The Beacon Magazine - August

AUGUST 2010 vol 6 issue 75

TrekOn! Back on the Saddle Again! • 14 Stand in the Place that You Live 8 | Bernie Pascall: The Man Behind the Mic 16

Creek Way Village a unique new shopping experience... right in the heart of Coombs Country!

BOUTIQUES • ANTIQUES • JEWELLERY

COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR LEASE INQUIRIES WELCOME

2340 Alberni Highway, Coombs • at The Coombs Bridge

250-586-1372

• on Twitter www.twitter.com/BeaconMagazine • on Facebook Search for us as EyesOnBC • on our Blog beaconmagazine.blogspot.com • on our own developing Website at www.eyesonbc.com

16

14 Trek On! Back on the Saddle Again

8

FEATURE

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Biz Banter: What’s up in local business Social Media: a community meeting place Real Estate LCBA Business Spotlight

5 7 10 22

13

Vancouver Island Fibre Arts Showcase

GREAT OUTDOORS

14 23 32 44

Trek On Through the Seasons: Labyrinths Tide Table Into the Garden

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

13 Vancouver Island Fibre Arts Showcase 40 Reel Reviews 42 Afro-Mumanzi World Music Summer Camp 45 The Potential of Public Art

COMMUNITY LIFE

6 Inspired by Community 11 The Art of Conscious Living 12 On the Agenda 18 Goodies at the Markets 24 It’s Happening in Area H

COMMUNITY PEOPLE

16 Bernie Pascall: The Man Behind the Mic 26 Out of the Nest: Crystal Macy 30 Images & Voices: Jeanette Spibey 34 Rawganique on Denman Island

Time for a Reboot Linda Tenney

20 LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Stand in the Place that You Live

Bernie Pascal The Man Behind the Mic

Summer Heat in Bloom Linda Tenney

4 EDITORIAL

HEALTH 35 Naturopathic Notes: Allergies 37 Health & Wellness Matters 38 Becoming a Sensory Detective At Home

THE REGULARS

46 47 48-50 51 52-54

Classifieds In the Stars Community Events Business Information Centre At Your Service Index & Businesses

by Linda Tenney

August 2010 VOLUME 6 NO 75 The Beacon is published monthly by EyesOnBC Main Email: beacon@eyesonbc.com Phone/Fax: 250-757-9914 In Person EyesOnBC at Magnolia Court Box 182, #110-6996 W. Island Hwy. Bowser, British Columbia V0R 1G0 Mon - Fri 10-5 ▪ Sat 12-5 Journalists & Reporters Lisa Verbicky, Nancy Whelan, Rita Levitz, Georgia Nicols, Marilyn Dawson, David Morrison, JoAnne Sales, Harry Sumner & Miriam Shell, Carolyn Walton, Linda Tenney, Sharon Waugh, Shirley Culpin, Laura Busheikin, Jane Burton Volunteer - Cathy Balogh

Subscriptions

Canada - 1 yr: $30 incl HST United States - 1 yr: $45 (CDN Funds) Call 250-757-9914 to subscribe.

VISA & MasterCard accepted

Debbie Shore, instructor for the Culinary Arts program at Vancouver Island University and Brian Kingzett, Field Station Manager of the Centre for Shellfish Research serve up fresh local oysters at the Deep Bay Yacht Club following a special tour of the new research facility for members of the Lighthouse Country Business Association.

Printed in Canada - ISSN 1712-0918 Articles and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and published for general information purposes only. Articles are not intended to provide specific advice - the publishers will assume no liability.

Articles and/or data may not be quoted or reproduced, in part or in whole, without permission from the publisher.

Freelance Writers/Photographers: Queries can be directed to Linda Tenney or Sharon Waugh at beacon@eyesonbc.com

What if … there was a new opportunity in town?

by Linda Tenney

I

tend to look at opportunities from a business perspective but, frankly, I’m compelled to look at this at particular opportunity from both sides...business and personal.

You’ve probably heard the news that Vancouver Island University’s Centre for Shellfish continued on page 38

LOCALLY OWNED • COMMUNITY INSPIRED

Linda Tenney co-Publisher tenney@eyesonbc.com

4

/ August 2010

Sharon Waugh co-Publisher waugh@eyesonbc.com

Jeanette Spibey Customer Service jeanette@eyesonbc.com

Elizabeth Cudmore Customer Service cudmore@eyesonbc.com

Margaret Reid Contract Distribution

Frank Hladik Advertising 951-8824

By Sharon Waugh

Oops! We omitted contact information for Expertise Painting from last month’s Lighthouse Country Business Association’s “Business Spotlight” (June 2010, pg 26).

Owner Byron Van Horne can be reached at 250-335-1888, cell phone 250-338-3539 and toll-free at 1-866-456-1888. ~ Edward Jones’ Home Office recently asked Financial Advisor Louisa Zerbe to accept responsibility for the firm’s Qualicum Beach branch. Louisa accepted and is thrilled with her relocation from Duncan.

Edward Jones offers a range of services including Insurance Planning, Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Registered Education Savings Plans and Investment Planning. With a Masters Degree in Sports Psychology, a background in coaching at the University level, and 8 years in the financial industry (the past three years with Edward Jones), Louisa takes an educational approach in her practice and knows the importance not only of learning about her clients – their goals, needs and concerns – but also the need to provide them with both knowledge and coaching to ensure they are able to make well-informed decisions.

Louisa extends a warm invitation to old clients and new to drop by her office at 698 Beach Road, between 2nd Avenue & Fern, in the heart of downtown Qualicum’s

JU

ST

RE

A LE

SE

“Financial District”! Please refer to Louisa’s ad on page 24. Welcome Louisa!

Looking for a local eatery which caters to clients challenged by food sensitivities?

Look no further than the recently opened Gramma B’s Gluten Free Cafe located at 172nd Second Avenue West in Qualicum Beach, family-owned and operated by Sarah and Ray Stashuk – they are proud to claim that they are the only gluten-free restaurant/cafe on the Island! “We want everyone to know that almost everything on our menu is homemade by my Dad and I. We love to cook! As celiac and gluten sensitivities are a hereditary trait in our family, we understand the repercussions of unknowingly eating meals crosscontaminated with wheat or gluten foods in regular restaurants. Most of our ingredients come from Village Bulk Foods (home of the Silly-Yak Bakery) next door and we are very, very picky about the ingredients in our food – we are the chemical and food additive police!” Check out the menu: crepes, breakfast sandwiches, quiche, pizza, salads, soups, a variety of baked goods and treats. Gramma B’s Gluten Free Cafe is open from 8 am to 6 pm every day during the summer months. All the best of success, Sarah and Ray!

It’s a pleasure to introduce one of Oceanside’s newest residents and a practitioner of Resonance Repatterning, Jonathan Martin. Jonathan tells us, “These are exciting times, where there are many tools available to help you when you have any symptoms, an illness, an accident, stress, or simply need support. You can choose reflexology, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Cranial Sacral Therapy – the list goes on. All these modalities are wonderful, but they may not be exactly what you need for a particular situation. Resonance Repatterning identifies first, what the core issue is, and secondly, the optimal modality to shift the energy around the issue.” Jonathan has over twelve years of experience, including accreditation from the Resonance Repatterning Association and is a certified practitioner of Cranial Sacral Therapy. With additional training in animal acupressure and animal communication Jonathan notes, “This is wonderful work that is easily applicable to people and animals alike – the only requirement from people is a willingness to become unstuck, shift and grow.” Jonathan’s studio is located at 751 Doefawn Lane, in French Creek.

Appointments are required by calling 250-586-3316 or e-mail: jonpen@shaw.ca Please refer to Jonathan’s ad on page 23.

Welcome Jonathan!

D!

New Local BOOK! Grow up locally with Lawrence and his childhood friends, then go to sea with the crews of various vessels as they sail the waters of North America from the balmy tropics to the frozen seas of Alaska.

CHILD OF THE STORM The Adventures of a West Coast Kid LAWRENCE FOORT

Available at

}

* Ship & Shore, Deep Bay * Barnes & Noble * Amazon.com * Trafford Publishing

ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE BEACON IN BOWSER

/ August 2010

5

T

hank you from Lighthouse Community Centre to everyone who came out and supported the Hall on July 1st. A great example of Community pulling together for a common cause! A big thank you from the Hall Board and hope to see you next year! Submitted by Lois Nelson

O

nce again I wish to thank everyone who so willingly saved, collected, trimmed, sorted and delivered cancelled stamps to help “Stamp Out Cancer”.

Without your continued help and support we could not keep up our good works. A special thanks to the many businesses and organizations that help with our project.

The funds derived from the sale of cancelled stamps for the twelve month period ending April 30th, 2010, enabled the Foster Secretary Association, Order of the Eastern Star, to donate $9,537.88 to our cancer projects.

This money is to be used either for research or cancer dressings; wherever it is needed. The need for dressings is still great so please help by telling your friends about this worthwhile cause.

Monies allocated to the Dressing Station Fund provide materials to the various dressing stations throughout the province. These

stations are manned by volunteer, Order of the Eastern Star members, and many types of dressings are made and supplied to any cancer patient at no charge, on a doctor’s note.

I would like to let our helpers know that we still have a market for Post Cards. These can be used or unused and I would appreciate receiving any that you may have so please do not cut the stamps off of these cards. If you have any letters from foreign countries, I can market these if you would give me the whole envelope. Again this year, I am collecting Campbell’s soup labels, just cut off the portions with the price code and send them along with your stamps. Thanks!

Mrs. Gladys Pierce, General Stamp Convener For: Stamp Committee Foster Secretary Association Order of the Eastern Star 5925 Dunbar St., Vancouver, BC. V6N 1W8 All materials mentioned above may be dropped off at EyesOnBC in Bowser.

W

e at The Salvation Army in Parksville ­– Qualicum Beach would like to express our thanks to the Postal Workers and Union members of Canada Post in Parksville and Qualicum Beach. Their effort and the generous food donations of many citizens in our area enabled us to re-stock our shelves

with valuable food items as well as cash donations. We received a total of 4,613.88 lbs from Qualicum Beach.

We are very proud to be a part of this caring community which cares for the less fortunate in our midst. You help us to help others. Almost daily we see people coming to us who cannot make ends meet and who have never had any dealings with us before.

Thanks to the generosity of concerned people, we are able to help. For many people it becomes more and more difficult to buy the necessities.

Thanks to Quality Foods who supplied the shopping bags as well as to Thrifty Foods in their effort to help with their “Oh Canada” campaign for the local Food Bank. They, as well as Save-on-Foods, are supporting us on an ongoing basis.

Last but not least, we are grateful to the media who continually inform the community of the needs and make people aware of the food drives.

On behalf of those who benefit from their generosity we say THANKS TO ALL. It is much appreciated.

God bless you, Rolf D. Guenther, Major Community Services Coordinator

SOCIAL MEDIA

a community meeting place

BY LINDA TENNEY

S

coff if you will, but Social Media holds a big place in my heart...and it has everything to do with building relationships, renewing acquaintances and keeping in touch with my community.

Follow us • on Twitter

Anyone who knows me, knows that I spend most of my time behind a computer screen deep in the heart of Bowser, plugging away on The Beacon or a myriad of other computer-related tasks. It’s hard work with long hours, but I love it!

• on Facebook

I must admit, however, I miss a few things...and one of the most important is having the time to stop and chat with people on the street...in the local coffee shop...in the grocery store...anywhere, really.

and on www.eyesonbc.com

It’s only in the wee hours of the morning that I find time to catch up on the lives, loves and treasured moments of family, friends and people in my community. It’s then that I steal a few quiet moments to check in and say ‘hello’, leave a congratulatory note, offer or ask for advice and...in a word...communicate.

Facebook is probably my favourite Social Media channel, although Twitter is a close second.

Through both channels, I’ve learned about new children and grandchildren, caught up on what friends from decades ago are doing now, offered condolences for lost loved ones, found out that people are moving, that businesses are closing, or that an artist is particularly excited about something new she’s created.

I’ve shared poetry and prose, have seen photos galore, and have even critiqued a children’s story.

We’re social creatures no matter where we communicate, and we all need to tell our stories.

For business, I find Facebook and Twitter the perfect place to discover information, tips, advice, and to promote things of interest in our community.

www.twitter.com/BeaconMagazine Search for us as EyesOnBC

• on our Blog

beaconmagazine.blogspot.com

Just this month, for instance, I was able to connect with Corinne James from The Old School House in Qualicum Beach through their Facebook page to get the photos and short article I needed about the winners of the recent Grand Prix d’Art. It was the weekend, I was on deadline and it was the easiest and quickest way to get the event information.

A quick note, and I had what I needed in a few hours. (see page 13) I recently chatted about social media with Dave Graham of 88.5 The Beach radio in Parksville and I invite you to listen to the MP3 I’ve posted on our website at www.eyesonbc.com. It’ll give you further insight into my thoughts about social media and how it interacts with our community.

It’s great fun sharing information about the community.

In fact, I love it when I can promote Lighthouse Country to anyone who will listen. And they do!

The Beacon is now online on our website, we have Facebook and Twitter accounts, and we have a blog.

Feel free to check us out in the virtual world of Social Media. We’d love to hear from you. ~

Toushikan Martial Arts KARATE

Qualicum

. Respect . Self-Confidence . Self-Discipline

. Fitness . Flexibility . Fun First two weeks of classes are free! . Classes for Children

(ages 7 & up) and Adults

4647 Thompson Clarke Drive E., Bowser

. Women’s Karate-Fit / Self Defense Sensei Mac Newton

250.752.9838 or email: toshikan@shaw.ca / August 2010

7

“Stand in the Place Where You Live” Local Citizens’ Take Time Out to Shape Community

Mt. Arrowsmith • Linda Tenney digital

By Lisa Verbicky

“T

he citizens’ movement is exploding across the globe,” says David Roach, one of the organizers of the Citizens’ Forum, the host of “Let’s Talk”, a community dialogue session that drew over 100 participants to the Parksville Community and Conference Centre this past May. “Today, there are some one million community-based organizations around the world. Citizen participation is simply one of the geysers of the 21st century,” he says. “There’s been a great shift away from operating on a sense of entitlement and a movement towards citizen responsibility,” he says.

In essence, and to paraphrase the lyrics of R.E.M.’s “Stand”, more and more people are taking time out of their busy lives to stand in the place where they live, think about the direction they’re heading in, and wonder why they haven’t done so before.

Roach, President of the Parksville-Qualicum Community Foundation (PQF), was approached late last fall by community members from the local social services sector to help create a venue to, as he puts it, “talk about things that matter to the community.” The Citizens’ Forum, sponsored in part by the PQF, has since become a steering group that plans and hosts events where citizens of all generations, from all sectors, can engage in conversations around the issues, and more importantly, the opportunities in the Oceanside area.

“From the summit we can see from Deep Bay to Nanoose Bay, from Coombs to Lasqueti Island and all the neighbourhoods suddenly appear as one. There are no lines on the map from that vantage point. We are all one,” David Roach, Citizens’ Forum

are moving away from top-down government and towards a more balanced, shared governance model.”

“Governments are realizing that they may not have the resources anymore to provide everything we want or need. On a macro level, the top issues facing our world today such as climate change, fuel supply, water and food security, and the effects of globalization are of such a large scale and so integrated that each nation cannot tackle them alone.

Even the G8 has become the G20,” says Roach.

The collaboration of the Federation of Oceanside Residents Association, VIHA, and Stanford Holdings on a primary urgent care facility in Oceanside is a good example of collaboration in action, says Roach.

Another is the collaboration of the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust to acquire Camp Moorcroft, in Nanoose Bay, for a regional park.

“Working together differently to create new public gathering spaces, and cultivate a welcoming attitude are the keys to building connections between neighbours, community organizations, businesses and government institutions,” says Roach.

“It isn’t good enough to say ‘problem’ anymore, it is good enough though to say ‘solution’,” he says. “Finding solutions begins with shifting our perspective.”

By “differently” he means moving away from working in isolation on single issues and towards collaboration on the use of limited community resources to build on community assets and shape where we live.

Or, Now face…up. Roach uses a metaphorical hike up Mt. Arrowsmith to illustrate his point.

“So much of how we have operated as a society up until this point has been anchored in the last century,” he says. “But we

“Stand in the place where you live… Now face north…” R.E.M.

“From the summit we can see from Deep Bay to Nanoose Bay, from Coombs to Lasqueti Island and all the neighbourhoods suddenly appear as one. There are no lines on the map from that vantage point. We are all one,” he says. continued next page

8

/ August 2010

continued from previous page There is a growing awakening and acceptance globally that we are all connected, says Roach, and this is fueling the citizen movement.

People feel that they have a part, a responsibility, to get involved and make positive change, he says.

“Once there is a change in perspective, we begin to reshape attitudes and realize our potential to act together in alignment, with clarity of purpose, shared commitment, and agreed upon solutions.”

The May forum focused on strengthening connections in the community through the building and enhancement of natural meeting places, or “bumping spaces” as Roach calls them, such as markets, parks, coffee shops, town squares, vibrant business districts, and community centres.

“When people bump into each other regularly in these spaces, they create a bond that can serve as a bridge between individuals and groups when it comes to community building,” he says.

According to Dr. Pam Shaw, a professor of Geography at VIU who spoke at the May forum, many of our public spaces are being under utilized, but she says that is changing.

“We are moving towards the mixed use of public spaces,” says Shaw. “These community focal points have great economic, social and cultural potential for communities and can be used by all ages for a variety of activities at varying times of the day.”

Engaging in better collaboration and communications between citizen groups was the third message that came out of May’s forum.

“For example, there is a rich array of environmental groups in the area. Imagine how much stronger they would be if they had a common database for sharing project information,” says Roach. “We aren’t talking about reinventing the wheel here, but, opening the lines of communication, forging connections, and building on what we already have from a new perspective of working together.”

“Up until now, each sector, whether government, business, or community, has had its own process, its own way of doing things. The challenge is how to respect these and make decisions together…to create a common language.”

The goal of uniting citizens, says Roach, is transformational change.

