Kamloops Connector April 2023

Fun ways to celebrate the arrival of spring

Spring is a season of rebirth in more ways than one.

Spring is when certain animals emerge from hibernation, while many species lay eggs or give birth this time of year. Flowers and trees also bloom in spring, providing spectacular foliage and awe-inspiring colour.

People also may feel like they have a new lease on life as they shake away the doldrums of winter and embrace longer hours of sunlight and warmer temperatures. The arrival of spring is worthy of celebration, and these activities and ideas can be enjoyable ways to spend the first day of spring.

• Spend time outdoors. One is never too old

for a picnic in a park or a bike ride along the trails. Spending time outdoors is beneficial because it exposes people to sunlight, which is a precursor to the development of vitamin D. Vitamin D affects muscles, joints and tissues. It also can affect mood.

• Plant a tree. Honour the first day of spring, and Earth Day shortly thereafter, by planting trees. Trees provide habitats for wildlife, create shade, reduce air pollution by filtering the air, and produce oxygen. A sapling is a manageable tree to plant and something children can do as well.

• Enjoy spring crafts. Grab an inexpensive canvas and paint a

landscape that is in full bloom. Use quick-set plaster to create stepping stones embedded with mosaic glass pieces for colour that can be added to the backyard.

• Host a spring potluck. Put fresh spring vegetables and fruits on display. Options include artichokes, apricots, asparagus, carrots, dandelion greens, and radishes. Put together a pasta primavera, which essentially is a spring pasta dish laden with fresh vegetables.

• Decorate with flowers. Bring fresh flowers indoors and put them on display in vases or table centerpieces. Cut stems on a 45-degree angle underwater to help flowers last longer. In addition, choose floral

themed curtains and throw pillows to add some spring decor.

• Create a water feature. The sound and sights of cascading water

can be both relaxing and picturesque. A water feature can be something as simple as a small fountain or more elaborate like a koi pond.

Spring is a time of year when people can enjoy seasonal activities that make the most of the warmer weather and blooming landscape.

Qwelmínte Secwépemc: Indigenous land stewardship and future leaders

By Bonnie Klohn, KFPC

One of the core values of the Kamloops Food Policy Council is Indigenous Food Sovereignty: decolonizing relations and the restoration of ecological food systems. We are often investigating how to live out this value as a food system organization. While answers to this question are both numerous and complex, following Indigenous leadership is one of our key principles.

The Kamloops Food Policy Council is an active supporter of many Indigenousled organizations such as the Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Q’wemtsín Health Society, Community Futures Central Interior First Nations, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Community Services, River Select Fisheries Cooperative and the Upper Fraser Indigenous Sustainable Harvesters Association. We have learned immensely from building these relationships and actively seek to deepen our knowledge and our actions that can advance their work. Over the past several months, I have had the opportunity to learn about Qwelmínte Secwépemc. Recently, I spoke with Tamara Archie, their Communications, Community

Engagement, Education & Outreach (CCEEO) Manager about the organization, and I wanted to share insights from our conversation in the context of Indigenous Food Sovereignty.

Qwelmínte Secwépemc is a collective of leadership from six Secwépemc communities, focused on providing research, knowledge and insights for informed decision-making at government-togovernment tables. The organization helps to restore Secwépemc jurisdiction in relation to yecwminúl’ecwemwhich means to take care of the territory/ land.

The work of Qwelmínte Secwépemc impacts the way the forests are managed, the effects of resource extraction and industry, and ultimate benefit or consequence for its communities. These factors directly influence the health of Indigenous food systems, including the availability of cultural and medicinal plants in the forest understory, the strength of wildlife such as deer, elk, and moose, as well as the condition of the waterways, fish, and salmon.

Qwelmínte

Secwépemc is guided by Secwépemc laws which revolve around the ancient ancestral and contemporary

ongoing caretaker or stewardship role of Secwépemc lands. This stewardship role is called yecwemíñem and the organization fulfills this role through: a commitment to reconciliatory relationships with government; building Secwépemc law and land management capacity; and addressing socioeconomic gaps by developing new fiscal relationships.

The Qwelmínte Secwépemc team simultaneously works to fulfill this role and these duties, while at the same time using the opportunity of these initiatives to train the next generations of Indigenous leaders. There is a strong and robust Knowledge Builders Program that is a crucial part of the work of the organization. This summer intern program brings Secwepemc language, law, and governance training to Indigenous students. The program emphasizes the importance of “walking on two legs” by balancing Indigenous knowledge and Western science and education. Each intern chooses a topic based on their educational background and what would be supportive for the governmentto-government tables.

The Knowledge Builders Program also aims to revitalize

relationships with the land, Elders, and knowledge carriers, all of which are crucial for Indigenous Food Sovereignty. The program’s practical component covers cultural land, hunting and fishing protocols.

The summer speaker series is another important part of Qwelmínte Secwépemc’s work. The speaker series aims to bring in Elders to share their knowledge with the community. This year, the speaker series is open to all members of the signatory communities as well as non-Indigenous allies. The speaker series is hands-

on and covers a range of topics that overlap with food sovereignty, including traditional fishing tools, language, and archaeology.

Qwelmínte

Secwépemc is an important example of restoring Indigenous jurisdiction over land stewardship (a necessary condition for Indigenous Food Sovereignty to thrive) and training future leaders to carry this work forward through the generations.

As a team member of the Kamloops Food Policy Council, seeing the importance of restoring Secwépemc jurisdiction over land stewardship, as well as the

ways Qwelmínte Secwépemc has been effectively doing this, has been a vital in understanding how to advance our goal of “decolonizing relations and the restoration of ecological food systems”.

I am looking forward to the Qwelmínte Secwépemc summer speaker series and hope that you consider signing up for our newsletter to stay informed about these events and more Indigenous Food Sovereignty education and action opportunities.

Sign up now at kamloopsfoodpolicy council.com/.

3 fun and effective outdoor exercises for seniors

The benefits of spending time in the great outdoors are significant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spending time outdoors may improve mental health and help to reduce stress, and the vitamin D the body absorbs while outside can have a positive effect on blood cells and the immune system.

Seniors can benefit from the great outdoors as much as anyone. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which strengthens bones. That’s especially beneficial for seniors, as the National Council on Aging notes that bone density often decreases after age 50, which can increase the risk of fractures. That’s especially so in women over the age of 50, as

a 2021 report from Amgen, Inc., indicated women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone density within five to seven years of menopause. Spending time in the great outdoors also provides a social benefit, encouraging individuals from all walks of life, including seniors, to get out of their homes and spend time with other people.

With so much to gain from spending time

outside, seniors can consider these three outdoor exercises as they seek to maintain or improve their overall health.

1. Walking: Walking is free and effective. In fact, WebMD notes that a brisk 30-minute walk can improve blood flow, contribute to a stronger heart, strengthen bones, and even help people sleep better at night.

Continued on page 21

Lifelong Learning

Daytime Classes

Worried About An Elderly Parent Being

Virtual Spring Cleaning

Voices of Experience

www.connectornews.ca

Telephone: (250) 374-7467

My two cents

Moneca Jantzen Editor

Ijust finished doing my taxes for 2022 and as usual it was a chaotic and frustrating experience, partly because CRA unexpectedly clawed back a good chunk of my refund, but also because gathering information for the process is always a bit painful. On the bright side, at least I will still get a small refund this year. If I were still using the expertise of a bookkeeper, I am that classic person that shows up with a shoebox full of disorganized papers and incomplete records. Increasingly, however, there is no paper trail because everyone wants us to go paperless.

Theoretically, I’m agreeable to the concept of going paperless, but in practical terms I am a diehard paper person. My stacks and stashes of paper and random doom boxes around the house are a testament to this. I am my father’s daughter in this regard. I’m not a hoarder by any means, but I could stand to declutter on a monthly basis.

My chaotic analog filing system has simply transferred to a chaotic approach to digital record-keeping and in many ways I find this even more annoying than chaotic piles of paper. Logging in and out of various websites, remembering usernames and passwords and then digging through the digital records is actually less convenient to me. I would much rather have a physical piece of paper to refer to and file. Instead, I now have random pdfs stored on various devices and I probably wouldn’t know where to find it again because it likely has some gibberish file name. I didn’t rename it because I was in a rush.

Another issue is “out of sight, out of mind.” While doing my most recent taxes, I discovered that the city has been accumulating fees and late charges for a business licence for my business that no longer exists. When I moved in 2020, I assumed that I wasn’t going to be charged for a business licence at an address where I no longer lived, but I was wrong. Needless to say, had I had a hard copy of this bill I would have addressed the problem sooner. Instead, I have been confronted by a growing digital record filed in a database into which I rarely think to look. I’m still not sure how this bureaucratic snafu is going to be resolved, but hopefully in my favour. It’s just a really good example of how things can go awry in a paperless environment that is clearly less than perfect.

While I have succumbed to giving up most of my paper invoices, I really miss those physical reminders and that paper trail and documentation. Email reminders are just not the same especially because they get buried even faster than a piece of paper would.

Like most of us, I have been using computers and the internet for decades and I feel like things have gotten a lot messier than I really want them to be, i.e., too many email addresses, forgotten usernames and passwords, accumulating unopened messages, etc. It is not surprising that there is actually an app out there that gathers people’s digital subscriptions, many of which we tend to forget about and continue getting charged unbeknownst to ourselves months or years later.

All of this chaos combined has me contemplating the idea of “cyber” or “digital hygiene” in a broader sense than is typically considered. Cyber hygiene is conventionally defined as strong passwords, good security practices, updating software, avoiding phishing scams, etc. My idea extends into a sort of Marie Kondoesque purge of extraneous email accounts, email messages, downloads, old software and newsletter subscriptions along with a surgical focus on the things that need to remain for daily life to carry on without too much struggle.

I’m sure that cleaning up in this dramatic way will lessen my online presence and make me a little bit safer. I have always marveled at all the people I knew pre-internet era that still don’t pop up in a search if I Google them—to be so lucky to still be relatively anonymous in the world after four decades of virtual life.

As I head into my sixtieth year I can’t help but think about tidying things up. Not only will this virtual decluttering eventually make things easier for me and keep me out of overwhelm, it will ultimately make things easier for my family when something happens to me. The last thing I want is for my loved ones to be left with more of a bureaucratic nightmare than necessary. Let the digital purge and spring cleaning begin!

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Kamloops Arts Council continues to cross bridges with Outreach Program

Keeping with its mission statement of Connecting Creative Communities, the Kamloops Arts Council is home to the inspirational Crossing Bridges outreach program. Crossing Bridges believes that every person should have the opportunity to access art and creatively express themselves, to experience a sense of connectedness and to have a chance to be a contributing member to their community; they work towards accomplishing this goal by bringing together local art instructors and social service agencies to create high-quality

workshops at absolutely no cost to those who attend, ensuring that there is not only a great variety of workshops but that they are also accessible to those who may be in crisis.

To aid in its accessibility, the workshops are brought directly to the social services and agencies weekly and biweekly. This way, participants do not have to worry about coordinating transportation, and it encourages them to return to areas and people who can provide the services they may need to aid in their healing. Staff from these centres join in the workshops themselves

and often remain in the area to provide support to their residents, should they require any, and their presence and participation help foster a community around these budding artists. Additionally, the art instructors all have experience working with vulnerable groups and ensure to cultivate a welcoming, inclusive environment for all to express themselves as they feel comfortable. The KAC strongly believes that art can change lives, which is a significant contributing reason to the creation of Crossing Bridges. Many find that they are able to process emotions and thoughts through

art that they may struggle to articulate in more traditional talktherapy environments. A Crossing Bridges participant speaks to the impact of art in her life, saying, “Art has saved my life. I have been in and out of the shelter through my life, but something has happened this time to make it different. I believe it is the art. It made me stop and look at things differently.” Similarly, a teacher from the Twin Rivers Education Centre who collaborated with Crossing Bridges and the YWCA Women’s Shelter notes, “Art is a powerful outlet for expressing one’s identity and stretching out

by Keiko Bolen, Kamloops Arts Council

of comfort zones. … Giving [the students] access and instruction to tools that they would not otherwise have the opportunity to work with is empowering and has fostered a leadership role for a number of students who work closely with [our Crossing Bridges instructor]”, demonstrating just how impactful art can be.

Crossing Bridges hopes to continue its important work far into the future. If you are an artist or an agency that is interested in working with Crossing Bridges, please visit the Kamloops Arts Council website at kamloopsarts. ca/programs/crossing-

bridges/ for more information.

If you would like to make a donation to Crossing Bridges, please contact Tanya Nielsen, Executive Director, at (250) 372-7323.

Looking to downsize?

Eagle Homes is thrilled to announce it’s partnership with Cache Creek’s newest development: StagePointe

Phase 1: 15 lots

Full Development: 70 lots

Reserve your new home and lot today

Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this thriving and picturesque community

Increasingly popular with people of all ages and stages, but particularly with seniors and young people starting out in life

• Brand new manufactured home park being developed at 1620 Stage Road in Cache Creek, BC

• All city services are conveniently located underground

• Large lots available with street light and paved roads

• Many lots can accommodate a garage

• Quiet living in close proximity to city centres best of both worlds

K AMLOOPS ADULT LEARNERS SOCIETY Spring semester (April - June)

1 Class The Development of the Orchestra

1 Class Funeral Plans for the Control Freak

1 Class Literacy for All

1 Class Fill Your Pocket With a Kamloops Tourism To Do List

7 Weeks News & Views

2 Weeks Let ’s Cook en Francais

1 Class History as a Weapon of War: How the past is mobilized in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

1 Class The Corkscrew Road

April 10, 2023 $10

April 11, 2023 $10

April 12, 2023 $10

April 13, 2023 $10

April 14, 2023 $50

April 17, 2023 $45

April 18, 2023 $10

April 19, 2023 $10

1 Class Sound and Wave Science April 20, 2023 $12

1 Class Sir Arnold Bax: His Times and his Music

1 Class Co-ops: A way of the Future

1 Class A Roadmap to Discovering your Ancestors

April 24, 2023 $10

April 25, 2023 $10

April 26, 2023 $10

1 Class Wildlife in the City: using trail cams to monitor our urban wildlife May 2, 2023 $10

1 Class Historic Lillooet Tour May 3, 2023 $25

1 Class Cybersecurity - Understanding & Avoiding Common Scams May 4, 2023 $10

1 Class Art and Conversations: Johnny Bandura May 9, 2023 $5

1 Class Beginner Bike Maintenance - Session 1 May 9, 2023 $5

1 Class Beginner Bike Maintenance - Session 2 May 9, 2023 $5

1 Class The Mount Paul Community Food Centre (CFC)

Patricia Caledonia and Artwork

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GICs

Financial focus

CHIANNE V. JONES Financial Advisor

Guaranteed Investment Certificates, or GICs for short, have surged in popularity lately. Recent increases in interest rates have boosted GIC rates, making them an attractive option for investors seeking refuge from volatile stock and bond markets. Should you consider GICs for your investment portfolio? Let’s take a closer look.

What are GICs?

GICs are short-term savings products issued by institutions such as

banks, trust companies, and credit unions. It may be helpful to think of a GIC as an ‘I owe you’ – you loan an institution a sum of money for a specified period, and in return, the institution pays you a specified rate of interest and returns your original principal on the stated maturity date. GICs are considered shortterm products as they typically have holding periods between one to five years.

Advantages of GICs

Some key advantages of GICs include:

• GICs are insured up to $100,000 by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) and are generally considered to be of high credit quality.

• With a GIC, your principal and interest are both guaranteed – not only are you guaranteed to keep your original capital, but you’re also guaranteed to make money as well.

• Unlike stocks and bonds, which can be volatile and can rise and fall in value, GICs do not change in value, and are insulated from market ups and downs.

Disadvantages of GICs

Some key disadvantages of GICs include:

• Apart from cashable or redeemable GICs, most other GICs must be held until maturity, and cannot be sold, redeemed, or transferred from one account to another.

• Not all investment returns are taxed equally, and unlike capital gains and dividends, interest income earned from GICs is fully taxable in the year received.

• GICs typically offer very low returns, especially after accounting for taxes and inflation, which can erode your purchasing power.

Bottom line

Principal protection

and insulation from market volatility make GICs very attractive to some investors. However, while volatility is most definitely a risk, it’s not the only risk. When it comes to investing, different investment products and strategies can present any number of associated risks. Depending on your individual circumstances, goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk, GICs may or may not be appropriate for you. To find out more, contact your Edward Jones advisor today.

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

Member – Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

Welcome Spring and Happy Easter

Submitted by Penny Ouchi

We, at the Seniors’ Community Centre @ Desert Gardens have the feeling that Spring is in the air. Flowers are sprouting and the birds are returning. What Joy!!

Its so nice to see everyone getting outside and enjoying the sunshine, feeling

happy, bounces in their steps and more anxious than ever to get together with their friends in our Oasis Café.

Our activities are growing in size and we are hoping with the sunshine people will be venturing out more.

Please have a look at our calendar and we are sure you will find something to spark your interest, and if not, perhaps you have some new ideas to introduce.

We would like to introduce a new singing group, the “Local Vocals” who are welcoming

anyone to come down and stretch those vocal cords. They tell us everyone has the capabilities and even if you think you don’t – there is always pretending. They meet the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. Hope to see you there.

The Centre will be closed Friday, April 7th up to and including Monday April 10th for Easter.

Wanting to enquire about booking a room(s) for a meeting or that special occasion?

Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at

250-372-5110.

We would at this time like to congratulate the new Strata KAS1911 Council and we look forward to another great year working together.

We would like to wish everyone a very Happy Easter and lots of sunshine and flowers.

Login issues happen to everyone

THAT TECH GUY

JEFFREY READE

One of the largest issues I see is login issues. It’s never just one site either; Amazon, email, Facebook,

you name it. The first thing I recommend is making sure your Caps Lock isn’t on. It sounds basic, but it happens a lot. Another is transposing digits. This happens to me a lot, so double checking things is always a good idea. Saving passwords to your browser is a question I get a lot, asking if it’s safe. The problem with browsers is there’s malware, extension and numerous other things that can breach that security. I would suggest an external password manager that isn’t built into the browser, or one of the best ways is just by writing them

down in a book.

