Editor:
I attended the open house on Wednesday, Aug. 25 put on by the Town and the developers of the Oasis Development and want to congratulate everyone on the quality of the presentation.
And, while I support the concept of a combined medical/professional building, I also believe that the buildings should be limited to no more than four stories and that there should be no density bonus.
At the moment our Town has no building over four stories and to allow them now— and yes, I know that council approved Indigo— will change the character of our community.
Let Kelowna and Penticton have the high rises and let us retain the quaintness of our Town.
Do we really need eight and 10 storey buildings to change our skyline?
Am I the only one that wonders why we would grant a density bonus to increase the number of apartment units in a Town that is already overbuilt?
Do we really need more people per square foot in this Town?
Why is it that we have passed on big box retailers, but seem to want to allow big box apartments?
So if you’re asking my opinion, let’s pass on this development in its current format and ask the developer to return with something that is more consistent with what was originally intended for our community.
Lloyd Searcy,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-September 8, 2010

GRATITUDE FOR LOCAL FARMERS

Editor:
As summer draws to a close, I would like to acknowledge and thank the many dedicated farmers in the Oliver/Osoyoos area who produce the excellent quality of fruit and vegetables at their markets, for our consumption.
Those conscientious, hard-working farmers put in long hours during the growing season and cope with a wide variety of problems (e.g. weather conditions, water and equipment problems, bugs and diseases, rising operation costs, theft and malicious damage to crops and equipment, availability of good experienced pickers, etc.)
In buying directly from a grower, you’re supporting local farmers, getting the opportunity to say “thank you” and meeting some very interesting people and getting top quality fresh fruit and vegetables for every dollar spent.
Buy locally and support our growers!
Visit one of our local markets on Hwy. 97 (e.g. Sandhu Greenhouses, Peach Hill Farm Market or Orchard Hill Market, to name a few!) and see for yourself.
If you want fresh, quality fruit and vegetables, go to one of our local growers and get the best!
In closing, “thank you” again to all of our local growers.
We thoroughly enjoy the delicious, top quality fruits and vegetables that you provide for our consumption.
Keep on growing!
Joanne Mepham,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-September 8, 2010

OASIS PROJECT LIKELY WON’T ATTRACT DOCTORS

Editor:
Part of last Wednesday’s presentation on the Oasis Development focused on the premise that a new medical building/clinic will assist in attracting more physicians to our community.
As a seasoned healthcare executive that has been involved with recruiting physicians in the past, it is my experience that doctors are interested in high incomes, a good quality of life, access to current technologies and access to a modern hospital; more expensive office space generally isn’t at the top of their list.
Where I come from we have offered physicians free rent, free housing, free cars and guaranteed incomes and still had no success in recruiting them so I wonder how a new office building will accomplish what these incentives haven’t in the past.
Yes, there are many certain advantages to having all of the medical folks in one building, assuming that they all want to pay higher rents, but attracting more doctors isn’t likely going to be one of them.
There has also been some indication that the “clinic” will offer greater access to health care in our community and, while I am supportive of improving services, we need to be very cautious about what our expectations are and what procedures can be safely done in an outpatient clinic.
It’s one thing to say that services will be increased, it’s quite another to provide sustainable healthcare in smaller communities.
While I applaud any efforts to bring more physicians to our community, I believe that we need to be realistic in how that can be achieved.
Lloyd Searcy,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-September 8, 2010