Creston Valley Advance, August 07, 2014 by Black Press Media Group

Now we can all be a piano man! Serving the Creston Valley since 1948

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Volume 66, No. 32

$1.10 (includes GST)

Lorne Eckersley

FRESH FOOD — Megan and Kim Cook of Cookville Community Farm were among a few dozen vendors at the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market, a busy place in Saturday’s sunshine.

Public piano destined for downtown walkthrough BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff

“Hand me that piano.” The phrase was among those that comedian George Carlin

said we are never likely to hear. But a piano is about to become close at hand in downtown Creston, thanks to a partnership between the Creston Rotary Club, the Town of

TODAY'S WEATHER

This week's weather artist:

Plane flies after 45 years in the making Page 12

Sevren MacVicar, Erickson Elementary School

DISCOVERY REAL ESTATE

Creston and several individuals and businesses. Rotary club spokesperson Marilin States said that a brightly painted piano is about to be installed in the Canyon

Street Walkthrough, free for the use of musicians of all ages and abilities. “The project started with one of our members who was in Boston and saw a ‘Play Me, I’m

Yours’ street piano,” she said. “She took photos and presented the idea to the Creston Rotary Club.” See PIANO, page 4

• Local artists part of culture tour /3 • Housing project breaking ground /4 FIND US ONLINE AT

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A few times recently, Richard LaRose and Anne Teske have noticed a great horned owl perched in the window of the white grain elevator on Northwest Boulevard, and Teske snapped this photo of the owl on July 27. SHOWTIMES: 7:30PM

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year’s Summerfest is free, and it boasts a lineup of food, games and more. Headlining the festival at 7:30 p.m. is Robert Larrabee with a tribute to the legends, including Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, George Jones and Dwight Yoakam. •••

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and required additional fire suppression resources,” said a press release from the Southeast Fire Centre. “Human-caused wildfires can divert critical resources and crews from responding to naturally occurring wildfires.” Prohibited activities include campfires, the burning of any waste, slash or other materials, stubble or grass fires of any size over any area, the use of burning barrels of any size or description, and the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, tiki torches or outdoor fire pits. The open burning prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by fire departments. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, August 7, 2014

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LOcaL news OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, AUGUST 10

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Creston, East Shore artists featured on annual culture tour COLUMBIA BASIN CULTURE TOUR

Taking place 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10, the Columbia Basin Culture Tour allows you to explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites during this free, self-guided event. Travel to studios and archives that aren’t normally open, see demonstrations, new exhibitions and collections or meet people behind the scenes. To participate in the tour, simply grab a map, your culture tour directory and go! Five minutes east of Creston in Erickson you will find the Alfoldy Gallery featuring the work of long time painters and gallery owners, Elaine and Andy Alfoldy. Their original paintings in watercolour, acrylics and dyed fabric offer themes developed as longtime Kootenay residents. You can see the humour and stories told in many of Andy’s paintings, while Elaine paints flowers in colourful, bold compositions. You’ll find miniatures and cards as well as large paintings, all at affordable prices. Also in Erickson, experience the Bluemoon Pottery and Weaving

Studio, showcasing the work of Andrea Revoy, who creates one-ofa-kind sculptural and functional ceramics. Her work is whimsical and colourful, with a touch of humour. From circus chickens, porcelain and enameled jewelry to carved mugs, there is something for everyone. Artistic Visions is a group of 15 seasoned artists representing the flavour of the Creston Valley through paintings, jewelry, recycled material, photography, carvings, fabric art and more. Throughout the culture tour, Artistic Visions will have artists on-site at the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce giving demonstrations of various art techniques and working on new pieces of art. A demo schedule will be available from the chamber. The Snoring Sasquatch is opening its doors for the culture tour. Come and see what happens at this intimate, family friendly live music and recording arts venue. Find out why it is a favourite destination for performers, from up-and-coming artists to legendary performers from around the country. See CULTURE, page 5

Gathering Eggs by Elaine Alfoldy, whose Erickson gallery is among five Creston locations on the Columbia Basin Culture Tour. Elaine Alfoldy