Some browsers, like Google Chrome, offer to generate a password for you and store it. It generates strong passwords (good luck remembering them without the manager or writing them down though), however it is still stored within Chrome, which leads back to the issues I just mentioned. The best free password manager I’ve seen is Bitwarden. You can use the free version across your devices, and it’s based on open source technology so it’s secure and transparent. One thing I like is the cost if you decide to go to a paid

subscription, for a single user it’s $10 USD a year, or if you want to go for your whole family, which is up to six users; it’s $40 USD a year.

Honestly, the free version is perfect for the average person. No, it’s not a paid endorsement, I’ve been using it for a while and I actually find it great. I haven’t used the paid versions because I only need the free features. Back to login issues, sometimes it’s not your side. Sometimes it’s something on the site you’re trying to log onto. The only thing you can do then is contact their

support team and wait. It’s far from a great solution but a lot of the time it pays off in the end.

One thing I hear is “paper can’t be hacked,” and to a point it’s true, but be aware of where to put a password notebook. If it’s out in the open then it’s not secure, even keeping it next to the computer isn’t great. Keep it somewhere only you or your trusted loved ones have access to. The advantage of a password notebook should something happen to you, your loved ones will have all the passwords they need to take care of your bills. When my dad was in

hospice care he gave me his password book and it made things easier for me and took a great deal of stress off of his mind. It’s about having peace of mind in the long term, not just remembering countless passwords. Remember, low tech isn’t always a bad thing; just like high tech solutions, it’s another tool in your toolbox to stay safe online and that is always good. Stay safe, stay skeptical (within reason) and balance the high tech and the low tech. It’s like Yin and Yang, too much of either isn’t necessarily a good thing.

APRIL 15TH

10AM-5PM

PETER MILOBAR TODD STONE

MLA K amloops-Nor th Thompson

618B Tranquille Road

Kamloops, BC V2B 3H6

peter.milobar.mla@leg.bc.ca

250-554-5413

@PeterMilobar

PeterMilobarKNT

MLA K amloops-South Thompson

446 Vic toria Street

Kamloops, BC V2C 2A7

todd.stone.mla@leg.bc.ca

250-374-2880

@toddstonebc

ToddGStone

Comfor t Keepers

Probate Demystified

Legal ease

AGrant of Probate is a certification issued by the British Columbia Supreme Court. It is often required for proof to financial institutions, financial advisors and the Land Title Office that the Court has certified your Last Will and Testament and that your Executor is authorized to represent your Estate. The process of certification is known as Probate.

The government charges a fee, known as a Probate Fee, for issuing a Grant of Probate. It is calculated based on the present market value of assets that comprise the gross value of your Estate at the time of your death.

Once a Grant of Probate is received, the Executor remains responsible for administering the Estate. This includes ensuring the Estate debts are paid and disbursing the remaining Estate Assets to the beneficiaries as set out in your Will.

Many people believe that Probate is required for all Estate administration following the death of a loved one. This is often not the case. A Grant of Probate is required to administer only property or assets held solely in the name of the deceased, as these are the only assets that flow through the Estate.

Often spouses hold their property and assets jointly, meaning the process of Probate would not be required to transfer the assets to the surviving spouse.

Also, in certain circumstances financial institutions will waive the requirement for Probate when administering the funds held at that

institution. It is always advantageous for an Executor to speak with the estate department at each financial institution where the deceased’s assets are held to determine if Probate is required.

Through Estate Planning, you can minimize the amount of assets that flow through your Estate and still place the assets in the hands of the people who you intend to receive them after you pass away. Assets that are excluded from Probate and do not form part of your Estate include:

• Property and bank accounts held jointly with another person.

• Property owned outside of British Columbia.

• Life Insurance, RRSPs and other investments for which there is a named a beneficiary.

Jointly held assets automatically pass to the surviving joint owner, do not form part of the Estate and are not subject to Probate fees

However, you must carefully consider

the effect of joint ownership if you intend the property to be divided among more than the person or persons on title after you pass away. Without proper planning, you may unintentionally exclude a beneficiary from their intended inheritance. A lawyer or accountant can advise you with respect to these considerations.

When you name a beneficiary for your investment or insurance policy, upon your death the beneficiary is paid those funds directly. They do not form part of your Estate. This becomes particularly important when your beneficiary financially relies on you and requires funds on an ongoing basis, as often the Probate process ties up many of the Estate assets for a prolonged period of time.

A lawyer can help you to understand the wide range of issues that arise with the preparation of estate planning documents and probate considerations.

The Chamber Musicians of Kamloops presents “Partners in Crime Return”

On Saturday, April 29, at 7:30 pm. in the Kamloops United Church, 4th and St. Paul, CMK presents Partners in Crime Return. This concert features Cetozar Vutev, violin; Curtis Howell, keyboard; and Anika Howell, soprano. These musicians will perform as the Age of Enlightenment musicians Leopold Mozart, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and C.P.E. Bach’s daughter Anna Karoline Philippine Bach. Music will also include works by G. P. Telemann, J.S. Bach and J.C. Bach. Program and ticket details are available on the Chamber Musicians of Kamloops website.

Enjoy hot cross buns this Easter

Anumber of foods are enjoyed during Easter celebrations, from hard-boiled eggs to ham to roasted lamb. Sweets such as candies and chocolates also take center stage on Easter Sunday. In addition to these traditional favourites, hot cross buns have become must-haves for many Easter celebrants.

Hot cross buns are yeast-based sweet buns that are lightly spiced and studded with raisins or currants. The tops are marked with a cross that is often piped with icing. While there’s no clear explanation of how hot cross buns came to be, there are indications that they once were reserved only for Good Friday.

Others say they were consumed throughout Lent. The cross is a Christian symbol of the crucifixion and Christ himself.

Hot cross buns are soft and sweet, and they’re easily created. Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of King Arthur Flour.

Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Buns

Yield 12 to 14 buns

• 1⁄4 cup apple juice or rum

• 1⁄2 cup mixed dried fruit

• 1⁄2 cup raisins or dried currants

• 1 1⁄4 cups milk, room temperature

• 2 large eggs, plus 1 egg yolk (save the white for the topping)

• 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature

• 2 teaspoons instant yeast

• 1⁄4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice

• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 3⁄4 teaspoons salt

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 4 1⁄2 cups King Arthur

Instructions:

Topping

• 1 large egg white, reserved from above

• 1 tablespoon milk

Icing

• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch of salt

• 4 teaspoons milk, or enough to make a thick, pipeable icing

• Lightly grease a 10” square pan or 9” x 13” pan.

• Mix the rum or apple juice with the dried fruit and raisins, cover with plastic wrap and microwave briefly, just until the fruit and liquid are very warm and the plastic starts to “shrink wrap” itself over the top of the bowl.

• Set aside to cool to room temperature. Note: If you worry about using plastic wrap in your microwave, simply cover the bowl with a glass lid.

• When the fruit is cool, mix together all of the dough ingredients (including the eggs and egg yolk from the separated egg); hold out the fruit for the time being. Knead the mixture, using an electric mixer or bread machine, until the dough is soft and elastic. It’ll be very slack, sticking to the bottom of the bowl and your hands as you work with it (greasing your hands helps). Mix in the fruit and any liquid not absorbed.

• Let the dough rise for 1 hour, covered. It should become puffy, though may not double in bulk.

• Divide the dough into billiard ball-sized pieces, about 33⁄4 ounces each. A heaped muffin scoop (about 1⁄3 cup) makes about the right portion. You’ll make 12 to 14 buns. Use your greased hands to round them into balls.

• Arrange them in the prepared pan.

• Cover the pan, and let the buns rise for 1 hour, or until they’ve puffed up and are touching one another. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 375 F.

• Whisk together the reserved egg white and milk, and brush it over the buns.

• Bake the buns for 20 minutes, until they’re golden brown. Remove from the oven, carefully turn the buns out of the pan (they should come out in one large piece), and transfer them to a rack to cool.

• Mix together the icing ingredients, and when the buns are completely cool, pipe it in a cross shape atop each bun.

ENTER TO WIN

KSO presents Brahms’ Requiem, one of the most iconic works for choir and orchestra

The Kamloops Symphony’s penultimate concert of the 2022/23 Season, part of their Noran Masterworks Series, is Brahms’ Requiem, taking place in Sagebrush Theatre on Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. Joining the orchestra on stage will be the KSO Chorus and two stunning soloists; soprano Emma Jang and baritone Micah Schroeder.

Johannes Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem (or “A German Requiem”) is widely considered to be one of the most incoinc choral pieces of the classical repertoire. The piece traces a journey of grief: there is sorrow, anger, and pain, but also warmth, brightness, and calm. The texts he chose, very different from the typical texts for

the Catholic Mass of the Dead, seem intended to soothe those who mourn. We start in darkness, find a hazy light, and end in a sort of acceptance. Also unlike the standard Latin requiem, Brahms didn’t include any vengeance or judgement, placing human suffering in the foreground and omitting much of the religious imagery. Brahms reportedly told a friend of his that he could happily omit the “German” from the title and simply say “Human.”

Because you cannot perform an iconic choral work without a choir, the orchestra will be joined once again by the KSO Chorus. The KSO Chorus provides local singers with the opportunity to perform masterworks for choir and orchestra in concert with the Kamloops Symphony, and

is led by Chorus Master Tomas Bijok.

The other guest artists for this concert are soprano soloist Emma Jang and baritone soloist Micah Schroeder. Emma Jang is a Vancouverbased singer who recently completed her M.Mus in Opera Performance at UBC. She has performed in numerous roles with UBC Opera, in addition to performing in collaboration with organizations such as Opera West, Bard on the Beach, Opera Unbound, and Players & Singers. Emma was a recipient of this year’s Tony and Hildegard Cavelti Foundation Award, which was distributed as part of the Vancouver Opera Foundation Bursary Program.

Micah Schroeder is a graduate of the opera

studio of Opéra de Lyon, the Vancouver Opera Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program, and the Opera Idaho Young Artist Program. In addition to performing in numerous traditional opera roles he is also a champion of contemporary repertoire, and recently curated and created the documentary film DENKMAL as an Artist-in-Residence for Pacific Opera Victoria. Micah has been a featured performer with the Aspen Opera Centre, Banff Centre, Against the Grain Theatre, Saskatoon Opera, Vancouver Symphony, and is making his second appearance with the KSO. Kamloops Symphony Music Director Dina Gilbert said “Featuring two amazing soloists and presented in its chamber orchestration, Brahms’ Requiem will

be an occasion to hear the chorus in its most exciting challenge since our sold-out performance of Carmina Burana, years ago.”

Brahms’ Requiem consists solely of Ein deutsches Requiem, and the duration of the concert is approximately 90 minutes without an intermission.

Tickets are $49.99, $44.99 for Seniors, $10 for Youth (under 19), $15 for KSOundcheck members (age 19-34), $25 for the KSO Up Close Seats (the front three rows in Sagebrush Theatre), and are available from Kamloops Live! Box Office by going to kamloopslive. ca or calling 250-374-5483.

Emma Jang Micah Schroeder.

Guess what? It’s that time of the year

Submitted by Gary Miller, Retired Service Advisor & Certified Automotive Specialist

Spring is coming and I am so glad to see it. This brings up our spring time duties as we prepare to wake up our vehicles from their winter hibernation; not so much my “show car” but my regular drivers. I’m encouraged to get them ready for the season—yes spring is coming.

So now starts the oil changes, that I didn’t do in the fall on my lawn mower, motorcycle, motorhome and numerous other vehicles. By the way, I did do the oil changes on all but my driver vehicles so I have

that reassurance of mechanical reliability out of most of my engines.

I was asked recently about the practice of changing oil and antifreeze in the spring after an arduous winter. The answer is yes to oil and no to antifreeze, but, now is an excellent time to check the antifreeze not only for strength but for acidity. It has been discovered, and I have experienced the sad affects of delayed coolant changes. Litmus paper is used to indicate the level of acid in the coolant, also, using a voltmeter can check to see how strong the

acid is. Acid, like a battery, can produce a measurable voltage that eats the aluminum to shreds and many of the cooling system components are made out of that material.

At the next oil change service it is always a good time to check the brakes for wear and also the brake fluid for moisture content. Any more than 3 percent moisture content can leave you without brakes as the fluid may boil and become ineffective under hard use or application. It would be useful to change fluids for the power steering and particularly for the

CVT style automatic transmission. This type of transmission is a little more sensitive to fluid changes than a conventional style automatic but you can be rewarded with longevity if you perform the service.

Wiper blades should be given a good look at and switched over from the winter blades to the summer ones. This leads to less abrasion on those expensive windshields especially those that are equipped with some form of self driving features like lane change and cruise control. Be sure to use a summer windshield washer fluid as it

does not evaporate as quickly as winter fluid, which when used, helps remove dead bugs out of our line of vision. Remember, summer time has bugs and winter doesn’t so who needs to drive blindly with smeared glass?

As is only too apparent, change over your winter tires since the daily temperatures will now average over 7 degrees. The warmer weather can cause rapid wear and poorer stopping than the all season style of tire. When performing the tire exchange, be sure to have the condition of the valve stems evaluated and replace

at this time if necessary. Final item, most of today’s vehicle’s headlights become clouded over and require a thorough cleaning. This process usually involves a polishing or use of an abrasive substance to remove the oxidation. There are some products that can be hand applied or like myself, I use my polisher buffer to get that final clarity. Any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me at bigsix8280@yahoo.ca

Enjoy a Relaxing Bath With No Worries

Get in and out of the bath with ease and confidence

Canadian made walk-in tubs since 1992, the best accessibility and a lifetime warranty.

Why Choose Walk-In Tubs BC? Experience, Safety, Reliability

Our primary goal at Walk in Tubs BC is to provide you, our valued client, with the peace of mind and confidence that you have made the right decision.

This comes from allowing us to sit down together, explain the numerous features and benefits, listen intently to your concerns and do our best to honestly answer all your questions. Then if we have earned your business and with your approval, help you select the perfect system for your individual needs and budget

Canadian, Local, & Experienced

When it comes to Walk-in Tubs across British Columbia, we take pride in our position as one of the best option with only the highest quality products affordably priced. Our walk-in tubs and materials come from a Canadian manufacturing company that has been in business since 1992; they are well-established in the field and have a wonderful track record of success. That gives you the reassurance that parts will continue to be available and warranties are backed up with integrity.

As we age and begin to lose our mobility and sense of balance, bathing can not only become difficult but also a cause of additional stress and anxiety. Fear of falling and a fear of not being able to get out of the tub are two of the most common occurrences with many of our seniors today. Walk-in tubs have become extremely popular in the last decade and estimates show that people who go ahead and install a walk-in tub in their homes today, will be able to live independently for an additional five years.

Walk-in tubs are exactly what the name implies, tubs that have large doors that open, and you simply walk in and sit down on a 17-inch-high seat You close and lock the door and the tub fills rapidly while you are sitting comfortably and safely inside All the taps and controls are easily accessible at your fingertips Once you are done your bath, turn the dial and the tub quickly drains and you simply open the door and walk out of the tub. The various models all have numerous grab bars and nonslip surfaces making getting in and out worr y free Walk-in

tubs are designed for an aging population who desire to remain independent for many years to come

Manufacturers have optional tub designs accommodating ever y shape and size of person and bathroom There is a tub size that will fit in the space where your existing tub or shower is.

Walk-in tubs can be as basic as a soaker tub to as deluxe as your own personal spa Offering numerous options such as heated back, multi-speed warm air jets, water jets, ozone, light therapy, aromatherapy, and more.

The benefits of a walk-in tub are numerous Many people crave being able to confidently have a bath again and find relief by just soaking in a warm tub Owners say they believe they sleep better after a soothing bath The warm air or water jets give a deep massage and help to stimulate circulation, thus carr ying additional healing oxygen throughout the body to the hands and feet This has shown positive results increasing mobility and helping to relieve the pain and symptoms of such conditions as arthritis, chronic back pain, fibromyalgia, diabetic

and peripheral neuropathy, as well as various other acute and chronic conditions.

The Canadian Government website states that 1 in 4 seniors fall ever y year, and 25% of these falls are serious, leaving the victims permanently disabled and bedridden. A large percentage

Perhaps, one of the best decisions I’ve made is when I decided to go ahead and put a walk-in tub in my house. I no longer have a fear of falling and this will help me live in my home for many more years to come.’

Jean S.

a walk-in tub now. The help comes in the forms of a tax credit, a Provincial Sales Tax waiver, and in certain qualifying cases a $7,500.00 Government Grant

of these falls take place in the bathroom Aside from all the pain and suffering it also ends up costing the Canadian medical system two billion dollars annually. Therefore, the British Columbia and Federal Governments are helping many people who decide to purchase

As we all age and the years fly by, many seniors are faced with the reality that taking proactive steps today and deciding to retrofit their homes with a walk-in tub is one of the best investments they can make to help them age in place, comfortably and independently in the home they love

Sponsored content provided by Walk-in Tubs BC.

The 55+ BC Games

THE 55+ BC GAMES are hopping along the trail to Abbotsford making preparations for August 22-26, 2023. Registration for the games opened March 1.

To register does involve a little bit of a treasure hunt on the computer. You have until June 15th to register. Follow the steps on this site https://55plusbcgames.org/zones/zone8.

Step 1: Be sure to contact your Zone 8 Sports Coordinator to express your interest and to find out if you qualify and if a playdown is necessary. Right now there are playdowns for 8 Ball, Snooker, and Golf.

Step 2: Fill out Membership ($20) and Participant ($75) and Waiver forms and your Sports form.

Step 3: If you plan to do the fillable PDF, email all and an e-transfer of $75 to Zone8treasurer@55plusbcgames.org OR you can mail a cheque of $95 made payable to BCSGS Zone 8 and a print out of all your forms and send to: Zone 8, 55+BC Games

P.O. Box 28025, Lansdowne P.O., Kamloops B.C. V2C 1Y0

NEW THIS YEAR:

• A 10 km Road Running Race on the Saturday morning for all participants. If interested, be sure to check that you do not have any scheduling conflicts.

• No refunds will be issued after July 8th, regardless of the reason. But if your event is cancelled by the Host Society you will be

refunded your $95.

• Cross-zone partners or team members do not require approval from the Rules Committee. But it is necessary to inform the respective Zone Registrar.

• Check out looking for “Team/Partner Finder.” Be sure to inform the Zone Registrars if you use this site to get a partner or a team.

• There will be no karate, triathlon, or trap shooting events.

HIGHLIGHTS from last meeting:

• Phil Maher was presented with the 2019 Ziebart Award of the Year in appreciation of his outstanding commitment and contribution to furthering the aims of Zone 8 55+ BC Games Society.

• Still looking for Sports Coordinators for Badminton, Bocce, Bridge, Slow-pitch and Whist.

• A fundraising event is in the works. More on that next month.

• Some Zone 8 t-shirts and jackets are for sale.

• Our president will be making an official complaint regarding the July 8th refund deadline.

Good luck with all your attempts to get registered. The golden ticket will be there so stick to it. You can always call your sport coordinator or our president for assistance.

8 tips for dyeing Easter eggs

Colouring eggs is a beloved Easter tradition. Eggs long have been symbols of fertility and rebirth, making them fitting icons for spring.

One story links eggs to Easter as well. According to some religious scholars, Mary Magdalene, the woman who was the first person to see Jesus Christ after His resurrection, was holding a plain egg in her hand while waiting for the emperor to share the good news. The emperor then told her that Jesus’ resurrection was as improbable as that egg suddenly blushing. The egg then turned red.

Dyeing eggs is an entertaining activity, but one that also may have some religious significance. Many families will colour eggs this Easter, and these guidelines can make the process go smoothly.

• Wait until just before colouring to hard-boil eggs. Good Housekeeping recommends boiling eggs for 11 minutes for a hard boil. Do not chill the eggs afterward; warm eggs absorb colour more effectively for more vivid results.

• Egg dye can stain furniture, clothing or tablecloths. Therefore, dress in clothing that you’re not worried about staining. Also, cover work surfaces with an old tablecloth and newspapers to soak up any spills.

• Make a drying rack to ensure that eggs will dry evenly. This can be a rimmed cookie sheet lined with layers of paper towels to absorb any excess dye that runs off the eggs. Or push pins into thick foam board and place the eggs on top to allow air to circulate.

• Consider using glass bowls or ceramic mugs to house the coloured dye solutions. These vessels are more sturdy than plastic cups, and less likely to be overturned by eager young hands.

• Scissor-style tongs are ideal tools for retrieving eggs from the dye. Eggs tend to slide off of the spoons or wire rings provided in kits, leading to splashing and kids dunking their fingers in to grab eggs.

• Stir dyeing cups often to guarantee consistent colour.

• Use electrical tape to make patterns on Easter eggs. Dip the

eggs and let dry. Afterwards, remove the tape to reveal the designs.

• If food colouring-based dyes seem too messy, use watercolour paint sets and allow everyone to get creative. While some people may want to use Easter eggs for recipes later on, it may be safer to boil up a fresh batch of eggs for that purpose, even if it seems wasteful. According to Emily Rubin, RD, LDN of the Thomas Jefferson University Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “hard-boiled eggs should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking and discarded if left out for more than two hours at room temperature.” Chances are it may take two hours or more for children to find hard-boiled eggs hidden by the Easter bunny.

KSO’s Barb’s Used Book & Music Sale Celebrates

25 Years with Spring 2023 Edition

The Kamloops Symphony’s perennially popular semi-annual fundraiser Barb’s Used Book & Music Sale is returning for the Spring 2023 edition, celebrating the 25th year of operation. This year’s sale will be open for a longer-thanusual duration, running from Saturday, April 15 to Saturday, May 6, and will return once again to 444 Seymour Street, nestled between Nutters and The Big Little Science Centre. The sale will be open Wednesday to Friday from 12 to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m. New for this edition, the sale will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Donations will be gratefully accepted at 444 Seymour Street from

Monday, April 10 to Wednesday, April 12 from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. Donors are asked to come in the front door and to be aware that volunteers on-site will not be able to provide any physical assistance with donations. Donors are also reminded that the sale will not accept dirty/tattered books, magazines, Readers’ Digest, encyclopedias, textbooks, VHS tapes, or cassette tapes. For more information on items that are being accepted, please visit www. kamloopssymphony.com/ barbs-book-music-sale. htm.

Large quantities of gently used books, sheet music, vinyl records, DVD’s and CDs are generously donated every year, and with most items available for only $2

this is a very affordable opportunity to stock up on some summer reading. With new items coming out onto the sales floor daily, shoppers are encouraged to visit the sale multiple times as you never know what great find awaits you next.

The semi-annual sale has been wonderfully successful for the last 25 years due to its highly organized donations of books and music and the KSO’s incredible team of dedicated volunteers. All money raised by the sale goes towards the Kamloops Symphony’s operating expense, which include everything from concert productions to educational programs.

For those interested in getting first dibs at the books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, and sheet music,

there will be an exclusive early access event on the morning of Saturday, April 15. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to skip the line on opening day and enter the sale at 9 a.m., one hour ahead of the official public opening. Only 50 tickets are available for this Early Bird Catches The (Book) Worm event, which sell for $25 on Eventbrite or by calling the Kamloops Symphony office at 250-372-5000.

Running consistently since 1997, the sale was spearheaded by Barb Corbishley who was one of the KSO’s board members at the time. After her unfortunate passing it was named Barb’s Used Book & Music Sale in her honour.

KSO Barb’s Used Book & Music Opening Day 2021 & 2022

Welcome Jack Bell

Welcome Jack Bell

The Kamloops Connector is pleased to welcome Jack Bell to our team as general manager and sales consultant, adding to his role at Kamloops This Week

The Kamloops Connector is pleased to welcome Jack Bell to our team as general manager and sales consultant, adding to his role at Kamloops This Week

Jack will be using his sales experience in newspaper and book publishing to ensure our clients' needs are well taken care of.

Jack will be using his sales experience in newspaper and book publishing to ensure our clients' needs are well taken care of.

"It's great to be back and I look forward to working with our clients,” said Jack, a longtime Kamloops resident with years of experience in sales and marketing.

"It's great to be back and I look forward to working with our clients,” said Jack, a longtime Kamloops resident with years of experience in sales and marketing.

To advertise with The Connector, call Jack at 778-471-7526

To advertise with The Connector, call Jack at 778-471-7526

Creekside Seniors - Chase

APRIL 2023

ACROSS

1. Colas

7. Single-celled animals

13. The rear car of a train

14. Endangered

16. It cools your home

17. Helper

19. “The First State”

20. More aged

22. Partner to cheese

23. Type of wrap

25. From a distance

26. Satisfies

28. “Dallas Buyers’ Club” actor Jared

Seniors’ Community Centre at Desert Gardens

540 Seymour Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 2G9

Phone 250-372-5110 | www desertgardens ca | desertgardens@hotmail com

We Welcome Everyone in the Community Why not COME AND TRY ONE OF THESE ACTIVITIES or just have a Visit.

Our Ladies Auxiliary Gift Shoppe is open Tuesday

to

29. God of battle (Scandinavian)

30. Cooking utensil

31. Soviet Socialist Republic

33. Able to perform

34. Big man on campus

36. Second epoch of the Tertiary period

38. Porticos

40. Alban and Peter are two

41. Gets up

43. Humble request for help

44. One-thousandth of an inch (abbr.)

45. Unhappy

47. Hint or indication

48. A way to plead

51. Digits

53. Broadway actress Daisy

55. Jewish calendar month

56. Author Gore __

58. Peacock network

59. White poplar

60. Promotional material

61. A period of calm

64. Take too much

65. Emit energy

67. Something you can take

69. Mended with yarn

70. Inconsistent

DOWN

1. Calm down

2. One quintillion bytes (abbr.)

3. One who pretends

4. Hang glide

5. Distinctive practice

6. Mariner

7. Peaks

8. Queens ballplayer

9. Geological times

10. Twofold

11. Atomic #13

12. Tranquillizing

13. Metric weight unit

15. Indicates

18. Unwanted rodent

21. Partly cooked with hot water

24. One who can be recommended

26. Resembles a bag or pouch

27. Midway between south and southeast

30. Sets up for a photo

32. California white oak

35. More (Spanish)

37. After B

38. Decorated tea urn

39. Island

42. Car mechanics group

43. Wordplay joke

46. Cut a rug

47. Prickly plant

49. Speech in praise of a deceased person

50. European buzzard

52. Influential linguist

54. West African languages

55. Siskel’s partner

57. Skinny

59. Oblong pulpit

62. Consumed

63. Small, mischievous sprite

66. Powerful lawyer

68. Indicates position

Merritt Senior Centre

The Merrit Seniors Association 250-378-3763 • 1675 Tutill

Office hours are Wednesday and Friday from 11:00am to 2:00pm All programs are subject to change or cancellation

Book Review

By Marilyn Brown

Two Nights in Lisbon

By Chris Pavone

Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2022

A novel, 437 pages

The police in Lisbon do not mean to be rude to the intense American woman in front of them, but how could it possibly be an emergency when her husband has been missing for only a few hours? Ariel Pryce was not too keen to accompany her husband on a business trip from New York to Portugal, but their first night in the Ambassador’s Suite was romantic and satisfying. The police suggest John could be out for a walk, or heading for the business meeting early, or whatever. Ariel doesn’t agree. Although they haven’t been married long, she knows he would not just abscond, leaving his cell phone and her behind.

