Members of the the Eurhythmics Dance Studio from Cochrane recently successfully participated in a couple of events, including the Danceworks 2005 competition at Red Deer College.
With more than 30 dancers, Eurhythmics was well represented, performing close to 30 routines, from solos to duets to large group numbers. The four-day competition culminated with a “dance-off” that saw Eurhythmics qualify three numbers in the finals for the first time ever.
“This was huge,” said Karen Clark, mother of Christine and Jessica Clark of their qualifying three dances in the dance-off. “The girls were absolutely pumped when they heard the news.”
Eurhythmics captured second place in the 13-years-and-over jazz large groups for their up-beat dance number “Toxic”, and sixth in the lines large group for the fast paced and fun routine “Gothom”.
But the crowning achievement for the group came when the surrealistic routine “Grounded” won first place in the 13-and-over lines large group. With it’s heart pounding music and wonderfully visual costuming, the routine was choreographed such that the dancers performed almost 100 per cent of the routine on the ground, never standing throughout the entire number.
They also danced their hearts out at the Great Canadain Dance Challenge in Calgary March 19.
They competed against other dancers from Red Deer, High River, Whitecourt, Calgary and Edmonton and were outstanding in every category, bringing home an impressive 28 medals, as well as the Overall Outstanding Choreography Award presented to their inspirational teacher and studio owner Jodi Aasen.
Congratulations to the soloists and duets: Emily Axelson, junior lyrical solo, high gold, first place, $100 scholarship; Alix Clarke, intermediate II jazz solo, gold, first place, $100 scholarship, and high gold in intermediate II lyrical solo; Christine Clark, intermediate II jazz solo, gold, second place; Shelby Munford, intermediate I tap solo, gold; Sarah Megee, accelerated advanced character pointe solo, high gold, and high gold, second place in accelerated advanced lyrical solo; Jessica Roszko, intermediate I classical pointe solo, high gold, and high silver in intermediate I lyrical solo; Ashley Parker, intermediate II variety solo, high gold, second place; Melissa and Steffanie Jenkins, junior tap duet, high silver; Emma Cobb, beginner lyrical solo, high silver; Brittany Irvin and Amanda Kingsmith, junior variety duet, high gold; Courtney Wilson, intermediate II lyrical solo, gold; Parker and Alix Clarke, accelerated intermediate II jazz duet, high gold, first place.
The group consists of: Emily Axelson, Lisa Axelson, Joslynn Boyce, Brittany Brown, Julie Byler, Christine Clark, Jessica Clark, Alix Clarke, Emma Cobb, Adrienne Comba, Allyson Comba, Breanne Cursley, Karly Dickson, Sarah Hemke, Brittany Irvin, Melissa Jenkins, Steffanie Jenkins, Amanda Kingsmith, Christine Lara, Hannah Leventhal, Sarah Leventhal, Sarah Megee, Kristen Mitchell, Sarah Morra, Shelby Munford, Brittany Myers, Alyssa Negard, Ashley Parker, Jessica Roszko, Kirsten Steier, Hayley Tunna and Courtney Wilson.
Next up for the troupe is The Class Act Festival April 30 and May 1 at Okotoks.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
GlenEagles Villas’ owners who had been lobbying the town to take over the bareland condominium’s privately-owned infrastructure lost what was likely their final bid before town council April 25.
With a half-dozen Villas residents on hand, council decided against taking over operational control of infrastructure on the property or finding a financial solution to what the landowners have called an unfair arrangement.
Following the meeting, Villas residents were not pleased with the outcome.
“We’re at the end of our tether,” said Bob Head. “They still don’t seem to understand.”
The residents had suggested they pay the same municipal taxes as other residents but don’t receive the same services, as they are responsible for maintaining infrastructure on their property.
Chief Administrative Officer Julian deCocq told council administration wanted to bring “closure to a matter that’s been before you for some time.”
In addition to denying the request for a relaxation on taxes or assuming control of the property’s infrastructure, deCocq said plans for a “cost of service” study to review the town’s tax rate classes should also be scuttled.
