Jan2014 eyesonbc

January 2014 vol 3 issue 01

Central Vancouver Island Edition

MAGAZINE

Puck Maker Invents a Whole Lot of Fun • 5 Mary Ann Moore: Writing Warrior • 8

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(250) 335-1534

www.weinbergsfood.com weinbergsfood@gmail.com Located at the Buckley Bay Ferry Terminal on the lower level next to the Seafood Shop •

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JANUARY 2014 vol 3 No 1

MAGAZINE

EyesOnBC Magazine is published monthly

CELEBRATING OUR 10TH YEAR Main Email: info@eyesonbc.com Phone: 250-757-9914 Mailing Address EyesOnBC Magazine, Box 182, Bowser, BC V0R 1G0 Hours: Mon - Thu 10-4 Our Contributors this month: Rita Levitz, Lisa Verbicky, David Morrison Georgia Nicols, Joanne Sales, Lesley McVey, Laura Winter, Linda Tenney, Elizabeth Cudmore, Sandy Glazier, Bill Veenhof On the Internet www.eyesonbc.com & www.facebook.com/eyesonbc Subcriptions In Canada, from $35 CDN incl HST. Inquire about foreign subscriptions, Call 250-757-9914 to subscribe.

VISA & MasterCard accepted. or go online to www.eyesonbc.com to subscribe.

Printed on Vancouver Island, BC 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 publisher 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, Publisher at info@eyesonbc.com

FEATURES 5 Mallory Owen: Puck Maker Invents a Whole Lot of Fun 8 Mary Ann Moore: Writing Warrior

FOOD, DINING, ENTERTAINMENT

7 Table for Two: Fish Tales Restaurant 16 ECHO: Be My Baby 10 Seedy Saturday: Grow It!

OUTDOORS & TRAVEL

14 Tide Table 23 The Wild Windwards

COMMUNITY LIFE 4 Images & Voices: Linda Tenney 14 BizBanter - who’s doing what in local business

HEALTH & WELLNESS

15 The Art of Conscious Living

THE REGULARS 11 19 18 21 22-23

In the Stars: Georgia Nicols Horoscope Area H Report: Bill Veenhof, RDN Director Community Events Classifieds At Your Service - Local Services & Trades

ISSN 2292-356X

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Sounds Like a Good idea

by Rita Levitz

“S

ounds like a good idea.” Those optimistic and forward-looking words have taken Linda Tenney from her birthplace in Toronto to Vancouver Island. They have taken her from a diversity of temp agency office jobs to being editor and publisher of the magazine you are holding in your hands right now, with quite a few stops in-between.

When Linda was twenty years old, she took the CN from Toronto to Vancouver to be re-united with her father and brother. “My Dad hadn’t seen me since I was a child, but he knew me as soon as I stepped off the train.” In typical Linda fashion, she had taken a look and a leap. “I’d written to him but I headed West before he wrote back with an invitation. I had my fingers crossed that he would be there– and he was.”

“I made the move and there was no going back. Vancouver was my new home, but it was difficult settling in. I was pretty shy about doing new things and meeting new people. I had to force myself to get out, get on a downtown bus and get a job. I registered at a temp agency, gained new job skills, met people, and slowly started to feel more comfortable in the city. When office jobs weren’t available, I drove cab one summer ... and even picked worms off a golf course. Yuck! There are some things I’m glad I’m not doing anymore!”

“I was fortunate to fall into jobs that involved writing, designing, marketing and photography. Earning a living was always on my mind so I didn’t really have the chance to decide ‘what’ I was going to be. But maybe it’s in my genes; my ancestors were writers, printers and publishers.”

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Linda Tenney photo

“I left home at fifteen and left school halfway through Grade Eleven, so just about everything I know has been self-taught. Those were pretty scary times in Toronto. I was young, inexperienced and on the constant look-out for jobs. I certainly was not worldly, not like most teenagers seem to be today.”

Linda has never been one to shy away from transitions or technology. “When I worked at Montreal Trust in Vancouver, I was always the one whose hand shot up first when new equipment arrived in the office. I had, and have, a strong need to learn and I love new ‘toys’. I’ve worked on everything from ancient Remington typewriters to today’s PCs and mobile devices. I wonder if anyone remembers the IBM Displaywriter or the Micom. The new skills I learned along the way helped me advance in jobs and opened doors of opportunity.”

An advertisement for a used bookstore for sale on Vancouver Island lured Linda and her husband Bob to Qualicum Bay in 2003. “It seemed like a good idea at the time, since it brought me here, but unfortunately the sun was setting on the viability of individually-owned used bookstores. It was the wrong time and the wrong location and we couldn’t earn a living. We eventually had to close the store.”

Linda is in transition once again as technology and the Internet impacts the world of print media, and publishers are being asked to find new and diverse ways of being profitable, timely and relevant in a world of stiff competition for readers and

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Lighthouse Puck Maker Invents A Whole Lot of Fun

by Lisa Verbicky

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am a hockey mom. My 7-year-old vehicle has 300,000 kms on it, black scuff marks on the ceiling (how did those get there), and tape balls stuck to the upholstery. When I open my front door, sticks rain down like trees in a windstorm.

And, in my front hall closet, the lovely coat I bought in Paris simultaneously hangs and sits atop a mountain of gear. You would think that after careening up and down the island for an entire weekend of games, that the kids would leave the ‘H’ word on the ice come Sunday night.

Unfortunately, we do not have carpet.

When I curl up in front of the fire at the end of a weekend spent in arctic conditions, I am besieged by the ‘ticktack-thud’ of rock hard hockey balls, jar lids, and those little cardboard rings left over from rolls upon rolls of hockey tape against our laminate floors. I have bruises on my calves for daring to make a run for the refrigerator. My cabinets have so many dings in them from games of “mini-sticks” that it looks like we’ve taken in beavers.

Sigh.

Imagine my relief when I was given a set of soft, felt mini-pucks from a happy fellow in a wool hat and white beard over the holidays. No, not you know who.

Self-proclaimed ‘tinkerer’, Mallory Owen, greeted me with a hearty hello outside his Bowser home mid-December, a grey knit skull cap pulled down to the bridge of his rain splattered wire spectacles. His cheeks, dare I say ‘rosy’ from the cold.

Owen has been crafting and distributing ProfeltTM Floor Hockey pucks since 1987.

“I was what you would call a hockey fanatic,” says the 62-year-old who grew up playing on the backyard outdoor rinks J A N U A R Y

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Mallory Owen in his Bowser workshop Lisa Verbicky photo

style loft where he and his family host community jam nights.

in Barrie, Ontario. As an adult he moved to Williams Lake where he spent 30 years involved in minor hockey in various roles as director, association president, coach, course conductor and coach mentor. He is most proud of implementing their Initiation Program for 5 to 9-year-olds. For 10 years he ran his own hockey school on his backyard rink, called Mallory’s Hockey Enhancement ProgramTM for players from Age five to Midget Rep.

