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politics
Free parking in downtown Vernon adding up to concerns
VERNON - There’s concern that free parking is coming at too high a cost in downtown Vernon. Vernon city council has approved a number of free parking days for special events and initiatives, adding up to a total of approximately 15 days of free parking, Coun. Catherine Lord said at a meeting Monday, Jan. 11....
New water woes add to concerns at the Vernon art gallery
VERNON - The Vernon Public Art Gallery has sprung yet another leak. Water started dripping from the ceiling of the storage and permanent collections area sometime over the night of Jan. 5 to 6, according to executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant. It’s the latest in a string of leaks at the gallery over the past...
North Okanagan-Shuswap MP opens doors to constituency office
VERNON - Constituents will soon be able to visit their member of Parliament in Vernon. North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold’s constituency office opens Thursday, Jan. 14, on 29th Street. It’s the same office former MP Colin Mayes used. "I am very excited to officially open my office in Vernon," Arnold says in a media release....
Longer Service B.C. hours in Vernon start today
VERNON - People will have an extra hour to stop by Service B.C. in Vernon as part of a pilot project starting today. Service B.C. is testing out extended hours in response to requests from local residents, the province said in a media release. The pilot project will see the Vernon office stay open from...
City of Vernon gives its website a major facelift
VERNON - The City of Vernon has a new online look. It unveiled a new website today, Dec. 22, which has been over a year in the making. Vernon council approved a budget of $125,000 for the project in September 2014, and Upanup Design Studios from Victoria, B.C., was awarded the contract in July 2015....
Central Okanagan director censured, sanctioned and stripped of most duties
KELOWNA - Regional politicians took a rare step today in censuring and sanctioning one of their own, demanding she write an apology and stripping her of the ability to represent her area on several committees. All but three Central Okanagan Regional District directors voted to rebuke Central Okanagan East director Patty Hanson and have her...
Options of new welcome to Vernon signs ‘too bland’
VERNON - Vernon council trashed a series of design ideas for the city’s new welcome signs, calling for more playfulness and vibrancy. This week council was shown three options for the signs, which are being redone, but quickly sent staff back to the drawing board. The draft designs featured wood material, and a large white...
Vernon council exploring options for largely empty downtown parkade
VERNON - Concerns around safety might be deterring people from using downtown Vernon’s parkade. The parkade only has about 35 per cent usage, council learned on Monday, Dec. 14, leading Coun. Catherine Lord to question why it's not better used. “We need to do something to make it more attractive for people, especially if we...
Questions and concerns over proposed cutblocks near Vernon
VERNON - A proposed cutblock in the Coldstream area has the City of Vernon asking more questions. The city received notice from B.C. Timber Sales in September regarding proposed cutblocks covering 261 acres within the BX Community Watershed, just east of Vernon in electoral area C. The area is located on Vernon Mountain and while...
Merchants air mixed feelings about downtown Vernon market
VERNON - Vernon has some hard data on how downtown merchants feel about the summertime Avenue Market, and while it's not all good there is support to keep the market going. Survey results show businesses have mixed feelings about the market, which runs on Friday evenings on 30 Avenue during the summer. Of 143 surveys sent...
Mounties calling for more manpower to police Vernon streets
VERNON - More RCMP boots on the ground seems to be the answer to a recent wave of safety concerns in the downtown core, but mounties say more boots requires more bodies. Sgt. Kara Triance spoke of the need for an increase of two police officers during a presentation to Vernon City Council Monday, Nov....
Community group created to welcome refugees to the North Okanagan
VERNON - A group of community organizations, local residents and faith groups are coming together with a common vision — welcoming refugees and settling them in the North Okanagan. The recently created North Okanagan Refugee Committee is already mobilizing to bring international refugee families to the area. “It is important that refugees are welcomed, supported...
Vernon resort makes case for contentious marina on Okanagan Lake
VERNON - Those pushing for a new marina on Okanagan Lake say safety is at stake if the project is blocked. The proposal for a 72-slip marina for the Outback Resort has been a controversial one. A neighbourhood group called the Friends of South Bay are fiercely opposed, citing environmental impacts, water quality concerns and...
Kelowna-area politician’s loose lips have her facing possible penalties from colleagues
ALLEGEDLY GAVE UNTRUE INFORMATION; FILM COMMISSIONER FEARED LOSS OF JOB KELOWNA - A local politician is already in hot water with her colleagues, but tomorrow we should know exactly how much. Patty Hanson, a veteran director at the Central Okanagan Regional District, faces what amounts to a disciplinary hearing by her colleagues on the board....
Watch for whimsical pop up parks in Vernon
VERNON - A special surprise will be popping up in a Vernon park sometime this fall. It’s part of new city initiative to bring interest and excitement to underused spaces and will see a variety of temporary equipment — such as brightly painted Adirondack chairs, a piano, drums and a massive xylophone — installed in...