Frosty's comeback will be costly for owner of Vernon toy store | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Current Conditions Sunny  10.1°C

Vernon News

Frosty's comeback will be costly for owner of Vernon toy store

The future of Frosty the Snowman is uncertain after the huge blow-up decoration was evicted from a downtown Vernon sidewalk by City bylaw officers after residing in the same location in the lead up to Christmas for the past eight years.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK / Vernon Teach and Learn

Frosty the Snowman may be heading back to his spot outside Vernon's Teach and Learn but his return is set to cost the toy store's owners $650.

Store co-owner Lynella Henke told iNFOnews.ca today, Dec. 16, the City of Vernon has issued a permit for the inflatable snowman until Dec. 31 at no charge but the business has been made to buy special matting - to cover a power cable across the sidewalk - at the cost of $500.

"I feel like it’s a whole lot of malarkey over nothing," Henke said.

The controversy over the 12-foot high inflatable snowman started Dec. 12, when City of Vernon bylaw officers visited the store and said Frosty had to go. A series of phone calls to the City followed but Henke was told Frosty had to be removed.

The City later blamed "miscommunication" and said Frosty was welcome but needed a permit.

The sidewalk outside Vernon's Teach and Learn in downtown Vernon, Monday, Dec. 1, 2019 without Frosty the Snowman.
The sidewalk outside Vernon's Teach and Learn in downtown Vernon, Monday, Dec. 1, 2019 without Frosty the Snowman.

Henke said her husband and business partner Trevor Henke obtained the permit valid until Dec. 31 and the City set aside the $150 fee. However, the mat which the store was using to cover a power cable was deemed a tripping hazard and a special cover needed to be used at the cost of $500. Unavailable locally, the store has ordered one online and is waiting patiently for it to be delivered before Frosty can head back to his spot on the sidewalk.

Frosty is going back to the same place, next to the same lamp post on the same bit of sidewalk as where he was, Lynella said.

Frosty has been a staple on the sidewalk outside Teach and Learn for eight years and hasn't had a permit previously. The store does have adequate insurance for the inflatable snowman. Lynella said they normally leave Frosty outside all winter, adding he's a good addition to 30 Avenue while Vernon's Winter Carnival is taking place in February.

For Lynella to see Frosty stay out all winter, she'll have to fork out $150 for a permit. Something she says she's prepared to do.

"I didn't realize how important Frosty was," she said.

Lynella said she hopes Frosty will be back on the sidewalk within a day or two.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2019
iNFOnews

  • Popular kelowna News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile