It is often said it takes a village to raise a child.
Nothing has ever drawn a community together more strongly than our commitment to our school and its children. On March 9, a fundraiser was held at the Forest Grove Legion and $7,000 was raised toward a playground for the school.
The fundraiser was co-hosted by the Legion, Forest Grove 94 Lions, Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department, South Cariboo Rowing Club, Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the Community and Parents Advisory Council.
The Legion was beautifully decorated, the spaghetti dinner was excellent, the silent auction was entertaining and the company was most enjoyable. Weeks of preparation and work went into this worthwhile evening.
Drawings of what they would like for their playground were made by the students and displayed around the room. Zip lines were popular. One poster specified “for grades 4-7 only.” Fancy slides, a spider web of ropes to move through “on the ground, not vertically,” a climbing wall and a hot tub were suggested.
A large thermometer has been put up in front of the Legion to record progress made toward the goal of $38,000.
When it is finished, the playground will be for all of the children of Forest Grove and others who wish to use it. It will be a wonderful addition to our community.
Red Neck Regatta
Plans are well underway for a first-ever Forest Grove 94 Lions Ruth Lake Redneck Regatta to be held on Aug.11.
The Lions invite service clubs, families, individuals and corporate groups to put together a team, raise pledges to fund the construction of a boat, build the boat on the spot at the lake and race around a marker on the lake and back to shore.
Silly Boat Rules state that boats must be built of recycled materials such as barrels, buckets, etc., powered by people or wind, and built in four or less hours.
There will be prizes for different categories. The Lions have prepared an information package with everything needed to take part in this prestigious, and most likely, hilarious race. For information, please contact Cindy Whitehead at 250-397-2367.
Proceeds will be used for park maintenance and improvements, and for a donation to Lions Club charities. The Forest Grove Legion will be hosting a regatta-related event on Aug. 10 as a kickoff to the race.
Stompin’ Tom
One night in the winter of 1964, we were in Timmins, a northern Ontario town, visiting friends.
It was -40 and the town was buried in snow when we decided to go to the Maple Leaf Tavern. It was smoky and dark.
A skinny, bony-faced fellow with a guitar ambled over and stood next to my chair. He put a small board on the floor and started stomping and singing a song I’d never heard before, “Sudbury Saturday Night.”
At first, I wondered who this strange bird was, but before long, I was captivated.
Stompin’ Tom was a truly unique Canadian hero – one who sang with real affection about the small towns across Canada and the people who live in them.
Recycling
Thank you to those who support the school’s recycling program by leaving refundable items in the bins at the school and at Richard Bergen’s home.
Please remember that tin cans, plastic bottles such as bleach and shampoo bottles, cardboard and many other items can be dropped off at Gold Trail Recycling. It’s easy to do and provides a very good feeling to do so.
Earth Hour
To promote awareness about climate change, please turn off non-essential lights on March 23 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.