Thursday, February 16^th, is the date to mark on your calendar for the annual Grandmothers for Africa BRIDGE EVENT from 10 to 2:30 at Fairview Mountain Golf Club.   Preregistration by Feb. 14^th is necessary so email bridgesocialnews @ gmail.com or call Leslie at 250 498 2282. For only $20 you get the entire bridge social including lunch and you also are contributing to the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s work with unsung heroines, African grandmothers.

Recent global events have had women all over the world marching for social justice. The recognition that we are all connected as human beings is front and center.   That is why women in Oliver have gathered to support the empowerment of grandmothers in Africa.   The depth of love, tenacity, intelligence and hope at community level in Africa is absolutely compelling. Most African grandmothers live in under-resourced communities and face the brunt of the effect of HIV/AIDS and poverty as they bear the load of caring for families, financially, emotionally and physically.   With their strong sense of responsibility they quite literally make the impossible happen. They are the greatest hope for kids growing up orphaned by the AIDS pandemic.

Grassroots support groups, funded and encouraged by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, carry particular meaning for African grandmothers.   They are greeted with love, warmth and open arms and they find in their groups a place to share their life experiences and to learn new coping strategies.

When you come to play bridge on February 16^th, you will have the opportunity to see and buy goods made by both African and Canadian grandmothers.   It is a day to come together, have fun and support other women carrying burdens greater than our own.   Don’t forget the preregistation deadline of February 14^th!

Photo: Shirley Polk, President of Oliver Grandmothers for Africa and African Grandmother, Mariam Mulindwa

The Season IV Kick-Off of the great Friday Night Live was incredible. We had so many great artists and bands that the amazing Marcel could barely hang on to them all. New bands, new performers, even a sneaky karaoke performance. Episode II (I’m pretending we’re an HBO series now) promises to be even bigger and better…how could that be? 

We always have some familiar stars and new bright lights to amaze and hypnotize you. Sound master Stephane made everyone sound soooo good. His sweet Corrie is back from Mexico, so maybe!!! (Floyd the dog only nibbled on his guitar).

FNL stars from all over are making the pilgrimage home. Lean and Rod are holding court on their big table. Lean is threatening to return to the stage: yeah!! So is Rod: Booo!

Marcel is on fire and his beautiful daughter Jazz has begun what promises to be a remarkable singing journey.

Come kick the doors down with your own vibe. We are gonna be packed comme toujours.. The music is gonna blow the doors off. The beer is cold and the music IS of course always sooooo HOT! We crank it up shortly after 7:00, all we need is you! Bring your music!! Bring your fun!! Get in here!!

We are licensed. We have beer, wine, coffees with a kick and our usual great gelato and snacks, sweet treats. Medici’s this Friday, Feb 3rd at 7:00 PM. 522 Fairview Road. 250-498-2228.

Don’t Dress for Dinner opened this past weekend to enthusiastic Osoyoos crowds. Attendance both evenings was among the highest for any SOAP production at the OSS Theatre. The cast and crew look forward re-tuning for the larger stage at the Frank Venables Theatre and welcoming crowds from Oliver to Penticton this Friday and Saturday, February 3-4, at 7:30 both evenings. Of course, we also expect a sizeable Osoyoos contingent who heard about this great show from their friends that attended this past weekend!

Don’t Dress for Dinner is Mr. Camoletti’s “saucy” sequel to last fall’s bedroom romp, and will be staged by SOAP Theatre Society at the OSS Theatre in Osoyoos on January 27-28 before moving to the Frank Venables theatre in Oliver on February 3-4. Curtain time for all shows is 7:30 pm.

Several years have passed since Bernard (Trevor Leigh) married his “favourite” fiancee, Jaqueline (Jackie Brockholm) and moved to a converted farmhouse outside Paris. With Jacqueline off to visit her mother, Bernard is salivating over the idea of a weekend romp with his mistress, Suzanne (Louise Szalay). It’s foolproof; what could possibly go wrong?

Well, Bernard’s old pal Robert (Craig Bjornsen) is also invited to supply an alibi. But unbeknownst to Bernard, Robert is having an affair with Jacqueline, who swiftly cancels on mother when she gets wind of her paramour’s arrival.

The prime source of the play’s accelerating confusion is Suzette (Angela Stuart), a Cordon Bleu chef hired by Bernard for the evening. Given Suzanne and Suzette’s similar names, Robert initially assumes Suzette is Bernard’s mistress and passes her off as his date to cover for his friend. By the time he wises up, it’s too late to correct the mistake without exposing either his own hanky-panky or his buddy’s.

Unfazed by the eccentricities of her clients, Suzette is happy to play along and pose as Robert’s girlfriend, niece or whatever, extorting additional payments from both men for each fresh layer of deception, including having to pretend to be the mistress while the mistress is unable to cook.

​An evening of hilarious confusion ensues as Bernard and Robert improvise at breakneck speed, to be interrupted only by arrival of a gruff and suspicious George (Bryan Sykes), to pick up his wife, Suzette at the end of her evening catering engagement.

Nathan Linders is back to direct his third performance for SOAP. “I have been most fortunate to work with this great cast … a lively mix of seasoned professional and amateur actors (Mr. Leigh, Mr. Bjornsen), recent SOAP additions (Ms Brockholm , Ms Szalay) and newcomers (Ms Stuart , Mr. Sykes).”

 Frank Venables Theatre uses assigned seating, so get your tickets early for best selection and to save money on at-the-door prices. They can be purchased at:

Sundance Video in Oliver (cash only please)·        

On-line ticket office (www.venablestheatre.ca … Visa/MasterCard… 24 hours/day)

Venables Box Office in person (6100 Gala Street Oliver … Tue-Wed-Thu 10:00 to 3:00…cash, credit, debit)

Buy by phone (250-498-1626 … Tue-Wed-Thu 10:00 to 3:00…Visa, MasterCard)

If you miss our office hours, you can email tix@venablestheatre.ca with your phone number and they’ll call you back.

Advance tickets through all outlets are $22.50 for adults and $15.00 for students (includes all fees).Adult prices at the door increase to $25.00 

With your advance, assigned seat ticket in hand, enjoy an offering from our licensed concession before the show. The theatre lobby opens at 6:30 pm on show nights.