it has been my desire to address the topic for quite a long time. The only thing holding me back was that I did not have a good grip on the solution — until now. The people in question were my friends, family members, co-workers, professionals

Consider This Vladimir Certik

and tradesmen, intellectuals and simple ones, you name it. The reasons were anything from a few bad habits to good excuses (feeding the family, getting ahead, paying off the mortgage, helping others, work addiction, proving something to others). Ages ranged from late 30s through the 40s and up. As the years passed, I was shocked by its recurrence, as if we were destined to

repeat the same mistakes time and time again. That sent me on my journey of figuring it out and possibly coming to some kind of conclusion or remedy. In almost all cases, I discovered an overwhelming sense of responsibility. Of course, responsibility is better than negligence but at what cost? See CONSIDER, page 14

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1 Based on average 2012 electricity use for customers in FortisBC’s South Interior service area. 2Source: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/equipment/electronics/13431#intro01. 3These are approximate annual electricity costs for a typical household in FortisBC’s South Interior service area. 4Source: 2008-2009 FortisBC Residential Energy Use Surveys, 2008 BC Hydro Conservation Potential Review. A typical household is defined as an existing single family house approximately 2,300 square feet with average insulation. Calculations based on FortisBC’s electricity rates as of January 2013 in the South Interior service area. Costs may vary by household. FortisBC uses the FortisBC name and logo under license from Fortis Inc. (13-372.1 11/2013)

TV Listings

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, November 14, 2013

Your TV Guide Legend

SERVING THE CRESTON VALLEY SINCE 1948

TV RATINGS:

SYMBOLS: (CC) = Closed Captioning for the Hearing Impaired (N) = New Programming EI = Educational/Instructional DVS = Descriptive Video Services for the Visually Impaired HDTV = High Definition Television iTV = Interactive TV PA = Parental Advisory SS = Closed Captioned in Spanish CI = Cable in Classroom HEADPHONES = In Stereo

MPAA RATINGS: NR = Not Rated G = General Audiences PG = Parental Guidance Suggested

