Printers Express 07.2 6/29/03 5:31 PM Page 12 Page 6 EXPRESS June 18, 2003 express on line – www.expressnews.ca ADVERTISING: Krista Neill, Allyson Sawyer . ;, EXPRE S - ADMINISTRATION: Marina Kiborn, Kari Magnuson, Jenny Hicks OFFICE HOURS DISTRIBUTION: Gene Schmunk PRODUCTION: Monday to Friday 9 am to 4:30 pm Kevin Macintyre, Kent Nelson ISSN 1196-7471 PHONE (250) 354-3910 EDITORIAL 354-1118 ~ The Express Newspaper is owned by FAX 352-5075 EMERGENCY PAGER 352-8368 Kootenay Express Communication Corp. Publications Mail Agreement #0654353. Paid at Nelson, B.C. E-MAIL express@expressnews.bc.ca -:.~Vo"'~•I~ C'(IL,.,'\' • COMMUNIITNEWSPAPEH lrElllE!ml ·.,:.. :.:..:.:,:.:, '..:.: PUBLISHER / EDITOR Nelson Becker ADDRESS 554 Ward St. Nelson, B.C. V1L 1S9 OPINION & LETTERS Common sense road safety supervision of work activities, to be equipped with an amber coloured roto beacon lamp mounted at the Editorial Comment Dear Editor, highest point, and visible from 360 degrees. Nelson is an arts town When the R.C.M.P stop vehicles, on the highway to write a traffic citation, they always turn on their flash- I.C.B.C. will shell out millions of our tax dollars to pay all the accident costs for any accident related to a It is also a town dedicated to education, industry, tourism and ing warning lamps, to advise other motorists that there vehicle stopped on the highways system. shopping. is a stopped vehicle, and caution must be used when We have not killed enough people to make com- We have to plan and decide for our future how to invest city passing the police unit. mon sense changes to the regulations that outdated Yet the very same police, and I.C.B.C., will not and do not reflect a goal of accident prevention and to funds in future economic development. support a change to the motor vehicle act that would save the taxpayers money. I have been sitting on a Nelson and Area Economic Development require any other service or utility vehicle, stopped on Talk about a double standard of road safety. Corporation committee, whose purpose is to develop a sense of who the highway to perform work, inspection or Bob Johnson, Nelson we are. The particular focus is to attract more businesses. The desired result would be a larger tax base. The committee’s work will be helpful in our creating an image, logo and catch phrases for our city and area, designed to lure business people to set up shop here. Government is arrogant Dear Editor, that he was hired a mere one day Finally, will the Canadian pub- We have been discussing words. At first, we listed all the words So, we're finally rid of George after he was discharged from lic's right to transparency in gov- we could think of that described Nelson as being different and Radwanski. Our collective out- bankruptcy? Did Radwanski's ernment prevail? Don't hold your unique. Beautiful did not make it, because there are so many beau- rage at his arrogance will soon Liberal connections play a role in breath waiting for the answers. tiful places. Heritage, art and creative are some of the words that abate. After all, his extravagance is his being forgiven half a million This is a government that is as have been part of our discussion. small potatoes compared to other dollars in back taxes? Were senior arrogant, extravagant and secre- Liberal boondoggles, such as the officials in the PMO simply tive as Radwanski himself. A recently released report on the economic impact of arts in our Gun Registry. incompetent or did they conspire Ken Wilson community confirmed what many people already know; art equals Radwanski's departure, howev- to hide Radwanski's financial Nelson money and it is not a small amount of dollars. Read the story on er, leaves the big questions unan- dealings when he was appointed to page one of this newspaper. swered. Was is pure coincidence his cushy job? It was beyond the arts’ impact consulting company’s mandate to look at other sectors, such as education, manufacturing or con- sumerism. While there are figures for various economic sectors, Commentary by Cathy Scott-May, President of the Bonnington Regional Park Society they are hard to compare to our arts impact study, because of the way data is obtained. Still, it is clear, whether the arts are the num- Step sawmill needs secure funding Bonnington ber one industry or the number 10, the arts still plays a major role Dear Editor employment and achieving self-sufficiency. While in why people come here and why people visit. Your newspaper has carried stories about the they base their program around processing lumber, I development of the Bonnington Regional Park in know that their real focus is on teaching basic life and The study recommends more