Between You and Me

2005-05 Now that the warm weather seems to be here to stay, all over the province the special recreational sites are opening up and festivals are being planned. Instruments are being tuned up, crafts are being polished and prepared, and art shows are being organized. If a person had the time and the energy, he or she could treat the month of May as one big party. Those folks who spend their summers RVing are getting their mobile homes washed and dusted, tuned and oiled, and planning their spring and summer routes. The local RVclub, the OK Noggins, are actively seeking new members, so if you are new to this life style, give them a call at 763-9596 (see details on page 5) They will make you welcome and get you started on years of travel and camping adventure. If you have grandchildren to entertain, you might consider taking them to the Gold Panning Championships at Cherryville, the Falkland Stampede or the Kettle Valley Railroad, complete with train robbers, in Summerland. If your taste runs to music we have Jazz Festivals and Country Music Festivals. There are pancake breakfasts and car shows in the Kootenays, and a horse show at Spruce Meadows, in Calgary. The craft fraternity, the buyers as well as the artisans, are preparing for the 30th annual Creative Chaos craft extravaganza in Vernon June 3-5. For those who enjoy nature and the outdoors there is a bird watcher's week at Radium and the fabulous 5 day long Meadowlark Festival in Penticton. Both these events feature an 'owl prowl' and I can testify that this is something you will enjoy thoroughly and long remember. The O'Keefe Ranch and Fort Steele are both opening with a flourish in May, with special events planned for most weekends. Those folks with an interest in history will be sure to find something new to enjoy as the interpretive centers unveil their new programs For those who are staying closer to home during May, the senior centers are changing over to their summer programs, and new members are always welcome. The winter sports make way for the summer ones as everyone tries to get outside as much as possible. Hockey sticks are traded for golf clubs and the games continue. Theatre lovers can look forward to the Okanagan Drama Festival, where 8 of our best drama groups fight it out for the coveted trophy. The festival leads off with "The Beard of Avon" which is described as a 'bawdy comedy.' What better way to spend a May evening? If you love being out on the lake but are without a cruiser of your own, consider booking on to the one operating out of Vernon. Take a seat on the top deck, order your favorite drink and snack, and sit back and enjoy a beautiful two-hour cruise up the lake. It makes a lovely 'Ladies Night Out', a birthday treat for older relatives or an introduction to the valley for summer visitors. The wineries up and down the valley are opening up their restaurants now and dusting off the patio tables, ready for the wine festival, followed by the spring and summer crowds. Rudy's column for May gives us a brief history of the industry, which has grown beyond recognition in the past decade. Who could have imagined, in the early days, that the orchards would be replaced by vineyards and Okanagan wine would be competing with the best in the world, and winning! The list of gold medals that have been brought home to the valley is truly impressive. For those with quieter tastes, we are introducing a new garden column in the May paper, written by Lindi Karmason of Lake Country Greenhouses. Lindi will be happy to answer your gardening questions and we'll be sure to pass them along to her. Then, as Kim Calloway says in his column, take some time to listen to your local candidates, and make the trek to the voting booth. If you have any problem getting out to vote, phone the candidate's office and they will arrange transportation for you.

 

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