Owen was not only a fan of ice hockey but took up floor hockey as a great way to stay in shape for off ice training.

“It was a lot of fun, but, those little orange plastic pucks hurt when you got hit with them, so I started experimenting with making pucks out of foam and cloth. Then I found the felt.”

“The emphasis for me all those years was having fun. The best compliment I ever got came from a five-year old who said, ‘I never learn anything with Mallory, we just have fun’.”

Just take a look at his workshop. It is full of cool stuff such as vintage hockey LP’s with names like “The Two Sides of Bobby Orr” and “Hockey with A Little Help from Your Friends”, old school hockey gear, and player posters and photos. At centre ice, running up and down the middle of his shop is a table riddled with a colorful assortment of all the felt floor hockey pucks he makes, laid out like Christmas cookies in a bakery. Upstairs is a coffee shop

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The only challenge at that time was how to sew the pucks tightly enough so they could last through all the wear and tear of an adult floor hockey game. He solved that by specializing an industrial sewing machine to do the trick.

Each puck is cut from a 300lb roll of specially designed felt, weighted, and then stitched on this patented machine. His ProfeltTM “Original” is a hit in school gymnasiums and the “Performance” is for the more competitive player. He also makes an array of heavy duty and lightweight stitched vinyl pucks, semi or fully texturized pucks for rubberized surfaces, double-stitched pucks, minipucks, and water-resistant pucks for continued on page 6

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continued from page 5

pond hockey or shinny. Softer, safer, and more controllable than hard plastic pucks, they have become a favorite among recreational floor hockey players across North America.

Made of natural compressed wool, they are also biodegradable. Owen even chops up old pucks to put in his garden.

“I would say that an adult recreation league could get a year out of one. But, I did have a school tell me that they had ten that were still going after 10 years. So, it depends on the type and frequency of play. I will also work with the customer to make sure they get a product that fits their needs, that lasts and performs the way they want it too.”

He is currently designing a puck for a Special Olympics group in Eastern Canada, for example.

Owen’s website, www.floorhockey.net is full of testimonials from people who call his pucks ‘the best physical education invention in the last 30 years’, and ‘the best floor hockey pucks on the market.’

“They’re a Canadian-made quality product designed for fun.”

All I can say is that, my kids love them and so do my nerves. ~ 6

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Rural Water Quality Stewardship in the RDN REBATES NOW AVAILABLE! To help rural residents protect our shared groundwater resource, the RDN is offering:

Cost-sharing rebates for well protection upgrades 50% UP TO APPROX # TOTAL REBATE LIMIT OF OF REBATES FUNDS AVAILABLE 1. Secure well cap $50 50 $2,500 2. Well casing stick-up $200 25 $5,000 3. Surface seal $300 25 $7,500 4. Well closure $500 20 $10,000 ITEM

PLUS! 50% OFF VOUCHER FOR FULL-SPECTRUM WATER QUALITY TESTING Get info at www.rdnrebates.ca or call 250.390.6560 M A G A Z I N E

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Table for Two ... at Fish Tales

by Linda Tenney

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haven’t been to England, but there’s a cute little Tudor-style building in Qualicum Beach that offers a glimpse into what it might be like. Well...maybe what I imagine it might be like.

Fish Tales Restaurant fills my imagination with visions of quaint villages and hamlets snuggled into a picturesque English countryside. When the restaurant’s garden is in full summer bloom, it’s a magical setting that offers a relaxed outdoor dining experience.

During the winter months, when baby it’s cold outside, Fish Tales’ owners Phil and Rachel Pascoe welcome you into the restaurant’s cozy and eclectic interior that melds old-world and vintage decorating styles into a comfy, casual feel.

Cozy Tudor-style Restaurant

Great Seafood

Fresh Halibut • Wild Salmon • Mussels Cioppino • Prawns • Oysters • Famous Fish & Chips TAKE OUT AVAILABLE

Fish Tales’ menu is equally eclectic offering a tempting list of soups, salads, seafood and fish dishes, and even barbecue ribs for meatlovers. “We offer BBQ ribs to accommodate customers who don’t want seafood. It’s gone over extremely well,” says Phil. “We try to accommodate everyone’s needs on our menu.”

My ‘Table for Two’ guest at Fish Tales was Elizabeth Cudmore, EyesOnBC Magazine’s client services rep ... and longtime foodie.

On the table? A sampling of Butternut Squash Soup, Crab Cakes, Sweet Chili Thai Prawns, Garlic Prawns, Barbecue Beef Ribs, Sticky Toffee Pie, and Fish Tales’ signature dessert, Pavlova.

Rib Dinner

Our favourites of the night? The Butternut Squash Soup - a delicately spiced bowl of comfort food that Elizabeth is still raving about. Followed by my favourite the Thai Chili Prawns - perfectly cooked with just the right amount of heat and a hint of sweetness. We both gave the Barbeque Ribs high marks for fall-off-the-bone yumminess, and we loved the sweet grande finale of Pavlova for dessert. Phil has accomplished the ‘art of the meringue’ and his Pavlova offers the perfect crunch with every bite. Topped with a variety of fresh fruit, it’s a dish that sparkles with great taste and personality.

Phil told us to expect changes in 2014 – “We’d like Fish Tales to be a favourite place to meet with friends and family for a cup of coffee or tea, and maybe a sweet. And we’ll probably do a Sunday Brunch.” From our conversation, I took the hint that specialty coffees and a Sunday ‘Eggs Benny’ brunch is on the horizon early this year. We’ll keep you posted!

You’ll find Fish Tales Restaurant at 3336 Island Highway W. in Qualicum Beach.

Call for reservations, or just stop in.

250-752-6053. Take out is available. ~ _________________ EyesOnBC’s “Table for Two” takes you on a culinary tour of Oceanside’s eateries, coffee shops, markets, extraordinary street food, and other local food discoveries. Visit our website for more information about this eatery and more. www.eyesonbc.com

Full or Half Rack served with french fries or baked potato & cole slaw

All You Can Eat Fish & Chips

DINNER

Lunch & Dinner Wed to Sat • 11:30-2:30pm Tues to Sun • 4-9pm

Tuesday to Sunday 4-9pm

“The Island’s finest fish!”

3336 Island Hwy West, Qualicum Beach J A N U A R Y

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riting warrior

Mary Ann Moore:

by David Morrison

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Lance Sullivan photo

s I tap away at the keyboard this grey winter day, around me all is quiet.

There is little audible evidence of human presence in the vicinity. Other than my own keystrokes the only sounds I hear are the occasional crow caw and my cat snoring on the sofa bed. It is times like this, with only my feline companion as muse or critic, that writing as a solitary pursuit comes into sharp focus. And when this piece is finished I will release it to the world via this esteemed publication, then wonder what happens next. Will readers find it interesting and/or entertaining? Did I serve its subject well?

