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A GoFundMe campaign has been created for Averi Armitage, 12, who was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening medical condition known as aplastic anemia. (GoFundMe)

Relief fund started for Okanagan girl battling rare medical condition

A GoFundMe campaign has been created for Averi Morey, 12, diagnosed with aplastic anemia

A GoFundMe campaign has been created for Averi Armitage, 12, who was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening medical condition known as aplastic anemia. (GoFundMe)
Candy canes were used to mark a path to a home on Nixon Road in Trout Creek. Numerous homes in the Summerland neighbourhood have holiday lights displays set up. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Trout Creek holds holiday lights quest

Summerland neighbourhood organizes search with riddles to solve

Candy canes were used to mark a path to a home on Nixon Road in Trout Creek. Numerous homes in the Summerland neighbourhood have holiday lights displays set up. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
Grade 7 students from Summerland Middle School dropped maple syrup and other donations at the Summerland Food Bank on Dec. 17. (Contributed)

Summerland students bring maple syrup and other donations to food bank

Grade 7 class at Summerland Middle School worked together on donation initiative

Grade 7 students from Summerland Middle School dropped maple syrup and other donations at the Summerland Food Bank on Dec. 17. (Contributed)
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Ron Nicolaye and the pole on the Island Highway at the Campbell River bridge that a drunk driver crashed into in 1983, changing his life forever. Photo by Marc Kitteringham – Campbell River Mirror

Impaired driving survivor implores people to not drink and drive this holiday season

Campbell River man looks back on 37th anniversary of life-changing incident

Ron Nicolaye and the pole on the Island Highway at the Campbell River bridge that a drunk driver crashed into in 1983, changing his life forever. Photo by Marc Kitteringham – Campbell River Mirror
Restorative Justice Society – North Okanagan executive director Margaret Clark is pleased that the program can continue under the wing of CMHA. (Roger Knox/Morning Star file photo)

Restorative justice joins forces with North Okanagan agency

Canadian Mental Health Association adopts program struggling with financing

Restorative Justice Society – North Okanagan executive director Margaret Clark is pleased that the program can continue under the wing of CMHA. (Roger Knox/Morning Star file photo)
Teen Junction’s Sara Isaac accepts funds from Vernon Crime Prevention Coordinator Regan Borisenko and RCMP Const. David Brovold from the annual appreciation evening auction fundraiser. (Contributed)

Teens get a boost from North Okanagan RCMP

Volunteers spread holiday cheer with auction proceeds supporting youth

Teen Junction’s Sara Isaac accepts funds from Vernon Crime Prevention Coordinator Regan Borisenko and RCMP Const. David Brovold from the annual appreciation evening auction fundraiser. (Contributed)
Armand Flamand used to drive this semi-truck. (Flamand family)

West Kelowna retired trucker caps off career with one last ride

West Kelowna’s Premium Truck and Trailer Inc. took Armand Flamand for one last spin

Armand Flamand used to drive this semi-truck. (Flamand family)
12-year-old Averi is currently in BC Children’s Hospital waiting for treatment for her aplastic anemia. (Vanessa Micku - GoFundMe)

Okanagan girl’s family asking for support after rare condition diagnosis

Averi Morey and her parents are in Vancouver waiting for a treatment plan

12-year-old Averi is currently in BC Children’s Hospital waiting for treatment for her aplastic anemia. (Vanessa Micku - GoFundMe)
A live nativity, filmed by members of Summerland Baptist Church, will be aired on Shaw Cable on Dec. 24 and 25. It can also be viewed on the church’s website beginning Dec. 18. (Contributed)

Summerland Baptist Church to show live nativity scene

Presentation will air on Shaw Cable and church’s website

A live nativity, filmed by members of Summerland Baptist Church, will be aired on Shaw Cable on Dec. 24 and 25. It can also be viewed on the church’s website beginning Dec. 18. (Contributed)
George Pugh of the Summerland Fire Department, at left, receives a cheque from Adrienne Betts and Mike Boersma of Granny’s Cafe in Summerland. The $1,000 donation came from the second annual fundraiser for the Toys and Toonies for Tots and Teens toy drive. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Summerland cafe donates $1,000 to toy drive

Second annual fundraiser was held at Granny’s Cafe to support gift drive

George Pugh of the Summerland Fire Department, at left, receives a cheque from Adrienne Betts and Mike Boersma of Granny’s Cafe in Summerland. The $1,000 donation came from the second annual fundraiser for the Toys and Toonies for Tots and Teens toy drive. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
The Okanagan chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving want to show people what the consequences of impaired driving look like. (Twila Amato - Black Press Media)

