The Oliver Sagebrushers are proud to announce that talented Sagebrusher Sheryl Fossett has an exhibit at Stoneboat Vineyards on now through July.long weekend. Sheryl’s acrylics and watercolours highlight the best of the Okanagan. Go take a look!

Register for our Summer Reading Club program and help us build the Tallest Lego Tower in Oliver!  Every child that registers for our great summer program will receive a selection of Lego bricks to add to the Tower.  Guess how high it will grow and win your own Lego!  Will it reach the Library ceiling?

Register in person at the library starting June 19 and receive your free Reading Log and contest information.  We have built a great line-up of programs this summer for our club members.  Remember all library programs are FREE!

July 2    Build a Book! Our very special guest, local artist and photographer Leza MacDonald will help us build our own Book.  This is an exceptional opportunity for children to experience Leza’s well known enthusiasm and talent.  This great workshop will actually be two sessions.  The first night the children will work on constructing their book and then on….

July 9    Build your unique Steam Punk cover.  Using Steam Punk doodads, gears and notions each cover will be unique.  All the material will be supplied, all the children have to do is bring their imaginations and creativity!  Each book will be given a library label and displayed on a special shelf in the library.

July 16  Build your Life in a one-room school.  Come dressed for your life in the past.  Sit down at your desk and discover a mystery object.  Using your talents and your slate tablet solve the mystery!  Our special guest is local Heritage Manager, Pamela Woolner.

July 23  Build a Band with Drum Circle Facilitator Barb Seiler.  A super opportunity to experience the joy and fun of drumming.  We will supply the instruments.

July 30  Build a Book Launch Party.  Come check out your Steam Punk Book to take home.  Autograph your first edition and accept your prize (it’s a surprise)!  Tasty treats and groovy games.

Aug. 6   Our Finale – Build It! Our favorite magician, the Amazing, Award Winning Leif David is back with his brand new Summer Reading Magic Show.

Friday Night June 5th is the kick off to the Oliver Sagebrushers’ Awesome Okanagan Art Show/Sale at Medici’s in Oliver. Doors opens at 7:00pm. Music will be provided by Mountainview Drive, a funky duo with Steph and Corrie. Steph rocks the guitar and Corrie has one of the best singing voices in the valley!

Two artists from our club, Marion Trimble and Cameron Ogilvie, will be introduced, probably roasted slightly and their works proudly displayed among the many fantastic pieces of original Okanagan Art for sale from the Oliver Sagebrushers. There will be a toonie draw for an acrylic painting!

So please come for a night of amazing Okanagan Art , a chance to win an original piece of work, truly great music, wine , beer, appies and the time of your life….Medici’s at 522 Fairview Road in Oliver…250-498-2228

Grab a chair and $10 (only $5 if you are a student) and come for some fun!   Thursday, June 11^th at 7 pm Oliver’s Grandmothers for Africa are presenting the Thursday Night Jazz Band at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre at 5840 Airport  Street. Many of you already are familiar with a few of the jazz musicians who played the hugely successful Offramp Jazz Sextet concert at Venables Theatre back in January of this year.

The idea of the Thursday Night Jazz Band is unique, brilliant and quite different from a formal concert. Talented and generous, a substantial group of jazz musicians from the South Okanagan get together in various combinations to perform.   They have to practice and most have day jobs. So Thursday nights, informal and fun, are  practice time and why not practice in front of an audience and help local charities raise money for worthwhile causes?

On June 11^th the cause is the Stephen Lewis Foundation programs in Africa to help African grandmothers raise grand-kids orphaned by the AIDS pandemic.   The history of AIDS in Africa chronicles hardship and painful losses but it also is the story of indomitable grandmothers who manage to feed, clothe, and educate their grandchildren, give them love and support through their grieving, engage in home-based care, AIDS education and income generating projects By working together, grandmothers here and in Africa are part of a massive process of reaching out to help isolated and fractured families become vibrant and hopeful.

When you join us June 11^th expect a win/win musical evening with a variety of big band jazz pieces and some incredible improvisations.   Come with your friends  for some fine entertainment knowing that by attending you are helping children in Africa survive and thrive.

It’s finally here!  The 7th Annual Bloomin’ Plant Sale is this Saturday, May 23rd from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at the corner of Co-op and Main St across from Super Valu (outside Dr. Ng’s office).

Donations of plants can be dropped off at the community garden anytime this week or contact Heather at olivercommunitygarden @ yahoo.com or leave a message at 250-485-2575 to arrange pick up.  Many thanks to the generous vendors who have already donated and the talented gardeners who have shared their plants.

Special thanks to the Oliver Youth Cares group wo will be helping us out and hosting a bake sale at the same time.

All proceeds go to support the operation of the Oliver Community Garden – proud supporter of the school gardening program and the Oliver Food Bank.

ART WITHOUT BORDERS – Sister city to visit Oliver – by Marion Trimble

Visitors from Oliver’s sister city, Chelan, Washington, are making a day trip to visit on Friday, May  29.  The invitation to Oliver was made after a group of Oliverites made the trip south to Chelan last year.  During this trip, being hosted royally by our American cousins, a return trip was proposed. This month, nine visitors from Chelan are coming to visit here for the first time.

It’s a tremendous opportunity to get to know our neighbours.  Over the years, mayors and council representatives, have formed friendships borne from official visits to each others city.  An expansion of that friendship to include all interested is the goal of those organizing this trip.  These first exchange road trips have been organized by a couple of local artists. They emphasize everyone is welcome.   Long lasting benefits to our town’s tourism, businesses  and for everyone to meet new friends exist in creating an ongoing annual sister city exchange.

Our visitors will arrive in the morning and be taken on a downtown walking tour hosted by Tara Hovanes. Proudly showing off Oliver’s uniqueness provides the tour focus.  Of interest to our guests will be the several businesses displaying artwork by local artists .  “Welcome Chelan Visitors” signs displayed by Main Street businesses will delight our guests as they wind their way north on the east side of Main Street and down to the Station Visitor’s Centre.   On the way we’ll stop at several businesses displaying art, the Oliver Chronicle and office of our MLA, Linda Larsen.

Midday, the entourage will take a lunch break at the Oliver Legion.  Everyone is invited to come.  The Legion is generously opening their doors with a special menu at $15.00 per person.  Afterwards, we’ll continue on the tour visiting shops on the West side of Main Street, the museum and town hall before heading to Medici’s for a gelato while viewing the Oliver Sagebrushers art on the walls.  Heading back to Main Street , the tour visits the Oliver Art Gallery before finishing up at the old Fields Store parking lot to view the wall mural painted by Leza Macdonald and Sally Franks.

We say goodbye briefly as we meet again later for a potluck dinner, 6-8 pm, at the Quail’s Nest.  Everyone is invited to attend.  Bring a potluck item and if you wish a sample of your art or brochures from your business.  After welcomes from our mayor,  representatives from Oliver Tourism and the Oliver Arts Council, there’ll be time to mingle, greet our guests and make plans for the next exchange visit.

If you plan to attend either the lunch or potluck or both, please let either Marion Trimble or Tara Hovanes know which event you’ll attend. Contact olivercac @ gmail.com and the arts council will forward your RVSP. Wear a nametag!