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Piano

The street piano concept originated in Sheffield, England, when a piano was left outside temporarFrom page 1 ily because the owner couldn’t get States appeared at a town coun- it up the stairs. He and a friend cil meeting last month to introduce saw the opportunity for a social the idea and get support from the experiment and placed a sign town. With the obvious support of inviting passersby to play it. Later, council, and a commitment to an artist started installing a series work with town staff, the Rotary of decorated street pianos in variclub was able to secure the dona- ous cities. Today, they are found all tion of a piano from a local family. around the world. Artist Brandy Hunt offered her “It’s a great way to bring art and creative talents to decorate the music to our streets,” States said. instrument, which will be placed In addition to the town (which under a roof, but still exposed to has not been asked to contribute weather. Musician Elvin Strand financially) and Creston Rotary donated his time and expertise to Club, States said Creston Valley tune the instrument. Growing Together, Creston Valley “I love it,” Hunt told States Chamber of Commerce and Creative when they visited the walkthrough Fix have been integral to the project. to discuss the project. Neighbouring businesses Panago Pizza and Summit Outdoor Sport were supportive of the COMPLETE EYEGLASS concept, she said. “We will even make some laminat• Kids from $129 ed sheet music avail• Bifocals from $182 able for musicians • Progressive from $249 who don’t have pieces committed to Quality Eye Care memory,” she said. Quality Eyewear Pending final Since 1949 approval from town council on Aug. 5, the Creston Optometric Eye Centre piano will be rolled out for public enjoy223 - 16th Ave N • 250-428-2044 ment at a public display of Hunt’s artwork from 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 12. The public is invited to attend and light refreshments will be served.

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Columbia Basin Culture Tour Aug 9 - 10, 2014 10:00am - 5:00pm

Aug 15,

Explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites through this free, self-guided tour within the Columbia Basin. Meet the artists, shop for fine art and craft, view demonstrations, special exhibitions, interpretive displays or chat with local historians during this two day cultural celebration! For further information visit our website or call. A project of

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Thursday, August 7, 2014 Creston Valley Advance

Housing breaking ground Advance Staff

An announcement and groundbreaking ceremony for a new family housing project is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 12. The project will be constructed at 215 25th Ave. S. with fund-

ing from the governments of Canada and B.C., Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and the Creston Valley Community Housing Society (CVCHS). In attendance will be Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, Creston Mayor

Ron Toyota and representatives of CBT and CVCHS. BC Housing, the provincial Crown corporation that oversees community housing projects, refused to provide further details to inform readers prior to the public announcement.

Busts nab 600 pot plants BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff

Creston RCMP responded to 104 calls for service from July 28-Aug. 3, Staff Sergeant Bob Gollan said on Tuesday. July 28 •While police were attending a minor motorcycle accident on Highway 21 South, an intoxicated 77-year-old male interfered with their work and was arrested. He was held in cells until sober. He attended the police station a couple days later to apologize for his behaviour, explaining that he had taken medication along with the alcohol and could not remember the incident, which was detailed for him by his wife. •The first of a series of outdoor marijuana grow-op takedowns resulted in the destruction of 142 plants near Highway 3A. •A vehicle attempting to pull over on Highway 21 South went into the ditch and struck a power pole. No injuries were reported. •Near Balfour, 93 marijuana plants were destroyed. •The owner of a parked vehicle that rolled into a concrete barrier on Eighth Avenue South was given a ticket for failing to secure the vehicle. •A driver complained about almost being struck by a Volkswagen Beetle with Quebec plates when it did a U-turn on Canyon Street. •A male was arrested, charged and released with no contact conditions following a domestic dispute on Hillside Street. July 29 •The first of several complaints about fruit pickers parking unsafely on Highway 3 was received. •A purse found on Northwest Boulevard was returned to its owner. •A small pack was found on 33rd Avenue South. •Police were unable to locate an erratic northbound Dodge Grand Caravan bearing Idaho plates on Highway 3/95. •Three trespassers were reported to be putting a boat in the water in a dangerous spot on Highway 21 South. •A male and female reported to be involved in a physical altercation on Eighth Avenue South have not been located. •Fruit pickers who had been fired from their work set up camp on the library property, complete with campfire. They were told to move on. •A dog that nipped at a female pedestrian on Samuelson Road was not located by police. •A Valleyview Crescent resident complained that a male had been sitting in a lawn chair in the

