Kyle Bachmamn points out some recent graffiti on a downtown building. Bachmann hosts the Penticton Graffiti Task Force Facebook page along with Leigh Follestad and Jake Evans. They would like to set up a group to repair graffiti damage in the city. Photographer: Steve Arstad

Facebook group fights graffiti

PENTICTON – Penticton resident Kyle Bachmann is determined to do something about graffiti in the city after last weekend’s spray painting spree.

“I’m tired of so many people out there doing graffiti in Penticton. On the weekend, Smart Shopper, Queen’s Park and Parkway Schools, the old Kentucky Fried Chicken building, Theo’s, Murray’s Pizza, Whole Foods and the garbage bins at the new liquor store at Cherry Lane were all spray painted.”

Bachmann, along with fellow administrators Leigh Follestad and Jake Evans host a local Facebook website known as the “Penticton Graffiti Task Force" (take back our walls).

Members discuss and share information about the latest graffiti targets in an effort to warn neighbourhoods, posting photos of graffiti vandalism on the page as they work to increase awareness and interest in the issue.

Bachmann would like to recruit a dozen or so residents interested in restoring graffiti targets. The crew would also solicit local business for donations with which to buy paint and paint supplies.

Anyone interested in helping Bachmann and the Penticton Graffiti Task Force with their clean up effort should call Kyle Bachmann at 250-809-3137, or Leigh Follestad at 250-490-5295.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

– This story was updated at 4:08 p.m, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014 to correct the spelling of Kyle Bachmann's last name.

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2 responses

  1. Nancy Powell Knight

    Great idea!!Also are the merchants that sell these items…SPRAY PAINT in particular, being asked to keep an eye on people buying this stuff?!I know it’s not illegal but it may narrow it down to who may be doing this!!It’s so frustrating…they graffiti, you paint over it and they graffiti it again!!I wish they would be more creative with their ‘talents’ that vandalizing people’s property!

  2. Mike Whiles

    yes this is worth getting involved in.

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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