She fleetingly begins to doubt her own perceptions. She has been wrong before, for example, her first marriage into a wealthy and powerful family. Ariel’s last ten years have been about raising her son, living authentically on her own small acreage, driving a rusty old pickup truck, far from her previous life. In Lisbon, an exorbitant ransom for John is demanded. Ariel contacts the American Embassy. From there, things get complicated.

SUDOKU

In a rapid-fire series of events, what at first appears to be an uncomplicated case of messy greed by kidnappers, seems to be developing into a potential problem for national security. In a fascinating sequence of events, a few perceptive officials in law enforcement and security, including the CIA, have to decide if they will put their careers on the line in order to get to the truth of what is happening. There is at least one cagey journalist whom they might need to deal with.

Two Nights in Lisbon starts with dramatic events and holds the reader in a tight grip from beginning to end. The author’s ear for dialogue and ability to describe physical locations (New York, Lisbon) as well as mental and physical anguish, combine with clever twists in plot. Recommended.

Chris Pavone is an established author (The Expats, The Accident, The Travelers, The Paris Diversion) with considerable experience in the publishing business. He lives in New York with his wife and family.

Buying or Selling Real Estate?

Who’s house.....

distinct birds. Not just in appearance but species.

Kamloops birdwatch

With tepid temperatures giving push back to the apparently stubborn remnants of winter, two little voices begin to ring out louder in support. With flocks gathering in greater numbers around newly revealed patches of ground, these two little brown birds are often misidentified.

The House Sparrow and The House Finch are two very

Most new birders tend to get them mixed up simply because they don’t know whose “House” belongs to whom! It does help that finches and sparrows can look alot alike with similar habitat, foraging behaviour and song like calls.

The House Sparrow is our most common bird aside from pigeons, crows and so on. They tend to be the little brown bird you see flying around your WalMart store or scavenging along sidewalks, benches and parking lots. The finches’ presence has started to decline since the 1960s and are not common in all areas of British Columbia.

The easiest way to identify a Sparrow over the Finch, is you will always find a male amongst the flock. Male Sparrows have a thick black streak running from their neck and fanning out across their chest,

while male Finches are ombréd in red, from head to their chest. Their bills are a very similar conical shape, with the sparrows being a slight bit narrower, with the male sporting a darker bill. The Finches’ beak is slightly thicker and is lighter in colour for both male and female.

Now despite the cute factor of these little birds, one House does not make a very good guest. House sparrows can be very vicious birds, going after other bird’s nests and throwing their babies out to their death, or simply demolishing the nest site.

So for many, the house Sparrow is just as much a menace as the Starlings, with an attitude twice their size. Next time you notice a commotion in the yard, it could very well be an attempted hostile takeover, of someone trying to make another’s home his House!

Stay Curious Kamloops.

Kamloops Fiddlers

Spring Dance

April 1, 2023 • 7:30 to 10pm

Location: 19A - 1800 Tranquille Road

Cost: $6.00 (members) and $10.00 for (non members) Bring the whole family

Book your Tickets at http://bcfiddlers.com/branches/kamloops/ Contact us at kamloopsoldtimefiddlers@gmail.com or 250-376-2330

LET’S DANCE !

with The Kamloops Social Club

Sunday, April 16 • 7:00-10:30pm

St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, 360 Nicola St, Kamloops

Tickets: $10 at the door

Come join us for an evening of dancing to country tunes & rock n roll music. Door Prizes, 50/50

NAOMI BIRKENHEAD

Getting back on the greens

Golf requires mastery of a wide array of skills. Many novice players focus on improving skills related to their swings. Yet they shouldn’t overlook the importance of improving their short games as well. In golf, short game refers to the golf shots golfers must make when they’re near or on the green. According to Golf Distillery, a golf play information and tips site, shots like bunker shots, chips and putts are part of the short game. Improving these skills can go a long way toward bettering one’s game. Here are 6 tips that will help improve one’s putting results:

1. Learn “greenreading” techniques. According to a Golf Magazine-

sponsored study through Pinehurst Golf Academy, 65 percent of golfers under-read the break on a typical putt. Incorrect reads can add to many lost strokes. Reading the green involves determining the correct slope and distance. Golfers who take depthperception tests and continually practice their skills at reading both the distance and the slope can improve their putts.

2. Change perspective. Different putts require different perspectives in order to assess both distance and slope, according to Todd Sones Impact Golf Schools. If the putt is downhill, Sones suggests reading it from behind the hole. If the putt is uphill, read it from behind the ball.

3. Practice consistent putter travel distance. While the total length of a putt stroke depends on the length of the putt, many golf instructors recommend consistency with the distance the putter head travels. Keep the same distance on the back stroke as on the forward stroke. This will help create a nice, even roll. Most beginners tend to short their back strokes and increase their forward strokes, resulting in less ball control.

4. Focus on an imaginary channel. When putting, imagine a three- or four-inch channel from the ball to the hole. Rather than staring at the ball, golfers can track their eyes down that imaginary

line, suggests the experts at Golf Digest. Keeping a simpler focus rather than overthinking things can improve putting.

5. Keep a steady head. Instead of following the ball with one’s eyes, a golfer should hold the focus on the start of the putt to foster a more steady head.

6. Change ball placement. Try moving to position the ball just forward of the center of the stance. This helps the putter make contact at the right moment to achieve the slight lift needed for a successful putt. Practicing at home or with a golf instructor is a good way to improve putting skills. A strong short game can be the key to improving your overall game.

2023 Payment Dates

for Old Age Security & the Canada Pension Plan

If you have signed up for direct deposit, your Old Age Security (OAS) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payments will be automatically deposited in your bank account on these dates:

January 27

February 24

March 29

April 26

May 29

June 28

July 27

August 29

September 27

October 27

November 28

December 20

ONE MEMORABLE DAY TRIP

Rory arrived in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, a week before his wife, Jessica, in order to get lodging in the company housing and start his new job at the Bauxite Aluminum Plant in St. Anne’s parish. While alone, he started and ended each day strolling the hiking trails overlooking the Caribbean Sea and enjoying other amenities like gardens of exotic fruit and flowers. His working-man meals were prepared and served by ‘Dot,’ the house-helper whose real name was Dorothy. The nickname was a left-over from the previous expat who lived there and noted that most of Dot’s aprons had polka dots on them.

A couple of evenings after Jessica arrived, Rory was called to work a few late night shifts. All alone and nervous in a strange place, a knock at the door alarmed Jessica, but she called out, “Who’s there?”

The voice of a young man spoke up, “Wah Gwaan, ello mum, I av yuhself a kitten.” Jessica was taken aback and opened the door to the mewing sound coming from inside the fellow’s button-down shirt.

“Oh my goodness.” Eyes wide and flustered, Jessica stared into the dark innocent face of a Jamaican teen.

“Yuh Dot, say git one. Mi mama say de olda de moon, de brighter it shines. She wise, this yuhs!” There was a Creole twist in the voice that made Jessica recall a conversation she’d had with Dot. She’d released her emotions about leaving her cat behind in Canada, never expecting her tears to be taken that she wanted another cat!

“Mi watchout; fat feral done squat kittens.” The fellow had stolen one when it was old enough to wander

FOOD SERVICE OPPORTUNITY

The NICOLA VALLEY RODEO ASSOCIATION (NVRA) is seeking a catering and/or food service business to operate the food concession for the 2023 season at the Merritt rodeo grounds

The concession holds a Food Premise permit and was renovated in 2019 with updated equipment and finishes. The successful applicant must be able to commit to provide services when required at all (currently 6 – 8) scheduled events for 2023, including the Labour Day Weekend Pro Rodeo and demonstrate an ability to provide a variety of menu items at reasonable prices. Attention to prompt service and compliance with health legislation is essential, including the requirements for a temporary food permit https://www.interiorhealth ca/YourEnvironment/FoodSafety/Pages/Permits aspx#temporary

E

Story by Rita Joan Dozlaw

off on its own. It was skinny but not as wild as one would expect. Jessica took it into her arms and thanked the boy.

“Mi mama, Jazz, say, ‘wah gwaan di morrows.’” Jessica took that to be a greeting from his mother. Then, he stammered, “Inna di morrows… bless up” and left.

Rory understood his wife’s need for a pet and advised her to buy a length of twine, make a slip-knot collar and ‘leash.’ With the copper coloured pet, ‘Penny,’ in tow, Jessica crossed a weed field to Jazz’s house. Meeting her was a highlight; they planned a touristy day.

On a minibus out of Ocho Rios, they got to Kingston, then took a Juta Tours shuttlebus and headed up the inland’s snaking Kiyanna Road through the lush tropical and densely-forested Blue Mountain Range. Chatting and listening to the smooth rhythm of Reggae’s slow rock-steady drums and guitars made the tedious route a lot of fun. At a junction, they got out and walked the ‘Potter’s Path’ to Great Pond and came to the Wassi Art Pottery Studio.