Coun. Andy Marshall opposed staff’s recommendation and suggested council start negotiations with the condominium association to take over all infrastructure in the Villas’ common areas, which would be turned over to the town “for a nominal sum.”
“The condominium association president reasonably argues that they’re paying double for some services,” Marshall said. “By supporting this we send a message that we as a council do care for fairness and we try to govern more that just by the book.”
Marshall noted the annual cost to the town would be $10,450 plus depreciation costs, an amount he called “reasonable.”
He added because some of the infrastructure supported by the condominium association is used by other Cochrane residents, “It’s quasi-public anyways.”
But Marshall found little support among fellow councillors.
Coun. Ken Hynes said other bareland condominiums are in the same situation and the town shouldn’t single out one for special treatment.
“I believe this council, and the previous council and staff, have gone the extra mile in doing a thorough review,” Hynes said. “No responsible council should create a situation where it takes responsibility for infrastructure on property that is privately owned.”
Coun. Truper McBride also expressed reservations about singling out one group but reiterated his belief that the town should review how it taxes different land classes.
“There should be something done but not on a file-by-file basis. It should be done across land classes,” he said. “We do get (on) to a slippery slope if we do this for the Villas.”
He said the town needs to consider revising its tax system so owners in higher density areas pay lower taxes to reflect their lesser impact on town resources compared to single family homes. While McBride believes GlenEagles Villas “falls under that category,” he said it should be part of a broader review that could be addressed by council during 2006 budget talks.
Marshall’s move was defeated 6-1 but he and McBride were the only dissenters as council moved to deny the requests by GlenEagles Villas residents and reconsider its plans for a “cost of service” study.
Head noted the community association recently paid $70,000 to resurface its roads, some of which are used by residents outside of the Villas.
Villas resident Jim Bouck noted the condo association also ends up maintaining town infrastructure, such as water lines under its property, and what amounts to a “public roadway” along Eagleview Way. He added the condo owners also maintain landscaping on the public road, a benefit to other residents.
“They’re expecting us to maintain infrastructure used for public use and we don’t get the benefits of any of the (town’s) services,” Bouck said. “All we’re asking is for equity and fairness for taxes.”
Head added the association had been open to “negotiations” with the town but it appears there is no interest in that avenue either.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
A comprehensive traffic bylaw that includes significant changes to the town’s traffic laws will get one more look from council after one councillor refused to allow swift passage.
Ian Smith, director of community and protective services, said the new bylaw consolidates and “simplifies” a number of existing bylaws, making it easier and more consistent to enforce.
But Coun. Andy Marshall said he had concerns about an “omnibus bill” that includes many changes.
“This may give the impression of heavy-handedness by the town,” Marshall said.
He noted the bylaw includes a provision making it illegal for a pedestrian to cross any roadway other than an alley without using a crosswalk.
“Most people don’t like to break the law but there are a lot of things in (this bylaw) that we invariably do,” he said.
Smith said bylaw officers use discretion and wouldn’t always enforce it “to the hilt.”
Marshall also questioned a change in the town’s default speed limit from 30 km/h to 50 km/h.
He said the “reversal” may result in some confusion for residents with some areas in town still posted at 30 km/h.
Other councillors expressed concerns.
Coun. Larry Wackershauser successfully rallied a majority to remove a section covering election and plebiscite signs on public roadways.
He said the matter should be dealt with as part of the sign bylaw that is part of the town’s Land Use Bylaw.
Council voted 5-2 to remove the section with Marshall and Coun. Jeff Genung opposed.
Coun. Mary Lou Davis expressed concerns about a move to reduce the times school zones are in effect to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. She said the original 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. period created a safer environment for children.
“Very few kids are in their houses and finished playing by 5 p.m.,” she said.
Council voted 4-3 to change school zones back to the original time frame with Couns. Marshall, Genung and Mayor Ken Bech opposed.
