Election 2008! KISS FM open line.

KISS FM is presenting the Coldstream Mayoralty candidates debate

this morning from 11 AM to 12 PM today. Your questions to the candidates are

welcome!

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Readers write -- Bridges or walls?

"Building Bridges not Walls", this is the statement at the bottom of some of Glen Taylors signs.

When asked what it meant he said. " Co- operation with Greater Vernon Services, GVSC"

It is a little strange when Vernon is opting out of the Water end of it, Coldstream voters and some council members want Parks back again ( under Coldstream). NORD is opting out of services too. What else is left?

Maybe it would be a good idea to disband GVSC ( or whatever its name is).

Angie Kitcher

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LEST WE FORGET.

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Readers write -- Kalavista neighbourhood update.

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Readers' write -- Re: "Comments off base" by Jim McEwan, Executive Director, Funtastic

Re: "Comments off base" by Jim McEwan, Executive Director, Funtastic Sports Society, in the Morning Star, November 9

Mr. McEwan has launched a diatribe against me, a mayoral candidate, by misrepresenting what I have said at public forums and on the KISS-FM phone-in for mayoralty candidates. He talks about me "taking aim at the Funtastic Slo-pitch Tournament" and goes on to great lengths promoting his organization and their financial contributions while denigrating this mayoral candidate in a most inaccurate manner. I have never said anything about their financial contributions to the community. Mr. McEwan states he "would like to set the record straight". By this media release, I am setting the "record straight".

So, what are the facts?

At the SENS Forum held at the Knox Presbyterian Church, I stated that the Funtastic Sports Society was a business. Mr. McEwan states in his letter in the Morning Star, "Funtastic does operate on a strict business model". So he and I are in agreement on that. At the SENS Forum I suggested that Funtastic needed to address "a small element of participants" who were causing trouble through drunkenness and rowdiness which necessitated the intervention of our RCMP on more than one occasion. These are facts that were reported in the media.

At the mayoralty forum at the Schubert Centre I stated my full support for the Funtastics and I offered them a suggestion to play their sport on the fields and use facilities like the Multiplex for their concerts, socials and beer gardens. That. I suggested, would be a win-win situation for everyone.

Another fact is there have been complaints about Funtastic concerts and the noise levels into the early hours. Hence, my suggestion to go indoors for those.
On the KISS-FM radio programme, I again offered the suggestion in a constructive spirit to Mr. McEwan, that they needed to deal with these problems to produce a win-win situation for the community and the Funtastics.

I also offered the opinion that, since the Funtastics organization are into promoting sports, the behaviour reported in the media was not a good example to young people. So I suggest that any reasonable person looking at the facts of what I actually said would conclude that it is a reasonable position for a mayoralty candidate to take; one given with constructive recommendations to the Funtastics.

I am involved in sports in Vernon year round on a volunteer basis as a boxing coach (NCCP qualified) and have been involved in sport in Vernon since 1974, so my support for sports is clear.

In conclusion, I will remind everyone that in the past, events that were economically appealing such as the Kelowna Regatta and the Penticton Peach Festival had to be cancelled because bad behaviour was not nipped in the bud.

Antony Stamboulieh
250-260-1082

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KISSFM poll re: Coldstream Mayor

KISS FM is conducting a poll for Coldstream Mayor!

http://www.1075kiss.com/

Your opportunity to express your preference!


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Notice to: Members of the Coldstream Ratepayers’ Association

Notice to: Members of the Coldstream Ratepayers’ Association
Regarding: Candidates for the November 15th 2008 Municipal Election

The Executive of the CRA does not presume to tell its membership how to vote. However, if you are still trying to decide on who to vote for, we do encourage you to educate yourselves about the candidates by reading their ads and brochures; speaking directly with them; reading about their platforms on the Coldstream Blog (Coldstreamernews, click forum2008); or discussing the issues with friends, neighbours, and fellow CRA members who have already done the research.

Find out about the candidates’: values and ideas in relation to the CRA Goals and Objectives(see attached) level of concern for adherence to the OCP personal, educational and professional skills and related experience reasons for running - passions and priorities visions for the future of Coldstream proposed actions that reflect their visions If you have any questions of the CRA Executive, please do not hesitate to call any of us at the numbers below:

Steve Heeren 250 545-3202
Louise Christie 250 542-9109 (will be out of town after Nov. 12)
Dave Curwen 250 545-6569
Barry Fifer 250 545-1937
Flo Ryan 250 542-6919
Shirley Henry 250 545-5622

Advance Polls: Wed. Nov.12 & Thur. Nov.13 / 8am to 8pm / Municipal Hall Don’t forget to bring 2 pieces of ID – at least one with your signature on it!

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Council meeting -- November 10, 2008

REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM

TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2008
IN THE MUNICIPAL HALL CHAMBERS
9901 KALAMALKA ROAD, COLDSTREAM, BC
AT 7:00 PM

DELEGATIONS

Page 1 a. Vernon/North Okanagan RCMP Detachment
Policing Activity, Third Quarter Report

· Letter from RCMP Vernon Detachment, dated October 20, 2008
· Accident Reports for July, August, and September 2008
· North Okanagan Police-Based Victim Services Statistics Reports for July, August, and September 2008

Inspector Steve McVarnock will be in attendance to speak to this matter.

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(1) District of Coldstream 2009 Proposed Budget

· Report from the Director of Financial Administration, dated November 4, 2008

Recommendation

THAT the report from the Director of Financial Administration, dated November 4, 2008, regarding District of Coldstream 2009 Proposed budget, be received;

AND THAT an Open House be held on the proposed 2009 Budget for public input on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

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(1) Kalavista Neighbourhood – Issues of Concern

· Report from the Chief Administrative Officer, dated November 6, 2008

Recommendation

THAT the report from the Chief Administrative Officer, dated November 6, 2008, regarding Kalavista Neighbourhood – Issues of Concern, be received;

AND THAT following the 2008 Election, that the new Council establish an ad hoc Committee, consisting of two representatives from the Kalavista Area, two residents from outside of the Kalavista Area, a representative from Greater Vernon Parks, and one or two council representatives, to work through all of the issues and concerns of this neighbourhood, and to include in those discussions the recommendations from the Traffic Safety Committee.

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Stage set for Coldstream vote -- By Jennifer Smith

Jim Garlick and Glen Taylor owned the stage as the two leading roles (mayor candidates) during their final performance Wednesday.

The supporting roles, played by 17 councillor candidates (Bill Firman failed to show), were also put under the spotlight before the curtain closed on the last public opportunity to reach out to voters.

More than 100 people came to the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society forum to hear from the candidates before heading to the polls Nov. 15.

The scenes ranged from taxes to the glass plant closure, amalgamation, Kalamalka Lake protection, a fire department debate and even some scenes out of Vernon, including the Highway 97 bypass and the smelly woes of Ogogrow.

A twist to the plot was when Coldstream Ratepayers Association members revealed themselves – Maria Besso, Gyula Kiss, Peter Peto and Lynn Spraggs. Peto said he wanted to become a CRA member after seeing the association’s performance during the sports complex referendum.

While the leading characters are generally expected to be in conflict, the mayoralty hopefuls did agree, in some form, on most subjects.

“We did nothing to stop the closure of the glass plant,” admitted Garlick, who echoed Taylor.

They also agreed that commercial growth might be best located in the town centre, next to the municipal office. Garlick said he will push for a library there.

The two mayor candidates also carried a similar stance on amalgamation, with both being against it.

One disadvantage Taylor pointed to is Coldstream’s low debt per capita versus Vernon’s high debt per capita.

“We’re going to pick up a lot of the debt load from the City of Vernon,” said Taylor, who supports sound co-operation with partners like Vernon.

Pat Cochrane also spoke up on the issue, but with a bit more explanation than his previous stance on amalgamation. He won’t lead the way or push for it, but Cochrane expects one day, it will happen.

“There is the threat that the government will step in.”

John Hegler is against it but also warns that there are those pushing for it.

“Vernon doesn’t have any land any more, they’re looking for land, they’re looking for amalgamation.”

Mary Malerby said the key to avoiding amalgamation is: “You really have to participate and co-operate but not join in.”

David Rossi is also against the idea of joining Vernon, but suggests that the idea might work with Coldstream’s neighbour down the lake – Oyama.

Protecting Kalamalka Lake was another topic.

Spraggs says there is an oil slick on the lake and part of the solution is stopping drainage from developments and parking lots seeping into the lake. But he warns, “we gotta start now.”

The boat launch parking lot on Kalavista Drive should be the first thing to go, according to Greig Crockett.

“That’s probably the lowest and worst use you could give to that property,” said Crockett, suggesting a park.

Ruth Moore would also like to see more parks, open space and trails and says she will work to ensure developments provide them.

Particularly when it comes to parks, Greater Vernon Advisory Committee involvement has been debated. But regional support was supported by some candidates.

“Especially with something like the Lavington glass plant closing you realize that you need the support of everyone regionally,” said Besso.

But Doug Dirk said there are opportunities during this next term where local control could be adjusted.

“We’re at a crossroads where our relationship regionally can be redefined,” said Dirk.

But when it comes to regional functions, water is one that hasn’t worked, according to Kiss.

“We have been sold a water plan which was originally acceptable but it has changed,” said Kiss.

Perrin Hayes says the real priorities for the next council need to be figuring out what to do with the closed glass plant and establishing a shopping area.

Becky Strube suggests a rural retail zone in existing commercial areas to prevent residents from having to commute to Vernon.

On the agricultural side, as a farmer, Allen Dubeski is concerned that nobody is looking after the farmer’s interests.

Whether it’s through farming or other areas, Richard Enns says it is important to ensure people can continue to live and be successful in this area.

“It’s always been my sincere hope that my children will grow up in this area and prosper,” said Enns.

Looking at the bigger picture, particularly with all of the resident complaints and suggestions currently being voiced, Dean Skoreyko says: “It’s extremely important right now that the residents are heard and listened to.”

Clair Methot promises residents that if they vote for him: “You won’t be sorry and my wife will love you because I won’t be hanging around the house so much.”

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ATTENTION! -- Coldstream residents!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

DOUGHNUT/HOT DOG SALE POLL FOR CHARITY


COME AND “VOTE” FOR THE COLDSTREAM MAYORALITY CANDIDATE OF

YOUR CHOICE BY BUYING “GARLICK” OR “TAYLOR” DOUGHNUTS OR

HOTDOGS!

MONDAY NOVEMBER 10TH

BETWEEN 8:30AM AND 4PM

AT HOME BUILDING SUPPLIES

4601 27TH STREET IN VERNON

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS

AND…

TUNE IN TO THE COLDSTREAM MAYORALTY DEBATE

ON 107.5 KISS FM

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12TH

11 AM TO 12 NOON


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Special interests one more time.

During the all candidates’ forums Mr. Taylor was accusing the Coldstream Ratepayers Association (CRA) of being a “special interest group”.

A special interest refers to an individual or group of individuals who want something different than what is in the interest of the majority of taxpayers. Developers would fit this definition where the developers would ask for special treatment not afforded to the majority of taxpayers.

Such special interest was Coldstream Meadows Property Management Ltd (CMPM), which petitioned Council to rezone its property to allow major expansion of its facilities.

The zoning did not comply with the Official Community Plan. There were large number of taxpayers opposing the proposal at several public hearings but to no avail. There was even a lawsuit filed to prevent the expansion but Council called a hasty OCP review and eventually approved the rezoning application. Here was an excellent example of special interest.

That was the initial reason for organizing the CRA. The attached documents fully explain the reasons for the organization and its “Goals and Objectives”. Obviously, Mr Taylor disagrees with those goals and objectives although he has taken an oath to uphold those very objectives. (Click on attached documents)

The organization was instrumental in bringing to the taxpayers a number of issues, such as the inconsistencies relating to the Master Water Plan, the sports complex issue, the 9.19% proposed tax increase and the unjust firing of the fire chief.

Perhaps the best example of special interests is the letter penned by one of the principals of CMPM requesting Council to extend the sewer trunk line for 1.5 km at taxpayers expense (see attached).

Responding to a survey conducted by the District of Coldstream 66% opposed the sewer extension and only 27% supported it. Despite this overwhelming opposition Council proceeded to carry out the extension. That little favour to the developer cost taxpayers $665,000.

That was a glaring example of Council, including Mr. Taylor accommodating a request by special interest. So, if Mr Taylor wishes to speak of someone accommodating special interests he should take a look in the mirror.

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Selected articles MS -- 2008-11-07

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Readers write -- Some issues never change!

Coldstream Ratepayers Associations ( not the same one as today), have been around since 1907. This is stated in Margaret Ormsby's book "Coldstream Nulli Secundus".

At that time newcomers were pitted against "old timers", because they all wanted :

"A domestic water system of clean mountain water delivered by pipes . This pitted Coldstream Fruit-Rancher against Lavington Farmer. It seemed that the Coldstream Estate Company wasn't enthusiastic about incurring additional taxation." (Taken from Coldstream Nulli Secundus a history of the Corporation of the District of Coldstream, by Margaret Ormsby.)

We are still having the same problems today (water issues).

Whether the words are Coldstream Ratepayers Association or Coldstream Taxpayers Association the aim is the same.

Taxpayers/Ratepayers concerned about local issues.

Angie Kitcher

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Selected articles MS -- 2008-11-05

Perhaps Mr. Dirk should not be so concerned about lack of experience on the future Council. There is Mr. Firman with three years of experience and I also had 9 years experience (3 years as Mayor). In addition, I have been following local politicians' activities and I was not too impressed with some of Council's decisions (water issues, sewer issues, Spicer Block, 9.19% tax increase proposal and the treatment of the Fire Department). Unless he opposed the "let go" proposal of the fire chief, his concern "...with the relationship of the fire halls" sounds hollow.

The Lavington Community Association is worthy group and I commend him for being a volunteer but being a volunteer in the Coldstream Ratepayers Association is equally commendable yet some members of Council consider it a "special interest group". I hope he does not have the same view of the CRA.

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Readers write -- Peter Peto clarifies

For the Record: My Speech

I 'd like to take this opportunity to say that I thought the final candidate forum at Okanagan College was the best of all. I am glad the CRA were able to implement my suggestions, I think all the candidates got their message out and didn't feel too rushed about it, there was no grandstanding,etc. I actually felt bad for Glen Taylor for the relentless hammering he got from the audience and candidates. It's a pity he was the sole focus of all the wrath that had accumulated toward the current council and that Gary Corner wasn't there to share some of his burden. I hope he has a thick skin and I commend him on his bravery to come into the CRA's den of iniquity and to keep is cool under such intense fire. Mary Malerby couldn't restrain her bitterness toward the CRA. It's a pity the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce didn't organize an all candidate's forum, perhaps Glen Taylor would have been showered with adulation and the rest of us would have been heckled off the stage.

In my view the CRA is just a spontaneous gathering of disenchanted ratepayers who want their complaints heard and not brushed of by indifferent politicians. They are not the contented and satisfied members of the electorate so you have to expect rough treatment. I don't think many in the audience really understood my speech, it was way over their heads but I am content if only a few there understood what I said. The speech wasn't intended to win me any votes. For the record here it is.

