Clean-up crew in Spences Bridge.

Clean-up crew in Spences Bridge.

Comings and goings on in Spences Bridge: Volunteers clean up the town

Plus refreshed signage, the Farmers' and Flea Market has started up again, plans for Desert Daze, and more.

I’d like to take this opportunity to express my sympathies to our neighbours in Cache Creek for the loss of their fire chief, Clayton Cassidy. Further, I thank all the firefighters and first responders in all our communities who take the risks that they do in protecting our towns. Too often their dedication and sacrifice are not appreciated. Thank you for all that you do.

The Community Club hosted a Mother’s Day waffle breakfast on May 14; and was it spectacular! A delicious breakfast, and the hall looked so nice with flowers and tablecloths on all the tables. Thank you so much to Terri Simpson, Lori Minnabarriet, Oliva Watson, and Dorothy Borango for all their work on this; and thanks to all who donated!

With Highway 8 closed on our first market Sunday, the Farmers’ Flea Market was off to a bit of a slow start. But remember to come check it out every first and third Sunday of the month through summer for great deals on baking, arts and crafts, second-hand goods, and so much more. To book a table call Terri at (250) 458-2513. The market is at Clemes Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Our bi-monthly bingos are continuing to be popular. They are held on the first and third Mondays of the month at Clemes Hall at 5:30 p.m. Come out and support the Community Club while having fun playing bingo with friends and neighbours.

I hope folks noticed the refreshed “Welcome to Spences Bridge” signs. Thanks to Dorothy Borango, who spent five hours with me scrubbing, stripping, refinishing, and painting them. They look so much brighter and more appealing!

Refreshed signage in Spences Bridge. Photo by Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan.

Congratulations to the twelve dedicated folks who turned up to pick up litter from all our town streets and highways. It’s so great to have a fresh start for the year being litter-free!

If you haven’t watched the slide show “Seasons of the Bridge”, you really should. Dwayne Rourke has done an incredible job of artistically capturing Spences Bridge in eleven minutes! Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke7v5Cod-Uo to watch it. Thanks to TNRD director Steve Rice for funding this fantastic little shout-out to our lovely town!

The Elders’ Vision Council met, and discussed submitting a New Horizons for Seniors grant application for next year. We have decided to go ahead and apply! I will be drafting the application, and the group will meet again before submitting it. Anyone interested in getting involved is very welcome to join us. Watch our Facebook page for the meeting date. If anyone has any suggestions for projects that address community needs for seniors that target community unity, please email me at mavr@telus.net.

Desert Daze Festival planning continues to go well. The line-up is very exciting! We have just confirmed that the can-can dancing troupe Mill Girl Follies from Clinton will again be gracing our stage. Make sure that you have set aside August 11 and 12 for this family-friendly festival that is jam-packed with music and fun. Visit our website at www.desertdaze.ca for volunteer information, vendor applications, sponsorship opportunities, and other updates. Like us on Facebook, too!

On a personal note, I would like to express my deep gratitude for the Rotary Citizen of the Year award. I am honoured and humbled to have my volunteer contributions recognized. Like all volunteers, I just do what I think is best for the community, and I believe that home is what you make it, so if I want to live in a vibrant community, I need to be a part of making that happen. I love what I do (most of the time), and of course couldn’t do it alone. There are so many dedicated volunteers who go unsung, and many who do so much more than me. I thank you all.

The Spences Bridge Community Club meetings take a break for the summer, but join us for the AGM on September 13 at Clemes Hall at 7 p.m.

Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal