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Comings and Goings On - Storytelling, games, food end NHSP program

Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan's monthly column of community news and events from Spences Bridge.

Happy Equinox Everyone! We are half way from the shortest day to the longest day. Not sure it feels much like the first day of spring as I write this today though, and yesterday’s wind, thunder, and hail storm was pretty dramatic!

The Pledge

And speaking of dramatic…Movie Nights continue with the “filmed locally” theme and tonight we are watching The Pledge. The next one will be April 17 and we will be showing The Sweet Hereafter directed by Atom Egoyan and starring Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, and Bruce Greenwood. Rated 14A. Showing starts at 7 pm at Clemes Hall. Popcorn, door prize, and FREE!

New Farmer/Flea Market

The Spences Bridge Farmers/Flea Market idea was officially sanctioned at Monday’s meeting. This is a very exciting venture for the Club to take on; I have confidence that there will be sufficient support to see that it is a success. The plan is for every Sunday 10 am to 2 pm, May through October, at Clemes Hall. Table rental is $5. We are teaming up with all the businesses in the area to encourage a Sunday Loop drive that will benefit everyone.

Music Festival

The Desert Daze Music Festival Committee met last month and planning is off to good start. The dates are Aug. 8-9.  We have a fantastic core group of volunteers taking on all the usual components, but more are ALWAYS welcome! Next meeting will be in April, if interested let me know. If you or a business you know of are interested in sponsoring the festival in return for some advertising, again, let me know.

New Horizons creativity

The New Horizon’s Senior’s Grant program is winding down with the last of the mentoring workshops being held tomorrow with Pearl Hewitt on cedar headband making and moccasin brooches. This will be Day 2 of working with Pearl; the first day saw an amazing display of years of work of her traditional clothing, jewellery and more. We also had a wonderful day with Jean York as a group of us learned how to make medicine pouches. The pouches made were just beautiful, and Jean is a great teacher assisting us and sharing her vast knowledge.

The NHSP program is culminating in a two day celebration April 4-5, 10 am - 4 pm. “Fun through Storytelling and Games” is the theme, led by Counsellor, Athlete and Trickster Tracy Leach of the St’at’imc Nation. Ms. Leach will lead us through games that are designed to be both fun and at the same time help us learn how to better talk to each other, bridge our differences, find our commonalities, deal positively with conflict, and build relationships built on trust and respect. Day 2 is planned with more family oriented games, storytelling and activities. Lunch is provided both days – a feast of wild meat and delectable vegetarian dishes from our local hunters and farmers! This last New Horizon’s event is open to everyone in the community to attend!

The glass mosaics are nearing completion for many – some have been installed already. And they are all magnificent! I have a quite a bit left to do on mine, but am happy with the way it is progressing – it’s a little addictive actually, and time slips by incredibly fast! This may be an area that will continue long after the grant project is completed as there as many of us who want to keep going with this interesting craft.

Easter Egg Hunt

The SBCC will again be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt and Community Picnic on Easter Sunday, April 20 at the old school starting at 11. There will be a hotdog roast (veggie wieners too) and other goodies, games, contests, face painting, and of course the Easter Bunny will have left plenty of chocolate eggs for the kiddies to find!

This year the SBCC will be holding a bake sale at the Easter celebration and there is a raffle to assist in the Farmer /Flea market start-up costs. So, all baking of cakes, cookies, and bars will be gratefully accepted! The raffle tickets are now on sale and available at the Post Office, The Packing House, The Inn, and Cook’s Ferry Office.

First Prize is a beautiful lap quilt made and donated by Judy Service, Second Prize - a $45 gift certificate for The Inn, Third Prize - pottery donated and made by yours truly, and Fourth Prize a $25 gift certificate for The Packing House! Thank-you so much Judy Service, Ray Nigalis, Steve and Paulet Rice for your generous donations!

Spring Clean Up

Spring Clean-up has been scheduled for April 26 – meet at the old school at 10 am. This is the annual clean-up of our hyways and byways. Come on out, buddy up and visit and chat while we clear our roads of unsightly debris. We’ll do something for lunch for all who participate. Watch for posters and face book postings closer to the date.

Fire trucks and spring burning

Our Fire Chief Arnie Oram attended our meeting on March 17, and reported on various things going on with our Fire Department. There’s lots of new training going on, a new fire truck purchase in the works, an offer to assist with any spring burning, and the revitalization of an Emergency Social Service (ESS) committee.

Anyone looking for more information regarding assisting with burning or anything else the Fire Dept. has going on, please contact Arnie. Thank-you so much to our Chief and all our volunteer fire fighters and First Responders!

TNRD update

Our TNRD rep Steve Rice was also on hand to provide a report on some of the initiatives going on in our regional district. They are many! Please contact Steve directly for information regarding water, park status, noise bylaws and so on.

Next Meeting

Our next regular meeting will be April 9 at 7 pm – please feel free to attend.

Happy Equinox Everyone! We are half way from the shortest day to the longest day. Not sure it feels much like the first day of spring as I write this today though, and yesterday’s wind, thunder, and hail storm was pretty dramatic!

Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan