Dear Canimites,
High summer continues, with family gatherings and community fun.
The Hawkins Lake Volunteer Firefighters Association (HLVFA) held its annual gathering on Fran and Bob Campbell’s spacious lawns on the August long weekend. Cottagers and permanent residents, along with their many visitors, gather for some serious “catching –up” and for a heap of “let-your-hair-down” fun.
Suzanne and Ted North, well known former residents of the lake, drove up from their current home in the Lower Mainland to visit.
Association president Peter Thomson says there were 150 people gathered at the peak.
The day started with a Poker Paddle organized by Donna Rantamaa, with 80 contestants travelling to a series of seven stations around the lake, picking up one playing card at each. People paddled, rowed, walked or cycled the loop. Bob, paddling with Fran, collected four aces in his tour for first place.
I arrived to find the barbecue humming under the expert hands of Tim Wasilieff and Harvey Ostroff, with folks lining up for their hamburgers and hotdogs along tables laden with salads, buns and other delights.
The children were busy with the water slide run by the firefighters who kept it continuously watered using their venerable engine. The slide was so well graded, and so fast, that some of the older “kids” couldn’t resist.
After the eats, there was a “crazy hat contest,” also organized by Donna, a bake sale run by Helen Kellington, and a silent auction boasting 77 items arranged by Marilyn Hamilton. Harvey Ostroff MCed the drawing of the winning tickets.
Bev McWilliams came up lucky four times with dinners at local restaurants; Nancy Oike won a green sculpture Harvey named ‘Three Frogs Looking Up’; Terri Sobo rode away on a new bicycle; and Merv Venos closed the draw with a veritable pile of new goodies at his feet.
Peter thanked all who helped. Their hard work earned more than $2,500.
People news
Bev Lees is still celebrating the June 21 arrival of Gracie May Lees, her first grandchild, daughter of son Chris and his wife Kelly.
That’s all for now. Until next time, here’s wishing you many blessings.