"Good evening ladies and Gentlemen, I commend you for taking the time and interest to inform yourselves with the candidates and their issues. I would like to thank the Coldstream Ratepayers Association and in particular, Louise Christie and Steve Heeren, for organizing and running this forum.

People have come up to me to congratulate me for becoming a candidate in our local elections. Some congratulate me for doing my civic duty, some for doing something they never expected me to do, some for my masochism and some for offering to run for a thankless job. Judging by the number of incumbent candidates, a few with multiple terms already behind them, there must be something addictive about the job. Perhaps it's the feeling of power.

We have a large number of candidates to choose from, they bring a broad spectrum of experience and views to the office. You will be able to discriminate the serious contenders from the 'also rans' by the effort of advertising campaigns to win your vote. About half the eligible voters will not cast a ballot; the majority that do vote are largely uninformed or undecided until they cast a ballot, these people represent the random background noise in the election results. Billboard advertising is designed to garner their votes. Informed voters represent a faint signal above the background noise registering reception to a policy alternatives sent out by specific candidates.

I am an 'also ran' candidate because I do not care to court the uninformed vote, which decides largely on name recognition. Also ran candidates wish to raise the political awareness of the electorate to certain issues dear to the candidate and they run to get their message out. My issues are to protect the ALR lands in Coldstream, to discredit the"we have got to grow" impulse, to down size and clean up city hall, to eliminate and correct favoritism to business interests, to make city hall transparent,open,accountable and responsive to the public, etc. I have waged my campaign, since the Spicer block fiasco, on the Coldstreamernews website, letters to the Morningstar and at Candidate forums. [On that point, you should be aware that I am speaking as an independent individual and not as a member of the CRA.] I urge those of you who are interested in local politics and issues to go to Coldstreamernews.blogspot.com on the web for an oppositional view of the corporate press and to join the CRA. People must hold elected politicians to account for their election platforms. I am confidant that Coldstreamers are ready to emerge from the political dark ages and the next council will be a model to future councils."

3 November 2008

Peter Peto

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Readers write -- Facts about the Spicer Block

When you screw up as a politician you hope that time and faded memories allow you to get beyond the offending activity (remember Chretien’s ax the GST platform, and his later denial of promising to do so). I bring this up because the Sports Complex issue and the continued misinformation surrounding it has reared up its ugly head in Vernon and Coldstream candidate forums. So please allow me, as someone who actively opposed its location on the Spicer Block, to briefly try to separate fact from fiction and point you to some the “never again to be trusted players” who are still in our midst.

Fiction: There is a shortage of playing fields in Greater Vernon, and a Sports Complex would amend that.

Fact: According to the Greater Vernon Services Parks Master Plan this is not the case: Vernon has a high ratio of fields for sports relative to other B.C. communities. This was an important feature of the intended application to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC); it was necessary to establish “community need” in order to allow this block of land to be “borrowed” for non-farm use. That is why you often hear that the intention was not actually to remove the land from the ALR. We all know that, once removed from farm use, it would never be returned to its agricultural potential and this land has the highest rating.

While it is true that some sport user groups like football and track are in need of a facility, why has this not been accommodated by a partnership of GVS and the school district or the college? Why are they being held hostage by the dream of a Sports Complex that would not see field construction for 10 to 12 years anyway?

Fiction: We have a growing need and must develop more sports fields.

Fact: Sport field need is tied to youth demographics and, hence, school enrollment. The BCTF predicts that school enrollment numbers in B.C. will not be as high again as they were in 2000 until the year 2030; we will experience a decline until 2015. There are pockets of growth in communities where employment and affordable housing attract young families; this does not include Vernon or Coldstream. Our older demographics point to recreation needs that should include the likes of safe walking/biking trails not more soccer fields.

Fiction: That this development was about sports fields for kids and not Funtastic trying to find a permanent site away from the restrictions of the DND property.

Fact: The only plan ever shown included the conceptual diagrams for a huge facility including 1000 car parking , banquet hall facilities, ball diamonds and offices for staff; the plan and concept was described on Funtastic’s website. Early meetings called by the Ratepayers bore witness to Funtastic’s executives bragging that they “throw the biggest party in B.C.”. The public rejection of the image of a number of weekends of parties in the Coldstream valley throughout every summer, lead GVS to sell the concept as parks, trails and needed sports fields. That is why the final sell before the referendum was billed as “Say Yes to Parks”. How could one be so callous as to deny our children desperately needed playing fields?

Fiction: There was no attempt to end run around the community.

Fact: GVS (Chairman: Gary Corner, Rep: Glen Taylor) actually sent an application to the ALC to ask for “non-farm’ use of the a large portion of the Spicer Block. Coldstream only became informed of this through the vigilance of Jim Garlick who called it to the attention of the community through the organizational assistance of the Ratepayers. The subject only came to light because the ALC informed GVS that it would need community permission to even apply to the Commission. Repeated attempts by a number of community minded citizens to extract information from Coldstream Council at council meetings fell on deaf ears; there was no response from our GVS representatives. Fiscal implications to the community were not forthcoming, and a request to be given some time to counter the sports user petition that influenced Council’s vote was ignored. It was appalling to a number of us that this Council, with its direct pipeline to GVS, was denying information to our community. Was the behavior of Mayor Corner and Councillor Taylor reflective of ignorance, deceit or incompetence?

