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Spring Break is over, the kids have begrudgingly returned to school, Misty and I have returned to work. An extra week would have been nice after the exciting, wild weather last week. I love storms so I'm not really complaining but it didn't give me much gardening time. I was getting really comfortable waking up to my inner alarm clock, and not the nagging, buzzing one beside my bed. I've also become perhaps a little too attached to stretchy pants and pajamas. Must remember to push for a pajama day at the school next week.
The Junior Rangers spent their spring break in Prince George with J.R groups from Kitkala and Dease Lake. Those lucky kids, and their fearless chaperones took part in a plethora of fun activities (still waiting to see those skiing pics, Mirjam). While those of us who stayed in Sandspit held onto our hats, and in some cases our roofs, during the stormy days, those kids got to go skiing, try out snowshoeing, zip lining, rock climbing, and swimming. It sounds like they had a fantastic time! I hope everyone had a good relaxing break and did things they love to do.
I think I heard a collective cheer when Dick arrived back in town after his own winter break. Sandspitians have been seriously deprived of our Chinese cuisine and it's so nice to see Dick's smiling face again. I actually dreamt I was eating a curried prawn hotpot last week, so it's not a moment too soon. This year Dick will have Misty and Lori helping him out and will be open every day at 5 pm, except Wednesdays. Maybe Dick will join darts as a spare?
Excellent news for those of us who have become stiff and need to stretch our hibernating bodies. There are a few opportunities, here in Sandspit, for getting moving. Yoga Haida Gwaii is offering classes starting April 7th! The four week session will take place on Wednesdays 7:25-8:25pm at the church. It's $40 to pre-register or $12 per drop-in. Contact Jennifer Pigeon at 250-557-2456 or
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to register or for more information. Bring your mats if you have one, although mats are available, please bring a blanket and arrive 5-10 minutes early. The Q.C.I Rec. Alternate Fitness program is still going on in the A.L. Mathers Gym, Tues & Thurs. ~ 5:00 - 5:45 pm and Fitness Training Sessions, 7:00-8:00 pm Mondays and Wednesdays, running until Apr.28.
Don't forget that the Europe kids are still raising funds for their trip. 50/50 tickets are on sale now for the month of March draw. The students and parents thank everyone who came out and supported them at the coffee house. It was a great turn out, everyone had lots of fun, and the students greatly appreciate the community support.
The first day of Spring is on Saturday. I hope Mother Nature knows this and graces us with some sunshine and blue skies because it is also the first soccer game of the season. Come out and cheer our team on, the game starts at 10:45 a.m. Players need to arrive on the field and READY TO PLAY at 10:20 a.m. Good luck to all the Island's teams! We're looking forward to another exciting season.
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I took a trip out to Gray Bay this weekend, it was rainy and windy but that didn't stop me from daydreaming about campfires and sitting on the beach watching the kids play in the water. I would have built a fire and roasted smokies if it wasn't blowing so hard and if there was a single stick of dry wood to be found. I'm getting restless to stop wearing gumboots and put on the flipflops. No matter how brief summer might be around here it's still something to look forward to a few days of sun. I know I have a while to wait. I'm not very patient. We haven't even officially made it to spring yet, but a girl can dream, and beachfires are figuring prominently.
The A.L.M. kids and parents, who are dreaming of their trip to Europe, appreciate the support of everyone who bought tickets for the dance on Saturday. According to Misty's totally unbiased opinion, she and Brad rocked the DJing and everyone had a great time dancing.
Parents, and Guardians of all Sandspit children will want to attend the Parent's Advisory Council meeting tonight in the school library at 7 p.m. School District superintendent, Angus Wilson, will be attending in order to discuss All Day Kindergarten at A.L.M. and the board's impending move to take Grade 10 out of A.L.M. Anyone with children in A.L.M should plan to attend and let Mr. Wilson know your concerns.
P.A.C. is also hosting organized fun and games in the gym, starting this week. Misty will be supervising. Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 1 students can come to the gym Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-7, Grade 2 and older can come Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-7 pm. Parents should be there to supervise their younger children.
