May 2014 eyesonbc magazine

May 2014 vol 3 issue 05

Central Vancouver Island Edition

MAGAZINE

Bev Finch: On Tonewood and Blue Silk • 4 Denman Island General Store • 5 Island Smiles in Lighthouse Country • 15

VILLAGE GARAGE Delivering The Same Great Service For Over 23 Years!

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PROMOTE YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS! Preparations for the 2014 Lighthouse Country Fall Fair are underway and we thank those businesses who have supported us in the past.

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Please consider supporting this popular community event again this year by placing an ad in our 2014 EXHIBIT GUIDE or by donating an item for our silent auction.

For more information, contact Lois Curry at 250-757-8088 or Nancy Broslow at 250-757-9266 All ads must be submitted by April 15TH, 2014.

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Local

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MAY 2014 vol 3 No 5

MAGAZINE

EyesOnBC Magazine is published monthly

Showcasing our community since 2004 Main Email: info@eyesonbc.com Phone: 250-757-9914

FEATURES

Mailing Address EyesOnBC Magazine, Box 182, Bowser, BC V0R 1G0 Hours: Mon - Thu 10-4

4 Bev Finch: On Tonewood and Blue Silk 5 Denman Island General Store

FOOD, DINING, ENTERTAINMENT

Our Contributors this month: Georgia Nicols, Joanne Sales, Bill Veenhof, David Morrison, Laura Busheikin, Alistair McVey, Linda Tenney

6 We Eat Here: Our Patio Picks!

17 ECHO Players: North Island Zone Festival

On the Internet www.eyesonbc.com & www.facebook.com/eyesonbc

OUTDOORS & TRAVEL

11 Cut Broom in Bloom 14 Tide Table 15 Island Smiles in Lighthouse Country

COMMUNITY LIFE & BUSINESS

Subcriptions In Canada, from $35 CDN incl GST. Inquire about foreign subscriptions, Call 250-757-9914 to subscribe.

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

8 From the Desk of Area H RDN Director, Bill Veenhof

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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.

16 The Art of Conscious Living: Joanne Sales

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

THE REGULARS 7 1 8/19 21 22-23

Freelance writers & photographers Queries can be directed to Linda Tenney, Publisher at info@eyesonbc.com

In the Stars: Georgia Nicols Horoscope Community Events Classifieds At Your Service - Local Services & Trades

ISSN 2292-356X

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BEV FINCH:

ON TONEWOOD AND BLUE SILK

by David Morrison

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“Women have been taught that, for us, the earth is flat, and that if we venture out, we will fall off the edge.” ~ Andrea Dworkin (1946-2005)

have always harboured great admiration for individuals who buck societal expectations and so-called conformity to follow their own path.

I would include Bev Finch in that group. While woodworking might be an uncommon profession for a woman, it is hardly radical, yet when at an early age Finch recognized she had no desire to toe the line of sugar-and-spice-and-all-things-nice, it caused quite a stir at home.

“We had a course selection sheet in Grade 8 or 9 and I said I wanted to take Industrial Education, which included things like changing a tire, a bit of metalwork – you know, guy things!” she explained.

“I took the course selection home, and my dad said, ‘No, no! You have to take Home Economics and learn how to be a mother and a housewife,’ so I had to wait until I was on my own to start working with wood. I definitely knew very young, when I was a kid, that I enjoyed it - doing that hands-on building of something, taking some wood and turning it into something beautiful.”

And today, that is exactly what Finch is doing. Although she also works for an employer, Finch set up her own company, Blue Silk Tonewood, in 2008, catering to luthiers, principally guitar makers.

“I work for a company in Port Alberni called Acoustic Woods Ltd.,” she said. “What we do is manufacture guitar tops, meaning the actual face of the guitar. We cut the wood into five millimetre slabs, nine inches across and twentytwo inches long, and that’s how we sell it, in sets of two.

Our main woods are spruce and Western Red Cedar; we use Engelmann spruce, from the interior of B.C., and Sitka, which is a coastal spruce, and the Western Red Cedar is sourced here on Vancouver Island. We sell about 450,000 sets globally, every year. Our main market is Asia, but we also sell to South America, and some companies in Europe and North America as well.”

While Acoustic Woods Ltd. supplies in bulk to large, reputable and famous guitar manufacturers around the world, Finch’s own company is more of a boutique concern, supplying to local guitar makers seeking wood of elusive high quality.

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Bev Finch • Mike Jarvis photo

“Blue Silk Tonewood goes under the umbrella of Finch’s Nest Woodworking,” continued Finch. “What I do is buy a top from Acoustic Woods I think is saleable in the retail world, so for the manufacturer that might build only one guitar or ten guitars in a year. They come to me for those tops because I sell the beautiful and unusual. My tops would be more to an artisan standard than a wholesale standard, so I’m not selling guitar tops to people who would build for big box stores, for example!”

Thinking perhaps it alluded to the quality and smoothness of the guitar tops she supplies, I was interested as to the origin of Finch’s company name, therefore delighted to learn that several factors combine to form the brand.

“When I was taking all my pictures for eBay they were with a blue silk background,” Finch said. “It’s visually appealing, but blue of course is also the colour of a first place ribbon, perhaps subliminally indicating that I have access to the best woods… and I genuinely feel that I do have access to the best woods continued on page 10 M A G A Z I N E

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Denman Island General Store

PROMOTIONAL BUSINESS FOCUS

by Laura Busheikin

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he Denman Island General Store is everything you’d expect a rural General Store to be – and that’s a lot of things! On a physical level, it’s a charming 1908 heritage building with a covered porch and false front. In terms of its function – well, it’s a grocery store, gas station, post office, gift store, snack bar, art gallery, liquor store, tourist infocentre, social centre, champion of local foods, and the closest thing the Island has to a bank (it hosts Denman’s only cash dispenser).

It’s a place where islanders meet and share the news of the day, from idle gossip to burning issues. Essential things happen on the way to buy milk: people find work, or find workers to help them out, children set up play dates, tenants find rentals, and news is shared about who’s just had surgery and needs help, who just had a baby, who’s new to the island, and what upcoming events at the community hall shouldn’t be missed.

“Our intention when we bought this place was not just to run a business but to create a sense of community,” says store manager and co-owner Daryl McLoughlin. McLoughlin, who was born and grew up in the Comox Valley, bought the store in July 2010 along with his brother and sister-in-law and two good friends. It didn’t take long for him to find ways to realize his vision.

“I’d been at the store about a week and a local farmer came in and challenged me, ‘So why aren’t you selling local produce?’ I asked him when he could bring some in,” says McLoughlin. This short conversation led to a partnership between the store and the Denman and Hornby Growers and Producers’ Association. The GPA provided a display fridge and put McLoughlin in touch with Denman farmers. The store now sells a surprisingly large variety of local products, from wildcrafted nettles in Spring to juicy figs in late Summer, along with tomatoes, garlic, greens, •

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beans, herbs, potatoes, grow-your-own Shi’itake mushroom kits, berries, meat, dips, and much more.

A number of other recent innovations have boosted the General Store’s function as a gathering place. Soon after taking over the store, McLoughlin moved the Post Office, which used to be accessed from around the back of the building, inside. Then, thanks to a coat of paint and a bit of re-organizing, he created the ‘art wall’ which displays the works of a different local artist each month. As well, the store hosts regular events, such as free product tastings and jazz on the porch.

McLoughlin credits the store’s ongoing success primarily to his great staff.

“We’ve got a great talent pool we can draw on.” The person behind the counter may also be a singer, photographer, visual artist, author or biologist, and all are multi-faceted residents of Denman Island.

Elizabeth Gries, Daryl McLoughlin & Cathy Holden on the steps of the Denman Island General Store • photo Laura Busheikin

SPONSORED

UNION BAY CREDIT UNION SUPPORTING ANOTHER Community Partnership BUSINESS.

“There are great people here. I love seeing how this ceates such a warm feeling in the store,” says McLoughlin. ~

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for your partner as he or she is for you. According to a Chinese proverb, “Married couples who love each other tell each other a thousand things without talking.” (Pssst. This hand signal means “Take out the garbage.”) the perfect picture look like? Always start with perfect Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) - You want to turn and then scale back as reality dictates. It’s something over a new leaf and reorganize your world. Get on the stick and give yourself the right materials to to shoot for. do a great job. This marvelous spring energy will Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) - Lucky Leo! This month, the energize you to not only clean and sort where you Sun slowly crosses the top of your chart, acting like live, but also to apply this same effort to where you a spotlight on you and this light is flattering! Bosses, work. In fact, by extrapolation, you will be gung ho parents, teachers and VIPs will notice you more and to improve your health. Yes, you want it all! Physical, see you as competent and capable. This is why you will smooth running efficiency! Not only will you refine be asked to take on increased responsibilities. Say yes your techniques for staying on top of your scene, you because you won’t have to be an action hero to satisfy will enjoy being of service to others. their expectations. Hey --you look great, remember?

This is also a good time to examine your life direction. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) - It’s fun city! The Taurus (April 20-May 20) - Happy birthday! This placement of the Sun this month makes you want Are you headed where you want to go?. month boosts your energy and gives you a chance to seek out pleasure. This is the perfect time for to recharge your batteries for the rest of the year.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) - Travel opportunities a vacation. Enjoy playful times with children plus It also attracts important people to you as well as and chances to get further education will fall in your sports events. Expect romance to be revved. Existing favourable situations. This is the one time of year lap this month, which is great because you’re keen relationships will be recharged with fun energy, when you should put yourself first. Because you like to explore new, unfamiliar situations. Even a casual while new romance might enter your world. Express your creature comforts and you like quality, treat encounter might be fascinating or prove to be a your creativity and explore the arts or any creative yourself to some of your favourite goodies – the best positive learning experience. Therefore, do anything expression that appeals. (Yup. Show me an optimist, bread, coffee, wine, or your favourite restaurant. different! If you can’t travel, then explore your own and I’ll show you a happy-condriac.)

Creative friends are in your life now, which means city. Do anything that stimulates your intellect and you can enjoy scintillating conversations over a great Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) - Now your attention gives you a new take on things. Some of you will be table. turns to home, family and your domestic world. involved with the law more than usual. (“Step away Some will be involved with a parent; but all of you Gemini (May 21-June 20) - Since your personal year from the fridge.”) will focus more on your personal life. You might is coming to an end, this is the perfect time to reflect Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) - You don’t like to talk about entertain at home and be involved with family, on the past year and think about how you want your money. You like to spend it on clothes and furnishings, or you might want to cocoon at home with junk new year to be different. Studies claim if you set stemware and linens. And restaurants. Nevertheless, food, good TV, interesting books and games. You goals, with deadlines, your odds of achieving those in the next few weeks, you will be focused on debt, want to be among familiar surroundings. Expect goals are greater than if you just muddle forward, taxes and shared property. You want to get out of to be contemplative about the past. You might do reacting to life. It’s like going to the supermarket debt to be more in control of your life. You will also be something that takes you on a trip down memory with a list instead of just wandering through the more aware of how your values differ from someone lane. aisles buying maraschino cherries and tonic water. else’s values and how you can either compromise or Basically, this month is a reality check. It’s time to Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) - The pace of your days reach a consensus. The upside is that your sex life is see how well you are doing at the art of living. hot! Actually, your energy is passionate in everything accelerates in the next six weeks with errands, short trips and schmoozing. You might be involved with Cancer (June 21-July 22) - This is a popular month! you do. a sibling or relative plus you will read and write Not only will you socialize extensively, you will also Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) - This month the Sun is more. Basically, you want to get outta town and do receive help from others. That’s why it’s wise to form opposite your sign, which means you will need more something stimulating! Note: This is a good time to working units and accept the assistance of others, sleep. Factoid. However, this opposition Sun will also buy wardrobe goodies because you like what you see or in turn, offer assistance. The next six weeks are draw your focus to partnerships and close friendships. in the mirror, plus you’re eager to socialize. You are an excellent time to think about future goals. What Examine these relationships. Essentially, for a aware of your daily world because you are interested do you want to achieve in the next five years? If you partnership to be successful, you have to be as good in everything going on around you. ~ imagine yourself five years in the future, what does Aries (March 21-April 19) - It’s time to monitor your assets. Do you know what you own? Do you have stuff you haven’t used in years? What about your “ongoing, projects”? Figure out what you own, what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of. This is the best time of year to examine how you use your resources. The trick is what you own should make your life easier and not the other way around.

