Summer weather already; soon we will be complaining about the heat! It seems everything is blooming early this year. But before everyone gets too caught up in their gardens, there is plenty to get involved with, and plenty of things to do!
On April 23, in honour of Earth Day, we are planning our town clean-up. This is where we walk the highways and byways, picking up the winter’s-worth of litter that some thoughtless folks still throw out their car windows. Join us on the 23rd at 10:00am at the Post Office and choose a section of road to take on. Many hands make light work, so hopefully by lunchtime the town and its entrances and exits will be spotless, and we can all enjoy a wiener roast at the Island afterwards.
We are very excited to be embarking on our New Horizons for Seniors grant program! There are so many activities based on the theme of “Healthy Seniors” that we plan to provide. The Advisory Council will be meeting on April 25 at 12:30pm at Clemes Hall. These programs include everything from ballroom dancing, horseback riding, walking trail mapping, and bench-making to cooking healthy meals on a budget and preserving local foods, as well as workshops on caregiver support and preventing depression. These programs are for anyone over age 55, and the Advisory Council needs members to direct the work and decide which workshops take priority. As this program is to be led by seniors, please come and have your say in what you’d like to see!
Bingo continues on the first Monday of the month; the next one is on May 2. The Loonie pot has grown to well over $150, and this is a wonderful opportunity to mix and mingle with friends and neighbours and have some fun trying to win! There are always concession snacks to fortify you. Doors open at 5:30pm, with early bird games at 6:00; the regular games start at 7:00.
Our seventh annual Desert Daze Festival is shaping up nicely. All the bands have been confirmed, and the lineup looks fantastic—there really is something for everyone. We have plenty of great dance bands if that’s your thing. The Boom Booms are coming back, and will close off the festival on Saturday with their world music sounds to dance to. Friday night ends with the Chris Buck Band; if you like country, these guys will have you jumping. If you’re into the blues, the Magic Rooster Blues Band is back to knock your socks off.
Many will remember the energetic Paisley Groove band out of Kamloops from their Music in the Park concert in Ashcroft last summer. They play classic ’60s and ’70s rock that everyone can sing along with as they boogie. Sean Ashby will again be gracing the stage with his amazing guitar playing. There are far too many more musicians to mention, but make sure you mark August 12–13 in your calendar to be sure to attend!
If you’d like to attend for free, just go to the website www.desertdaze.ca and sign up to volunteer. We’re still looking for vendors and sponsorships. The festival will again be held at the old school site, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Spences Bridge Improvement District for partnering with us again this year. This is such a perfect site for the festival, and we are very fortunate to have the support of the SBID to make this happen.
Our soup day continues every Wednesday at noon at the hall. This is a really nice opportunity to have a few laughs and a visit over a bowl of soup. Come join us and get out of the house or take a break from the gardening, and partake in the wonderful sense of community.
We have some great plans for renovations at the hall; everything from a new energy efficient hot water tank to bringing back the windows! Stay tuned as we move forward with our grant applications to see these dreams realized.
Our performing arts night this month will focus on skits. Come out to the hall at 7:00pm on April 21 and join in the fun as folks act out scripted skits, or take a stab at some improv. It’s better than TV!
The Farmers’ Flea Market has been such a wonderful event for this community for the last two years, and we’re working hard to make it a reality for this year. We do, however, require a few more folks to get involved to make it work. If just a few more people could commit to a few Sundays to open up for vendors, etc., we can do it! There is a meeting scheduled at Clemes Hall on Wednesday, April 27 at 1:00pm, so come for soup and stay for the meeting! In the big scheme of things, what’s a couple of Sundays to keep this valuable community event going? Hope to see some new faces on the 27th.
The Spences Bridge Fire Department will be hosting their annual Mother’s Day pancake breakfast on Sunday, May 8 starting at 9:00am. This is a wonderful opportunity to show support for our amazing volunteer firefighters and first responders, and get a delicious breakfast at the same time. Hope to see you there!