“This means our ability to mobilize ourselves to create the conditions of a vibrant community that integrates the economic, environmental, social and cultural components and enhances the lives of the people that make this their home. Ultimately this takes a balance between realistic pragmatism and healthy idealism.” ~ The next Citizens’ Forum will be held September 18th at the Christian Fellowship Centre in Qualicum Beach. Registration begins August 16th. For more information, contact David Roach at 250-468-9938.

The use of new Spirit Squares for public art exhibits and street markets, and the new Vancouver Street Food Program, she says, are two examples of how government is working with citizens and businesses to add economic, social, and cultural value to communities.

“There’s a shift back to the idea of what citizens are supposed to be…instead of just occupying space, we are shaping it,” she says.

Strengthening connections in the community was one of the messages that came out of the forum in May. Identifying and building on community assets was another.

By leveraging natural assets such as gathering spaces to build social cohesion, Roach says, we build resiliency into our communities.

Participants at the May event identified that there are 150 different festivals and special events that happen in the Oceanside area every year, the majority of them in the summer months.

“If we link these to a greater strategy across all four seasons, for example, we can increase the social and economic benefits for the community.”

Our very multi-generational demographic here in Oceanside is another asset that Roach says holds great potential.

According to Roach, within our population of 47,000 comprised of Traditionalists, Boomers, Gen-X’ers and Millennials, there is a great opportunity for the bi-lateral exchange of knowledge. For example, he says, boomers can decant their wisdom and experience to the millennials who can then share their multidimensional, analytical and technical perspectives as we move into the future together.

“There is the potential here for generations not to collide, but, rather to click and create radical changes.” / August 2010

9

REAL ESTATE

The Dangers of Overpricing Your Home

By Marc LaCouvée

C

ongratulations. You have decided to sell your home. Adventure is calling! You are planning on downsizing or finding a new home. You want to spend more time golfing, fishing, traveling or simply time with your friends and family. You have looked at the papers. You have researched the market.

You are aware of what is out there for sale.

Friends and family have given you their thoughts and ideas as to what your home is worth. You call your favourite agent and you book your listing interview. You are pleased about everything your agent is prepared to do for you. However you are not happy about the price that has been reflected in the Comparable Market Analysis (CMA)that your agent has compiled. Hmm, now what?

Optimistic home sellers and agents love to say, “There’s a buyer for every home.”

However, the qualifier needs to be: “at the buyer’s price.”

The fact is, that buyers, not sellers, ultimately determine the market value of a home. You can set your listing price well above comparable properties in your neighbourhood, but at some point it will be up to you, the seller, to accept what the buyer thinks your home is worth.

Overpricing is the most common reason homes don’t sell. When you ask an unrealistic price, it sets in motion a process that often works against you. Here’s why: Most real estate agents, and hence most qualified buyers, will see new listing within days, if not hours, of being entered in the MLS® system. If it is overpriced it will be quickly identified as such. You may get your listing office agents to view your home, but interest in your property will quickly wane, especially if you show no intention of

Vancouver Island property sale statistics Source Vancouver Island Real Estate Board

JUNE 2010 10

ZONE

reducing your asking price. You have likely eliminated those buyers who might have qualified for financing if your home was at a more reasonable price.

Even if you manage to find a buyer at the inflated asking price, the property may not appraise at that figure and the financing will not be approved.

Look at the average number of days on the market for the “Sold” Listings and the average number of days on the market for the “Current” Listings. You will find that well-priced listings sell quickly and within a price range very close to the asking price.

Your real estate agent may approve an inflated asking price and suggest that if it doesn’t sell at the list price that you then do a price reduction. Overpriced properties often only help sell properly priced listings.

You, as the seller, need to feel comfortable with the information that your professional REALTOR® has provided. You need to have the confidence in the information to help in the pricing of your home.

If you have a house that really should be priced at $350,000 and you’ve got it listed at $400,000, you are trying to compete against homes that really are worth $400,000 and your home will not compete well. You want to compete with what is available out there among homes similar to yours.

You will then be free to move forward to where your next great adventure will take you. ~

If your home remains on the market for too long, agents and buyers may begin to wonder if there is perhaps more serious reasons why it isn’t selling. When you are contemplating selling your home take a close look at the CMA that your agent has UNIT SALES JUN-10 MAY-10 JUN-09 % CHG

Campbell River 31 Comox Valley 84 Duncan 70 Nanaimo 115 Parksville/Qualicum 59 Port Alberni 39 BOARD TOTALS 415

/ August 2010

provided for you. Ask them questions. They can help you interpret the data.

42 98 78 125 79 17 456

44 102 92 159 64 40 520

-30% -18% -24% -28% -8% -2% -20%

Marc LaCouvée was born and raised in Vancouver Island. He is a REALTOR® and is a Dad. He has spent his lifetime exploring this great paradise. Whether supporting Oceanside Minor Hockey, other local organizations or attending PAC meetings, Marc is committed to community, his family and area that he and his children live in.

Marc works for RE/MAX Anchor Realty in Qualicum Beach. www.MarcLaCouvee.com

AVG SALE PRICE

JUN-10

MAY-10

JUN-09

$298,126 $362,222 $350,024 $362,018 $396,488 $242,752 $345,118

$330,759 $344,890 $362,665 $388,497 $408,549 $234,658 $362,976

$265,856 $340,036 $366,604 $337,993 $393,958 $190,554 $329,638

MEDIAN % CHG

12% 7% -5% 7% 1% 27% 5%

$275,000 $339,000 $324,000 $343,992 $379,000 $220,000 $330,000

world. But being consumers has not made us happy. By and large, we’re dissatisfied with our new pastime and role.

A recent report says that American children are now less creative than they used to be. This loss far transcends finger paints.

Problem-solving is a creative process, as is finding meaning and building relationships.

By Joanne Sales

I

went back to my childhood home, USA, for a family reunion last month. It hardly matters where my family reunion was; all urban areas in the US and Canada are starting to look the same. Home Depot, MacDonalds, Starbucks, and so on. North America is being homogenized, like a litre of milk.

Who owns the earth? That’s a ridiculous question. Instead, let’s talk about giants.

Human beings have been dealing with giants for a mighty long time. At the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. my 5 year-old granddaughter and I looked at several huge tapestries of David and Goliath. The images were frightening. I told my granddaughter that giants are not real, but I knew I was lying. Giants are really big, and when something or someone gets THAT big, it’s not usually a happy sight – and indeed, it wasn’t. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Using a stone in his slingshot and apparently wide bandwidth to the power source, the youth David killed Goliath. But usually you have to trick giants; you can’t control them by mere force. If we think that controlling a giant is difficult from the outside, imagine how hard it is to control from the inside. It takes a mighty large heart and brilliant intellect to not fall prey to the urge to abuse power. Unfortunately, most giants in the folk stories didn’t have that kind of intelligence or sensitivity, and so they would walk all over the towns – literally.

Squash the buildings and people’s lives and livelihoods. Trample the fields and flatten forests. Down with the efforts of lifetimes. Stomp stomp stomp. That’s what giants do. That’s their job.

Well, I felt like a Giant had walked all over the town where I grew up. The fragile, unique natural places I loved were all gone. The woods had been flattened and the fields paved.

What remained of the creeks and wild areas had become throw away land. Huge strangling vines of the invasive plant Kudzu grew up 30 feet into the trees and then sprawling over acres and acres of parkland. No one cared for it anymore.

I wasn’t prepared for the degree of devastation. Obviously, not all the damage was done directly by the Giants. Some of it is secondary damage, or collateral damage. It wasn’t intended – but neither was it prevented.

The thought that kept coming to my mind was – “This is so incredibly uncreative.” I traveled 3,000 miles to see the same strip malls and the same stores, the same stuff on the same shelves with the same décor. Mi casa es su casa – “My house is your house” – used to mean, you are welcome to make yourself at home in my home. But now it means, my light fixture is your light fixture – no matter where we live.

Humans are basically creative. We like to create things. Take away our television sets, and most likely we would all be busy within a few weeks with the same kinds of hobbies that fascinated our ancestors. Shaping, sewing, growing, gathering, singing, telling stories, building barns and baking cakes.

Given that reality about ourselves, how is it that every strip mall now looks the same, from the sea to shining sea? How did that happen? I think we miss creativity. Creating is fun and meaningful. It’s what we humans love to do!

But somehow, instead of creators we’ve resigned ourselves to becoming consumers. We throw away, throw away again, and throw away some more. Even the woodland beside the creek that used to be heaven – now it is throw away land. This has become a disposable

In the stories, the Giants are anti-life. They are destructive, conquering, dominationseeing forces. They destroy things. On the other hand, in this story, David was aligned with the Source of Life. He traveled in harmony with the Way, to use Taoist terms.

To use surfing terms, he rode on the crest of the wave. He was small, but he won. There are very few humans that are giants and even fewer true Davids. Most of us find a niche to fit into, and live out our lives. But even from our small slot in the scheme of things, we can have an impact.

How? By being more creative, and supporting those that are. By voting with our pocketbooks – and buying from those small enterprises that still live outside the box. Shop in small local stores. Grow food and make things. We change things by caring for the land, our own land or the throw away land next door. By sticking up for and caring for those who have been cast out of the system – the throw away people. By demonstrating and demanding just, compassionate and creative care for all living things, places and beings.

We might want to take less in and put more out – and not onto the curb side. Life is more fun if we “put out” from the heart, from our creative minds, from the spirit that moves us. David wasn’t the only one with a relationship with the Power Source.

This kind of attitude is not really what Goliath wanted. Oh, well. ~ Joanne Sales is an organic blueberry farmer, writer and EFT Counselor living in Qualicum Beach. joanne@glasswing.com

Marketing & Advertising

giants in a throw away world

EyesOnBC Community Info Centre A few spots are still available in the EyesOnBC in-house Community Information Centre for racking your business cards, rack cards or flyers!

Call 757-9914 for more information.

From $10/month It’s where locals and visitors find their service people!

/ August 2010

11

By Marilyn Dawson, Reporter

T

he cars lined on both sides of Primrose Avenue should have been the tip-off.

The post office was closed, the library and Munchies both fairly quiet, so the real action must in be the Town Hall Chambers.

Indeed, the gallery was full, at times leaning to standing room in the hall and most had come to hear more about new plans for the old Qualicum College, currently Qualicum Beach’s eyesore # 2. The property has been in limbo since it was bought in 2006 by a numbered company represented by Ainsley Foster. At first, a time-share project was planned to work with the existing zoning and incorporate part of the old building, now designated a Heritage Site. As it became evident that time-share was losing its luster up and down the Island, the company brought forward new plans that would require a change of zoning to allow for permanent residential use.

Architect Anthony Boni was on hand at this regular Council meeting to introduce the current plan, which would allow for 40 condominium units in three new buildings and also keep the dilapidated heritage building in reconstitute form. In May, the company held sessions for nearby residents to get feedback. Proximity to the bank and overall height were the chief concerns and

even though these problems have been somewhat addressed, not everyone on Council was satisfied.

before the Council meeting. There will still be time to make changes to the bylaws before becoming law. Stay tuned.

Mayor Teunis Westbroek, aware of the dwindling amount of tourist accommodation in town, wanted to retain the present zoning or at least have some sort of mixed housing that would blend with the neighbourhood.

“If this doesn’t fly,” he said, he knew the developer had a tourist-commercial plan waiting in the wings. Councillor Barry Avis worried about massing three buildings on the site where one once stood. There was also the stability question of the bank.

The bluff overlooking Judges’ Row and stretching through Eaglecrest is known for its slides over the years.

UPDATE: When Frank Pluta and Veronica von Conruhds told the June meeting that they were taking Kris Kringle out of Qualicum Beach, because of a list of grievances, a surprised Council asked for an explanation. Deputy Administrator Heather Svensen put together a report to show two sides to the story. It’s true the Town raised rates – for everyone. They were announced last December and will be phased in over two years. Similarly, change to signage affects not just Kris Kringle, but any group that puts signs up in town. A new bylaw sets out in detail the rules and some groups have already been irritated by necessary changes and subsequent costs..

Three others on Council disagreed and the bylaws to amend zoning and OCP amendments passed first reading, but not second. That had to wait until July 28, still giving the Town time to advertise the August public hearing. When questions were opened to gallery members, hands shot up; it was clear they wanted a hearing at once, and succeeded at least in prolonging the session past the witching hour of 10 pm. However, Council tradition trumps disgruntled citizens. The hearing was set for Aug. 9

Among other complaints was the charge that the Town wanted an open contract to add staff to the event, if necessary, at a rate of $40 per hour. Last year the Town absorbed additional costs of $4,190 (QB tax-dollars at work). This year the organizers were told to pay the extra charges or hire an independent contractor to do the work...They chose to walk. ~

WWW.EYESONBC.COM 12

/ August 2010

VANCOUVER ISLAND

FIBRE ARTS SHOWCASE

By Aileen Fabris

W

hen you see or hear the word ‘fibre’, do you immediately think of breakfast cereal or something good for your body?

Or do you think tantalizing texture; smooth, crisp, rough, nubbly or soft to the touch?

Fibre artists envision fleeces from sheep, alpaca, llamas, goats and rabbits spun and plied into yarns knitted or crocheted into fashionable garments or woven into textiles for apparel, carefully embellished to create finished styles.

Yes, fibre artists create yarn-based clothing with skilful, loving hands and resourceful brains. Don’t stop at clothing however.

Think wall art or garden art both practical and whimsical. If the latter vision is more to your liking, then the upcoming Vancouver Island Fibre Arts Showcase at the Conference Centre in Nanaimo on September 10 and 11 is the place for you to be.

The Vancouver Island Fibre Arts Showcase offers you two days to experience the expressions of the rich heritage of fibre arts on Vancouver Island. On Friday September 10 between 1 and 8 pm and Saturday September 11 from 9 to 4 pm wander a large vendors market and wonder at the colours, textures and variety. Take in informative

It was a Grand Day

demonstrations of fibre arts skills and techniques throughout the days.

Watch and talk with fibre artists at work and help your children as they are inspired by fun learning activities designed just for them, such as Kumihimo (Japanese) braiding, finger knitting, spinning with tissue paper and weaving on cardboard looms.

Admission is $5 per day or $8 for both days.

A real bargain!

The Vancouver Island Fibre Arts Showcase concludes with a very special evening featuring: • an exhibit of examples of art hand-created by local artists.

Fibre ib Arts

Showcase

Vancouver Island Conference Centre Nanaimo

Friday y 1pm p & 8pm p Saturday 9am & 4pm Banquet & Fashion Show · Saturday Eve. $65 The Vancouver Island Fibre Arts Showcase offers you two days to experience the expressions of the rich heritage of fibre arts on Vancouver Island.

Wander a large vendors market and wonder at the colours,

• a scrumptious buffet meal • a fascinating presentation by internationally renowned textile artist, author and speaker Shannon Wardroper (www. geermaerts.org) • an amazing, stylish and unique wearable art fashion show.

Tickets for this special evening are $65 obtainable from the Port Theatre.

For more information call 250-752-5568 or visit www.vancouverislandfibrearts.com or email spinningwheelpro@shaw.ca

and Honourable Mention artists David Goatley, Dan Gray and John Hofman rounded out the winners. ~ submitted by The Old School House.

textures, and variety. Take in informative demonstrations of fibre arts skills and techniques throughout the days. Watch and talk with fibre artists at work and help your children as they are inspired by fun learning activities designed just for them.

General Admission $5.00 at the door

T

he 2010 Grand Prix d’Art in Qualicum Beach on July 24 ended with yet another collection of incredible paintings from local painters. Bright sun and cool breezes created the perfect day for the forty-five artists who set up ‘en plein air’ to paint on the streets of Qualicum Beach; each competing for one of several awards to be presented at the end of the day.

David McHolm swooped in for a win on his first attempt at the event! Gerda Hofman, veteran Grand Prix artist, came in second. Diane Hay took third,

Vancouver Island

www.vancouverislandfibrearts.com Sponsired by Vancouver Island Fibre Arts Society, a non-profit organization

Corinne James, Mary Brouilette, and Grand Prix Winner, David McHolm 

Left to right:

/ August 2010

13

Sharon Waugh photo

Back on the Saddle Again

By Sharon Waugh Start: Saddle Route – Intersection of Pass 37 (unmarked) and Pass Main – enroute to the former Mt. Arrowsmith Ski Hill

Regional District of Nanaimo (www.rdn.bc.ca). Download a free topographic map: www.nrcan.gc.ca (Geo Gratis)

Distance/Time: 2.0 km, elevation gain 450 metres, 3 hours Directions (to Trailhead): Take Hwy 4 to Alberni Summit, turn left onto the Connector, go 2.8 km, turn left onto Cameron Main.

After 7.7 km turn left onto Pass Main and follow along another 7.3 km to a hairpin turn with concrete barriers and a creek. Park along side the concrete barriers. Walk up Pass 37 (unmarked) to a choice of yellow or blue flagging to begin the ascent; the yellow leads to the right and covers more open, bluffy terrain with fabulous views. The blue flagged route, to the left, follows a creek gulley, under forest cover and the first section is a bit bushy.

Guides: Alberni Valley Trail Guide; Backroad Mapbook Vancouver Island; Hiking Trails II – South-Central Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands; Island Alpine (Wild Isle Guides) – A Guide to the Mountains of Strathcona Park & Vancouver Island. Websites: islandhikes.com; www.rainbirdexcursions. com. Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Foundation (www.mabr.ca); 14

/ August 2010

The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective. ~ Al Neubarth

M

assif – a geologically distinct mass of rock or a series of connected masses forming the peaks of a mountain range.

The Arrowsmith massif, one of the best known and highly popular alpine recreation destinations on Vancouver Island, includes summer snow-adorned peaks, the most prominent being Arrowsmith and Cokely. Under the guise of several local names, Kuth-Kah-Chulth, The Sleeping Maiden and The Bumps, the massif received the Mount Arrowsmith tag in the mid-1800s, named after English cartographers, Aaron and John Arrowsmith. Situated atop the Englishman and Cameron River watersheds, the mountain commands a stately lookout over panoramic views of the both the east coast of Vancouver Island and the broad sweep of the Alberni Valley, with a glimpse of the perpetual sheet of the Comox Glacier. continued next page

The region has seen a few commercial recreation endeavors come and go – from the 1910 tourist chalet built by the C.P.R. at the end of Cameron Lake which included the building of a pack trail taking travellers from the lake to an overnight hut on Mt. Cokely; to several attempts to develop and maintain a downhill skiing venture, which was dealt its fair share of vandalism and was eventually decommissioned. More recently, public consultation has been sought in meetings hosted by the Regional District of Nanaimo, the Hupacasath First Nation, The Alpine Clubs of Canada and the Federation of Mountain Clubs of B.C., to draft a management plan for a second round of scrutiny this fall. The 1,300 hectare park is dubbed the Mount Arrowsmith Massif Regional Park, which includes Mt. Arrowsmith, Mt. Cokely and will border Mt. Arrowsmith Regional Park to the north.

A network of trails awaits your exploration throughout all four seasons. The trailheads are easily accessible by two wheel drive on well-maintained and active logging roads – remember that you are sharing the roads with loaded trucks and visibility can be quite restricted. The challenge is not necessarily in the difficulty of the hiking terrain but initially in locating the trailheads! Don’t rely on signage...there is none! Our backup directions were “you’ll know where to park, because you’ll see where the other vehicles are parked”... not! Doesn’t work when you are the first vehicle to arrive up the mountain in the morning!

We choose the Saddle Route to gain access to the saddle between Mt. Cokely and Mount Arrowsmith; the trailheads for the other two routes, Judges Route and Rosseau Trail are easily accessible within a five kilometre range on Pass Main and can be combined for a return loop.

The Saddle Route has an elevation gain of 450 metres but is certainly not as scrambly as the Judges Route, which is a little shorter in length. Good footing, lots of tree and root hand-holds make the journey easier with great scenic pauses to catch your breath and a beautiful alpine mini-lake to refuel by. Poles would have been advantageous for traversing the snowy bowl of the gulley but it was doable without them and numbingly refreshing on the hand that was planted into the uphill slope for support...a free-fall slide downhill was not a preferrable outcome!

The cairn-marked summit of the Saddle is surrounded by bonsai-like alpine evergreens with purple, pink and white mats of dwarf wildlflowers. Below, the emerald waters of Jewel Lake were barely visible through a few cracks in the icy surface as a ring of cascading waterfalls were intent on filling its basin. Above, a straggle of hikers made their way up the Nose to the peak of Arrowsmith while we enjoyed our lunch under cloudless skies. Could life get any better? ...well, maybe a few more directional signs on the logging road would have been nice... ~

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• on Twitter www.twitter.com/ BeaconMagazine • on Facebook Search for us as EyesOnBC • on our Blog beaconmagazine.blogspot.com • on our own developing Website at www.eyesonbc.com

/ August 2010

15

bernie pascall: the man behind the mic

By Carolyn Walton

T

he walls of veteran sportscaster Bernie Pascall’s office display a veritable who’s who of hockey celebrities, dating back to his early days of broadcasting beside such icons as Foster Hewitt and Johnny Esaw. “When I was growing up I idolized Foster Hewitt,” the former Voice of the Vancouver Canucks and winner of the Western Foster Hewitt Award for Broadcasting confides, “and here I was broadcasting the hockey game for the west in the same gondola where Foster was covering it for the Maple Leafs.” I recognize photos of familiar faces from my newspaper days at the Toronto Star; Jim Hunt, Jim Vipond, Wes McNight, Bob Hewitson, Bill Stevenson and Irv Ungerman, in a group shot taken at the World Championships in Vienna. In a 1967 Leafs team calendar photo Bernie appears in the front row along with Tim Horton, Punch Imlach, King Clancy and others. Because I happened to be there for an interview they recruited me to sit in for an absent John Ballard,” he explains, “then inserted his head on my body for the calendar. They gave me this copy of the original photo so I tell everybody I was vice-president of the Leafs!”

In a 1957 photo a just-turned eighteen year-old Bernie sits behind the mic in his first broadcasting job, at CFAR, Flin Flon, Manitoba, looking more like a teen movie idol than sportscaster! As a kid from St Mike’s in Toronto, he was offered a summer job as Morning Host at this small radio station in Flin Flon.

“I had relatives in Winnipeg so thought Flin Flon can’t be that bad. Turns out it was a fourteen-hour train ride north!”

When the Sport’s Director left he was asked to take the position covering the Flin Flon Bombers Junior hockey team’s games. His wife, Judy, a former Miss Winnipeg, laughs, “He had to come west to find me!”

CHAT-TV Medicine Hat, CJAY-TV Winnipeg, CFTO...as a rookie at CFAR, Flin Flon, MB • 1957 TV Toronto, then BCTV Vancouver followed and the rest, as they say, is history.

Bernie’s photo on a July 1991 cover of TV Week hangs beside his treasured 2006 BC Hockey Hall of Fame, 2004 Canadian During his forty-five year stint in television, radio and Association of internet sports broadcasting he admits he was principally Broadcasters and involved with hockey, and one game he enjoyed immensely 2008 Sports Hall was doing the play by play of the 1976 World Hockey Cup of Fame awards. in Montreal when Darryl Sittler scored the winning goal of Another photo the first overtime period, giving Team Canada the inaugural shows coach championship. Sittler broke in off the left wing and – Don Cherry, following the advice of assistant coach Don Cherry – faked a Phil Esposito, booming slap shot causing Czech goalie Dzurilla to fall to his Pat Marsden, knees. Once the star goalie was down, Sittler skated by and Dick Irvine and popped the puck into the wide open net winning 5-4. Team Johnny Esaw at Canada’s roster included: Bobby Clarke, Marcel Dionne, the Olympics in Phil Esposito, Bob Gainey, Bobby Hull, Guy Lafleur, Lanny Sarajevo where McDonald, Denis Potvin, Larry Robinson, Serge Savard and “everybody got Peter Mahovlich among others.

‘Yugo’ throat as all This guy’s done it all! His play by play broadcasts on CTV the Yugoslavians also included other major sporting events such as twelve smoked!” Later, ...as a seasoned CTV sportscaster World Hockey Championships and Memorial Cups, several Dick Irvine and Canadian University hockey championships, World Figure Skating Bernie would both be inducted into the 2008 Canadian Championships, Skate Canada, track and field, golf, gymnastics, horse Association of Broadcasters Hockey Hall of Fame in racing, skiing-biathlon and cross country events as well as serving as Ottawa.

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commentator on CFL telecasts including BC Lions’ games and Grey Cups, NASL Vancouver whitecaps soccer and more than twenty-four BC Games from communities throughout the Province. He called the play by play on the first ever “pay per view closed circuit” Canucks telecast in 1970 and arranged and hosted the first “live” microwave BCTV sportscast from the Pacific Coliseum in 1988.

He has written a much publicized report for the Provincial Government on “Eliminating Hockey Violence. Only two major Canadian reports on violence in hockey have been written. In 1974 “The McMurtry Report” and in 2000 “The Pascall Report”.

Bernie and Oceanside neighbour and friend, hockey legend Howie Meeker, both belong to Bernie Pascall, Howie Meeker & Judy Pascall the sixty-one member with the 2005 Stanley Cup Oceanside Media Club which meets monthly at Arrowsmith Golf Club. Howie was colour commentator for the last three years “...my first baptism of Bernie’s Vancouver Canucks hockey broadcasts. “Ironically,” Bernie says “my in broadcasting first baptism in broadcasting involved involved Howie. In Howie. In 1956 as a student at St. Mikes 1956 as a student at in Toronto, I interviewed Howie Meeker, then coach of the Leafs, for a radio show St. Mike’s in Toronto, called Youth in Action on CFRB!” Although retired, Bernie chairs and emcees countless charity golf tournaments, most recently the Sixth Annual Children’s Miracle Network at Morningstar Golf Course, Canucks for Kids Tournament in Richmond, the Richard Brodeur Tournament in Maple Ridge and the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Tournament in Penticton. “Once you put your foot in the door,” he observes, “Then you’re asked to do everything. However they are all great causes and I‘m happy to do my part.” ~ [photos submitted]

Marketing & Advertising

Although Bernie has covered nine Olympics, one of his most memorable was his play by play of the “Miracle on Ice”, US - Russia hockey game during the 1980 Olympics at Lake Placid, New York.

“CTV broadcast live across Canada while ABC did it on a taped delay so during the course of the telecast, Johnny Esaw would be passing me notes to welcome various non-ABC affiliate stations in the US which were picking up the feed in progress because of the drama and the excitement.” Other Olympics of note included 1976 Innsbruck, 1976 Montreal, (covering the perfect “10” performance by Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci), 1984 Sarajevo, 1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Calgary, 2002 Salt Lake City, 2006 Turin and the recent Vancouver Olympics.

EyesOnBC Community Info Centre A few spots are still available in the EyesOnBC in-house Community Information Centre for racking your business cards, rack cards or flyers!

Call 757-9914 for more information.

From $10/month It’s where locals and visitors find their service people!

I interviewed Howie Meeker, then coach of the Leafs, for a radio show called Youth in Action on CFRB!” ~ Pascall

/ August 2010

17

GOODIES AT THE MARKETS

By Shirley Culpin

Y

The buns have been turned out for the past 13 years at the market by professional chef Carol MacFayden, who also doubles as the baker for the two Lefty’s restaurants in Oceanside.

ummy.

Most folks head to their local farmers markets to stock up on the week’s supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, which wouldn’t be described as particularly ‘yummy’ – at least, not by most of us. However, the word seems to be earning its rightful place at the markets this year with the recent proliferation of sweet treats offered by a number of vendors. The offerings run the gamut and address the tastes of even the pickiest eater.

Another very busy vendor at the Errington market is Luise Norman’s Rocky Acres stall.

A local resident for 18 years, Luise started baking extensively after retiring from the fishing industry.

“I just needed something to fill my time, and I love baking,” says Luise. “So, I started baking for the fire department, and it just grew from there.”

Qualicum Beach’s Saturday morning market (8:30 am – 12 noon) features some truly unique goodies that can be resisted by few.

For devotees of British-style baking the Island Highlander Co. run by Stuart Carswell and his wife Bobbie Williams, fits the bill beautifully. Stuart is a professional chef, but has recently cut back to two days a week at his ‘real’ job in order to concentrate on baking for the four weekly markets that he, Bobbie and and their little girl, Thistle, attend.

Stuart Carswell • Island Highlander Co. Elsa Heeps’ From the Hearth Artisan Bakery also figures large at the Qualicum Beach market. A resident of Qualicum Bay, Elsa is a trained pastry chef. Her offerings include, but are not limited to, exquisite large rectangular fruit tarts and gluten-free products. Elsa’s commitment to freshness includes rising at 3:30 am Saturday mornings to complete some of her baking in time to pack it up and get to Qualicum for the early market opening. Her glutenfree baking, inspired by her own dietary issues, occupies about a third of her market inventory and sells out every week.

Island Highlander offers a wide range of treats that includes, without a doubt, the best Bakewell tart in creation – no surprise, being that Stuart obtained his recipe from a resident of Bakewell, England. The decadent sticky toffee puddings are large enough to feed two or three On to the people (or Errington four, if folks Farmers can restrain Market, themselves), which and the runs every Ecclefechan Saturday butter tart, from 10 with a thin Elsa Heeps • From the Hearth Artisan Bakery am – 1 pm. shortbread Located in a crust, is chock-full of walnuts and raisins. It rustic setting in a forest glade, this laidis a truly sublime experience for those with back market is most famous for its warma serious sweet tooth. The list of goodies from-the-oven cinnamon buns, but there is on the back of the couple’s business card certainly no dearth of other products offered includes other mouthwatering offerings as to lovers of baked goods. well, and their hope is to develop a market for gift baskets featuring their goodies, along Errington’s cinnamon buns, straight from the market kitchen oven, draw people from with specialty desserts for fund-raising miles around. The sweet, sticky start to the efforts. Island Highlander is easy enough to weekend has become a tradition – or perhaps find at the markets – just look for Bobbie’s better described as an addiction – for many. red tartan skirt, or for Stuart in his kilt.

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Now in to her sixth year at the market, Luise’s small vendor space is crammed with a myriad of lip-smacking treats, ranging from fresh rhubarb cake to a sublime mango date nut loaf, to two different kinds of cinnamon rolls. There is a variety of other drool-inducing loaves, and no fewer than 10 varieties of home-made cookies.

A relative newcomer to the Errington area, and to its market is The Tartan Pie, run by Derek Kercher and Theresa Curtiss. The couple offers a wide range of freshly-baked fruit and meat pies produced by Derek, who is also a professional chef. Derek also turns out a pretty mean cinnamon bun, when he has the time.

So, for those of us who think there is more to life than fruit and vegetables, the two main farmers markets in this area offer up an abundance of life’s sweet treats. Supporting local small business, combined with adhering to the 100 Mile Diet, almost makes it worth all those extra calories!

Further information on the markets, their operating seasons, and directions to get there can be obtained at www.qbfarmersmarket. com for Qualicum, and www.erringtonhall. bc.ca/market.htm for Errington. ~ Contact Island Highlander Co. at 1-877808-2333 or via the internet at sales@ islandhighlander.com Contact Elsa, From the Hearth Artisan Bakery by phone at 250-757-8979 or on the internet at heeps@shaw.ca Contact the Tartan Pie by phone at 250-7131784 or on the web at www.thetartanpie.com Shirley Culpin photos

TRULY WHOLE GRAIN

by Nancy Whelan

I

t’s not easy coming to terms with your daily bread. First, we thought we were doing the right thing by switching from white to brown bread. Then we realized we weren’t getting all brown flour in the bread so we switched to “whole wheat” and in that term lies the loss of most of the bread’s nutrients, for though its flour does contain only wheat, it includes very little of the whole grain. Then we started hearing about “whole grain” and “organic”, but again, the flour used in many organic breads and bakery products, after refining, is often left with only the least nutritious part of the wheat.

At Sloping Hill Farm near Qualicum Beach, Dirk Keller and Bea Graf now grow about nine acres of wheat. They plant in the spring

removed. To hear Dirk tell it, “The pigs eat better than we do; the stuff removed from that wheat goes into pig feed.”

The proof of Bea’s “whole grain” came in her reply to my question, “How much flour do you get from a given amount of wheat?”

Said Bea, “Last night I milled two kilos of wheat and ended up with two kilos of flour.”A cross section of a whole grain of wheat shows the outer layer or bran which seals in the endosperm and the wheat germ.

Its hard texture makes it indigestible so it travels quickly through the digestive tract – it’s the roughage. At the bottom of the grain is the germ, the most nutritious part from which a stem and the roots of a new plant would start; it contains vitamins E, B, A, protein, fibre, omega 3 fatty acids, and fat. The largest portion of the grain is the endosperm which surrounds the germ and is mainly carbohydrate and requires the nutrients from the bran and germ for the body to metabolize it. This endosperm is what’s left in refined flours – a carbohydrate which cannot be metabolized.

Bea Graf and Dirk Keller of Sloping Hill Farm • Nancy Whelan photo and when they harvest their wheat in the fall, Bea mills her own truly whole grain flour, milling a small quantity every day with her electric mill. Her milling process uses all of the grain and keeps the temperature low, preserving the nutrients.

A kernel of wheat is, of course, a seed and is made up of several parts. Bea has a compact little display which illustrates the contents of wheat kernels and what is usually left in regular flour. Five little glass vials start with the whole grain, then the bran, the middlings, the wheat germ, and the wheat germ oil; the sixth and last vial contains commercially milled white flour from which most of the wheat’s parts have been

Whole grain bread moves through the intestine in about 30 hours; white bread from refined flour takes about 80 hours to digest.

Bea and Dirk came to Canada from Bavaria.

In 2000 they had a farm in Nanaimo where they grew their own wheat, but in 2005 they moved to a farm with more land that is their present Sloping Hill Farm where they started growing wheat in 2009. This year they were able to plant with seed saved from last year’s crop. They grow both ‘White Spring’, a variety with a lighter colour used for cakes, and a darker ‘Red Spring’ especially for bread.

“The Island climate is a difficult one for growing wheat,” says Dirk, “because being so close to the ocean we have a high humidity of 30-35%. When it’s time to

harvest, there’s no room for hesitation. It must be done between 11 am and 2 pm when it’s driest, and if it starts to rain, whatever is not harvested is lost.”

Besides their genuine whole grain flour available at the QB Saturday Farmers’ Market in small packages or at their little store just inside the farm gate on Parker Road, Bea and Dirk raise happy, naturallyraised chickens and pigs. The Vancouver Restaurant Awards recently recognized their farm as the producer and supplier of the year for their tasty pork. Their chickens are available fresh when butchered, and later as frozen, and when their chickens really get into laying, a ‘jumbo’ sized egg makes a great accompaniment for a buttery slice of truly whole grain toast!

Bea has a few tips for using their whole grain flour. Because it’s ‘alive’ so to speak, it should be stored in a cool dry place – for 10 to 12 days in the fridge and for longer periods in the freezer. Whole grain flour may require a bit more water or other liquid when baking, and if using a bread machine you might want to experiment a little to get it just right.

However you use Sloping Hill’s whole grain flour, be assured that you’ll be eating “the whole thing”. ~

/ August 2010

19

Raven Coal Project

FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

T

he article by Neil Bockman (Beacon Magazine, July 2010) regarding the proposed Raven Coal project requires a rebuttle. Coming from Denman Island, that economic powerhouse of B.C. where the majority of residents are either independently wealthy or collect a government check of some kind the opposition to jobs does not surprise me.

D.O.C. (Denman Opposes Coal) should change their name to something more appropriate such as D.O.E. (Denman Opposes Employment) or perhaps D.O.W. (Denman Opposes Work).

From the Article “They say that the coal is not being burned here so the question of CO2 emissions is non-existent.”

Fact- This is metalugical Coal, it is not burned but added to iron to make high grades of steel. I do agree that this coal should not be shipped off the island. Rather we should demand a steel mill to use this coal and iron ore that exists in B.C. to create even more jobs.

From the Article “There could be socio-economic disruptions and devaluations of property values.

Fact- The coal mine will create real jobs for people with families that will buy houses and help refill our schools.

Perhaps the market for multi million dollar mansions might drop.

DOC also raises the issue of preceived threats to groundwater.

Possible but unlikely, there is far more danger to groundwater from agricultural runoff and disfunctional septic systems.

The comparison between the jobs created by this project and the Costco store is laughable. Raven Coal will create over 300 high paying, mostly union jobs between the mine and spinoffs, including the need to retain teachers as opposed to a few part time, minimum wage, no benefits store jobs. This will encourage our younger residents to stay here instead of moving to Alberta where the money is.

With a little luck the increase in truck traffic will encourage the government to build a four lane highway from Horne Lake to Pt. Alberni to keep traffic out of the bottle neck at Cathedral grove to the benefit of the whole west coast of the island. This will also create construction jobs and perhaps encourage more industry in our area.

For the past twenty or so years those of us that have grown up on the coast have seen our jobs disappear as moe and more rich outsiders retire here and then complain about how we earn our daily bread. This trend has got to stop. In B.C. we log, mine, fish and farm. Those that do not like to see people with real jobs are free to go back to where ever they came from. ~ Kim Morton, Qualicum Beach, BC 20

/ August 2010

CoalWatch Unites Activists With Diverse Backgrounds

By Jane E. Burton

N

early eight months after the citizen’s group CoalWatch was formed the work continues at a steady pace for its volunteers.

Three CoalWatch activists agreed to share their stories and explain why they believe that the Raven Underground Coal Mine Project must be questioned.

Campbell Connor was CoalWatch’s first chairperson and now works as the outreach coordinator. A retired entrepreneur and Dean of Student Affairs at Brandon University, Campbell also spent time in the United Church ministry. His boundless energy for the many hours of CoalWatch work has a theological connection: “I come at environmental issues from a spiritual end.

I don’t think we’ve got the right to screw up the creative world the way we do. And it is very important to me personally that we get that kind of message out. You can’t sit on the sidelines and believe that.” Born in South Shields England, Campbell could have chosen coal mining as an occupation.

Instead he opted to go to marine school to train for a life at sea rather than to go down into the Hilda colliery that ran for three miles under the ocean.

Campbell and his wife Marjorie left Manitoba for Vancouver Island in 1988; finally landing in Fanny Bay in 2003.

Their only other involvement in a citizen’s group was being part of the white minority in South Africa who supported African nationalism. Campbell has many serious concerns about the Raven Project, including the threat to the Baynes Sound aquaculture industry: “The Coastal Shellfish Industry Research Centre told us that very small nonlethal amounts of heavy metals coming into the water impair the ability of the shellfish to procreate. That’s tickets, game over. We all know that there are leakages that come out of ponds. With the best will in the world there will be leakages. Those leakages go somewhere.”

John Snyder, originally from San Diego California, says he went to Alaska in 1965 for the summer and stayed forty-two years.

He worked most of that time as a truck driver. He and his wife Sheila moved to Fanny Bay three years ago. John originally volunteered for fundraising and the steering committee; when Campbell moved to

outreach John agreed to become the chairperson.

Being a shop steward in the Teamsters Union is the closest John has come to being involved in an organization like CoalWatch.

The chairperson’s role consumes about two hours a day of his time, on average.

Recently he represented CoalWatch in a series of meetings about the Raven Project held in Nanaimo, Duncan, Victoria, Vancouver and Port Alberni in conjunction with the Western Canada Wilderness Committee and the Sierra Club. He believes the public awareness aspect of his work is essential: “There are a lot of people who just have no idea this thing is on the table.”

A “perilously” low well last summer was the spark that ignited John’s activism in CoalWatch. He attended the proponents’ open house last fall with questions about the mines affect on the water table. John continues to work to get those answers and encourages everyone to be equally curious: “I tell them to do research, become aware, go to our public meetings and the more knowledge that they have, they can make their own decision as to whether it is going to be a good project or not.”

me in terms of the planet. Another concern I have is the 14 million tons of waste that is going to be sitting up there and I wish we could actually give people a picture of what that is actually going to look like. And that waste when it is exposed to air and it has rain falling on it can produce acid mine drainage and again that’s a big problem for the environment.”

Campbell, John and Jaye are typical examples of the diverse group of people who have chosen to live in this part of Vancouver Island. Bringing together many such committed and passionate people is what CoalWatch is all about as it works to question the wisdom of letting a coal mine move into the area. ~ Jane E. Burton is a freelance writer who operates her company Memorable Lines from her home in Fanny Bay. RAVEN PROJECT FACTS ...

Tonnes of coal to be mined per day at the Raven Underground Coal Mine: 6000 Tonnes of coal to be mined per year: 2.2 million Of this, tonnes of processed coal per year for shipping: 1.5 million Tonnes of waste material from coal mined per year: .7 million

Jaye Castleden grew up in Sudbury, spent most of her working life in Manitoba and has lived in Fanny Bay for eight years. She and her husband Don moved here from Winnipeg where she had been a senior program analyst for the Manitoba government in First Nations school programs. Jaye’s concern for the environment prompted her to join CoalWatch and offer her librarian’s skills to the research committee. She then joined the steering committee to work with her long time friend Campbell Connor. It is not uncommon for Jaye to spend five to six hours a day on CoalWatch research and administrative work.

Number of years coal will be mined: 20

Jaye finds CoalWatch’s organizing quite different than her work for social justice causes. As her father was a mining engineer, she is familiar with the industry, but coal is new to her. Two specific concerns stand out from her research: “Although the environmental assessment doesn’t consider carbon emissions, that definitely concerns

Approximate number of returning empty trucks: 98

Hectares covered by surface area (“project footprint”) of the mine: 200 Hectares covered by the underground area of the mine: 3,100 Number of hours per day coal will be mined, processed and transported: 24 Number of days per week coal will be mined, processed and transported: 7 Frequency of truck embarking from the mine: every 15 minutes Approximate number of loaded trucks per day: 98

Based on following sources: Raven Underground Coal Project – Project Description (August 2009) & Addendum (February 2010); Compliance Coal correspondence; BC Shellfish Growers Association; Department of Fisheries & Oceans; Comox Airport weather station; Times-Colonist; David Suzuki Foundation. Prepared by: Outreach Committee of Denman Opposes Coal (July 2010)

/ August 2010

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Van Isle Fishing & Marine Adventures

S

tep into Kevin’s office, a 24-foot welded aluminum vessel, and in minutes you can be enjoying the marine adventures and fishing opportunities that await in the waters of Georgia Strait right out of Deep Bay. Van Isle Fishing and Marine Adventures is Kevin Zawislake’s locally operated fishing charter company which has been guiding locals and visitors to these waters for over 18 years. Many factors such as the unparalleled natural beauty of the shoreline, the beautiful islands and the relatively calm waters (no sea swells which for fishing are often an issue), the abundant sea life along with the temperate climate make these waters opportune for year round excursions.

There is fishing for all five species of Pacific salmon here.

Salmon begin their migration in early May and continue through to late November. Kevin targets all species of salmon and bottom fish using a variety of methods. Prawn and crab fishing is also available and at times plentiful in our local waters and Kevin knows the spots to hit.

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As Kevin says “every day on the water is a new experience – you never know what you are going to see.” His adventure trips can offer sightings of sea lions, otters, seals, porpoises, eagles, and various sea and shore birds. Lately, killer whales have been sighted locally as well as an enormous elephant seal – normally a recluse shy species.

Kevin customizes charters to your liking – he has even arranged visits onto Chrome Island to view the beautiful lighthouse and view the native petroglyphs.

You are in good hands with Kevin when you are on the water. He loves what he does and it shows in his infectious enthusiasm. With an honors degree in coastal adventure tourism, he is also a retired search and rescue technician with numerous marine safety courses under this belt. His boat is fully insured, Transport Canada certified, Coast Guard inspected and loaded with all of the latest electronics, fishing gear, safety equipment and even a toilet.

The Lighthouse Country Business Association welcomes Van Isle Fishing and Marine Adventures as a new member. Kevin can be reached at: 250-792-1993 or zawis@shaw.ca and online at www. vanislefishingandmarineadventures.com . ~

Space for this Business Spotlight is generously provided by EyesOnBC. 22

/ August 2010

circles of wholeness

By Nancy Whelan

T

his month “Seasons” takes a meditative turn to bring the natural world and the maze of our own being into closer alignment, understanding, and acceptance.

It invites you to take a journey to the centre and back to the beginning with a flow of peace, thoughtfulness, and perhaps inspiration or a solution as you travel.

The instrument of this change is the labyrinth. The modern interpretation of a labyrinth is often that of a puzzle, a maze, a tricky construction in which one gets lost; the original labyrinth has a single path to its centre and out again and its very simplicity is what makes it a soothing passage.

I saw and became intrigued with my first labyrinths this spring, when on the same day, I happened upon two of them in the Courtenay/Comox area. They were the same, yet different in their location and the materials used in their building. The first was in a shady, wooded site, built with cedar shavings and beach stones at Kitty Coleman Gardens just north of Courtenay; the second was in an open garden setting and constructed with gravel and brick pavers

...a shady, wooded labyrinth, built with cedar shavings and beach stones at Kitty Coleman Gardens just north of Courtenay.

Nancy Whelan photo

at the Anderton Therapeutic Garden near Comox.

With friends I slowly walked their quieting circular paths, and to add to my intrigue I met and talked with author Aryana Rayne, about her very new (off the presses the day before!) book, “Labyrinths of BC”. While all this was new to me, labyrinths have been around since the Bronze Age, the days of the Egyptian pyramids, Greek mythology, Cretan patterns, ancient (East) Indian cave art, and Native American basketry.

ancient popularity as patterns on walls, baskets, and coins, as well as floors and the ground, interest in labyrinths noticeably faded. Then they made a comeback.

In the 13th and 14th centuries labyrinth design came into full flower in Europe with the pavement designs in fine gothic cathedrals like Chartres in France and the Duomo di Siena in Italy. There are some theories that the faithful used the circular paths of the labyrinth for prayers and devotions, but there seems to be no evidence to support that theory. In

As such, labyrinths have collected an aura of mystery and the unknown. After their

continued on page 45

Identify and release the energy imbalance and non-coherent patterns behind the source of chronic conditions, such as Diabetes I or II. Cranial Sacral Therapy / Resonance Repatterning Jonathan Martin, Certified Practitioner 250.586.3316 | jonpen@shaw.ca | www.resonancerepatterning.net

/ August 2010

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It’s Happening in Area H

By Dave Bartram

RDN Area H Director Email: dwbartram@shaw.ca PH: 757-9737 • FAX: 757-9705 Living on the Edge: Our Electoral Area H OCP designates the majority of our shoreline as an Environmentally Sensitive or Hazard Lands Development Permit Area.

For coastal areas the Development Permit area shall be 30 metres upland of the natural boundary and the surface of water within 30 metres of the natural boundary of the ocean. The reason is simple, the protection of the natural environment, its ecosystem and biological diversity and the protection of our homes and property from hazardous conditions due to steep or unstable slopes.

Shorelines often need special attention when building steps, stairs, paths, roads, or removing vegetation as they are on the receiving end of drainage and seepage.

Why am I telling you the obvious? Because people insist on building steps, paths, roads or removing vegetation without considering the special attention this requires. The

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/ August 2010

result…loss of property and neighbours who are apt to take you to court. Shorelines are governed by a large variety of laws – federal (such as the Fisheries Act) provincial (such as the Health Act), common law (such as riparian law), and municipal law (such as Environmentally Sensitive or Hazard Lands Development Permit Areas). Shorelines are “legally dynamic” – that is, the high water line represents a “floating” or variable boundary. The requirement of the law that citizens exercise “due diligence” in the management of their property can have huge repercussions for shoreline owners. There is increasing civil litigation over problems such as erosion caused by a neighbour’s shorewall, vegetation removal, water contamination due to a neighbour’s failed septic system, or flood damage caused by runoff.

Your Septic System: In Electoral Area H we all live with septic systems and with new residents it is important to understand that regular maintenance protects your investment. What are some of the recommended guidelines to help keep your system trouble-free? Reduce Water Use: Minimize water use to keep solid sludge well settled on the bottom of the tank. If sludge is allowed to pass out of the tank it can clog the distribution box, your drain field pipes and eventually your drain field.

Pump out your Tank: Experts recommend pump out every three to five years. New owners should have this done as a condition of sale. When pumping, have the contractor check the inflow and outflow pipes and also the condition of the distribution box, and have the contractor remove the sludge as CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Lo

We’ll be open Aug 2nd 10 am - 5 pm CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 well as the liquid. Avoid Septic Additives: Most experts will tell you these are unnecessary and will not replace the requirement for regular pumping. Feed the Septic System a Healthy Diet: It is recommended that you do use basket strainers on all your sinks, tubs, and showers; look for detergents that don’t have fillers and phosphates; use a dry well to backflush a water softener or drain a hot tub; and use a lint filter on your washing machine. It is recommended that you don’t flush facial tissue, paper towel, coffee grounds, tea leaves, fats or grease, cigarette butts, filters, sanitary napkins, newspapers, or disposable diapers. Don’t use a garburetor, or disinfectants like “Pinesol and “Lysol” and minimize the use of bleach.

It is recommended that you never use caustic toilet bowl cleaners and drain cleaners or pour chemicals like paint, solvents, thinners, nail polish remover, kerosene, antifreeze, gas or oil down the drain into your septic system. Protect your Drain Field: Don’t drive or park on top of your drain field.

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Recommended Reading: “On the Living Edge, Your Handbook for Waterfront Living” by Sarah Kipp & Clive Callaway and be SEPTIC SMART. Visit www.rdn.bc.ca

/ August 2010

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d

OUT OF THE NEST

Telling the extraordinary life stories of our community’s youth

CRYSTAL MACEY

she’s curious about the human element

By Rita Levitz

“I

think my defining trait is that I’m curious, and have always been interested in social interactions. I see things within a context, and remember things in terms of stories and relationships. I see situations holistically and ask, ‘How do different people fit, and how do I fit, into this 3-D connection web?’”

Crystal Macey’s (Bowser Elementary School, Qualicum Beach Middle School, Kwalikum Secondary School 2001) inquiring mind led her to graduate from VIU with a BA in Anthropology, focusing on cultural and social dynamics. “I started in the two-year classical music program for piano, but took an anthropology elective in my second year. I knew then that although music would always be a part of my life, my future career was in the anthropology field.

I had amazing teachers at VIU. My classes were relatively small, and we had lots of opportunity for discussion and debate.”

Crystal has been working since August of 2008 in the Port Alberni Treaty Office of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, whose traditional territory is in the Bamfield area.

“As of April 1st 2011, the Indian Act will be nullified for Huu-ay-aht First Nations and four other Nuu-chah-nulth Nations.This has been an amazing, eye-opening experience.

This treaty is the second of its kind in BC and is new for everyone. I’ve been able to contribute by planning meetings, organizing community events and helping to manage the implementation process…all things I love doing!”

When asked what helped her become the person she is, Crystal refers to it being a group effort. Between her “nuclear” family

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/ August 2010

Crystal Macey • Rita Levitz photo of four children and two blended families with five more, she is the eldest of nine children. “I know it sounds like a cliché, but it really does take a community to raise a child. My parents, my grandparents, the whole extended family of aunts and uncles and cousins on both my mom and dad’s sides – I didn’t know that it was unusual to be so close with that many people. I developed the life skills that I’ve brought to everything since leaving home.”

“My mom, Denise Masson, is my biggest role model. She taught me the importance of relationships, that other people aren’t ‘others’. There is always a context; there is always a story. My dad, Mark Macey, ensured that music was always a part of my life.”

There is a very special place in Crystal’s heart for the natural environment, especially the ocean and Qualicum Bay. “My Aunt and Uncle and cousins lived next door, and Nana and Grandpa lived next to them. Nana had a special energy, and I loved being around her.

We spent a lot of time together and all our family events were held there.”

I couldn’t help but notice the intricate tattoo that stretches from Crystal’s right shoulder to lower back. “It developed organically over seven years,” she explained. “The first part was the musical staff and notes, followed by the Icelandic runes, and later connected with a filigree. The helm of awe at the bottom symbolizes protection and strength. The runes above it are for turning thoughts into dreams, and for those dreams to come true.” ~

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/ August 2010

27

Sushi Masa

Japanese Restaurant

by Linda Tenney hef Akisawa Masa Nori is definitely a master behind the sushi counter, and we were delighted to find my husband’s old Vancouver Community College culinary instructor at the helm of Sushi Masa Japanese Restaurant in Parksville.

C

Quietly unassuming, it’s my view that Sushi Masa is truly one of the best sushi restaurants on Vancouver Island. Albeit the decor is no where near traditional Japanese, but don’t let that deter you. The food here is top-notch, as is the service.

Chef Akisawa Masa Nori Sushi Masa 220 Island Highway West, Parksville • (250) 248-6648

sushi: Your first time...

by Linda Tenney

I

f you’re familiar with Japanese food, carry on...and enjoy! But if you’re not, and you’re a little hesitant about the menu, and the items on it look... well...foreign, here’s the scoop on what to order for your very first time at Sushi Masa.

Fear not...Chef Aki-san will treat you to Japanese food that’s great tasting...good for you...somewhat addictive...and no, not everything here is raw!

Remember to eat with your eyes first.

Take a few moments to fully appreciate

In fact, a recent convert to the tasty world of Chef Aki-san’s Sushi Masa felt compelled to let me know that I was right (whew!)... he “hadn’t tasted food that good since his time in Tokyo.” Now that’s a recommendation for you! ~

the art of the presentation. It’s an important part of the Japanese dining experience.

And feel free to share your choices with an adventurous partner.

• Miso Soup (broth with seaweed & tofu) • Crab Sunomono (noodle salad) • Gomae (Spinach appetizer - said “go-mye) • Prawn Tempura (deep-fried) • Yakitori (BBQ chicken on skewers) • Pork Gyoza (dumplings) • BC Roll (salmon skin/roe/cucumber) • Nigiri Salmon & Tuna. (Yup, this is raw.

