SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME
66
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ISSUE
WHAT’S INSIDE:
NO.
2
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S U M M E R L A N D,
B.C.
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T H U R S D AY,
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
JANUARY
10,
2013
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16
PA G E S
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$1.15
INCLUDING
Awards streamlined
Number of community awards pared from 19 to 12
by John Arendt When the community awards are presented
next month, there will be fewer than in the past. The awards list has been trimmed from 19 awards last year to 12 this year. Among the cuts, the Arts Award and the Cultural Development
Award will not be presented at this year’s ceremony. The awards ceremony has been a Summerland tradition since 1937. It is organized by the Summerland Chamber of Economic Development and
Tourism. Chamber president Arlene Fenrich said several of the smaller awards were removed and rolled into the Citizen/Volunteer of the Year Award. “By keeping that
HST
award, we’re making sure people will not be left out,” she said. In past years, the Citizen of the Year Award and the Volunteer of the Year Award were two separate awards. See AWARDS Page 6
Out for a swim
Summerlanders welcomed the new year with the 28th annual Polar Bear Dip on Jan. 1.
Page 8
Watching water
Municipal council is facing challenges in determining how to charge for water for agricultural users.
Page 3
Seeking help
The Summerland Red Cross needs some volunteer help to staff the medical equipment depot.
Page 6
Team effort
The Pee Wee House Jets are noticing an improvement in their hockey playing skills this year.
Page 12
Playing hockey
A Summerland hockey player will now play for the Selkirk College Saints in Castlegar.
Page 13
YOUR SMILE I’d love to help you out. Which way did you come in?
Hurry hard
John Arendt Summerland Review
Betty Raymond, left, and Larry Harder sweep a rock during the Bush Spiel at the Summerland Curling Club on the weekend. Teams from around the Okanagan participated in the annual bonspiel.
Property assessments show decline Values drop throughout South Okanagan and Similkameen by John Arendt Property assessments in Summerland are lower
than a year ago, but the values remain higher than in other South Okanagan and Similkameen communities. More than 67,000 property owners in the region have received their property assess-
ments, which are sent out annually through B.C. Assessment. In Summerland, the average assessment was $419,000, down from $441,000 a year earlier. Tracy Wall, deputy assessor with B.C. Assess-
ment, said property values did not all change by the same amount. “Most homes in the South Okanagan region are remaining stable in value compared to last year’s assessment roll,” she said.
She added that most home owners in the area will see changes of five per cent up or down from last year’s value. Throughout the region, assessments dropped from the 2012 values. See APPEALS Page 7