Marshall said the items raised by council amounted to “cherry picking” the bylaw and that suggests the full bylaw could do with further review.
“I think we’re not ready to proceed. This bylaw still needs some vetting,” he said. “I see a lot of potential problems.”
While the rest of council pushed to move forward with all three readings in one evening, Marshall refused to give unanimous consent required to complete third and final reading.
It will return to council for third reading at the May 9 meeting.
Council heard the bylaw has been under review for around two-and-a-half years and has received plenty of public and council input.

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Cochrane’s representative for the Welcome Wagon has been named the Western Canadian Hostess of the Year.
Joan Streadwick received the honour at Welcome Wagon’s 75th anniversary conference April 9 at Lake Louise.
Streadwick and her assistant Carolyn Botin were recognized for their work in a community with a population between 8,000 to 15,000.
Welcome Wagon acknowledges the additions of new residents, babies, new brides and grooms and new businesses to the community.
Streadwick has been with Welcome Wagon since 1999.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Mounties are investigating a possible sexual assault of a 21-year-old Cochrane woman on April 24.
Sgt. Mike McTaggart said the alleged assault occurred in town in the early morning hours and police were called after the woman was taken to a Calgary hospital by a friend.
“The indication is the victim is familiar with the suspect,” McTaggart said. “This isn’t a random attack.”
McTaggart said police are investigating but as of April 26 no one was in custody and charges haven’t been laid.
“We’re aware of who the suspect is,” he said, adding the investigation is continuing and may result in charges.
Because alcohol is involved, McTaggart said, “we need to make sure we can corroborate the story.”

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
The town’s Web site will soon feature enhanced services after Cochrane council approved $10,000 worth of improvements April 25.
Maureen Noble, the town’s corporate services manager, said the addition of three new modules to the Web site will include a dynamic calendar and events component, discussion forums and surveys.
Noble suggested the survey and discussion forums modules should be included but work in concert with ongoing talks about a town public consultation policy.
“Because the survey and discussion forums relates directly to public consultation, IT (information technology department) would like to collaborate with that committee,” she said.
Noble added “e-government services,” or the ability to make online transactions like paying bills via the town’s Web site, “should be coming forward quickly.”
Coun. Truper McBride, who headed the failed Wired West Initiative that aimed to create an Internet “portal”, said council needs to ensure there is more support for its IT department.
“We haven’t given them enough resour-ces,” he said. “If we want to give teeth to what we’re doing here, we have to give some attention to this department in the next budget.”

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
A town committee is aiming to identify and address noise and nuisance problems, an effort that has already generated plenty of interest.
Sean Maw, a member of the noise and nuisance bylaw review task force, said the scope of the bylaw is broad because of the disparate needs of various communities within Cochrane.
“Different parts of town have different priorities,” Maw said at an open house hosted by the task force at the Cochrane RancheHouse April 21. “We’ve identified 60 to 70 different noises and nuisances. What we have to figure out is what’s reasonably enforceable.”
The town has two separate bylaws for noise and nuisance but both date back to 1984 and 1985 respectively. Existing cat and dog control bylaws are also expected to be folded into an overarching noise and nuisance bylaw.
According to Maw, interest has been high with around 220 responses to a community survey with more accepted up until April 27.
He said the new bylaw, which must still receive approval from council, will cover nuisances from “sound, sight and smell.”
“We’re looking at these three sensory modalities,” Maw said. “We also want to build in an educational value. We want people to know not only that there is a bylaw but why.”
Noise remains the biggest priority, Maw said, but nuisances can also include unsightly yards or malodorous industrial sites.
Noises covered under the bylaw can range from high traffic volumes to barking dogs.
Data from surveys and the open house will be compiled this week and a draft bylaw will be prepared for town council.
“We’re into the nuts and bolts so we should have something fairly soon,” Maw said. “But at the end of the day, we are simply presenting recommendations to town council.”
Asked if the task force would recommend fines, Maw said the bylaw would likely include some financial remedies but the focus would likely be on prevention instead of enforcement.
