NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN
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VOL. 48 ISSUE 82
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FRIDAY, October 10, 2014
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GIVING THANKS Mark Brett
help sustain me.” Like many of the other people who visit the centre, which serves an average of 120 people a day, 365 days a year, people can’t express his appreciation enough for the many volunteers who give of their time on special occasions to do something for others. “Awesome,” is how Iannone described them. “And the fact they are willing to serve us a sitdown dinner is really wonderful.” And like many others who have benefited from the help, he willingly offers his help where ever he is needed at the 150 Orchard St. location. “That’s right, he’s my go-to guy alright,” said Kristin Rusk, Soupateria volunteer coordinator who was standing within earshot nearby and has worked at the facility since 2002. “A number of our clientele have come back over the years to say thanks by helping out here. “I think the important thing is we don’t judge anybody. These people are just the same as you and me, they’re just on hard times and some way or another
NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN
JOHNNY IANNONE (right) gets a sneak preview of what’s on the desert menu at the Soupateria courtesy of volunteer co-ordinator Kristin Rusk (left) Thursday. Once again this Thanksgiving, Oct. 13, the Soupateria will be providing a sitdown dinner for its clientele with turkey and all the trimmings free of charge.
Mark Brett/Western News
Western News Staff
Home for the holidays. That’s where many people will be this Thanksgiving Monday, but Johnny Iannone and hundreds of other Penticton residents won’t have that luxury. But the less fortunate won’t be forgotten, thanks again to the efforts of the Soupateria and it’s kind volunteers. As it does five times a year, including every Thanksgiving, the Soupateria is providing a sit-down turkey dinner with all the trimmings starting at 11:30 a.m. “I’m homeless and I don’t get money from the government, I get odd jobs from time to time, so the Soupateria provides an awesome place to come together especially if you’re like me and don’t have family in the area,” said Iannone, who was at the Soupateria Thursday for his midday meal. “If it wasn’t for this place I would probably do nothing for dinner, maybe a sandwich. “I try to make my way through life with as little as possible but the Soupateria is a great asset in my life at this time to
I think that we’ve all been there ourselves so we know what it’s about.” In addition to Thanksgiving, sit-down meals are served at the Soupateria on Christmas and Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Easter. While much of the food for the meals is donated by local businesses, money donated to the society which runs the program is used to purchase specific items. According to Rusk, when it comes to getting volunteers to help out on special occasions, she often has to turn people away because so many come forward to help. Adding to the family setting is the fact many of those come to eat already know each other. “With some of them I know that this is their only meal of the day they get and it’s nice we’re able to do it,” said Rusk. “At the end of the day we’re all happy and we feel really good we’re volunteers and knowing that we’ve done something to help others. “That’s what Thanksgiving is all about.”
Fresh faces and familiar names are in the running for city council Steve Kidd
Western News Staff
Max Picton, who operates the Barefoot Beach Resort, said he chose to run for council because he sees this as a pivotal election and time for Penticton. “There is a lot going on right now and I think having a fresh perspective and an innovative mind would be an asset to the city,” said Picton. “I am business-minded and I am entrepreneurial. It’s an important thing for
the city to utilize as well.” Picton, who took over as chair of the Tourism Penticton board earlier this year, said his background in tourism is going to be an asset if he gets elected. “I believe that tourism is the marketing arm for economic development. That is how we are going to attract new business and new industry into town,” said Picton, explaining that getting people to decide to relocate their businesses here is easier if they already have
visited and had a good experience. “Tourism is not just to keep the tourist businesses busy and booming, but it is also to create new jobs and opportunities,” said Picton. Building bridges between different organizations and creating a united voice and message is a key goal for Picton. “Right now we have ten different organizations that all have Penticton’s best interests in mind, but they are all yelling different
things in different directions,” he said. “We need to really align everybody, strengthen and solidify our message so we are all yelling the same thing in the same direction, which will only strengthen our voice overall.” Garry Gratton is also a new name on the ballot. He may have one of the simplest explanations for why he chose to run for city council. See COUNCIL on PG. 3
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