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Vernon Winter Carnival Society director Boris Ivanoff, left, dressed as Officer Ponch from the hit TV series CHiPs, holds the boom microphone for guest speaker Curt Reimer of event sponsor Valley First while Carnival executive director Vicki Proulx – Leela from Futurama – looks on during the Media Launch for the 63rd Carnival Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Best Western Premier Hotel. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Countdown to Vernon Winter Carnival kicks off

Media and event launch night raise hype for 63rd festival Feb. 3-12

 

A memorial bench for late Vernon Morning Star editor Glenn Mitchell will be placed at Lakeview Park in 2023. (Mitchell family photo)

Bench dedicated to late Vernon newspaper editor

Memorial bench for Glenn Mitchell to be placed at Lakeview Park in 2023

 

Historic O’Keefe Ranch in Spallumcheen pays tribute to the ‘kings of the saddle,’ the cowboy, with a three-day weekend filled with events and activities July 29-31. (Contributed)

Spallumcheen ranch

Historic O’Keefe Ranch hosting three-day Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival July 29-31

 

Former NHLer Theo Fleury will be joined by Calgary Flames teammate Colin Patterson for a Victor Walk rally in support of the Breaking Free Foundation, slated for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, July 22, at Vernon’s Polson Park. (Chris Young/CP photo)

Calgary Flames alumni headline Okanagan rallies

Victor Walk founder Theo Fleury and Colin Patterson will be in Vernon, Kelowna and Revelstoke

Former NHLer Theo Fleury will be joined by Calgary Flames teammate Colin Patterson for a Victor Walk rally in support of the Breaking Free Foundation, slated for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, July 22, at Vernon’s Polson Park. (Chris Young/CP photo)
(Photo - @kelownafalconsbaseball/Instagram, Tami Quan Photography)

Falcon Friday: Get to know Nick Woodcock

The left-handed pitcher hails from Whitby, Ontario

(Photo - @kelownafalconsbaseball/Instagram, Tami Quan Photography)
Ashley Tinney took this great aerial shot of Lumby Days Saturday, June 11, showing a busy Park Oval. (Ashley Tinney photo)

Last day for Lumby Days

The 65th village celebration’s return following a two-year absence has been fantastic

Ashley Tinney took this great aerial shot of Lumby Days Saturday, June 11, showing a busy Park Oval. (Ashley Tinney photo)
Heck of a way to wrap a career. For the horse. Old Tubs Get Smart bucks off rider Logan Hay of Wildwood, Alta. in the horse’s final ride of a 15-year rodeo career Monday, May 23, at the 102nd Falkland Stampede. Old Tubs Get Smart earned more than $1.5 million during his career. Hay was not injured. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

PHOTOS: Falkland Stampede return a huge hit

Record-shattering crowds piled into the Stampede Grounds for three days of professional rodeo action

Heck of a way to wrap a career. For the horse. Old Tubs Get Smart bucks off rider Logan Hay of Wildwood, Alta. in the horse’s final ride of a 15-year rodeo career Monday, May 23, at the 102nd Falkland Stampede. Old Tubs Get Smart earned more than $1.5 million during his career. Hay was not injured. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Patrick Vance of Vernon, left, with his late grandmother, Jane, who died at 95 in 2018 from Alzheimer’s Disease. Patrick is the chair of the North Okanagan IG Wealth Management Walk For Alzheimer’s in Vernon Sunday, May 29, at 12 p..m. at Greater Vernon Athletic Park. (Vance family photo)

Personal connection for Vernon Walk For Alzheimer’s chair

Patrick Vance shares how disease took his beloved grandmother; event set for Sunday, May 29, at GVAP

Patrick Vance of Vernon, left, with his late grandmother, Jane, who died at 95 in 2018 from Alzheimer’s Disease. Patrick is the chair of the North Okanagan IG Wealth Management Walk For Alzheimer’s in Vernon Sunday, May 29, at 12 p..m. at Greater Vernon Athletic Park. (Vance family photo)
North Okanagan Optimist Club members Donna Fulthorpe (from left), Jan Mori, June Kerr, Ciy Young and Dawn Guenette recently helped install Optimist International signs at the south entrance to Vernon (pictured) as well as the north end. (Contributed)

Signs of the times: North Okanagan Optimists celebrate 10 years

Club installs recognition signs at north and south entrances to Vernon

North Okanagan Optimist Club members Donna Fulthorpe (from left), Jan Mori, June Kerr, Ciy Young and Dawn Guenette recently helped install Optimist International signs at the south entrance to Vernon (pictured) as well as the north end. (Contributed)
The Monashee Toastmasters Club in Lumby will host an open house via Zoom meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 22. (Monashee Toastmasters photo)

Lumby Toastmasters group makes impact on credit union manager

Curt Reimer says joining Monashee Toastmasters has been huge benefit; February is Toastmasters Month worldwide

The Monashee Toastmasters Club in Lumby will host an open house via Zoom meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 22. (Monashee Toastmasters photo)
The Interior Provincial Exhibition is making plans to return in 2022, announcing Aug. 31-Sept. 4 as the dates for the fall fair. (Morning Star file photo)

