Margaret Houben

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Handwriting, still an important skill

Handwriting is still very much a skill that is worth cultivating

Canada’s 150th birthday is filled with possibilities

Have you made any plans to celebrate this great event?

2016 Year In Review

A brief review of what the Star/Journal covered during 2016

Rather than making a snowman, someone with imagination made this great snow fort at a residence on Dunsmuir in Barriere.

Snow fort built in Barriere subdivision

Someone with imagination made this great snow fort

Rather than making a snowman, someone with imagination made this great snow fort at a residence on Dunsmuir in Barriere.
Mrs. Young’s kindergarten class at Barriere Elementary pose in front of the many boxes of food and seasonal items collected by the students and staff for the local food bank. The total was 202 pounds of food which included 39 pounds of hot chocolate packs each with a handmade Christmas Card.

Little ones collect for food bank

Barriere Elementary students and staff collect goods for Food Bank Christmas Hampers

Mrs. Young’s kindergarten class at Barriere Elementary pose in front of the many boxes of food and seasonal items collected by the students and staff for the local food bank. The total was 202 pounds of food which included 39 pounds of hot chocolate packs each with a handmade Christmas Card.
Nicholas “Nicky” Robert Grummett passed away in 2005 at the age of 15. Volunteering and fundraising was important to Nicky, who at a very early age organized a fundraiser for the local food bank. “Nicky’s Red Wagon” has been placed in the community every year since 2005 as a Christmas gift and fundraiser for the Barriere Food Bank. Interior Savings Insurnace office in Barriere host the wagon, and staff there say this year they experienced the biggest response yet, which in part was thanks to Ivan and Louisa Lee of Barriere AG Foods for putting together ready made food packages available for purchase for the food bank. Pictured is Nicky’s mom Kathy Grummett (r) with Interior Savings Insurance staffers Deb McDonald and Laura Stephens (front) getting all of the items received ready to go to for to food bank Christmas hampers.

Nicky’s Red Wagon supporting Barriere Food Bank since 2005

Nicholas “Nicky” Robert Grummett passed away in 2005 at the age of 15

Nicholas “Nicky” Robert Grummett passed away in 2005 at the age of 15. Volunteering and fundraising was important to Nicky, who at a very early age organized a fundraiser for the local food bank. “Nicky’s Red Wagon” has been placed in the community every year since 2005 as a Christmas gift and fundraiser for the Barriere Food Bank. Interior Savings Insurnace office in Barriere host the wagon, and staff there say this year they experienced the biggest response yet, which in part was thanks to Ivan and Louisa Lee of Barriere AG Foods for putting together ready made food packages available for purchase for the food bank. Pictured is Nicky’s mom Kathy Grummett (r) with Interior Savings Insurance staffers Deb McDonald and Laura Stephens (front) getting all of the items received ready to go to for to food bank Christmas hampers.
The parking lot was full to overflowing at the Senior’s Craft Fair in Barriere on Saturday, Nov. 26.  The Seniors Hall was bustling with shoppers eager to get that special item - and there were numerous ones to choose from - baking, quilts, woodworking, and all sorts of Christmas decorations. Pictured are many of the booths and crafters attending.

Giant craft fair at senior’ hall in Barriere

The parking lot was full to overflowing at the Senior’s Craft Fair in Barriere on Nov. 26

The parking lot was full to overflowing at the Senior’s Craft Fair in Barriere on Saturday, Nov. 26.  The Seniors Hall was bustling with shoppers eager to get that special item - and there were numerous ones to choose from - baking, quilts, woodworking, and all sorts of Christmas decorations. Pictured are many of the booths and crafters attending.
(Right) Business was brisk at the Annual No Host Bazaar in the fall fair hall last Saturday. Numerous tables filled the hall with all manner of goodies for Christmas shoppers and those with a sweet tooth. Pictured are the ladies manning the Barriere and District Senior’s Society table.

Local Barriere groups raise funds at No Host Bazaar

Annual event draws 22 booths and a concession for group fundraiser

(Right) Business was brisk at the Annual No Host Bazaar in the fall fair hall last Saturday. Numerous tables filled the hall with all manner of goodies for Christmas shoppers and those with a sweet tooth. Pictured are the ladies manning the Barriere and District Senior’s Society table.

What happened to the cell service in Little Fort?

Sunday, Nov. 6, the residents of Little Fort started experiencing really poor cell service

Pictured at St. George’s CatholicChurch holding up pro-life signs are: (l-r) Vicky, Linda, Charles, Sautie, Pam and Marion.

