Income tax time
Beginning March 7 and every Wednesday until the end of April, four certified volunteers with Revenue Community Volunteer Program will be at Salvation Army’s Warrior’s Song Cafe at 374 McLean Avenue to help low-income seniors, students and new citizens, from 9-11 a.m. and 12-2 p.m. For those who cannot come in, Sharon offers to arrange another time. Call her at 250-747-2132 and she will go to their home. They have been providing this service since 2000.
Salute to past Girl Guide/Scout leaders
In recognition of Lord Baden Powell’s birthday on Feb. 22 and on behalf of so many young people who have gone through the system, we say thank you to present and former leaders. Baden Powell was founder of the Boy Scouts in 1908 and Girl Guides in 1910 to promote good citizenship. He died Jan. 8, 1941 in Kenya colony, Africa.
Headed by Scouters Rick and Tammy Raynor of Baden-Powell Service Association (BPSA), local guides and scouts chose Thinking Day, Feb. 22, to serve the community with a Hike for Hunger. They met at the Quesnel Museum at 6 p.m. with donations of non-perishable items of food and walked to the Salvation Army’s food bank in the Warrior’s Song Cafe.
There was a good turnout of Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Guiders and independent BPSA Scouts described it as another wonderful event. Numbers of Guides and Scouts are down considerably, partly due to difficulty in finding dedicated leaders. They have a new group of five-year-old Otters at Riverview School as well as Timber Wolves and Explorers. If you can help, contact the Raynors at 250-747-4334 or Guide District Commissioner Lee-An at 250-992-8168.
Fourth Annual Writing Contest
Sponsored by Friends of the Library, Wordspinners, Literacy Quesnel and Quesnel & District Community Arts Council, writers are invited to participate in this year’s contest. This year the topic chosen is “Crossroads” for your submitted story of 500 words or less. Entries should be typed and the contest is open to residents in School District #28 catchment boundaries. Entry forms can be picked up at the Arts and Recreation Centre on the Arts Council’s bulletin board, Quesnel Library, Quesnel Visitor Centre and Literacy Quesnel as well as at Quesnel Junior School and Correlieu Secondary School. Writers can also download forms from the Quesnel & District Community Arts Council website (www.quesnelarts.ca).
Deadline for entries is Apr. 2, 2018 at 9 p.m. Contestants can email their entry to bheinzel@quesnelbc.com (be sure you get confirmation from Bernice that she received it at 250-747-1727). They can also be mailed to Quesnel & District Community Arts Council Writing Contest, 500 North Star Road, Quesnel, B.C. V2J 5P6 or dropped off at the Arts and Recreation Centre, clearly labelled Writing Contest.
Judging criteria: Is it convincing? Does it draw you into its world? Do you find it exciting or moving? Do the characters come alive as real? Do you feel you learned something or gained some insight or have amused or did you enjoy reading it? Winning entries to be read by author or designate and published in the Quesnel Cariboo Observer. Prizes in youth and adult categories: 1st - $75; 2nd-$50; 3rd - $25. Celebration of Writers is Apr. 19 in Quesnel Library at 6:30 p.m. with presentations at 7 p.m. For information contact Bernice at 250-747-1727.
Ruth Scoullar is a seniors’ advocate and regular Observer contributor.