Think of the peace of mind and increased energy you will have once you organize your finances and your stuff.

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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

• MoTI will work directly with Betsy Poel to define changes to signage in the local area

AREA H PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, (POSAC)

• Qualicum First Nation equities will need to be respected as this goes forward (areas of archeological interest). Considerations could include:

Hello to all the Residents of Area H, Arlene and I hope that this finds you healthy and happy. Below find an update of a few things I have been working on. In all of this, your comments and questions are encouraged and appreciated.

• Trail on shoulder, or • Separate trail, or • Mix of both • Prioritized development if funding is challenged, • Creative funding thru RDN and MoTI opportunities as well as Federal Infrastructure funding

DISCUSSIONS WITH MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, (MOTI)

REST STOP • Lots of apparent interest to develop a “Rest Stop” at the intersection of Horne Lake Rd and Hwy 19

With the support of Scott Fraser, I recently had two meetings with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, (MoTI). I asked for these meetings so that I could address issues that the community had brought to me. The outcomes of these discussions exceeded all my expectations and I am very pleased with the support of MoTI and the local residents who were involved. Many thanks. Broadly, discussions were as follows:

• It should have washrooms • There should be a tourism information kiosk there. This is the whole point of the effort as it is an opportunity to stop traffic on Hwy 19 and get people to explore our area, both Spider and Horne Lakes as well as Qualicum Bay, Bowser, Deep Bay • There could be funding thru RDN and MoTI opportunities as well as Federal Infrastructure funds

ROAD TRAIL • All agreed that we need to move forward on a trail along the road side (19A) from Deep Bay to Shaw Hill

SIGNAGE • Agreement to proceed on some of the signage issues.

• The next step will be a preliminary engineering study

We are blessed with truly outstanding volunteers on our POSAC. What they do makes a difference for our community and I value their support.

As a result of their efforts, in the coming months the RDN will be putting up signs in twelve selected areas indicating public beach access. The signs should include indications that motor vehicles and fires are prohibited. Additionally, the RDN staff will survey the currently unused Esary Road. Volunteers will open a path along this road from Henry Morgan Park to Bowser.

TRAIL MAPPING Arlene and I spend a great deal of time walking our local trails and I am constantly amazed by the number and quality of what is available to us.

I am continuing to work towards a comprehensive map of trails in our area.

I see this as a tourism and economic development opportunity as well as a benefit for all of us here. In this effort, I think it will be very useful to get this onto the internet. VIU advises that 50% of the people that arrive at their facility, found out about it electronically.

Thus far, the RDN hasn’t seemed to be too willing to take on mapping trails other than their own, and I have concluded that if it is to happen, it CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

CUT THE BLOOMIN’ BROOM

Cut Broom in Bloom - to Ground Level Why Cut Scotch Broom?

Broom is an aggressive, alien invasive plant. It spreads densely, chokes out native plants & stops trees from growing. It’s a fire hazard that overruns farmland, parks & wilderness.

You can help stop the spread!

In May, using loppers, cut the broom in bloom at ground level. Help protect native species & tomorrow’s forests!

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Last year, one of the most popular programs was the Home Energy Assessment which was subsidized by the Province and the RDN. Recently the Province announced it would no longer support this so the RDN has increased its support, but there are fewer opportunities available as a consequence. Other rebates available are; Wood Stove Exchange (not until Oct. 1), Renewable Energy Rebate, Rural Water Quality Stewardship Rebate Program, Rainwater Harvesting Rebate Program, Sustainable Development Checklist, Residential EV Charging Station and Graded Site Cut Timber Program.

needs to be home grown or perhaps part of a tourism association effort.

Any good ideas from you will be most appreciated.

SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT Dr. Nicole Vaugeois from VIU gives a great lecture on sustainable rural development, see http://www2.viu.ca/ tsrd/. For example, through adventure tourism one can encourage young people to move into the area and lower the average age. If I can find funding, I will try to bring in Nicole and I will ensure you are invited.

CHANGES TO LOCAL ELECTIONS

LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE I think we are close to developing a model for steady state funding for the Lighthouse Community Center. This will be very similar to a previous model and will provide “top up funds” for any shortfall that fundraising doesn’t cover. There are a handful of dedicated volunteers that keep this place going and they are making a very big difference.

The way I look at it, I would much rather that these volunteers spend their time delivering programs and events, rather than worrying about fundraising.

RDN GREEN ENERGY REBATES At this link you will find details on rebates available for green energy, http:// www.rdn.bc.ca/cms.asp?wpID=2420.

I am beginning to feel a sense of disquiet from Rural Directors across the Province on the changes coming to the Local Elections Act. Most of it seems cantered around three areas: • LENGTH OF TERM - It is increasing to 4 years. Most feel this is too long, particularly in the second term. Given that our salaries are low enough that most of what we do is essentially volunteer work, it seems a long time to commit to support the community.

• SIGNAGE - Apparently all our election signs will need to display the names and phone numbers of our Campaign and Finance managers. I have yet to meet a Rural Director who has had these and am not sure now if we will need to have them. In any

event, if we do, I will be looking for people with very short last names since this will make the signs cheaper to produce. I am not sure of all of this.

• BUREAUCRACY - The new rules will make it more difficult to run a campaign. Perhaps this is a good idea for Victoria or Vancouver, but in places where campaigns are run on kitchen tables with oversight from the pet cat, it is just onerous.

All this to say, the sense I am getting is that these changes will make it more difficult to attract candidates for rural areas. It is interesting to note that the province seems quite prepared to appoint a Rural Director if no one comes forward.

Finally, I will shortly be making the motion that, “RDN Directors be fully compensated for reasonable day care costs while attending or traveling to or from all meetings necessary in the conduct of their RDN duties”. This one might raise an eyebrow or two but let me explain, (no ... Arlene isn’t pregnant). Given the salary we make, no person who has children can contemplate running for office, without also accepting that they will actually lose money if their children need day care. This has the effect of creating a group of people who are, pragmatically, unable to run for local office. Personally, I think that the Board could do well with a few younger people on it. So, all this to say that, this motion is about the next election and at least knocking down one barrier to young people. ~

The Bowser Elementary School PAC is once again hosting SpringFest, its biggest event of the year. SpringFest showcases the talents of Bowser Elementary’s young performers and artists. Also “on the ticket” is the annual Silent Auction and Spring Picnic. Dozens of great items up for bid that will appeal to all ages! EVERYONE WELCOME. The $5 ticket price includes admission and picnic feast. Be sure to mark Friday, May 23 in your calendars! Doors open at 5 p.m. More details will be available on the Bowser Elementary School Parent Advisory Council Facebook page. For more information contact Nikki Morton at (250) 250-594-7100 or bowserpac@gmail.com. ~ •

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continued from page 4

in North America! Also, ‘silk’ is the term for a feature in tonewood that you only see when a piece of wood is cut really well, so that’s where I got the name from.”

It makes perfect sense, of course, that not only is Finch responsible for contributing to the manufacture of lovely guitars, but she also plays them. A singer-songwriter in the folk-roots mould, Finch is attracting plenty of attention for her original material - so much so that her song The Garden received a nomination for Roots Song of the Year at this year’s Vancouver Island Music Awards (VIMA).

“Receiving that nomination was very humbling and extremely exciting,” said Finch. “Just to be included and counted among such incredible talent is amazing, and it’s taken some really patient and encouraging people to put me in this place. It all started with mom, as she was my # 1 fan; when I’d play a song sitting around a campfire she would tell people, ‘Ssshhh, my daughter is playing!’”

Attending the VIMA 10th Anniversary Gala evening at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Victoria on March 22 was a thrill for Finch. Up against a strong group of nominees in her category, she did not win on this occasion – the top prize going to Judy & Bruce Wing’s Miss Your Exit – but Finch had a wonderful time at the event, gaining a lot of confidence from the experience. With her debut album, Blue Silk, featuring The

Garden, ready for release as we go to press, the nomination and gala could not have come at a better time.

“I took my young son Jordan, who was my date for the evening, and he was positive I was going to win!” chuckles Finch. “He said, ‘I’m going to walk you up to the stage, but which arm do you want me to take?’ The energy there was so good and everyone was so kind and open. That might have something to do with the songwriting aspect; songwriters are open books, and their songs are often about them, and their life experiences. It’s where the best songs come from – things that you know, understand or, of course, don’t understand.”

Finch’s own approach to songwriting started not with the exploration of words and rhymes, but with images. “When I was younger, I used to use pictures, paintings; I used to be able to write a song from everything I gleaned from one painting. Now I depend on my own experiences, because that’s what I know the most, and my influences are mostly classic songwriters, really. First and foremost is John Denver; the very first song I ever learned was Take Me Home Country Roads. That would be followed closely by Gordon Lightfoot’s Pussywillows, Cat-Tails, and I still love Heart – their harmonies and guitar playing are inspirational. As I got older and maybe a little more edgy I got into artists like Melissa Etheridge, then I got into blues, including Canadian greats like Steve Strongman.”

continued on page 12

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by Joanne Sales

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cotch Broom is an invasive alien plant taking over huge areas of the Pacific Northwest. Broom spreads rapidly and densely, choking out native species. A single plant can produce 18,000 seeds that last in the soil 30-50 years. It is a fire hazard and is toxic to animals and the soil. Broom will take over fields, pastures, meadows and farms, and can prevent reforestation. Broom seriously harms forestry, farming, tourism, our ecosystems and our health.

Now’s your chance to get rid of that broom!

Remember. Use loppers – long handled pruners, and cut all the way to the ground or slightly below. Any sprigs left will regrow.

If Broom is cut at ground level while in bloom (May and early June), the drought stressed plants will die in the summer’s dry heat. You do not need to remove the roots. In fact, don’t disturb the soil, as then more seeds may sprout.

Go after the advancing edge and light infestations first. When you see a few plants alone, cut them first. Work towards the denser areas. Stop the spread!

Broom can be taken to the dump, burned, or composted if cut before the seed pods form. MoT will not pick up the broom, so contact Broombusters before cutting to figure out a plan. Let’s stop the Bloomin’ Broom from spreading – together.

Photo by Joanne Sales

CUT THE BLOOMIN’ BROOM

Cut Broom in Bloom - to Ground Level Why Cut Scotch Broom?

Broom is an aggressive, alien invasive plant. It spreads densely, chokes out native plants & stops trees from growing. It’s a fire hazard that overruns farmland, parks & wilderness.

You can help stop the spread!

In May, using loppers, cut the broom in bloom at ground level. Help protect native species & tomorrow’s forests!

250-752-4816 •

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Lots of Broombusting events will be planned this year in Bowser, Horne Lake, and Spider Lake.

We need lots of help! Cutting will continue in Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Errington, Coombs.

Broombusting is fun and community building. For details, check the website: www.broombusters.org. info@broombusters.org Broombusters is a totally volunteer organization. We invite you to join in! ~ Joanne Sales is a freelance writer, blueberry farmer living in rural Qualicum Beach, and Director of Vancouver Island’s Broombusters Invasive Plant Society. Questions about her articles should be directed to joanne@glasswing.com. For information or questions regarding Broombusters Invasive Plant Society ... www.broombusters.org. Ph: 250-752-4816, Email: info@broombusters.org

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Bev Finch - continued from page 10

The production of Blue Silk has been partly funded by Finch’s employer, Acoustic Woods Ltd., a financial leg-up for which she is eternally grateful. When we spoke, Finch was due to go into the studio to put the final tweaks to the last four songs to be completed, after which all that remained was proofing the artwork and ensuring everything concerning the packaging was as it should be.