As a self-taught writer with no formal training in the discipline, insecurities as to the quality and worth of my work are natural. This said, even as a regularly published writer there is always professional guidance and mentorship available to me if required. There are also situations where, albeit in a different context, I can break the solitude and write in company, as offered in a ‘circle’ format by such as the Nanaimo-based poet, Mary Ann Moore.

Moore started her writing circles (think: small group workshops) in the living room of her Toronto home in 1997, bringing her skills and knowledge to Vancouver Island when relocating to the Hub City in 2005. Her journey to becoming a valued member of our creative community began when she started to become interested in writing and all things literary at a very young age.

begins. “As an only child I was developing my imagination. I have loved books since I can remember, and always got excited going to the library and being shown the new books by the librarian. Other writing came first, though we did have to write poetry at school, but it was mostly composition.”

“I was living with my grandparents in the Ottawa Valley when I was nine-years-old,” she

It was at this juncture in our conversation I was surprised to learn that, like myself,

Mary Ann Moore • a Lance Sullivan photo Moore drifted into a writing career untrained. “In the seventies I started writing for the local newspaper. I didn’t have any formal training, so just wrote, and that’s the way it started professionally, writing about all sorts of community events. And I wrote about local history; I was very interested in the history of the little town where we continued next page

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continued from previous page lived, Bowmanville. It wasn’t really until the nineties that I started writing poetry; something came to me that needed to be expressed in a poem.”

Since that pivotal moment for Moore there has been no going back. In 1999, when living in Guelph, she self-released a CD of poetry, entitled When My Heart is Open, and has since produced chapbooks of her work, both independently and through Leaf Press in Lantzville. (In May, Leaf will be publishing a full-length book of Moore’s poetry, called Fishing for Mermaids.)

As for Moore’s writing circles, in an atmosphere conducive to creativity, the format and process sound fascinating.

Although she has conducted workshops for men and women, especially at Vancouver Island University, the writing circles in Moore’s home are exclusively for women writers. One workshop offered is the sixweek Writing Life circle, but on the weekend of January 25-26 Moore will be hosting her Words in Progress for Writing Warriors circle, aimed at encouraging and offering support to women already in a stream of creativity. As Moore explains: “In the Writing Life circle we write while we’re together, and I offer prompts. There’s poetry as inspiration, but it doesn’t mean that the women need to write poetry. I always open with some form of inspirational reading, usually a poem, so poetry is always part of it. They can write in whatever form; it’s writing in the moment to prompts I offer, and when the woman reads what she’s written she’s never heard it before herself, and we just echo back words and phrases that resonate with us. There’s no critiquing of any sort, and then they might go on to do something with that, or it’s just for that moment! But In the Writing Warriors circles, women have already done some writing, so this is to offer support to one another and support for putting those pieces out into the world.

In the Writing Life circle it is mainly women who want to write as a way of self-expression, but in Writing Warriors they want to take the next step, perhaps to be published in one form or another. I was amazed at the latest poetry retreat I attended to meet people there, mostly women, who had written for a long time but did not know where to send their stuff, or about the literary journals in Canada and that sort of thing. I also provide all of this information in the Writing Warriors.”

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It must be a lovely experience indeed to write in this way, absorbing and sparking off the creative energies of others, reacting to the catalytic prompting of such a nurturing teacher. Moore is a natural writer, one who writes every single day, so regarding her craft has much wisdom and methodology to share. On her website, of Writing Warriors she states: “I see this circle as a way to give voice to our desires rather than hiding our projects on our laptops and in our journals or on scraps of paper hidden behind the blender. The process is all-important to me but there comes a time to share those stories with others. This won’t be a critique group as such but you may ask for what sort of feedback you would like. That way you can receive ideas and suggestions related to your particular concerns about your words in progress.”

This sounds wonderful, no? Writing is often a lonely vocation, especially when – even for those that do it every day – those words simply will not come. Many a time I have sat agonizingly staring at a blank computer screen with a maelstrom of words and ideas in my brain, but will they form themselves into coherent sentences? No, they will not.

And even when they do, is it any good? So, to have a venue of support and the possibility of sympathetic sounding boards such as made available by Moore can only be an invaluable part of the creative process.

For any women already writing and interested in this circle, Moore says: “Writing Warriors is a small group, around seven, so there’s time to share. There is no critiquing, it’s just about encouragement to come up with a concrete plan to get your healing stories into the world. Focus. Finish.

Celebrate. Those are the words I came up with for my own intent for 2014 and they suit the Writing Warriors perfectly! Oh, and If anybody books a place in the circle and tells me they’ve read this article they can have the early bird price!”

The Words in Progress for Writing Warriors circle will be held at the Island Girl Art Studio, 3019 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, on Saturday January 25 (9:00am-5:00pm) and Sunday January 26 (10:00am-4:00pm).

For more information about Mary Ann Moore, her poetry and writing circles, please visit www.maryannmoore.ca or email Mary Ann at creativity@maryannmoore.ca.

Out & About ALPACA QUEST CAFÉ & GIFT SHOP - On less harried days in our production schedule we escape the office in search of a fantastic cup of coffee and comfort food, while we map out our next edition. Locally, we recommend Alpaca Quest Café - our quaint little haunt for breakfast and lunch in Qualicum Bay. Drop in to see the results of their recent renovations, discover Chef Ginger’s newest additions to the menu, and chat with the charming and stylish Drew, a volunteer WOOFER lending a hand behind the counter. It’s the tasty soups, crepes and sweets (including gluten-free options) that keep us coming back for more. Visit our Facebook page to see our “personally tried it and liked it” photos! ~ AMY NEWSOM DESIGNS - We visited with Amy for the first time in December ... and we’re going back as soon as we can. Amy’s gallery is spectacular – filled with uncommon artwork by local artists, as well as Amy’s own stunning one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces. A working-studio is located on site and visitors are invited to see where the magic begins and ends. With its Coffee & Waffle Bar, there’s no doubt the gallery is unique! We recommend an Americano and Amy’s organic, lactose and gluten-free waffle bar temptations. Waffles made fresh while you browse? Of course! Why not? Find our “Take a Tour “ album of Amy Newsom Design on our Facebook Page, then plan a trip to the gallery!

HACIENDA MEXICAN IMPORTS is another ‘must browse’ location for us while we’re out on distribution!

Owners, Sabine and Colin love everything Mexican ... the colourful glassware, art, jewellery, flavours and furniture. It’s all there, artfully presented in their Whiskey Creek warehouse with its majestic mountain backdrop. We’re sure you’ll find a few “must have” pieces that you can’t do without, and we highly recommend the ‘Salsa Huichol’ Hot Sauce - Linda uses it on everything! Open weekends over the winter months, you can also find our “Take a Tour” album of Hacienda Mexican Imports on our Facebook Page! We love the place ... we hope you will too!

