CBC's Interview with Ms Bond - re: Amphitheatre.

For people who missed the CBC Interview with Ms Bond regarding the Amphitheatre in Coldstream can be accessed here.

Your comments will be published provided they are not derogatory!

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Readers write - Argument for amphitheatre not convincing

Ms. Bond's defence of the proposed Amphitheatre in an interview with Chris Walker of CBC's, Daybreak South, this morning, was less than convincing. 

Her argument that the site is a "bowl" and therefore, the sound will be contained, is illogical: it is open to the East. "Amphi", means "both sides" or "two sides", in this case, literally and figuratively. Anyone 

with local knowledge knows that sounds that emerge from the west travel up the Valley.
 

Ms. Bond states that the foot-print will be light, and fails to take into consideration the integrity of the eco-system that exists.
 

Her suggestion that my tax dollars be used to find a location for this project in Coldstream offends me. The host, Mr. Walker, asked why other locations such as Penticton, are not under consideration, to which she answered that there is not much public land on which to build. Has she contacted our First Nations? They are excellent community partners as noted in Osoyoos.

 Katy Vella Pace
Coldstream, BC

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Here is the link to the on-line petition

On-line petition requesting a new site for the Amphitheater

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Opposition amps up for amphitheatre

• by  Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star
• posted Apr 26, 2016 at 11:00 AM

Just like the noise they fear will echo through their neighbourhoods, close to 100 Coldstream residents
were loud and clear on their message about a proposed amphitheatre.

They don’t want it in their backyard.

And Coldstream council agrees, to some extent.

The concerned residents oppose an amphitheatre at Okanagan College and they have collected close to 700 signatures in a petition against the proposal.

“The plan will completely transform Coldstream and the north end of Kalamalka Lake,” spokesperson Patricia Andrews told Coldstream council Monday evening. “The negative impacts of such a giant amphitheatre would be huge.”

The Okanagan Summer Festival Society is proposing to construct an open air amphitheatre in the gully next to OC. Initial concepts show the Kalamalka Bowl would seat up to 1,500 plus additional grass seating for a total of 5,500.

While no formal applications have been made, the society recently made a presentation on its plans to Coldstream, which has also now heard from concerned residents.

“We’ve heard both sides and based on the community’s feedback I cannot see how this process going forward is going to end well,” said Coun. Richard Enns, who says he will not support an application of this magnitude.

Therefore Coldstream will be sending a letter to the society, OC board, MLA and Ministry of Education stating its opposition to the amphitheatre as proposed.

“We can say what we don’t want,” said Coun. Doug Dirk. “We don’t want rock concerts there, we don’t want issues with traffic, we don’t want issues with noise.”

Similar sentiments were shared by the majority of council.

“I don’t think it’s a proper location,” said Coun. Peter McClean. “Save your time and find another location.”

Living across the lake, and knowing how sound travels, Coun. Gyula Kiss says he is not in favour of the proposal.

It’s also not entirely clear if Coldstream even has the ability to deny an application if and when it is submitted because the construction is on provincial land.

“We don’t have the ability to regulate a senior level of government,” said Mike Reiley, Coldstream’s director of development services.

Diane Bond, society managing director, says Coldstream’s concerns aren’t new and the society will be performing a noise impact assessment, traffic study and will continue discussions with Coldstream.

“The issues that have been raised by neighbours, all of that will be part of the discussion,” said Bond, who has plans for the district to meet with the architect in May. “We know these are issues that need to be addressed.”

The concerns may affect some of the specifications, but in the end the Kalamalka Bowl needs to be sustainable.

“The design is a preliminary design, we can change it,” said Bond, who says she feels like a broken record.

In response to the suggestion of finding a different location, Bond says all potential sites have already been investigated. One was the bluffs in West Kelowna, but the Westbank First Nations was not interested as they have alternate plans for the land.

“I think I would recognize a better solution if it came along, but it hasn’t come along.”

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Amphitheatre Drawing Opposition from Council

Posted on 4/26/2016 10:58 AM by Ron Manz - KISS FM

It would appear Coldstream residents opposed to a 55-hundred seat outdoor amphitheatre next to Okanagan College are not alone.

Their presentation to Coldstream politicians Monday night met with much agreement from council.

Fears over noise issues, drainage, parking and environmental concerns were all echoed by council according to Mayor Jim Garlick.

"I think there are a lot of hurdles for it to get through before it will be in front of Coldstream council, and if it makes it that far.  There are significant challenges surrounding this draining and sewer in the area, to getting funding for it."

Coldstream council has sent off a letter to Okanagan College and the Education Ministry basically opposing the concept.

"The proposal we have on the table right now for this amphitheater as the way it sits scaled to 55-hundred people and the issues around it, the location, we are just not in favour of it as proposed."

Garlick says it would have to be built using grant funding and that requires the District's support, but right now Coldstream has other arts priorities.

"What we have on the table for Arts & Culture is a museum and art gallery, so those are going to take a lot of work to get done.  Then we also have, looking at grants that will come to us for infrastructure, we have a master water plan we want to get working on.  They will take priority and I don't see this amphitheatre jumping the queue to get ahead of them."