Produced by the respected veteran music industry professional, Michael Behm, Finch’s debut CD is not only a worthwhile investment for her employer, but the culmination of one dream, just as Blue Silk Tonewood was the realization of another. Regardless of his thoughts back then, I’d wager pop would be proud. ~

TREAT YOUR MOM!

BAR & GRILL

For more information about Bev Finch and Blue Silk Tonewood, please visit www.bluesilktonewood.com and www.bluesilk.ca or email Bev at bluesilktonewood@shaw.ca. For information about Acoustic Woods Ltd., please visit www.acousticwoods.ca.

Mother’s Day Brunch 10am and 2pm

Eggs Benny, carved ham, bacon, sausage, hash browns and assorted desserts.

Coffee, tea & fountain pop included.

95 $

VIU Deep Bay Marine Field Station

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3-course

Foraging for Wild Edibles

Mother’s Day Dinner Starting at 5pm Soup or salad, choice of 3 entrées and dessert.

95 $ Coffee, Tea or fountain pop included.

May 31, 12:30pm - 5:30pm June 28, 11:30am - 4:30pm “On May 31, June 28 and Nov. 22 the Earth and Moon align to give some of the year’s lowest tides, uncovering a variety of edible treasures.

Cost: $95 per person plus tax • RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

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2250 Fowler Road, Qualicum Beach

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED

250-752-9727

Located midway between Qualicum Beach & Bowser off Hwy 19A • Turn onto Boorman Rd and follow the signs

Oysters 101: An Evening of Oyster Fun for Oyster Lovers

Thursday, June 19, 2014 • Time: 7:00pm • Cost: $40 (Advance Tickets Only)

www.eyesonbc.com

Tea by the Sea

Tuesdays in May ... High tea and a delicious menu of sandwiches, pastries and other goodies prepared our chef Tuesday afternoons 11:00am - 2:00pm in April and May • RESERVATIONS REQUIRED Tea by the Sea ($20 per person) Wee Tea ($10 per person) Gluten-free options available. Other dietary restrictions can be accommodated if requested in advance.

For more event information: Tel: 250.740.6411 On the web: www.viu.ca/deepbay/events/calendar

FIRESIDE BOOKS

We would like to thank everyone for their patience, and continued support through this very difficult time as we re-organize the store. Come in for a visit. Have a look through our expanded categories! We are accepting new releases in paperback, and in Trade paperbacks.

Just like Mom’s Fresh Homemade Pies, Sweet Treats, Breads, Jams

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Take & Bake

A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them. ~ Victor Hugo

NEW! Fruit Pies, Cinny Buns, Pizza Dough, Meat Pies

High Quality Used Books

Open 7 Days/Wk • 7am-9:30pm

(250) 248-1234

265 Muschamp Rd, Union Bay

Ice Cream Cones Fruit Smoothies & Coffee

114 Middleton Ave. Parksville www.firesidebooksparksville.com 1 2

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Visit Our Bakers Cottage

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250.335.0239

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Superior Service • Realistic Rates Qualified Technicians

Tue-Sun 9:30-5pm Sat 10-4:30pm • Sun 10-4pm 7581 S. Island Hwy, Fanny Bay Tel&Fax 250-335-1475 www.fannybaytrading.com

• General Repairs • Automatic Transmission • Motor Vehicle Inspection • GM Specialists • All Data Equipped “And Shop Key”

‘LIKE’ US ON FACEBOOK

24 HR Towing

Find out what’s going on in your community ...

What’s New and Cool!

Recommendations and Reviews Food • Art • Music • Events • Travel • Business WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EYESONBC

“Your Local BCAA Tower”

ONE CALL DOES IT ALL

250-752-1662

DESIGNATED INSPECTION FACILITY

20 Hilliers Road, Qualicum Beach

Surgery • Medicine • X-Ray Dental Laboratory • Ultrasound Prescription Pet Foods Flea Products

Weekdays 8am - 5pm

6030 W. Island Hwy. in Qualicum Bay

Doctor On Call 24 Hours •

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250-757-9911

House Calls Available

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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 Sunday, November 2, 2014.

LOCAL TIDE

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

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

Open daily 8am to 8pm

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MAY 2014

by Linda Tenney

S

pring and summer on Vancouver Island evokes wondrous visions of camping, hiking and squiggling your toes in warm beach sand. Look around, Mother Nature is very kind to us here on Vancouver Island and once the rains subside for the season, we enthusiastically take full advantage of all she has to offer.

I’ve been thinking about my childhood in the urban jungle of Toronto, Ontario.

Both my parents worked and I was one of the many typical ‘latch-key’ city kids who rushed home each afternoon in time to answer the scheduled telephone call from a working mother - checking to see if I had arrived home safely. Most of my free-time was spent reading, writing or watching cartoons; adventuring into rural and backwoods landscapes was never an option. It just wasn’t part of our life.

Truth be told, my hands never dug into dirt until I was 20, when I had an opportunity to grow my own garden.

And grow it did! Radishes, green peppers, tomatoes, beans, and an acre of acorn squash that weaved and twisted throughout our yard. I fed the neighbourhood that year!

My family did have a rural retreat when I was very young; a sparkling white and green turn-of-the-century cottage surrounded by towering Maple and Oak trees. My brother landed his first ‘big one’ there; a huge speckled Trout caught right off the end of the dock. It was dinner that night.

I’ll admit, fishing was fun and so was diving for the pennies that my Dad tossed into the lake, but I also recall being

BOWSER • DEEP BAY • QUALICUM BAY HORNE LAKE • SPIDER LAKE

spooked by the haunting mating call of a Moose, and the frenzied sprint-formy-life back to the safety of the cottage.

