Casey Richardson
The Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland obtained extra requires assist all through 2023 than ever earlier than, attempting to assist out as many animals in want as they may.
Lori Huot-Stewart, president of the Critteraid, stated this yr was a tough one.
“In some instances, I believe generally possibly somebody wants to listen to this. It is okay that if the one factor you probably did this yr was really get by it,” she added.
“We nonetheless have some very great vibrant spots that we select to deal with. Those being our superb volunteers, the unbelievable help from our group, and the lifeline care we obtain from the veterinarians in our space.”
The organization works exhausting to take care of its furry associates, being utterly run by volunteers and donations. The 10-acre property hosts a mess of animals that the charity has saved, together with dozens of cats, pigs, dogs, geese, cows, llamas and goats.
“We’re right here to assist in any means we probably can,” Huot-Stewart stated.
Some of the large venture this yr embody Critteraid serving to out at a web site the place over a hundred cats were found in heartbreaking conditions, finding a home for a cat whose been with them for over 1000 days, starting to build a build a new barn for their many goats, helping dog hit by a semi truck, and so much more.
“I want to sincerely share my gratitude with everyone who enriched and assisted our animal rescue and we are deeply thankful for you. We are wishing all health, joy, peace, and a happy safe home for all the animals and humans in 2024.”
To find out more about Critteraid, head to their website here or ship them an e-mail at [email protected]
Photo: Contributed
Photo: Contributed
The Heigh household of Summerland competing on Family Feud Canada
As 2023 involves a detailed, Castanet South is inviting readers to look again at among the quirkiest, oddest, and strangest-but-true tales that made the South Okanagan distinctive this yr.
A Summerland household received a style of the limelight, being chosen to compete on widespread televised sport present Family Feud Canada.
“It was the perfect factor our household ever did collectively!” Read the full story here.
Bright lights, small cities — doorbell cameras in both Summerland and Penticton captured bright flashes of light falling through the sky on different occasions this year. Watch the raw videos here and here.
In Osoyoos, a wildlife photographer captured a spine-tingling video of swarms of garter snakes emerging from their winter den into spring sunshine. Read more here.
Also in Osoyoos, a rattlesnake with expensive taste that had managed hitch a ride in a Ferrari down to Vancouver the previous summer was found alive and well this summer, seemingly unrattled by his journey.
Enzo, as the snake was nicknamed, was released back into the Osoyoos area after his joyride in 2022, and spotted again in April 2023 by conservation workers, healthy and happy. Read the full story here.
A police chase that ended in a crash in West Kelowna had a wild start in the hills above Penticton, captured on camera by a man who surprised two burglars in action.
“I’m yelling at the neighbours, ‘don’t let them in, they’re armed and dangerous,'” the man recounted. Find the full story here.
A Penticton resident had to laugh at the bravery of his two tiny “killer” dogs this week, after they scared a curious black bear off their porch.
“Lucky, lucky bear who got away!” Watch the video here.
And in the Similkameen, a couple had a once-in-a-lifetime interaction with a fully-grown moose, cutting it free from entanglement in a wire fence.
“It isn’t every day that one gets to rescue a moose!” Watch the video here.
These are just a few of the strange-but-true stories from the South Okanagan this year — did we miss your favourite? Let us know at [email protected].
Photo: Discovery House
Discovery House shares of photo with one of their recent supporters
Penticton’s Discovery House has passed the $100,000 mark for their Shed the Light on Addiction campaign on Saturday, with just a couple days left in their biggest fundraiser.
The recovery resource society is working to fund four treatment beds for the upcoming year, hoping to cross the finish line over that $150,000 mark.
“Thank -you to all our donors, supporters and well-wishers,” they shared in a social media update.
“We started our campaign hoping to fund four 90 day treatment spaces in Discovery House for 2023, which would serve approximately 20 men.”
On Dec. 16, past clients bravely opened up to share their journeys and the benefits the Penticton recovery resource society has given them.
“We are so grateful for your support and will continue to expand our services to help men in this community overcome substance use, mental health and homelessness challenges As we are still losing approximately seven people a day in BC to fatal overdose, we believe the answer is substance-free, peer-supported and community integrated recovery to be the solution.”
Help for the program can be done by purchasing a Christmas light bulb for $10 or a string of 25 bulbs for $250 to help light their recovery houses.
