Pick up some freebies!

Coming to the Quail Garage Sale on Saturday? Have a look at some  items we’re giving away: softwood lumber, wood pallets, rain barrels, shelving, and other bits and pieces that might appeal to a handy gal or guy. Perfect for outdoor projects and shelving.  Lumber comes in various sizes and lengths (2x12x20, 2×10, 2×8, etc)

Help us reduce, reuse and recycle!

Drop by on Saturday June 16 from 9 – 2  for pickup.  Can’t wait that long? Arts council volunteers will be on site Friday June 15 from 9 – 5 setting up for the sale. Talk to one of us then. Other arrangements can be made by emailing  OliverCAC @ gmail.com  or call 250-485-2535.

Cleaning the Nest – Inside and Out

Spring Cleanup
Friday June 8
Saturday June 9
8 – 12 noon
Quail’s Nest Arts Centre
5840 Airport Road

 

Bring your favourite cleaning and gardening tools and wear your favourite cleaning / gardening clothes. Most creative outfit each day wins a prize!

Your choice of jobs awaits you: weeding, pruning, mowing, garbage collecting and  dump running and other outside jobs are the highest priority, but indoor window washing, and mopping are also available. Rags, sponges, mop, buckets, cleaning products, garbage bags, and hoses provided.  Coffee time treats also provided.

Anyone with a truck or trailer willing to take items to the dump, please drop by in the late morning each day.

Thanks to SOAP Players for pressure washing and cleaning Big Blue on the Sunday!

 

Community Living Helps Out at the Quail’s Nest

Clients of the Southern Okanagan Association of Integrated Community Living (SOAICL) have been contracted this past summer to assist with groundskeeping at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre. Under the direction of SOAICL staff Mike Bell, the group has kept weeds at bay with periodic weed whacking. Arts Council board member Sally Franks and treasurer  Jack Bennest have been instrumental in arranging for SOAICL’s assitance to keep the grounds neat.

The arts council Board recently approved a contract with SOAICL to pay for monthly cleaning inside the Studio Building at the Quail’s Nest. The arts council’s cleaning crew co-ordinator Marion Trimble is stepping down from her post after many years of quiet behind-the-scenes labour. With that in mind, the Board has now divvied up the cleaning duties between Quail’s Nest user groups and SOAICL. Repeat users are responsible for the lighter and more regular housekeeping duties to keep the centre neat, clean,  and tidy, while SOAICL is now contracted to do heavier duty cleaning such as washrooms and floors.

THANK YOU!! to Marion Trimble for keeping us bright and shiny all these years!

THANK YOU!! to Oliver Sagebrushers Art Club for continuing to provide cleaning crews!

THANK YOU!! to the hard working SOAICL team for taking a load off our shoulders!

Community Living Helps Out at the Quail's Nest

Clients of the Southern Okanagan Association of Integrated Community Living (SOAICL) have been contracted this past summer to assist with groundskeeping at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre. Under the direction of SOAICL staff Mike Bell, the group has kept weeds at bay with periodic weed whacking. Arts Council board member Sally Franks and treasurer  Jack Bennest have been instrumental in arranging for SOAICL’s assitance to keep the grounds neat.

The arts council Board recently approved a contract with SOAICL to pay for monthly cleaning inside the Studio Building at the Quail’s Nest. The arts council’s cleaning crew co-ordinator Marion Trimble is stepping down from her post after many years of quiet behind-the-scenes labour. With that in mind, the Board has now divvied up the cleaning duties between Quail’s Nest user groups and SOAICL. Repeat users are responsible for the lighter and more regular housekeeping duties to keep the centre neat, clean,  and tidy, while SOAICL is now contracted to do heavier duty cleaning such as washrooms and floors.

THANK YOU!! to Marion Trimble for keeping us bright and shiny all these years!

THANK YOU!! to Oliver Sagebrushers Art Club for continuing to provide cleaning crews!

THANK YOU!! to the hard working SOAICL team for taking a load off our shoulders!

