THURSDAY
S I N C E
MAY 8, 2014
1 8 9 5
Vol. 119, Issue 71
105
$
INCLUDING G.S.T.
Follow us online
Trail-Warfield Citizen of the Year saluted Page 19
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
7-Eleven closing but Chevron staying Convenience store closing in June but energy company has plans for site BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
After a 30-year presence in the City of Trail the local 7-Eleven store on Victoria Avenue will be closing its doors June 20 and those who have grown up with the signature frozen “Slurpee” and bucket-sized servings of soft drinks may have something of a mourning period ahead. However, concerns of losing the downtown core’s last remaining gas pumps and convenience store are unfounded in this case as the property owner, Chevron Canada, has no plans of leaving Trail any time soon. “We’re not closing down,” said Adrien Byrne, spokesperson for Chevron Canada. “We have every intention of keeping it running. There may be a few changes like upgrading the fuel tanks and renovations to the building but we’re hoping to maintain
NONNA’S COOKIN’
the operation, especially during the peak summer driving season.” For it’s service stations in B.C., typically Chevron owns the site and, in most cases, an independent retailer will handle the convenience store aspect of the operation. In some instances, though, the stations are run on a “marketer model” basis, where a larger retailer leases the site and uses Chevron products. “We have preferred partners that we work with in many of our operations, the store in Trail is the last we have in B.C. with 7-Eleven,” said Byrne. “We’re looking for another preferred partner to take over the operation in June.” For its part, 7-Eleven had not planned on closing its store in Trail but have no choice but to accept the decision of the property owner. “We have been informed that our lease will not be renewed at this site,” Laurie Smith, communications manager with 7-Eleven Canada, said in an email. See FATE, Page 3
SILVER CITY DAYS
Firemen do double duty for Saturday’s main events Planning parade and fireworks makes for a long day for firefighters BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
From the crack of dawn until the clock strikes midnight, Trail firefighters have their work cut out for them during Silver City Days. Traditionally, the Local 941 fire crew has rounded up a bevy of entertainment for the Saturday parade through town and done a bang up job closing the day with a fireworks show at dusk. Organizing the annual parade and lighting up the night sky is a huge undertaking, and through the years the art of planning May’s celebrations have been handed down
from one generation of Trail firefighters to the next. “It’s a big day for us,” said Lee DePellegrin, president of Trail Firefighters Local 941. “But we’ve been doing it for a number of years and every guy learned from the guy before him.” Parade entries are collected at the fire hall months before the event, and the firemen develop a lineup based on the type of participant. “Basically we try to keep certain groups like the youth together so they aren’t stepping in horse poop and we keep animals like the horses away from loud noises,” he said. “We’ve learned through trial and error but after so many years we know how to give the parade a kind of flow.” See SIX, Page 3
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
Ilva Corazza (with help from sous-chef Rick Georgetti) has been stirring up batches of mouth watering spaghetti sauce in the Colombo Lodge kitchen for over 40 years. The 89-year-old Nonna was at the site Wednesday morning to begin making enough marinara to serve over 300 guests expected Friday night for the Lodge’s annual “Spaghettata”, a family dinner (spaghetti, chicken, jojos, salad and bun) with live Italian music.
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN250-368-8550 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242
There is a Special Offer coming your way
Canada Post, Contract number 42068012
The Trail Times has hired circulation sales representatives Hans Straub, Chris Hopkyns and Quitcy Macaulay to undertake a subscription drive. They will be calling on you to offer subscription prices for the Trail area at substantial savings over regular subscription prices. Offer not available at the Times Office
CHRIS HOPKYNS
HANS STRAUB
QUITCY MACAULAY