Dance workshops
Krush Dance is holding dance workshops at the Ashcroft HUB from August 9 to 11, from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The workshops are for children, teens, and adults, with participants rotating through various dance styles, including tap combo, hip hop combo, and musical theatre.
The cost is $75 for one person or $100 for a family. For more information, or to register for this or any other event at the HUB, call (250) 453-9177 or email ashcrofthub@gmail.com.
Arts camp
The Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society is once again holding its popular Kids’ Fine and Dramatic Arts camp at the HUB from August 14 to 18, daily from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The camp is for anyone aged four to 19.
All participants have an opportunity to do painting with Jo Petty, music with David Dumont, singing with Theresa Takacs, and acting with Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan. Teens also have the option to spend the week writing, filming, and acting in their own movie with Gareth Smart. Participants’ accomplishments will be showcased in a performance on the afternoon of August 18 which is open to the public.
The cost is $75 for the first child, and $50 for each additional sibling. Snacks and all materials are included, but participants should bring their own lunch.
Sewing camp
The sewing camp at the HUB that was to have taken place between July 10 and 21 has been rescheduled, and will now be held from August 21 to September 1, weekdays from 1 to 3 p.m. for anyone aged 12 and older (including adults).
The cost is $30 for one week or $50 for both weeks. Sewing machines, as well as all the project supplies, are included in the cost.
Teen drop-in
Every Wednesday in August from 7 to 9 p.m., teens are invited to drop in at the HUB for different themed evenings. On August 2 the theme is “Minute to win it”; on August 9 there will be a “Pool Challenge” (at the Ashcroft pool); on August 16 participants will be “Action Bound”; there is a movie night on August 23; and there will be a games night on August 30.
Fire suppression and entrapment courses
Due to high demand, Thompson Rivers University has added more fire training courses in Lytton. FS 100 (Fire Suppression) and FS 185 (Fire Entrapment) courses will take place on August 15 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The fee for the courses is $215. There will also be a FS 100 Recertification course on August 15 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost for this course is $50.
For information contact Margaret Hohner at (250) 256-4296 or mhohner@tru.ca. You can also register online at https://www.tru.ca/forms/regionalcentres/register.
Rivertown Players
The Rivertown Players will be presenting three fantasy-themed plays in Kamloops from August 1 to 26. These accessible, free, family-friendly theatre performances take place in venues throughout Kamloops, and feature interactive shows, songs, and stories. For up-to-the-minute news on daily locations and changes to the schedule, visit the Rivertown Players’ Facebook page.
Plastic bag recycling
Beginning on September 5, 2017, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) will no longer be able to accept plastic bags in with mixed recycling. Plastic bags can still be taken to any TNRD Eco-Depot or Transfer Station to be recycled separately. Residents can also check to see if their local grocery store has a plastic bag “take back” program, or if their local bottle depot has recycling options for plastic bags.
There are many ways to reuse plastic bags, such as garbage bags in vehicles or in smaller garbage cans; as padding in parcels and packages; or for cleaning up after pets.
If plastic bags cannot be recycled or reused, they can be disposed of in household garbage. For more details go to www.tnrd.ca.
Power down and save
With the August long weekend coming up, the summer holiday season is in full swing. That’s why BC Hydro is encouraging customers heading off on vacation to give their electronics and appliances some time off as well.
You can save money and energy while you’re away, by taking a few simple steps:
Give appliances a break: Even when turned off, many appliances use a small amount of energy. Unplug “energy vampires” such as printers, computers, and coffee makers.
Lights out: Make sure all the lights are switched off before you go. Use energy-efficient sensor lights with LED bulbs. and use timers for security.
Say sayonara to air conditioners and fans: Don’t leave them running while you’re away. Instead, close curtains and blinds to block out heat from the sun and keep the house cool.
Water heater working overtime: You won’t need piping hot water at home while you’re away. Set electric heaters to the lowest temperature; for gas water heaters, use the vacation setting.
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 them out next time they visit.
Searching for a bit of peace and quiet in our noisy modern world? Then head to Olympic National Park in northwestern Washington State, where a small red pebble marks what some claim is the quietest spot in the United States.
The pebble marks the site of the “One Square Inch of Silence” project, and is accessible via a three-mile hike along the Hoh River Trail near Forks, Washington. The aim of the project is to protect the spot from human-created noise, although it is not completely silent, as the natural sounds of the forest are still audible.
Acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton created the project, and launched this “sanctuary of silence” with the hope that the place will allow people to listen to and connect with the sounds of nature. It is also helping the Olympic National Park preservation movement: by protecting the square inch from noise pollution, it becomes necessary to preserve the entire surrounding national park as well.
For more information, go to http://bit.ly/2vjdQpc.