You may want to nix the wasabi this time out.)

This basic little nibble could quite possibly start a whole new tradition for you. Imagine a weekly taste adventure into the fascinating world of Japanese food. Sounds yummy to me! / August 2010

28

Sandbar Cafe

& Art Gallery

4-180 W. 2nd Avenue in the heart of Qualicum Beach Phone for Dinner Reservations:

250.752.6693

Dinner 5 pm to 10 pm 7 nights a week

45 ARTISTS on DISPLAY

www.giovannisqualicum.com

featuring in August

Christie Wright

Painted Rocks & Saw Blades

Lunch & Dinner Specials OPEN DAILY 7am - 8pm

778.424.4478

6087 West Island Hwy - Qualicum Beach

Visit these fine restaurants on the Internet for a peek at their complete menus and more ...

Fanny Bay Inn

www.fannybayinn.com

Giovanni’s Ristorante

www.giovannisqualicum.com

Deez Bar & Grill

www.deezbarandgrill.com

Old Dutch Inn The Windmill

www.olddutchinn.com

Fish Tales

www.fishtalescafe.com

*

Gary’s Bistro

www.zapbc.com/garysbistro/

*

* / August 2010

29

of wonderful people. I think people find it easy to fit in here since the community is so friendly.”

Rita Levitz photo

Jeanette is an expert at deftly turning the focus of conversation away from herself, so the following is included as a public service. She was born in 1950 and grew up twenty-five miles from Tisdale, Saskatchewan. “It was a great place to grow up, on a farm. My grandparents and aunts and uncles had farms nearby, and I grew up close to my cousins. The family spent every Sunday together.” Thus was born her seemingly innate understanding of what community is about, and what it brings to people.

Although she originally wanted to be an airline hostess – “I thought it would be so glamourous” – life had other things on the tarmac for her. She has lived in Golden, Grande Cache, Calgary, 100-Mile House and Maple Ridge. She has two sons, Kelly and Kevin, from her first marriage, and is the proud grandmother of almost three year-old Adam.

When Jeanette started at The Beacon, both Sharon and Linda noticed that people came in just to look for her, since they could no longer find her at Tomm’s. Maybe a fax needed to go through that day, but if Jeanette wasn’t around, somehow it could wait until she got back. And of course, there was a steady stream of pie, bread and treats that her favourite people brought in.

One of those favourites who followed her from Tomm’s was her future husband Chuck. “Each month when The Beacon came out he’d come in and bring up something from one of the articles.” They started dating in December of 2005 and were married two years later.

By Rita Levitz

“I

have a genuine interest in people, in where they’ve been, and in what they’re doing.” Anyone who has been into The Beacon office knows the truth of Jeanette Spibey’s statement. They also know the authentic place this interest comes from. It is not just empty conversation; Jeanette remembers what people tell her, and will continue the conversation the next time they are in. The Beacon is a team effort, and Jeanette, from her place behind the rounded counter, is the heart.

Jeanette started with The Beacon in 2006. “This is the best job I’ve ever had. I think I met Linda, first, and then Sharon. I thought to myself, ‘I really want to work with them.’ I started out volunteering when they were still both working from home.” Jeanette was also working at Tomm’s then. “I worked there for three years and met lots

“We both came from families with a wonderful home life – never an argument or a cross word – so we have the same values and outlook on life. We’re both pretty evenkeeled and easy-going.”

It is those same qualities that made her a community ambassador at The Beacon office, the first face people saw, and the one they came back for. Her magic was in asking questions, inviting people to feel at ease and important. “Most people like to talk about themselves, and some never get the opportunity to tell their stories.

People also came in or phoned to ask all kinds of questions, and there was a thrill in searching out an answer.”

“Over the years that I worked there, I got to know who did what, especially the artists.” She met many of them while helping hang their work in the EyesOnBC Gallery, and she has an extensive collection of local art. “It‘s so nice when you know the artist. I love art. continued next page

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continued from previous page My heart palpitated the first time I saw Silke’s (Spodzieja) abstracts.”

Sadly for all of us, Jeanette retired from The Beacon at the end of July. “I‘m really going to miss it. Neither Chuck nor I have ever done any traveling though, and you know you have to do it while you can. We plan to take our fifth-wheel and see some of our beautiful province and country.”

Although the door is not closed on doing some volunteering again at The Beacon, Jeanette has other plans too. “I’d really love to do some volunteering with older people…talk to them, play cards. I love older people, and finding out from them how things used to be.”

Linda admitted that they were still in denial about Jeanette’s retirement. Sharon concurred, “I don’t think we’ll know the full impact of it for a while.”

“I don’t expect people to miss me forever,” Jeanette said with her characteristic warmth and smile, “but it would be nice if people missed me for a little while…” ~ Eds Note: Jeanette...You’ve been a friend, an inspiration and an incredibly important part in the growth and success of The Beacon....we won’t miss you for a little while, we’ll miss you forever! ~ L & S

READY, SET BUILD! Submitted by Anne Copas

O

n June 24th 2010 the British Columbia Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA) presented a day-long workshop called “Ready, Set, Build!” at the Lighthouse Community Centre. BCNPHA provides educational sessions that are designed to foster learning about affordable non-profit housing as well as to encourage networking and to stimulate discussion within communities. This event was hosted by the Bowser Seniors Housing Society (BSHS) and sponsored by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Wayne Cybak was the presenter “par excellence”! He outlined in detail the affordable housing development process and talked about issues related to funding. This generated great discussion and insight on the part of all the participants (31 in all).

It was most gratifying that so many of the participants came “from afar” (so to speak) for this session, notably from the Cowichan Valley and Duncan areas, as well as Port Alberni, Chemainus and Victoria. Local attendees included members of the Royal Canadian Legion and members of the Bowser Seniors

Housing Society, and a wealth of experience was shared by all.

Lunch break was greeted with much enthusiasm and all participants set out in different directions to local eateries for that purpose. upon returning for the afternoon session the consensus was how fortunate we were to live in such a beautiful place with so many great eating spots. The day was certainly a rewarding experience for all concerned and, hopefully, it will encourage more local residents to become actively involved with the BSHS and other local groups in our efforts to provide affordable housing in our growing, vibrant community – so let’s get on with it!

The Bowser Seniors Housing Society is planning to hold a community workshop in the fall to discuss the needs and potential solutions for seniors housing in our area.

For more information call Sally Barton at (250) 757-8455 or email bshs@shaw.ca. ~

/ August 2010

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Our tide table measurements are taken from the Denman Island substation. For other tides, visit http://www. waterlevels.gc.ca/english/Canada.shtml on the Internet.

AUGUST 2010

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/ August 2010

tHE kNOX uNITED cHURCH fALL fAIR

A Bargain Hunters Special Submitted by Aileen Fabris

For many bargain hunters in Oceanside, the Knox Fall Fair is special.

There’s baking, food, entertainment, clothes, furniture, a children’s game area, fresh produce, plants, a tearoom and concessions, a Silent Auction and when you search diligently you might even discover some quality antiques!

Knox Church has existed and served the community of Parksville for 101 years and this will be it’s seventh Annual Fall Fair. The Fair is the single, largest all-congregation involved event in the annual calendar of Knox. Monies raised support not only Knox activities, but other groups in the Oceanside area such as; Rainbows, Building Learning Together, SOS After School programs, Arrowsmith Community Justice, Qualicum Beach Community Gardens, Alcoholics Anonymous, Mid Vancouver Island Enhancement Society, Haven House and many others as community needs grow and change.

Preceded by a great pancake breakfast at 7 am, buying, looking and enjoying the entertainment and a fantastic array of offerings begins both outside and inside the church at 8 am and lasts until 2 pm on September 18th.

Come one come all – mark your calendars now for the fall! ~

Bow Horne Bay Community Club

Lighthouse Country Fall Fair

T

his year, the 40th year anniversary of our Community Fall Fair is going to be a greater event than ever. As in the past years, we are counting on diligent volunteers to assist with not only the set up on Friday, Sept 3rd but also on Fair Day, Sept 4th. Ask your friends and neighbours to come along, meet new friends and get into the community spirit.

How else can you get involved and help make this the greatest Fair ever? Well, the popular cake walk needs more cakes – whip up a great cake and drop off at the Community Hall before 11 am on Saturday, Sept 3rd. Pick up a copy of this year’s Exhibit Guide at one of the local business’ and make sure you enter an exhibit and maybe take home a ribbon and bragging rights for your creative talents.

We will have some great entertainment as usual and have added a few new events for the kids as well, such as Merry-go-round swings and human hamster balls. Visit the NIWRA booth and get up close to “Bardo” the barred owl. Enjoy the corn hut and the other food offerings as well as great art in the upper hall and the demos in the main hall. All entertainment is FREE with admission, however donations will be gratefully received to help offset the costs associated with the running of the fair.

Visit our website at www.communityclub.ca or contact Sheena at 250-757-9991 for more information, or if you can volunteer give Pat a call at 250-757-8806 or email her at jmclean01@shaw.ca ~ Check the back page of The Beacon for more information. See you at the Fair!

Blueberries

&

/ August 2010

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IT’S HOW WE LIVE...

Today Show. Celebrity clients range from Woody Harrelson to the US White House.

rawganique

By Laura Busheikin

I

f you hear the words “Gulf Island business” you’re likely to think of a cottage industry – a small-scale operation with one or two people making something by hand in a cute little studio. This something is probably unique, beautiful, environmentally sustainable, and extremely well made – and you’re lucky to get ahold of it, because the makers only sell it piece by piece out of their back door every second Tuesday, and they can only manage to make so much of the something anyway, because they’re busy living off the land.

Klaus Wallner & Thamm Jamikorn • Klaus Wallner photo

The Denman Island business Rawganique has a lot of fun with this stereotype, seeming almost to affirm it, but then busting it sky high.

Rawganique is one of the world’s biggest vendors of organic hemp, linen and cotton clothing and household products. Unobtrusively headquartered in a rambling wooden building (which in the past was a café, video store, health-food store, and miscellaneous goods store) across from the Denman Island Community Hall, this company makes, markets and distributes over 1,000 products which they send to clients all over the world, thanks to the Internet.

So, definitely yes to “unique, beautiful, environmentally sustainable and extremely well made.”

Rawganique uses only organic hemp, linen and cotton grown in Europe, where both environmental and labour standards are high.

Their overseas agent monitors the growing, harvesting and processing of these plants to ensure the material remains pure. Rawganique’s team of designers stipulates not just how the clothes will look, but also the specific texture and weight of the cloth. Skilled weavers, knitters, cutters and then sewers, usually working out of their homes, transform the fibers into fabric and then clothes, which then make their way to one of Rawganique’s warehouses. Distribution is simple, and global: clients shop from their living rooms via the Internet.

“It’s a niche market, but many environmentally-concerned and chemically-sensitive people depend on us” says Jamikorn. “We feel really blessed to be able to do this. It’s a combination of luck, hard work and following our passion.”

Business success wasn’t, in fact, the main plan for Jamikorn and Wallner when they moved to Denman in 1999. At the time, they both had successful careers in academia, Tom as a professor of English and Wallner as professor of Economics. They’d lived in big cities for years, while nurturing a strong interest in health, organic living and environmental sustainability. Moving to Denman Island was a deliberate choice to turn away from the rat race and get back to the land.

Rawganique started out as a website to share information about Jamikorn’s and Wallner’s interests, which included raw food, organic living and homesteading.

“We were sharing what we knew about sustainable living -- things like growing your own food and being off the grid. Then we started to get inquiries, lots of inquiries, about where and how to get products that were hypo-allergenic, pure, organic, and sweatshopfree,” says Tom. This led naturally into the distribution of products that Jamikorn and Wallner knew well, which in turn brought to light yet more products, as well as a gap where products were needed – and thus an opportunity to move into sustainable manufacture.

Thus began an exciting adventure in e-commerce.

Currently, Rawganique is just about the right size, says Jamikorn.

“Sure we could leverage this into something way bigger. As it is we don’t even advertise.

“But by choice we don’t want to expand. We’re anti-bigness.

We still want to be personable with our customers and to keep everything human scale,” says Jamikorn.

As well, work/life balance is deeply important to Jamikorn and Wallner. They moved to Denman Island to slow down, after all, and are currently truly living the Gulf Island homesteading dream on 42 acres in a 600-square-foot hand-built cabin fuelled by solar and wind power. The Rawganique website also features a series of articles sharing what they’ve learned about things like how to heat water with a woodstove, year-round gardening, rainwater catchment, keeping poultry, and non-toxic building materials.

Jamikorn and Wallner see their business world and home life as part of one seamless whole – all of life, including livelihood, in tune with their values: as they write on their website: “Small is beautiful, sustainable is abundant, quiet is soothing, natural is healing, pure is nourishing, and simple is bountiful and simply awe-inspiring!”

Tom Jamikorn, who founded Rawganique with Klaus Wallner in 2000, estimates that 200 – 300,000 people have bought Rawganique products over the past 10 years, and the website gets 3,000,000 visitors per year.

Rawganique is a way of sharing these values with others, says Jamikorn. “We have lots of clients who contact us and even come visit us here on Denman from as far away as California and Colorado to see how we live. And also what I love is that we get lots of emails from customers saying, ‘I live in a city and it’s been my life-long dream to move to the country and I am inspired by you guys.’ I want to say to them all, ‘Go for it!’ Anything is possible,” says Jamikorn. ~

The company has been written up in the LA Times, Washington Post and USA Today; products have been featured in Elle, Vogue and on the

Laura Busheikin teaches yoga on Denman Island and Vancouver Island, yogawithlaura@telus.net or 250-335-2089.

So, definitely no to “small scale” and “hard to get ahold of.”

34

/ August 2010

ALLERGIES: ‘TIS THE sEASON

By Dr. Terrie Van Alstyne, ND

A

n allergy is an inappropriate response by the body’s immune system to a substance that is not normally harmful. The immune system sends white blood cells to fight “foreign invaders”.

In allergy sufferers, the immune system identifies a non-toxic substance (i.e. pollen) as an invader and attacks it causing damage to the body.

Allergy symptoms include: skin rash, headaches, sore eyes, itchy skin, eyes, ears and throat, sneezing, runny nose and eyes, sinus congestion, achy joints, heart palpitations and memory loss.

Common food and environmental allergens: strawberries, peanuts, eggs, shellfish, mold, grass pollen, dust, nickel, cosmetics, lanolin, animal hair, insect bites and stings, penicillin, benzoic acid, sulfur dioxide, chemicals in soap and detergent, air fresheners and perfumes.

Food allergies and intolerances are not the same as environmental allergies.

Food allergies are caused by a lack of digestive enzymes needed to break down the food. Undigested food can enter the blood stream and cause an allergic reaction. A food allergy occurs when a person has an antibody response to the ingested food. An irritating cough or tickle in the throat is often a food sensitivity.

If you suffer from ragweed or other pollen allergies, avoid melon, banana, cucumber, sunflower seeds, chamomile and Echinacea.

Eczema is a food allergy reaction to dairy, eggs, wheat, tomato, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, citrus fruits and fish.

Allergies can also be genetic, emotional and stress related. For example, non-breast fed babies are more likely to develop allergies since their immune systems are not supported by immune factors found in breast milk.

It is important to take hypoallergenic nutritional supplements to regulate the immune system. The most important supplements are: Bee pollen, calcium, magnesium, pancreatic enzymes, thymus glandular, B-complex and Vitamin C. Quercetin, Co Q10, probiotics, amino acids, Vitamins A, D, E and Zinc are also helpful nutritional supplements. Herbs that reduce allergies are: butterbur, nettles, goldenseal, dandelion, grape seed extract, ginger and garlic. Healing Leaky Gut Syndrome can greatly improve allergies.

A saline nasal rinse is effective in washing the pollen out of the nasal passages and thinning the mucus. Support the adrenal glands with B vitamins, magnesium, greens, sleep, keeping a regular routine and avoiding caffeine.

Food allergy testing can be done with blood or electradermal screening. Allergy desensitization using a Biofeedback machine works well for allergy relief as does acupuncture. Please remember natural treatments for allergies are effective and do not cause side effects. ~ Please refer to Qualicum Naturopathic Clinic ad on this page for Dr. Terrie’s contact information.

Barbara Rady RMT Registered Massage Therapist

Member Since 1981

250 240 7155

#204 Magnolia Court, Bowser BC

V0R 1G0 / August 2010

35

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/ August 2010

L

ast month I wrote about certain circumstances when a “deemed sale” of property takes place, resulting in the requirement to report a gain or loss for tax purposes even when the property is not actually sold.

If the RRSP/RRIF is set up without a beneficiary, the full value of the RRSP/RRIF is included in the income of the deceased. The RRSP/RRIF then becomes the property of the estate of the deceased, pending redemption and/or distribution under the terms of the will.

Another situation when such a result occurs is upon death. When a taxpayer dies, they are deemed to have sold all their property at Fair Market Value (FMV), as well as to have redeemed any RRSPs and RRIFs they hold.

Thus the deceased will include in income, in the year of death, gains or losses related to the deemed disposition of the property, as well as the full value of their RRSP/RRIF.

Amounts paid to the beneficiary or to the estate out of the RRSP/RRIF that represent income earned after the date of death are taxable to the beneficiary or estate.

Non-RRSP/RRIF property, such as an unregistered investment portfolio, usually automatically “rolls over” to a surviving spouse without tax consequences. However, there may be circumstances when the deceased taxpayer’s representative may wish to make an “election” to opt out of this tax-free spousal rollover. This is beyond the scope of this column; further information is available from your financial advisor.

In the case of RRSP/RRIFs, several different things will or could happen on death, depending on both how the RRSP or RRIF is set up as well as alternative tax “elections” available.

The RRSP/RRIF may be set up with a designated beneficiary. If the designated beneficiary is a surviving spouse or commonlaw partner, a financially-dependant child under 18, or a financially-dependant, mentally or physically impaired child or grandchild of any age, there are options (under certain circumstances/limitations) for transferring the RRSP/RRIF tax-free to the beneficiary.