Fiction: Glen Taylor had a vision that included a concept of 1/3 sports fields, 1/3 parks and trails, and 1/3 community garden.

Fact: The first time I heard this whopper was at the Coldstream School candidate forum the other night. I guess when you are running for Mayor and have this kind of baggage you spin whatever story you need to (let’s see…community garden sounds nice and green). Mr. Taylor’s true vision was closer to the original Funtastic conception and he publicly expressed it at the Coldstream Council meeting/public hearing in 2007. I recall that he reproached Mary Malerby for listening to concerned calls she received from citizens, when his own straw poll of 16 people that day told him the idea was a great one. The vote that night was 4 (Dirk, Garlick, Malerby, Firman ) to 3 (Corner, Taylor,Williams) against sending the application forward to the ALC. We all naively assumed the OCP was now respected and this prime agricultural land would remain protected. However, this was not to be.

By the next Council meeting, Councillor Malerby changed her mind, based, apparently, on a questionable petition submitted by the sport user groups (the word questionable is used because this petition was never honestly presented to the community as a sports tourism proposal). The issue would now go to referendum, with a reference to the use of the property for parks/sport fields, another deceitful description of the real intentions of GVS (no mention of a sports tourism function).

Fiction: If we didn’t build a sports facility on the Spicer Block then it would go to housing development.

Fact: The only way that the ALC would consider use, other than agriculture, on the Spicer Block, is if the owner, Coldstream Ranch, agreed to consolidate some parcels of agricultural land on the ranch that had become subdivided before the enactment of the ALR (in 1972). This exchange was to result in a net gain to agriculture. Direct communication with the owner confirmed that this was never going to happen (Jim Garlick). The YES phone campaign exploited this piece of misinformation to gain support, and continued to do so even after Al McNiven agreed to correct the spread of this lie.

Fiction: The NO campaign was funded and driven by some special interests.

Fact: The NO campaign started with a group of concerned citizens who, for the most part, did not know each other. They came together to provide factual information to the community regarding the proposed Sports Complex development. The Morning Star would only print information that was supportable with documentation, so the flyers and ads were only quoting the OCP, the GVS Masterplan and Funtastic, and the experiences of other similar complexes. Individuals wishing to see some truth brought to light provided funding. The Ratepayers greatly assisted with getting the information into the hands of citizens (phoning, signage). The resulting NO vote was simply a mirror image of the OCP vote on the protection of agricultural land. These people did the job for a community paralyzed by a dysfunctional Council.

Fiction: Mayor Corner, Councillor Malerby and Councillor Taylor clearly understood the wishes of their community and acted accordingly.

Fact: The resounding NO vote should have come as no surprise to anyone who understood the demographics and concerns of the majority of Coldstream residents (expressed in some detail in the Official Community Plan). The referendum was divisive to the community and an unnecessary expense. It did, however, serve as a vote of no confidence for these members of Council beating the drum about a Sports Complex. Councillors Malerby and Taylor are not deserving of our trust again, and Taylor in the Mayor’s chair is one frightening thought.

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City's actions sound alarms Editorial, MS

Published: November 04, 2008 7:00 PM

You'd swear the City of Vernon ripped a page out of the Coldstream play book when it comes to handling volunteer firefighters.

Instead of including Okanagan Landing's volunteers as full partners in reviewing fire protection services for the Vernon community, a draft strategic plan was developed in January with absolutely no involvement from them and they only saw the report for the first time last week.

Such a move only fosters alienation and the feeling that restructuring of fire protection is a done deal and the volunteers will just be shoved aside.

In terms of the strategic plan, it makes sense for the city to look at the long-term needs of fire protection services including facilities, equipment and manpower. And perhaps 15 years after annexation, the Landing hall should be fully incorporated into the main operations at the Vernon Fire Department. There may even be a case to have some full-time, unionized firefighters at the Landing hall, working alongside the volunteers.

But the city must understand that this would be a dramatic shift in how services are provided, especially when the volunteers have been active in the Landing for 33 years and there is still some resentment about how the area has been treated since annexation.

The best way to handle what would obviously be a contentious situation was to be completely upfront and include the Okanagan Landing volunteers right from the beginning of the process.

With backs now up and feelings hurt, the city's goal of reviewing an essential service just got more challenging.

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Readers write -- Promises!

thought this might be appropriate for some of the things we heard at yesterday's forum.

hahaha

Maria
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Coldstream Candidates' Forum

A new webpage is available listing the platform of each candidate who provided the information. Those who have not yet provided the info are invited to do so and their info will be included. Anyone wishing to provide additional information (within limit) please do so.

Readers are encouraged to provide this information to their neighbours and friends through emails or by word of mouth so everyone could make an informed decision when casting their votes!

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Gyula.

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COLDSTREAM ELECTION FORUM

The public is invited to attend the Coldstream Election Forum, to be held at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre on November 5th. The forum will begin at 7:00 pm.

The Forum will provide an opportunity for candidates to state their platforms, and for the public to ask question both in written form and open micorophone Candidates will be limited to those running for Mayoral and Council positions.

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Reminder -- All Candidates Forum Tonight

Get Informed! Get Involved!