40 Days For Life

On Oct. 30, members of St. George’s Catholic Church in Barriere took part in a peaceful demonstration

Pictured at St. George’s CatholicChurch holding up pro-life signs are: (l-r) Vicky, Linda, Charles, Sautie, Pam and Marion.

Samaritan’s Purse shoe box gifts to be constructed on Nov. 12

To date distributed over 100 million shoe box gifts worldwide

Examples of Legacy Family Tree 8.0 screens.

Genealogy 101: Exploring Legacy Family Tree 8.0

Genealogy 101: Exploring Legacy Family Tree 8.0 - by Margaret Houben

Examples of Legacy Family Tree 8.0 screens.
(L-r) B&B Alternative Heating owner Bev Fraser with new owner Jolene Wright. The company will continue serving the North Thompson Valley under the name LA Alternative Heating.

Lofty Ambitions for Alternative Heating

B&B Alternative Heating to become LA Alternative Heating under new owners

(L-r) B&B Alternative Heating owner Bev Fraser with new owner Jolene Wright. The company will continue serving the North Thompson Valley under the name LA Alternative Heating.
Lauren Ficke was delighted to find out she’d won the top prize in the Barriere Writer’s Group Writing Contest. It took the organizers of the contest a while to catch up to this talented young lady, as she’d recently moved to Kamloops. The gift basket for the top prize in the contest was donated by Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach. You can find the winning essays and poems from the contest printed in the Star/Journal issues of July 7 and 14, 2017.

Young writer receives her prize

Lauren Ficke was delighted to find out she’d won the top prize in the Barriere Writer’s Group

Lauren Ficke was delighted to find out she’d won the top prize in the Barriere Writer’s Group Writing Contest. It took the organizers of the contest a while to catch up to this talented young lady, as she’d recently moved to Kamloops. The gift basket for the top prize in the contest was donated by Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach. You can find the winning essays and poems from the contest printed in the Star/Journal issues of July 7 and 14, 2017.

Artists invited to World Wide Paint Out in Barriere on Sept. 10, 11

Some of the area’s most talented painters will bring their paint boxes and easels to Fadear Park

The adult summer reading program is open to adults age 18 and over who are members of the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Library System.

Adult Summer Reading Program runs to end of August at Barriere library

Adult program open to adults age 18 and over who are members of Thompson Nicola Regional District

The adult summer reading program is open to adults age 18 and over who are members of the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Library System.
International Picnic Day – a good excuse to get outside with family on June 18.

International Picnic Day – a good excuse to get outside with family

International Picnic Day is celebrated around the world every year on June 18

International Picnic Day – a good excuse to get outside with family on June 18.
A Star/Journal newspaper clipping from 2004 reads: Volunteers of the Barriere and District Heritage Society meet with a publishers representative to compile pictures for their soon to be released history book. From left to right: Carol Scott, Pat North, Doreen Livingstone, Shirly Wittner, Marg Mitchell, Karen Schilling, Ron Blair (publisher’s rep), and Grace Fennell.

Local museum created by dedicated volunteers

Barriere & District Heritage Society and the North Thompson Museum and Archives began in 1984

A Star/Journal newspaper clipping from 2004 reads: Volunteers of the Barriere and District Heritage Society meet with a publishers representative to compile pictures for their soon to be released history book. From left to right: Carol Scott, Pat North, Doreen Livingstone, Shirly Wittner, Marg Mitchell, Karen Schilling, Ron Blair (publisher’s rep), and Grace Fennell.
Well over 60 people turned out for the Feb. 13 Valentine’s Dance at the Little Fort Community Hall.  The James Gang Band played a lively assortment of tunes (including a polka), there was lots of dancing, great snacks, and even a door prize. The dance is just one of many events hosted by the Little Fort Recreation Society.

Dancing to the James Gang Band for Valentines Day

Over 60 people turned out for the Feb. 13 Valentine’s Dance at the Little Fort Community Hall

Well over 60 people turned out for the Feb. 13 Valentine’s Dance at the Little Fort Community Hall.  The James Gang Band played a lively assortment of tunes (including a polka), there was lots of dancing, great snacks, and even a door prize. The dance is just one of many events hosted by the Little Fort Recreation Society.

Genealogy 101: Celebrating significant family dates

You may discover that a not too distant relative is about to celebrate a significant milestone