Spring Break for students and teachers begins this weekend until April 4. We've had such great weather of late and I hope it continues for at least part of the time off from school! Brennan Park Recreation Centre has lined up several programs including Cooking Kids Camp for six- to nine-year-olds and also for the same age group, Creative Craft Camp. For six- to 10-year-olds, there is Sport and Splash and Afternoon Camp there is also a schedule for skating and swimming times available at the centre. For more information, please call 604-898-3604.
The West Coast Railway Heritage Park is now on its summer hours of opening, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids of all ages will have a fun time discovering what the park has to offer and no visit is complete till you've had a ride on the mini rail. The staff is also gearing up for the annual Easter Scavenger Hunt from 12 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 27.
Another fine idea for Spring Break is a trip down to Britannia Beach and a visit to the B.C. Museum of Mining. It is open for tours each day at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. but not on Good Friday (March 25) or Easter Sunday (March 27). The six- to 12-year-olds are invited to enter a contest based on the mine tour. The Museum remains open weekends until April 1. The annual daffodil sale is a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. Volunteers will be at Save-On-Foods, MarketPlace IGA and Canadian Tire from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow (March 19) with fresh daffodils for sale at $5 per bunch. It's a "Spring Fling" at the Royal Canadian Legion on Sunday (March 20). From 9 a.m. to noon, a garage sale will be held downstairs and a pancake breakfast upstairs. Each year, the Women's Auxiliary to Squamish General Hospital holds a spring raffle and garage sale and the date this year is Saturday, April 30. Tickets for the raffle at $2 each or 3 for $5 are now on sale at the new expanded gift shop at SGH and members will be at Extra Foods this weekend selling tickets. The prizes this year are gift certificates worth $200, $125 and $75. Tonight (March 18) is the last night to attend Squamish Youth Theatre's annual Youth fest at the Eagle Eye Theatre at 7 p.m. Tickets will still be available at the door. For some cast members, this is their first time on stage and they are ably supported by those who have been on stage many times. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. The man who knows everything about bears, Michael Allen, will be at the Squamish Public Library on Tuesday (March 22) at 7 p.m. with a presentation entitled "The Bear Cycle". The 60-minute presentation will illustrate the seasonal behaviour, biology and population ecology of black bears. The fifth annual Foyer Gallery fundraiser at the Squamish Public Library is now under way. You are invited to pick up a bare picture frame, take it home and let your creativity do the rest! The frames must be returned to the library by April 1 to be put on display in the foyer for the silent auction. Do remember to get your order in for the annual fundraiser for the Howe Sound Secondary Dry Grad 2005. The grads are selling Carney's Compost and there are three varieties to choose from. Deliveries will take place on April 9. To ensure your order arrives, please call 604-815-4020. Well the clearing of Block R has begun and we residents of Eagle Grove Seniors complex and the Squamish Manor have a front-seat view. It will be interesting to watch the progress of this huge development over the months and years even though it will probably get fairly noisy when construction starts! The Mad March Riding Club is being organized at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre. The sessions will focus on the skill development of young experienced riders between the ages of 12 and 15 years with intermediate to advanced with experience in downhill riding on local trails. The 15- to 17-year-olds should be ready to better their downhill and free riding skills. More information is available at 604-898-3604. The Hearts in Motion Walking Club will not meet on Friday, March 25. A walk Friday, April 1 walk will begin 9:30 at the Tantalus Seniors' Centre. For information, please call Elaine at 604-898-9498. The Elks Lodge and Royal Purple Lodge are still collecting pull tabs from pop and beer cans. If you have some to get rid of, please call Barbara at 604-892-3228. Proceeds form the sale help support children's camps run by the Elks. Conway Lunn will be the Squamish Gardeners' guest speaker on March 21 at 7 p.m. at the Squamish Public Library. Mr. Lunn, who will answer various gardening questions submitted by the audience, is an expert horticulturist from Mandeville Garden Centre. He writes frequently for Garden Wise magazine and he is a skilled plant and garden problem solver. A $2 admission for non-members and $1 for members gives you a chance to win the door prize.