To make a tax-deductible donation and for more information, head to their website here, e-transfer to [email protected] or name 250-809-6075
Photo: Ministry of TranBC file photograph
UPDATE: 12:58 p.m.
DriveBC is reporting that Highway 97 north of Summerland has reopened.
ORIGINAL: 11:05 a.m.
A deliberate closure for blasting on Highway 97 north of Summerland has kicked off on Saturday.
The street will likely be closed from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the slide mitigation work to all site visitors throughout this time and will likely be opened as quickly because the work and security assessments are accomplished.
Work on the slide web site will proceed intermittently till the positioning is secure.
Travellers are reminded that circumstances can change shortly and to examine drivebc.ca/ for essentially the most present street circumstances and closures.
Photo: Google Street View
The Chinese meals restaurant in Okanagan Falls is closing its doorways for good come New Years, with the house owners prepared for a relaxation.
The Falls Restaurant can have their final dinner service on Dec. 31, ending up at 8 p.m.
“We thank everybody for his or her help during the last 10+ years,” they shared in a social media announcement.
The house owners turned down an interview or additional touch upon their closure.
Photo: GoFundMe
A Penticton household wants assist after their new child son needed to be rushed to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver as a result of respiration difficulties, all whereas his mother wanted to get better within the ICU.
Tyler Andrew stated his spouse, Deanna, began experiencing hypertension out of the blue final week on Dec. 21, which led to their admission to the Penticton Regional Hospital.
“Everything else has been easy crusing all through the being pregnant. Numbers are nice, blood strain has been nice. That’s why it was such a shock for us after we received admitted that Thursday,” he stated.
While the household anticipated to be induced or go into labor then, Deanna began feeling higher, and along with her blood strain lowered sufficient, she was despatched home.
“Then Christmas morning, it received fairly excessive once more,” Tyler stated. “We went to the hospital, and so they admitted us. We went by every little thing, after which they began inducing labor in all probability at 6 p.m. Christmas night time.”
Tyler stated labor lastly began round 9 a.m. on Boxing Day, however his spouse’s blood strain had now skyrocketed to 200/120.
“That’s after we came upon that one thing occurred with the placenta, and whereas in labor, her blood strain would rise tremendous excessive, after which the newborn’s blood strain would go tremendous low anytime she pushed,” he added.
“There was an emergency C-section, and we received Jaxon out, after which discovered that the umbilical twine was wrapped round his neck twice. Right after delivery, he wasn’t respiration on his personal for the primary eight minutes.”
Nurses labored shortly to get the new child respiration, who began taking quick, shallow breaths quickly after. Jaxon was respiration sufficiently on his personal round twenty minutes later, and so they thought he was secure.
“They allow us to—not maintain him as a result of my spouse was nonetheless on the working desk—however simply hang around with him for a few minutes,” Tyler stated. “It was one of many happiest days of my life.”
Unfortunately, quickly after Jaxon was taken to the nursery, they came upon that he was nonetheless having problems respiration.
“They recognized him with [Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy], principally with a scarcity of oxygen to his mind. They observed whereas within the nursery that there have been a few potential seizures that he had simply from posturing with out having every other mind screens on him.”
Hospital workers labored shortly to start out cooling down his physique, hoping to permit his physique temperature to drop to forestall any additional swelling within the mind.
But Jaxon’s CO2 ranges in his blood have been too excessive, and along with his lungs not taking deep sufficient breaths, he was airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital alongside along with his dad.
Due to the problems along with her supply, Deanna needed to keep behind within the ICU in Penticton.
In the following couple of days, each mom and son began enhancing. Deanna was transferred to the girl’s facet of BC Children’s Hospital, and the household was reunited.
Jaxon was taken off his respiration tube on Thursday, and Tyler stated since then, he has began making slight actions. While he nonetheless has a feeding tube and numerous checks forward to find out how severe the prognosis is and the way lengthy his restoration will likely be, the household is feeling hopeful.
“Honestly, it has been tremendous irritating, however with the household and associates supporting us, it has been not as irritating for us,” Tyler added. “I’m doing means higher figuring out that [my wife] is down right here now. There’s rather a lot much less stress looking for out how she’s doing. Obviously, I’m not coping with recovering from a cesarean part or hooked as much as any ventilator, so it is simpler for me.”
