Chamber of Commerce survey
A survey is being conducted, which will provide data to assess the interest of area small businesses and not-for-profit organizations in a regional Chamber of Commerce. The survey was launched on Dec. 21, 2018, and to date 16 responses have been received.
While thanks are extended to those who have completed the survey, more responses are needed before an informed decision can be made. All area small businesses and not-for-profit organizations are encouraged to take the short survey at https://bit.ly/2Qn3drO by Jan. 15, 2019. All information collected will help provide a better understanding of the needs in the region.
Brushes Without Booze
Ashcroft artist Jo Petty will be guiding painters through the creation of a unique work of art at a Brushes Without Booze event on Thursday, Jan. 17 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Ashcroft HUB, and spaces are still available for anyone who wants to unleash their inner artist.
The cost is $40 per person, and pre-registration is required. All necessary materials are supplied. To register, call the HUB at (250) 453-9177, or email ashcrofthub@gmail.com.
“Purge the House” flea market
Looking to get rid of some clutter as spring approaches? There will be a “Purge the House” flea market at the Ashcroft HUB on Saturday, Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone who has household items, clothing, tools, toys, and more is welcome to book space ($5; an additional $5 to book a table), as is anyone with crafts, baking, or a home-based business.
There will be a concession available, as well as a 50/50 draw. For information, or to book space, call the HUB at (250) 453-9177 or email ashcrofthub@gmail.com.
Seedy Saturday
Mark your calendars now for the annual Seedy Saturday event sponsored by the Cache Creek Market, which this year takes place on Saturday, Feb. 2. Watch this space, or the Cache Creek Market Facebook page, for more details closer to the date.
Cache Creek Seniors’ Drop-in
The weekly drop-in session for those aged 55+ has started up again at the Cache Creek Community Hall (downstairs meeting room) every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. There is no charge for the sessions, so come by and enjoy a cup of coffee, cards and games, and conversation with others.
For more information, call or text Wendy Coomber at (250) 457-0245.
Equality Project expands hours
As of the week of Jan. 7, 2019, the Equality Project clubhouse on Stage Road in Cache Creek will be open every Wednesday. This is in addition to the regular Monday and Tuesday openings. The clubhouse hours on all three days are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with lunch served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Membership in The Equality Project is $5 per month, and allows members to access all of the group’s services. Memberships can also be purchased for distribution to those who cannot afford it. For more information visit the Project’s Facebook page (The Equality Project).
Wildfire assistance funding still available
The deadline for interested organizations to apply for funding through the Canadian Red Cross Community Partnerships Program is Feb. 1, 2019.
Funding has been made available through this program to strengthen and support community structures and services. The program has been open to applications in four focus areas supporting recovery after the 2017 wildfires: Community Strengthening; Indigenous programming; Safety and Well-being; and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Interested organizations are urged to contact the Red Cross at BCCommunityPartners@redcross.ca to discuss their application prior to Feb. 1, 2019. Among the organizations that have received funding under the program are the Boston Flats Trailer Park Fire Aid Fund, the Loon Lake Road Community Recreational and Agricultural Society, the Village of Clinton, the Ashcroft HUB Society, the Ashcroft Indian Band, and the Bonaparte Indian Band. For a full list of organizations and projects funded to date, go to http://bit.ly/2QlOHQS.
More workshops to help local businesses
Community Futures Sun Country (CFSC) has received more funding—via the Canadian Red Cross and the Western Diversification Program—for more workshops to help regional small businesses in the wake of the 2017 wildfires.
CFSC is working with Thompson Rivers University to provide more workshops such as FoodSafe—which proved extremely popular when it was offered in 2018—Occupational First Aid, and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). These are all courses that small businesses in the area have indicated they would like to see, and the intention is to provide them early in 2019 so that staff can be trained up in time for the summer.
For more information about when and where the workshops will be offered, watch the pages of The Journal or visit www.cfwildfire.ca.
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
As of Jan. 7, residents of Ashcroft, Cache Creek, and the surrounding region are invited to participate in Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, a national campaign aiming to change public perception of what it means to live with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Negative attitudes and misconceptions held by friends, family, and professionals discourage people from getting a diagnosis, seeking treatment and support, or disclosing their illness. This can affect well-being and the ability to manage the changes brought about by dementia.
A recent poll conducted by Insights West showed that the majority of British Columbians know someone living with dementia, but that 60 per cent say that they are not confident that they would know what to do if they encountered someone who needed assistance and might be living with dementia.
The Alzheimer Society of B.C. connects people living with dementia, their caregivers, and family members to support and education at any point in the disease through First Link dementia support. People can connect to support by asking their health care provider for a referral, by visiting their local resource centre, or by calling the First Link Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033. To learn more about the Alzheimer Society of B.C. and Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, visit www.alzheimerbc.org.
Top B.C. baby names
Liam is in the lead for the most popular name for babies born in British Columbia in 2018.
Liam is followed by Olivia, Emma, Lucas, and Oliver, according to the Vital Statistics Agency’s preliminary statistics from Jan. 1 to Dec. 18, 2018.
In 2017, Olivia was the top name overall, and for six of the past seven years has been the favourite name for girls born in British Columbia. Through Dec. 18, 2018, Olivia leads the list for girls, followed by Emma, Amelia, Charlotte, Chloe, Ava, Sophia, Isla, Emily, and Hannah. Isla is new to the list in 2018.
After Liam, the top choices for boys born in B.C. in 2018, in order, were Lucas, Oliver, Benjamin, Ethan, Noah, Logan, William, James, and Leo (a new addition to the top 10 in 2018).
There were 40,565 babies born in B.C. in 2018 (up to Dec. 18): 19,821 girls and 20,744 boys. In 2017, there were 44,694 babies born in B.C.: 21,727 girls and 22,967 boys.
Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura (www.atlasobscura.com) is a website that bills itself as showcasing “Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations” from around the world. Now and then one of the sites is within striking distance of our region, so travellers might want to check it out next time they’re in the area.
A boat shaped like a UFO sits, abandoned and covered in colourful graffiti, on a nude beach near Portland, Oregon. It has been there for several decades, and even housed a family for three months; they abandoned it after a sudden tidal shift left the craft with a serious lean.
The UFO boat is nestled among trees close to the tide line on Collins Beach, north of Portland. Depending on water levels, it might only be accessible by rolling up your pants (if you’re wearing any; it is located on a nude beach, after all) and wading through the water. Visitors to the site are not encouraged to enter the boat, and do so at their own risk.
For pictures of the UFO boat, more information, directions, and a map of its location, go to http://bit.ly/2F5JGtQ.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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