Archives for December 2020

John and Darlene Chapman

One of the banners above credited to John

Check out southokanaganphotos.today to see more of Chappie many other great SO photographers

On the Sunny Side

Whenever I think I’ve had it really bad in 2020, I would do well to consider the following verified account of circumstances during the 30 year war between Sweden and Germany.

Martin Rinkart, son of a poor coppersmith, became the Lutheran Archdeacon of Eilenburg, Germany in 1617, just before the 30 year war with Sweden broke out. Fugitives from the war sought refuge in Eilenburg. Forced quartering of soldiers, plundering of goods, and seizures of food made life severe and starvation rampant. By 1637 the famine, devastation and pestilence had become so bad that over 8000 people died that year. Among them were most of the town’s council, many pastors, whole families and many children. People would fight over a dead cat. Martin remained healthy, gave away much of what wasn’t stolen and assumed the huge burden of ministering to the suffering. He buried 4480 people in one year, sometimes in mass funerals of 40 – 50 people in a trench. At one point the Swedish general demanded a 30,000 thaler tribute from the town. Pleas for mercy from Rinkart were ignored until he and many of the townspeople knelt in passionate prayer for divine intervention. The General was moved by their desperation and lowered the price to 2000 florins.
We would think that in all of this Martin would have turned resentful and bitter. He died the year after the war ended, so his whole life of ministry was centered on facing this war. However, as a choral director, musician and hymn writer, he composed the song “Nun danket alle Gott” translated as “Now Thank We All Our God”.

It still appears in hymn books. His attitude remained thankful. I don’t want to minimize or trivialize the difficulties we face but if he could still be thankful then, should we also be that way now?

Happy New Year!
Astounding!

Henry Wiebe

To best position us as we go into 2021, an amendment to provincial health officer (PHO) orders has been put in place to reduce the hours that alcohol may be sold or served on New Year’s Eve. The selling and serving of alcohol must cease between 8 p.m. (Pacific time) on Dec. 31, 2020, and 9 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2021. As before, liquor sales for onsite consumption must cease at 10 p.m. on all other dates.

“This order applies to any establishment that sells or serves alcohol, including bars, restaurants, pubs, liquor stores or grocery stores.

“Unless a full meal service is provided, premises that are licensed to serve liquor must close between 9 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2020, and 9 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2021.

“We know alcohol can impair people’s judgment and their ability to effectively use the layers of protection required to keep all of us safe. This order, while temporary, will ensure New Year’s Eve leads to a safe new year for everyone.

“We recognize this order creates an added strain on our already challenged restaurant and food services sector that has been working hard to ensure restaurants are safe. However, this is the time to do all we can to keep our wall strong. We remain confident that having a meal with your household contacts in a restaurant in B.C. is safe, and we encourage people to continue to visit their local restaurants to eat in or take away on New Year’s Eve.

Adrian Dix
Dr. Bonnie Henry

Update on IH numbers: 

• IH is reporting 57 new cases overnight, for a total of 3,806.
• 636 cases are active and on isolation.
• Thirty-six people are in hospital; six of them in ICU.
• Total number of deaths in IH remains at 28.

Update on outbreaks:

• Noric House long-term care in Vernon remains at six cases: five residents and one staff.
• Heritage Square long-term care in Vernon has 19 cases: 12 residents and seven staff.
• Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna remains at 30 cases: 25 residents and five staff, with one death connected to this outbreak.
• Teck mining operations remains at 16 IH cases linked to the outbreak.
• McKinney Place long-term care in Oliver remains at 75 cases: 54 residents and 21 staff, with 12 deaths connected to this outbreak.
• Village by the Station long-term care in Penticton remains at nine cases: five residents and four staff with one death connected to this outbreak.
• Mountainview Village long-term care in Kelowna remains at 16 cases: eight residents and eight staff, with two deaths connected to this outbreak.

***

“Today, we are reporting 485 new cases of COVID-19, including five epi-linked cases, for a total of 51,300 cases in British Columbia.

“There are 7,551 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 379 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 77 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“Currently, 9,320 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and a further 41,681 people who tested positive have recovered.