The new dad stated he is so grateful that his spouse was transferred to Vancouver, making it a seven-minute walk from one facet of the hospital to the opposite to go to, the place it will have been a four-and-a-half-hour journey in any other case.
He added that medical doctors, nurses, and workers at each hospitals have been “completely superb.”
“Answering any questions and serving to us perceive any of the medical phrases which can be getting used or any questions that we have now. The good factor is each morning and each night time, the medical doctors and nurses of the NICU right here, they do rounds, and if the dad and mom are there, they’re going to embody the dad and mom within the rounds to listen to what they’re discussing with subsequent steps for the newborn and any problems which have been had or any positives.”
Tyler stated he cannot specific how grateful he’s to all of the folks serving to take care of his son and his spouse.
“I am unable to even begin to clarify the help and assist that everybody’s supplied us and all of the ideas that our associates have messaged us and even strangers as effectively have messaged us and reached out to my dad and mom or my in-laws.”
His mom, Candy Benedetti, started a GoFundMe for the household, figuring out they’ve very restricted revenue and need assistance to cowl their common payments together with prices they are going to incur staying in Vancouver.
“So she began it as a result of we aren’t positive how lengthy we might be right here. We might be launched subsequent week or be launched in a few weeks. We might be launched in a month. We don’t know, so it is simply serving to with any bills that we could incur. My spouse’s on maternity go away after which I principally advised my work that I am unable to are available in till we get this discovered,” Tyler added.
“An enormous thanks to all associates, households, strangers which have graced us with the assistance and help by that GoFundMe and all of the prayers and ideas which have been despatched our means.”
Photo: GoFundMe
Photo: File photograph
Penticton-Peachland MLA Dan Ashton stated as he seems forward to his final yr within the legislature, he is not going to be stepping again from the objectives he has.
Ashton introduced he won’t be looking for re-election within the subsequent provincial election after more than a decade working in his role in mid-December.
“I’ve been very, very fortunate to work for all citizens. When you get elected, and politics are involved, some people vote for you, some people don’t vote for you, and other people don’t vote at all. But when you’re elected, you’re here to represent everybody. And I’ve done my damnedest to do that.”
A major project that has long been at the forefront of Ashton’s mind has been asking for a secondary route to be established between Penticton and Peachland, which finally saw movement when a major slide closed Highway 97 in September.
While the Ministry of Transportation took time to grade the 201 Forest Service Road connecting the east side of Penticton to Kelowna as a usable emergency route and added signage, Ashton said there can be more done.
“I did take the 201 on a couple of occasions during the shutdowns, and they’ve done a good job. It’s not perfect, but they’ve done a good job,” he said.
“We don’t have a lot of options because the park, Okanagan Mountain Park, blocks off any options to have it in other places in the valley.”
Earlier this year, Ashton took a petition calling for reformation to the “catch and release” justice system to the floor of the B.C. Legislature.
“There needs to be an overhaul of the judicial system in the sense of being able to keep people incarcerated who deserve to be incarcerated, but also give them the opportunity to turn their lives around. And I think that’s incredibly important,” he said.
“I think it’s long overdue. And federally, I’m hoping that there will be a change in that direction. And I hope the provincial government picks it up and gives the citizens of Penticton, as an example, the safety they deserve.”
Ashton said he knows the frustrations RCMP must face by arresting somebody and having that individual get “bailed right out.”
“That’s not what a member of the RCMP wants; they want that person incarcerated to keep them off the street and get them help. Let’s cut to the chase; a lot of these people have mental health issues and/or substance issues, and we’ve got to be more compassionate. But we have to ensure that they are maintained in a residency where they have all that help available.”
B.C.’s speculation tax expanded to 13 new communities this year, including Penticton, Summerland, and Peachland, which will all be added to the tax on second and vacation homes.
“I think it’s an incursion on people’s property rights. Look, I want to see a roof over everybody’s heads, especially this time of year; I want to see people protected. But there’s a lot of people that have worked very, very hard in their life, and they’ve acquired a place in the Okanagan, many of the people so that they can come up here and retire. Unfortunately, I think the government has been very lax in their tenancy rules, which has caused a lot of this,” Ashton said.
With the new rules and legislation that the government has brought in regarding housing supports with the introduction of Bill 44 to allow upfront zoning, Ashton stated he does not perceive why a authorities in Victoria ought to dictate to municipalities to facilitate a rise in housing provide.
