VOL 3, ISSUE 34 Salt Spring Island, B.C . PRICELESS REFERENDUM 2000 ~~...., ... securing Land For Future Community Recreation ~~·~ ~&:: Jt. ' .,. saltsprlng~ VOTE SEPTEMBER 30 parks arts recreations ~~ ________________i_sl_a_nd_~_n_ew_s ________________ _ Rec ·centre funding depends on referendum outcome by Kelly Waters raised, PARC will be able to afford to keep For years Salt Spring residents have indi­ the land and will also initiate a Capital Re­ cated that an indoor recreation centre is a serve Fund to pay for other projects, in­ high priority. Th e September 30 referen­ cluding the future expansion of Pmilock dum is one more step in the long process of Kanaka R Park, an athletic park in the south end of bringing that dream closer to reality. the Island, trail linkages, and the expansion Last year, Islanders voted against selling Elementary and upgrade of the Ganges Public Pathway. land that had been donated to PARC. The School Many opportunities to purchase land have money raised from these sales would have been lost in the past because such a reserve paid for land designated for the recreation High School fund did not exist. centre-land that has already been pur­ If, however, residents vote against having chased but not secured outright. Now resi­ their taxes raised, PARC will be forced to dents have the opportunity to speak their take $100,000 from its operating budget per minds again. this time indicating whether Rainbow Road year until enough of the land holdings at or not they are willing to see their taxes Rainbow and Kanaka Roads are sold. Since the Commission's budget is already fully raised in order to keep this designated land. The property at 256 Rainbow Road is identified as "2" in the above map. The recreation centre The prope1ty in question is a 7.82-acre lot used, a cut as big as this would greatly im­ could be located anyvvhere in the 7. 82 acres. at 256 Rainbow Road. PARC purchased pede its ability to deliver services the public has come to e>."Pect. Another effect of such this site for $4 75,000 in 1996 with the spe­ become useful at some time in the future. services would not have to detract from its cific purpose of developing an active park, a vote would be the lack of a capital reserve The Rainbow Road si te also has a variety natural beauty. including indoor facilities. This parcel fund, potentially hindering future growth of All plans surrounding this site are contin­ meets requirements for an indoor centre as of natural features that make it a great PARC's properties and services. gent upon securing the land. PARC pur­ set out by the Commission's Master Plan choice to accommodate the recreation fa­ PARC's mandate in this referendum is to chased the Rainbow Road lot under a and the Islands Trust OCP. It's bigger than cilities. Along with the field that can be learn what the public wants and then to im­ ten-year borrowing bylaw, which included plement its wishes. The commission is pro­ the minimum guideline of 5 acres, it's close seen from the street, the parcel also has a the possibility of refinancing at the end of viding all the information necessary to to the high school and the downtown spring (which could be utilized for some of that period. The refinancing option has facilitate the electorate in making an in­ Ganges core and it can share in the infra­ the water supply) and a beautiful grove of been eliminated following recent changes formed decision: brochures will be mailed structure (i ncluding the sewer system). It trees. The wooded area is ideal for creating in the Municipal Act, leaving PARC with a has a safe walking route to the school, it to everyone, a website is running nature trails and constructing a picnic area. deadline of December 31, 2005 to pay the could easily be linked to the Ganges Public (http://www.crd.bc.ca/ssiparc), two public The proximity to Kanaka Road not only of­ outstanding principal of $450,000. (Most of Pathway System and a geotech test has al­ the interest on this debt is covered by the forums are planned, and PARC representa­ fers a safe route to th~ high school but also ready been performed and the result is that rental of the house on the property.) Just tives will have a presence at the Saturday the land is suitable for building. This site is means that the nature trails created could like you can't put a cart before a horse, you Market and at the Fall Fair. They will also also close to two other PARC-owned easily be linked up with the downtown can't build an indoor recreational centre answer telephone and email inquiries and parcels: .46 acres and .76 acres at 220 and