Meet Coldstream’s candidates and hear what they have to say at the


All Candidates’ Meeting

Tonight, Monday November 3, Okanagan College, 7pm

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Obama's grandmother dies a day before election

By HERBERT A. SAMPLE, Associated Press Writer Herbert A. Sample, Associated Press Writer 1 min ago

HONOLULU – Barack Obama's grandmother, whose personality and bearing shaped much of the life of the Democratic presidential contender, has died, Obama announced Monday, one day before the election. Madelyn Payne Dunham was 86.

Obama announced the news from the campaign trail in Charlotte, N.C. The joint statement with his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng said Dunham died late Sunday night after a battle with cancer.

"She's gone home," Obama said as tens of thousands of rowdy supporters at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte grew silent in an evening drizzle.

"And she died peacefully in her sleep with my sister at her side. And so there is great joy as well as tears. I'm not going to talk about it too long because it is hard for me to talk about."

But he said he wanted people to know a little about her — that she lived through the Great Depression and World War II, working the latter on a bomber assembly line with a baby at home and a husband serving his country. He said she was humble and plain spoken, one of the "quiet heroes that we have all across America" working hard and hoping to see their children and grandchildren thrive.

"That's what we're fighting for," Obama said.

Obama learned of Dunham's death Monday morning while he was campaigning in Jacksonville, Fla. He went ahead with campaign appearances. The family said a private ceremony would be held later.

"So many of us were hoping and praying that his grandmother would have the opportunity to witness her grandson become our next president," said Hawaii state Rep. Marcus Oshiro, an Obama supporter. "What a bittersweet victory it will be for him. Wow."

Republican John McCain issued condolences to his opponent. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they remember and celebrate the life of someone who had such a profound impact in their lives," the statement by John and Cindy McCain said.

Last month, Obama took a break from campaigning and flew to Hawaii to be with Dunham as her health declined.

Obama said the decision to go to Hawaii was easy to make, telling CBS that he "got there too late" when his mother died of ovarian cancer in 1995 at 53, and wanted to make sure "that I don't make the same mistake twice."

Outside the apartment building where Dunham died, reporters and TV cameras lined the sidewalk as two police officers were posted near the elevator. Signs hanging in the apartment lobby warned the public to keep out.

The Kansas-born Dunham and her husband, Stanley, raised their grandson for several years so he could attend school in Honolulu while their daughter and her second husband lived overseas. Her influence on Obama's manner and the way he viewed the world was substantial, the candidate himself told millions watching him accept his party's nomination in Denver in August.

"She's the one who taught me about hard work," he said. "She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me."

Michelle Obama's voice choked with emotion during a campaign appearance in Colorado as she asked people to remember the woman her husband called "Toot," a version of the Hawaiian word for grandmother, tutu.

"Say a prayer for Toot and thank her for raising Barack Obama. I think she did an amazing job," Obama told about 2,500 people at a suburban Denver high school gym.

Madelyn and Stanley Dunham married in 1940, a few weeks before she graduated from high school. Their daughter, Stanley Ann, was born in 1942. After several moves to and from California, Texas, Washington and Kansas, Stanley Dunham's job landed the family in Hawaii.

It was there that Stanley Ann later met and fell in love with Obama's father, a Kenyan named Barack Hussein Obama. They had met in Russian class at the University of Hawaii. Their son was born in August 1961, but the marriage didn't last long. She later married an Indonesian, Lolo Soetoro, another university student she met in Hawaii.

Obama moved to Indonesia with his mother and stepfather at age 6. But in 1971, her mother sent him back to Hawaii to live with her parents. He stayed with the Dunhams until he graduated from high school in 1979.

In his autobiography, Obama wrote fondly of playing basketball on a court below his grandparents' 10th-floor Honolulu apartment, and looking up to see his grandmother watching.

It was the same apartment Obama visited on annual holiday trips to Hawaii, a weeklong vacation from his campaign in August, and his pre-election visit in October. Family members said his grandmother could not travel because of her health.

Madelyn Dunham, who took university classes but to her chagrin never earned a degree, nonetheless rose from a secretarial job at the Bank of Hawaii to become one of the state's first female bank vice presidents.

"Every morning, she woke up at 5 a.m. and changed from the frowsy muumuus she wore around the apartment into a tailored suit and high-heeled pumps," Obama wrote.

After her health took a turn for the worse, her brother said on Oct. 21 that she had already lived long enough to see her "Barry" achieve what she'd wanted for him.

"I think she thinks she was important in raising a fine young man," Charles Payne, 83, said in a brief telephone interview from his Chicago home. "I doubt if it would occur to her that he would go this far this fast. But she's enjoyed watching it."

Stanley Dunham died in 1992, while Obama's mother died in 1995. His father is also deceased.

When Obama was young, he and his grandmother toured the United States by Greyhound bus, stopping at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, Disneyland and Chicago, where Obama would years later settle.

It was an incident during his teenage years that became one of Obama's most vivid memories of Toot. She had been aggressively panhandled by a man and she wanted her husband to take her to work. When Obama asked why, his grandfather said Madelyn Dunham was bothered because the panhandler was black.

