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2016 Entertainment Year in Review

The top entertainment stories in the 100 Mile House Free Press from 2016
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Simon Dengel from 100 Mile House took home the People’s Choice award for his green 1969 Camaro SS at the Hot July Nights Show ‘n’ Shine on July 17. Approximately 200 cars lined up all around Centennial Park on the beautiful summer day.

July 7

Cariboo Artists Guild took over Parkside Art Gallery

More than 80 beautiful pieces of artwork, provided by Cariboo artists, were on display at the open house at the Parkside Art Gallery at 401 Cedar Ave. on June 30.

Artists took the initial theme of "gathering" and brought a collection of art that was wonderful to view and examine.

July 14

Cariboo landscapes inspired Showcase Gallery exhibit

Tom Godin's four wonderful canvases portraying the Cariboo landscape were on display until Aug. 1.

The large oil paintings were reflections of what Godin has seen while living in the Cariboo for 36 years.

July 21

Music at the Lakes began with sombre homage to '60s classics

Music at the Lakes was underway after The James Gang kicked off the event series on July 2.

The band brought a great mix of classic blues and catchy country tunes in a sombre Saturday night performance.

Due to strong winds and looming rain clouds, the band played for a crowd of 25 people.

July 28

Car lovers paradise at Hot July Nights

While the weather may not have started out as well as people wanted for Hot July Nights, it turned for the better and made for a great weekend event.

A large lineup of classic motor vehicles rolled through town during the three-day event, including some surprises, such as the Pioneer Cedar Rocket, a fully functioning vehicle made out of a cedar log.

AUGUST

Aug. 4

Hootstock Festival celebrated B.C. indie music

The grounds at the Bradley Creek Stump Ranchers Hall in Forest Grove were alive with music during the Fifth Annual Hootstock Festival on July 22-24.

The music festival had its largest turnout yet in both attendance and performers, with more than 40 musicians performing late into the night.

Aug. 11

Artist Neil Pinkett was featured in Williams Lake Art Walk

100 Mile House area artist Neil Pinkett showed his work this month at the 2016 Art Walk and Sale in Williams Lake, which kicked off with a guided walk around the community on Aug. 5.

His work was on display at Re/Max Williams Lake Realty.

Aug. 18

Fourth annual self-guided art tour featured 11 artists

The Studio 2 Studio self-guided art tour Sept. 10 would feature 11 artists at seven home studios at 108 Mile Ranch.

Participants could stop in, browse the artists' work and even make a purchase that will help towards a worthy cause.

Aug. 25

Women in Focus shined at Parkside Art Gallery

An art exhibit that opened at Parkside Art Gallery on Aug. 19 featured the photography of a group of local women.

The work of Women in Focus – a photography club started in 100 Mile House in 2012 – was on display at the Parkside Art Gallery, with 36 pieces from 12 photographers featured.

The show was the second of its kind for the club, says Monika Paterson, one of the club's founding members.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 1

New 108 Mile Ranch artist was on 108 Mile arts tour

Internationally acclaimed photographer Michael Bednar was one of several artists participating in the Studio 2 Studio tour at 108 Mile Ranch on Sept. 10, in support of the South Cariboo Health Foundation (SCHF).

The self-guided tour offered participants the chance to visit artists and purchase work, with 25 per cent of proceeds donated to the SCHF.

Sept. 8

Shelley Minato raffled off last copy of illustrated book

Minato was one of nearly a dozen artists participating in the South Cariboo Health Foundation' (SCHF) Studio 2 Studio tour Sept. 10. She partnered up with neighbour and talented quilter Pamela Hall – who encouraged Minato to participate in the tour – and exhibited a wide range of arts and crafts items, from paintings to braided keychains and everything in between.

One particularly special item that was up for grabs was a children's book that Minato illustrated three years ago called A Pony Named Peanut; Minato would be raffling off the last copy of the book for the SCHF.

Sept 15.

Children's author launched her latest book this Saturday

Becky Citra, a multiple award-winning and popular local children's author, launched her spooky and exciting new children's book, The Griffin of Darkwood, at the Cariboo Regional District Library-100 Mile House Branch on Sept. 17, 1-3 p.m.

Citra invited the community to come out and take a sneak peak or to buy a signed copy.

Sept. 22

Michelle Brown's art displayed at Showcase Gallery

Anyone who enjoys her paintings, or had not yet seen the work of local artist Michelle Brown, had a chance to view her work at Showcase Gallery in the South Cariboo Business Centre (475 Birch Ave.).

The 108 Mile Ranch artist's work was on display until Oct. 3 and included a lovely and colourful selection of her floriculture collection.

Sept. 29

Local author was a finalist for her latest book

Cariboo-based author Ruth Donald was proud to have put Lone Butte on the map.

The novelist – who writes under the name R.E. Donald – laughed when she pointed out the tiny spot on BC BookWorld's Literary Map of B.C., which marked her Watch Lake Road ranch and offered a brief description of her crime mystery series.

It was the latest installment in her Highway Mysteries series, Sundown On Top of the World, that had earned Donald a nomination as a finalist for a Whistler Independent Book Award in the crime fiction category.

OCTOBER

Oct. 6

Comedy night promised laughs on Oct. 22

It's often said that laughter is good for the soul – and in this case, it was also good for the community.

