PEACHLAND VIEW
2
OCTOBER 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
Peachland Residents Association past president pushing to revitalize organization to former glory DAN WALTON EDITOR
dwalton@aberdeenpublishing.com
The Peachland Residents’ Association (PRA) fell into hibernation three years ago because of waning enthusiasm, but past president Dora Stewart said the times and issues call for a revitalization of the organization. “We’ve been asleep too long and we’re grateful to the people who gave us a poke to wake up,” she said. “Our voice is focused on heightening the engagement of the community in decision making process concerning public services and density of Peachland.” The group’s mandate is to monitor Peachland’s civic operations, but Stewart’s efforts to rehash the group were partially inspired by the level of public engagement happening recently in nearby communities, citing the Save Skaha Park committee in Penticton and the ‘no’ campaign’s influence on September’s referendum in West Kelowna. In West Kelowna, citizens voted in a referendum three weeks ago about borrowing several million dollars to build a new $7.7 million town hall. Once the votes were tallied, the “no” side prevailed by a slim margin. “They both engaged the community in a wholesome way,” she said. “There’s a really good community energy.”
DORA STEWART IS
Stewart said the PRA will give taxpayers the chance to articulate their expectations and ideas, and by brainstorming together, members can achieve deeper levels of engagement with the municipality. “Our voice is focused on heightening the engagement of the community in decision making processes concerning public services and density of Peachland.” Stewart finds it troubling that Peachland has the capacity to increase its population from around 5,000 today to 20,000 in a relatively short time, and she worries that council won’t sustain growth responsibly. “A lot has been achieved as we know.
Council welcomes wine to artisan markets DAN WALTON EDITOR
dwalton@aberdeenpublishing.com
The moral dilemma of allowing vendors to sample wine at local farmer’s markets was analyzed during Tuesday’s Committee of the whole meeting. Provincial laws were relaxed in 2014 to allow for wine sampling at farmer’s markets, and indoor artisan markets piggypacked onto the definition. For vendors to get permission, the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch requires approval from the municipality. “I’m in favour of the artisan market,” said Coun. Peter Schierbeck. “But I’m not necessarily in favour of them having it at the farmers market in heritage park where there’s a whole bunch of kids. I’m confused as to what we’re really trying to do here.” Coun. Keith Thom replied by saying there are massive farmers markets all across the country that take place in parks which manage to safely and effectively distribute
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alcohol. Coun. Pam Cunningham said Peachland’s Tourist Info Centre, where the artisan markets take place, is “a beautiful venue for wine tasting. I think it’s a fantastic idea.” She also said the word liquor is a harsh way of describing samples of wine. “No one’s coming to get hammered off of hard spirits.” Coun. Mike Kent saidnothing but good can come from helping local producers. “It’s not for us to regulate. The province sets out where it can be served. It’s for us to support. I think it would be wrong for us to say we don’t support locally produced products, even if it might be wine.” The ratio for wineries offering tasting must be at least six to one, and because there’s only enough space for up to 14 vendors, there can’t be more than two tastings at the same market. Tuesday night at council, the motion requesting support passed unanimously.
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the past president of the Peachland Residents ‘Association and is hoping to revitalize the organization to its former glory.
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I feel with some caution and accommodation and boldness, we can probably sustain it as a livable community, and that’s what everyone wants. What that means raises some questions though,” she said. “But the density and liveability factor is of serious concern to those of us who live here now.” Before disbanding, the PRA surveyed its members and indicated that the relationship between council and voters was the top interest, which includes holding elected council and staff accountable to their word. “Their top-down approach of information causes exasperation in certain things,” she said. “It’s so dense that people throw up their hands trying to wade through it all – that’s a challenge for the way run our affairs.” In year past, PRA members worked to lobby the town to reopen its yard waste facility. “We made a valiant effort to convince the council that it was out of step with the needs of society to shut down environmentally important services,” she said. “But regrettably were unable to convince a single member of council that it was the wrong thing to do.” Stewart is confident that creative solutions can be found to to many of the challenges facing Peachland, and recalled a time when the community ran its irrigation and water system on a volunteer basis. “Till about the late 1980s,” she said. “Until it was deemed inadequate and required additional equipment and better filtering. But I thought it was a very dramatic example of the way small towns used to conduct their business.” She’ll be conducting the next PRA meeting at the Peachland Library on Oct. 18 at 5 p.m., and is inviting civic-minded residents of all ages to come out.
halloween spooktacular Start your Halloween shenanigans early with a Bouncy castle, carnival games, photo booth, face painting, haunted house, pumpkin carving/decorating, crafts, entertainment and a family dance party! Saturday October 29 1:30-3:30 pm Peachland Community Centre 3 years and over
$5/child - $15 for 3 or more children of the same immediate family Parents admission by food bank donation
Call to Register: 250.767.2133 Register Early!!