THE SHADY WATERFRONT RESTAURANT - In the October edition of EyesOnBC Magazine, we introduced you to Andrew McGuire, the talented hands behind some of the restoration work at the new Qualicum Beach Inn. Andy recently started a musically noteworthy venture dubbed the ‘Dusty Hand Reggae Band’ and invited us to lunch at The Shady to tell us about it! Not only is the ocean view at The Shady arguably one of the best in Oceanside, they also have an exciting menu with delicious choices for every taste.

We’re particularly impressed by The Shady’s mandate to source local food products whenever possible. Visit our Facebook page to see our “personally tried it and liked it” photos, then plan a brunch, lunch or dinner!

Follow Us ... ‘Out & About’ AND On-line! facebook.com/EyesOnBC twitter.com/eyesonbc www.eyesonbc.com

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GROW IT!

by Sandi Glazier

D

o you lack energy and feel like you need extra vitamins? You try to eat a balanced diet but still don’t have enough stamina. It could be that the food you eat isn’t giving you what you need to be healthy.

In 1996, genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) were first commercialized in Canada and have been approved by Health Canada. They are now part of 90% of all processed foods but many new studies are finding that there are reasons to be concerned about them. Arzeena Hamir, named a “Female Food Hero” by Oxfam Canada in 2012 and a speaker at the upcoming Seedy Saturday in Qualicum Beach, is very concerned about them. She has been working with UBCM (Union of B.C. Municipalities) on “a resolution to ask the province to declare B.C. a GE-free zone”.

In “GMOS 101” she will explain what they are, where they’re found in Canada, and why and how you should avoid them.

If you want to eat healthier you could buy organic produce or, even better, grow your

own. Growing your own vegetables could help save money on groceries, get you outside more, and help you cut down on consuming processed food. Sounds easy doesn’t it? Stick some seeds in the ground and you have tasty plants to eat. However, growing your own still might not give you what you need. The land that is available to grow on has changed. Most people don’t live on farms but on regular lots. Developments may have taken down trees and, what soil hasn’t been churned up, or scraped off, might be rich but could be very acid due to the evergreens that were growing there. Add a little of that coastal rain that we get now and then and it becomes even more acidic. Even

if you have acreage, the land may have been over-farmed or used in a specialized fashion that creates imbalances in the soil.

Another of Seedy Saturday’s speakers, Kathleen Millar, can give you a quick lesson in soil improvement to maximize the potential of your garden. Even if you already buy organic, you may be getting less nutritional value than you think. Organic refers to the methods used to produce the plants, fruit, or meat. It guarantees that it was grown without interference from chemicals or hormones but it doesn’t guarantee flavour or nutrition. As part of her presentation, continued on page 17

NOTICE

BOARD APPOINTMENTS Our family has proudly served the Oceanside communities since 1998.

We believe in providing the highest level of service in a professional and affordable manner, without compromising our commitment to reliable and respectful service to our families.

The RDN is accepting applications for the following committees: Nanaimo Airport *NEW* 1 year term Planning Process Advisory Committee

10 members

Electoral Area “G” Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee

2 year term

3 members

1 year term

2 members all areas 1 member District 69

All Communities in the RDN

French Creek, Dashwood, Englishman River

Grants-in-Aid Advisory Committee

All Communities in the RDN

For a complete list of vacancies, and to obtain an application form, please visit www.rdn.bc.ca, or contact Corporate Services at corpsrv@rdn.bc.ca, 250-390-4111 or toll-free at 1-877-607-4111 1 0

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thy buns. In particular, you want to enlighten others about something. (“I have a dream.”) This month is full of opportunities for of you who write, edit, sell, market, teach and act because your words will be golden.

Aries (March 21-April 19) This is the only time all year when the Sun is at the top of your chart, putting you in the limelight. Please note: This light is flattering! This means others see you in super positive terms. To them, you are capable, attractive and talented! Naturally, people will ask you to take on increased responsibilities. Just say yes because this dazzling light will make you look good. In other words, you don’t have to do anything special to impress everyone.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) This month promises adventure, travel and exciting groundbreaking experiences that will please you and broaden your horizons. You’ll enjoy art, beautiful buildings and natural scenery, probably in very different surroundings, perhaps other countries. Some of you will begin a cozy relationship with someone from another culture. This is a great time to take up a new study, a new hobby or pursue an intellectual discipline because you want to stimulate your mind.

Demand more for yourself.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) This month will be intense (at every level) and sexually passionate.

(Get out the castanets.) Not only that, others will be generous to you, which means you can expect gifts, goodies and favours to come your way plus a chance to benefit from the wealth of a partner or friend.

“Drinks on me!” You’re in the mood to work hard and party hard. Clean up loose details with inheritances, taxes, debt and insurance matters. This will be easier than you think.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) This is the only time all year when the Sun is directly opposite your sign, which means it is as far away from you as it gets all year. Since the Sun is your source of energy, this means you will need more sleep in the next four weeks. Respect your need for more rest. In addition, this oppositional Sun makes you more aware of

partnership and close friendships. You can learn something about your style in these relationships.

Observe your behavior. (Smoother relationships will boost your own happiness.)

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Now and for months ahead, Mars will make you more forceful in your speech. It amplifies your every day energy. In part, this is why you want get better organized at home and at work.

You want everything running smoothly in its place.

You might even get on a health kick a about eating better and getting more exercise. Meanwhile, a workrelated romance could begin for some of you. New romance always makes it easier to lose weight. (And the exercise is fun, too.)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) This month the Sun switches your focus to money matters. Ka-ching!

This is why you’re fixated on cash flow, earnings and taking care of what you own. Expect to spend money on beautiful things for yourself and loved ones. However, you will also think of ways to boost your earnings. (You’re clever at this.) This continues to be a time where you benefit from the wealth and resources of others. Ask for what you want. Good time to get a loan or mortgage or join forces with others.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) This is your month!

Expect an energy boost that recharges your batteries for the rest of the year. The Sun attracts important people to you, as well as favourable circumstances.

You’ll find it easy to make a great impression on others. At work, you will want to run your own show and be your own boss. You also need to express yourself to others. This is the one time of year when your first duty is to yourself.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Lucky you! You have a wonderful, fun-loving, promising month ahead.