Garlick says the whole concept is so early in development they haven't even made any applications for building permits or anything else for that matter at this point.

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Coldstream Council Meeting, April 25, 2016

 

Highlights: 

          Presentation by "No Amphitheater Group"

          Rescind second reading of OCP and schedule new Public Hearings

          Adoption of 2016 Financial Plan

          Tax rate Bylaw

          Parks Master Plan        

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Let's protect the bees!

If you think bees are important for our fruit growing community please take steps to join efforts to protect the bee population!

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Readers write re: Amphitheatre.

Re: proposed outdoor amphitheatre:  

After many a gruelling trip to the heart of the Big Smoke, south of us, I have breathed a deep sigh of relief as I turn off the highway to savour the stunningly beautiful, natural gateway to my peaceful community: Coldstream. The ravine ecosystem is a pocket treasure, that is intrinsic to that viewscape. The proposed project is absolutely incompatible with the diversity of rural values we enjoy.

Katy Vella Pace

Coldstream, BC.

cc. Editor Morning Star

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Employment opportunity

Click on image for further details!

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Readers write - presentation to Coldstream Council

Hello everyone,

Please make time to attend the Coldstream Council Meeting on MONDAY, APRIL 25 at 6 PM at the Coldstream Municipal Offices on Kal Lake Rd. where we are doing a Powerpoint presentation about our concerns regarding the OSFS's proposed amphitheatre

in the gully in front of Okanagan College. Pat Andrews is doing the talking for the PPT. We will be first to go at 6 PM sharp for 10 minutes followed by comments and questions from the council members. It should take no more than 1/2 hour. 

It is extremely important that we have huge support in terms of numbers and passionate opposition, so please plan to attend. 

We will be adding up the number of signatures on the petitions  this weekend so please get your numbers to me by tomorrow. You can either drop off your sheets to 9085 College Dr. or give them to me (Joan) at the meeting. 

The tide is turning vs the OSFS, but we need to make sure we do NOT let up the pressure. 

If you need them, there are extra copies of the blank petition forms and flyers at the front desk at Kal Fitness on the clip board. 

Thanks for all you have done to help our cause. We must get this thing stopped once and for all,

Connie, Joan, et al. 

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Job opportunity - Okanagan Basin Water Board

For further information please click on above document!

Ambitious fundraising campaign pitched for realization of Okanagan rail trail

By Charlotte Helston
InfoNews

VERNON - Greater Vernon politicians have been told it will take a community to build the legacy of a 50 kilometre rail trail from Coldstream to Kelowna — and it’s no overstatement.

Those working on the trail, which will follow the old CN Railroad, have proposed an ambitious fundraising campaign for the $7.68 million required to build the path, plus roughly $100,000 in administrative fees for handling donations. The current plan is to pay for the construction of the trail without using tax dollars. Roughly $1.2 million is being sought through grants.

Brad Clements, with the Okanagan Rail Trail non-profit organization, told the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee today, April 18, "it takes a community to build a legacy."

“We believe we can do it by inspiring all of the community,” Clements said.

The team will be looking to businesses, clubs and organizations to help champion the trail. Donations will be handled by the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan and the Central Okanagan Foundation.

“The key to raising the $7.86 million is that the entire community embraces this,” Clements said. “That we have champions in every community out creating excitement around the trail. That we have campaign partners hosting events, and raising awareness, and that we talk to our neighbours and our neighbour’s neighbours.”

Clements says 30,000 donations of $225 a piece would be needed to accomplish the fundraising target. Depending on participation, Clements believes it’s possible to meet the goal in two years.

Details about the construction timeline and overall look of the trail were also presented at Monday’s meeting. Andrew Gibbs with the Inter-Jurisdictional Team, which represents the municipalities of Kelowna, Lake Country and the North Okanagan, said the goal is to open the trail up for public use as early as possible. That will mean focussing on basic trail functionality items first, and integrating things like public washrooms and interpretive facilities in the future. At the outset, the trail would feature crushed and compacted gravel with the possibility of paving it in the future. Planners are also proposing to widen the path to 4.6 metres to accommodate various users travelling in opposite directions.

The plan is to build the trail all at once, rather than in pieces, once the funding is in place, Gibbs said. That will help minimize the risk of ending up with incomplete sections if funding dries up, resulting in some communities having finished sections of trail and others lacking.

Committee member Mike Macnabb expressed some skepticism about the fundraising campaign, stating he thinks it could take years to come up with the cash.

“My concern was how quickly we can get to that point? Because if it’s going to be raised by public donations, it may take a long time to get there,” he said.

Having purchased the trail alongside other municipalities, Macnabb says the regional district has an obligation to see the plan through.

“At what point are we, as local government, responsible to pick up the shortfall?” he said.

Rail trail planners are meeting with other jurisdictions today, and say as soon as they have approval from all local governments, they will launch the fundraising campaign and begin accepting donations.

