Issue #09

    The May Day committee has been busily planning and plotting around the conference table and   lots of great  activities have been planned for all members of the family.    
    The celebrations begin a day early this year, with a pet contest Friday afternoon at 4pm, organizers are hoping to incorporate a pet clinic for the same time. For the first time there will be a kids dance Friday night.
    Saturday kicks off with the parade at 10am, this will be one not to miss!  The Enhancement Society has hired a Barnard's Express Stagecoach, from Historic Hat Creek Ranch.  This is one of the original stagecoaches that travelled the Cariboo Wagon Road through the Fraser Canyon  in the early & mid 1800s. It is to be pulled by a team of draught horses, hired from Lytton.  Visitors will be able to go for a short ride, so don't forget your camera!
    The parade will also entertain with the addition this year of clowns... many, many clowns.  One is a professional clown hired by Family Place, but marching beside him will be little local children also decorated with face paint and red noses.  Organizers have arranged to have chiefs from both local bands in full  regalia heading the parade, as well as RCMP officers in dress uniforms.
    After the parade, all will gather at the Community Hall for the traditional May Pole Dance.  Jabal Forman will MC the ceremonies as the new May Queen is crowned. The Community Spirit Person and Senior Citizen of the Year will receive their awards.  The winner of the Fraser Canyon Express Flag contest will be announced, and the new flag will be unveiled.
    Family Place is presenting a Children's Carnival, complete with music, magic, face painting and lots of general 'clowning around'.  There will be many  kid's events and games, including a hotdog eating contest (sign -up sheets will be posted at the schools next week), a fishpond, an egg toss, and whatever else the organizers can think up before then.  
    For the adults; a  horse-shoe pitch, a spike drive for men, a nail drive for women, a soft ball speed-throw with radar gun (loaned for the event by RCMP), Lions Bingo,  beer tent, dunking tank and tables of crafts and good things to eat. Family Place has donated prizes for the kid's events, and the prizes for the adult's events have been donated by local businesses and include t-shirts, baseball caps and more.  (more on the sponsors in a future article) The students from Boston Bar School will also be holding a silent auction to raise funds for a trip at the end of the year. Throughout the day a chainsaw carving demonstration by Dr. Robert Ford will be going on, and a carving  will be raffled off .    Chainsaw carver Dr. Ford is inviting anyone interested in learning the craft to bring along their own chainsaw and he will gladly instruct as he demonstrates his skill.
    The May Day committee has invited a very special visitor, to help celebrate this special anniversary for our town. Mabel Grant, our very first  May Queen from 1927  will be our honoured guest for the day. The Charles Hotel has generously donated a room for Mrs. Grant's comfort.
    Cathy Harry has been busily preparing a video presentation of photos from past May Days. May Queens and royal parties will be showcased in the video, and copies may be available for anyone who would like to purchase one of their own.
   Of course, the Annual May Day Dance will finish off the festivities with a live band. Tickets will be available at the door at $12/each.  For more info or to reserve a  craft table, Call Patti 604-867-9610.....      



    Just North of Boston Bar,  about one and a half km up the side of a mountain, shines the glorious 42 ft tall "Alpine Cross".   It is an old Swiss custom, says Elizabeth Pfenniger. The Alpine Cross stands on many mountainsides in Switzerland, usually erected by a Mountaineer's Club, or a Young Men's Club.  There would be a small cabin for shelter from the weather and maybe a guest book for visitors to sign.   It is a symbol of hospitality and welcome for hikers who would often reach the cross after a 6 or 7-hour walk.   Mrs. Pfenniger points out that even though a cross is a traditional Christian symbol, in this instance, it has really very little religious significance.  "It seems to me that people will see the cross and will feel and think what they want, it means different things to different people.  I have only received good responses", she says.
    The Alpine Cross, sponsored by the Pfenniger family,  has stood in this spot of  private property for ten years, but is only now receiving due attention because of the recent addition of lights; 1300 feet of buried cable.  It was no small feat to get this accomplished when one considers that every part of the production was carried out by volunteers.
    The main stem of the 42-foot cross and the crossbeam are from one solid log, hauled by a willing volunteer from Hope.  The cross was crafted by Bryan Kerr, and engineered by Dan Lillos.  Chris Aschliman did the groundwork and cement and Larry Hands installed the lights.  A plaque recognizing the efforts of these volunteers  appears at the site.
    Visitors are welcome to take a stroll up the 1.2-km trail to visit the site.  A small bench has been installed and someone has planted daffodils and tulips.  The land is privately owned but visitors will be welcomed as long as they are mindful to respect the site. Vandalism, littering or other disruptive behaviour would spoil the enjoyment for everyone.  A small gate bars the entrance to the hiking trail, but visitors may just go  through on foot and enjoy the beauty of the "Alpine Cross".





    Music came lofting out of the Council chambers in Lytton Saturday March 13th, as community members tapped their toes and listened to the music of singer, songwriter and recording artist Tim Coles.  Saturday's concert was the second in a row of continuing entertainment booked to play in the Chamber Room, the newest venue in Lytton, for performing arts.  Tom Coles played for about two hours with a 20-minute break when guests were treated to coffee, tea and a variety of mouth-watering sweets.  Tom is the founder of the Thompson Valley Folk Music Society, based in Ashcroft.  The Society creates venues for professional folk musicians to perform in the local area of Ashcroft.  The All People's Gallery in Lytton which opened it's doors on March 9th of this year, is arranging evenings featuring performing artists particularly musicians of various backgrounds and types of music.  The first performance was on the eve of opening day when singer, songwriter Leslie Alexander from Vancouver wooed everyone with her blend of  jazzy/bluesy/folk songs.  
    Next on the agenda is 'Dennis Lakusta,' booked   for Friday May 10th.  Dennis is Metis from Alberta, a singer, songwriter with 5 CD's  currently on the market, who is well known for his entertaining performances filled with humour and  sensitivity.
Shows are booked on various dates every month.  
Information on the events can be found by contacting the All People's Gallery, 115 - 4th St. Lytton, ph 250-455-6608  or fax 250-455-6650