“We’re looking at what’s easiest to enforce, what’s cost effective and time effective,” he said. “We’d like to see some sort of communication and mediation and as a last resort some punitive measures.”

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Eager town councillors were quick to express their interest April 25 in joining a new task force that will guide revisions to the town’s Municipal Development Plan (MDP), a document that sets out the town’s philosophy for new development.
Frank Wesseling, director of planning and engineering, said once appointed, the new steering committee will begin work on re-crafting the MDP, one of the town’s most crucial planning documents.
“Work on the project started last year and now it’s time to take it to a different level,” Wesseling said. “It’s a massive project to review the MDP.”
He said the process of reviewing the existing plan and making changes could take up to 18 months.
While council was only asked to approve a terms of reference for the review and seek candidates from the public, some councillors were already keen to throw their names into the hat for the two open positions.
Calling the MDP an “idealistic view of Cochrane,” Coun. Andy Marshall suggested he would like to be a member of the group.
“It’s an inspiring document and I’d like to try and ensure we maintain that kind of inspiration,” he said.
Couns. Ken Hynes, Jeff Genung and Truper McBride also expressed their desire to join the task force, although McBride withdrew his intent.
The task force’s term will last from July 2005 to December 2006.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Opponents of plans to build twin arenas and eventually a sports school complex in north Springbank believe the decision to sign off on the facility has already been made by the Municipal District of Rocky View council.
The Calgary-based Edge School for Athletes has set its sights on a 30-acre parcel north of the Trans-Canada Highway near the Springbank United Church, to build a new facility by 2007. The first phase, slated to be built by fall, calls for twin arenas that will be available for students and the public.
M.D. council was set April 26 to consider an amendment to the North Springbank Area Structure Plan as well as redesignation of the land to allow for the facility.
Kim McKylor, who lives next to the property, said she and fellow residents opposed to the plan were set to address Rocky View council at the public hearing to make their final pitch against the plan.
“Our presentation is not at all derogatory to the school. It’s about process that is being followed and the serious deficiencies in (Edge’s) application,” McKylor said April 25. “This is probably our best shot (to derail the process) unless something comes out of the woodwork.”
Rocky View council’s decision was not available at press time.
The Edge plan calls for a campus built around the twin arenas that will house up to 450 students and include a main building, an administration building, a golf driving range and sports fields.
Among the arguments opponents have raised are concerns that the impacts to the area have not been “sufficiently studied.”
“There’s lots of things we found that technically don’t make sense,” McKylor said, noting Alberta Transportation has had reservations about site access. She added the Calgary Health Region (CHR) has raised its own concerns about the provision of sewer and water services to the facility.
But McKylor admitted she believes even with the concerns, council will “ram it through.”
Drew Hyndman, a Rocky View planner, said while the plan isn’t perfect, many of the concerns raised have been properly addressed.
“The applicant has had an open house and an opportunity to engage the neighbourhood with some of the concerns,” Hyndman said.
He said Alberta Transportation has stated access to the site must be via Township Road 250 and has asked for “visual screening” from both adjacent residents and the nearby Trans-Canada Highway.
The province will still have to approve a final traffic plan and Hyndman admitted an increase in traffic volumes can’t be avoided in the area.
“Traffic, quite honestly, you can’t get around,” he said.
Hyndman said the CHR raised concerns about drawing more water from the Elbow River watershed and will only allow the school to hook in with Calaway Park if there is enough capacity.
A plan to tie into Calaway Park’s waste water lagoon, meanwhile, didn’t receive the CHR’s blessing. Hyndman said Edge will instead truck out sewage until permanent servicing is available.
If approved by council, Hyndman said the school’s proponents could apply for development and building permits, which would pave the way for construction to begin likely in a month or two.
McKylor said if the opposed residents loose their bid to scuttle the plan, they likely won’t pursue legal avenues.
“The reality is, a legal challenge probably is not going to stop it,” she said.

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