… ON THE CHERRY FIESTA AND THE NEW SENIORS FACILITY
(OSOYOOS TIMES — July 5, 2006)
There are many issues to comment on these days. Here are just a couple .. *** Osoyoos people have done it again! The hundreds of local volunteers who made our annual Cherry Fiesta such a great success are to be thanked and congratulated. See the ad on Page 21 for the names of many of them.
With the weather another picture-perfect Osoyoos summer day, all the events “ the pancake breakfast, the parade, the many beach and Gyro Park activities, and, of course, the spectacular fireworks “ all entertained and thrilled townsfolk and our thousands of visitors for Canada Day.
But we mustn't be complacent. As two letter-writers note on this page, our wonderful parade is in danger of becoming an unpleasant and even dangerous event that, if the barrage of water balloons gets any worse, will discourage locals, tourists, and parade entrants from coming to enjoy this beautiful and fun activity.
We can't let that happen. Let's work together with parents and kids to tone down the water antics.
*** As our front-page story reveals, it looks like Interior Health is going forward with a bigger seniors care facility in town, to take the place of Sagebrush Lodge.
It's public-private approach, allowing a private firm to build and manage the facility with Interior Health leasing the service, may well be the way this service is going everywhere today. But as it proceeds, we hope care is taken to ensure that current residents of Sagebrush Lodge are given consideration and no dislocation in their current arrangements. We also hope the owners of the new facility take advantage of having experienced caregiver employees in our community.