A new provision (as of 2010) allows for taxfree transfers (within limits) to a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) for mentally or physically impaired dependants.

Sometimes, the value of an RRSP or RRIF increases or decreases between the date of death and the date of distribution. An increase in the value of the RRSP/RRIF prior to distribution is taxable to beneficiary or the estate. A decrease in the value may be claimed by the beneficiary or the estate, or, (since 2009) if the distribution date is before the end of the first tax year of the estate, it may optionally be carried back and applied to offset income reported by the deceased in their final tax return.

This measure is intended to protect the estate by avoiding situations of taxing the deceased on a higher date-of-death value while leaving the estate with a loss it may not be able to use.

It is important to remember certain limitations for this to apply: the RRSP/RRIF distribution, and the estate loss carry-back/application to the deceased’s final tax return, must be done before the estate’s first tax year ends; and the RRSP/RRIF may not hold certain nonqualified investments after death.

The above is a very simplified version to highlight the basics of some very complicated rules. Further detail and elaboration is available from CRA publications RC4177 and RC4178 available on the CRA website, and from your financial advisor. ~ Please refer to Lotar Maurer’s ad on this page for his contact information.

What can you do about neuropathic pain? – Your treatment is more likely to be successful if you talk to your doctor openly and participate in decisions about treatment options.

Submitted by Lucy Churchill, RN

UNDERSTANDING NEUROPATHIC PAIN

N

europathic pain is caused by a condition affecting the nervous system (nerves, spinal cord or brain) resulting in ongoing distress even when no stimulus occurs. Nerves normally carry messages from parts of your body to your brain and back via the spinal cord.

The primary goal is to manage pain (there are several medications which may be helpful) but it is also important to manage and treat pain-related symptoms.

You can help by: • Exercising at a mild to moderate level (after checking with your doctor) • Learn methods of relaxation and stress control • Contact other people with neuropathic pain through support groups.

If nerves are damaged through injury or disease, they can stop working properly and may send the wrong message to the brain.

How does neuropathic pain feel? Many people with neuropathic pain do not describe it as “painful”. In fact, symptoms can happen unexpectedly or may result from something that would not usually cause pain such as the touch of clothing on the skin.

Neuropathic pain may involve: • Burning sensation • Numbness • A sharp stabbing or shooting pain • Sensitivity to touch or cold • Tingling • A crushing sensation • A deep aching pain • Swelling along with temperature changes • Skin discolouration Quite often when there is neuropathic pain it disturbs the sleep pattern and causes anxiety. What can cause neuropathic pain?

• Diabetes (diabetic neuropathy) • Shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia) • Multiple sclerosis • Certain diseases of the nerves (e.g. trigeminal neuralgia) • Spinal cord injury • Nutritional deficiencies • HIV infection • Cancer and its treatments • Nerve damage following limb injury/surgery • Complex regional pain syndrome • Amputation (phantom limb pain) • Trauma (e.g. surgery, amputation) How common is neuropathic pain? – An estimated 2.2 million Canadians (6.7% of the population) suffer from neuropathic pain.

Some conditions are more likely to cause neuropathic pain than others. Neuropathic pain is widely prevalent and generally affects: • 20% - 24% of people with diabetes • 75% of people over 70 years who have had shingles • 41% of people with spinal cord injury • About 33% of cancer patients • About 20% of women after a mastectomy • 7% of people with lower back pain

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37

What if...continued from page 4 Research is opening soon near you...in Deep Bay to be precise, and in October to be even more precise.

On a recent tour of the facility, members of the Lighthouse Country Business Association learned that the new facility will bring people to town from all walks of life. Students, foreign dignitaries, government officials, event participants and, of course, the curious.

The business opportunity?

It would seem to me that each one of these visitors will bring with them a suitcase stuffed full of personal and business needs.

Consider this...

• First and foremost, they’ll need a place to stay • A place to eat • Somewhere to launder their clothes • Somewhere to be entertained • Somewhere to buy groceries • Somewhere to experience cultural arts • Somewhere to use the internet • Somewhere to satisfy their literary interests • Somehere to copy their notes and presentations, or fax a document.

• Somewhere to sit quietly and contemplate what a wonderful time they’re having in Lighthouse Country.

• Somewhere to eat ice cream • Somewhere to grab a quick burger • Somewhere to find a map to the nearest trail or beach • Somewhere to buy a new dress • Somewhere to rent a movie • Somewhere to use an ATM It’s easy to figure out where I’m going with this. With business opportunities landing smack dab in our laps, it presents some pretty exciting prospects for an entrepreneurial mind.

Although some of the services noted above already exist, some of them don’t. Could a business opportunity exist for you?

"On top or all around, We've got you covered"

VIU has begun developing a relationship with the community, and in recent talks with Brian Kingzett Field Station Manager for the project, Sharon Waugh, co-Publisher of The Beacon and Betsy Poel, President of the Lighthouse Country Business Association opened the door for local business and the community to imagine what opportunities VIU’s presence in Deep Bay might offer .

“It’s an important time to bridge the gap between what’s needed and what’s available within the community...or what could be available,” says Sharon. “There’s a world of opportunity for us.”

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/ August 2010

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And as far as personal opportunities go...let’s just consider for a moment the fabulous culinary courses that are going to be offered, and the educational seminars that will be made available. The facility will be a unique tour for out of towners, and an incredible opportunity for us to learn about the biodiversity of an aquatic world right in our own backyard.

I’m excited about the prospects! I hope you are too. ~

BECOMING A SENSORY DETECTIVE AT HOME

By Shirley Culpin

T

he challenges of raising a child with behavioural issues and/or learning disabilities are often overwhelming and expensive. Specialized services geared to this sector can be costly, both in fees for services and in terms of time and income lost from jobs while attending appointments.

With conditions such as attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, fetal alcohol syndrome and developmental co-ordination disorder running rife in today’s younger population it should come as no surprise that the District 69 Family Resource Association is organizing a seminar in Qualicum Beach to address the issues facing parents dealing with such issues.

The seminar, titled ‘Becoming a Sensory Detective At Home,’ is slated for Sunday, September 19 from 10 am – 5 pm. at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre at 747 Jones St. The presenter is Kimberly Barthel, BMR,OTR (www.labyrinthjourneys.com) Based in Victoria, Barthel is recognized world-wide for her work as a neurodevelopmental treatment-OT instructor and as an empowerment consultant. A focus on sensory processing and neurobiology are integral parts of Barthel’s current practice, writing and teaching. She has extensive clinical experience in this field, and has been mentored by master clinicians. As a result Barthel has developed expertise in sensory integration therapy and what she calls sensory processing intervention.

Her wide-ranging experience has led her to develop eclectic, unique programs that, while visionary, are also grounded and able to be accomplished in daily life.

The focus on the September 19 seminar will be to assist parents and caregivers in supporting children with behavioural challenges and learning disorders. Those attending will be introduced to Barthel’s insight in to sensory processing – an approach that helps caregivers to look beyond offending behaviours and in to the nervous system, thereby understanding how aberrant behaviour is often a method of coping.

In addition to the theory of sensory processing those attending the seminar will be given practical advice that may

help to make life easier for their children and themselves. Simple actions such as adapting the environment, altering interactions and providing appropriate support for affected children can make a world of difference, and strategies for accomplishing those goals will be provided.

In hopes of allowing attendance at the seminar by as many people in need as possible, the Family Resource Association is requesting assistance from the local business community. The seminar registration fee is beyond the financial means of some families who would greatly benefit from the information available at the event, so FRA is hoping that local businesses will help by making financial donations to cover registration costs for those caregivers unable to afford to attend. Donations to help cover the cost of the rental of the civic center and food donations for the concession are also gratefully accepted. Those wishing to support the seminar with donations can contact Marianne Dexter at FRA, phone (250) 752-6766, ext. 101 Registration for the seminar is $40 per person until Sept. 9, and $50 between Sept. 9 and 19. Cheques should be made payable to District 69 Family Resource Association and mailed to 181 Sunningdale Road West, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1K7. Payment and registration information can also be delivered in person to the FRA office in Parksville at 198 Morison Ave. Further information may be obtained by contacting the FRA office at the phone number listed above. ~ / August 2010

39

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COOKING WITH STELLA IN STORE NOW I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. I thought it was quite funny. If you want to enjoy an evening of cooking and humor, try this one.

When a Canadian diplomat (Lisa Ray), her husband Michael (Don McKellar) and baby are posted to New Delhi, they inherit a household of Indian servants, headed by the charming but wily cook Stella (Seema Biswas). When Stella becomes Michael’s “cooking guru,” teaching him how to make Indian dishes like dosas and kheer, little does he know she is cooking up a scheme of her own.Then Stella’s world implodes when a new nanny (Shriya Saran) arrives.

CHLOE IN STORE NOW This movie kept me on my toes and wondering what would happen next.

So take an evening and sit back with this great thriller.

A doctor (Julianne More) hires an escort (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce her husband (Liam Nelson), whom she suspects of cheating, though unforeseen events put the family in danger.

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I was amazed with the movie. It has become one of my favourites (I might even have to read the books). It kept me on my toes and thoroughly tuned-in to this wonderful suspense – thriller. For those who like foreign films you can leave it in the original Swedish language or can be dubbed in English.

Facing prison time for slander, discredited journalist Mikael Blomkvist is hired by a reclusive industrialist for one last job to solve a long, unresolved family disappearance. Aided by the mysterious and troubled computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander, the two uncover a darker world of brutality, deception and ritualistic murder. Alone and not knowing who to trust, they must fight for their own survival and reveal the truth.

Come on into the store and check out some other great New Releases!

Richard Gere in Brooklyn’s Finest; The Bounty Hunter starring Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler; Dakota Fanning in The Runaways, a new family adventure with The Missing Lynx and don’t forget about The Clash of the Titans.

August New Releases: The Ghost Writer with Pierce Brosnan; a family movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Heroes Season 4; Kick-Ass with Nicolas Cage; Steve Carell in Date Night and for you Dexter fans Dexter 4; Jennifer Lopez in The Back-up Plan and don’t forget to come and get the last season of Lost! See you at the store. ~

B.C., COAST SALISH NATIONS, TRIBES HONOUR SALISH SEA VICTORIA July 15, 2010 – Coast Salish leaders welcomed Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation George Abbott to the Songhees waterfront for a colourful and lively ceremony to celebrate the official naming of the Salish Sea. “Coast Salish peoples have traversed these waters for thousands of years and this name pays homage to our collective history,” said Point. “Today’s celebration reflects the growing understanding and appreciation of our cultures. It is another step in the bridge of reconciliation.”

The Salish Sea encompasses inland waterways stretching from the south end of Puget Sound in Washington State to Desolation Sound at the northern end of the Strait of Georgia in B.C., including the Juan de Fuca Strait. Similar to the Great Lakes, adding Salish Sea as the umbrella-name for the larger body of water will not change names already in place “The designation of the name Salish Sea is an historic acknowledgement of our peoples’ connection to our lands and waterways since time immemorial,” said Squamish Nation Chief Gibby Jacob on behalf of the member tribes of the Coast Salish of British Columbia. “Our ancestors have left us a legacy to be good stewards for the protection and enhancement of our natural surroundings that is the Salish Sea ecosystem and regions. It is the duty of each of us to celebrate this historic day for all peoples, ensuring we sustain and protect this legacy for innumerable generations.”

As part of the celebrations, Coast Salish chiefs, elders and dancers gave the name Salish Sea to a canoe, which was hand-carved and painted by the Lieutenant-Governor and master-carver KwaGulth Hereditary Chief Tony Hunt, and then presented to the Canadian Navy in honour of its centennial.

Coast Salish chiefs, Abbott and event participants also recognized the efforts of Prof. Bert Webber, an ecologist and long-time advocate for the name Salish Sea. Following the event, Songhees First Nation welcomed almost 20 canoes participating in 2010 Tribal Journeys – an annual event involving Indigenous people from Canada and the U.S. that pays tribute to Aboriginal canoe culture.

In March 2009, B.C. joined the Geographical Names Board of Canada, the Washington State Geographical Names Board, and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names in endorsement of the addition of the Salish Sea name. The name was officially adopted in Canada in February 2010. ~ / August 2010

41

PRESENTING

Afro-Mumanzi World Music Summer Camp

By David Morrison

W

hile poking about online for additional interesting information with which I might embellish this article, I stumbled across this description of the instrument it principally concerns: A marimba is a wooden percussion instrument with a keyboard whose bars are made of wood and with resonators.

It is played by striking the wooden bars using mallets.

Not staggeringly interesting, I admit, though wholly accurate in its matter of fact way of describing the marimba. But reading this coldly technical summation of the form and functionality of the instrument without knowledge of how it sounds gives absolutely no impression of its exquisite, joyous musicality. The marimba, at least to my ears, emits an utterly beautiful sound – way beyond what may generally be perceived as percussive. Watching or listening to it played by musicians who understand it can be a magical, transcendent experience, even more so when presented in an ensemble format.

One such group of talented marimbaists, especially for ones so young, is the fantastic Afro-Mumanzi. And when I say young, I mean young: Erringtonbased sisters Fahlon and Jasmine Smith are 16 and 19 years-old, while their Vancouverite bandmates Kai Buchan, Chris Couto and Theo Vincent are just 19, 22 and 23 respectively. Yet despite their youth, these kids are already experienced and recognized music tutors, regularly teaching world music classes and workshops throughout B.C. To this end they will be bringing their skills to the Errington War Memorial Hall between August 16 and 20 for a youth-to-youth World Music Summer Camp, holding marimba and hand drumming classes for youths aged 9 to 19 years-old. The programme is such that students should be performing together for the community after just those five days. That’s what I would call effective teaching!

42

/ August 2010

Chris, Fahlon, Kai, Jasmine and Theo of Afro-Mumanzi • SUBMITTED PHOTO Camp coordinator Valerie Dare founded Afro-Mumanzi and has been acting as an agent to secure them live shows. When I spoke to her recently about her talented charges and how the summer camp came to be, she explained the origins of this exciting young group. It all started when she was teaching at Britannia Secondary School in Vancouver: “It’s a very multicultural environment, and it was the first opportunity I’d had to work in a school where Caucasian kids were in the minority. It occurred to me that it might be a good idea to introduce a curriculum to include learning about countries around the world through music, as everyone understands or appreciates elements of music. So we got together with some world music artists in Vancouver, of which there are many, and devised a curriculum we could use with the kids. We got money to bring musicians in to do workshops. Then I became a member of the Arts Advocacy Committee for the Vancouver School Board,

and went every year to the showcase for artists that want to tour schools; one of the groups that came up was Marimba Muzuva (meaning Wooden Voices in the Sun) from Victoria – the oldest marimba group in the country. One of the things they offered was instrument building workshops. So we got some money to build a set of marimbas at Britannia, which went out to different schools as part of their music programme. It was really popular and the first summer we – meaning me, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and the Roundhouse Community Centre – put on a two-week world music camp. The kids that came out of that camp the second year decided it would be a nice thing to stay together, continuing to learn world music tradition through the community centre at Britannia. They fell in love with the marimba and formed a group called Jabulani (Zulu for ‘rejoice’ or ‘bring joy and happiness,’ and the name of the controversial World Cup 2010 soccer CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

ball), which then morphed into Kutapira. The guys from Vancouver in Afro-Mumanzi play in Kutapira, which started in 2005. For the last two years they’ve been touring with that group – mainly school shows, but also community shows – and composing their own music. That’s something that Fahlon and Jasmine haven’t aspired to until now; they’ve been working mainly with traditional and contemporary Zimbabwean songs.”

If I may use the words “despite their youth” once more, Kutapira have already joined the ranks of Canadian marimba music royalty.

Not only that, they have performed before actual royalty. In 2007 the group travelled to Scotland as Canadian representatives at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, doing their beautiful thing for Her Majesty the Queen at Balmoral Castle. I can guarantee you now that those regal toes will have been tappin’ away like Michael Flatley after a gallon of Brazilian espresso.

At this juncture it could be a good idea to see and hear for yourself just why and how Kutapira ended up in such a lofty situation. For those without access to a computer right now, I can only apologize and ask that you believe me when I tell you how brilliant these kids are. For those who have one to hand, head firstly to YouTube and search for “Kutapira entertains on Granville Street.” Incredible stuff, no? Now head over to the Audio & Video page of Afro-Mumanzi’s own website (URL below), and watch the video for the song, Rain.

Okay, did you watch that? Now chew on the fact that the second performance was just the third time these musicians had ever played together, and also that the violin part was added to the arrangement on the morning the performance was filmed. Even if you were unable to watch what I’m talking about here, you may be gleaning that what those who could just witnessed is pretty remarkable.

It is this level of talent and commitment to their art that the five members of Afro-Mumanzi will be employing to introduce the youngsters of this area to the marimba at their World Music Summer Camp. The Smith sisters have recently been recognized by the British Columbia Association for Community Education for their “outstanding contribution to community education,” so it is safe to say that students will be in the best possible hands, even though these young ladies have yet to enter their twenties.

It is probable that the World Music Summer Camp will become an annual event, and it is a certainty that the group will continue, but opportunities to learn from Afro-Mumanzi, or even see them perform, will be limited for a while. As Dare explains, the group members will soon be dispersing around the globe: “The group is going to be scattered for a while. One of them is touring Europe with another group; one is travelling to Mozambique and Portugal to visit family; one is going to Costa Rica and the sisters are going to Guatemala!”

In 2006 a family road trip saw Fahlon and Jasmine Smith visit Mexico and Guatemala, where the marimba is the national instrument. They explored the marimba traditions of the Mayan people, an education they will be continuing on a similar trip later this year. Furthering their knowledge of the history and culture of their chosen instrument will not only benefit the sisters, but undoubtedly their great many students for years to come. ~ For further information about Afro-Mumanzi’s World Music Summer Camp, visit www.erringtonhall.bc.ca, looking under Events, or contact Valerie Dare by phone on (250) 586 6583 or email at vgdare@gmail.com. For information about Afro-Mumanzi visit www.afro-mumanzi.com and for Kutapira visit http://kutapira.com / August 2010

43

Do’s and Don’ts for August Gardening Q: When is the best time to move my small shrubs and tubers?