IPE planning 2022 return to Armstrong

Interior Provincial Exhibition has been on hiatus for two years due to pandemic; dates are Aug. 31-Sept. 4

The Interior Provincial Exhibition is making plans to return in 2022, announcing Aug. 31-Sept. 4 as the dates for the fall fair. (Morning Star file photo)
The balloon glow returns Friday night to kick off Vernon Winter Carnival at the Winter Wonderland at the DND grounds. (Morning Star file photo)

Vernon Winter Carnival ready to glow

Balloon glow is back to kick off festivities Friday at DND grounds

The balloon glow returns Friday night to kick off Vernon Winter Carnival at the Winter Wonderland at the DND grounds. (Morning Star file photo)
(Aussie) Dave Henry of the North Okanagan Valley Gleaners Society prepares to unload a truckload of donated produce from an Edmonton farm, including bananas for the first time ever. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

North Okanagan Valley Gleaners go bananas over donation

First time in Gleaners history they’ve received a donation of bananas, coming from Edmonton farm

(Aussie) Dave Henry of the North Okanagan Valley Gleaners Society prepares to unload a truckload of donated produce from an Edmonton farm, including bananas for the first time ever. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
North Okanagan Valley Gleaners Society volunteers stand in front of a sea can that will be loaded with close to one million meals of soup mix and medical equipment, earmarked for the Dominican Republic. (Contributed)

North Okanagan Gleaners cap busy year with a million meals

Shipment of soup mix along with medical equipment heading to the Dominican Republic

North Okanagan Valley Gleaners Society volunteers stand in front of a sea can that will be loaded with close to one million meals of soup mix and medical equipment, earmarked for the Dominican Republic. (Contributed)
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Vernon members put together a bunk bed, which will be put to use in a North Okanagan home. The goal of the newly formed group is to make sure nobody sleeps on a floor or a couch. (Tom Skinner photo)

Vernon group builds a good night’s sleep

Sleep In Heavenly Peace made up of volunteers who build bunk beds for those who have nothing to sleep on

Sleep in Heavenly Peace Vernon members put together a bunk bed, which will be put to use in a North Okanagan home. The goal of the newly formed group is to make sure nobody sleeps on a floor or a couch. (Tom Skinner photo)
A youth legacy fund has been established through Community Foundation North Okanagan in memory of longtime Vernon lawyer Paul Nixon, who died one year ago Thursday, Nov. 25. The Paul Nixon Youth Legacy Fund was created to provide grants that support the community and organizations that were close to Nixon’s heart. (Photo submitted)

A year after his passing, fund in memory of Vernon lawyer Paul Nixon aimed at youth

Donations to fund can be made in Nixon’s memory through Community Foundation North Okanagan

A youth legacy fund has been established through Community Foundation North Okanagan in memory of longtime Vernon lawyer Paul Nixon, who died one year ago Thursday, Nov. 25. The Paul Nixon Youth Legacy Fund was created to provide grants that support the community and organizations that were close to Nixon’s heart. (Photo submitted)
Funtastic’s new board president hopes that ball players and music lovers will return to Vernon’s army camp on the July long weekend in 2022 for the Funtastic A&W Music Festival and Slo Pitch Tournament, cancelled the last two years by COVID-19. (Morning Star - file photo)

New board president for Vernon’s Funtastic Sports Society

Jamie Austin voted in at society’s annual general meeting

Funtastic’s new board president hopes that ball players and music lovers will return to Vernon’s army camp on the July long weekend in 2022 for the Funtastic A&W Music Festival and Slo Pitch Tournament, cancelled the last two years by COVID-19. (Morning Star - file photo)
Monashee Toastmasters member Danielle Gordon achieved her Aboriginal Tourism Operations diploma in June. (Giovanni Battista Agosti/AgostiArt.com)

Lumby Toastmasters group congratulates member

Danielle Gordon achieves diploma in Aboriginal Tourism Operations during tough times

Monashee Toastmasters member Danielle Gordon achieved her Aboriginal Tourism Operations diploma in June. (Giovanni Battista Agosti/AgostiArt.com)
Scarecrows on the Street will again be part of the 21st annual Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce Harvest Pumpkin Festival, which will run Oct. 8-12 at the IPE Grounds. (AS Chamber photo)

Harvest Pumpkin Festival returns to Armstrong

21st annual event hosted by Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce goes Oct. 8-12

Scarecrows on the Street will again be part of the 21st annual Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce Harvest Pumpkin Festival, which will run Oct. 8-12 at the IPE Grounds. (AS Chamber photo)
Alexis Szarek is the founder of the first Bloom Sunflower Festival in Spallumcheen, on until Aug. 31 at a township farm on Knob Hill Road (watch for signage). (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Spallumcheen sunflower festival blooms

The first Bloom Sunflower Festival at a Knob Hill Road farm has been well received by the public to the delight of organizers

Alexis Szarek is the founder of the first Bloom Sunflower Festival in Spallumcheen, on until Aug. 31 at a township farm on Knob Hill Road (watch for signage). (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
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