Anticipating spring, the Seniors' group will be hosting a "Spring into Spring" bazaar, this Saturday from 12-4 at the Community Hall. There will be a fashion show, featuring fabulous thrift store finds, as well as 50/50 draws and a loonie/toonie auction. Table rentals are available (call Carole Bowler 2394). Sounds like a fun time.
Some personal notes: Misty says "Happy Birthday" her buddy, Ryan Kranrod on the 17th. and we want to wish lots of luck to Marina and Dennis, Harmony and Nevaeh, who will be leaving Sandspit on the 25th for Chilliwack. Good luck guys! We'll miss you!
Well, that's it from Sandspit this week. Email or Facebook either of us with your info and gossip, especially the gossip, our own is getting boring.
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This past weekend was the first time I ventured out into the garden and really examined what was going on there. Buds are popping everywhere, tiny little green spikes are peeking out all over the place. With all this lovely new growth there is also a ton of work involved. My pond looks that a big brown soup of slimy leaves. I can't wait to get at weeding and cleaning it all up for spring. Giggling like a lunatic, hopping around the garden, peeking at all the treasures, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. I should have a green house soon, and I'm stoked to plant things I can eat, instead of just pretty flowers. Misty claims it's going to snow still, and admittedly Monday morning's frozen over car door and slippery stairs didn't make me too happy, but l'm optimistic that my little greenlings will survive.
This week the A.L.M. Europe trip kids are selling Valentine's raffle tickets at the store as well as door to door, to support their trip. Polish up your dancing shoes, call the florist, and work on your love poems, Valentine's day is coming up and you're going to need a date for the Valentine's dance on Feb 13. This is another fundraiser for the Europe Trip so be sure to buy a ticket and support the kids.
Strange noises have been emanating from the Combined Services Building at the airport. Thanks to the generosity of Airport Manager, Bob Ells, and with the help and guidance of Peter Grundeman, and Warren Foster, the highschool kids at A.L.M. are able to add woodworking/shop class to their curriculum. Claudette Lavoie, principal of A.L.M, reports that Mr Cochrane's Grade 7-10 students are going to be building many useful and skill challenging items, while learning to use woodwork equipment safely. Right now the students are making bread boards and learning the basics of using the machinery, cutting shapes out of wood, and sanding. Peter Grundeman has generously shared his ideas and examples of his work with the class, providing the students with inspiration for their work. We're looking forward to seeing their creations.
Misty regrets that she is forced to cancel Volleyball on Monday nights due to poor turnout. Careful, Charlotte volleyball players, she just might have to defect to the "other side" to get her Volleyball fix.
As a special request we're including two birthdays in Moresby Matters this week. Happy first Birthday to Sophia Rain, who will be celebrating with her big brother Riley, and proud parents Mike Dorman and Claire Gauthier, on the 17th. Also, Dana Jordan celebrated her 65th birthday on Feb 7th, and all her friends wanted to wish her a very happy birthday.
That's all for this week. Get outside and soak up these fleeting moments if Vitamin D soaked sunshine. I've been walking around squinting like a sleepy mole, but managed to get in a great hike on the weekend, and hope to work off my winter sluggishness before too long. Be sure to call Misty or myself with an news, ideas or events you wish to share. Have a great week!
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After weeks of atrocious weather, the Kwuna is back and, for the most part has persevered in the worst weather with only minor shutdowns. Nice to see the familiar B.C. Ferries workers, who I'm sure are happy to be back to work.
Now that the faithful Kwuna has returned, we are hoping that all you Graham Island folks will be able to make it over on February 13 for the Valentine's Dance which is being held at the Community Hall, and is being put on by the A.L.M kids and parents, who are fundraising for their big Europe trip. It's sure to be a fabulous evening, and the money is going to a great cause, so grab your sweetheart, or find a new one, and make a date!
If the dance isn't your cup of tea, keep your eyes peeled, and your ears tuned in, for other ways to support the Europe trip. Speaking from experience, this trip is so worthwhile and is the ultimate educational opportunity. I (Meredith) was fortunate enough to go on the last trip and had the greatest time. We met interesting new friends from other schools, learned some basic foreign language skills, as well as a load of history taught in a fun, accessible way! I still remember the two best lunches I've ever had; one in a lovely little restaurant in the flea market in Athens, with my two favourite girls; and the other in the market in Salzburg surrounded by vegetable and flower stalls. Let's make sure our A.L.M kids get a chance to do it again. The kids, and their parents, will be holding many bottle drives, so be sure to save those bottles and cans for them. 50/50 tickets are also circulating around the islands communities and Francis Fullum won the first one! Congrats, Francis! The kids appreciate your support!