area for more than an hour. He had left when police stopped by. July 30 •An intoxicated male who was challenging people to fight on Canyon Street was taken home. •An intoxicated female was arrested after a domestic disturbance on 38th Avenue. She was held in cells until sober and released with conditions. •Police talked to an intoxicated male on Highway 21 South on the phone and told him to go to bed. •An investigation about a complaint by a Sixth Avenue South resident that someone had set up a false phone account in his name revealed that the man owes a large sum of money and the account is now in the hands of a collection agency. •Squatters on private property on West Creston Road were served a notice to vacate under the Trespass Act. •Two marijuana grow-op busts in the Gray Creek Pass area resulted in 117- and 261-plant takedowns. July 31 •A female who caused a problem at the Kingsgate border entry after she was refused entry to the U.S. was behaving erratically and taken to hospital for observation. Police later learned she had been reported missing from Fort McMurray, Alta. •A lunchbox was stolen from a Highway 3A business and some of the contents were later found nearby. •A complaint about a dog left in a vehicle on 16th Avenue South was dealt with by the town bylaw department. •A camera was stolen from a vehicle parked on Canyon Street. •An assault was reported to have taken place while a tenant on Eastman Avenue was being evicted. •A minor collision on Leadville Road occurred when a driver backed into a vehicle on July 28. •Boxes of items were stolen from a deck on 11th Avenue South overnight. •An intoxicated and unwanted male guest at a Mallory Road residence was arrested and held in police cells until sober. August 1 •A complaint of a bonfire on Hearst Avenue in Riondel was referred to the town’s fire chief. •Money was reported taken from a business on Highway 3 but there were no signs of a forced entry. •A collision occurred on Northwest Boulevard when a driver pulled unsafely out into traffic. He was ticketed. No injuries were reported. •A dog was reported in a

vehicle in a Northwest Boulevard parking lot. •A male found lying on an Ibbitson Street lawn had wiped out on his bike and suffered minor injuries. He was taken to hospital for treatment. •Extensive damage but no injuries to passengers resulted from a collision with a moose on Highway 3. August 2 •In an early morning check stop of 35 vehicles on Highway 21 only one driver was issued a ticket. •A male will likely face charges for possessing a weapon after uttering threats on Canyon Street. He was arrested and held in cells. •A male was charged for driving while prohibited after he was seen by a patrolling officer on Canyon Street. •A female on Highway 3A reported that her name was used falsely in an online ad offering Shambala tickets. •A theft of flowers was reported by a Cook Street business. •A male who was refusing to leave a Canyon Street business was gone when police arrived. •A report of a sexual assault on Highway 3 is being investigated. •A dispute involving campers in Canyon Park was reported. •An intoxicated male was arrested on 25th Avenue South and held in cells until sober. •A backpack was reported stolen on 16th Avenue North. •A complaint about a camper on private property was received from Canyon-Lister Road. August 3 •A noise complaint came from Bossio Road. •A male and female sustained minor injuries when their motorcycle swerved to avoid a deer on Highway 3A. •Two males claiming they were unpaid for work on Erickson Road were arrested for assault and held in cells with charges pending. •A 17-year-old male sustained head injuries when he fell down to a rock outcropping in an attempt to reach the river from Osborne Road. He was airlifted by helicopter with the aid of Nelson Search and Rescue volunteers and transported to Kelowna. •A pink hard-case wallet was stolen from a vehicle parked on Ninth Avenue South. •A parked vehicle sustained minor damage when another vehicle rolled and struck it in a Cook Street parking lot. •A person near a tent and campfire off Cedar Street was found to have an outstanding warrant. He was arrested and held in cells until a court date could be set.

LOcaL news

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, August 7, 2014

www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca 5

Jazz Council performing in Crawford Bay making her reasonably confident that one day she will no longer be square. She is a longtime member of the Symphony of the Kootenays and former conductor of the Kimberley United Church choir and Kimberley Community Band. She’s currently honing her jazz skills as a member of Ralph Mercredi Quorum in Ottawa. Heyde earned a diploma of music performance from MacEwan Univeristy before completing his bachelor’s degrees in arts and education. He is a versatile percussionist who has studied with Paul Walker (University of LEthbridge), Brian Thurgood (MacEwan) and Tyler Hornby (Mount Royal University). He also plays with redGirl, a melodicallyinspired folk-rock-alt-country band, as an occasional player for Symphony of the Kootenays, and as a pick-up player for Cranbrook blues band, Grand Larseny. Pianist and arranger Plait has enjoyed improvisation ever since he started piano lessons with Arne Sahlen in his hometown of Kimberley. He studied piano, piano teaching and vocal accompaniment in the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s diploma program. He loves to arrange music and has especially enjoyed preparing pieces for the group’s jazz vespers evenings. Plait has also served as the Kimberley Summer Theatre’s accompanist and music director for six seasons. He moved overseas in autumn 2012, where he was inspired by the amazing music and culture in Germany and Ireland, and is now settling into life in Edmonton.