Jessica was enthralled by the community of studio potters, and one dedicated artisan/guide greeted her with a hug and a kiss on each cheek, first the right, then the left. Offering stools, she said “Small up yuhself, honies and sit.” After the small talk, she took Jessica’s hand and led her and her friend through the vintage studio where fascinating one-of-a-kind, hand-made shapes and designs of unusual and unorthodox ceramics and stoneware in various stages of completion,

drew the women in. Tactile sensitive, in amazement, Jessica ran her fingers over the glazed objects in earth tones and brilliant colours. Each piece expressed the intuitive magic of untrained but exquisitelytalented and inspired artists. Jessica focused on a student at a potter’s wheel tediously handling, with a deft feel, the cool, humid, terra cotta clay to shape the lip of her fine vessel. Suddenly, a whirring echoed to the rafters and, thrown from the potter’s wheel, mud spewed in every direction like something had exploded. The whole vase was gone!

How could that have happened under the skillful and patient hands of that beautiful artist? Jessica was sickened to the point of tears. She reached out to the disappointed girl and, with trembling arms, embraced her and asked her name. Others in the studio looked up from their work stations with empathy for Marlena, then gathered around to comfort her and Jessica like family. Both women were sobbing.

“This happens all the time to all of us!” A teacher assured them, but Jessica could not fathom that they’d all experienced such exasperating moments in their learning curves and even after developing a high degree of skill. “Unfortunately, anything can go wrong at the potter’s wheel. Marlena will start over again; she’ll be alright.” And, she was, but Jessica was not. Taken aside by the thoughtful teacher, she calmed down and, once composed, was ready to continue the tour.

The ladies were impressed with the hundreds of materials stored in the warehouse: molds, paints,

brushes, glazes, crude earthenware, green ware, non-functional pieces, and unglazed, unfinished, unfired sculpted forms. They loved the massive gallery where, under revealing lights, finished pieces were displayed on glass shelving for their esthetics, and for sale. Jessica specifically asked to see Marlena’s work and was moved by the shiny abstract 3-dimensional AfroCaribbean craft with the potter’s mark, a stylized ‘M’, on the bottom of each piece kiln fired at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. A magnificent fourteeninch high sculpture of a brilliant tropical fish, swimming among coral and gold-gilded sea horses, with a baby sea turtle hitchhiking on its back, was Jessica’s favourite ‘Marlena piece.’ She bought it and giggled that her new kitten, ‘Penny,’ would love to catch that fish. At a picnic table in a garden near the studio’s impressive signage, Marlena joined the ladies for a photo-op before they were homeward bound.

Down the stunning mountainside, Jessica could hardly wait to tell Rory all about her outing. At the front of the open-air tour bus, a Reggae band strummed guitars, tickled the keyboard, and drummed to the four-beat melodies they sang for the weary folks. Highly stimulated and emotionally drained from the tour, Jessica dozed as the fresh air, music, memories and bus ride rocked her world

Kamloops Mens 55+

league is looking for players

For more information call Dennis (250-319-1669), Steve (778-257-7486), or Jack (250-319-6694).

Kamloops Mens 55+ Slo-Pitch league is looking for more players who have some previous experience playing ball. The season runs from April 17 to June 28. Games are on Mondays & Wednesdays from 6:15 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Charles Anderson Stadium.

Slo-Pitch

Local climate program moving to action phase

Submitted by Gisela Ruckert, Transition Kamloops & Jess Payette, Kamloops Food Policy Council

The IPCC report issued a stark warning in its report recently: we need to increase both the pace and the scale of our response to the climate crisis. A collaboration of non-profit groups is determined to contribute to that effort on the local level.

Since January, Transition Kamloops has been partnering with the Kamloops Food Policy Council and the Kamloops Naturalist Club to deliver an ambitious, 3-step climate action program:

1. Learning about the challenges around climate change and solutions that are being implemented around

the world;

2. Identifying opportunities for building local resilience;

3. Taking action! Developing and implementing a “madein-Kamloops” plan. The local groups were stunned by the huge response: almost 300 people expressed interest in the program, and over 160 signed up for the 12-week online course. “Those numbers tell us that the last few years of wildfires and floods have already made the consequences of climate change very real for us here in Kamloops—folks are very motivated to do what we can to mitigate further impacts,” says Gisela Ruckert,

an organizer with Transition Kamloops. Discussions among program participants have already generated a lot of creative ideas on ways to make a tangible difference in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and also preparing for a more unstable climate here in Kamloops. Those ideas and more will be the topic of discussion on April 29 at a one day community dialogue the organizers are dubbing Action Fest. The event will be a chance for the whole community to select and commit to implementing one or more local resiliencebuilding projects. Details will be available soon on the Transition Kamloops website.

3 fun and effective outdoor exercises for seniors

Continued from page 3

In addition, a 2022 study published in the journal JAMA Neurology found that people between the ages of 40 and 79 who walked about 9,800 steps per day were 51 percent less likely to develop dementia than people who didn’t walk much at all.

2. Cycling: Riding a bike is both fun and a great form of outdoor exercise. Though many studies regarding the health effects of cycling have looked at the value of riding a bike to work, a scenario that does not apply to retirees, the results of such studies still offer insight into just how valuable it can be to ride a bike. For example, a 2020 study published in the journal The Lancet found that people

who cycled to work were 24 percent less likely to die of heart disease and 11 percent less likely to develop cancer. Seniors, whether they are still working or retired, can incorporate cycling into their daily routines and enjoy all the fun and health benefits that riding a bike provides.

3. Hiking: Hiking is a bit more strenuous than walking, particularly when individuals choose to traverse steep and/or rocky terrain. WebMD notes that hiking after age 60 can help people reduce their risk of falls and fractures; lower their risk for a host of ailments, including coronary heart disease, colon cancer and diabetes;

“Everyone who is interested in working on local climate action projects over the next months is invited to come out on April 29 and brainstorm with us,” says Ruckert. “The projects themselves are important, of course, but one of the many co-benefits of this project is strengthening connections between the people in our community. In the end, resilience IS connection. Also, we know that the single biggest power to fight climate change is the power over land use, which is a municipal power so the local level is a really critical place to engage.”

The City of Kamloops already has a Community Climate

Action Plan, with goals to make changes in the transportation sector, in the energy-efficiency of our buildings, and in land-use for example enhancing natural areas to support biodiversity. “We need to make it easier for people’s everyday activities to have a low, or neutral carbon impact,” says Jess Payette of the Kamloops Food Policy Council. “We need to re-localize our food system so everyone can enjoy an abundance of food, without relying on importing crops we can grow ourselves. We need to rethink how we are designing our city so that getting around on transit, foot, or bicycle is the easiest and most pleasant way to travel.

The City plan is a good start, but we need to do more to involve the community.”

“It’s not too late to avoid the worst impacts of climate change,” says Ruckert. “But we need to get on it. The longer we delay, the harder and more expensive it gets. We know how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions we just need to get serious about doing it. As Antonio Guterres said, we need to do ‘everything, everywhere, all at once.’” Local champions are stepping up to lead and they’re calling on Kamloopsians to join them.

reduce blood pressure, even in adults who have already been diagnosed with hypertension; and maintain healthy bones and joints. Hiking is not a one-size-fits-all activity, so seniors, especially those who would characterize themselves as novice hikers, are urged to speak with their physicians prior to hiking trails that are not flat.

Seniors can consider these three fun activities and others as they answer the call of the great outdoors. Walking, cycling and hiking offer a great reason to get out of the house and reap the health-related benefits of spending time outside.

Organize & Update Now-Creating a Gift for Later

Submitted by Erin Chambers, Life Coach/End of Life Doula

Part of the practical in death is giving thought to the organization and execution of paperwork. In fact, there is actually more than just thought that needs to go into this task. What IS important to pass on or for people to know? Thoughts and verbal conversations are not enough…”No, mom…I actually don’t remember the password for your computer even though you said you mentioned it to me in a conversation we had over dinner two months ago…”

How are you going to record information that is necessary for others to know if you either can’t communicate and/or have died? Part of the answer in this might be found in the decisions you have made in regards to your health proxy, guardianship or who you have chosen as the executor of your estate.

There are certainly different ways to securely record your account credentials and it depends on what and where you are trying to store it. Leaving a copy of important information with people you trust is one way. It could be

Three pennies

a paper copy you’ve asked them to keep in their safe or perhaps your information is recorded on a USB stick.

Maybe having either paper or digital records stored in a safety deposit box could be another option. Keeping in mind, someone is either going to have access to a key or passwords to get this information.

Passwords, points of contact (bank, insurance, house), copies of important paperwork, instructions for the garage door opener, where the second set of car keys are…all of this information can be securely recorded and stored in multiple places.

Trust is a strong part of the process in deciding who, where and how to store your personal information as well as doing a little forward thinking-reminding yourself why you are doing this: to create ease, gifting your future self as well as those you care about - creating a little comfort in what can already be a difficult and/or challenging time for those left behind after your death.

End of Life Doula

Ialready had my flight to Illinois booked when the news of my father’s broken hip reached me. I had planned to be home for my parents’ birthdays, both in the first week of March. With the amazing customer service offered by Alaska Airlines I was able to move my flight up by ten days. My red eye flight allowed me to be at the hospital when my Dad woke up on Friday morning. He woke and slept through the morning, and every time he woke, we talked a bit.

