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There’s lots happening at the Ashcroft HUB, including a new monthly film event

Plus caramel making, painting, photography, a special Community Coffee event, and much more.
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Film nights will be starting at the Ashcroft HUB at the end of February, using some state-of-the-art equipment. New sound baffling in the HUB gym will make the experience even better.

Epicentre Kids

There are still spaces available for the February Epicentre Kids program, which runs every Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. starting February 7. The program is open to all students in Grades 1 to 6, with participants meeting the leader at Desert Sands Community School and walking to the HUB. There will be a snack time (snacks provided), followed by an outside activity, a craft, and baking.

The cost for the full session (four days in February) is $40 per participant.

Movie nights (theatre manager wanted)

The HUB will be showing films once a month starting on Friday, February 24, with a family-friendly 12+ film on Friday evening and a matinee featuring a children’s movie on Saturday, February 25. Admission is $3 per person, and traditional movie refreshments, including popcorn, will be available for purchase.

HUB executive director Vicky Trill says that the Spences Bridge Community Club is now storing their commercial quality movie equipment—including a big screen, projector, and surround-sound speakers—at the HUB, and is allowing the HUB to make use of it. To that end, the HUB is now seeking a part-time theatre house manager to work one weekend per month (two days of four hours each) to manage the movie events. The position pays $11.35 per hour, and the posting closes on February 15. Applications will be accepted by email (subject line “Theatre House Manager”) or by mail (Ashcroft HUB Society, P.O. Box 599, Ashcroft, V0K 1A0).

Community Coffee

Community Coffee takes place every Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The event is an opportunity for seniors in the community to get together and enjoy chatting with others, with tea, coffee, and snacks provided. Those who want to can also take part in card and board games, music, and a variety of other activities.

This is a drop-in event, with admission by donation. And remember that the community bus is available for door-to-door pick-up service anywhere within Ashcroft on Wednesday (and Friday) afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. For just $2 the bus will come to your house, drive you to the HUB or anywhere else in Ashcroft you want to go, and then drive you home. To book the service, call 1-855-359-3935.

Community Coffee Special lunch

On Wednesday, February 14 there will be a special Community Coffee event from 1 to 3 p.m. featuring a light lunch, tea and coffee, and live music from Jenny and the Gents, who will be performing hits from the 1950s and 1960s. The cost is $2 per person.

Paint with Marlene

Artist Marlene Harker will be holding two painting workshops, on Saturday, February 3 (“Serenity”) and Friday, February 16 (“Galaxy”). Both workshops start at 9 a.m., and the cost is $50 each (all materials supplied).

Harker has been painting off-and-on for 25 years, and was certified as a Bob Ross (2007) and Wilson Bickford (2013) instructor in landscapes.

Caramel candy workshop

Local candy specialist LeClare will be leading a caramel candy workshop on Thursday, February 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will learn how to make soft and hard ball stage caramel without a thermometer, and take home a sample of delicious caramels.

The workshop will only run if there are enough participants, and registration is required. The cost is $10 per person.

Night Market and Swap n’ Shop

There’ll be something old and something new at the HUB during the Night Market and Swap n’ Shop, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on February 16. The market will feature crafts, baking, and home businesses, while the theme for the Swap n’ Shop is children’s items. Sellers can book a spot for $5 (plus $3 per table) and bring in any children’s toys, clothing, books, and more that they no longer need and either sell or swap them.

Introduction to photography

On Sunday, March 4 those who want to learn more about photography—including camera handling, menus, lens focal length, exposure, depth-of-field, and composition—can take part in an “Introduction to Photography” course from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $60 per person, and participants need only bring their Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras (note: this is not a class for iPhone or digicam users). A minimum of six people are needed to hold the class.

Instructor John Enman began working as a photographer for the California Office of Alternative Education in 1971. After immigrating to Canada in 1976 he continued working as a photographer for Woodward’s department store in Kamloops, and was later hired by Just Right cameras to operate their store. He also taught Photography at the University College of the Cariboo for 18 years.

As “Viewfinder Photography”, Enman photographed families, weddings, architecture, and much more. Now retired, he operates a small used photo equipment store in Kamloops (Enman’s Cameras), and instructs all levels of photography courses and workshops.

Basketball camp

Spring break is still a ways away; but space is limited at the basketball camp being held at the HUB from March 19 to 22, so early registration is encouraged.

The camp is for youth aged nine to 12 years, and will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Each day will feature warm-ups, skills and drills, team development, shooting competitions, and mini tournaments, as well as snacks and lunch; a team jersey is also included. The cost is $175 per person.

Host a party or event at the HUB

If you’re looking to hold a special party event, why not hold it at the HUB? They offer a variety of activities for all ages, tailored to you, including baking, clay/pottery creation, crafts, gym time, Paint a Song, and adult painting (bar service available). You can also rent a room to host your own event; and if you need cakes or cupcakes, contact Cakes n’ More by Jessica for custom-made cupcakes and cakes in a wide variety of flavours (Facebook: Cakes and More By Jessica). Contact the HUB for more details about event hosting.

HUB gets Gas Tax funding

The Ashcroft HUB has received $65,000 in Federal Gas Tax – Community Works fund revenues from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. The funding will go toward energy efficiency upgrades at the HUB building.

HUB gets NDIT funding

The HUB was able to leverage funds already received for sound improvements in the gym—including a donation from Ashcroft resident Esther Darlington and a promised donation of $1,000 in funding/in-kind donations from the Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society—to receive a grant from the Northern Development Initiative Trust for sound baffling for the gym.

The baffling will help improve the venue’s acoustics when hosting concerts, theatrical productions, movies, and other large events where sound and music are key.

To contact the Ashcroft HUB, call (250) 453-9177 or email ashcrofthub@gmail.com. You can also check out their Facebook page (The Ashcroft HUB Society) or their website at ashcrofthub.ca.