The words hit the biracial Obama "like a fist in my stomach," he wrote later. He was sure his grandparents loved him deeply. "And yet," he added, "I knew that men who might easily have been my brothers could still inspire their rawest fears."

Obama referred to the incident again when he addressed race in a speech in March during a controversy over his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. "I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother," he said.

Dunham was "a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world but who once confessed her fear of black men who passed her on the street."

Still, much of who Obama is comes from his grandmother, said his half sister.

"From our grandmother, he gets his pragmatism, his levelheadedness, his ability to stay centered in the eye of the story," she told The Associated Press. "His sensible, no-nonsense (side) is inherited from her."

Madelyn Lee Payne was born to Rolla and Leona Payne in October 1922 in Peru, Kan., but lived much of her childhood in nearby Augusta.

She was the oldest of four children, and she loved to read everything from James Hilton's "Lost Horizon" to Agatha Christie's "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd."

Dunham and her husband were "vicious" bridge players, according to her brother Jack. After retirement, the two of them would take island cruises and do little but play bridge and a more difficult version called duplicate bridge.

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Special offer for Coldstream Council Candidates.

I wish to provide an opportunity for ALL candidates to display their campaign pamphlets so taxpayers can have ready access to them.

All residents can cooperate by sending the web address to all their friends and neighbours.

Restrictions: the material should be scanned and provided in a JPEG format or hard copy no larger than 8.5x11 (I could scan them for those requiring it). A small photo in a JPEG format or hard copy could also be included.

Candidates who have their own website can provide their web address and I could post it as well.

Interested candidates should show their interest by emailing me at the above email address.

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Readers write -- Building bridges not walls?

"Building bridges; not walls" is Glen Taylor's campaign slogan. It's catchy but also deceptive. Was it his idea or the idea of a public relations consultant?

It tries to simplify the contest to just one issue: Glen Taylor the champion of openness, inclusiveness, flexibility and compromise against his opponent['s] close mindedness, exclusiveness, rigidity and intransigence. Of course there are many issues which separate his positions from those of his opponent[s].

To the uninformed and the unwary the choice is simple because it is thought to be better to build bridges than to build walls. Not that walls are necessarily bad because sometimes they are needed to protect precious and vulnerable things from plunder and destruction. You can build a bridge when you are not being besieged from the outside, however Coldstream has been under siege by a number of special interest groups that don't really care what the residents think about their projects. Take for instance the GVSC wanting to convert the Spicer Block [ ALR land] into a Sports Complex or Kalavista Drive into a major boat launch facility for tourists, or developers asking and getting variances from the OCP, or Coldstream Meadows getting approval against the wishes of local residents or Coldstream Meadows getting a sewer line in spite of local opposition, etc. Perhaps Glen Taylor, who supported all these intrusions considers those acts of bridge building. Moreover was firing the fire chief an act of bridge building and putting our whole volunteer fire department at risk. Perhaps he thinks it's only natural that Coldstream should be bridged to Vernon for future amalgamation or that the residents of Coldstream should be receptive to the desires of Funtastic, the greater Vernon

chamber of commerce or outside visionaries. Maybe Coldstreamers just want the siege to be lifted, by ridding themselves of any Trojan horses in their midst. Maybe Coldstreamers just want to be left alone to manage their own affairs, they don't want to build walls but would rather have some peace and quiet without outsiders telling them what to do!

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Reminder -- All Candidates Forum Tonight

Get Informed! Get Involved!

Meet Coldstream’s candidates and hear what they have to say at the


All Candidates’ Meeting

Tonight, Monday November 3, Okanagan College, 7pm

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A great big "THANK YOU" to the volunteers!

There was an excellent opportunity for Coldstream candidates to meet with members of the public at the drop-in coffee/tea party organized by volunteers from the Coldstream Ratepayers Association in the Coldstream Women’s Institute Hall.

Most of the candidates attended and lively discussions took place. One comment I heard was “why did we not do this kind of social during previous elections”? Good question and I am quite certain this kind of socials will be more common in the future. This is the kind of thing that brings the community together.

We owe a great big “thank you” to Sharon, Annie, Denice and the rest of the volunteers. On behalf of the candidates I thank you all.

Gyula

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Letters to the Editor -- Morning Star -- Closure affects everyone.

The closure of our workplace has affected approximately 300 people. Keep adding up the numbers, for that figure is only the directly employed personnel of the plant. Their families come next, for most have spouses, children and extended families. In this valley, the circle ever widens. We are also some of the best-paid workers in the area, under one roof for the past 39 years. We are a union and enjoy wages, benefits and a health plan that we fought for. We deserved it, as we are one of the best in our industry.

We live and work and play here in these communities around us and we are generous with our earnings. Taxes, homes, toys, vacation homes on the lake, ski condos on the hill, golf memberships, music lessons, sports teams, charities and on and on. We make it and we spend it. The contributions of the people of this plant go far beyond the scope of most community members' imaginations. The ever-widening circle is mind boggling. Every business in this valley will be directly affected by this plant closure. From the banking to the personal, professional and medical necessities, to the leisure and entertainment aspects that we all enjoy.

