Welcome to Frances's Blog

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

After 26 years of hosting summer street dances, I wanted to take this opportunity to THANK the many supporters of this event....far too many of you to mention by name, but you know who you are. The staff of Osoyoos Home Hardware, past and present, for always being there for set-up, clean-up and organization, even after putting in a hard day's work at the store. The Town of Osoyoos for allowing us to host these dances and the businesses and individuals who contribute prizes or money to help with the ever-increasing costs of these dances and, of course, everyone who has attended. I'm not sure if the general public realizes just how often local businesses are asked to donate, so from a fellow business owner, THANK YOU for helping these past 26 years.
Summer street dances started out as music at a sidewalk sale and have ended up donating thousands back into the community. The gazebo on the walkway was the first major donation and spearheaded a group of volunteers to envision and create one of our most scenic areas. Summer street dances have grown from cassette tapes and the back of a farm truck to needing a stage and proper sound equipment.
The one thing that hasn't changed over the past 26 years is watching a grandmother and grandchild dancing together and hearing comments like "Grams I didn't know you could move like that" or having a young man who just lost his mother to cancer return the following day and say "THANKS if it hadn't been for the street dances, I wouldn't have spent the night dancing with my mother last summer" or watching families grow up and bring their families back to listen to the same old songs we played 26 years ago (does AMORE come to mind?)... so I guess as quickly as some things change, some things just remain the same.
A special thanks to Tom Shields for always helping co-host. After many hours of contemplation, I have reached a gut-wrenching decision that this will be our final year. Our poor old building can't even handle the power requirements anymore. How fitting that this year the donations are for the Osoyoos Museum and Special Olympics...remembering and preserving our past will make our future much brighter.

So once again, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.
Frances & Larry Sologuk

PS We hope someone will take it over and continue with what has become an Osoyoos tradition.

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Spring 2012

We humans are a contradictory species. We talk a lot about wanting things to be better, then we resist, or refuse, to make the changes that are required of us. Then, we complain that things aren’t getting any better. Life is made up of saying “hello” to many new situations, people, friends and places. What we don’t realize is that we generally have to say “goodbye” to some things before we can say “hello” to new ones. We love putting together these newsletters but realize that the cost of printing and mailing them has gotten out of reach, not to mention the cost to the environment.
We love sharing what is happening at the store with our customers, but have had to make ‘changes’ in the way that we can keep everyone abreast of what is going on (and as you know, there are always changes at Osoyoos Home Hardware) so, this will be our final mailing of Down Home News.
If you wish to keep receiving our Newsletters, you now have a couple of choices as to HOW you can access this information.
1. Please join our e-mail list to keep receiving Down Home News. This can be done by letting us know that you want to receive our newsletter via e-mail. This is for Osoyoos Home Hardware only and you can rest assured the only thing that you will receive is the newsletter which is produced quarterly.
2.You can visit our website www.osoyooshomehardware.ca and print a copy of the newsletter yourself.
3. If you do not have a computer and still wish to receive the newsletter, we will have a few copies available at the store or we will print it for you.
We have had to move out of our comfort zone and say “Goodbye” to what we are most familiar with, and “Hello” to new ideas.
Did you know that the compact disc was introduced on March 2nd, 1983 and it is almost impossible to buy a CD player in 2012!!!!! Having been in the wonderful world of retail since 1970, we have seen many changes (the first microwaves, cabbage patch kids, pokemon cards, etc.) and we know that we must continually keep challenging and renewing ourselves
so that we can be the best at what we do. Thank You for your continued support, be sure to sign-up either in person or by phone to be added to our e-mail list.
Frances

October to December 2011

There are always a few sure signs of Autumn-----the changing colours, the falling leaves, the cooler temperatures and renovations at Osoyoos Home Hardware. Yup! we’re at it again.....we are expanding the pet department, completely renovating the Hand and Power Tool section, moving mats to the outdoor living section in the lower level and showcasing our extensive line of Kuraidori™ products tested and approved by our Kitchen Expert Anna Olson.
I have just recently returned from St. Jacobs, Ontario (buying for next Spring and Summer) and had the opportunity to listen to General Rick Hillier. His inspiring message made you appreciate this great country that we live in. His statement that “optimism doesn’t cost a cent” and that we have the choice to wake up each day believing that we can “make a difference” was energizing to say the least.
Frances

P.S. Follow us on Facebook™ for all the latest happenings at the store. Thanks to Laurel you can keep in touch with us on a daily basis. You will see many of the new products arriving daily and you can still get your “Osoyoos Home Hardware” fix even if you can’t make it to the store.

 

July to September 2011

Here we are the beginning of July already!!!
Due to the increased cost of mail delivery our newsletters will be sent out on a quarterly basis instead of every two months, so expect each newsletter to be jam packed with timely information on t h e n e w p r o d u c ts a n d happenings at Osoyoos Home Hardware. I apologize for being late with this issue, but with the mail interruption, hockey, and getting ready for summer business I fell behind. Just remember this has nothing to do with age...... (Right?)....So, what HAS happened since our last issue other than Summer finally arriving and the merchandise selection reflecting that wonderful change of seasons that we love so dearly. Osoyoos Home Hardware will be celebrating 25 years of Summer Street Dances. Check out the article below on how Street Dances started and why they have become a summer tradition for locals and visitors alike. Another summer tradition is our pastry and pie demonstration with Janet Marcotte....... be sure to check off Thursday, August 4th from 11am – 3pm.... your taste buds won't want to miss this one. Osoyoos Home Hardware has employed summer students since 1985 and we have worked with so many amazing young people that I thought it was time to focus some positive attention on our youth.
Have a safe and happy summer.
Frances

March / April 2011

Have you ever wondered why we use the word SPRING to describe the season after Winter? In Spring everything seems to spring to life……the trees grow new leaves, flowers start to ‘spring’ up all along roads and in the yards, the grass comes alive and springs back to life again.
People tend to ‘spring’ into action----biking, jogging, walking and puttering around the yard. We do ‘Spring Cleaning’, almost like we have been in hibernation and are just now shaking off the cobwebs of a long, dull winter. “Spring” (spreng) is an old word, and appears in many Germanic languages with a meaning like “to jump” or “to run”.
In the wonderful world of retail we have been preparing for Spring since last Fall. Osoyoos Home Hardware is proud of the selection of Spring and Summer merchandise arriving at the store daily and invite you down to see the changes that we have made over the past two months. In this newsletter you will find a great article on container gardening (page 4) and when you are in the store be sure to ask about our potato grow bags.
Now is the time to ‘spring into action’ and get serious about your Spring cleaning and de-cluttering to-do-list. Whether you are re-painting the whole house or just finally tackling that “junk drawer”-----Osoyoos Home Hardware has everything you need.
Frances

P.S. Am away to St. Jacobs in April to do my Christmas buying….don’t you just love this wonderful world of retail that I mentioned above…..I know I do!!!!!!!!