Abbotsford knows how to win
Dear Editor:
I think the Vancouver Canucks should trade places with the Calder Cup winners, the Abbotsford Canucks, until Vancouver learns how to run a playoff.
Congratulations, Abbotsford Canucks.
Wendy Darbey
Langford
So long, farewell says popular choir
Dear Editor:
The Liedertafel choir, after making music for 55 years, has to say, 鈥淕oodbye鈥. Due to aging, deteriorating health, moving away, COVID and deaths, the songs have stopped.
The choir, (60 strong at its peak) had dwindled to only eight singers and it was decided at our last AGM to close the song books.
Maxine Dehart (Kelowna City Councillor and a manager at the Ramada Hotel) was talking with Jamie Jordan of the Gasthaus on the Lake in Peachland about the choir鈥檚 demise. That day, Jamie called me (the choir conductor) to ask if there was anything the restaurant could do for the choir. He suggested the choir could have a last performance followed by a dinner.
That caught our interest so my wife, Beverly Fader, started calling all the current and past members to invite them to sing or just attend for the last time. Everyone was excited about the suggestion and the program came to be on June 21.
About 18 singers plus 30 guests attended but our President Emeritus, Susie Kaul was unable to attend. Susie and her beloved Axel sang in the choir for 35 years and Susie was president for 32 Years.
Many thanks go to Phil Johnson, host of AM1150鈥檚 Morning Show, for all his support in promoting the choir鈥檚 activities and attending some of our events. Thank you to Maxine Dehart for her write-ups of our activities in her column Straight From Dehart and for attending numerous of our events plus chatting with Phil about her column.
Thank you to all the current and past members and passive members for all their work and music. A special thank you to Jamie Morgan and the Gasthaus On the Lake for making our last event so happy, even asking the Peachland Town Crier to greet us! Thank you to Travis Lowe of Global News Okanagan for his humour, hijinks and skill in keeping us in stitches while recording us (and him) singing at our last rehearsal then putting together a masterfully edited version that aired the next evening. We must acknowledge the BC Gaming Branch for all its financial support and, finally, to you, the people who attended our concerts and functions. Without you, we would have had nothing but a sing-along. Thank you, all!
Musically yours und Auf Wiedersehen,
Rory Fader, Conductor
and Musical Director
Liedertafel Choir
Kelowna
Staff, Council share the blame for bike lane fiasco
Dear Editor:
I find it difficult to understand how so little thought from Penticton鈥檚 city staff could put this bike lane plan to city council for approval from Day 1 and then proceed with a second and third phase with NO reasonable thinking.
There鈥檚 only one way to correct this ongoing unnecessary visions of disaster 鈥 remember who on city council voted for this project, and the termination of the city staff who without planning a more appropriate cost-effective bike path.
I鈥檓 sure whoever at city hall promoted this disaster hopefully realizes there is so many more urgent projects waiting to proceed with appropriate action from our city council.
Don Herman
Penticton
Let鈥檚 all count our blessings
Dear Editor:
I had cause to exchange emails with Sohee this week and ended mine with 鈥淓njoy every day...鈥
This is part of Sohee鈥檚 reply: 鈥淏y the way, thank you for the words 鈥淓njoy every day.鈥 It truly warmed my heart and made me smile - what a lovely reminder to appreciate the little things I often take for granted in daily life. I鈥檓 originally from Seoul, South Korea, where there isn鈥檛 much green space, few opportunities to enjoy the many colours of the sky or clean air, and it鈥檚 not so common to smile and say hello to strangers. Those are the reasons I chose to stay and call Canada home, but I鈥檇 forgotten how lucky I am to live here. I鈥檒l carry your words with me, and make the most of this weekend. Hope you鈥檙e having a beautiful one in B.C. as well.鈥
What more is there to say?
Lloyd Atkins
Vernon
Kelowna paying too much in taxes
Dear Editor:
The taxman cometh to all of Kelowna taxpayers.
Managers being paid obscene amounts.
Projects one after another costing more than estimates and millions over budget.