“Since we last reported, we have had 117 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 211 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 16 in the Island Health region, 57 in the Interior Health region, 84 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

“Since the start of immunizations, 14,027 people have received a COVID-19 vaccine in British Columbia. We announced yesterday that the Moderna vaccine will be arriving in British Columbia this week. The first doses are targeted for remote and isolated First Nations communities and residents of long term-care, and will be expanding to other communities soon.

“There have been 11 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 893 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have had two new health-care facility outbreaks at Langley Memorial Hospital Cedar Hill and Surrey Memorial Hospital.

A thought for our care workers.

As we are ..now.. a hot spot for Covid-19 it highlights just how important our healthcare workers are.

It is not possible to express understanding of your positions with mere words so it must suffice to say:

“I hold the deepest respect for all those who move toward danger to be of service to others who are in jeopardy and need. May you and your families be safe and may you find peace amid the turmoil.”

Thank you for your service

 

Area “C” Director
Rick Knodel

Live Link

Edward James Schanuel
June 22, 1938 – December 23, 2020

On Wednesday, December 23, 2020, Mr. Edward James Schanuel of Oliver passed away after a long illness at the age of 82 years.

He was predeceased by his father Anthony Schanuel; mother Juanita McGinness; sister Viola and son Alan.

Edward will be fondly remembered by his loving family including wife Char Baptiste; sisters Elsie Gritchen and Debbie Gonzelas; children Debbie (Tom), Dawn (Rick), Sharon (Louie), Shane, Raylene (Corey) and Eddy (Kelsye); grandchildren; great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Over the years he worked for Ken King Trucking and operated Ed Schanuel Sand & Gravel Ltd. Edward liked to travel and enjoyed trips to Mexico and all over the United States. He enjoyed playing guitar, guns, gold mining, hunting and trapping.

Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com

No breakouts

No fires

Just a complaint from inmate Morgan Griffith at the Okanagan Correctional Centre at Oliver about the meals he was served and his desire to have kosher food.

His complaint went to the BC Human Rights Commission.

“While Mr. Griffith references his religion in his Complaint, the evidence before me on this application overwhelmingly supports that he has no reasonable prospect of establishing he has a sincerely held religious belief that requires he eat a kosher diet. It may be the case that Mr. Griffith sought a kosher diet for reasons sincerely connected to a religious belief, but it was incumbent on him to put that evidence forward.

Here, Mr. Griffith has put forward so little evidence about his connection to Judaism, the role a kosher diet plays in that for him, and why the denial of a kosher diet affected him adversely, that I am persuaded the Tribunal could not find that BC Corrections’ denial of a kosher diet in all of the circumstances constituted an adverse impact related to his religion.

It follows from the above that in the face of all the materials before me, I am persuaded that there is no reasonable prospect that Mr. Griffith could succeed in establishing his complaint.

The complaint is dismissed under s. 27(1)”

Signed
Emily Oher
Tribunal Member
BC Human Rights Commission

 

Well the checkerboard signs points to the end of the  road for the year twenty twenty.  This was like a rodeo ride that never ended.  So what did we learn from it all?

First, we learned the world is not our oyster as the saying goes. Like spoiled children many found it hard to accept the word NO when spoken by Mother Nature.  Instead of conforming to what we want the human race was forced to adopt a new set of rules.  We learned the strength of our own sense of being and some learned their frailties.  I can remember so many people who have weathered life’s storms humbled and consumed over having to wear a mask as protection during a covid crisis.  I never got caught up in that, I kept hearing my late mothers voice when she used to say.  “Don’t worry God never gives you more than you can handle.”  we are not finished with the pandemic, however there is a vaccine.

We learned there is life out in the great beyond, that is passed our cell phone screens.  We learned lessons in how to be helpful and courteous to others.  Some are finding out what is old is new again what with grocery home delivery and the post office is busier than ever not with letters but with parcels.

There was a time when sporting events, music concerts, fairs and social gatherings were shutdown and or canceled.  We did not set our hair on fire we adapted.  One group I checked in on was a Nova Scotia website that frequented the famous and home musicians and singers.  It was like a continuous Cape Breton kitchen house party on line.

Some people said to me, they got in touch with their core feelings, and had some understanding of what it’s like to be alone and isolated most of the time.  One of the good things for me was to actually read a myriad of books with book marks where I had left off. One of my favorite reads was Rachel Maddow’s book Blowout.  

