SUPPORT SHOULD GO TO LOCAL BUSINESSES FIRST

Editor:

Attn: Glenn Mandziuk.

It has come to my attention again!

This year, Mr. Mandziuk, tourists who have inquired at the Info Centre about wine tours in Osoyoos are being told there are only two companies in town, MJO Tours and Napa North Wine Tours.

Why is this, Mr. Mandziuk?

Is it because Desert Country Wine Tours does not advertise in the Info Centre or D.O. Visitor Guide?

It seems you have Desert Country Wine Tours listed under Wineries and Wine Tours on the Destination Osoyoos website.

How does a small business like Desert Country Wine Tours or Napa North Wine Tours or any other company for that matter compete with MJO Tours, which is a marketing company, when they have a full two-page ad in the Visitor Guide?

Could our businesses get a deal like that?

Why does MJO Tours advertise under the Destination Osoyoos banner?

It seems to me you need to re-read your Core Activities section of your profile on the Destination Osoyoos website!

How does a non-profit society operate a Wine Tour business?

It appears this year Destination Osoyoos/MJO Tours has a new tour bus.

Who paid for that?

In the past Destination Osoyoos/MJO Tours hired a vehicle out of Penticton, Country Coachways, to do wine tours.

Who paid for that?

MJO Tours is not a wine tour company, rather a marketing company out of Vernon!

Where's the local support!

Desert Country Wine Tours was never contacted and offered a contract.

How irresponsible is it for Destination Osoyoos/MJO Tours to take visitors out on a wine tour when they have been consuming alcohol and then return them to their vehicle parked at the Visitor Centre and drive our streets impaired!

Desert Country Wine Tours has been in business for seven years in Osoyoos and I have firsthand knowledge of how much alcohol is consumed on a wine tour.

I have round-trip service from and back to their accommodations, as do other local wine tour companies.

Do we need to contact the RCMP and have them waiting at the Visitor Centre with a roadside breathalyzer test every time a group of visitors returns from a tour?

I suggest, Mr. Mandziuk, you leave the wine touring business up to the professionals!

You're not in the business of being in business!

Or in the business of competing with local businesses!

You're in the business of supporting local business!

What's next, Mr. Mandziuk, a fruit stand out front of the Info Centre with fruit purchased from a Kelowna farmer's market?

Or will you have overnight camping?

How about selling bedding plants, trees and shrubs?

I would appreciate a response, Mr. Mandziuk, since you did not respond to my last letter!

Brenda Dell,rnDesert Country Wine Tours

OSOYOOS TIMES-June 18, 2008

SIX MONTHS TOO LONG FOR GREENHOUSE APPROVAL

Editor:

I read with keen interest the report on the Sandhu greenhouse expansion.

I am intending to write a story on this subject.

The reason being, our premier and other provincial officials are encouraging shopping at home and in growing as much as we can for our own kitchens.

We are also intent on employing local talent.

All of this is to enhance our economy.

As an old horticulturalist in Osoyoos, I enjoy the spirited enthusiasm of the younger growers and the innovative methods regarding the growing and packaging of cucumbers, tomatoes, cherries, peaches, apples and so on.

I watched carefully to see that all possible haste was taken in two projects long before approval was granted by RDOS.

Had our regional director, who thinks he's appointed rather than elected, had his way (according to the article) he could have had the greenhouse torn down.

Feature the arrogance of the man!

December 13, 2007 was the third reading of the bylaw and final approval was granted on June 5, 2008. Jesse Sandhu has much praise for the planner, Suzanne Theurer, who spirited the plan approval to a finalization.

This does not explain the six-month delay.

When you are into the market, haste means everything; construction must proceed smoothly.

This is a million-dollar setup requiring the employment of up to 30 people.

Fortunately, quality tomatoes and cukes are being shipped daily.

In light of the Florida debacle there is no contamination in this modern engineered facility.

C. E. Goodman, BSA,rnOsoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-June 18, 2008