JAZZ COUNCIL

It’s reunion time! Two years after their last concert together, the original members of the Jazz Council are bringing their infectious swing, magnetic energy and new original tunes to Crawford Bay’s Harrison Memorial Church at 7 p.m. Aug. 14. Drummer Sven Heyde, pianist Tim Plait, saxophonist Bernie Primbs, trumpeter Laurel Ralston and bassist Joel Kroeker have been honing their skills and exploring new musical horizons — here in the Kootenays, across the country, and abroad. They are thrilled to meet back at home this summer and pick up where they left off — making great music in their signature style. The Jazz Council has given over 40 performances since forming in 2010, and releasing a successful debut album, Dawn, in 2011. The group is renowned across the Kootenays for its unique sound and blend of instruments, skillful playing and irresistible stage presence. Primbs, a MacEwan University music graduate, has played the sax for over 18 years. He has a great love for performing and simply having a good time on stage. He plays the baritone and tenor saxes. When not playing his horn, he can be found doing first aid with the ski patrol in Kimberley, and has a great love for the outdoors and nature. Trumpeter and flautist Ralston studied classical music performance at the University of Ottawa, and has enthusiastically embraced the challenges of jazz,

Culture

From page 3 The Hirota Gallery in Wynndel hosts several creative artists in one location. Eileen Hirota creates textured, colourful mixed media canvas paintings. She also features her brother Jackson’s wood-fired pottery; his passion is making large plates, bowls and vases. The gallery also has textile art with “eye candy” yarns transformed into scarves and purses, along with the work of a raku and fabric specialist who creates crows, jewelry and more. Drive up the East Shore to the

Artisans of Crawford Bay, a group of talented and diverse craft artists, all within easy walking distance of each other. Strolling through the heart of Crawford Bay, you can stop at the studios to watch them work, ask questions, and learn a little about their crafts. Expect to see a weaver at her loom, a blacksmith forging hot steel with a hammer and anvil, copper enamellists creating beautiful art and jewelry, a potter throwing bowls on her wheel, broom makers weaving traditional brooms, a jeweler making silver pendants, a wood carver carving a full size bear or a cherub, and the Celtic lady making leather masks. Just

2105 Maple Place

Gorgeous home

Submitted

(From left) Tim Plait, Sven Heyde, Laurel Ralston, Bernie Primbs and Joel Kroeker are the Jazz Council.

Kroeker picked up the bass out of necessity. He was already fluent on several other instruments, including guitar, piano and saxophone, but the ensemble needed a bass. He has a great ear, which compensates for his less-than-adequate sight-reading skills. Kroeker appreciates all genres, though he more than often chooses to listen to classic

around the corner are a soap and candle maker and a bead store. These are just a few of the fabulous venues on the 2014 Columbia Basin Culture Tour. Tour brochures are available at tourist information centres and participating venues. Visit the website at www.cbculturetour. com to view full artist/venue profiles for further details on each location’s activities or register to receive a tour brochure in the mail. For further information, call the CKCA at 1-250-505-5505 or toll free at 1-877-505-7355. The Columbia Basin Culture Tour is supported by Columbia Basin Trust funding.

rock on his iPod. Jazz has always intrigued him; he finds its complexity both challenging and rewarding. Joel currently teaches music and drama in Sparwood. The Jazz Council firmly believes that jazz is, at its core, popular music, and can be both authentic and accessible. Their original compositions and their

Creston Valley Horse Association presents

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covers weave together many different strands and sub-genres of jazz, giving the listener’s ears a well-balanced diet, while their ability to select sounds from a specific palette gives them a unique, clear sound that is all their own. Admission to the concert at Harrison Memorial Church is by donation.

Please phone 250-428-4839 for more information

CVHA CRESTON VALLEY HORSE ASSOC.

Creston Valley Realty Edward Jones Sunset Seed Ramada Creston Hotel Comfort Welding Home Hardware Building Centre KDG Photography Kemlee Equipment Ltd Diamond Lazy H Quarter Horses Wendy Forsyth Columbia Basin Trust RDCK Area B

Town of Creston RDCK Area C Ricky’s All Day Grill Laura Sobkiw Skimmerhorn Winery Creston Veterinary Hospital Yellowhead Road and Bridge Kokanee Ford Dairy Queen Czar Construction All our volunteers and riders

6 www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca

Opinion Line

Thursday, August 7, 2014 Creston Valley Advance

Aren’t they clever?