Oliver is Bloomin’

submitted by Betty Lou Trimmer Bahnsen
Communities in Bloom Co-Chair

At the BC Communities in Bloom Conference held in Hope BC on September 24 – 26, Oliver was awarded “Four out of Five Blooms”, recognizing a year of intensive landscaping and cleanup across the district. This is an astounding feat, as this is only Oliver’s first of two years in the provincial Communities in Bloom programme. This date also marks the anniversary of the idea to have Oliver participate in Communities in Bloom. What a way to commemorate a years work with four lovely Blooms!

The Oliver Community Arts Council is basking in the reflected glow. The arts council was asked by the Communities in Bloom (CIB) committee to provide some motivation  and excitement among Oliver residents by organizing a competition to boost interest in the CIB programme.  In the spring of 2010, the OCAC’s “Best Bloomin’ Garden Contest” was off and running. A small group of arts council members solicited sponsors, organized several categories for the competition, determined criteria for each award category, arranged for judging by the Oliver Heirloom Garden Club, and designed and presented the awards. Thanks to Best Bloomin’ Garden Contest chair Penny Ruddy, and committee Stephanie Salsnek, Brian and Jennifer Mapplebeck, and Dot Cranston for their hard work!  Thanks to John Salsnek and Linda Blaschuk for designing the charming trophy. Although we were only a part of the overall cleanup efforts across the municipality and regional district, the OCAC-sponsored contest got competitive juices flowing, and gave incentive to residents and businesses to get involved.

Initially, the Oliver Communities in Bloom committee had planned to be in the non-competitive category in the first year thus, using the opportunity of the judges’ visit and evaluation to learn and to build on their adjudication for the following year, at which time Oliver would enter into the competitive category. However, at the final meeting with the judges during their July 2010 visit to Oliver, it was the judges’ suggestion that we upgrade to the competitive category. They indicated that the community had done very well and would gain more public recognition with an award, in addition to reaping the benefits of an evaluation. The Oliver Communities in Bloom committee followed the judges’ advice  — with full awareness that most communities take several years to attain the full Five Blooms. It therefore came as a complete surprise that Oliver was acclaimed with Four Blooms after only one year.

The achievement of the “Four Bloom” status and the community pride associated with this award could not have taken place without the total involvement of the Oliver community. We are thank ful for the support of individual participants , our many partners and sponsors, the local politicians (Town and Area C), the business community who gave so generously in kind, the Osoyoos Indian Band, the Bahvsagar Sikh Temple Council, the many service and cultural groups, the media, the untiring efforts of the special employees of the Town of Oliver administrative staff and Public Works, together with the happy band of Oliver Communities in Bloom volunteers which brought about this great result.

OLIVER, WE ARE A BLOOMIN’ GOOD COMMUNITY!

Photo Credit: Patrick Reid

****************

Want more information about the Communities in Bloom program? Here are some excerpts from the provincial CIB website (http://www.bccommunitiesinbloom.ca/)

All participating communities in either the national or provincial contests receive a rating of one to five ‘blooms’. All participants are promoted within BC and nationally, and are invited to attend the provincial Awards Ceremony which takes place in the fall, hosted by a different community each year. A top five bloom rating may result in an invitation to participate in the following year’s national program.

In addition to their rating, each BC CiB participant receives a comprehensive report, prepared by the judges (all qualified and experienced horticulturalists and specialists). This report reviews the particular features and projects in each of the eight criteria areas that the community has undertaken and presented. These criteria include tidiness, environmental awareness, community involvement, natural and cultural heritage conservation, tree/urban forest management, landscaped areas, floral displays, turf and groundcover. The judges offer constructive hints and recommendations for the following year.

Of course, all participants are winners with respect to increased civic pride, preservation of natural and architectural heritage, economic development, ehanced property values, decreased vandalism, improved environmental awareness, business development, increased tourism appeal, corporate relocations, new development, investment and general economic activity based on being more attractive, liveable communities!

