New pot plant not really in OK Falls

Dear editor: Could it be that reporter Monique Tamminga was smoking some weed when writing “Okanagan Falls marijuana facility hits snag” (Herald, A4, July 23)? I drive by the proposed pot plant situated on Highway 3A often and it’s a fair distance from Okanagan Falls, is it not? Tom Isherwood Olalla planned, organized and sponsored Airport Day, which attracted more than 2,000 people to the 76th anniversary celebration of the airport. With 50 members, Penticton Flying Club is one of the oldest flying clubs in B.C. and has been operating continually for over 80 years.

They never expected the huge turnout on Sunday but committee and club volunteers managed to feed and entertain the large crowd that lined up all day for tours of the tower, the popular “Kid’s Zone” and other attractions. Although it wasn’t scripted, onlookers cheered and waved when two large Convair water bombers and four Paewnee aircraft taxied by on their way to fight the Mount Eneas fire.

No other airport in the country would have allowed the public such a close look at these aircraft.

The Penticton Flying Club is to be commended along with Penticton airport management, the commercial and general aviation companies and individuals at the airport that produced such an enjoyable event. Karl Crosby

Penticton Penticton with a $50,000 grant to support the creation of a situation table. Situation tables bring agencies together so they can work collaboratively to ensure vulnerable communities get the best care and support needed, as well as prevent crises and reduce risk of harms, such as crime and overdose.”

While I agree wholeheartedly with this generous effort, I am very concerned as to how the City of Penticton will choose (wisely or not so) to use this $50,000 grant!

As the city demonstrated at last Tuesday's council meeting, they’ve “cleaned up” the downtown areas by removing a public bench on a public path, fenced and gated off nooks and crannies where the homeless sleep, trimmed back the tree at Nanaimo Square so the vulnerable can’t hide and much more.

As I've seen in other cities, by pushing the homeless and vulnerable people of our communities out of popular areas (where the tourists go) will definitely mean that they’ll pop up somewhere else. Unless they get “beamed up,” people, vulnerable or not, don’t simply disappear.

Is the City waiting for someone to die, then take action? Or, maybe the city could consider using some of this $50,000 and set up a daily food table at Nanaimo Square, so the homeless have some nourishment?

Then speed up the process to get housing for the homeless, now. Brigid Kemp Penticton