“Always keep your foes condo anything that might look like fused. If they are never certain who teachers are benefiting. you are or what you want, they I generally assume that modern cannot know what you are like to governments don’t take any step do next.” without testing ideas with public It’s almost as though George R.R. (Game of Thrones) Martin was writing not in The Storm of Swords, but about the Christy Clark B.C. government. What better way to explain the recent announcement that parents of children 13 and under will get $40 a day per kid if Lorne Eckersley the teachers’ strike extends into the new school year? If you like your government opinion polls, but I can’t help but clever, and not wise, you might just feel that Clark woke up in the midfind something to like about the dle of night having given birth to finance minister’s announcement. this brain twister, and that finance Personally, I fall on the side of minister Mike de Jong (not typically Oscar Wilde, who wrote in The the dumbest guy in the room) Importance of Being Earnest, “I am responded with an uncharacteristic sick to death of cleverness. “Thy will be done” and called for a Everybody is clever nowadays.” If press conference. Wilde thought cleverness was a Christy Clark is a private school problem in his day, he’d gone nuts supporter. She’s made that clear in trying to understand how exactly countless ways, including being we put up with the nonsense that one of the few Liberals who will comes disguised as government actually admit that their kids are today. too good for public education. So There are any number of ways maybe this clever scheme is meant to spin the rebate, supposedly to nothing more than divert anothintended for day care or tutoring er few percentage points of stu(or, better yet, to encourage pardents into the private sector. A few ents to enroll their kids in private per cent shifts millions of dollars in schools in the hope the cheques funding out of the public system will keep rolling in), but none of and solidifies the support of those them remotely resembles anything who think the purpose of educathat might pass for wisdom. Sure, tion is to prepare children to the announcement pokes striking/ become producers and consumers. holidaying teachers with a sharp It’s hard to know whether that line stick. And it removes any temptaof thought is actually growing in tion the government itself might numbers — known as votes in have to pour the strike-fed savings political speak — but it is apparent back into the education system. that they are financially powerful, Because they would rather use sac- and donations buy votes, don’t rifice the welfare of students than they?

This is the Life

The wisdom of a system that allows workers to withhold services in the absence of a contract is that it forces the public to express its opinions. Teaching might not be the best loved profession in the province, but it almost certainly is held in higher esteem than political life, so Clark’s scheme is assuredly intended to appease parents. Here’s your money back. The big bad teachers aren’t doing their jobs so your nice government is returning what we ding you in taxes. Unfortunately, parents of kids 13 and under aren’t the only taxpayers in the province. People like me pay taxes, happily, to fund public education because we know that we were beneficiaries and we believe that it makes for a better society. But people like me might be much less enthusiastic about seeing the education portion of our taxes going not into schools, but into the pockets of a select few, who can use that money as they choose. For the economy, the result will be a wash — the money will circulate much like it would if it was going to pay teachers. So the basic premise is clever. But the act of handing cash back to parents does nothing whatsoever to address the need for kids to be in school (and not sitting alone in front of a computer doing on-line courses), learning how to socialize and function in society. To bridge the huge gap between this provincial government and our public school teachers, for the benefit of our children, will take wisdom, not cleverness. Lorne Eckersley is the publisher of the Creston Valley Advance.

OpiniOn Line

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, August 7, 2014

Increased speeds a ‘cynical ploy’ To the Editor: Lorne Eckersley’s recent column (July 10, “Does Speed Really Kill?”) about a trip down Highway 22 in Alberta gave me pause to reminisce. Cruising along this scenic Highway 22 recently at the speed limit or above, a semi with two trailers made a move to pass and I wisely slowed down as he drove into oncoming traffic. Years ago, I had learned my lesson in Ontario. Setting off from Toronto on a film shoot with two vehicles, one of which was pulling a trailer with all of our equipment, we experienced a similar situation. As there was approaching traffic, the truck driver reclaimed our lane midway through his pass, sending our towing car and trailer off the road into the ditch with the result of trailer splinters and film equipment scattered beside the road for several metres. The truck driver did not stop. Since then, 18-wheelers passing my vehicle have made me nervous, and the current move to extend the length of the trailers is a daft idea. So is increasing the speed limit, particularly in these ecologically sensitive times. I see this as a cynical ploy by the

government to further Americanize our province, and to relieve pressure on the constabulary who do not enforce the current speed limit in any case. Now they won’t have to be concerned with it. It appears that our establishment that maintains “law and order” is often bereft of common sense. Caveat emptor! Larry Ewashen Creston