“So 44, once more, was one thing that I used to be dissatisfied within the authorities by ramming it by and ramming the invoice by after which bringing the laws in after that,” he added.
He added that there additionally was an overstep when the provincial authorities launched new laws to rein in a quickly increasing short-term rental market.
The MLA stated he additionally seems at this yr as an comprehensible battle for a lot of, with the elevated prices of residing and inflation.
“It’s unlucky. I actually assume all ranges of presidency, whether or not it is municipal, regional, provincial, or federal, actually need to take a tough have a look at inflation. They need to take a tough have a look at taxation and so they need to take one other exhausting have a look at the laws they’re bringing in.”
Heading into 2024 to complete off his final time period, Ashton stated he’ll proceed to work exhausting for his native driving.
“My objectives are simply to proceed to work for the residents that I’ve been so lucky sufficient to have the ability to symbolize during the last 11 years and maintain going forward.”
Ashton completed off his yr in assessment with wishing everybody a cheerful vacation season and new yr.
Photo: Crush Dynamics
A Summerland firm that makes use of wine waste to provide a high-performance meals ingredient lately obtained practically $2 million in authorities funding to fund a venture that can try to cut back sugar content material in chocolate.
Crush Dynamics obtained the money from the Canadian Food Innovation Network, which falls underneath the federal authorities’s Strategic Innovation Fund. The venture will goal to show Crush’s manufacturing course of at scale in an try to satisfy the demand forecasted by venture companions Purdys Chocolatier and Ecovatec Solutions, in addition to different potential prospects.
“We are incredibly honoured to receive this support from the Canadian Food Innovation Network,” Crush CEO Kirk Moir stated in a press launch. “Working with our partners, we look forward to advancing the state of the art in food formulation powered by polyphenols.”
Crush makes use of revolutionary fermentation of “upcycled wine derivatives” and agricultural waste to provide a proprietary, high-performance meals ingredient. The ensuing polyphenol-rich ingredient enhances meals high quality by enabling as much as 50% sugar discount, 80% sodium discount and improved texture whereas additionally extending shelf life.
The firm additionally aids the atmosphere in that it could possibly assist forestall as much as 50 million tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions that might in any other case consequence from the decomposition of those supplies in landfills.
“Crush Dynamics’ new bio-fermentation process offers a concrete solution to address the food and beverage industry’s most pressing challenges,” Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne stated. “This revolutionary answer will assist the business enhance meals high quality, scale back manufacturing prices and carbon footprints.
“With this initiative, the Canadian Food Innovation Network promotes sustainability through a circular food economy and creates highly skilled job opportunities for Canadians.”
Photo: WildsafeBC
File photograph of a completely grown cougar.
A cougar needed to be destroyed by the BC Conservation Officer Service on Thursday, after being reported in downtown Penticton.
The service stated in a emailed assertion that they have been referred to as in by RCMP.
“Conservation Officers assessed the scenario and proceeded to euthanize the cougar whereas it was underneath a automobile as a result of all attainable escape routes have been a possible menace to public security,” they added.
No different particulars on the incident have been supplied.
Tips on what to do for those who encounter one embody: Keep again, maintain youngsters shut and decide up babies instantly, journey in teams when attainable, carry bear spray and noise makers, and maintain pets on leash.
If a cougar approaches, stand your floor, seem giant, make noise. If a cougar assaults combat again by any means available.
To report cougars in battle, sightings in city areas, or a cougar displaying uncommon or aggressive behaviour, name the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.
Dan Walton, Local Journalism Initiative/Penticton Herald – Dec 29, 2023 / 11:00 am | Story: 464607
Photo: Contributed
Shannon Stewart is the Co-fonder of Clean Streets Penticton
The management of Clean Streets Penticton feels just like the group is not perceived as “vigilantes” upon the top of their first full yr.
The organization was launched as a Facebook group in April 2022. It had grown to greater than 2,000 members by July 18, 2022, when the Penticton RCMP issued a media launch titled “Response to Vigilante group.” In it, police acknowledged frustrations over property crime, discouraged any confrontation with suspects, and defended the gradual tempo of justice.
“Police investigations have become extremely complex, and so has the degree of evidence required to be presented to the courts to conduct a fair and just legal process,” the discharge stated.
“People in our community want to feel safe, and want action. However, the police, nor any citizen can operate outside of our laws in order to persecute those they believe are breaking them.”