A: Many people ask this question every summer. The warm weather seems to make people want projects, but really, summer is a time for maintenance and future planning. In general, plants prefer to be moved in cooler fall weather; they do not like to be moved in the summer months at all. Mid-September is the earliest I move things in our climate.

That said, bulbs, corms, and tubers can be lifted as soon as the plants are finished.

You can tell it’s time when the leaves are all dried up. If you dig bulbs or corms up too early, they won’t have finished storing energy for their next blooms, so be patient.

Iris is a bit of an exception and can be moved shortly after flowering, but it’s still preferable to wait until cooler weather to improve your transplant success rate.

Q: I have black spots on my rose leaves and white dusty stuff all over my shrubs at the side of my yard. What are these things and what can I do?

A: You describe two symptoms of plants in trouble common all over the world. They are airborne spores, ever-present in gardens.

When a plant is not being satisfied in any

44

/ August 2010

one of its needs, its immune system breaks down allowing the spores to take over the plant. Black Spot and White Powdery Mildew can be treated with a product called “Defender” from Safer’s as soon as you see them. It is sulphur that changes the pH of the leaves so the spores can’t survive. Using this product may alleviate the immediate problem you see, but does not address the primary reason behind it. For this, you will need to examine your plant’s specific needs and work to discover what is lacking. Always consider location, soil, drainage, light, and nutritional requirements to discover what may not be quite right.

When plants are healthy and thriving, they are much less likely to succumb to the two lurking pathogens you’ve asked about.

Q: How does a gardener coordinate their garden plans with the availability of what they’re looking for in plants? We are seeing plants we want available now, but we’re not ready to put them in the ground what with summer visitors and camping.

A: Great question! If you’re like most hobby gardeners, you probably see something you like in a garden centre and bring it home hoping you’ll find a spot somewhere in your yard for it. If you’ve done this, don’t despair.

It is common, albeit ill-advised (see next paragraph). Just be sure to think about the plant’s needs when you locate it. If there’s somewhere appropriate to put it without moving another plant, get it in the ground which is best. If there’s nowhere to put it, plant it in a larger pot, and water regularly until it’s cooler, the right time to move things so it can go in the ground.

Knowledgeable gardeners, while quite patient, are constantly looking to the future. They think ahead, planning which plants will do well to fulfill a purpose (e.g. create shade) or achieve a particular look. Beds are preplanned for optimum success. If gardeners know what is planned well in advance, sites can be prepared in the fall or early spring well before nurseries bring in the bulk of their stock. That way, as plants become available, they go straight into the ground where conditions are just right for them, even if you have visitors. ~ Harry Sumner is a certified arborist and garden coach. Gardening questions are welcome at 250-248-4512 or shellms@telus.net.

Labyrinth • continued from page 23 early Scandinavia, fishing communities sometimes used stone labyrinths with the hope of favourable weather and good catches.

Today’s interest in labyrinths stems more from our search for peace, thoughtfulness, and solutions to our own personal quandaries. To quote author Rayne, “The labyrinth is a simple place to take time in our hectic lives to reconnect with our inner resources.”

bowser artist experiments with activism

THE potential of public art

by Lisa Verbicky

T

ravis Ram is a big picture kind of guy.

The 37 year-old has spent much of his working life taking on one of the biggest jobs a human could endeavor to complete in British Columbia…the perpetual replanting of our logged forests. In his down time, his dabbling in large-scale graffiti paintings reveals a poignant, dark and almost aerial view of our current human landscape. It wasn’t until recently however that he shared his talents as an artistic harbinger at a mural workshop in Courtenay with worldrenowned muralist Mike Alewitz, organized by local artist Bill Friesen as part of the Mayworks Arts Festival this past May. Alewitz is famous for creating murals that have brought awareness to workers rights across the globe.

“Mike came with the idea of creating a mural that honored Ginger Goodwin and his involvement in the establishment of the coal miners union,” says Ram. “When I got started on a thumbnail sketch, I started thinking about the oil leaking into the gulf and the proposed coal mine going in up the road here, and I said to myself, ‘What are we doing? What is this, the dark ages? And, then I created another thumbnail, one that told a story about where we are today.”

Ram’s revised thumbnail depicted a planet bleeding oil while workers on conveyor belts were fed into flaming factories.

“It was really dark,” says Ram.“But, I thought to myself, I have a one year-old and a six year-old and we have a major catastrophe happening here. It’s like people sipping champagne and playing music while the Titanic sinks.”

In the end, Alewitz scrapped the Ginger Goodwin idea for Ram’s instead. Together, it took the group six hours to paint on an 8 x 12 portable canvas, adding the captions “No to Corporate Greed” and “Solidarity Forever!”

“I was stunned to have my dark ideas exposed. Typically, I’m of the belief that positive thinking brings positive results. But this thing in the Gulf is such a disaster and it is easy for people to just hide out in the bubble gum, fluff side of things. I have now realized the potential for public art to remind people of what’s happening in the world.”

According to Ram, his wake-up call to the rest of us started with his own.

“Mike just put it out there and asked me what I was doing with my life, asked me if I was going to have something meaningful to look back on. Right there, I decided that I had to take a risk, make my ideas big and become part of the solution. Intelligent, approachable, relevant public art with a positive message can do away with apathy and create change.” ~

The rather wonderful thing about a labyrinth is that you don’t need a cathedral to have one. It may be indoors or out, in a quiet secluded place, on a wild and windy beach, built to be permanent or temporary, of almost any material you choose, have, or find … you can make a labyrinth in your backyard. It can be huge and complicated or small and simple – there are dozens of designs to choose from. At the book launch for “Labyrinths of BC” in Victoria, a labyrinth was formed on a concrete floor using sticks of wood.

Aryana Rayne was introduced by a friend to her first labyrinth in 1998 at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Vancouver’s West End – this one said to be Canada’s first permanent labyrinth. When she found an outdoor labyrinth in Victoria that had been built by the inmates of the William Head Institution her interest increased and she sought out more of them in BC, documenting 28 of them on the BC coast and its islands.

Labyrinths are often part of the surroundings now at hospitals and retreats to offer people a place to contemplate and explore the possibilities of their current lives.

When you consider that a labyrinth is essentially a circle, a whole, you can see its connection with nature and life: the geometrically exact centre of a sunflower, the spiral of a seashell, our sun and moon, the position of a babe in the womb, circles in our games, songs, and dances, the First Nations belief in life as a circle not a straight line, the circles formed by a pebble dropped in a pond …a labyrinth can be a path to untangle the tangles in the maze of our lives.

Rayne’s book gives a history of the labyrinth, a bit of philosophy, and the location and photographs of many labyrinths throughout BC. ~ / August 2010

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HUGE ANTIQUE SALE – MILDRED’S ANTIQUES celebrating 30th Anniversary. Savings up to 30%+. Great selection of furniture, paintings, prints, lamps, china, glass, silver. Top prices paid for silver & quality antiques. Single items to estates. Mildred’s Memorabilia, ph. 250-752-1700, 3215 Brooklin Lane, Hilliers, Qualicum Beach located on Hilliers Road South (off Hwy 4, 3 km West of Qualicum).

FIREWOOD – Legally obtained, seasonally dried firewood. $180/cord for dry fir, $160 mixed. Custom cut. Tax inc. discount for local seniors. Call 250-7578006 or 250-240-2533

STAMP COLLECTIONS/ ACCUMULATIONS WANTED – Mint or used, will take all, cash or consignment, top prices paid. Call Russ at 1-250-3141021 or email at ingruss@telus.net

$900/2BR PRIVATE PATIO SUITE (DEEP BAY) – Private like-new 2 bedroom semi-detached patio suite.

Cathedral ceiling in open-concept living/ dining area. Energy-efficient woodstove.

Laundry and storage. Fenced yard with garden space. Suit professional or retired couple. In picturesque Deep Bay between Qualicum Beach and Courtenay/Comox. Golf, boating, fishing, hiking, kayaking, marina. Library, grocery stores, post office, bank, spa nearby. Quiet neighborhood. Available immediately. NS NP. References, lease required. $900 monthly plus utilities.

778-424-6249

HILLIERS ESTATE FARMS – 250 Hilliers Road N., Qualicum Beach.

Weds-Sun 12-5 pm Cash only. FMI call 250-927-1104 or email info@ hilliersestate.ca WANTED – Local crabapples. Call Min or Gene at 250-757-8961 NATURE BALANCE EQUINE HOOF CARE – Bare foot trimming for a naturally healthy horse. Accepting new clients. Call 250-752-8380 HERITAGE MEADOWS FARM – offers local organically fed pastured chickens at $4/lb. Also available at Christmas time, organically fed pastured Heritage Turkeys. Limited availability. Please call 250-752-1774 SORT IT – Simplify your life! Need help getting your errands done? Delivery, appointments. De-clutter your home or wardrobe. Organization, consultations, seasonal updates. Help is at hand. 250240-3508 COAL CREEK FARM on MacArtney Drive in Fanny Bay has naturally fed, free range duck, chicken, turkey and goose meat available various times of the year. Please call for availability – ask for Paul or Christine (250) 335-1322.

LET ME PUT YOUR JUNK IN MY TRUNK – I clean out any room or pile.

I recycle and run on natural gas. Fast, friendly, honest. Call Gary 250-937-7879 46

/ August 2010

PICK-UP AND DELIVERY – Tune-ups and repairs to riding lawnmowers, all small engines and related equipment.

Call Ron 250-240-1971 e-mail: ronmorrison100@gmail.com

THERAPEUTIC FOOT REFLEXOLOGY – Sessions $40 for 75 mins my home or yours. Release your body’s self-healing ability through deep relaxation. Please call Marie at (250) 335-0850.

WRITING SERVICES – Get help for all your business writing needs such as brochures, ads, newsletters, product descriptions, press releases, reports & websites. Or, tell your story with a print, audio or video memoir. Call Jane 250335-1157 www.memorablelines.com AD-SAFE – reliable transportation to appointments, shopping, errands, outings. Ferry and airport service as well. Call Marilee at 250-757-9967 or 250-954-9925 YOU CALL…I HAUL – small loads, garden waste, construction debris, unwanted misc. junk, small moves, prompt service. Call Ron 250-757-2094 or cell 250-228-1320

WILDWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH 113 McColl Road, Bowser

Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 am 757-8136

GREEN ENERGY.

FIREWOOD a renewable and carbon neutral resource. For your fuel wood needs call Dale Wilson (250) 757-9276

Short Circuit Electric

New home? Renovation? For your safe and quality wiring needs, the shortest circuit is to call Tim 250-240-4105.

Licensed and Bonded.

FOR RENT Large office and treatment room in busy Naturopathic Clinic available to a complementary practitioner. $650.00 per month. Beautiful bright office and treatment room also available 2-3 days per week, (Fridays & Saturdays) Rent negotiable. Please call 250-752-3267

DESIGN & DRAFTING SERVICES. Residential – Commercial – Renovations Project Manager. Full Service Drafting Services from concept to completion.

Call Deb Nicol. nicolde@shaw.ca 250607-7038 FOOTCARE – HYGIENE Soaking feet, cutting nails, filing callouses, treating dry skin – fingernails too. Reflexology – 1 hour sessions. Home visits. Please call Vikki @ 250-757-9244 DON’S HOME REPAIR – plumbing repairs and installations, complete renovations, no job too small. Call Don @ 250-757-8757 or cell 250- 951-8757 THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF QUESTERS – No meeting August. Next meeting Monday, September 27, 2010.

FMI Call Chris 250-752-1419 WANTED – 2 entrepreneur-minded individuals to work with expanding established business. 250-954-0074

Aries (March 21-April 19) This month is all about parties, amusing distractions, social engagements, and recreational diversions. Life will be lighter and more fun-loving. You’ll feel freer and more inclined to be just yourself. No pretenses.

Since you are the artisan of the zodiac, look for ways to express your creativity because this is the best month of the year for you to do so. Whatever you create will make you feel fulfilled, and will give you a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Your focus swings to home, family and your domestic scene this month. Family get-togethers, reunions, barbecues, birthday parties, and mini vacations will be a source of joy for you. Discussions with parents could be significant. Repairs to where you live are likely now.

Nevertheless, both Venus and Mars attract parties, social occasions, flirtations, plus love and romance to you! (Yes!) In other words, you’re having fun, and you’re enhancing your home as well as your family relationships.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Yikes! For the next month, you’re running around like you’ve got an outboard motor on your ass! You’ve got places to go, things to do, and people to see. Short trips, errands, conversations with everyone, plus increased reading, writing and studying will leave you panting for breath.

Nevertheless, go with the flow! Do not stay at home New faces, new places and new adventures await you. But lo! This is also a great time to redecorate where you live and entertain the troops. Invite the gang over!

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Cash flow, money, and earnings are your focus this month. Some are looking for a better job, or a way to make money on the side. Others are budgeting to swing a major expenditure. It’s all high finance because you’re making stuff happen! Ka-ching! Fortunately for you, both Mars and Venus are beautifully amping your ability to communicate, sell, market, teach or act – in other words, whatever kind of communication you need to do right now to succeed. Privately, this is also the time to think about your values and what really matters in life. (And it ain’t money.)

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) The Sun is in your sign now recharge your batteries for the rest of the year.

It is all about you now! When the Sun is in your sign, you easily magnetize important people and positive situations to you. Since this is a once a year phenomenon, make the most of it. Things won’t always come to you this easily. Meanwhile, you want to buy beautiful things – and so of course, you’re doing this. Treat yourself and loved ones to goodies.

You enjoy being generous to others because it supports your sense of noblesse oblige. “Next?”

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You need to get outta Dodge! You want a change of scenery. You want to travel. You want to meet exciting, interesting people from exotic places. You want to eat different food and hear different languages. You want to break free of your everyday world! Travel is one answer; however, many of you can have exciting adventures by exploring new areas in your own backyard.

Books, film, plus places you’ve never been to before can all stimulate you. Romance with your boss or someone older or richer is likely.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Because your birthday is a month away, this is the perfect time to think about what you want for yourself in your new year (birthday to birthday). If you give yourself some specific goals and expectations – the chances of achieving them are far greater than if you never defined them to yourself.

Meanwhile, both Venus and Mars are in your sign.

Mars makes you aggressive, assertive and forthright!

Venus softens all those edges by making you diplomatic, charming and social. This is a great time to shop for clothes and improve your image.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Suddenly, everything is becoming terribly intense. The word casual has slipped from your vocabulary. You feel intensely about everyday events, especially anything to do with shared property, inheritances, wills, debt, taxes and anything you own jointly with others. You have strong opinions about all this! Similarly, you are equally passionate in the bedroom! In fact, many of you will strike up a new relationship with someone from a very different background or another culture.

(Fun way to learn a new language.)

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You’re popular and everyone wants to see your face. Socialize with friends, acquaintances, and join clubs and organizations. Many will join classes and groups as well. Basically, your interaction with others in the month ahead is meaningful because the feedback from everyone will help you, especially if you share your dreams for the future with them. Someone might inspire you to change your goals. (Highly likely.)

Meanwhile, many of you are dabbling in secret love affairs. Naughty you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) The Sun is the source of energy for all of us, and this month, it is as far away from you as it ever gets. Connect the dots. You need more sleep. In fact, because both Venus and Mars amplify your sex drive, and make relationships breathlessly transcendent – you definitely need more sleep! (One has to stay performance ready.) Another thing this opposing Sun does is totally focus your interest on partners and friends. Fortunately, it allows you to more objectively see your style of relating to them. You might learn a thing or two.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) This is the only time all year when the Sun is going to be at high noon in your chart for about six weeks. As it slowly travels across the top of your chart, it sort of “beams” down on you throwing you in the spotlight. Two things happen: bosses, parents and VIPs notice you more than usual. And secondly, these people see you as extremely competent and capable, even though you’re not doing anything special. (Go figure.) Good lighting is everything! Milk this for all it’s worth.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Both Mercury and the Sun urge you to get better organized. You want a home for everything, and everything in its place.

You want to live your life efficiently and productively.

Mars opposite your sign will encourage conflict with partners. (Grrrr.) Fortunately, fair Venus will ameliorate things. (But Venus can only do so much, especially when it has to compete with fiery Mars.)

Not a bad idea to lose yourself in your work right now. Take a map so you can find your way back to party next month! ~

/ August 2010

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Community Events

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LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE (LCC) Qualicum Bay INFO: LOIS NELSON: 757-9938

Legion Hall everyone welcome Registration at 9 am 4 rounds for $18, details at bowserchess. pbworks.com

Pancake Breakfast, Flea Market, Live Music, Veggies, Poultry & Small Animal Swap, Master Gardeners: – Sunday Aug 8th, 8am-noon.

The Bow Horne Bay Fire Dept. will be cooking up breakfast this morning.

BC Day Picnic at Milner Gardens & Woodland – Milner Gardens invites you to a picnic on the lawn on BC Day, Mon. Aug. 2nd. Come enjoy a day with your family and friends at Milner Gardens. Regular admission and membership rates apply.Open 10 am to 5:00 pm FMI, please visit www.milnergardens.org

Lighthouse Seniors #152 – Annual Summer Picnic will be held on Wed. Aug. 25th from 11am - 3pm at the LCC. All Seniors welcome. FMI contact Layne 250-757-8217 Summer Floor Curling – Mondays only, to mid-September at the Lions Rec Centre. New members welcome. FMI phone Tillie 250-7579218 or Dennis 250-757-8218.

AA Lightkeepers: every Fri. 8pm.

Info: 240-757-8347 Bridge at LCC Nordin Room - starts again in September.

Taoist Tai Chi Society Classes at LCC and Fanny Bay OAP Hall. FMI Susan @ 757-2097 or Chris @ 752-1419 Lighthouse Trails Group needs your help.

Val Weismiller: 757-9667 RDN PROGRAMS Drop by EyesOnBC in mid-August to pick up the new Fall-Winter Active Living Guide. Fall programs include beginning and intermediate running programs, a new morning time, as well as evening, yoga classes, Focus on Fitness, Family Night Volleyball, and the very popular children’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun and preschool Bowser Buddies programs. All of these programs are held at Bowser School or the Lighthouse Community Centre.

