Bayside Plumbing & Gas Fitting
Calendar Lake Country
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Winfield, Oyama, Okanagan Centre and Carrs Landing since 1951
Qualified, reliable, bonded. Over 30 years exp. res./comm. service renovations, new installations, h/water tanks, dishwashers, washers, dryers.
250-317-2279
August 28, 2013
Inside
Vehicles of all sorts were admired Sunday at the Lake Country Customs and Classic Car Show in Swalwell Park. ...............................
THE Swiss Village
Resort Motel is one of several businesses that will have less traffic going by now that the new stretch of Highway 97 is open. Businesses along what is now Pelmewash Parkway are worried “vacancy” will become the norm as customers pass them by.
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WADE PATERSON/BLACK PRESS
▼ HIGHWAY SIGNS NEEDED Centrepiece celebrated Oyama’s heritage Sunday as traditional Japanese entertainment, cultural activities and displays were features. ...............................
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Flyers ■ Home Depot ■ JYSK ■ Rona ■ Shoppers ■ Staples
Fewer customers for Oyama since bypass opened RICHARD ROLKE A change in traffic patterns has meant a dead-end for some merchants in Oyama. No sooner was the new stretch of Highway 97 open Aug. 16 when customers visiting businesses along the old highway and Oyama Road evaporated. “It (new highway) is almost like a freeway and it doesn’t go through town so people are driving right past,” said Owen Dickie, a Lake Country councillor, add-
ing that there was confusion about how to access Oyama. “I had one orchardist say that one person drove to Kelowna (looking for him) and then came back and wound up in Vernon.” The District of Lake Country’s tourist information centre at Gatzke Orchards was receiving about 50 visitors a day before the highway opened. On Aug. 17, the day after the route was unveiled, there were none. There have been ques-
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I HAD ONE ORCHARDIST SAY THAT ONE PERSON DROVE TO KELOWNA (LOOKING FOR HIM) AND THEN CAME BACK AND WOUND UP IN VERNON. Owen Dickie, District of Lake Country councillor
tions as to why the Ministry of Transportation didn’t immediately post attraction and direction signs once the new highway opened. “There seems to be reluctance to recognize the
community of Oyama,” said Dickie. “I don’t think there is any malice involved, there just seems to be an oversight.” While Oyama is part of Lake Country, Dickie
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the project as the sign locations and wording is part of the detailed design,” the ministry said in a press statement. “Some of the final sign adjustments needed to happen after the new alignment was activated, otherwise the signs would be confusing for travellers.” The ministry said installation of service and attraction signs started during the middle of last week and should have been completed by last Saturday. Richard Rolke is a Black Press reporter.
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250-863-9511
says there has to be a recognition of Oyama’s century-old identity. “Oyama has been an entity for a long time and businesses have been associated with Oyama a lot longer than the municipality has been around,” he said. The Ministry of Transportation says that it understands the importance of highway signage for residents and businesses in Lake Country. “Signage has been discussed with municipal stakeholders throughout
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