On the way to Ruth Lake, a few kilometres from Forest Grove, a small weathered building stands close to the road, just before Becker Ranch.
For a few years in the late 1940s and early ’50s, this building was a busy general store.
The house on the crest of the nearby hill is on the site of the Becker family homestead. Louis Judson moved the original house to a new site several hundred yards to the right where it eventually burned.
Executive elected
On Feb. 13, the Forest Grove Recreation Society (FGRS) held its annual general meeting and election.
The new executive includes president Fred Saenger, vice-president Richard Bergen, secretary-treasurer Lorna Faulkner, and directors, Doug Smith, Alan Faulkner and Dale Gent.
The FGRS incorporates the Ball Club, a Cemetery Committee and the community hall complex, which includes the library and curling rink.
With its convenient parking area, the hall is ideal for weddings, reunions and entertainment functions. It has a large capacity and the two kitchen sections have been updated in recent years. For information and rentals, contact Lorna at 397-2622.
Society meetings are held on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the hall.
Bottle drive
Please start saving your bottles and cans for a bottle drive to be held on March 31.
The students from Forest Grove Elementary School are raising funds for class trips in June.
The senior students are travelling to the Okanagan Science Centre in Vernon. The primary grades will visit the Kamloops Wildlife Park.
The students will be going door to door with their parents and volunteers. If you live outside the Grove, please call Heather at 397-2991, or Richard at 397-2631 for a pickup.
Women in Motion
The next time you watch a grader pushing its way up your snow-clogged road or notice a sand truck rumbling by, there might be a woman at the wheel.
At the present time, there are two women working for Interior Roads as truck drivers and grader operators. Michelle Sanford from 100 Mile has been working for the road maintenance contractor for five years.
Jayne Clements from Bridge Lake is a newer employee. The Grove has been part of her territory this winter.
Interior Roads foreman Wayne Durk praised the work of the two women.
“We have been opening up this industry to female workers and it has been going very well. It would be a good career for girls to consider.”
He added the women are skilled drivers and “meticulous in their work.”
Calendar
• St. Patrick’s Day Dance: March 17 at the Legion. Music by Mark Allen and Grove guitarist Carl Ellis will also be onstage. Meat draw at 4:30 p.m. Dance from 8 to 12:30 p.m., and designated drivers will be available. For more information, contact Darlene at 250-397-0019.
• Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department open house: March 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to tour the hall, check out the trucks and have lunch. Firefighters will be on hand to show you around and answer questions.
• Hootenanny: March 10 at the community hall, starting at 7 p.m. It will be an evening of entertainment with a variety of performers, including music, dance and spoken word, and food available. For information, contact Steve or Astrid at 250-397- 4103.
• Dart Tournament: April 14 at the Legion. Registration at 9:30 a.m., and games start at 11. For more information, contact Rene at 250-791-7348.
• Cribbage: Getting a tad bored? Try cribbage at the Legion on Thursdays at 8 p.m. No experience or skill necessary.