Overall the biggest lesson we learned was our ability to sacrifice  in a time of hardship and that is a good thing.  Yes we were faced with a difficult year, it’s what we did with it that counts.

We have some challenges ahead but the world is not ending and we have always met challenges before head on.  With that.

HAPPY NEW YEAR  and all the best for 2021.  

 

 

 

Fred Steele

Our week 26 winners are:

Joanne Bray – Ticket 29 – $52.00
Kevin Heskin – Ticket 329 – $100.00

Early morning hours of December 28 – based on time stamp –  12:23 to 1:10 am

Munckhof Manufacturing – lock removed from front gate on storage yard in Oliver’s Industrial Park. Trailer unit stolen quickly.

RCMP investigating

Picture display on Facebook

**STOLEN** Dec. 28th at 1:00AM – Flat deck trailer plate # 9192 8D
Looks like the tow vehicle is a black Ford 4 door pickup

Town crews sorting out the snow piles on Redwing Place

What is going on at McKinney Place?

And in the IHA? When deaths began to occur at McKinney why did the IHA not bring a mobile COVID-19 testing facility to Oliver? We all know that those 14 or 16 or now 21 care workers move about the community, and since we have only 2 grocery stores the chances are pretty good that people with the virus have been in our stores, touching the oranges, squeezing the lemons, picking up things, putting them back, whatever. Not their fault. They may not have known they were carrying the infection.

Oh, I know why we did not get a testing facility here. It was at Big White. A bunch of snow bunnies and snow buddies tested positive so wham…the mobile testing unit was right there. For days. Testing young healthy people. Could that be because the tourist dollars generated at Big White are more important than the lives of some old people–or the rest of us– in Oliver? Just guessing.

What is the administrator of McKinney Place doing? Never hear from that person. Oh. I just heard. We do not have an in situ administrator. Someone from somewhere else administers the facility. Well, administer might be a bit of a stretch. I do not think that letting people ‘die peacefully in their beds’ is really any level of administration. Apparently death by Covid is not usually peaceful. Some lucky people simply lose blood oxygen levels and go fairly peacefully. For the others, death is by suffocation. Not an easy or painless way out.

In any other health unit, if nearly 100 per cent of the residents of a care facility were infected and dying from COVID-19, there would have been a concerted provincial health response. Perhaps even the arrival of army med teams.

But again, on the local TV news, there was a short reference to Oliver’s McKinney Place, then a nice panoramic shot of skiers at Big White, and the happy assertion that COVID on the hill was contained.

Something is wrong here.

Jessica Murphy

• IH is reporting 239 new cases since Dec. 24, for a total of 3,749.

o   96 cases reported on Dec. 26 (covering two days)

o   47 cases reported on Dec. 27

o   44 cases reported on Dec. 28

o   52 cases reported on Dec. 29

• 623 cases are active and on isolation.
• Thirty-three people are in hospital; six of them in ICU.
• Total number of deaths in IH has risen to 28.*

o   4 additional deaths at McKinney Place

o   1 additional death at Mountainview Village

o   1 death at Village by the Station

o   1 death at Heritage Retirement Residence

o   3 deaths in the community

Update on outbreaks:

• Noric House long-term care in Vernon has six cases: five residents and one staff.
• Heritage Square long-term care in Vernon has 10 cases: six residents and four staff.
• Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna has 30 cases: 25 residents and five staff. There has been one death connected to this outbreak.
• Teck mining operations has 16 IH cases linked to the outbreak.
• McKinney Place long-term care in Oliver remains at 75 cases: 54 residents and 21 staff. There have been 12 deaths connected to this outbreak.
• Village by the Station long-term care in Penticton has nine cases: five residents and four staff. There has been one death connected to this outbreak.
• Mountainview Village long-term care in Kelowna has at 16 cases: eight residents and eight staff. There have been two deaths connected to this outbreak.

Update on Big White

• There are 15 new cases associated with the Big White cluster for a total of 111 cases.

Last five days

 

74 new deaths for a total 882 in the province

 

238 new cases in IHA

2206 new in BC

 

As 2020 comes to an end I have been asked what I see from the RDOS & Area “C” perspective as difficulties, projects and opportunities as we move forward into 2021.

Why not start with the good stuff, opportunities and projects. I view these as the same; an opportunity is nothing if you don’t make a project out of it.

The B.C. Fruit Growers has closed the Packing house in Osoyoos and had looked to sell off the property for development. The Agricultural Land Commission has in what I consider a wise decision nixed that idea and held the land as agricultural. This property has a large facility on it complete with cold storage and process layout and logistics docks. It is my hope that local interests will come forward with a business plan for local food processing for fruit and vegetables. Canning, packaging and freezing or whatever can be made to fit. 

Recently the Provincially sponsored Kwantlen Polytechnic University study on food sustainability has stated that local food processing is needed in this area and both the Federal and Provincial Governments have also stated this as a goal. Maybe it is time to see if they will put money and support where they say it is needed. I would be proud to champion this cause.

Agricultural burning is a long standing problem in this narrow valley. Good venting days are the only time that open burning is allowed and are few and far between. That creates the situation where all the needed burning is being done in those few days creating intense smoke issues. 

Last year we included Air Curtain and Air Curtain Trench burning in the agricultural subsidy program. This equipment minimizes the release of smoke and particles into the air and has been used successfully in many other areas of Canada, North America and elsewhere in the world. Further to that the Province has recognized this and has allowed burning on days listed as fair with the use of this equipment which would spread the allowed burning days out. 

Agricultural chipping programs were introduced but have failed miserably in that it provides no protection from parasites or pathogens, is extremely expensive, serves no purpose other than to repackage the waste for shipment elsewhere, requires a number of large pieces of equipment that burn a tremendous amount of fossil fuels, and has been proven to be polluting also. At the end the chips must be removed and composted away from the site. There is a misconception that the chips can be tilled back into the soil but this robs the nutrients from the soil and requires large amounts of fertilizer to build the soil back up. This process takes a number of years and produces large amounts of greenhouse gasses one of the worst being methane.

Some other projects are in progress like the channel hike and bike path, the proposal to allow small farms the expansion of temporary non-farm use. There is still need for flood mitigation work.

Other opportunities/projects will appear and the challenge will without a doubt be how to implement and how to fund; in short it may look good but how bad do we need it and can we afford it.

One of the most difficult of projects will be to curtail the ever increasing spending at the local government level. This is a tremendously difficult task most services are shared and with nine other area Directors and ten Municipal Directors consensus on cutting any one thing becomes difficult if not futile. I hope that we will see a citizen’s movement here, something like the B.C. Taxpayers federation or a local rate payers association as that would help to bridge the differences between the various areas and municipalities. This would have to be RDOS wide in order to function.

Now for the big difficulty, and of course the elephant in the room, that is now and will be for a while yet Covid-19 and its variants. Besides the ongoing financial hardships this disease will change forever many of our behaviors. It will change how we work, visit, shop, travel, worship, and holiday. It will change from where and how we choose to acquire our food supply, our supply of energy and vital goods such as medicines and medical supplies. I believe that many of these changes were inevitable in a world that was changing with technology and getting there has only been accelerated. Other changes will be more philosophical but our challenge will be to take advantage of these changes and adapt as is needed. This is a new book that is just starting to be written. 

 These are some of the projects and issues going forward and I feel we are in a good place to face the future.

I wish you all a safe healthy and prosperous New Year.

RDOS Area “C” Director 
Rick Knodel

To be clear, I`m not an advocate of raising taxes to recruit doctors. What I do support and want more information on, is the possibility of establishing a flexible funding model for the *Hospital District, whereby, should the Hospital District chose to allocate some of the existing budget to fund a Primary Care Clinic, there is the option to do so.

The current challenges with physicians leaving the Oliver area are very concerning and we are talking with all stakeholders, including our new MLA, to find solutions/strategies to stop this trend and attract more doctors to the South Okanagan. I believe Team based healthcare, delivered through a Primary Care Clinic, is the key to providing the healthcare stability Oliver and SOGH are looking for – moving forward.

Mayor Martin Johansen

Over the weekend took the time to discuss this key issue in Oliver and the Southern Okanagan – a shortage of doctors. Talked to two members of the regional board Rick Knodel and Martin.

