Wanted: Princess for Middleton

By Heather Killen

Spectator

NovaNewsNow.com

Middleton needs a brave princess (or prince) to save the opening of the Apple Blossom Festival.

After years of vying for the honour, Middleton was awarded the opportunity to host the official opening for the Apple Blossom Festival in 2009, a gesture to mark the town’s centennial year.

But this past year, Middleton was one of several towns that didn’t enter a princess in the annual Queen Annapolisa pageant.

This lack of interest has prompted organizers of the town’s princess committee to recommend that the town bow out of hosting the opening, unless a princess can be found who is willing to represent the town in 2009.

“The feeling is unless Middleton can fully participate in the Apple Blossom Festival, we should return the opening with our regrets,” said deputy mayor Vera Errington, during the last meeting of the town’s Committee of the Whole.

Additional volunteers are also needed to chair and help out on the princess committee. A similar lack of interest in Bridgetown, has prompted that town to organize an youth ambassador program.

This program encourages young people of both genders to represent the town at official functions in the same capacity as the princess once did.

Councillor Marc Britney asked if this program could be introduced in Middleton, and suggested that the town explore the option before making any formal action to turn down the opportunity to host the opening.

Councillors agreed that this option was worth pursuing before returning the official opening to the Apple Blossom committee.