By Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan
February: the shortest but maybe the craziest month of the year, with hints of spring and yet so still wintery. I love seeing the days getting longer, though: there’s no shortage of things to do, and some new stuff too!
I’m very happy to announce that the Spences Bridge Community Club (SBCC) was successful in our application to the New Horizons for Seniors grant. Thank you to Service Canada!
The title of the project is “Seniors working towards community unity”, and we plan to host four community dinners and celebrations during the year. Community seniors will volunteer to organize and host, and guest seniors will present and share.
We will continue the volunteer community-built benches, trails, and other community improvements. In March the Soup Day program will go back to once a week, followed by crafts, arts, and seniors mentoring others.
Once a month the Soup Day will include a guest speaker who will share stories, histories, or other topics. Both the community dinner and the soup day guest speakers will sometimes lead facilitated ongoing discussion forums on topics of interest.
All of this will begin in March. If anyone is interested in getting involved in the Elders’ Vision Council that plans and organizes the events, please come to the meeting on February 12 at 1 p.m. at Clemes Hall.
The February soup day will be on the last Monday of the month (February 26) at noon at Clemes Hall. Come join us for us a hearty lunch and a few laughs.
Every Monday starting on February 19, the SBCC is sponsoring a keep-fit swim day! You can go swimming at the Merritt pool, which is free if you’re over 60 and only $4 if you’re not.
Partnering with us is Hesk’en’cutxe Health Services, who are providing the transportation.
Bingo continues every first and third Monday of the month. Come on out and support the SBCC in this ongoing event, which puts the “fun” in fundraiser, laugh with neighbours, and maybe even win some money!
A grant has been applied for between the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the Northern Development Initiative Trust for phase two of the renovations for Clemes Hall. We are really looking forward to these improvements; stay tuned for the progress!
I’d like to remind folks of the amazing tech stuff that the SBCC owns and which is available for loaning out. Want to make a movie? There’s a great little video camera. Watch a movie? We have a projector, speakers, laptop, and large screen for your movie experience at home! Music, anyone? We also have a great little keyboard! If you want to borrow any of these items, just contact me at (250) 458-2282 to arrange for signing the equipment out.
Desert Daze 2018 is our ninth annual festival! Where do the years go? We have so many amazing musicians applying again this year that shortlisting is truly a challenging task! However, the committee has begun poring over the applications, and this year will again astound you with incredible music!
The grant and sponsorship request process has also begun; if you know of a business that would be interested in becoming a Desert Daze sponsor, please send them my way! The festival is always the second weekend in August, and this year it falls on August 10 and 11, so mark your calendars now!
The next regular meeting of the Spences Bridge Community Club is on February 15 at 7 p.m. at Clemes Hall; everyone is very welcome to attend!
editorial@accjournal.ca
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