Rick said his concern was “why are young doctors not attracted to this area”
Martin stated that at least three doctors had left recently and many more poised to retire.
So what are the barriers… who is putting them up.

Ministry of Health? Interior Health? Doctors of BC (BCMA)?

None of the above are very candid about their position – I think it is called “silo” thinking. How to cover your backside from ??

Some young doctors may not want to come to a hick town – preferring a large hospital to gain experience and training.

Some young doctors may want to come here – but it seems they need to grease the wheels or something because of inexplicable reasons beyond my comprehension that their desires for a practice are not met.

Do we need a primary care clinic in Oliver or Osoyoos?

Why not just a lot more doctors and offices…. why would tax payers be needed to build a new building adjacent to the existing hospital?

I am baffled – weigh in the conversation……………

*For the record the Hospital District – an arm of the RDOS is there to fund 40 percent of capital costs not operations. So the provincial government and its policies on Primary Care Clinics is integral to this discussion.

Roly…. over to you.

With thanks to the Okanagan Historical Society

Definition and certification of deaths due to COVID-19

For surveillance purposes, the WHO defines a death due to COVID-19 as a death resulting from a clinically compatible illness, in a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case, unless there is a clear alternative cause of death that cannot be related to COVID disease (e.g. trauma). There should be no period of complete recovery from COVID-19 between illness and death.

In the international guidelines for certifying COVID-19 as a cause of death, certifiers are instructed to record COVID-19 on the medical certificate of cause of death for all decedents where the disease caused, or is assumed to have caused, or contributed to death. When certifying the cause of death, the physician, coroner or medical examiner is asked to report the sequence of morbid events leading to death as well as any conditions that contributed to that sequence. This is meant to reflect their informed opinion and can be reported with a single or multiple causes of death.

Link supplied by Al Hudec, Thanks

A couple of questions:

What is the annual death rate 2015-2019 prior to Covid 19 ?

How many people, on average, die of the influenza variants each year ?

How many people in Canada die of natural causes – old age etc. ?

What are the numbers of people who die of so many others things – cancer, stroke, Cardiac Arrest, diabetes, and a million other diseases we rarely hear about ??

You are right – we really do not care about these figures. Do we?

Beat the pans, support the workers. Get into the game.

Is it not so much more fun being a follower and not a analyzer ??

My thought for the day –

Why are the homeless living on the cold streets – not dieing ?
Why are the well housed super heated seniors dieing ?

Beat the pans, support the workers. Get into the game.

Sent to his local Area Planning Commission

and permission granted to distribute to the public

 

 

“As this year comes to a close I would like to thank everyone for their service in the Area “C” APC and I hope that as we move to a less personal meeting format that all of you will continue to serve.

We have some issues coming that I feel the APC should be aware of and provide input on.

The covid-19 issue provided challenges for our local farmers in trying to provide domestic labor for their farms.

Because of the shortfalls many farmers are looking to the foreign labor pool.

This creates a need for them to provide accommodations for this work force.

I have passed two of these on to the ALC last month but there are likely to be a few more yet to come, three currently that I am aware of.

I have taken the track that we should loosen the zoning requirement providing the accommodations being supplied are mobiles like camp trailers and of a non-permanent type. Further to this any zoning issues be handled by the use of TUP’s giving us a course of action if misused. 

This will be a very important and time sensitive issue as the labor situation is unlikely to change significantly for the near future.

Keep in mind that these applications must still be passed by the ALC but our strategies may be of consideration in the decisions.

This means we will have to conduct meetings through an electronic format for the near future. This can be as simple as a conference call or a zoom meeting or any combination that will work for you.

Your input on these issues is of the upmost importance and will help determine what the future of this area and its farming industry will look like.

Should any one care to discuss this with me my number is 250-460-1319.

Once again I thank you all and wish you the best of the season.”

 

  

Sunday 405 pm

Units  of OVFD called to Old Camp McKinney Rd area

Firefighters called off once it was determined the accident  had occurred about 18 hours prior

Thanks to Mt. Baldy Blogspot

Is today (this Monday) a stat in lieu of a Saturday Holiday?

Noticed that the government of BC is treating Monday that way and most likely in most union contracts.

Not sure what the retail trade will do today – phone a business before venturing out.

Thanks to Kelowna Courier for use of picture

The following from OHS 1968 written by Arthur Stocks and Eric Sismey

Thanks to UBC, Okanagan Historical Society and Okanagan Archive Trust Society

 

“The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is proud to be working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to help protect the region’s natural heritage. Expanding Sage and Sparrow will provide greater security to dozens of at-risk species, in one of the province’s most unique landscapes.”
Karla Kozakevich, chair, Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen

 

Precious wetlands, old-growth forest and grasslands now protected as part of internationally significant conservation area in the South Okanagan

An internationally significant conservation area just outside Osoyoos has just gotten bigger. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is announcing the addition of 126 hectares (311 acres) to the Sage and Sparrow Conservation Area.

Located fewer than 30 minutes west of Osoyoos along the Canada / U.S. border, Sage and Sparrow now encompasses over 1,500 hectares (3,750 acres) of rare grasslands and interior Douglas-fir forest at the confluence of the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. This area is within the traditional territories of the Syilx (Okanagan) Peoples.

The Sage and Sparrow Conservation Area is nestled within the provincial South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area. The new addition extends the conservation area to the north, filling in a gap in a north-south conservation corridor in one of the country’s rarest and most threatened ecosystems.

This unique landscape represents the northernmost tip of the arid, desert-like ecosystem that extends through central Washington State. Sage and Sparrow provides essential habitat for 62 confirmed at-risk plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else in Canada. Several species are listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, including western tiger salamander, southern mountain population (endangered), western rattlesnake (threatened), Great Basin gophersnake (threatened), Great Basin spadefoot (threatened) and Lewis’ woodpecker (threatened).

The new conservation lands span a diversity of habitats. In addition to sagebrush steppe and bunchgrass-dominated grasslands, the land includes some of the oldest stands of interior Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine forest in the broader area. Two large wetlands provide precious moisture in this arid landscape.

Woodlands of trembling aspen offer nesting habitat for birds as well as cooling shade during temperature extremes for all wildlife. Snakes, gophers and mice make use of the pockets of rugged terrain scattered throughout the property. And the variety of terrain, micro-climates and structural diversity add immensely to the property’s conservation value.

The Sage and Sparrow Conservation Area is open to the public for walk-in access only.

This project has been made possible by the contributions of many funders, including the Government of Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canada’s Nature Fund, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Sitka Foundation, Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society, Oliver Osoyoos Naturalists Club, South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club and many generous individual donors.

 

which is good

shop until you drop !!!!

I need milk and green vegetables

My private chauffeur approaches to get ME in on the 8am bargains…………..

Picture courtesy of the Kelowna Courier
and the late Philip Moubray

Portrait of my grand father Lumb Stocks, his mother Emily (Fisher) Stocks, Alfred and Arthur Stocks

Special thanks to UBC and the Okanagan Historical Society

OHS article written in 1963

NEW YEAR
NEW HOPES

The usual discussion at this time of year is the proposed changes of our lifestyle – to be a better person, which sees us making all sorts of promises to ourselves, in the form of New Year’s resolutions.

The most popular promise we make to ourselves is to be healthier, this to be achieved by eating better, exercising more, stopping or cutting down on cigarettes or alcohol. The promises we make to ourselves, and sometimes to others, is meant wholeheartedly after the overeating and other indulgences that took part over the Christmas season.

We have been given all sorts of treats that we felt compelled to consume, it would have been churlish to disappoint out friends who had picked out yummy chocolates or a really nice bottle of wine to please our palette, so we over indulge yet again.

Come the start of the new year we have a new calendar, a new chance to live a better life, and we promise ourselves that this will really be the year that we change for the better.

That is my usual start to January, however, not this year!

I honestly do not feel that I have over indulged this year. It has been a long nine months since we got bogged down with the virus from hell. I feel pretty sure that most people feel that I do, sheer relief that this year has finally drawn to a close and next year can only get better.

The turn of the year coincides with the distribution of the vaccine and, although it is a mammoth task to get all willing participants vaccinated, we do see a glimmer of light at the end of the long, weary tunnel that was 2020.

Probably very few of us saw what was coming when China first started having parts of their population fall ill. China is half a world away and besides, the newspapers were probably blowing things way out of proportion. A couple of months later and a few other countries were reporting cases of the virus and it was possible it would come here. Vancouver has a large Chinese population and probably lots of them had been visiting relatives for Christmas and may bring the virus back here with them.