Oliver is Bloomin'

submitted by Betty Lou Trimmer Bahnsen
Communities in Bloom Co-Chair

At the BC Communities in Bloom Conference held in Hope BC on September 24 – 26, Oliver was awarded “Four out of Five Blooms”, recognizing a year of intensive landscaping and cleanup across the district. This is an astounding feat, as this is only Oliver’s first of two years in the provincial Communities in Bloom programme. This date also marks the anniversary of the idea to have Oliver participate in Communities in Bloom. What a way to commemorate a years work with four lovely Blooms!

The Oliver Community Arts Council is basking in the reflected glow. The arts council was asked by the Communities in Bloom (CIB) committee to provide some motivation  and excitement among Oliver residents by organizing a competition to boost interest in the CIB programme.  In the spring of 2010, the OCAC’s “Best Bloomin’ Garden Contest” was off and running. A small group of arts council members solicited sponsors, organized several categories for the competition, determined criteria for each award category, arranged for judging by the Oliver Heirloom Garden Club, and designed and presented the awards. Thanks to Best Bloomin’ Garden Contest chair Penny Ruddy, and committee Stephanie Salsnek, Brian and Jennifer Mapplebeck, and Dot Cranston for their hard work!  Thanks to John Salsnek and Linda Blaschuk for designing the charming trophy. Although we were only a part of the overall cleanup efforts across the municipality and regional district, the OCAC-sponsored contest got competitive juices flowing, and gave incentive to residents and businesses to get involved.

Initially, the Oliver Communities in Bloom committee had planned to be in the non-competitive category in the first year thus, using the opportunity of the judges’ visit and evaluation to learn and to build on their adjudication for the following year, at which time Oliver would enter into the competitive category. However, at the final meeting with the judges during their July 2010 visit to Oliver, it was the judges’ suggestion that we upgrade to the competitive category. They indicated that the community had done very well and would gain more public recognition with an award, in addition to reaping the benefits of an evaluation. The Oliver Communities in Bloom committee followed the judges’ advice  — with full awareness that most communities take several years to attain the full Five Blooms. It therefore came as a complete surprise that Oliver was acclaimed with Four Blooms after only one year.

The achievement of the “Four Bloom” status and the community pride associated with this award could not have taken place without the total involvement of the Oliver community. We are thank ful for the support of individual participants , our many partners and sponsors, the local politicians (Town and Area C), the business community who gave so generously in kind, the Osoyoos Indian Band, the Bahvsagar Sikh Temple Council, the many service and cultural groups, the media, the untiring efforts of the special employees of the Town of Oliver administrative staff and Public Works, together with the happy band of Oliver Communities in Bloom volunteers which brought about this great result.

OLIVER, WE ARE A BLOOMIN’ GOOD COMMUNITY!

Photo Credit: Patrick Reid

****************

Want more information about the Communities in Bloom program? Here are some excerpts from the provincial CIB website (http://www.bccommunitiesinbloom.ca/)

All participating communities in either the national or provincial contests receive a rating of one to five ‘blooms’. All participants are promoted within BC and nationally, and are invited to attend the provincial Awards Ceremony which takes place in the fall, hosted by a different community each year. A top five bloom rating may result in an invitation to participate in the following year’s national program.

In addition to their rating, each BC CiB participant receives a comprehensive report, prepared by the judges (all qualified and experienced horticulturalists and specialists). This report reviews the particular features and projects in each of the eight criteria areas that the community has undertaken and presented. These criteria include tidiness, environmental awareness, community involvement, natural and cultural heritage conservation, tree/urban forest management, landscaped areas, floral displays, turf and groundcover. The judges offer constructive hints and recommendations for the following year.

Of course, all participants are winners with respect to increased civic pride, preservation of natural and architectural heritage, economic development, ehanced property values, decreased vandalism, improved environmental awareness, business development, increased tourism appeal, corporate relocations, new development, investment and general economic activity based on being more attractive, liveable communities!