SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME 66 - ISSUE
NO. 36 • S U M M E R L A N D, B.C. • T H U R S D AY,
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
SEPTEMBER
5,
2013
•
16
WHAT’S INSIDE:
PA G E S
•
$1.15
INCLUDING
GST
Transit to start in fall by John Arendt
Benefit concert
A concert on Saturday evening raised money for Agur Lake Camp.
Page 6
Patient input
Volunteers are wanted to share their experiences within the health care system.
Page 2
Building changes
S u m m e r l a n d ’s building regulations have been expanded and clarified.
Page 3
Orchardist dies unexpectedly
A leading fruit grower and past president of the B.C. Fruit Growers Association passed away on Aug. 31.
Page 7
Terry Fox Run
Summerland’s Terry Fox Run will be held later this month.
Page 11
Garden work
YOUR SMILE Never give up on your dreams. Keep sleeping.
John Arendt Summerland Review
Trina Taylor, in front, and Wilma Kruger take care of some fall clean-up work at the Summerland Ornamental Gardens.
Ridings adjusted Federal electoral changes separate Penticton and Summerland by John Arendt Summerland and Penticton will no longer share a Member of Parliament when the next electoral boundary changes take effect. Under the changes, Sum-
merland will be part of the new district of Central Okanagan — Similkameen — Nicola while Penticton will be in the riding of South Okanagan — West Kootenay. The Central Okanagan — Similkameen — Nicola riding also includes Princeton, Merritt, Peachland and a portion of Kelowna. The South Okanagan — West Kootenay riding
includes Keremeos, Oliver, Osoyoos, Castlegar and Nelson. Members of Summerland’s municipal council are concerned with the redrawn boundaries. “I don’t think it’s good,” said Mayor Janice Perrino. She added that Penticton and Summerland are closely connected. See QUESTIONS Page 2
A scheduled transit service for Summerland will be in place before the end of next month. Municipal administrator Tom Day said the new service will have its official opening on Monday, Oct. 21. The first bus will run on Monday, Oct. 28. The transit service will operate between Summerland and Penticton Monday to Friday with four buses a day. Evening and weekend service may be added in the future depending on the demand. The fare for the service will be $2 for a trip within Summerland and $4 for a one-way trip to or from Penticton. The route will start at the Summerland Library and the bus will stop at Nesters Market, Rosedale Avenue, the Summerland Health Centre, Summerland Seniors’ Village and Summerland IGA. Twice a day, the bus will also stop in Trout Creek. Buses will be scheduled for early morning, mid morning, early afternoon and late afternoon or early evening. Details of the schedule will not be finalized until September. Meribeth Burton of B.C. Transit said the schedule will be set up to accommodate transportation to and from work or school in Penticton. “Our big hope is that we attract commuters and post-secondary students,” she said. Summerland’s present transit service is a paratransit system which operates Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those using the paratransit service must call ahead, 24 hours in advance, to arrange a ride. In addition, there is a bus twice a day to the Penticton Regional Hospital. “We’re adding something new and exciting, which is a fixed schedule,” Burton said. “This is the first time we’ve introduced a fixed route to Summerland. It has to work.” Mayor Janice Perrino said discussions about bringing a bus service to Summerland have been years in the making. “We’ve been working with B.C. Transit since 1999,” she said. While she would like to see the schedule expanded to include evening and weekend service, she said the initial weekday service is a place to start. “All you need to do is get the bulk of the population taken care of first,” she said. B.C. Transit will have a bus at the Summerland Fall Fair later this month.