Clean Streets co-founder Shannon Stewart isn’t essential of the native RCMP’s efficiency — she realizes petty thefts can’t be excessive precedence for police, and the courts could make it tough for an investigation to end in a conviction.
But she didn’t admire the “vigilante” label.
“For our first month, that was the whole goal — to dispel the myth that it’s a bunch of vigilantes,” Stewart stated. “Two years later, we’ve never had a member involved with any kind of violent situation.”
She stated there’s a variety of viewpoints amongst members, and he or she embraces the range in opinions. But those that come throughout as hateful or extremists are eliminated (if their profile made it previous the vetting course of).
The notion that crime has gotten worse in Penticton is substantiated by statistics. In 2012, there have been 2,392 incidents associated to property crime and in 2022 there have been 4,223, based on StatsCan. The worst yr throughout that 10-year span was 2019 when there have been 5,091 incidents.
A very unsettling crime occurred August 2021 when a senior woman was robbed by masked males and assaulted with a hammer at her ice cream parlour within the 100 block of Main Street. The assailants have been by no means caught.
The present and former City Council — over the previous two years — have budgeted to rent further RCMP officers, and bylaw companies have been upgraded so as to add Community Safety Officers, who’ve extra tooth.
The native authorities tried to shut the Victory Church homeless shelter on the finish of winter in 2021, however the province overruled the choice and commandeered the power to maintain it open. A contentious authorized battle ensued.
Despite the addition of extra police and bylaw officers, a robust urge for food had developed so as to add one other layer of safety for the working class, and the response from the native authorities was not in a position to absolutely fulfill everyone.
Clean Streets created a community to report suspicious exercise and unsavoury characters, together with volunteers who’re keen to supply security escorts and help within the restoration of stolen property.
Members use the group to situation warnings about alleged shoplifters, alert others to psychological well being episodes unfolding in public, publish pictures of things (typically bicycles) believed to be stolen, report break-ins and vehicles getting rummaged, and to maintain tabs on prolific offenders.
And whereas the native RCMP warned the general public about vigilantism final yr, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the City gave them a nod. It got here in response to statistical data launched Aug. 10, 2022 displaying Penticton had the worst crime charge within the Okanagan .
“The level of crime in Penticton is unacceptable,” stated then-Mayor John Vassilaki in a public assertion. “City Council, law enforcement and community groups like Clean Streets Penticton all want to see change and are working hard to make it a reality.”
The group has grown to almost 5,000 members since its launch 20 months in the past. And Stewart stated police have been in a position to advance some investigations due to their efforts.
The RCMP didn’t reply to a request for remark for this text.
One of the most important variations Stewart has observed year-over-year is that way more bicycles have been reclaimed by Clean Streets in 2022 in comparison with 2023. And the downtown is much cleaner now –- she says Main Street and Martin Street didn’t look very welcoming through the group’s first three months, and he or she was fearful about the way it got here throughout to vacationers.
When Clean Streets was just a few months old, they ran a slate of three within the civic election in October 2022. Co-founder Jason Reynen — a West Kelowna resident with no political expertise — placed second to Mayor Julius Bloomfield, dropping by simply 219 votes or 2 per cent of the poplar vote. Reynen received 1,000 extra votes than incumbent Vassilaki.
“(Reynen)’s lack of tolerance for the ongoing turn-a-blind-eye to all the crime, that was the spark that ignited the idea behind Clean Streets,” Stewart stated.
Stewart and Nick Kruger went for seats on council and ended up getting 2,734 and a couple of,921 votes, respectively. Candidates wanted not less than 3,309 votes to be elected. However Stewart didn’t specific any frustration with those that have been elected to council, saying many points referring to crime and drug use are past the scope of municipal governments.
Although the crime charge stays traditionally excessive in Penticton, she seems like Clean Streets is making a significant distinction. A couple of months in the past, the was invited to hitch acquainted company manufacturers in a province-wide security coalition referred to as SOS: Save Our Streets. The coalition was spearheaded by the president of London Drugs, and different members embody Lululemon, MEC Mountain Equipment Company, Save-On-Foods and 7-Eleven Canada.
The City of Penticton was requested for remark for this text, however didn’t reply by press deadline.
This story first appeared within the Penticton Herald and is republished as a part of the Local Journalism Initiative