Now is the time for mini-vacations, parties, social diversions, sports events, flirtations, new romance, and increased opportunities to enjoy the arts and the entertainment world. Go to hotels and restaurants.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Your personal year is Make plans to see friend for lunch or dinner. Enjoy hanging out with younger, creative people. It’s fun city coming to an end, which means you have a month before your new year begins. That’s why this month for Virgos! (Mom always liked you best.) is the perfect time to give yourself a report card.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Now your attention turns What’s the picture? How are things going? How do to home, family and your private world. You might you want next year to be different from this year? entertain at home (almost certainly). In particular, Lay out a few guidelines – in fact, write them down. you will enjoy the company of younger, artistic People who are successful have goals, which means people. Naturally, you will tweak your digs to make they know where they’re going. everything look elegant and inviting. You like beautiful rooms. This is because you have a discerning Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Get ready for a popular month because the Sun and fair Venus will really eye and also because you are affected by your surroundings more than other signs. (“Please turn off push your social calendar. You’ll enjoy good times with friends as well as group activities. In fact, that overhead light.”) any kind of group setting, whether it’s business or Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You’re busy! This is personal, will be a positive experience. Romance because your daily pace is accelerating with short can flourish. Friends can become lovers and lovers trips, increased reading and writing plus errands and can become friends. It’s also a good time to do some conversations with everyone. You’re on the go with goal-setting. And why not buy some sexy shoes? high energy. Don’t stay at home. Get out and hustle

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FIRESIDE BOOKS A new year at Fireside Books This also means new quotes – good ones too!

A phone company representative called to ask if I was interested in caller ID. Since I’m blind, I asked, "Does it come in Braille"?

The rep put me on hold. When she returned, she replied, "I’m sorry, sir, but the caller ID box doesn’t come in that colour".

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Check us out online www.eyesonbc.com www.facebook.com/eyesonbc

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advertisers. EyesOnBC Magazine (formerly The Beacon) has been around for ten years, but it’s a constant struggle to make sure that a shifting bottom line continues to support its barebones operation and its staff of two. “There’s a finite pool of local advertising revenue out there,” says Linda, “and with three other publications swimming in the same pool, there’s often not much left for us. I’m thankful to have Elizabeth Cudmore working with me - she’s great with our clients and she keeps me laughing through the tough times.”

“Although it’s a challenge, I’m proud that we’ve continued to publish a quality magazine for ten years. That’s an accomplishment, albeit not without some significant sacrifices along the way. ” A magazine like EyesOnBC has to find its own niche, and for Linda it is

encompassed in five words: unique, unusual, worth a read. Every article, either in-print, on the magazine’s website or within social media communications, needs to fit within those parameters. “The magazine is important to the community. It gives voice to community writers, to service organizations that submit articles, to what is positive and optimistic, and to a balanced view of local issues. I love being able to introduce community people to our readers. You might be living next door to a writer, an artist, or an inventor. You might never know unless you asked, or read about them in EyesOnBC.” Perhaps most important to Linda, given her own passion for genealogy, is that the magazine is creating an ongoing legacy for people and their own passions. “One of the most amazing continued next page

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things that ever happened to me was discovering that my fifth great-grandfather, Thomas Cowherd, was a writer, a poet and helped Alexander Graham Bell test the first telephones in Brantford, Ontario. He was often quoted in the local newspaper and reading his quotes was like hearing him speak.

We send copies of our magazine to the National Library of Canada each month so that a hundred years from now descendants of local people will read about their ancestors in the pages of EyesOnBC. They’ll be reading their exact words, finding out what they cared about, what made them tick.”

Bert and the Boys wish everyone a prosperous New Year

“Yes. I’ve thought about giving up on the magazine. Giving up the stress and the financial burden. But just when I get serious about giving up, someone comes along and tells me that their grandson brought the article about them to Kindergarten for Show and Tell, or says ‘Thank you, I get all my clients from you.’ It would be hard to walk away.”

So what is next for Linda and for EyesOnBC? Always the search– for capable salespeople, for new writers, new readership, new advertisers–and, of course, always open to that next “good idea.” ~

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JANUARY 2014

LOCAL TIDE

The Regional District of Nanaimo approved recreational expansion plans at Pineridge Farm Market for ten fully-serviced RV sites complete with hook-up for 50/30 amp power, water and sewer. Renamed Pineridge RV and Farm Market to reflect its recent changes, reservations for the RV park are now being accepted for the 2014 season. The Farm Market re-opens for the season on May 10th. Contact Paul Christensen at 250-619-8047 or book online at www.pineridgefarm.ca/booking. Congratulations Paul & Kris!

Catherine Copson of Simply d’Vine is happy to announce her return to Magnolia Court in Bowser, joining Linda Hall at the new Crops ‘n Bobbers hair salon. Catherine is available from Thursday thru Saturday and is also available at the Kingfisher Spa Mondays thru Wednesdays. She looks forward to serving you with her healing hands! Call 250-9548333 for an appointment. Welcome back, Catherine!

Our tide table measurements are taken from the Hornby Island substation. For other tides, visit http://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/english/Canada.shtml on the Internet. Printed courtesy Canadian Hydrographic Service. Times are PDT until November 3, 2013.

Phone: 250-757-8944 Fax: 250-757-8654

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Maybe it is all about trajectory. To get our visiting horse back to the pasture, all I really had to do was change the way he was facing.

If we change the direction we are facing even the slightest bit, it completely changes our destiny. If we can get the horse of our mind, family, government, or species to shift a few degrees, we will end up in a different place.

small shifts & frozen shiriveled apples

by Joanne Sales

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hy are we given so many days in our life? We go to sleep and wake up in the morning, only to find ourselves on the same set we left the night before. In the classic old movie, Groundhog Day, the hero wakes up to the same exact day, over and over, until he gets it right. It’s the “24-hour reincarnation story.”

It’s our story as well - which is why we’ll probably wake up again tomorrow. In order to try again.

There is the possibility that we could wake in the morning to a dramatically different scenario, but we won’t. We change by small shifts.

There’s a very boring online computer game on the market. It’s called Waiting in Line, and that’s what you do. You wait in line.

You hit yourself on the head to keep from falling asleep, and you shift a little from right and left. But that’s it. You don’t know where you’re going, can’t get ahead, and the line never ends. Boring? That’s the point. In the game, small shifts mean nothing. In the real world, small shifts mean everything. Maybe they are all we get. Maybe they are all we need.

There are two young horses vacationing on our farm. Grass is hard to find in winter, so sometimes they break out of the pasture and head towards the blueberry field. They sure wouldn’t mind munching on blueberry buds.

Yum. One cold Saturday afternoon, I saw the big brown young male Tulio duck under the rope and head for the blueberries. I have little experience with horses, but at that moment, it was a big horse and me, with no halter, rope or know-how. What can I do to turn this 700-pound intelligent, self-willed, hungry, emotional creature around? How can I make him decide that he doesn’t want 1 5

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what he thinks he wants? My please pleas fell on deaf ears. Then I realized, horses don’t speak English - they speak apple. I held out a tiny, shriveled, frozen apple, and he turned his head. The next apple got him to turn his body 10 degrees. Then another 10 degrees. Again and then again. For the last apple, he had to walk back to green pastures, where he belonged.

How do we get ourselves and our planet back to green pastures where we belong?

In January, we make New Year’s resolutions, set goals, take on new practices and struggle against old ones – all in the hopes of change for the better. By February, we often give up, thinking we failed.

Why can’t we change dramatically overnight?

Because we’re drug addicts. Every one of us. Chemically addicted. We want more of the brain chemicals that we’re familiar with. Our experiences and thought patterns cause the brain to produce chemicals that we become familiar with and fall in love with. So the brain makes more of the same.

Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenalin are among the hundreds of neurotransmitters that give us “those feelings.” Thanks to these chemicals, we develop addictions to food, routine, winning, intoxication, power, anger, work, sex, infatuation, intrigue, adventure, high speeds, drama, depression, self-pity, solitude, parties, love. We can get addicted to just about anything – bad and good.

Which came first - the experience or the chemical, choice or addiction? Hard to say, but we continue to have choice.

There are lots of horses out of control right now. Some are not only headed towards the blueberries, but are already wrecking the buds and branches. Greed seems unbounded and injustice is everywhere. It sometimes feels hopeless. We need big shifts – and soon.

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Small apples worth of change are important.

We can turn around that thought, attitude or relationship, or add 15 minutes of meditation to a day, a phone call, a smile or a kindness. We can strive to get the wild horse of our own mind under control.

Recently I heard of a Buddhist meditation to develop generosity. You just close your eyes and imagine yourself being generous. What good does it do to imagine handing out warm coats on a frigid day at the homeless shelter, or sharing birthday cake with annoying neighbors? Apparently it softens the rigidity. It opens up possibilities in our prone-to-routine minds. It makes us more likely to actually be generous. It turns the horse a few degrees towards happiness.

There is another obstacle. The goal of the Waiting in Line game is simple – Stay Awake.

You have to hit yourself in the head enough – but not too much – to keep yourself awake.

What is the greater danger to Canada – alQaeda, heroin or Netflix? Probably Netflix.

We can’t afford to let ourselves go to sleep while horses are loose in the blueberries. We must diligently and passionately go after the small shifts – with all the shriveled frozen apples we have available to us.

So our New Year’s visions are important. We may need to remake our resolutions for a day or a moment or a manageable 10-degree turn, or shorten the time frame and the size of the resolutions to make them work. But that’s how it works - small shifts. Eventually, we’ll get this strong willed, intelligent, emotional “collective” (i.e. us) back to the green pastures - where we belong.

Shifts matter. Shift happens. It is happening.

May 2014 be a year of many small but powerful steps towards peace, justice, healing, happiness and abundance for all.

Joanne Sales is a freelance writer and blueberry farmer living in rural Qualicum Beach. Questions about her articles ... email joanne@glasswing.com •

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On Stage at ECHO: BE MY BABY

by Lesley McVey

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et in the early 1960s, ECHO Players’ upcoming production of Be My Baby tells the story of John, an irascible Scotsman and Maud, an uptight English woman. No longer in their “first youth,” the two are brought together when his ward marries her niece. When the younger couple decides to adopt a new-born baby, John and Maud must travel 6,000 miles to California to pick up the child and bring her safely home to Scotland.

The problem is, John and Maud despise each other. To make matters worse, they get stranded in San Francisco for several weeks and are expected to jointly care for the helpless newborn. There they form a new partnership and learn some startling lessons about life and love.

The roles of John and Maud were originally played by well-known actors Hal Holbrook and Dixie Carter. In ECHO Players’ up-coming version, two beloved and highly-regarded thespians take the lead roles – Alistair McVey and Rosalee Sullivan. Rounding out the cast are Maggie Kirk, Cameron Wallace, Anne Jinks, and Shawn Lestage.

Be My Baby is written by popular American playwright and theatre director Ken Ludwig, whose work has been performed in more than 30 countries in over 20 languages. Three of his other comedies have previously been produced locally to great acclaim (and

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Alistair McVey as John and Rosalee Sullivan as Maud

laughter!) - Moon over Buffalo (2001), Lend Me a Tenor (2007), and Leading Ladies (2008). In this wonderful play, he thoughtfully and gleefully examines humour and the human heart.

Be My Baby runs at the Village Theatre, Qualicum Beach, from February 20 to March 9, and the Box Office will re-

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open for ticket sales on February 4. Call 250-752-3522 for further information or check the website at www.echoplayers.ca.

Based at the Village Theatre in Qualicum Beach, ECHO Players is a community theatre society which has served Oceanside and beyond since the 1930s. ~

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continued from page 10 “The Elephant on your Dinner Table; why organic doesn’t always mean nutritious”, Kathleen will demonstrate a simple 12-second test that you can use in your own kitchen to test the nutritional value of your produce, whether purchased or home-grown. If improvements are needed she can test your soil and prepare a custom-blended soil boost kit.

What should you grow? Few things beat the satisfaction of picking a fresh, sun-ripened tomato off the vine. Tomatoes are the the gold standard of gardeners but many people believe that on the coast they can’t be grown successfully outside a greenhouse because of the cooler summers, rain, and acid soil.

Kathy Claxton, who has been a familiar face and helping hand at Arrowsmith Greenhouses for 13 years, will tell you about “The Life and Times of the Tomato; from seed to seed saving”. She’ll give you tips on how to have a successful tomato crop and, when you’ve grown the perfect tomato, how to save the seed from that tomato to grow again next year. Maybe you’d even have enough seed to take to Seedy Saturday’s Seed Swap and trade for other seeds that have proven themselves in this area.

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There are also thousands of seeds to buy and plants that have already been started. Produce, meat and other food items at The Farmer’s Market can help you eat healthier and there are also freshly made, healthy meals and snacks at the Seedy Cafe.

So, learn how to “Grow It” at the Qualicum Beach Seedy Saturday on February 1st at the QB Civic Centre, 10am-3:30pm. For further information go to www.qbseedysaturday.com. ~

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Community Event Calendar January 2014 LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE (LCC) - 240 Lions Way, Qualicum Bay. FMI Hall rentals Call Sheena McCorquodale: (250) 757-9991. FMI on Events at the LCC visit www.communityhall.ca.

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LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE PANCAKE BREAKFAST – Sunday, Jan. 12 , 8am to Noon, Pancake Breakfast, Poultry Swap, Flea Market. Live Music on the Hall stage.

RDN RECREATION PROGRAMS Please pre-register for all programs to avoid program cancellation. Call Chrissie at 250-757-8118, email at cfinnie@ rdn.bc.ca or call Oceanside Place at 250-248-3252 for more information.

ADULT PROGRAMS

GENTLE YOGA - An introduction to Yoga, this class is suitable for all levels, especially those who are just beginning yoga LIGHTHOUSE SENIORS #152 – The Christmas dinner was or prefer a gentle class. No flexibility required! Bowser a huge success, thank you all for coming! Next meeting is Elementary School - Tues 6:00pm-7:15pm. Reg #30915 Feb Jan. 6. FMI Call Shirley at 250-757-2384.

11-Mar 18 $54.60/6. Lighthouse Community Hall – Thurs 9:30-10:45am. Reg #30916 Feb 13-Mar 20 $54.40/6.