SATURDAY MORNING / NOVEMBER 16

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8 AM

8:30

9 AM

9:30 10 AM 10:30 11 AM 11:30 12 PM 12:30

(6:00) Juicebox ’ Canada Weekend Marilyn Denis Children Cash Written Vision Junk Raiders ’ KOMO 4 News Good Morning KOMO 4 News Hanna Ocean Explore Rescue Wildlife Expedi (6:00) Today (N) ’ Chica Pajan. Justin Tree Fu Lazy Noddy Cook Humana Pain Jeopardy CBS This Morning KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Recipe J. Oliverr Dr. Chris Chan Insider Humana Paid Morning News Morning News News News Garden Garden Animal Boxing SportsCentre SportsCentre SportsCentre Motoring Top 10 Formula 1 Racing 30 for 30 (Taped) Sportsnet Con. Sportsnet Con. Sportsnet Con. Cricket Soccer “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” Ances Fishful Saturday Morning News (N) Å Fishn Fishing Power Driving Peep Thomas Rolie Tree Fu Ella the PAW Magic Arthur Pingu Jack Re Wild Our Vancouver (N) Animal Super Doodle Cross Curling Canadian Open, Men’s Quarterfinal. (N) Å Paid Paid Adven. DFlyTV Biz Kid$ On Spot Coolest Eco Co. College Basketball New Day Money Saturday Morning CNN Newsroom (N) CNN Newsroom Money Newsr’m Deadliest Warrior Deadliest Warrior Deadliest Warrior Deadliest Warrior Deadliest Warrior Deadliest Warrior Million Dollar Million Dollar Extreme Homes Kitchen Kitchen Kitchen Kitchen Hunters Hunters Criminal Minds ’ Flip This House Flip This House Flipping Vegas ›› “The Recruit” (’03) Al Pacino. Love It Love It or List It Will Will Will Will ››› “The Joy Luck Club” (’93) Sidekick Super Sidekick Squirrel Alien Rabbids Sponge. Monsters Sanjay Korra Turtles Beyblade CBC News Now CBC News Now With Nancy Wilson From Toronto. (N) Å CBC News Now Paid Paid “Crisis Point” (’12) Rhona Mitra. ’ ››› “Star Trek” (’09) Chris Pine. ’ Å Killing Highway Thru Hell Bering Sea Gold Mighty Ships Greatest Know Mayday Å Jungle Gold Å Surviving Evil ’ Stranger--Home 48 Hours Mystery 48 Hours Mystery Housewives/NJ Housewives/NJ Four Houses ’ Four Houses ’ Four Houses ’ Four Houses ’ Cheapskates Extreme Extreme Twice in a Lifetime Missing ’ Å Criminal Minds ’ Love ››› “Rudy” (’93, Drama) Sean Astin. ’ Å Matt Amazing Scooby Looney Gumball Adven Lego Dragons ›› “Shark Tale” (’04, Comedy) Å Slug Wingin’ It Gravity Phineas Phineas Dog Good Liv-Mad. ANT Jessie Austin Shake It Paid Paid Office Atl. Eats Defrost Office College Football Kentucky at Vanderbilt. (N) (Live) Cash Cash Match Match Seinfeld Seinfeld J. Oliver At Mid Gas Gas Just for Laughs Michael Michael Rachael Ray’s Cooking Cooking Chopped ’ Å Cutthroat Kitchen Iron Chef America Canada Paid Paid Paid Paid Paid Storage Storage Storage Storage Storage Storage Paid Paid Pawn Pawn Pirate City Port Royal in Jamaica. ’ “Pirates of the Caribbean” Sanctuary ’ Panic Button ’ Naked Vegas ’ Ghost Mine Å Paranormal Wi. Face Off: Naked Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman Rawhide Å ››› “Pale Rider” (’85) Clint Eastwood. Å SonsKati Pitch In Paid Security Security Airport Airport Bggg Bggg Magic Magic Amazing Amazing (4:00) CTV News Weekend ’ Å CTV News Weekend ’ Å Octo Bubble Peppa Little Mike Umi Max, Rby Big Angelina Franklin Babar Mike Weekend Morning News Reid Fiest and Bindu Suri. (N) Fishn Fishing Power Driving House ’ Å Old House Aviators Michigan Out Mag. For Geta Rough Woods. Victory Cook’s Lidia IPunjabi Anmol Aaj Kal Gurbani Watno Dur ’ Punjabi Punjab Gaunda Lamia Virasat Quran Benjamin Maths Annie Booka Roltron Monstres Animo Magi 1001 Tintin Oniva Épicerie Saturday Morning News Shane Jones. (N) Fishn Fishing Power Driving House ’ Å VideoFlow Å VideoFlow Å VideoFlow Å Prince Prince Conan Å MuchCountdown (:15) ›› “The Flintstones” (’94) Å (8:50) ›› “King Ralph” ›› “American Dreamz” (’06) Å In Good Sud Science Cobayes Orignaux Le photographe Secrets d’Histoire Pass Tm Pass Tm Dangerous Drives Stunt Stunt NASCAR Racing NASCAR Racing Drive!

Transform Your Life. Be Your Potential!

PG-13 = Parental guidance strongly suggested for children under age 13 R = Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying adult or supervision.

(TV-Y) = appropriate for all children (TV-Y7) = appropriate for all children ages 7 and up (TV-14) = May be unsuitable for all children under 14 years of age (TV-MA) = Mature audiences only (D) = May contain suggestive language (L) = Course Language (FV) = Fantasy Violence (S) = Sexual Situations (V) = May contain violence

Anita Horton, Sales Coordinator 250-428-2266 sales@crestonvalleyadvance.ca

7 AM

www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca 9

Jasmine Lothien

Professional Counsellor D.V.A.T.I., B.C.A.T.R.

250-402-3262

Crime victim assistance claims welcome

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