This council with few exceptions are really trying to make legacies for themselves at the cost to citizens who believed they had a council for the people
It鈥檚 spend, spend, spend for this council in an economy that is on the verge of recession. This council must believe there is a bottomless pit of tax money. The hiring and exorbitant wages paid to civic employees is truly a sign this council is out of touch with Kelowna citizens whose property values are devaluating, but taxes are still increasing.
There is a huge disconnect with this council and average taxpayers. Time for a council change and city management as this council has shown no regard for taxpayers and there hard earned dollars. Nice to be able to vote yourself wage increases as most will never have the opportunity.
This council is 鈥渟how me the money.鈥 A city too big for its britches and inevitably going deep in debt for years to come.
Ken Radelet
Kelowna
More pipeline controversy
Dear Editor:
There is a lot of controversy about our Premier David Eby and the LNG pipeline proposal that is planned to cross BC to Prince Rupert. But here鈥檚 something you might not know about that other controversial pipeline we have been supporting since long before the NDP took office.
Most Canadians are familiar with the controversy surrounding the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, but few realize that a significant portion of that oil never stays in Canada.
Since the 1950s, a spur line known as the Puget Sound Pipeline has quietly carried crude from Alberta through BC into Washington State at Sumas, (Abbotsford) where it feeds four major U.S. refineries in Anacortes and Ferndale. This U.S. branch can carry up to 240,000 barrels per day 鈥 a staggering amount by any standard.
In recent years, as much as 60% of Trans Mountain鈥檚 oil has gone to the U.S., totaling 6 to 7 million barrels per month. That means a large share of Alberta鈥檚 oil sands production is processed across the border, with much of the public unaware.
Even more surprising, British Columbia still imports refined fuels like gasoline from other regions 鈥 including the U.S. 鈥 despite having a pipeline full of crude running right through it.
Canadians are often told this pipeline is about energy security or getting oil to 鈥渢idewater.鈥 But it鈥檚 worth asking: whose energy security are we actually protecting?
Whether one supports or opposes the project, transparency matters. The public deserves to know where our natural resources are going 鈥 and why.
Frank Martens
Summerland
There鈥檚 incredible mark up in retail
Dear Editor:
I worked in retail most of my life, and I just wanted to tell people how much they are being ripped off.
In a typical department store, the mark-up on furniture and mattresses is 100%, the markup on televisions and electronics is 200%, and the markup on candy is 300%. Sale items don鈥檛 change the average they shoot for.
Similarly, to take produce and meat from the back of a grocery store to the front, the mark-up is 40%. Imagine that! Our groceries could easily be 40% less at checkout. The cost of labour adds only about 5% to the price.
And, we pay Texas wellhead U.S. Domestic price for our own petroleum for our cars. We traded away our own natural advantage years ago in the very first NAFTA deal, and every time since.
The retail gas stations only add 5 cents a litre to the cost: they make their money on chips and pop, and you can only guess what the mark-up is on those.
So, if people knew how much they are being ripped off, over and above what is reasonable in price, they would likely rise up. And the government doesn鈥檛 want that. So much for them.
Thank you for being the voice of the people in your newspaper, and letters column.
Chase Conell
Kelowna
Wallet returned by honest person
Dear Editor:
Honest people.
I went shopping today and left my wallet in the cart, and came home. I just had a call from the store telling me that someone had found it in the cart and turned it in. It sure is nice to know that there are some wonderful and honest people here in Penticton.
A great thank you.
Ken Carson
Penticton
Cash for military, but not medicine
Dear Editor:
The federal government is planning to spend unprecedented amounts of money on the Canadian military. It鈥檚 about time. They need it. I鈥檓 in favour of the spending.
On the other hand, I haven鈥檛 had a family doctor in 20 years and while recently in the emergency room waiting nine hours to see a doctor, I had time to observe just how understaffed and overworked medical professionals are.
If only it were as easy for the government to find magical amounts of money for health care as it is for defence.
C. Scott Stofer
Nanaimo