Committee chair Juliette Cunningham applauded the Rail Trail group for taking on the fundraising campaign.

“I just think it’s incredible. So, we have to do whatever we can to work with you — that’s a lot of free labour to raise a lot of money,” Cunningham said of the volunteer-run group.

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Here is a partial list of current and pending projects in Greater Vernon (in addition to the Rail Trail):
          New Ice Rink;
          New Museum;
          New Art Gallery;
          Master Water Plan;
          Amphitheater, and the recently completed but currently being paid for
          Athletic field.

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Kelowna's updated water restrictions

Click on above image to view full document.

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City of Kelowna responds!

 Read more

Note that the Mayor of Kelowna does not want to have domestic water used for agricultural irrigation. He wants to have all Kelowna residents to receive city water for their domestic consumption. Kelowna uses Okanagan Lake for their domestic supply and to date Kelowna does not need filtration!

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Prime Minister Resigns - The first victim of Panama Papers

Words by

Paul Fontaine

@pauldfontaine

Published April 5, 2016

Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson will resign as Prime Minister of Iceland.

Minister of Agriculture and Fishing Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson told RÚV just moments ago that Sigmundur has resigned as the Prime Minister. This move still needs the approval of the Independence Party, and the President, before being official.

Sigmundur will remain on as chairperson of the Progressive Party, and Sigurður Ingi will take his place as Prime Minister. Sigurður said that they want to continue their partnership with the Independence Party, and do not recommend early elections at this time.

However, Independence Party chairperson Bjarni Benediktsson is currently meeting the President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson to discuss the current situation.

Sigurður has publicly defended the Prime Minister since the Panama Papers story broke, going so far as to defend the use of offshore accounts by saying, “It is complicated to have money in Iceland.”

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Panama papers' huge fallout

The Canadian Press - 
Apr 5, 2016 / 6:45 am

Governments around the world tried Tuesday to contain the fallout from the publication of thousands of names of rich and powerful people who conducted offshore financial activity through a Panamanian law firm.
China dismissed as "groundless" reports that relatives of current and retired politicians, including President Xi Jinping, own offshore companies.
The state media are ignoring the reports, and search results for the words "Panama documents" have been blocked on websites and social media.
Iceland's prime minister has vowed to not resign despite thousands of angry protesters demanded he step down and call new elections. The leaks showed possible links to an offshore company that could represent a serious conflict of interest.
And Ukraine's president was accused of abusing his office and of tax evasion by moving his candy business offshore, possibly depriving the country of millions of dollars in taxes.
The reports are from a global group of news organizations working with the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. They have been processing the legal records from the Mossack Fonseca law firm that were first leaked to the German Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
Shell companies aren't by themselves illegal. People or companies might use them to reduce their tax bill legally, by benefiting from low tax rates in countries like Panama, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. But the practice is frowned upon, particularly when used by politicians, who then face criticism for not contributing to their own countries' economies.
Because offshore accounts and companies also hide the names of the ultimate owners of investments, they can be used to illegally evade taxes or launder money.
Mossack Fonseca says it obeys all laws relating to company registrations and does not advise people how to evade or legally avoid taxes.
The firm said in a statement that "our industry is not particularly well understood by the public, and unfortunately this series of articles will only serve to deepen that confusion.
"The facts are these: while we may have been the victim of a data breach, nothing in this illegally obtained cache of documents suggests we've done anything wrong or illegal, and that's very much in keeping with the global reputation we've worked hard to build over the past 40 years of doing business the right way. "
Members of the Group of 20 — which includes China — have agreed on paper to tighten laws relating to shell companies and make sure authorities can find out who the real owners are. Actual legislation at the national level has lagged behind the promises, however.
The appearance of offshore accounts in political scandals is far from new. Shell companies played a role in the Petrobras scandal in Brazil, in which bribes were allegedly funneled to politician's accounts from executives at the oil company and from construction companies. The U.S. Justice Department said in an indictment last year that offshore accounts were used to mask the transfer of bribes to officials at FIFA, the global soccer federation.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said he would not discuss the reports further and declined to say whether the individuals named would be investigated.
"For these groundless accusations, I have no comment," Hong told reporters at a regularly scheduled news conference.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung, working with NDR and WDR public television, reported Monday that 14 German banks had used Mossack Fonseca's services to set up 1,200 letterbox companies for clients.
The report said use of offshore company registrations had spiked after the European Union introduced regulations in 2005 requiring countries to exchange tax information on physical persons, but not for companies. Many of the accounts, however, have since been closed.
The EU has since tightened its rules on offshore companies under its Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which is being phased in as national governments pass local laws to comply by June 26, 2017. The new rules tighten requirements for companies to keep accurate information on their real owners and to make that available to authorities.

 The rich get richer - and cheaper!

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Selected Morning Star Newsclips - In case you missed them.

 

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Lumby Cheers - Congratulations to Lumby

Click on above image for story!

In addition to $100,000 in arena upgrades to Pat Duke Memorial Arena, the Community will host a pre-season game between Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers andDrew Doughty’s Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 2.

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