The rest of my family arrived later that morning – and that afternoon we made the decision to move Dad to hospice care. Dad’s Parkinson’s disease had been slowly stealing the smart, funny and gentle

man we knew as husband and father. Dad had expressed his own peace about dying and his wish to be freed from Parkinson’s so we knew our decision was in line with his own desires. My Dad would die before the next Friday morning arrived.

On March 6th, the day before my return, my Mom and I went for lunch to celebrate a belated birthday for her –and to honour my Dad’s birthday and celebrate him. We lifted our glasses to Dad, wished him a happy birthday, and imagined the party on the other side of this life.

My father loved to walk – and in retirement he headed out every morning to pick up a cup of coffee and walk a loop around the community. It was not unusual for Dad to come home with extra money in his pockets. He found money everywhere – dollar bills, a handful of pennies, a quarter. He would often joke about taking us out for ice cream on the money he “earned” from walking.

As Mom and I prepared to leave the restaurant I slipped into the bathroom. There on the floor were three pennies. I showed them to Mom, telling her, “Apparently Dad appreciates that we celebrated his birthday today. He sent us a gift!”

This month marks Easter in the Christian calendar. The date for Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox (March 21st), a reminder for those of us in the northern hemisphere that the equinox ushers in spring, the season of new life, when the natural world is resurrecting all around us. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. I believe in an afterlife. I believe in a realm beyond this one where we experience The Big Love in some way. What that looks like remains a mystery. Those three pennies I found now sit on the windowsill above my desk. When I look at them I am reminded that my Dad found a way to be with us on his birthday – and I

live into the hope of resurrection. April is a month when many faiths celebrate: Muslims are in the midst of Ramadan, which will end with Eid alFitr on April 21st. Jews will celebrate the Passover April 4-12th. Hanuman Jayanti will be celebrated in India and Nepal on April 6th. Sikhism celebrates the new year on April 14th. Hindus and Jains will mark Akshaya Tritiya on April 22nd.

Whatever your faith, may you experience the joy of new life – of earth’s resurrection – this month.

Rev LeAnn Blackert works with Michele Walker, Lesly Comrie and Linda Clark in ministry with Wild Church in Kamloops, Sorrento and the Okanagan. She considers herself a seeker in her faith journey and wanders the wild world looking for the Great Mystery and the “wild Christ.” To find out more, visit wildchurchbc.com and be in touch!

REV. LEANN BLACKERT Wild Church

The Cremation Authorization

form is a very important document, even though Alice didn’t read it before signing (despite my encouragement). As promised last month, let’s carry on dissecting this form where we left off in our last column. (By the way, we’re putting this series onto our website, so if you missed a segment you can find it there (DrakeCremation.com).

The next part of the Cremation Authorization form states that Alice can be charged $50 per month if she doesn’t claim Murray’s ashes. We are required by law to hold on to them at no charge

for 60 days following his cremation. (Note: we haven’t strictly enforced this storage charge policy over the years; it doesn’t seem quite right to do so).

The form also states that after one year, Murray’s unclaimed ashes can be scattered by the funeral home.

Next, it’s on to more ‘tick’ boxes. During the arrangement process earlier we asked Alice if she wanted us to take Murray’s finger prints. A box on the cremation authorization form says ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’

There’s also a box asking if Murray has a pacemaker or ‘other implanted mechanical or radioactive device.’ A pacemaker needs removing and radioactive seeds for prostate cancer treatment can potentially pose a serious safety threat for the cremationist.

This concern about radioactive exposure is one oft cited in funeral director/cremationist circles. According to ‘radiation protection specialist’ Eric Abelquist, CHP, PhD, the half-life of the (seeds) is 60 days, so after 10 months the seeds will have lost more

than 95 percent of their radioactivity (https://hps. org/publicinformation/ate/ q10119.html). In any event, according to Abelquist, if the seeds rupture during cremation, and if there is any radioactivity left in them, most of the radioactivity is “released through the stack, only a small fraction…will be left in the cremated remains.” I’m not sure how comforting that is, but there you go. That’s why they should be removed. We don’t ask about or remove ‘mechanical devices’ (e.g. knees) until after cremation. The rest of the form is quite predictable and simple. It asks for a description of the cremation container/ casket that is to be used for the cremation and the urn or container to be used for Murray’s ashes. Almost everyone is cremated in a simple ‘cremation container.’ We don’t tend to use the term ‘casket’ because – for many people – it conjures up an image of expensive oak or mahogany lined with fine silk. The ‘casket’ of choice for most people is the least expensive one we

supply: a plywood base or tray and a cardboard top. Most people, including Alice, choose the lowest cost cremation container or casket because, as Alice put it, “No one’s going to see it, it’s going to be burned anyway, and Murray wouldn’t want us to spend a lot of money on that.” That makes perfect sense to me too, Alice. Rather than spend two, three, four or more thousand dollars on a casket, Alice will pay just over $200 for Murray’s cremation ‘casket.’ Finally, Alice indicates to whom she wants Murray’s ashes delivered (usually to the funeral home) and signs the form. We date it and witness it, and that’s it. Except for one thing: by signing the form Alice indicates that she has read and agreed to the Terms and Conditions on the back of the form. The Cremation Authorization form has thirteen terms and conditions on the back. There’s a reason for them and they are important, mostly for legal purposes. Next month, in our last instalment in this series, we’ll look at these terms and conditions.

Transform your space with new flooring

your flooring is visible and how heavily it impacts the look, colour, and feel of your space. Below we will share a few of the ways that upgraded flooring will transform your home and lifestyle.

New Floors are a Value Booster

Flooring

PAUL MORRIS Nufloors

When it comes to sprucing up your home, a complete renovation is not required to change its look and feel. An update in flooring style or type can give a specific room or your entire home a new motif. Many clients don’t realize just how much square footage of

New flooring can increase the value of your home. If you are thinking of selling your home, changing the flooring may be something worth your while to ensure maximum return when you sell. This is especially true if you install hardwood flooring, as it is highly sought after by homeowners.

A Modern, Updated Look

Old and tired floors quickly date your home and can leave the space feeling very blah. When you update your flooring,

you are also breathing life back into your home. When you feel good in your living space you tend to be more productive and feel better about life in general.

Improved Functionality

New floors are cozy, inviting, and comfortable to walk on, not to mention, a lot easier to maintain than past generations. If you’re tired of working to clean your floors without them ever feeling clean, then a flooring update might be for you. Think of all the things you could do with that saved time!

Reduce Allergens

Older floors, especially carpets, can be harmful to your health because they can be a source of allergens. Dust, mold, and mildew can often hide in or under your worn flooring and underlayment leading

to potential health hazards. By changing your flooring, you are starting with a clean slate.

Heating

We already mentioned how new floors can help make your space feel warm and cozy, but we didn’t specify that this could happen in tiled areas too. Adding radiant heat underneath your tile will ensure that cold toes are a thing of the past! The heat can be programmed to turn on and off at a specific time and is a nice luxury to have during our colder months.

If you would like to chat more about any of your flooring needs don’t hesitate to reach out or stop by our showroom. We offer free estimates and are more than happy to learn about your upcoming project.

Ask

L e ts Ta l k He aring Ai ds

A style to suit every need...

With six styles of hearing aids available (and numerous types of each), knowing which one to choose might seem daunting. That’s where a hearing professional comes in.

We will recommend a style based on important factors like your level of hearing loss, aesthetic preferences, lifestyle needs, budget and more

Behind-The-E ar (BTE)

A BTE hearing aid houses the hearing components in a casing that rests behind the ear. A clear plastic acoustical tube directs amplified sound into an earbud or a customized earmold that is fitted inside the ear canal BTEs are the world’s most common hearing aid, are typically the biggest, and are ideal for moderate to severe hearing loss.

Receiver-In-Canal (RIC)

RIC style hearing aids are instruments where the receiver or speaker is inside the ear canal, which is then connected to the main

device by a thin electrical wire B ecause of this, RICs are typically smaller than BTEs RIC hearing aids are sleek and stylish, are usually feature packed, and are great options for mild to moderate hearing loss.

In-The-E ar (ITE)

ITE hearing aids are the biggest of the custom-fit styles. Each ITE is machine-crafted based on a mold of your ear with all the components fitting in a plastic casing that then fits smoothly within the outer portion of the ear. ITEs are one of two custom styles big enough to house manual controls, and are used for mild to severe hearing loss.

In-The-Canal (ITC)

ITC hearing aids are also custom made based on a mold of your ear. They are smaller than ITEs, with only a small part of the hearing aid shell showing in the outer ear ITCs come in a variety of faceplate covers, can include manual controls for volume and memor y, and are a good custom-fit choice for mild to mildly severe hearing loss.

C ompletely-In-Canal (CIC)

CIC hearing aids are custom made to fit completely in your ear canal Only the tip of a small plastic “handle” shows outside the canal, which is used to insert and remove the instrument. Their small size can pose dexterity challenges. CIC hearing aids are used to help with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Invisible (IIC)

IIC hearing aids are the smallest, most discreet hearing aids made. This custom-fit style is inserted in the second bend of the ear canal, so it’s completely invisible* when worn. A small plastic “handle” lets you remove them daily to promote good ear health. Their deep ear placement mean IICs can’t be worn by ever yone, and they’re only used for mild to moderate hearing loss.

Hearing Aids come in several colours!

C onnect to b etter hearing. Now more effor t less t han e ver.