Community

Sunnybank Retirement Home in Oliver. (Google Maps)

Second long-term care outbreak in South Okanagan community

Interior Health has declared an outbreak at Oliver’s Sunnybank Retirement Home

Sunnybank Retirement Home in Oliver. (Google Maps)
The Summerland cannonballs are a unique geological feature found in and around the community. (Contributed)

Cannonball rock formations unique to Summerland

Geologists are studying the round rocks found in the community

The Summerland cannonballs are a unique geological feature found in and around the community. (Contributed)
A volunteer for The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign, looks for donations. (Photo by SEAN MCINTOSH/Black Press)

Salvation Army Christmas Kettle campaign a success in Penticton

The annual fundraiser raised over $100,000 despite COVID-19 challenges

A volunteer for The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign, looks for donations. (Photo by SEAN MCINTOSH/Black Press)
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Volunteers pitched in to give the Okanagan Valley Gleaners store some upgrades ahead of its reopening on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Outpouring of volunteerism gets Okanagan charity ready for new year

North Okanagan Valley Gleaners gets help with renovations over winter break

Volunteers pitched in to give the Okanagan Valley Gleaners store some upgrades ahead of its reopening on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
A virtual service is being held for Glenn Mitchell, who passed away suddenly on Dec. 17, 2020. The service will be available on YouTube starting at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2020.

Celebrating the life of Glenn Lloyd Mitchell

A virtual service is being held for the longtime Morning Star editor on YouTube today at 1:30 p.m.

A virtual service is being held for Glenn Mitchell, who passed away suddenly on Dec. 17, 2020. The service will be available on YouTube starting at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2020.
Interior Health’s South Okanagan executive director of clinical operations, Carl Meadows, says he, alongside staff at the Penticton Regional Hospital, are ready for COVID-19. (Phil McLachlan - Western News)

Penticton Regional Hospital welcomes New Year’s Baby Girl

The baby was born at 6:52 a.m. on Jan. 1

Interior Health’s South Okanagan executive director of clinical operations, Carl Meadows, says he, alongside staff at the Penticton Regional Hospital, are ready for COVID-19. (Phil McLachlan - Western News)
Cody Petrone, a lived-experience ambassador for CRIS, made a snow angel in Kelowna on Jan. 1, as a part of the CRIS Polar Bear Challenge. (Phil McLachlan - Capital News)

Central Okanagan residents get cold in support of those with disabilities

In absence of annual polar bear dip, participants got creative in their fundraising efforts

Cody Petrone, a lived-experience ambassador for CRIS, made a snow angel in Kelowna on Jan. 1, as a part of the CRIS Polar Bear Challenge. (Phil McLachlan - Capital News)
Penticton as seen from West Bench, with clouds moving in. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

South Okanagan experiences warmer than average December, rainstorms incoming

The end of 2020 and start of 2021 are warmer than usual

Penticton as seen from West Bench, with clouds moving in. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Staff and residents of Discovery House in a moment of silence for friends and loved ones lost to overdose this year. Discovery House held a private in-person light up on Dec. 19 as part of their Shed the Light on Addiction Campaign. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Penticton’s Discovery House beats fundraising goal to expand program

The addiction recovery program raised over $100,000 in December

Staff and residents of Discovery House in a moment of silence for friends and loved ones lost to overdose this year. Discovery House held a private in-person light up on Dec. 19 as part of their Shed the Light on Addiction Campaign. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
A large illuminated heart was installed on the roof of the Vernon Jubilee Hospital May 1, 2020. (VJH Foundation photo)

North Okanagan hospital’s white heart beating into the new year

New feature added to the LED white heart in tribute to essential workers during the pandemic

A large illuminated heart was installed on the roof of the Vernon Jubilee Hospital May 1, 2020. (VJH Foundation photo)
The lights of Discovery House were turned on to shine a light on addiction on Dec. 19, as part of the recovery centre’s annual holiday campaign. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Discovery House closing in on fundraising goal