Okanagan car crash campaign shows consequence of impaired driving

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Okanagan want people to be more aware of their actions

The Okanagan chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving want to show people what the consequences of impaired driving look like. (Twila Amato - Black Press Media)
Gord Portman, 47, was awarded by the Royal Canadian Humane Association for his role in helping to save two people from a Penticton house fire in March. (Jesse Day - Western News)

Penticton man recognized with Canadian bravery award for intervening in house fire

Gord Portman will look to continue his life-saving ways after the fire inspired him to get sober

Gord Portman, 47, was awarded by the Royal Canadian Humane Association for his role in helping to save two people from a Penticton house fire in March. (Jesse Day - Western News)
Nine-year-old Jane Scranton has wrapped up the Christmas craft-making she has been doing to raise money for a cancer surgery for Halle Krawczyk, whose family her family met when she was undergoing cancer treatment. Jane made more than $3.400 in less than two weeks for Halle’s family’s expenses in Pittsburgh. (Contributed)

Young cancer survivor’s crafts raise $3,400 for Salmon Arm girl needing surgery

People generously support nine-year-old girl’s craft-making campaign to help girl with rare cancer

Nine-year-old Jane Scranton has wrapped up the Christmas craft-making she has been doing to raise money for a cancer surgery for Halle Krawczyk, whose family her family met when she was undergoing cancer treatment. Jane made more than $3.400 in less than two weeks for Halle’s family’s expenses in Pittsburgh. (Contributed)
Daisy the duck (Nadine Langford) poses with a customer while her dad Rick Parker gets change at one of the Krispy Kreme doughnut sales in November, raising funds to help feed the homeless in Vernon. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Couple opens hearts to Vernon’s homeless

Special Christmas dinner planned to boost weekly meals provided to those most in need

Daisy the duck (Nadine Langford) poses with a customer while her dad Rick Parker gets change at one of the Krispy Kreme doughnut sales in November, raising funds to help feed the homeless in Vernon. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
Kindergarten students from Queen’s Park hand delivered care packages to Keeping Off the Cold organizers. The packages contained soup, water and hand made Christmas pictures. (Facebook)

Penticton students helping the homeless

KVR students put together 94 care bags and Queen’s Park Ks made hand-made pictures

Kindergarten students from Queen’s Park hand delivered care packages to Keeping Off the Cold organizers. The packages contained soup, water and hand made Christmas pictures. (Facebook)
Lily Seyes, two, speaks with Santa Claus during Breakfast with Santa at Bradbury’s Restaurant. (File Photo)

Santa Claus will miss photos at Salmon Arm mall

Kris Kringle offers tips to stay on the nice list, keep up Christmas spirit in abnormal year 2020.

Lily Seyes, two, speaks with Santa Claus during Breakfast with Santa at Bradbury’s Restaurant. (File Photo)
The ornaments for a previous year’s V2A Homes for the Homeless Fundraiser. (Submitted)

‘Homes for the Homeless’ in Penticton raises record $5,400

The fundraiser had it’s most successful year yet and tripled 2019’s total

The ornaments for a previous year’s V2A Homes for the Homeless Fundraiser. (Submitted)
The Penticton and District Arts Council is making their Holiday Cheer colouring book available for free online. (Submitted)

Arts council want to share colourful holiday cheer

The Penticton Arts Council is making their colouring book available free online

The Penticton and District Arts Council is making their Holiday Cheer colouring book available for free online. (Submitted)
Steve McKenzie, Lynda Jones Layng and Lisa Spalding have been braving the cold waters of Okanagan Lake every morning. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Near freezing temperatures won’t keep these Penticton swimmers out of the lake

The trio of swimmers have been swimming in Okanagan Lake since the community centre pool closed

Steve McKenzie, Lynda Jones Layng and Lisa Spalding have been braving the cold waters of Okanagan Lake every morning. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Actress Dominika Juillet, pictured next to Hollywood actor Jason Statham, is looking to hire an artist or small group of artists to sing for her father in Vernon on his 70th birthday Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. (Contributed)

Vernon-raised Hollywood actress looks for local musicians to give father birthday serenade

Dominika Juillet is hoping to hire local artists for a special performance Dec. 15

Actress Dominika Juillet, pictured next to Hollywood actor Jason Statham, is looking to hire an artist or small group of artists to sing for her father in Vernon on his 70th birthday Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. (Contributed)