CASTLEGAR NEWS, May 9, 1982 by Ministers in the West Kootenay By GEORGE JAMES Calvalry Baptist Church Her three score years and 10 had long since fled ere she laid down the handles of the plough. The long black furrows she had turned lay hold of the horizon far behind. And e'en when with the sunset in her hair she turned about to trace the mark that she had made, behold she saw no more the place in her walk where she had strayed. For at each place an angel stood where she had passed to straighten out the furrowed land as she had labored on, Eyes fixed ahead, hope in her heart, she left behind alight unto our path. Her's the day of tallow candles asa child. The day of horse and buggy and hooped skirts and coal oil lamps and buttoned shoes, " Her's the day of washboard, rocking chair and big horned phonograph. Knew she too the feel of saddle leather. A child behind and baby in her arms. She knew the knack of cocking hay and drawing from the cows their foamy stream. She knew the sound of blizzard, peril of hoppers in the sky. Knew drought and fields of wheat all withered in the blade. Knew what it meant to have no doctor near, but bear her child within the logs her hands had helped to hew. And raise us there. And I have seen her lay aside a garment patched and worn, and say with hope, “There'll be another bright and new.” But when the harvest came the crop would go to groceryman or hardware store. Then she'd take up the castaway — some overalls, my ravelled socks, her broken heart. “There'll be another crop,” she'd say No wealth we knew, nor even poverty. Her God was there to shelter us. And now as ne’er before I see the light she shed upon my crooked way. For it was she who taught us of her God, her hope, her love. Her kind are rare, those hardy souls who made the West, we know. Her covered wagon tracking through the dust, with home behind and only hope ahead. ‘There were no roads and land was free and life was what you made it with your brawn. Her wagon near the first to push the sage aside. The hub , high bunchgrass yielded as they fenced their homestead in. Then years went by. Now only places named for pioneers remain. Where folks have lived and loved and passed away. Their houses rotting with the dreams their owners knew. So on that day when we four sons that quiet body laid to rest deep in the soil she loved so well, I though — : Will everyone of us her kin plough straight and true as she for the dining experience she won't forget... FOR RESERVATIONS 365-2351 1101-2nd St., Castlegar had done, our virgin furrows here? Family month ‘ Neighborhood Day could be fun Any idea who lives across the street from you? In the blue house two doors down? If Family Month has started you thinking about neighbor- hood (and it should!) consider what Peter and Gwen Nor- man did about theirs in North Vancouver. “Only three or four couples knew each other but we fig- ured a Neighborhood Day would be fun,” says Peter, who works in the faculty of education at Simon Fraser University. . Like Topsy, the idea grew. With the help of one other couple, the Normans popped pamphlets in mail boxes sug- gesting events: a scavenger hunt, a horseshoe pitch tour- nament, a potluck supper. “That first year we set up tables in the middle of the street and wondered if any- one would show,” Peter re- calls. “Gwen took out a pot of beans and we waited. Then people started coming — 30 or 40 of us sat down to eat. It, was just great!" That was four years ago. Neighborhood Day (We call it the Summer Solstice Cel- ebration” says Peter) has flourished on 28th Street ever since. “We block off the street. with sawhorses and begin with an official parade. Kids decorate their bikes, the north side challenges the south to a tug-of- » and after dark there's fireworks and films with everybody sitting on the street eating popcorn.” There are fringe benefits too. “That first year we had a rock-and-roll band," Peter says with a grin. “People had complained because the kids practised so loud. Now they gathered round to talk and listen and learn that teenage band players were just nice kids living on our street.” The success of the event has astounded everyone. “It was such a low-level thing from the organizational point of view,” Peter points out. “Once the seed was planted, everybody latched on to the idea. People were ready for ite’ How far-reaching are neighborhood relationships? Sociologist Dr. Elise Bould- ing sees’ a clear-cut connec- tion between the family, the neighborhood and what she calls community-to-commun- ity networking on a global scale, “There is no break be- tween the family and the neighborhood and the plan- et,” she declares, Because it’s easier to col- lect stats on violence, crime MOTHER'S (DAY DINING. Sunday, May 9 Remember Sunday, May 9 is Mother's Day. We're not forgetting. Our Dining Room willbe serving, . along with its regular menu, and extensive 30 ITEM SALAD BAR Our Banquet Room will be set up for an International Smorgasbord “A Treat for All Tastes” RESERVATIONS APPRECIATED * : 365-6000 Regular Business Hours: Mon. - Sat. 4-10p.m. Fireside No one is more special than mothers. And there is: no more special way to say . “1 LOVE YOU"’ than with a delicious. din- ner at her favorite resta- urant. ; Treat her Special this Mother's Day i Enjoy a delicious q home cooked Mother's Day’ dinnerat... - ROSE'S RESTAURANT. “SPECIALIZING IN RUSSIAN COOKING 359-7855. | Lochted 1,000 11. inat the Playmor Junction ‘COLANDER Bring the whole family for a delicious spaghetti dinner. Open 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. 364-1816 1475 Cedar Ave., Trail Especially for Ce? MOMon herDay 235 Deluxe Smorgasbord Sunday, May 9 4p.m. -8 p.m, $12 per person $10 Senior Citizens $6.50 Children 6 - 10 yrs. Free — Children under 6 yrs. FOR RESERVATIONS 365-7282 615 - 2nd St., Castlegar “/— DAY DINING with a delicious " MOTHER'S DAY “SMORGASBORD ah FREE ROSE CORSAGE: fo the first 50 Mothers who come for.dinner on Mother's Day; Sunday, May 9 4p.m. to 10 p.m. First Come — First Served EASTGATE GARDENS 932 Columbia Ave. Ph. 365-7414 |