involvement by government to which our community has been praised for its high employment skills. While doing so, they help the enhance and encourage the arts in Nelson and area. degree of volunteer commitment and prudent fiscal young adults understand how they can be part of our management with respect to a worthwhile communi- community, in ways that are right for them (which in If we were to look at other sectors, we would see some of those ty project. As President of the Bonnington Regional many cases may be outside the standard mold) and sectors would also benefit by more dollars. It will be up to our civic Park Society, I would like to add my voice to those productive for society as a whole. leaders to decide how to spend our limited amount of tax revenues thanking the residents in our community who have The participants in the S.T.E.P. Sawmill Program in order to get the most bang for the buck. committed hundreds of hours of their time to make do not come from somewhere else, they come from this project a reality. homes just like ours. Thus, the Program’s success is f . . . . . . . 'i, However, my gratitude needs to be extended addressing our need. beyond our immediate community. Local businesses I am saddened to hear that the S.T.E.P. Sawmill have donated tens of thousands of dollars worth of Program is once again out of funding and the program FISH HEADS materials and services. Additionally, numerous com- munity organizations have provided critical support. To each and every individual who has worked with us, I would like to say thank you. (in other words, young adults with significant barriers to employment) may be without a future. To the three people who run the S.T.E.P. program – Fred Haake, Denis Hergott and Melissa Bertrand - I say thank you. & FLOWERS In the case of one community organization that has supported us, the S.T.E.P. Sawmill, I feel the need to do more than just say thank you. Rather, I would ask for the opportunity to help our regional community I also want to apologize to you on behalf of all levels of government and the broader community for how badly we have treated you over the years. You have demonstrated an unshakable commitment to the FISH HEADS – to ignorant dog FLOWERS – To the nice lady who understand what we are, again, in danger of losing. young people you work with, only to be rewarded owners who do not pick up thier fearlessly dove into Kootenay Lake Last fall, the Bonnington Regional Park Society with constantly having to justify your success to those dogs do-do when their dogs are to rescue my kid’s ball. hired the S.T.E.P. Sawmill crew to work in partner- of us who keep ourselves safely hidden from the real- done-done. Please consider what it – A Grateful Dad ship with some local youth. As a result, our youth had ities you deal with every day. You have numerous might be like to wash dog feces off the opportunity to earn a little money, learn some new studies that show your program saves us money over a one year old child's hands and skills and, hopefully, feel greater ownership of the the long term, yet we still make you beg every step of shoes. FLOWERS – To our creative, park. In exchange, the S.T.E.P. crew got a taste of the way. All the money you get goes to meet the needs - Very Angry mom (and dog thoughtful, and generous friends. what it means to provide supervision and mentoring of your participants – you don’t have fancy offices owner) The beauty brought to our to others, something we rarely allow young people to (I’ve seen where you work, few would tolerate it) or ceremony through flowers, food, FLOWERS – To the most awe- do, especially those who are have difficulty just get- vehicles. I could not blame you if, in your frustration, laughter, music and your company some person that I just met. ting a job. The partnership was a complete success. you walk away and leave us to face the problems was greater than anything we could – I’m still distracted! I approached the S.T.E.P Sawmill Program because without your skills and experience. I hope, however, imagine. Your presence in our lives I know of its success in working with young adults that you will keep at it and we come to reward your FLOWERS – To my Handyman is a blessing. who are experiencing difficulty in gaining efforts with the secure base funding that is required. for your tantalizing words and – The Solstice Ceremony Revelers ways. – Coy gurl Letters to the Editor We encourage our readers to write to us. are more in-depth than letters. Send us your Fish Heads and Flowers! All submissions to the Express Please address letters meant for publication to the Editor. 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