Holidays
Eight books by Vernon and area authors to put under the tree this year
VERNON - For die-hard book worms, there’s no greater Christmas gift than a good read. A book, especially one with a personal inscription, makes a thoughtful gift for the book lover in your life. If you’re on the hunt for local titles, we’ve got a few suggestions. For the fiction lover %%Image1%% Turtle Valley by...
Now that’s service: Vernon mayor offers rides to holiday party-goers
VERNON - It’s not every day your designated driver is also your mayor. But that was the case in Vernon Saturday night after Mayor Akbal Mund posted an offer on his Facebook page inviting anyone who needed a safe, sober ride home to give him a call. %%Image2%% The generous offer has earned the mayor...
Vernon Food Bank looks to community for helping hand this holiday season
VERNON - The local food bank is calling on the community to help make the holidays bright for the less fortunate. The Salvation Army is launching its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign on Saturday, Nov. 21 and is looking for volunteers. “Christmas should be about celebrating, good memories, and family coming together,” Captain Jean-Curtis Plante says...
Taking the cash out of Christmas: Vernon event brings back the joy of bartering
VERNON - There are two rules at an unconventional Christmas fair in Vernon this holiday season, the first of which is: No cash allowed. That’s because participants will be trading for the goods and services on hand. Hosted by Jaye Coward and her partner Mireille Gourlay of Farm Bound the Holiday Barter Fest is perhaps...
Socks, pyjamas, and perfume among items on Christmas wish list for Vernon’s homeless
VERNON - Vernon is once again helping to make Christmas wishes come true for the city’s less fortunate. The Christmas Wish List is a collection of personal stories and wish lists from Vernon’s homeless and shelter clients. Participants are interviewed about themselves, and the gifts that would make their Christmases brighter. The responses are then...
How Kamloops can help the less fortunate this holiday season
KAMLOOPS - While some are busy decorating their trees, putting up holiday lights or buying gifts, others are working to make sure the less fortunate can still have a fulfilling holiday season. There are many charities looking to help out the homeless or the families one paycheque away from becoming homeless and many are looking...
Local handmade holiday gift ideas
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you’re hoping to go a less commercial route this holiday season, look no further than the Thompson-Okanagan, a region that boasts numerous handcrafted gifts. From ceramics to sweet treats, there’s surely a gift to be found for every boy and girl — one that keeps you out of box-store lineups to boot....
Buying local, without leaving home, a popular choice for Okanagan holiday shoppers
OKANAGAN - It’s already well known that online shopping has taken over a large piece of the Christmas retail pie, but that doesn’t mean people are giving up on buying local to fill the stockings this Christmas. You don’t have to go out to a farmer’s market or holiday craft fair to buy local, you...
How you can help make the holidays a bit nicer for the Kamloops women living in shelters
KAMLOOPS - If you’re looking to give something back to the community this holiday season, consider taking part in the Shoebox Project to help a local woman feel special. Monique Bastemeijer is leading the Kamloops chapter of the nation-wide gift program, which assists women with lesser means feel pampered. Bastemeijer says the charity has already received...
How to avoid salmonella poisoning during the Thanksgiving feast
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - It's that time of year when families gather to share a turkey feast so here's some tips to make sure festivities remain salmonella-free. To avoid symptoms of food poisoning such as stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever there are four basic steps to follow. 1. When preparing any food, wash your hands...
Your last minute New Year’s Eve plans in Vernon
VERNON - If you’ve been so focussed on Christmas that you forgot to make plans for New Year’s Eve, we’ve got you covered. It’s not too late to get in on some local New Year’s Eve action, and there are plenty of events to choose from for every preference and every price range. Vernon has...
‘Tis the season to donate time and money
KELOWNA – It’s not only retailers counting on the holiday season to push the bottom line into the black. People open up their wallets and schedules for charities in greater numbers at Christmas time. It’s no different in Kelowna. You probably saw the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign volunteers outside local retail shops. The money they...
VIDEO: Vernon business surprises customer with heartfelt Christmas gift
VERNON - A local Vernon business is getting into the spirit of Christmas. Rice Box owner On Ouch surprised a loyal customer recently with an all expenses paid trip down to Vancouver to see a Canucks game. He hoped the gift would make the holidays extra special for the single mom and her kids. “This...
Your guide to a Christmas lights driving tour in Vernon
VERNON - It’s not Christmas without the dazzle of bright lights around the city, and we’ve found the displays you don’t want to miss this year. A Christmas lights driving tour is a fun, and best of all free, way to get in the holiday spirit. When night falls, the City of Vernon transforms into...
Cheapest last-minute Christmas vacations on a beach
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The spirit of Christmas is supposed to be with you wherever you go, so who says you can’t celebrate the holidays with a mojito on a beach somewhere? If you’re ill-prepared for the holidays and impulsive when it comes to travel, the top two all-inclusive locations that won’t break the bank in December...