Please contact Area H RDN programmer, Kim Longmuir at 250-757-8118 or klongmuir@rdn. bc.ca for further information.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS & CLUBS Bowser Tennis Club – Adult doubles drop-in every Sunday 9 am to noon and every Thursday 6 pm to 9 pm at the Legion Tennis Courts. Free. Non-members welcome. FMI call Bob Hunt at (250) 757-8307 Join the 11th Bike For Your Life bicycle tour Sunday August 8. Prizes, refreshments and routes for all skill levels. Proceeds to the Stroke Recovery program, Oceanside. Details - www. bikeforyourlife.org 2nd Annual Lighthouse Country Chess Fest Sunday August 8 at the Bowser

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KIDS!!! Summer sports camp is coming up! August 2-6, 9:00 to 12:00 at the Lion’s Hall for children in elementary school.

Group games and activities as well as training in Highland dancing or soccer and softball. Fun activities such as water sports, field games, scavenger hunts and more. Suggested donation of $20 for the full week. Please preregister to help us plan! For more information or to register contact Lynda at 757-9596 or lyndahearn@shaw. ca. Program put on by Wildwood Community Church.

The LIGHTHOUSE COUNTRY FALL FAIR is coming soon! Mark your calendars on September 4th there will be lots to do for the whole family (dad’s too!) at the Lighthouse community center. Don’t forget to pick up your fair guide and prepare your exhibit entries! You can also view a digital copy online at www. communityclub.ca. Exhibit entries to be dropped off on September 3rd – see guide for more details.

Want to volunteer? We could use your help before or during the fair! FMI contact Sheena at 7579991 or sheena@blaze.ca Explore the art of the body, mind and soul; how arts help heal and how healing is art. August 3-14. OCAC, 133 McMillan St. www. oceansideartscouncil.com Small in Nature, international miniature art exhibition only at OCAC, 133 McMillan Street 10am-4pm. August 16-28.

Fanny Bay Community Garage Sale on August 7th from 9 am to 3 pm. For table rentals or more information, please call 250-335-3282.

St. Anne’s Festival – Saturday, Aug. 7th, 1 - 4:30 p.m., at St. Anne’s Church, 407 Wembley Rd., Parksville, (behind Wembley Mall). Pioneer stories, floral displays, cemetery stroll & Victorian Tea. Tickets $15 available at the Church office or Mulberry Bush Bookstore. Info: 250-248-4549 Enjoy an evening of Celtic music and entertainment with Vancouver Island’s own “Celtic Chaos” and friends. Celtic Chaos delights audiences with music, infectious energy, stories and humour. The group features Joyce Beaton on fiddle and patter, Dave Barta on accordion and vocals, Gordon Lafleur on flute, Joe Spinelli on

August 2010 double bass, and John Beaton with spoken word. This popular and energetic fun-loving band plays traditional music from the lands of the Celts and beyond, and puts salt in your porridge with songs and poetry. Special guests include Canadian Fiddle Champion, Tim Brown and international highland dance champions in a comfortable ceilidh atmosphere. Bring your guests and friends and don’t miss this one-night-only show! Tickets available through Village Theatre Box Office at 250-240-3075 or through Joyce Beaton at jbeaton@shaw.ca or 752-1162.

Qualicum Beach Probus Club will meet at St. Stephen’s Church hall on Tuesday August 3rd at 9 am. The speaker will be Dr. Lisa MacLean – an artist and lecturer in the Liberal Studies Department at V.I.U. at Nanaimo, who will talk about her work and the Abroad Programs with students, focusing on Italy and Turkey.

“Living with Cancer” Support Group Meetings – Every 1st Thursday of the month from 1:30 to 3:00 pm at the Gardens in Qualicum Beach. For further information please contact Rosemary Fontenla 250-951-2167.

Kiwanis Club of Parksville/Qualicum Beach meets 1st and 3rd Tues at The Kiwanis Village 250 West First Ave QB 7:15pm. 19+ are welcome if you wish to assist seniors and children in need in our community.FMI contact Thomas at 250-752-7424 Skeet Shooting – Are you ready for some fun. Test your hand/eye coordination. give Trap and Skeet shooting a try.

Men, Women and children over age 12 (accompanied by an adult). Sun. 10am and ‘even numbered” Wed. at noon.

Location: The Dorman Road Range off Baylis Road – a member of the Parksville Qualicum Fish & Game Club. FMI: Diane Upper, 250-757-8320.

Get the support you need to lose weight and keep it off. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets weekly at the Seniors Hall on Ships Point Road. Weigh In starts at 9:30am. Meetings at 10am.

“I Want to Be Fat Like You” – Fall 2010 Kindness in Action Volunteer Program. Doreen Bakstad and Len Walker will be guiding the Nov 15 - Dec 15 program to Cambodia for those who wish to participate. What can you contribute to a group of kids in rural Cambodia? Find out and join us! www.

KindnessinAction.ca Dance To Timberline Band – Free, live old-time Country & Rock’n Roll music. Every Wednesday, 7:30 to 10:30 pm Parksville Legion, 146 West Hirst St., Parksville.

Everyone welcome Qualicum Beach Artists Market at TOSH every Friday evening starting July 2nd through to August 27th from 3 to 8 pm you can meet local professional artisans and be entertained by local musicians. From outstanding pottery to sparkling glass work, antler carvings to wood carvings, paintings to jewellery, there is something for every taste. Local musicians range from celebrated blues artist, Gerry Barnum, to the up-beat Latin inspired music of “Ask Alice” to jazz, country and folk.

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 50 / August 2010

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August 2010 COMMUNITY EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 Seaquest Kids’ Camp – “Diving for God’s Treasure” St. Stephen’s United Church invites kids ages 5 – 12 to join us for a Great Adventure this summer at Kids’ Camp: August 16th – 20th 9am to noon. 150 Village Way, Qualicum Beach.

Free. Please call 250-752-9831 to register or visit us at www.ststephensucqualicum.ca Fanny Bay Community is having a Garage Sale August 7th, at the Community Hall, from 9 am to 3 pm. You know those treasures you have been hanging onto, or hidden away, and now you would like to earn a little extra money, here is your chance. For renting tables or more information call 250-335-3282.

Knox Summer Choir – Visitors to Oceanside are invited to sing with the “Knox Summer Choir”, Rehearsal at 9 am for service at 10am, Sundays June 27th to September 19th, inclusive. Come once or all season. Knox United Church, 345 Pym St., Parksville. FMI call 250-248-3927.

Please submit your non-profit group event notices by the 10th of the month preceding publication.

Originals Only Art Show and Sale – Marina Park, Comox. August 7 & 8th, 10am to 4pm: 60+ artists will be displaying original work that has been prepared for this, the Valley’s premiere art show. Typically these area artists, who will all be in attendance, bring works that people will display in their homes. This show is in its 9th year and is an established event you will not want to miss and best of all, admission is free!

The Lighthouse Fall Fair is a significant event for our community.

It always draws amazing tourist traffic, with its commercial component for the vendors and our local businesses, plus our community and its history is shaped by such an exciting event. How can you help maintain our fall fair enthusiasm for our ongoing generations especially for this 40th year anniversary? One request this year is for more cakes to be donated for the ever popular CAKE WALK event. Another is to volunteer, meeting new friends and old and

enjoying the camaraderie with other volunteers.The Fall Fair entries and exhibit guide booklet is now available at local businesses or on line at www. communityclub.ca. Contact information: Phone 250 757-9991, or email Pat at jmclean01@shaw The Parksville & District Community Choir begins rehearsals, Wed. September 7th, at 7pm Concert repertoire ranges from classical to light classics. New members welcome. No auditions. FMI call 250-752-8130 Natural History Exhibit – Hornby Island School Tues - Sat. 10 - 3 pm by donation www.hornbyislandschool.

Speaker Series Aug 5th & 12th 2pm, 2100 Solians Rd, Hornby Island.

Hornby Island Farmers’ Market – across from school on Wed. & Sat. Hornby Island.

WWW.EYESONBC.COM

Marketing & Advertising

Listen to The Beacon Beat on 88.5FM The Beach radio, Thursday mornings at approximately 8:10 am for updates and news about what’s going on in Lighthouse Country! ~ The Beacon...we keep you informed!

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EyesOnBC Community Info Centre A few spots are still available in the EyesOnBC in-house Community Information Centre for racking your business cards, rack cards or flyers!

Call 757-9914 for more information.

From $10/month It’s where locals and visitors find their service people!

BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTRE We encourage you to “shop local” whenever possible. Below is a list of local businesses that offer a variety of services and products for your personal and professional needs. Tell them you saw their listing or ad in The Beacon. And, if you use and can recommend a local business or service, we ask you to share the news with your neighbours, friends and family. Your positive referrals will ensure a strong economy in your community. And that’s important!

The advertisers listed here also have their business cards and brochures racked with us at EyesOnBC in our Community Information Centre. If you require further information about any of the businesses noted above, please feel free to call or stop by our office. We support local business and firmly believe in the power of networking.

Our Advertisers.............................Contact....................................................... Category................. Ad Page EyesOnBC........................................................... 757-9914..................................................................... The Beacon Magazine / Business Centre....12 Arrowsmith Automotive........................................ 752-1662..................................................................... Automotive Services....................................22 Qualicum Auto & Marine Supply Ltd.................... 250-752-5621............................................................. Auto & Marine Supplies...............................53 Career Centre...................................................... 248-3205..................................................................... Business & Education..................................53 Jennifer Hubbard, Solicitor, Notary Public........... 752-6951..................................................................... Business & Financial Services.....................47 Lotar Maurer, CGA............................................... 752-9223..................................................................... Business & Financial Services.....................36 NR Insurance Services........................................ 752-3086..................................................................... Business & Financial Services......inside front Dennis Ponto, Accountant................................... 757-8581..................................................................... Business & Financial Services.....................54 Wisdom is Within Coaching................................. 757-9794..................................................................... Business & Personal Coaching....................23 Handy Sandy Services........................................ 757-9599..................................................................... Maintenance Services.................................52 Rodger’s Maintenance Services.......................... 757-2048..................................................................... Maintenance Services.................................40 Medicine Centre.................................................. Fern Rd 752-9911....Memorial Ave 752-9976............. Health Services............................................37 Jonathan Martin CCST, CRRP............................ 250-586-3316............................................................. Health Services............................................23 Tracy Hebert R.M.T............................................. cell 927-1471.............................................................. Health Services............................................54 Bowser Roofing................................................... 757-9827.........................248-1633............................. Home & Garden Services............................13 Camelot Electric..........................................................................................250-752-7999...................... Home & Garden Services............................54 Camelot Excavating.....................................................................................250-752-7909...................... Home & Garden Servies..............................54 Camelot Homes...........................................................................................250-752-7909...................... Home & Garden Service..............................50 Gemini Technical Services (Appliances)............. 752-6871..................................................................... Home & Garden Services............................54 Horne Lake Electric............................................. 250-240-7778............................................................. Home & Garden Services............................53 Lighthouse Trucking Ltd...................................... 757-2047.........................cell 927-7577....................... Home & Garden Services............................53 Northpacific Window............................................ 752-5312..................................................................... Home & Garden Services............................25 Qualicum Bay Custom Carpentry........................ 250-757-8996.................cell 250-954-7700............... Home & Garden Services............................54 Witte Construction............................................... 757-9713.........................927-2157............................. Home & Garden Services............................53 EyesOnBC (in Bowser)........................................ 757-9914..................................................................... Copy / Fax / Office Services.........Inside Front Re/Max First Realty - Setter & Associates........... 951-4078.........................1-877-752-6089................... Real Estate..................................................44 Re/Max First Realty - Tom Whitfield.................... 248-1071.........................1-888-243-1071................... Real Estate..................................................12 Arrowsmith Golf & Country Club.......................... 752-9727..................................................................... Sports & Leisure..........................................47 Peter Mason Land Surveyor................................ 757-8788.........................1-800-350-5394................... Surveying & Land Information......................53

SERVICE DIRECTORY LISTING A-Company Military Surplus

& Adventure Clothing........................ 52 Advanced Hypnosis.......................... 52 All in One Bobcat.............................. 52 Alpine Cedar..................................... 53 Arrowsmith Heating.......................... 53 Biscotti di Notti.................................. 52 Blue Star Trucking............................ 53 Bondy and Sons Heating & Cooling.53 Bowser Video Showcase.................. 53 C.F. McLean Pellet Sales................. 52 Camelot Electric............................... 54

Camelot Excavating.......................... 54 Career Centre................................... 53 DIY Helper & Handyman Services... 52 Deja~Vu Decor................................. 53 Dennis Ponto, Professional Accounting................... 54 Ed & Willems - House Painting......... 53 Evelyn’s Barber Shop....................... 54 Firewood (Dale Wilson).................... 54 Foot Sanctuary, The......................... 54 Gemini Appliance Repair.................. 54 Handy Sandy Services..................... 52

Horne Lake Electric.......................... 53 Island Scallops................................. 52 Jim’s Mowing.................................... 53 Level 6 Drywall Contracting.............. 52 Lighthouse Feed & Garden.............. 54 Lighthouse Trucking......................... 53 Master Lawn Maintenance............... 54 Mr. Land Clearing & Septic Ltd......... 54 Oceanside Yoga............................... 54 PC Plumbing & Gas.......................... 52 Peter Mason Land Surveyor............. 53 Powerwise Electric........................... 52

Qualicum Auto & Marine................... 53 Qualicum Bay Custom Carpentry..... 54 Qualicum Bay Plumbing................... 53 Qualicum Clothworks........................ 52 Studio Salon..................................... 54 Tracy Hebert, Massage Therapist.... 54 Wilson Exteriors................................ 52 Witte Construction Ltd...................... 53 NEW THIS MONTH! Browns Plumbing & Gas................... 54 Coastal Water Systems.................... 52

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Sand & Gravel Topsoil Septic Systems Bark Mulch Driveway Chips Water Lines

Culverts Drain Problems

Designer Clothes

Septic Installation

For alphabetical service listing, see page 51

Certified Septic System Specialist

Call Lauren & Save

P.C. Plumbing 01.07.eps

52

Plumbing & Gas Services

Plumbing Service Drywall Repairs 30 Years Experience Licensed & Bonded PETER CHAPMAN

(250)240-1415

Baked Goods

Military Surplus

Home Repairs

Pellet Fuel Sales

Drywall

Water Systems Handyman Services

Hypnotherapy

Electrical Services

Local Seafood

Home Improvement

(250) 757-8156 or (250) 954-8716

Heating Pellets Animal Bedding Wood Pellets & Shavings

WE DELIVER 757-9232

Located in Qualicum Bay / August 2010

Your Local Entertainment Centre

. New Releases . Great Library Selection . New & previously viewed movies for sale . Machine Rentals - N64, PSX & XBox . Game Rentals - N64, PSX, PS2

Heating

Movie & Game Rental

Auto & Marine

BOWSER

XBox & GameCube

Ask our Staff for your hard-to-find titles Reservations Accepted

757-8353

Excavating

Land Surveying

Interior Decorating

#3 - 6996 West Island Hwy, Bowser

2003 Kobelco SK160Lc Excavator for Hire

DEJA~VU DECOR CUSTOM DECOR & WINDOW COVERINGS

Call

250-752-8772

Convenient In Home Appointments

ph. 757-9713 c. 927-2157 e. shaun.witte@gmail.com

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL ALTERNATE ENERGY

T.J. Farrell

250 • 240 • 7778

Plumbing Sand - Gravel - Topsoil

Heating & Cooling

Lawn Services House Painting

tjfarrell@shaw.ca

105 Islewood Dr. Bowser, BC V0R 1G0

Career Counselling

WCB & Insured Shaun Witte Owner/Journeyman

Electrician

Construction

LTD

Fencing / Timber

Witte Construction

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/ August 2010

Construction

Lawn Services

Electrical Services

Healthcare

DALE WILSON 250-757-9276

Firewood Fitness Classes

Plumbing Gas Heating

250-240-4902 • 250-757-8077

Pet Food Supplies

Philip Brown

Excavating & Septic

Barber Services

For Your Fuel Wood Needs Call

Foot Care

Accounting Services

Firewood, a renewable carbon neutral resource INSTALLATION SERVICE & REPAIRS

Appliance Repair

Excavating Services

Hair Services

GREEN ENERGY PLUMBING • GAS • HEATING

EVENINGS

On Alberni Highway #4, west of Qualicum Beach

I

sn’t it time you discovered the rural community of Hilliers? Stop by for a “Car Burger” at Beef N Baker, a sit-down nosh at Cruisers Courtyard, a unique wearable from t-shirts that talk, a custom board or surf accessory from Island Longboards...and a delicious steak or two from Hilliers Gourmet Foods for your holiday barbeque.

Hilliers

BEEF N BAKER

Sweet Treats

Great Grandma’s Cookies, Tarts More &M

Homestyle

Loaded Car g & Fries Burger

Assorted Trays for All Your

Special Events

Only $7.50

Open Daily 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

All Day Breakfast

Call for Pick up Orders

3027 Van Horne Road, Hilliers BC Near Coombs & Qualicum Beach

250.752.0068

Coming or going to Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofino and back again, Hilliers is a favourite stop along the way.

T-Shirts Hoodies & Gifts ttshirtsthattalk@gmail.com hi t th tt lk@ il

250.594.1155 #2-3125 Van Horne Road Qualicum Beach, V9K 2R3 Next to Braemar Pottery

OPEN until 8pm daily 7 days a week

FRESH MEAT

Beef AA + up & Pork Tel: (250) 752-2257 Toll Free: (800) 726-4210 shop@islandlongboards.com www.islandlongboards.com

Surfboards | Wetsuits | Accessories | Rentals 3464 Brittain Blvd., Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1W2

Hormone Free Locally Raised on Vegetarian Feed Government Inspected Canadian & European Style Cuts 3065 Van Horne Road

Five minutes from Coombs Country Market on Hwy 4 to Port Alberni

Phone Orders 250.752.2390

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