The recovery centre is $6,000 shy of their $100,000 goal

The lights of Discovery House were turned on to shine a light on addiction on Dec. 19, as part of the recovery centre’s annual holiday campaign. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Penticton father-son-duo Ken and Ben collaborated to write a new children’s book called the “The Cherry Bandit.” (Contributed)

Okanagan father-son-duo collaborate to write Naramata-set children’s book

The Cherry Bandit is based on Ken Miller’s experiences raising his son on Cherry Orchard

Penticton father-son-duo Ken and Ben collaborated to write a new children’s book called the “The Cherry Bandit.” (Contributed)
Auxiliary firefighters Jason Coyle (left) and Joe Le Blanc (right) with assistant fire chief Dennis Smith at the Number 2 fire hall prior to the start of weekly training in 2016 ( Western News - File)

Naramata Fire Department gets new fire chief

Former Penticton deputy fire chief Dennis Smith takes over the role

Auxiliary firefighters Jason Coyle (left) and Joe Le Blanc (right) with assistant fire chief Dennis Smith at the Number 2 fire hall prior to the start of weekly training in 2016 ( Western News - File)
There might not be enough snow falling today to go sledding at Columbia Elementary today like this girl did last week, but by Wednesday there could be. (Jesse Day Western News)

Snow today and New Year’s Eve

It’s snowing in most of the Okanagan Monday morning

There might not be enough snow falling today to go sledding at Columbia Elementary today like this girl did last week, but by Wednesday there could be. (Jesse Day Western News)
Sylvie Pepin with her horse Quazzie (black horse) and Arlene Longstaff on Belle visit Osoyoos seniors home Mariposa Gardens on Christmas Day. (YouTube)

VIDEO: Horses make special Christmas Day visit to Okanagan seniors home

Dressed in their Christmas best, the horse owners and friends make it a memorable holiday

Sylvie Pepin with her horse Quazzie (black horse) and Arlene Longstaff on Belle visit Osoyoos seniors home Mariposa Gardens on Christmas Day. (YouTube)
Ashley Smethurst and her husband Matthew and children Julia and Kai helped prepare over 230 meals for people in the community for Christmas this year. (Contributed)

Penticton family gives back with hundreds of Christmas meals for the community

The Smethursts cooked and delivered over 230 meals

Ashley Smethurst and her husband Matthew and children Julia and Kai helped prepare over 230 meals for people in the community for Christmas this year. (Contributed)
Gregory Byron donated blood for the 157th time on Christmas Eve, 2020. He has donated enough blood for over 470 life-saving transfusions over the last 50 years. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

South Okanagan man donates 14 bodies worth of blood in 50 years

Gregory Byron has been donating blood since he was 17-years old

Gregory Byron donated blood for the 157th time on Christmas Eve, 2020. He has donated enough blood for over 470 life-saving transfusions over the last 50 years. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
An Armstrong-to-Enderby Christmas tractor parade took place Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (Facebook/Sandy Bosko Mills)

WATCH: COVID-19 can’t stop North Okanagan Christmas tractor parade

Vehicles covered with lights took to the highway between Armstrong and Enderby Wednesday night

An Armstrong-to-Enderby Christmas tractor parade took place Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (Facebook/Sandy Bosko Mills)
Okanagan Town Crier and Mrs. Town crier will be ringing a bell for Santa tonight at a beach in Peachland. (Contributed)

Christmas Eve cheer for Santa makes its way to Penticton

People around the world will go outside and ring a bell to cheer on Santa at 6 p.m. tonight

Okanagan Town Crier and Mrs. Town crier will be ringing a bell for Santa tonight at a beach in Peachland. (Contributed)
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for a man in his 30s, identified as Hollywood actor Josiah Black, who was found dead at the Spion Kop Summit in Lake Country Tuesday, June 16, 2020. (GoFundMe)

Community rallies to give Lake Country woman her dream home after husband’s death

Alicia and Josiah Black have always dreamed of turning a bus into their own tiny home

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for a man in his 30s, identified as Hollywood actor Josiah Black, who was found dead at the Spion Kop Summit in Lake Country Tuesday, June 16, 2020. (GoFundMe)