A comedy night fundraiser, hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association South Cariboo Branch (CMHA-SC) was set to take place at the 100 Mile Community Hall on Oct. 22, and according to organizers, the evening would feature plenty of laughs for a good cause.

Oct. 13

Lynne Flanders displayed her mixed media artwork

As a member of the Cariboo Artists Guild, she was delighted to be asked to display her work at Showcase Gallery for the month. Flanders said she'd like to hold another show sometime in 2017 in collaboration with other CAG members, and planned to see where her work might lead her in the months and years to come.

Her work was on display at the Showcase Gallery on the main floor of the South Cariboo Business Centre at 475 Birch Ave. in 100 Mile House until Nov. 1.

Oct. 20

Local self-published author held book signing at Nuthatch on Oct. 21

Local author and bookstore owner Kay Gibson self-published her second book – Death Dreams. Fans of her first book, It Was a Hard Pull, had an opportunity to sample another piece of the local writer's talent.

While It Was a Hard Pull was a non-fiction story, Death Dreams is an imaginative piece.

"Basically, it's a psychological thriller," Gibson explained.

Oct. 27

Tom Godin brings 'orphaned art' to Parkside Art Gallery

Over several decades as an art enthusiast, Tom Godin amassed an impressive collection of what he likes to call "orphaned art."

The collection of several dozen random pieces was the subject of an exhibit hosted at the gallery that started Oct. 29 and ran until Nov. 12.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 3

A laudable launch for Chris Harris' last book

It was standing room only as Chris Harris photography fans and community supporters poured into the 108 Community Hall to celebrate the launch of his last book of regional imagery on Oct. 22.

"This is my last book, certainly of this kind, and its a culmination of my about 25 years exploring and photographing our region," said Harris

British Columbia's Cariboo Chilcotin Coast – A Photographer's Journey depicts some highlights of Harris' decades of photographing the beautiful, natural landscapes as he travelled around in this vast region, with his focus on the fabulous.

Nov. 10

Adrian Messner displayed his artwork at Showcase Gallery

A selection of Messner's work from six decades of artistry was on display at the Showcase Gallery in the South Cariboo Business Centre, following a successful show at Parkside Art Gallery last month, entitled 63 Years of Art.

According to Messner – well-known in the community as an art teacher at 100 Mile Junior Secondary for more than 30 years – the show highlighted "where I came from and what I've done for the past 60 years."

Nov. 17

Karen and Gord Smith co-directed second play together

The 100 Mile House Performing Arts Society was to present the comedy Over the River & Through the Woods from Nov. 25 to Dec. 3.

The acting troupe had been rehearsing at St. Timothy's Anglican Church but relocated to Martin Exeter Hall on Nov. 15 and would rehearse there until opening night, said Karen Smith.

"Rehearsals are going excellently. It has been interesting to see the actors progress up until now."

Nov. 24

Hotel From Hell: The 108 Mile Murders written locally

It's a local legend described by some as "the Cariboo's dark secret" - controversial, and rarely spoken of out loud.

The events alleged to have taken place at the 108 Mile Hotel during the Gold Rush in the late 1800s were the inspiration behind a work of historical fiction for first-time Cariboo author Lisa Pearl Pugh.

Entitled Hotel From Hell: The 108 Mile Murders, Pugh's novel follows the story of fictional characters travelling the Gold Trail while staying true to historical people and places well-known during the Gold Rush.

DECEMBER

Dec. 1

Opening night of Over The River & Through the Woods brought out the laughs

Opening night of the 100 Mile House Performing Society's Over the River & Through the Woods went off without a hiccup on opening night at Martin Exeter Hall on Nov. 25.

The comedy set in New Jersey ran Nov. 25-27 and continued Dec. 1 to Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Its final performance was Dec. 3 at 1 p.m.

Attendance was good, said Karen Smith who co-directed with her husband, Gordon.

Dec. 8

Eclectica benefit concert went Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.

It wouldn't have been the holiday season without a festive singalong and performance by Eclectica Community Choir.

The ensemble presented Carols of Christmas, a benefit concert that supported of the 100 Mile House Food Bank and Loaves & Fishes Outreach, featured a diverse collection of songs by the choir, as well as some solo and small group performances.

Dec. 15

Helga Zeiner released What Happened to Rose?

Interlakes area writer Helga Zeiner has released her book What Happened to Rose?

Her second work in English, What Happened to Rose? takes place primarily in the Interlakes area as she told the twin stories of Rose and the book's main protagonist Carola.

Dec. 22

December exhibition highlighted Cariboo diversity

With winter on their minds, artists of the Cariboo Artists' Guild installed their December showcase selections at the South Cariboo Business Centre, at 475 Birch Ave. in 100 Mile House, on Dec. 6.

The theme for the showcase was "Stillness," a display which featured 15 paintings from 15 different local artists.

Dec. 29

Annual 100 Mile House Cowboy Concert at Martin Exeter Hall Feb. 11

Organizers say the 100 Mile House Cowboy Concert went over so well when they did one for Danny Lytton in 2000, that they figured they'd carry on.

Gary Fjellgaard will be performing for the upcoming 17th Annual 100 Mile House Cowboy Concert at Martin Exeter Hall on Feb. 11.

Joining him will be the well-known Ed Wahl, a Vancouver city shipwright, who is an amazing singer and guitar player.