SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME 67 - ISSUE
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
NO. 52 • S U M M E R L A N D, B.C. • W E D N E S D AY,
DECEMBER
24,
2014
•
16
PA G E S
•
$1.15
INCLUDING
GST
Merry Christmas WHAT’S INSIDE:
A career in advertising sales
For the past 24 years, Jo Freed has handled newspaper advertising needs for Summerland’s businesses.
Page 15
Power supply
A lineman from Summerland was in Washington to provide assistance following a significant power outage.
Page 3
Counting birds
Bird watchers recorded the number of birds during an annual count.
Page 6
Hockey wins
The Summerland Steam skated to a pair of wins on the weekend.
Page 12
YOUR SMILE Playing Jingle Bells on the touch-tone phone is not allowed. It runs up an incredible long distance bill.
Holiday train
John Arendt Summerland Review
The Kettle Valley Steam Railway’s Christmas Express Trains provided a festive atmosphere for passengers. The train rides were sold out this past weekend and the weekend previously.
Food bank demand rises Requests for seasonal hampers up 19 per cent from past years by John Arendt The Summerland Food Bank distributed 143 Christmas hampers this year, up significantly from last year’s number. Tara Hollas, resource coordinator of the Summerland Food Bank and Resource Centre said a total of 300 people — 201 adults and 99 children — benefitted from the seasonal hampers.
The demand was greater than last year, said John Bubb, president of the food bank. A year ago, 120 hampers were distributed. “It’s not really surprising,” Bubb said of the increased need. “The cost of living continues to go up, but wages don’t go up.” Those receiving disability payments and those working for low wages make up the largest numbers of food bank recipients, he said. “We need an adjustment to the welfare and disability rates,” he said “These rates are woefully
inadequate for today’s amazing,” he said. “We’re costs.” constantly humbled by While the demand has the response of the comincreased, the community munity to what we’re gave generously to sup- doing.” port the food bank. In addition to food B u b b said food donations “It’s not really surprising, The were lower cost of living continues to go than last year, but up, but wages don’t go up.” John Bubb cash donations were significantly higher. bank donations, SummerCash donations are landers gave generously appreciated since they to the Toys and Toonies allow the food bank more for Tots and Teens gift flexibility in acquiring the drive. food items needed. Kathy Janzen, who “This community is coordinates the gift distri-
bution along with Wendy Schindel and Maxine Millis, said gifts were distributed to 103 children in 49 families. “People are very generous here,” she said. “we’re able to give the children a good supply of toys. It’s really quite heartwarming.” Over the past two months, the community has had numerous initiatives to support the food bank and the seasonal gift drive. The food bank provided assistance to 239 households, representing 557 people, between Nov. 1, 2013 and Oct. 31, 2014.