I hid under the bed for an hour and still have occasional nightmares about that passionate bellow echoing from the deep dark woods. The rural outdoors was a foreign and frightening place for me at that time.

These days I live in Lighthouse Country.

A sprawling piece of ancient forest dotted with tiny villages that spans the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

The mid-Island stretch encompasses the rural communities of Qualicum Bay, Deep Bay and Bowser, where walking and hiking trails wind through lush, green worlds, beaches stretch out to the ocean surf, and Nature whispers its secrets about the Island’s extraordinary places.

Vancouver Island is a detailed landscape of millions of living things, each one inviting us to explore and discover. It’s a place to walk through a quiet forest. A place where you can admire the tiniest of ferns, and stand in awe under the largest of trees. Where your camera can capture common or exotic birds and if you’re really lucky, the wildly elusive Island Marmot.

It’s a place where you can gaze into a single dewdrop fiercely clinging to a leaf and see a reflection of a face. Your face. Glowing with the contented look of someone who has discovered that the details of this wondrous place make you smile. It’s the tiniest and the largest

WAS April 13th

We had...

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Great exhibits A great turnout

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Great community support A successful event!

WE APPRECIATE YOU! THANKS to the LCBA business members who supported this opportunity!

THANKS to the Qualicum Bay Lions Club, the Bowser Elementary School PAC, the Bow Horn Bay Fire Department, the Parksville Qualicum News, the ConeZone and EyesOnBC Magazine and THANKS to the many fabulous volunteers who helped make the event a success!

DID YOU WIN? Unclaimed door prize

#3058416

visit our website for claim information!

www.lighthousecountry.ca details of Vancouver Island that compel you to take a look around and discover even more.

Whatever the time of the year, maybe you’ll find, as I have, that the widest of smiles come from enjoying the smallest of details on this beautiful Island. ~

Linda Tenney leads a busy life as a community publicist, freelance journalist, photographer and publisher of EyesOnBC Magazine.

RV V SIT SITES AVAILABLE A PLANT SALE MAY 17, 10am to 3pm •

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250-619-8047 50-61 619-804 47

FARM MARKET OPEN

www.pineridgefarm.ca

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Idea 3 – Sharing the wealth is the way to keep it. That wisdom is so old that today it is revolutionary and bold and new. The following is a folk tale from Southeast Asia:

HUNTING AND GATHERING FOR THE GLOBAL TRIBE

by Joanne Sales

Idea 1 – It’s the 21st Century, and it appears we’ve “gone mental,” a slang phrase for a bit crazy. Certainly, we’re far less grounded and interactive on the physical plane than our ancestors were, for better or worse. Most of us spend our days staring into small boxes.

We gather invisible friends on Facebook.

Listening to these small boxes, we laugh at invisible things that are floating in space.

Video game anyone?

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ur “tendencies” are great things to know. If we know what we are inclined to do, we can put our tendencies to their highest use.

Recently Barbara Kingsolver solved a riddle for me. Here’s her idea: Humans spent millenniums as huntergatherers. Women did most of the foraging and men did most of the hunting. But now we can’t go out and forage and hunt for edible food, so women have “subverted that fundamental drive of foraging into shopping. And men have subverted the hunting drive into sports.”

We’re plenty smart; but quite often our intelligence is wasted because we just don’t know what to do with ourselves, now that the wild forests have been flattened and the herds all corralled. That doesn’t mean we’ve found heaven and are in leisure mode. The threats to the tribe are still real - although today’s marauding bands are more likely to seek control of our minds than our bodies.

(And they are doing a good job!)

Stereotype alert! Don’t panic. We can drop all reference to gender and still gather useful insights. Why are we humans obsessive-compulsive about shopping and sports? Because it’s in our blood! We’re instinctually driven. Hunting and gathering is what we’ve been doing for millions of years. But as Kingsolver says, sports and shopping are rather “pointless exercises” compared to hunting and gathering real food. In fact, most things we gather on our shopping excursions are a detriment to our survival, not an asset. And they don’t take us any closer to the long-term survival of the tribe.

We need to go foraging in the realm of ideas, to go out hunting and bring the best ideas home, into the physical world, daily, just like our ancestors. Imagine if all that human power currently directed towards shopping, sports (in or out of the box) were directed towards saving the oceans, the forests, vanishing species, and solving the problems of homelessness, political corruption, failure in education, climate change, etc. Fixing the planet would be a cakewalk. Why don’t we do that? Because we have tribe size disorientation.

What a freeing revelation! We don’t shop and go to war just because of how lovely the latest fashions are or how bad the bad guys are. We do it because it’s a millions of years old “habit” we picked up when hunting and gathering were our means of survival. But now our survival rests upon an opposite behavior. How can we harness the same drives and apply them to our current situation on this small planet?

1. We’re now foragers and hunters in the realms of ideas.

2. The tribe is global.

3. The best way to gather is to give away.

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I had a friend back in the early 70s, an alternative priest with the nickname of Captain Frisbee, an old hippie in the most generous of ways. His philosophy was, “When I give $10 to a homeless person, I consider that money in the bank. It will come back to me when I need it.”

Maybe what we will learn is that the best way to gather for long-term well-being is to give things away. It’s a spiritual teaching of every tradition. It’s true on the level of pure energy. We could see that generosity as creating good neighbors – or good karma.

The native people of the Pacific Northwest gave gifts at their yearly Potlatch. The gift must keep moving.

It’s a total reverse of our usual thinking, but since we’ve gone mental, we may be able to handle it. Giving away ideas only makes them stronger. We know that. It’s a manageable stretch now to accept the pivital role of generosity and sharing the wealth.

It’s unlikely that we will stop foraging and hunting. Search we must! But we can do it consciously, and we can shift our focus.

Go mental. Go communal. Go global.

And keep checking in: How many people am I gathering for? And for how many generations? ~

Idea 2 – Our tribe is now global. A network now connects us by invisible and unbreakable bonds. Most of us still think in terms of a tribe of one, a nuclear tribe of 2-20, or a social tribe of a few million or billion people who look like us. But all tribes have been reborn as Siamese twins.

