JF Launier, kneeing right of car, shows off the yellow 1964 Buick Riviera custom that won him the Ridler Award at Detroit Autorama. Posing with him are members of the team that worked on the car. (Richard McGuire file photo)
Town of Osoyoos council approved a slight tax increase, an Osoyoos hot rod builder and his team won a prestigious international award and confirmation the inaugural Desert Live Music Festival in Osoyoos would become a reality made headlines last March.
Town of Osoyoos council approved a $24 annual tax hike – or two bucks a month – for a homeowner in Osoyoos who has their property assessed at $320,000 when you combine the 1.75 per cent property tax hike and marginal user fees increases approved by council.
“We’ve really looked at this very carefully and I think that this is a good budget and a good financial plan and I support it,” said Coun. Sue McKortoff.
Osoyoos continues to charge property owners among the lowest property taxes and user fees for water and sewer services in B.C. for towns of a similar size, said Mayor Stu Wells.
Council also approved to provide $25,000 on top of $15,000 it had already committed to make the Desert Live Music Festival a reality.
The organizing committee with Desert Live had originally planned a 10-day event to be held before and after Canada Day celebrations, but the size and scope of the festival was toned down to last five days, including a headline concert on July 1 as part of annual Cherry Fiesta and Canada Day celebrations.
“I really think that we have something here that needs to get off the ground in a very positive way … and I think we can afford it,” said Rhodes.
Mike Campol, who headed up the executive committee with Desert Live, was thrilled with council’s support.
“This will go a long way of ensuring our goal of holding a well-run and well-attended festival in our first year,” said Campol.
Also in March, Osoyoos, for the second consecutive year, made final cut to be named Kraft Hockeyville.
Eight communities from Western Canada and eight communities from Eastern Canada were in the running for over $1 million in prizes, including money for arena upgrades as well as the chance to host a pre-season NHL game.
All 16 communities announced in March were guaranteed at least $25,000 for arena upgrades.
Cathy Martins, the local woman who has spearheaded the campaign in Osoyoos to have our community entered on the Kraft Hockeyville website, was thrilled that Osoyoos has been named a finalist once again.
“I jumped out of my seat and screamed when I heard the good news,” she said. “I had a really good feeling that we would get named once again, but you really don’t know what’s going to happen because thousands of communities from across the country have entries.”
Osoyoos was the only community in the country to be named a repeat finalist from the contest held in 2012, which shows how much local residents love hockey and how much community spirit we share, said Martins.
Meanwhile, Osoyoos hot rod builder J. F. Launier achieved a lifelong dream when the 1964 Buick Riviera he helped build captured the coveted Ridler Award at the 2014 year’s Detroit Autorama custom car show.
The vehicle, which Launier named Rivision, is a 1964 modified Riviera with the boattail style of the 1970s version of the model.
When it comes to building customized cars, Launier said winning the Ridler Award is on the same footing as winning the Stanley Cup or Olympic gold.
“It’s what every builder dreams of,” he said. “To me, it says that you’re the best (hot rod) builder in the world. It’s that big of an award.”
Launier confirmed that he and his crew spent more than 20,000 hours working on the 1964 Riviera and he’s put “a significant amount of money” into turning the vehicle into a spectacular piece of art and unique muscle car at the same time.
The prize for winning the Ridler award was only $10,000, “which basically covers the cost of getting me and our gang to Detroit”, but the prestige he has and will continue to receive from custom car buffs around the world is immeasurable, said Launier.
“I’ve dreamed of winning this award for a few years now … to actually win it is an amazing feeling,” said Launier.
The Osoyoos Coyotes had their dream of a KIJHL championship come up just short as they lost in five games to the Kamloops Storm in the league semi-finals.
Only a few days after being eliminated, the Coyotes announced head coach and general manager Ken Law had signed a new long-term contract to remain in charge of hockey operations with the hockey club.
Law said he couldn’t be prouder of his players for their effort in the playoffs and against Kamloops.
“We fell a little short of what we wanted to accomplish, but we played as hard as we could and we just didn’t get the result we were looking for,” he said. “They’re a big, strong and very talented hockey club. Our guys gave it everything they had, but we were young and some of our guys just ran out of steam.”
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Cathy Martins led the campaign to have Osoyoos named Kraft Hockeyville. Osoyoos was chosen as one of 16 communities across Canada in the initial round, winning $25,000 for arena upgrades. The town, however, was eliminated in subsequent rounds. (Richard McGuire file photo)
Coyote Captain Colin Chmelka was set up by Rory Neary, but Kelowna Chiefs goalie Tyler O’Donnell managed to deflect the puck with his glove during playoff action in March. The Coyotes eliminated the Chiefs, but lost in the league semi-finals to the Kamloops Storm. (Richard McGuire file photo)
