Castanet

2023 - 2 - 27

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Castanet.net"

Star Country Squares host beginner's square dancing program (Castanet.net)

New dancer sessions start 7 p.m. Thursday 2 in the Halina Activity Room at the Vernon Recreation Complex. Newcomers are welcome to drop in. Attire is casual; ...

"Many people desperately need social interaction. Newcomers are welcome to drop in. "Stress and isolation during the pandemic have been hard on people but there's a fun and easy avenue that's mentally uplifting," the club says.

Small town B.C. hit hard by forestry downturn (Castanet.net)

B.C.'s forestry industry is shrinking both in scale and importance to B.C.'s overall economy, with the biggest impacts of sawmill and pulp mill curtailments ...

Workers laid off at a sawmill or pulp mill may be able to remain in their communities and work on other projects, which are often fly-in, fly-out. “For example, a community like Houston is home to 3,200 persons, while Chetwynd’s population is 2,650 persons. While wood and pulp products are still some of B.C.’s most valuable export commodities, forestry is a smaller share of the economy now than it was 20 years ago, Yu notes in his analysis. “While market-driven, the latest closures highlight the longer-term trend in B.C. Today, it employs 47,665 and represents only 1.9 per cent of B.C.’s GDP. “Even a more pronounced downturn will have relatively modest impacts on B.C. You can’t really just replace some of these forestry jobs that easily.” economy overall isn’t as significant now as it was 20 years ago. “Locally, long-term weakness in B.C.’s forestry sector could be devastating for smaller communities reliant on the forestry sector as mill shutdowns impact both the direct high paying manufacturing and forestry jobs, but also indirectly impact the local communities through demand for goods and services,” Yu warns in his analysis. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see further curbing of activity. of a shrinking forestry sector in both size and relative importance for the economy,” Yu’s report notes. In the early 2000s, logging and wood product manufacturing (sawmilling, pulp mills, etc.) made up about five per cent of B.C.’s GDP, and employed 90,000 people, Yu estimates.

Scale issues expected to cause delays at Vernon diversion/disposal ... (Castanet.net)

If you're heading to the dump today in Vernon, expect delays. The Regional District of North Okanagan says technical issue at the weigh scale may cause ...

Until the issue with the outbound scale is resolved, all loads will be weighed on the inbound scale both in and out." "Customers at the Greater Vernon Diversion and Disposal Facility are advised to expect delays due to an issue with the outbound scale," the regional district says. The Regional District of North Okanagan says technical issue at the weigh scale may cause delays this week.

Kelowna event hopes to inspire hope and resilience among women (Castanet.net)

Your Hour, Her Power is returning to Kelowna next month. Dress for Success Kelowna, in partnership with TD Canada Trust, has brought back the campaign, ...

“Your gift to the campaign can help. at the Coast Capri Hotel for breakfast and a moderated panel discussion in honour of International Women's Day. Our daily social media posts will inspire all as these women share their challenges, successes, knowledge, expertise, and insights," said Lori Stevenson, executive director of Dress for Success Kelowna.

Get ready to be taken out of your comfort zone at SpinCo in Penticton (Castanet.net)

Ready to get your sweat on? Those looking for a fun, new fitness option in Penticton will be excited to hear about the brand new spin studio that will be ...

“It’s so nerve wracking, and it will definitely kick you in the butt your first time, but that is all a part of your own personal growth. As our studio gets up and running we will be offering some SpinCo 101 classes for those that would like to learn to ride in a much more in-depth setting.” For its opening week, SpinCo Penticton will be offering free community classes, which people can sign up by ordering a free community ride pass on the SpinCo website or app and applying it to their booked class. “The biggest reason to open SpinCo in Penticton was for the community that it builds. Many avid “spinners” will attest that it isn’t just the exercise that keeps them coming back. “Our classes are 50 minute, full-body workouts designed to energize the mind and feed the soul.

Vernon musicians to jam in memory of Ken Martin (Castanet.net)

Friends and fellow musicians are rallying together following the cancer diagnosis and brief battle of one of their own in Vernon.

Martin started in the music business as a young man in Vancouver. He has been a fixture of the local scene, playing in bands such as Wheelhouse and running open jams such as the Longhorn Open Stage for years with Rick Zipp. Machura says musicians, and friends will gather to raise funds for Martin's family "and honour Ken's years of contributions to the live music scene in the Okanagan and beyond."

Pay extra attention when backing out of a parking stall (Castanet.net)

“Whose fault is it if I back out of a parking space and hit someone driving by behind me?” The Motor Vehicle Act establishes a general rule requiring a ...

The system warns a driver of objects it senses behind the vehicle when they are near enough to be a hazard. ICBC will assess your fault based on court decisions, so expect to be at fault both from the point of view of a traffic ticket and insurance liability. A check of ICBC's web site finds a page where liability for a crash caused by a driver backing up is discussed.

Vernon council votes against lowering Silver Star Road speed limit (Castanet.net)

A proposal to reduce the speed limit on Silver Star Road to 50 km/h was rejected by Vernon council on Monday.

“The speed has totally increased.” Now, it’s all 60 km/h, except for the school zone at BX Elementary. A proposal to reduce the speed limit on Silver Star Road to 50 km/h was rejected by Vernon council on Monday.

Penticton street sweeping crews ready for spring cleaning (Castanet.net)

Penticton's public works team has started its spring street-sweeping routine ahead of schedule this year and is prepared to resume again when warmer weather ...

With the equipment and crews moving slowly down roadways and around corners, motorists are urged to be patient and exercise care when passing. Sweeping operations will begin at 4 a.m. The city will have two machines operating, including one rental sweeper throughout March, in addition to the city's own sweeping equipment.

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