Our tribe now is global and timeless. The most important things we can collect now are for the good of the whole human tribe – a stable climate, fertile fields, vital productive seeds, clean water, healthy forests, liberty and justice and honest democracy.

Three ideas came to mind:

A son wanted to marry. “Father, which of these women shall I marry?” His father told him to give each of the women a fish and to instruct them to make it last as long as possible. One cooked a fish stew and ate it over several days. The second dried the fish, and it lasted for months. The third woman prepared a meal with the fish and shared it with her neighbors, rich and poor. “Marry the third woman,” the father said. “That shared fish will keep coming back to her for years.”

Joanne Sales is a freelance writer, blueberry farmer living in rural Qualicum Beach, and Director of Vancouver Island’s Broombusters Invasive Plant Society. Questions about her articles should be directed to joanne@glasswing.com. For information or questions regarding Broombusters Invasive Plant Society ... www.broombusters.org. Ph: 250-752-4816, Email: info@broombusters.org •

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THEATRE BC’S

by Alistair McVey

F

rom May 17 to 24, 2014, ECHO Players will be hosting Theatre BC’s North Island Zone Drama Festival at the Village Theatre in Qualicum Beach.

The North Island Zone is one of eleven zones, operating under the umbrella of Theatre BC. All Zones are holding festivals during April and May. The Festival is an award festival with the best production from each Zone competing at the Theatre BC Mainstage Festival being presented at Kamloops during the first week in July.

Participants in this zone come from all over the North Island, from Nanaimo, to Port Alberni and from as far away as Powell River and Campbell River. Six of these Community Theatre groups will be competing for awards during Festival week.

Many of them will be spending the week in Qualicum Beach and the surrounding community, and our Festival will attract audiences from all over the North Island.

We are delighted to welcome back Ms. Fran Gebhard as this year’s Adjudicator. Fran is an accomplished actress and director on stage and television. She currently teaches in the Drama Department at the University of Victoria. An experienced adjudicator, Fran has attended many Theatre BC festivals over the years. She will provide a public adjudication following each performance and an in-depth Coffee Critique for the casts and crews the following morning. ~

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ZONE FESTIVAL 2014 The following plays will be presented: May 17 Mrs. Reynolds & the Ruffian ECHO Players, Qualicum Beach

May 22 Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean Portal Players Dramatic Society, Port Alberni

May 18 Torn Rainbow – Sticks and Stones and Names May Break Me Flying Squirrel Productions, Comox

May 23 Over the River and Through the Woods River City Players, Campbell River

May 19 God of Carnage - Nanaimo Theatre Group May 21 On Golden Pond - Courtenay Little Theatre

May 24 Awards Celebration at Thalassa Restaurant Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Course For tickets, call the Village Theatre Box Office at 250-752-3522.

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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Community Event Calendar May 2014 We lend ...

YOU SPEND! Need a loan for your summer renovation project? Wishing you had a new kitchen, updated bathroom, new roof, or perhaps some new landscaping?

Stop into your local branch today to talk to one of our friendly, knowledgeable staff about how we can help you complete your projects this season.

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.

QUALICUM BAY LIONS CLUB – Meet at 7pm, every second and fourth Tuesday in the Lions Den. 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.

MOTHER’S DAY LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE PANCAKE BREAKFAST – May 11 - 8am to Noon, Pancake Breakfast, Poultry Swap, Flea Market. Live Music on the Hall stage. The BES PAC will be serving up breakfast this day.

BOW HORNE BAY COMMUNITY CLUB ANNUAL HANGING BASKET SALE - May 11 - These little Mother’s Day delights are a ‘special something’ for children to give to their Mothers. Where will you find these special items? Lighthouse Community Hall Pancake Breakfast (see above event listing).

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.

BOWSER TENNIS CLUB AGM – MAY 10 Sandbar Cafe. 3:00pm. Public welcome.

FMI Call (250) 757-8307 or email steelehunt@shaw.ca.

LIGHTHOUSE SENIORS #152 – May 5 – Luncheon sandwich. Choice of 2 soups.

Tea or Coffee. Come and enjoy an afternoon of socializing. New Members welcome! FMI Call Joan (250) 757-9536.

LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS GROUP - Needs your help! FMI Call: Val Weismiller: (250) 7579667.

LIGHTHOUSE SPINNERS – Bring LIGHTHOUSE RECREATION: FMI Call (250) your Spinning Wheels and fibre and 757-8366 or email shipshore@shaw.ca. the Lighthouse Spinners at the LCC. Tuesdays at 10:30am. FMI Call (250) 757SPRING PROGRAMS FOR 8402.

LIGHTHOUSE RECREATION 6 PART GARDENING CLASS SERIES CARPET BOWLING – 12:45 to 3:00pm at Taught by Master Gardener, Connie the LCC. FMI Call Layne (250) 757-8217.

Kuramoto. $20 per session. 9:30am to12:30pm in the Hobby Room at the AA LIGHTKEEPERS - Fridays at 7:00pm LCC. Pre-registration is necessary to at the LCC. FMI Call (250) 757-8347. ensure enough materials are available.

FMI Call Phyllis at (250) 757-9363 or email BRIDGE – Nordin Room 1:00 to 4:00pm wandptaylor@shaw.ca.

Friday afternoons at the LCC. FMI Call: Sheila Steele (250) 757-8307.

4 of 6) BUILD YOUR OWN HANGING BASKET – MAY 11 – In this class, you will LIONS REC HALL – 280 Lions Way, learn about the ideal growing conditions, Qualicum Bay. FMI on Hall rentals Call the care and feeding of your basket, Bert Carter: (250) 240-4538.

AND plant one of your very own! Cost of materials is $20 on top of the cost of the class and includes 12” plastic 1 8

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RDN TEAM WATERSMART SPRING WORKSHOPS Please pre-register by calling (888) 828-2069 or email recparks@rdn.bc.ca. For more information, please visit www.teamwatersmart.ca.