Virtual doc visits are the way to go To the Editor: My husband and I now find ourselves without a family doctor. Visits for prescription refills, routine blood work, ECGs, colon cancer screening, X-rays or a referral to a specialist must be done by a visit to the emergency room. The doctors at Medeo can do all of the above without you leaving the comfort of your home. My husband recently needed a renewal of a standing order for blood work and waited in the emergency room for over three hours, and then left in frustration without seeing anyone. We heard of a company called Medeo on CTV Vancouver and decided to check it out. If you are computer literate enough to get on the Internet and receive

www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca 7

emails, you are good to go. The computer or device you are using must also have camera capabilities. The service is only available in B.C. and the company is out of Vancouver. There are no fees to pay as your MSP plan covers the cost of the visit. Medeo has 250 doctors registered with this program. You need only Google Medeo and register for the service online. When you need to see a doctor, you sign in with your password and a care co-ordinator speaks with you and sets up an appointment. You can both see each other on the computer screen. When the time comes for the appointment, you sign in again five minutes before your scheduled virtual visit. The care co-ordinator greets you online and you are patched through to the doctor for your consultation. Lab requisitions can be faxed directly to the lab here in Creston, and prescription refills are faxed to the pharmacy of your choice. Lab results are sent back to the doctor at Medeo, and if there are any abnormalities, you will be contacted by email and advised to go online for another appointment so the doctor may discuss any issues. My husband was visiting with a doctor only 20 minutes from the time he asked for an appointment. I also have tried the service and was very impressed. My visit was scheduled three hours after my request. Think of the time and money that could be saved by avoiding an emergency room visit! Peggy Kaun Creston

Taking advantage of home equity

People purchase homes for a variety of reasons. Some want the stability of owning their own home, while others also look at home ownership as an investment vehicle. No matter what the reason, the truth is that home ownership has proven itself to be a good stable investment over time, and one that many are profiting from. In years past, many saw their homes as a shelter of safety, yet today they are more than ever before willing to borrow against the equity owned in their homes to further their investment portfolios, get out of high cost debt, send their children to university, make improvements to their home or even boost their RRSP contributions. Where home equity was once sat upon, today it is something that can be tapped out and used to one’s advantage. Ultimately, it boils down to a person’s comfort level. There is nothing wrong with just getting your mortgage paid down, and living in your home free and clear. It can provide a great sense of comfort knowing that your home is bought and paid for. There are a few approaches to dealing with the equity in one’s home. As I just mentioned, one approach is to pay off your mortgage and let the equity in your home basically sit there as a safety net. On one hand it isn’t making you any money, but on the other hand it isn’t costing you anything. And ultimately we all need a place to live so the opportunity cost of having that much equity just sitting there is offset by the costs that you would otherwise incur to have a place to live.

Another approach is to leverage the equity in your home to pursue investments that will net you a higher rate of return than what you are paying in interest on your mortgage. The idea here is to

Mortgage Corner Dean Bala

utilize the equity in your home to purchase investments that could include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, rental properties, a business or any other incomeproducing venture. Since mortgage rates are generally quite low in comparison to the returns on a lot of investments, a person will come out ahead in the long run. The downside to this approach is the additional risk that the homeowner is taking on by doing this. For example, if you took $100,000 in equity out of your home to invest in the stock market and you are paying three per cent interest on your mortgage, and then invested that money and achieved a return of eight per cent, you have just leveraged the equity in your home to make money. But… If the investment goes bad you still owe the $100,000. So it can magnify the gains you make, but it can also magnify the losses. It is very

UOTE OF THE

important to speak to a qualified financial advisor before pursuing this strategy. Another way to take advantage of the equity in your home is to refinance to pay down high-interest debt. The idea here is to lower the amount of interest you are paying because mortgage rates are much lower than most credit cards, personal loans, vehicle loans, etc. The net effect is that you are now able to pay less each month on the same amount of debt, or keep your payments the same and pay much less interest. A person can also refinance and use the money to make improvements to the home, go on a vacation, or purchase something like a boat, camper or ATV. This can be risky in a way because money is much easier to borrow than to pay back! But as long as a person is disciplined with this approach, it can be a sound way to purchase items that you plan to purchase anyways. While tapping the equity in your home can be a good idea, you should do so with caution and understand any of the possible consequences. The best thing you can do is consult a licensed mortgage professional and financial planner to discuss opportunities to make your home’s equity work for you. Dean Bala is a mortgage broker and Realtor working out of the Creston Valley Realty office in Creston. For more information, he can be reached at 250-402-3903 or dean_bala@yahoo.com.