LIGHTHOUSE SPINNERS – Bring your Spinning Wheels and fibre and the Lighthouse Spinners at the LCC. INTRO TO CIRCUIT TRAINING - Join BCRPA Certified fitness Tuesdays at 10:30am. FMI Call 250-757-8402. leader, weight training leader, and group fitness leader, Susan Voerman to circuit train! This class is geared to people who CARPET BOWLING – 12:45 to 3:00pm at the LCC. FMI Call are new to fitness and will mix strength, cardiovascular and Layne 250-757-8217. flexibility training. Circuit training is a great way to tone and define muscles while receiving a cardiovascular workout! at AA LIGHTKEEPERS - Fridays at 7:00pm at the LCC. FMI the LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE - Wed 9:30-10:30am Call 250-757-8347. $34/4. Reg #30917 for Jan 22-Feb 12 Program, and Reg BRIDGE – Nordin Room 1:00 to 4:00pm Friday afternoons #30918 for the Feb 19-Mar 12 Program. at the LCC. FMI Call: Sheila Steele 250-757-8307.

QUALICUM BEACH MASONIC SOCIAL CLUB – Jan 11 – LIONS REC HALL – 280 Lions Way, Qualicum Bay. FMI on Monthly meeting, 10:00 am Rotary House, Qualicum Beach.

Hall rentals Call Bert Carter: 250-240-4538.

Sojourning Freemasons are welcome. FMI call Murray (250) 757-8755.

QUALICUM BAY LIONS CLUB – Meet at 7pm, every second and fourth Tuesday in the Lions Den. QUALICUM BEACH GARDEN CLUB MEETING - Jan 14 - 7 pm LIGHTHOUSE FLOOR CURLERS – Monday and Friday, 1 - 3pm, Sept. to May at the Lions’ Rec Hall. Come and join an easy to play mixed group activity for all ages, even into your 80’s, in door on a gym floor. Curling rocks supplied. Join the Club for the season and enjoy “extra events”. Drop-in $2. FMI Call Fred (250) 752-0216 or Al (250) 738-0646.

at the QB Civic Centre speaker: Ellen van Heerden (from Comox Valley) topic: “Dutch Wave” - a naturalistic approach to year round garden design.

THE QUALICUM BEACH FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY - Jan 15 - Regular Monthly Meeting 7pm at the Qualicum Legion with guest speaker Shalema Gantt of the Nanaimo African Heritage Society on “History of African People in B.C.” Guests welcome!

LIGHTHOUSE COUNTRY SCRAPBOOKERS – Meet 3rd Saturday monthly at the Lions’ Rec Hall, 9:30am- 4:30pm. $10. Door prizes. FMI Call Jorgie 250-757-8358 or Shirley 250-757-8384.

QUALICUM BEACH SEEDY SATURDAY – Feb 1 - QBCC 10 am-3:30pm. Speakers: Kathleen Millar, “The Elephant on your Dinner Table; why organic doesn’t always mean nutritious”, Arzeena Hamir, “GMOs 101” and Kathy Claxton, “The Life and LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS GROUP - Needs your help! FMI Call: Times of the Tomato; from seed to seed saving”, 70+ Vendors (ATM on-site), Seed Swap, Farmer’s Market, Master Gardeners, Val Weismiller: 250-757-9667.

Milner Garden’s “Shoots With Roots” Children’s Program, LIGHTHOUSE RECREATION: FMI Call 250-757-8366 or Seedy Cafe, Door Prizes, and Raffle. Garden chemicals drop off. email shipshore@shaw.ca.

Admission by donation. FMI visit www.qbseedysaturday.com.

WINTER PROGRAMS FOR LIGHTHOUSE RECREATION

‘Kitchen Ceilidh’ – February 1 - Doors open at 6pm, dinner at 6:30pm. Enjoy a fun Gaelic social gathering at the RACQUET SPORTS AT THE LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY Lighthouse Community Centre featuring music by Celtic CENTRE - Badminton, mini-tennis, pickleball, and table Chaos and other local talent, dancing, and Irish food. This is an important fund-raising event for the Bowser Seniors tennis, Mondays, starting Sept. 23, 7 pm. Beginners welcome, equipment provided, ages15-80 drop-in fee $4. Housing Society. Tickets $30, available in Bowser at the Georgia Park Store & Salish Sea Market, and in Qualicum FMI Call 250-757-8307 or email steelehunt@shaw.ca. and Parksville at both Mulberry Bush Book Stores. Info: www.bshs.ca ~ 1 8

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From the Desk of the Director BILL VEENHOF Regional Director, Area H billveenhof.com ph: 778-424-2810 bill.veenhof@shaw.ca

Hello to all the Residents of Area H

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s we have come to the close of 2013, it is a good time for me to reflect on the events of the past year and look forward to 2014 and what it might have in store for us. I offer the following as a personal perspective of what has transpired and what will be important to me.

NEW ALTERNATE DIRECTOR - Under the Local Government Act, Area Directors are required to appoint an Alternate Director who serves as a Director in case of absence or incapacity. For the last two years Area H has been ably served and I have been strongly supported by Alternate Director Richard Wahlgren. A few weeks ago, Richard indicated that he wished to pursue other interests and would be resigning his position. I will miss Richard in this position and I am very thankful of his service.

I asked Paul Christensen, and he has consented to serve as our new Alternate Director. Paul owns and operates PineRidge Farm and thus has a strong agricultural background and deep roots with the Spider Lake Community. Welcome aboard Paul!

materials for the cost of recycling. I expect that these costs will be downloaded onto the consumer (you) when you buy “stuff ”.

ROUTE 99 BUS - The Deep Bay Route 99 bus continues to run on Tuesdays and I am very pleased that we have seen our ridership steadily increase. The bus has become integral to the community and people count on it. Both staff and I are very comfortable continuing this service. Additionally, BC Transit agreed that their “Busing Future Plan” will include an assessment on the effectiveness and efficiency of extending the Fanny Bay bus into Area H. BOWSERS SENIOR HOUSING SOCIETY (BSHS) - In 2014, BSHS will push to raise $200,000 (10% of total) which is required to commence the development of a seniors residence in Bowser. This is an exceptionally worthwhile endeavor that promises to transform our ability to “age in place”. Currently two fund raising events are planned with more to follow, see their web site at www.bshs.ca for more information: • ‘Kitchen Ceilidh’, a Gaelic social gathering to be held on February 1st at the Lighthouse Community Centre, will feature music by Celtic Chaos and other local talent, dancing, and Irish food.

• ‘Building Bricks’, help build our seniors housing by purchasing a brick for $1,000 either individually or with a group of supporters.

