Hard to believe that we’ve come to the end of another year. 2012 was certainly a challenge for our communities. Of the 10 years that I’ve been here, it hasn’t been one of the better years for our local economies.
But we’ve made it through, and there’s a new year just around the corner. Maybe. Just maybe...
It seems that in hard times, we all pitch in a little more to help, and I’ve had some wonderful help here at The Journal this past year, from many of you. Just about too many to mention.
If you’ve ever wondered how to submit a story or photograph to The Journal, just send it to me. Or you can contact me first. I’m usually happy to receive submissions from the community.
To those of you have submitted anything to me for print this year, you all have my thanks and undying gratitude.
But I would be remiss if I did not recognize some of the regular contributors who work for nothing, like Loon Lake columnist Barbara Hendricks and Spences Bridge columnist Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan, and entertainment columnist Nadine Davenport.
Andrea Walker, Vivian Edwards, Reta Robertson, Alice Durksen, Jessica Clement and Esther Lang keep us updated on various local clubs and their activities; Janet Quesnel sends us our curling news, Maria Russell Martin keeps the tennis news coming and Deanna Horsting and Diana Hoggard sends us minor hockey news whenever we ask.
Muriel Scallon and Pat Kirby make sure that the Ashcroft seniors are well covered, and Zee Chevalier provides the Clinton Seniors news. And to Phyllis Gray for the United Church Women news.
Much of the school coverage comes from the schools themselves, but thank you especially to Shirlee Johnson, now retired, at Cache Creek Elementary, Denise O’Connor at Lytton Elementary and Kathie Frost at Ashcroft Elementary.
Thanks as well to Karel Samek and Vic Koop for the From the Pulpit columns, and to Martina Baier for sending us updates of St. Alban’s and Soups On.
Thanks to the Ashcroft RCMP for taking the time to recap the week’s files for us, and to Brian Henderson at the Ashcroft Fire Dept. for all of his help.
Also, thanks to staff at the Village Offices in Cache Creek and Ashcroft for all of the help whenever I ask for it.
There are so many more who I could list, but there’s only room for one more - you, our reader. We appreciate you more than you could imagine. Without you, there is no community.
Our best wishes to you for a happy 2013!
Wendy Coomber is editor of the Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal