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Vermilion Trails Society to host Summer Solstice dinner on the Bridge of Dreams

“2011 is looking like it is going to be another good year for our group,” said VTS president Kim Maynard. Maynard is referring to the latest projects that are either underway or nearing completion by the non-profit volunteer organization known for its industrious members. Over the past few years, VTS has been instrumental in finding partners, grants and volunteers to help the club turn dreams into community assets.

“2011 is looking like it is going to be another good year for our group,” said VTS president Kim Maynard.  Maynard is referring to the latest projects that are either underway or nearing completion by the non-profit volunteer organization known for its industrious members.  Over the past few years, VTS has been instrumental in finding partners, grants and volunteers to help the club turn dreams into community assets. Amongst the most well-know projects are the historical mural on the side of the Irly Bird building, the Weyerhaeuser Roundhouse, Phifers Fountain, the Bridge of Dreams and most recently, new lighting along the Kettle Valley Rail Trail as it travels through town.  This latest project, the lighting has been a huge undertaking.  With cash infusions from the community’s GamesTown 2010 win, the Gisborne Group, the Town of Princeton and grant monies, VTS has been able to add an extended series of attractive light standards along the KVR starting at the Bridge of Dreams and ending at the Princeton Tunnel.  All told 72 lights brighten the trail for trail users.  “The lights are a real asset for our community,” stated Maynard.  “Everyday we see a lot of people using the trail and we hope that with the lights now going, we will all see even more people using the trail into the evening.  It has been a long haul getting these lights all up and going,” stated Maynard, “and meant a lot of team work.  Recreation and Culture Director Lyle Thomas, Jim Barnes from Hayes Creek Electric, Town Council, Stan Thompson, Fortis and many others have worked together and supported us throughout these past months while we worked through a lot of glitches and issues to get these lights shining.  It is really satisfying to see them going.”

While the lighting is still an ongoing project with new lights yet to be installed in the Princeton Tunnel and on the Bridge of Dreams, there is another project which is just beginning.  Starting with a special evening celebration on June 18, VTS is holding an elegant 7 course dinner on the Bridge of Dreams catered by Thomasina’s.  The dinner is a fundraising effort in conjunction with the Princeton Rotary Club and Princeton Arts Council to find enough money to undergo a new art project.  VTS is working with artist Mark Wong to sketch out an interpretation of what is hoped will be a large art piece specifically for Two Rivers Park - the park at the Bridge of Dreams.

Wong is designing the piece using metal and recycled glass.  “We are very sincere in our efforts to place another piece of art in a public place,” said Maynard.  “The mosaic piece which is now attached to the outside of  Riverside Centre and the latest creation in the library foyer are real showpieces for our town and we are hoping that we can help continue the trend with our own addition to the community.  Art and culture say a lot about a community and the talent in this town seems to be never ending.  We just want to be a part of it.”

The dinner will feature the talented harpist Ingrid Schellenberg from Penticton and be Princeton’s welcome to summer.  Summer Solstice is on June 21, so the dinner will be on almost the longest day of the year.  Along with the celebration of summer, the dinner will also be a celebration of the completed lighting and a new sign which will welcome visitors to the park.”

“Everyone has been really supportive of our group,” concluded Maynard.  “This is our way of giving back with something we hope will be really wonderful.  VTS is excited about the dinner and the prospective public art piece.  We hope the community will join us for an evening people won’t soon forget.”