by Aimee Grice, Producer

V-Day Oliver-Osoyoos volunteers have been working tirelessly once again to campaign against gender based violence. As we near the end of our 2015 campaign, I would encourage all of you to take a moment to reflect on the significance of this movement. The V-Day organization, founded by Eve Ensler has benefited countless women and girls, by raising over 100 million dollars for grassroots organizations around the world. I feel that if we have the ability, we have the responsibility to take a stand and say no to violence against women! The first step to stopping the violence is spreading awareness. The V-Day global movement uses live theater as a vehicle to inform as well as entertain, allowing the audience to take an active role in sayting no to violence again women and girls. The statistics are staggering and horrifying. If you haven’t been a victim yourself, you likely know a woman or girl who has.

We’re getting quite close now, only about a week left until V-Day Oliver-Osoyoos presents their 2015 production of The Vagina Monologues. Back by popular demand, we have returned to an audience favourite! In 2013 we sold out and had to turn people away at the door, so this year we’ve added a second performance! Performances take place on April 10^th and 11^th at 7pm, at the Osoyoos Secondary School Theatre. Tickets are available at Innervisions, Sundance Video and The Bargain! Shop in Oliver and at Jojo’s Café and Art Therapy Corp in Osoyoos. Prices are $18 in advance and $20 at the door, but don’t leave it to chance: buy your tickets now! There are brand new monologues this year as well as some of your favourites! We have such a strong cast of dedicated women this year, come out and support local theater and take a stand against gender-based violence! Please share and spread the word about this powerful production, and come out and enjoy the show!

by Marion Boyd

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” and lead you to your calendar to mark the dates for the Sage Valley Singers Beatles Concert coming up on Saturday, April 25^th at 7 pm and Sunday, April 26^th at 2:30 pm.   Performances are at the Oliver United Church and $10 tickets are available at the door.   Yummy refreshments will be offered after each performance and a time to sit with friends and reminisce about the days when the music of the Beatles filled the air.

“Imagine” John Lennon’s vision of the world we still long for.  Consider John and Paul McCartney’s big question,  “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty four?   Imagine a day when you thought 64 WAS old!?

The Beatles completely changed the popular music scene with more complex rhythm and complicated harmonies.   Whether it was their “Ticket to Ride” or “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, they enthralled a generation and spoke to them in words that still hold true.   “All You Need is Love” or “Can’t Buy Me Love” came out of a Hard Day’s Night.   “Michelle” spoke to the allure of the exotic.   When you hear Sue Morhun’s solo introduction of “Yesterday” all your troubles will feel far away.   Some of you will also remember a yesterday in this community when Sue played lead roles in the many musicals performed before packed crowds in the old Venables Auditorium.

The favorite songs of the Beatles concert will be a mixed slate of individual solos (Hayley Shannon will belt out “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”.  Cindy Gilbert will present “In My Life”, for example) and there will be a variety of small group numbers too such as  “And I Love Her” and “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.”

All this is led by the irrepressible Lori Martine who never tires in her efforts to make music available to all age groups in this community.   She will bring along some of her school choir to add extra spice to the Beatles event.

Lori has a right hand girl,  Sandy Andres, to provide piano accompaniment.   Sandy’s musical talent and ability to both lead, correct and cover mistakes inadvertantly made by our various vocalists knows no bounds.    How can we not adore her?!

I urge you to come out to the concerts on April 25^th or 26^th and revel in this very accessible music.   You can warm up your own vocal chords a bit too and plan to join the choir with some “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da” and “Yellow Submarine”.   Don’t be shy.   It’s fun!!!    Proceeds from the door go to worthwhile community programs like the local soup kitchen.  Food bank donations are welcomed.