I myself was called to England, to nurse a very sick, very dear cousin after Christmas. My stay there turned into six weeks as my cousin’s condition worsened and she passed away. Returning home on 7th of February was a battle of the weather. Snow stopped flights and I spent two extra nights in Vancouver, waiting for planes being able to land in Penticton.

Two days later and I had resettled back into my home and was awake enough to watch tv and learn the virus was turning into a nightmare and much of Europe was in a panic. Over the next couple of weeks, things went from bad to worse and the whole world became involved, a real pandemic was taking hold.

By mid March we were shut down and life really changed for all of us. People were doing strange things, like buying vast amounts of toilet paper. One of my daughters was advising me to fill all my cupboards with tinned goods as there were going to be shortages, and our local stores had lots of empty shelves. I had always had a good supply of food in my cupboards and, as I knew how to make soup from next to nothing and had only myself to feed, I was not unduly worried and, sure enough, the “stocking up” spree was short lived.

Standing in line to get into the bank or the drug store was weird but, if you timed it right could manage to get your needs met without too much hassle.

Weeks led to months but finally people got the hang of living this new way and, joy oh joy, the outdoor pool opened in June. Apart from not seeing friends, life was not too bad, however, by September the need to hug and be hugged weighed heavily, I’m a social person and the telephone and email just don’t fill the need for company.

The thought of winter stretching months into the distance seemed dreadful and, worst of all, no winter holiday to break the monotony. However, the weather has been good and I have been well, the frequent hand washing and lack of mixing with others has kept away colds and other winter ailments so far.

One interesting part of the situation has been watching the interactions between the maskers and anti-maskers. There are always people who resist the “herd” instinct, whatever the situation and there are always people who will not follow rules, it is just the way human nature works. However, it is very unsettling to see people ignore the warnings to not gather in groups, a rather selfish attitude of “I’m OK, so why should I care about you?”

Rushing into taking unknown vaccines is rather scary. I was a teenager in England when the Thalidomide scandal hit. Thousands of babies born with terrible deformities, because their mothers took an improperly tested drug for morning sickness, indeed one of my cousins was born this way. Because of my age, I’m willing to take the new vaccine, I do not have much to lose as my children are all grown and I only need worry about myself. If I was a young mom, I would have to think twice about taking a rather new, untried treatment.

This has truly been a bad year for most of us, especially those families who lost a loved one and are also bearing the guilt of not being able to comfort that loved one, as they reached the end.

I look forward to this New Year with hope for a better world, I intend to deny myself nothing, especially the companionship of those I love and the feel of their arms around me, most specifically, the hugs of a grandchild. Let’s all pray for a better 2021 and a better “normal”.

keep up your support for the

Desert Sun Empty Bowl Challenge

Provincially – Dr. Bonnie Henry

Regionally – Roly Russell

Locally – now this is hard part – who made a significant difference for all of us in the South Okanagan?

 

 

at 12:01 am Santa should be coming into airspace above BC

watch for him

·IH is reporting 70 new cases overnight, for a total of 3,510.

· 675 cases are active and on isolation.

· Twenty-nine people are in hospital; six of them in ICU.

· Total number of deaths in IH remains at 18.

Update on outbreaks:

· Teck mining operations has 16 IH cases linked to the outbreak.

· McKinney Place long term care in Oliver has 75 cases.

· Village by the Station long-term care in Penticton has 8 cases.

· Mountainview Village long-term care in Kelowna has at 15 cases.

· Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna has 14 cases.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

Delegations

• Brenda and Michael Arychuk from Oliver and Osoyoos Search and Rescue made a presentation to Council on the completion of their Truck and Trailer Station and thanked the Town of Osoyoos for their contribution of $5,000.00 through the Community Grant-in-Aid Program.

Business

• Council discussed possible uses for the new COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream (CVRIS) of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Applications are due on January 27, 2021 and the program targets projects that must begin construction by September 30, 2021 and must be completed by December 31, 2021.
• Gina MacKay, Director of Planning and Development, reported to Council on the change in ownership of the remainder parcels at the top of Dividend Ridge and the proposed change of use from strata duplex to single-family residential – both of which are allowed under the current R3 zoning.
• Council reviewed the structure of the draft Official Community Plan Update and provided feedback to the Director of Planning and Development on the Community Goals and Policies section.

