Trail Times Thursday, February 28, 2013
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LOCAL
Kootenay filmmakers premiere documentary this weekend BY SHERI REGNIER
Combining original footage of the tour with old home videos and recent interviews, Johnstone and Babiarz weave a tale that spans two decades in the lives of these young men. “Hicks on Sticks” talks about all these small towns in 1999, that didn’t have skate parks,” said Babiarz. “Every single town the tour went through now has a skate park.” “It’s not just a film about skateboarding, music or the tour,” said Johnstone in the press release. “This film is an honest documentation of the most pivotal 20 years of their lives.” At the 2012 Newport Beach Film Festival in California, “Hicks on Sticks” was awarded outstanding achievement in filmmaking. This is the second feature film for Johnstone and Babiarz. Their first was “Play with Fire”, a 2009 gritty flick that was set in Trail. Johnstone and Babiarz’s film company, Warren Lane Pictures, is based out of Vancouver. The name Warren Lane was taken from the dead-end street in West Trail. “Just wide enough for one car, it precariously snakes along a hillside in the interior of British Columbia,” explained Babiarz. “Looking out from Warren Lane, your view is encompassed by a giant lead and silver smelter that the township of Trail was built around.”
Times Staff
Twenty years later, the story of a oncein-a lifetime journey of four Kootenay skateboarders will finally be told. The full-length documentary titled “Hicks on Sticks,” is set for its Kootenay premiere on Saturday. The film will screen at 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at the Old Theatre in downtown Castlegar. Film director, Soren Johnstone, grew up in Trail and Rossland and film producer Mike Babiarz, grew up in Castlegar. In the summer of 1999, Johnston went along for a ride as official videographer of a small-town skateboard and music tour, affectionately dubbed “Hicks on Sticks.” The goal of the tour was to inspire kids in rural communities by exposing them to skateboarding and music they wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity to see in person, said Babiarz. The film follows the lives of local skateboard legends, Eugene Voykin, Mike Evans, Shane Wallace and the late Josh Evin. Without financial backing, the tour began with the towing of a 5,000-pound portable skateboard park, behind an old van with failing brakes. The young team’s longstanding friendships were tested as they traveled nearly 3,000 km through the mountains of western Canada to put on eight shows.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
The late Josh Evin, a well-known professional skateboarder who grew up in the Kootenays, was part of the “Hicks on Sticks” tour in 1999.
Ricochet puts man in hospital BY CPL. DAVE JOHNSON
ticket and was taken home to be turned over to another sober On Feb. 21 police were called to person to care for him. the Kootenay Boundary Regional ***** Hospital for what was a reported Police are stepping up enforcegunshot wound. Investigation ment of the distracted driving revealed that there had been a laws in the area. Fifteen violatrio of males out target shoot- tions were given out over a few ing in the Birchbank hours of focused area when a ricochet – Greater Trail – patrols over a two day caused injury to one of period last weekend. the parties. While the The RCMP would like incident was deemed to remind everyone an accident the crimabout this dangerous inal charges of careless habit and encourage use of a firearm are being sought all to resist the temptation to just from Crown Counsel. check that new text or email or ***** answer the incoming call while During the middle of the week driving. at 7 p.m. police were called to a ***** business in the downtown area of There has been an increased Trail where a male was very amount of attempted telephone intoxicated and had to be asked and computer scams being to leave the store. The male com- reported over the past week. plied but left his identification at Police encourage people to be the store, police received other suspicious of any offer that calls about this male as people sounds profitable but requires were concerned for his safety. you to send money to someone. Patrols located the male who was While these incidents are hard to arrested for being intoxicated in trace they can cost victims siga public place, issued a violation nificant amounts of money Trail and Greater District Detachment
On the Beat
World Day of Prayer on Friday Other • Friday, Trail United Church at 1:30 p.m. for the World Day of Prayer 2013. Everybody welcome. For more info call Gerie at 368-3984 • Saturday, Rossland Miners Hall, doors open at 6:30 p.m. The J.L. Crowe Outdoor Education Academy hosts its fundraiser. Adult-only. Tickets $20, prizes, sports movies and music from The Charlie Jacobson Band and Scatterheart. • CKCA grants applications are available at the Arts Council’s office or on-line. These grants are available to artists and groups wishing to undertake a new project between May 1, 2013 and April 30, 2014. For info email trail_arts@telus.net. Deadline is March 8. Music • Tuesday, Charles Bailey Theatre at 7:30 p.m. The Celtic Tenors. Three tenors from Ireland sing Broadway and opera favourites. Tickets $30. Film • Sunday Cinema at the
Royal Theatre singer Terri Clark, presents Quartet. this singular voice Old grudges will belt out more threaten to underthan the dozen top mine past glor10 hits to her credies and theatrical it. Tickets $46. Events & Happenings temperaments • March 16, play havoc as it in the Lower Columbia Parish hall at 1:30 becomes apparp.m. Rossland ent that having four of the fin- Sacred Heart CWL is hosting an est singers in English operatic 80th Anniversary Spring Tea. history under one roof, offers Tickets $4. Everyone welcome. no guarantee that the show will Bake table will be available. go on. All shows at 4:30 p.m. • March 18, Kiro Wellness unless otherwise noted. $9.00 Centre, 1500 Columbia Ave., per show/$40.00 for the series. at 2 p.m. The West Kootenay Upcoming Ostomy Support Group will • March 12, Charles Bailey meet . Guest Paul Meise from Theatre at 7:00 p.m. The Cooper Medical Supplies, Enema Awards return. Skits, Kelowna. For further info, songs, performances by local please call 368-9827 or 365health care professionals, a 6276. • Corb Lund and the Hurtin’ “fun-raiser.” Tickets $15. • March 13, Columbia View Albertans ‘Cabin Fever” takes Lodge at 10 a.m. The annual over Trail’s Charles Bailey general meeting of the Trail and Theatre on May 16 at 7:30 p. District Senior Publishers (Best Tickets for the event go on sale Years). All are welcome. For on March 1 $45. at the Charles more info, call Gerie Timbrell Bailey Box office or by calling at 368-3984. 1-866-368-9669. • March 14, Charles Bailey To submit to the Grapevine Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Country email newsroom@trailtimes.ca
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