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Regional News

8 www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca

Thursday, August 7, 2014 Creston Valley Advance

Johnsons Landing evacuation order lifted BY GREG NESTEROFF Nelson Star

More than two years after a deadly landslide at Johnsons Landing, the Regional District of Central Kootenay has rescinded an evacuation order for the area, although it probably won't make much difference to affected residents. RDCK chair John Kettle confirmed the order would be lifted as of July 31. “It means things can go back to as normal as they can be,” he said. However, that doesn't mean the area is safe — residents are being told that while there is no imminent danger, if they access their land they do so at their own risk. Many have already done so, but to build or rebuild, they will have to provide a geotechnical assessment to the regional district, which Kettle suggested may be expensive and impractical. The provincial government will continue to monitor the slide area while logging will be restricted on Crown land above the community. Kettle said the regional district waited for two freshet periods to pass before deciding to lift the order. He is satisfied there has been minimal movement of the slide area in that time. “It doesn't look like a doomsday scenario,” he said. “It could be tomorrow, it could be 1,000 years from now. But we might also be hit by a car in a crosswalk. We've got to continue to live.”

Nelson Star

A landslide at Johnsons Landing on July 12, 2012 claimed four lives.

Affected residents were advised of the decision at a meeting July 27. Kate O’Keefe, whose husband Harvey Armstrong owns a property in the evacuation zone, said there was a “sense of resignation” among the 35 people at the meeting. O’Keefe said they also learned that a berm on private land put in place fol-

lowing the slide will probably remain in place, although it will require further evaluation. But there has been little movement on the issue of compensation. Although the province provided several hundred thousand dollars in disaster assistance to those who lost their primary homes,

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it hasn't been willing to compensate part-time residents. The government also says it has no means to buy out affected property owners, who continue to pay taxes on land they can't use. “We've had no hope for quite a long time,” O’Keefe said. “Our director and John Kettle have done as much as they can possibly do to achieve something, but it leaves a bad taste. People in Calgary [affected by flooding in 2013] were treated differently, and we were basically forgotten.” Rural Kaslo regional director Andy Shadrack said the RDCK has put forward a resolution to the Union of BC Municipalities asking the province to create a compensation program that any property owner affected by a natural disaster could apply to. While he applauded the province's initial response to the slide, Shadrack said he was “extremely disappointed” it has failed to compensate all affected residents. “It doesn’t seem appropriate to have neighbours side-by-side where one gets compensated and the other doesn’t,” he said. He wasn't impressed either with the regional district's requirement for an engineering report before it allows building in the hazard zone. “If it’s not forthcoming, we’re going to deny them a permit? That's a terrible situation to put people in,” he said. As it lifted the evacuation order, the regional district issued a warning to residents and property owners advising them of ongoing risks of occupying land in the hazard area. Greg Utzig, whose cabin lies on property partly within that zone, found it perplexing. “They basically said we’re going to rescind the order and you’re free to do whatever you want on your property but at the same time hand out letters that tell you not to do anything,” he said. “They’re trying to relieve themselves of any responsibility.” A risk assessment concluded 18 properties remain at risk from another slide, including five that face a very high risk. Utzig said he has repeatedly asked for interpretation of the report, giving examples of safe or unsafe activities, to no avail. He said part of the problem is that the landslide originated on Crown land, which is the province's responsibility, but caused damage on private land, which is the regional district's responsibility. “A number of us are not very happy but in general I think the regional district has done everything they can do. They certainly tried but the province seems to be missing in action.” He took a dim view of the province's promised monitoring of the slide area, since no details were provided to explain what will be examined, how often, or for how long. Nor were residents consulted. Ministry of Forests spokesperson Vivian Thomas said a geomorphologist placed pins at areas above the debris flow to measure movement, which have been monitored regularly, and will continue to be checked for movement. “Currently the area is relatively stable, but if that changes, that will be communicated immediately to the regional district,” she said. Four people died when the slide came down on July 12, 2012, destroying five homes as well as a community water system. Sixteen people were evacuated from seven homes while six residents from three homes chose to stay. Within two weeks of the slide, four evacuated residents returned home. Sixteen residents whose homes were either damaged beyond use or who couldn’t access their homes remained under the evacuation order. Under provincial legislation, such orders can't remain in place indefinitely. The regional district says the instability of the slide area is “consistent with what can be expected”; however, its significance can’t be determined because there is no data to compare it to. It also says geotechnical experts advise against trying to bring down the slide debris through controlled means. Although the evacuation order has been lifted, portions of three roads remain closed.