As a society, they can issue tax receipts and while cash is always appreciated, I expect that the Society would be pleased to entertain donations of non-cash items that can be converted to a monetary CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

2014 BUDGET - You will recall that I tried to constrain the RDN budget to the consumer price index. While we did not get there, I am pleased to report that, for Area H, our 2014 forecast increase is 1.3%, the lowest in the RDN and very close to the CPI. The credit for this belongs to RDN staff and is partially attributable to a new funding formula for the pool and skating rink that sees our tax requisition more reflective of Area H usage rates. That could not have happened without the strong support of Qualicum Beach and Parksville. The budget is not yet finalized and we could see some minor increases based on “in year” requests for additional funding. These are detailed below and your comments are always appreciated: • Oceanside Hospice Society - $60,000 shared across all of D69 • Lighthouse Country Marine Search and Rescue Society - $5,000 shared in Area H only • Oceanside Community Policing - $29,220 shared across all of D69 In addition to the budget, you should see your levy for recycling go down from $34 to $17 in 2014 and subsequently to $0 by 2015. Don’t spend these savings all in one place because the Province has set up an industry-run foundation (MMBC) that will charge the producers of recyclable

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value, (e.g. land, etc). They also appreciate “in kind” donations such as commitment toward future expenditures for materials, labour, etc.

Bowser Sewage Treatment Study - I expect that we will see an announcement shortly that $300,000 of UBCM held Federal Gas Tax funds will be available to conduct a “shovel ready” study for sewage treatment in the Bowser Area. This 2014 study will allow us to compete for Federal Infrastructure Funding that will be announced in 2014.

Secondary Suites - I expect that later in 2014, we will see a Board vote to proceed with formalizing Secondary Suites in the rural areas of the RDN. This will recognize existing suites and the construction of new ones.

ALC Applications - In the new year, there will be a Board Vote that will permit Rural Directors the optional opportunity to comment on ALC applications.

Seaweed Harvest - This has been the subject of considerable community dialogue and I expect that all of you will have some level of understanding of this. In November we held a community meeting on the harvest. Interested community biologists, Ian Birtwell, Ross Peterson and Ramona De Graaf gave outstanding presentations and have my sincere thanks.

MLA Scott Fraser will present the audience’s comments to the Minister. I was very impressed that 134 people joined us for this session. This is a very big turn out for Area H and well illustrates the depth of local concern. However, while we have been steadfast in our requests to have the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) conduct meaningful community dialogue, address the science and social issues, the MoA has stated that it is unwilling to enter into consultation with the community and I don’t see any interest on the part of the MoA to change their position. This year’s harvest will soon be over and I will be focusing on the September 2014 release of the next set of licenses. Both, MLA Fraser and I will remain engaged.

Trails - Recently, I met and hiked with a few of the volunteers who are actively building forest hiking and cycling trails in our area. This is a small-dedicated group of people who are unsung heroes and deserve thanks from all of us.

Due to the risk of litigation, all the advice they have received is that it would not be a good idea to publish a trail map. I agree.

What this means is that the only way we find out about the trails is by word of mouth. I will poke at this in the coming year.

There has to be a way to crack this nut. At present, I am looking at the possibility that the RDN insures these activities. In this case, a small amount of money could have a huge difference in Area H, and perhaps the whole RDN. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate hearing from you.

Everyone I have talked to feels strongly that we should have a safe walking/cycling trail along Gainsberg and Hwy 19A to the CVRD in the north and Area G in the south. As this will take place in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure’s (MoTI) right of way, it is rightfully their issue to deal with. MLA Fraser and I will meet with the Minister in the coming months and I will advocate for a team approach. I already have an individual

who is exceptionally experienced in highway construction who is prepared to volunteer his time. Additionally, Area H will have $400,000 of gas tax funds in the bank by end 2014, and the Federal Government will soon announce significant infrastructure funding.

I am told, we could possibly achieve this trail for +/- $1 million. If we work together across governments we might be able to make it happen. It will not be easy.

Signage - I have been frustrated by my lack of ability to get movement on issues related to signage, particularly as it relates to business and agriculture. This was an issue for me before the last election. I hope to see movement on this on 2014.

Election 2014 - Late in 2014 we will have an election for local politicians. I have not yet decided if I will let my name stand again. ~

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FIRST RATE MASONARY – Over 13 years experience providing first rate, creative workmanship within budget and on time!

Old brick restoration. All stone and tile work. Fireplace facing. Retaining walls and pavers. Chimney construction, cleaning and repairs. FMI Call Jason Buxton (250) 802-5515.

KOMBUCHA - Make Your Own Kombucha Workshops offered in Coombs by Joanne Sales who has been making Kombucha for over 20 years. joanne@glasswing.com, www.islandhealing.ca

DOWN BY THE BAY SPA - Pedicure, Manicure, Waxing, and Reiki. Turn right at the Deep Bay docks. Tues-Fri 10am-4pm.

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4 Weeks of Happy Fit Exercise January 7 to 30 Lighthouse Community Hall

WORSHIP WILDWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH 113 McColl Road, Bowser

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THE FIX-IT SHOP – Repairs to: Lawn Mowers, small engines. Fanny Bay. Call (250) 702-2191.

PICK-UP AND DELIVERY – Tune-ups and repairs to riding lawnmowers and all small engines. Buy and sell used equipment. Call Ron (250) 240-1971 e-mail: ronmorrison100@gmail.com.

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LADIES AUXILIARY VALENTINE’S DAY LUNCHEON Wednesday, February 12 12:00 to 3:00pm at the Bowser Legion #211 For ticket information Call (250) 757-2390

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The Wild Windwards

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The wild side of the Caribbean

by Laura Winter

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he Caribbean – white sand beaches, crystal-clear blue waters and palm trees. But it isn’t always relaxation and sunshine. In the past two years, Laura Winter and Thorsten Boehnke experienced another side of this popular getaway: they sailed between Trinidad and Dominica on their “new” 1984 New Zealand-built sailboat, pointing their bow into winds of up to 50 knots.

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When they weren’t testing the boat, they encountered the wild inhabitants and spectacular nature of the Windward Islands. They got up close and personal with nesting leatherback turtles and curious sperm whales, hiked through mountainous cloud forests, visited a boiling lake and paddled up the Indian River to see hummingbirds.

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Laura and Thorsten are back on Vancouver Island to share their journey in their newest film, “The Wild Windwards.” Join them at a film screening in January 2014 to experience the Caribbean from a different side. Laura and Thorsten will be present at each event to answer questions after the film.

Upcoming screenings:

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Friday, Jan. 17, 7:30pm Sid Williams Theatre, Courtenay

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Sunday, Jan. 26, 2pm Deep Bay Marine Field Station Thursday, Jan. 30 (TENTATIVE) Deep Bay Marine Field Station. Check www.running-downwind.tv for times.

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Plus, if you missed their previous film, “Hitchhiking across the Atlantic,” last year, it will be shown at the Sid Williams Theatre on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7:30pm.

For more information and DVDs, visit the project website at www.running-downwind.tv 105 Islewood Dr. Bowser, BC V0R 1G0

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