pathway system. Plans to develop this site without the land to build it on. attend speaking engagements at group 210 Kanaka Road respectively. These could into an active park with many assorted If voters agree to allow their taxes to be meetings as requested. Fall Fair ·trophies 'due now before·going ' on display !y!ouat's Trading Co. will be dis­ rating every part of the Fair popular part of the Junior Horticul­ (two adult and one youth), one item made from recycled materi­ playing many of the Fall Fair tro­ Grounds. We invite Weavers and ture section so we're doing it again. best jam, jelly or marmalade als was awarded to the "wooly" phies in their street level display Spinners to do their "Fair Share" But this year, in keeping with made with Bernardin Fruit sheep made by John Unruh. window for about a week starting and enter Class 33 with an article the theme of the Fair, we are Pectin, and one Gift Basket The BCAAFE competition has on the Labour Day weekend. It's that is handwoven and/or is made doing a "Flower Garden". To Award. The winner of this award been expanded this year and fairs a great opportunity for people to from or incorporates handspun enter this class, kids need to take gets to compete in the National may now enter their winning view the trophies that don't often yarn or handmade felt, and that their entry form to Foxglove Bernardin Gift Basket Contest. items in: Best Fair Theme Article get seen other than by the win­ includes a representation of a Farm & Garden Supply, at which Last year, Donna Cochran made (knitted, sewn, crocheted, needle­ ners. flower or a flower-inspired motif. time they will be given a kit that a basket with garlic she had grown point or craft), Best Recycled Ar­ Two trophies in Needlework This Class is included for this year contains a peat pot, a seedling pot and filled with various items in­ ticle, Best 4H Educational were inadvertently missed from only, to celebrate the Blooming with 4 different flower plants cluding her own homemade pre­ Display, and the Best Scarecrow . the trophy list. They are: Seams New Century theme. The class is started, some seeds, and instruc­ serves. Her basket won first place Entry deadlines Right Sewing School for highest as broad as can be: you are, limit­ tions on how to put it all together. in the Bernardin Gift Basket Class Entry forms will not be accept­ points in junior needlework - ed only by your imagination. It is important that the kits be at our fair and then went on to ed after 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Sep­ under 10 years and the Kay Avi­ Spinning and Weaving picked up soon as the seedlings win runner-up out of 125 entries tember 9-no exceptions. Don't son Perpetual Trophy for Best There are four new additions to need to be transplanted and the in the national competition. put off completing that entry Fair Isle Knitting, class 39. the previous schedule of classes to seeds planted in order to have a The British Columbia Associa­ form. Do it now! Send it by mail Last year's winners who haven't reflect what people are doing blooming pot for the Fair. tion of Agricultural Fairs and Ex­ or drop it into Foxglove Farm and yet returned their trophies to the nowadays. These are: Because there is a limited hibitions (BCAAFE), of which Garden or Mrs . Clean Laundro­ Farmers Institute caretakers' cot­ Class 9-Handspun yarn spun amount of display space at the the Salt Spring Fair is a member, mat. The "bows" to enter are on tage, <He reminded that they on a drop spindle Fair, there is a limited number of . holds a special competition for page 10 of the Fall Fair Entry are now overdue-the trophies Class 21-Handwoven ban kits, and it's "first come, first specific items from its member Catalogue that was in the August need to be shined up for the next Class 22-Kumihimo braid served". Once all the kits have fairs at their annual convention in 8th edition of the Barnacle. Extra winners. Class 23-Handmade tassel been handed out, there won't be October in Vernon. Salt Spring copies are available at the Barna­ Blooming theme Junior Horticulture any more available. ·entered in two competitions last cle office, Foxglove, Mrs. Clean The theme for the Fall Fair this Last year, classes lO (under age 8 Beyond the Island year: the "Best Afghan from your Laundromat, Apple Photo, year is Blooming New Century. on Fair Day) and 21 (age 8 and In the preserving section for this fair" and the "Best Item made Mouat's upstairs, Mary Hawkins The aim is to have 2,000 pots over on Fair day) were called the year there are several Bernardin from Recycled Materials".