They say it takes a village to raise a child and Sandspit is certainly a good example of that. The Tot Park is almost ready to go. The Rec. committee is calling for volunteers for the last stages of completion. Contact Behn Cochrane on Facebook or at
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. If you can spare a small amount of time, the little ones would appreciate being able to get climbing, in time for Spring. Speaking of keeping our kids entertained, especially right now during the long rainy season, the A.L.M Parent's Advisory Council is looking for a supervisor to host an open play night for the kids, two nights a week in the A.L.M. gym. This should be lots of fun! Anyone interested should call Judy Foster (6808).
Other than the full moon wrecking it's usual craziness, we don't have anything more for you. Be sure to email us or call if there's an event or some news you think is worth commenting on.
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Could it be that Spring has really sprung? That love is in the air early? The buds are bursting, and we still haven't had any sign of any real winter weather. We're knocking on wood, and crossing our fingers that perhaps winter has forgotten us, even though the kids will kick us for jinxing a skate day on Swan Lake.Dean and Carmen enjoyed (we hope so anyway) a lovely surprise wedding party at the community hall, this past Saturday. Welcome to Sandspit, Carmen! We hope to see you both at the Valentine's Day dance. Misty will be there to regale you with her excellent dance moves, again.One of the great things about Sandspit, and The Charlottes in general, is that we can take the dreary rainy season and find fun things to do to pass the time until the sun comes out. The Orange Roof will be hosting an Open Mic night on January 30th from 7-11. It will be a great chance for all our local talent to get out, show off their talent, warm themselves up, and have some fun.There's another Europe trip in the works for some island students. A.L.M kids will be busy raising funds for their trip. Please help support this excellent, educational opportunity. The kids held a bottle drive this past weekend, and I'm sure there will be more in the works. They are also organizing a Valentine's dance for February. 13, with proceeds going towards their trip. Make a date with your sweetheart, organize your baby sitters, it's sure to be a great evening and the kids truly appreciate your support.
Vancouver Island Regional Library and Literacy Haida Gwaii, is hosting a pajama party for children and their families on Thursday, January 28th, at the school library at 6:00 p.m. Woogie the Singing Sloth will be there to rap out some fairytales, there will be a musical puppet show and hot chocolate will be served. Dress in your most outrageous pajamas and slippers!
Beginning Monday, Feb. 1st, from 5 - 5:45, at the A.L. Mathers gym, QCI Rec. will be hosting an Alternate Fitness Program. Alternate fitness is geared towards people who are currently dealing with chronic diseases such as diabetes, and arthritis. As a participant you can remain seated throughout the whole class or take the option to stand. Instructors will lead you through a series of cardio, strength, flexibility, and balance exercises, to eventually make a more mobile and healthier you. The classes are FREE and brought to us by the QCI Recreation Commission & funded by the Northern Health Authority, Gwaii Trust and the Northern Savings Credit Union.
It's been a week or so of mixed feelings here on the spit. Our condolences to Dean on the loss of his dog, Jesse, and to Lynn and Jim Scott on the loss of Buddy. It's been a very sad month indeed, as far as the death of "man's best friend," and we hope that no more tragedies are in store for our canine friends.
Look to Spring folks, which might be happening sooner then we expected. Hopefully we didn't jinx all the budding plants by mentioning this. Meredith has been watching her garden budding and worrying that Winter was going to have second thoughts and freeze everything over. For all the gardeners in Sandspit, you have been invited to Afternoon Tea with the Graham Island East Coast Farmers' Institute ~ Saturday, January 30th, 1-4 pm, at the Tlell Fire Hall. Everyone is welcome, from "beginners" to experienced farmers, to share your tips from the 2009 season, and ask questions regarding your gardening dilemmas. Should be a great way to get motivated to clean out those green houses, and get dreaming about fresh veggies and lovely flowers.
We hope everyone has an excellent, if soggy, week.
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