TV Listings

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, August 7, 2014

Your TV Guide Legend

SERVING THE CRESTON VALLEY SINCE 1948

TV RATINGS:

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(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

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Canada Weekend Marilyn Denis Children Cash Written Gas SportsCentre ’ The Social Å Good Morning KOMO 4 News Hanna Ocean Explore Rescue NASCAR Racing Chica Noodle Justin Tree Fu Lazy Zou (EI) Outages Paid Jeopardy Paid Motorcycle Racing KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Recipe J. Oliverr Dr. Chris Fishing 2014 PGA Championship Third Round. Morning News News News Garden Paid Pacific-Marlin Motorcycle Racing SportsCentre 2014 PGA Championship Third Round. (N) (Live) Å 2014 PGA Championship Third Round. Sportsnet Con. Sportsnet Con. Plays Blue MLB Baseball Detroit Tigers at Toronto Blue Jays. Å Saturday Morning News (N) Å Fish’n Fishing Boat TV Driving Noon News Hour Ella the Jelly Upside PAW Magic Maya Wild Martha Re Finding Animals Animals Animal Super Artzooka Cross Recipes WTA Tennis Rogers Cup: Women’s First Semifinal. (N) Tennis Adven. DFlyTV Biz Kid$ On Spot Coolest Eco Co. Paid Paid Paid Perfecter Paid Paid CNN Newsroom With Fredricka Whitfield (N) News Tomor CNN Newsroom Auction Auction Auction Auction Auction Auction Auction Auction Auction Cops ’ Cops ’ Cops ’ Fixer Upper Å Fixer Upper Å Land Land Land Land Hunters Hunt Intl Beach Island Criminal Minds ’ Flipping Boston ’ Flipping Vegas ’ Extreme Builds (Series Premiere) (N) Storage Storage Love It or List It Will Will Will Will ›› “Cheaper by the Dozen 2” (’05) Love It Alien Nerds Chucks Rabbids Sponge. Monsters Sanjay Bread Turtles BeyWar. Pokémon Power CBC News Now With Michael Serapio CBC News Now With Christine Birak From Toronto. (N) Å Engels “Doomsday Prophecy” (’11) ’ Å ›› “Hitman” (’07) Timothy Olyphant. ›› “Unknown” (’11) ’ Licence to Drill Mayday Å Bering Sea Gold Mayday Mayday Å Yukon Men Å Stranger--Home 48 Hours Mystery 48 Hours Mystery Inside Job Å The Undateables Housewives/OC Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Say Yes Say Yes Say Yes Say Yes Say Yes Say Yes Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Criminal Minds ’ Johnny T Looney Tom/ Adven Legends Dragons ›› “Space Jam” (’96, Comedy) Å Johnny T Rocket Gravity Wizards ANT Shake It Good Austin Dog Jessie Liv-Mad. I Didn’t ›› “Skyrunners” Browns Atl. Eats Office Youthful ››› “Chicken Run” (’00) (:45) ›› “The Road to El Dorado” Paid Cash Cash Match Match Seinfeld Seinfeld Big Bang Big Bang Just for Laughs Sat. Night Live Rachael Ray’s Pioneer Pioneer Chopped Canada Cutthroat Kitchen Chopped ’ Å Food Network Star Paid Paid Paid Paid Air Race High. Air Race High. Air Race High. Air Race High. Storm Planets ’ Storm Planets ’ Storm Planets ’ Star Trek: Secrets of the Universe ’ Target Earth Å Stargate Universe Stargate Universe Fanboy Egos Panic Button ’ Face Off ’ Å The Last Ship ’ Hell on (:16) ›››› “The Searchers” (’56) Å ››› “McLintock!” (’63, Western) John Wayne. Å Treasure Treasure Security Security Airport Airport Declassified Mysteries-Museum Security Security (3:00) CTV News Weekend ’ Å CTV News Weekend ’ Å Zack Mike Little Little Max, Rby Big Caillou Cat in Babar Mike Umi This Is (6:00) Weekend Morning News (N) Fish’n Fishing Boat TV Driving Ancients-Badly Canadian Simpson Heart Dr. Fuhrman’s End Dieting Forever! ’ Healing ADD With-Amen Yoga-Secret Orman Punjabi Gurbani Watno Dur ’ Gaunda Punjab Believe Lamia Virasat Quran Peace Words Mike Annie Spirou Doigts Gawayn Erky Tennis Coupe Rogers: demi-finales hommes et femmes. (6:00) Saturday Morning News (N) Fish’n Fishing Boat TV Driving Ancients-Badly Canadian Simpson VideoFlow Å Oh Sit! ’ Å Total Fools Prince Prince Oh Sit! ’ Å Total Fools “Osmosis Jones” (7:55) ›› “Batman Forever” (’95) › “The Avengers” (’98) “Pirates Who Don’t Do” Spécimen Hôpital vétérinaire Mondes Ports d’attache Constellation Soccer Ligue 1 (N) Dangerous Drives NASCAR Racing Monster Jam Monster Jam Dumbest Dumbest Pinks - All Out

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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

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SATURDAY AFTERNOON / AUGUST 9

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