MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT HERITAGE

Editor:

Osoyoos appears to be the only municipality in the B.C. Interior which has not taken steps to preserve at least some buildings of historical value.

Unless some measures are soon taken to do so, it is only a matter of time before the developers' axe eliminates any potential candidates for preservation.

Unless more than just a few citizens attach importance to saving some of our history, then nothing will happen in that regard.

Some of us believe that preserving local history is an important element in the total development of a community.

Additionally, communities which have preserved early properties have experienced a sense of pride and an extra dimension to their tourism appeal.

Our native community has certainly shown the economic and tourism advantage of combining history and modern development.

To my knowledge, in Osoyoos there are four properties of historical significance and which retain enough of their original structure to merit serious consideration for at least minimal heritage preservation.

There is the Art Gallery building, which was constructed about 1951 as a provincial police facility complete with offices, living quarters, car garage and jail cells.

The jail cells could easily be refurbished to become an extra tourist attraction, in addition to the gallery.

The present Osoyoos Yacht Club building was originally the CP Railway station and represents a major stage in the development of Osoyoos.

It is still in its original location.

The old Testalinda school building, now situated near the Mohawk gas station, dates back to our early days.

I am told it was built from components of the Bucket of Blood saloon at the former Fairview town site.

The longest history goes to the property on the east side of the lake, now owned by Mitchell.

It was built originally about 1882 for Judge Haynes, functioned as the Custom House in the 1880s, was also occupied by the Ellis family, by Les Hill who started the first commercial orchard and later by Fraser around 1919.

The above names are all found in the early history of Osoyoos.

I feel confident that should an effort be made to preserve these properties of historical value, the present owners/occupiers would be willing to co-operate and assist with heritage preservation.

Are there enough people who care enough to speak up in favour of preserving at least some historical properties in order to initiate action?

Or do we wait to regret it when nothing is left to preserve?

Tony Brummet,rnOsoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-October 15, 2008

OPPORTUNISTS SHOULDN'T SEEK MAYOR'S SEAT

Editor:

Re: Osoyoos Town Council

We in Osoyoos need a council made up of sincere and democratic thinking representatives, starting with our new mayor.

We do not deserve an opportunist flip-flopping between RDOS and Osoyoos vice versa!

Quoting his words in last week's write-up under Election 08: After serious deliberation I came to the conclusion more could be accomplished as mayor than as regional director.

Keeping in mind his Willow Beach and Anarchist Mountain pet projects, I can just imagine what kind of accomplishments they will be.

Art. G. Molenkamp,rnOsoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-October 15, 2008

KEEPING POT ILLEGAL WILL KEEP JAILS FULL

Editor:rn
Re: Federal candidates have their say in Osoyoos

By promising to jail more pot smokers and offering mandatory six-month jail terms for growing even one marijuana plant, Stephen Harper wants to turn our 50,000 inmate population into a 65,000-to-70,000 inmate population.

This will take billions of dollars to accomplish.

Instead of regulating marijuana and generating $3 billion in annual tax revenue, he wants to spend billions more every year building jails and filling them with pot users.

How, exactly, is that going to help the economy?

By creating jobs for lawyers, cops, gangsters and jail-builders, I guess.

It will certainly make a dent in the affordable housing problem.

Russell Barth,rnFederally Licensed Medical Marijuana User/ Patients Against Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis,rnNepean, Ont.

OSOYOOS TIMES-October 15, 2008