REGULAR OPEN MEETING

Employee Service Recognition

• Mayor McKortoff recognized and thanked the following Town employees for their service and commitment to the residents and community:
  • Frank Zandvliet – 30 years of service
  • Tom Snoek – 25 years of service
  • Gerald Davis – 15 years of service
  • Steve Shannon – 15 years of service
  • Justin Price – 5 years of service

Water Matters

• Water Rates and Regulations Amendment Bylaw No. 1355.01, 2020 was adopted, effective January 1, 2021. This bylaw sets the water fees for users within the Town of Osoyoos, which increased by 3.22% in order to offset the increase in operating expenditures.
• Osoyoos Water District Rates and Regulations Amendment Bylaw No. 1357.02, 2020 was adopted, effective January 1, 2021. This bylaw sets the water fees for users outside of Town limits, which increased by 2.77% in order to offset the increase in operating expenditures.

Bylaws

• Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1230.28, 2020 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1085.132, 2020 were read for a third time. If adopted these amendments would allow for a residential development with a maximum of 65 units to be located at 5601 Lakeshore Drive.
• Sewer Fees Bylaw No. 1368, 2020 was adopted, effective January 1, 2021. This bylaw sets the sewer fees and sewer connection fees for users within the Town of Osoyoos and users receiving extraterritorial service in the RDOS Electoral Area “A”. Fees increased by 5.20%, which is an annual increase of $14.65 for a single family residence, to offset the increase in operating expenditures.
• Waste Management Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 1370, 2020 was adopted. This bylaw establishes and sets regulations for services to collect and dispose of solid waste and recyclable materials within the Town of Osoyoos. Due to additional costs associated with replacing blue bags with recycling bins and a new contractor at the Osoyoos & District Sanitary Landfill, garbage/recycling collection fees will increase from $140.70 to $170.50 and rates at the landfill increased effective December 21, 2020.
• Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Bylaw No. 1369, 2020 was adopted. This bylaw authorizes the Town to borrow up to $1,500,000.00 to meet current expenditures and pay amounts to meet the municipalities taxing obligations.

Business

• Council allowed staff to purchase three additional Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) with spare cylinders from Rocky Mountain Phoenix Inc. in the amount of $27,801 plus GST under the 2020 and 2021 Capital Plan. These extra units will be used with the Rapid Response Vehicle which is scheduled to be purchased next year.
• Council approved the lease between the Town of Osoyoos and Okanagan Regional Library to utilize a portion of the Sonora Community Center, located at 8505 68^th Avenue, for a three year lease commencing on January 1, 2021 and ending on December 31, 2023 at the rate of $15.40 per square feet and authorized the Town’s signatories to sign the agreement.
• Council directed staff to negotiate a new lease with the Desert Park Exhibition Society in order to identify the future needs of the RV park and to identify how an upgrade will be managed. Council also directed staff to bring the RV Site upgrades forward as an item at the 2021 budget meeting.
• Council was notified that Jared Brounstein, Director of Operational Services, will bring a report to the January 26, 2021 Regular Open Meeting that will review curbside collection for organics and present changes to both operational and capital requirements which would be needed in order to provide this service to the community. The application deadline for the CleanBC Organics Infrastructure and Collection Program has been extended from January 12, 2021 to February 2, 2021.
• Council authorized the notice of intention to lease portion of the property located at 8701 Main Street to the Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre for a three year term commencing on January 1, 2021 at an initial rental rate of $800.00 per month.

No one took the bait

So I shall…………………

 

1. Covid 19 – Vaccines arrive and applied
2. Same old gang at RDOS and Towns of Osoyoos and Oliver
3. New NDP MLA for Okanagan Boundary – Roly Russell – parliamentary secretary
4. Former Councillors in Oliver – DUI Bennest, CC charges for Randy Toor
5. No community  events, No theater, No church, No concerts
6. No sports, no hockey, no ?
7. Retail- mask required
8. Walking – get out into the open
9. Be safe, Be careful, Be Nice
10. I have not heard the pots and pans been clanging lately !!!