Most of the people at the plant own their homes and the tax base that is paid mostly to Vernon, Coldstream, Lumby and Armstrong is substantial. We are not a few people becoming unemployed, we are 300 strong. Will we get the help and support needed to transition us back into the community when most have been at the same job for over 25 years right out of high school? That is yet to be seen. It is at best, for most of us, an absolute shock, and disbelief that an industry in which a product that is in high demand, competitive on the global market, and 100 per cent recyclable could now be defunct.

So how, you ask, can this happen? Most of you have read the papers and watched the news. The story is a similar one all over the country. American-owned company in Canada losing money, contributing factors — high cost of energy, fuel, transportation to market, not globally profitable. Well, we were the exception to some of those reasons.

Many people who live here didn't even know that the plant existed. Let us educate you. We make glass bottles. Not just any old glass bottles, but the best in the world. We have the finest silica sand from Golden, B.C., and our glass is often called "CRYSTAL," by not just the competition, but by our other plants around the world. If you have a wine bottle from Lavington and one from a plant in California or Mexico or China, you will, even with an untrained eye, see the difference in quality and clarity of our product. WE make the best and WE have been told that for 19 years.

We also have an extremely well-trained and quality-conscious group of employees, from the highest management office workers to the unionized "grunt" force of specialized task people. The list can go on and on about each job but the point is this: most of us put in a hot, arduous, often monotonous, day's work to earn our wages and take pride in being the best that we can be in this global economy. We may complain and dislike various aspects of our jobs and sometimes the people we work with. But at the end of the day, we have earned our money ten-fold and the trucks take our product to an extremely appreciative customer somewhere in the world who has demanded the glass from IO Lavington only. And we did it together, all 300 of us.

Now to hear at the last minute the laments of Coldstream and Vernon councils about their "efforts" to extract help and answers to keep this plant open is the most major slap in the face that all 300 of us have seen so far. Let's see... election coming up...useless present mayoral candidates...last-ditch attempt to save face...I cannot wait to see the slip and slide of our present-day councils down the hill. Not one of you stood up for us or tried to even go out and on a tour of the plant and see what we were all about. So when you are voted out and working for peanuts...and I can promise you that will be struggling like the 300 of us...remember where you stood when we all fell.

So now that the plant is shut down for good and the "LAVINGTON FAMILY" is disbanded, we hope that the people of this valley think of us and the loss to the area as a whole. We are hoping for better things, new opportunities and a welcoming community to support us. We have a lot to offer in many different skill areas and we look forward to using those skills to continue contributing to our communities in a positive manner.

Thank you.

G.L. Kanasevich

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Candidates vying for a council seat -- By Jennifer Smith

There’s now less than two weeks for voters to decide who to put an X beside on Nov. 15. And in Coldstream, there’s only two more chances to hear from them.

The last Coldstream Ratepayers Association forum gets underway Monday at Okanagan College in the lecture theatre from 7 to 9:45 p.m. Then the final forum is being hosted by the Performing Arts Centre Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Two of the 18 candidates seeking one of the six councillor seats are Lynn Spraggs and Greig Crockett.

Spraggs is concerned about the future of Coldstream, that’s why he is running in the civic election.

“Kal Lake is under siege and we must protect it,” said Spraggs, who with a background in problem solving and engineering believes he can be of assistance in examining the use of the lake, water quality planning and sewer plans.

Water supply is also a key issue for the 66-year-old father of four and grandfather of seven.

“There are currently residents in Coldstream who have been paying for clean water for more than 20 years and they have yet to receive it. This is truly intolerable.”

Spraggs is in favour of making parks and recreation Coldstream-controlled, versus the current Greater Vernon Advisory Committee control.

And he says taxation can also be controlled.

“We need to do more with less and we can do it by trimming waste.”

Spraggs is a research scientist, professor of environmental engineering, small business owner and a long-time volunteer coach. He grew up in Armstrong, left the valley to get an education and has worked in California, B.C., Saskatchewan and Quebec.

Crockett believes he stands out from the 17 other candidates because of his focus on the future. Unlike much of the current debate around administrative errors and ideological differences, Crockett feels he has grasped the larger obligation of council – the future.

Part of that concern for the future includes protecting it through sustainable green building standards that direct “buildings be sited, wired, plumbed and constructed to minimize future operating costs and wasteful consumption,” said Crockett.

Current threats can be turned into opportunities, said Crockett, through green features such as solar harvesting, geothermal heat and conservation methods.

Crockett also points out that 133 municipalities have signed the B.C. Climate Action Charter to become carbon neutral by 2012. But not Coldstream.

“We are far behind,” said Crockett.

Some of the other issues on Crockett’s radar are: a neighbourhood based approach to the Official Community Plan review, expansion of Kal Lagoon Park, farmland protection, a Lavington economic development committee, citizen advisory and stewardship committee, full review of the fire chief situation and meaningful regional co-operation.

Spraggs and Crockett are running against the following candidates for councillor positions: Maria Besso, Pat Cochrane, Doug Dirk, Allen Dubeski, Richard Enns, Bill Firman, Perrin Hayes, John Hegler, Gyula Kiss, Mary Malerby, Clair Methot, Ruth Moore, Peter Peto, David Rossi, Dean Skoreyko and Becky Strube.

Jim Garlick and Glen Taylor are vying for mayor.

Watch The Morning Star for more candidate profiles.

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