• LAWN ALTERNATIVES & XERISCAPING MAY 3 - 10:30am - 12:00 noon. QBCC.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MAY!

BOWSER • BRANCH 211

250-757-9222 • website: www.rcl211.ca • email: rcl211@shaw.ca

• LIVING SOIL, LOVELY GARDEN JUNE 7 - 10:30am – 12:00 noon. Errington War Memorial Hall.

May 1 – Ladies Auxiliary General Meeting May 20 – Branch 211 Executive Meeting May 27 – Branch 211 General Meeting May 29 – Ladies Auxiliary Executive Meeting

Hall Rentals 250-757-9222 • Tue to Fri 9am - 12 noon May 4

Ladies Auxiliary Spring Fling @ 1p.m. - Fashion Show & Tea, cake walk, bake sale & balloon pop + Silent Auction. Advance tickets only Adult $8. Children 6 & under $4. Call 250-757-8282 ‘Social Blunders’ $5 admittance. Performing on stage in concert ~ 8p.m to 11p.m

May 10 May 17

Loonie Twoonie Auction begins. Come in and check out what’s up for grabs all week long!

May 24

Loonie Twoonie Auction ends.

Mixed Pool Tuesdays .............................................................. 4:30 pm Cribbage Wednesdays (ends May 14th) ............................ 7:00 pm Texas Hold’em Thursdays (ends May 15th)................................. 7:00 pm Horseshoes Sundays (starts May 11th).................................. 7:00 pm

Meat Draws - Every Friday at 5:00 p.m. & Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Food available Fridays during meat draw • Closed Sunday & Monday

basket, growing media, plants and fertilizer. Children can participate for free when accompanied by an adult.

5 of 6) PLANNING AND PLANTING YOUR WINTER GARDEN – JUNE 8 – To have a great winter garden, we need to start planning and planting now! Cabbage, kale, celery, chard, broccoli, carrots, beets, parsnips and much more can be enjoyed fresh from your garden nearly all year round.

Participants will go home with some packages of winter vegetable seedlings.

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.

8TH ANNUAL GOLDEN SHOE HUNT - April 11 thru May 16. Join us again to find the Golden Shoe! Clues and instructions for the locations of both the shoe and Geocache will be posted weekly to www.rdn.bc.ca/ recreation and on the RDN Facebook and Twitter pages starting April 11. So get your hiking boots, maps, compasses or GPS ready!

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• EFFICIENT IRRIGATION MAY 31 - 10:30am - 12:00 noon Nanoose Place.

QUALICUM BEACH SENIORS ACTIVITIES CENTRE - “SHOWCASE OF SERVICES FOR SENIORS” - MAY 3 – 10:00 – 3:00 pm. Meet the providers of a wide variety of services available to assist you you in many different ways. Free coffee. FMI Call 250-752-7971 or 250-752-5586, visit qbseniors@shawbiz.ca or email www.qbseniors.ca.

GIANT FLEA MARKET – MAY 2 & 3 – Wembley Mall, Parksville. May 2, 9:00am – 7:00pm. May 3, 9:00am – 4:00pm. Wide variety of items including collectables, linens, hardware, garden, books, jewellery, appliances, sporting goods. Proceeds to go to SPCA. QUALICUM BEACH GARDEN CLUB - “ALL ABOUT THE GARDEN SALE” - MAY 10 - 8:00am to 12:00noon. 701 Larch Drive, Qualicum Beach. Rain or shine! Funds raised go to local education including ‘Shoots with Roots’ at Milner Gardens.

AFTERNOON TEA DANCE - MAY 12 & 26 – Coombs Rodeo Grounds Hall. 2:00 – 5:00pm. $5, Musicians free.

Tea/coffee/goodies available. Old time country music!

QUALICUM BEACH GARDEN CLUB - MAY 13 - 7:00pm QBCC. Special Speaker: Cass Turnbull from Washington State, Topic: “Plant Amnesty” to end the senseless torture and mutilation of trees and shrubs by malpruning.” Entry is $5.00. ALL WELCOME www. qualicumbeachgardenclub.wordpress.com.

LIGHTHOUSE NEWCOMERS - FIRST MEETING - MAY 15 Are you a recent arrival to the Deep Bay, Bowser, Qualicum Bay area? Come and meet other newcomers to learn and share your experiences and wishes. 2:30 pm at the Sandbar Cafe. Please RSVP - Doug or Jo-Anne Harrison (250) 757-2300 or email jharrison06@gmail. com.

EAGLECREST GARDEN CLUB - MAY 22 - Guest Speaker: Des Kennedy of Denman Island. 7:00pm. QBCC. $5.00 for non-members.

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OCEANSIDE GRANDMOTHERS TO GRANDMOTHERS PRESENTS ...

BOTH SIDES OF THE CAMERA

W

hat does it take to succeed in today’s media? Join multiple award-winning sisters, Rosemary and Virginia Thompson for an informative and fun evening as they share their lives and careers on ‘Both Sides of the Camera’.

Rosemary, former Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief for CTV News, worked in front of the camera as a journalist and political correspondent for CBC and CTV in Canada and the US. Virginia works behind the camera as President of Verité Films and as the Executive Producer of hit TV series such as Canada’s # 1 comedy ‘Corner Gas’.

Guest moderator for this special evening is none other than Shelagh Rogers, host of CBC Radio’s ‘ The Next Chapter’.

This fundraiser for the Oceanside Grandmothers to Grandmothers will be held May 15, 2014 from 7-9pm at The Grand Hotel, 4898 Rutherford Rd., Nanaimo. Tickets ($30) are available at The Grand Hotel (Nanaimo), Cranky Dog Music (Parksville) and The Shoe Inn (Qualicum Beach). All proceeds will benefit the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers Campaign. ~ submitted

TREAT YOUR HEARING AIDS TO A FREE DAY AT THE SPA!!!

We will check and clean your hearing aids. Ear molds will get an ultrasonic bath and free tubing, your hearing instrument will get a dry scrub, blow dry and even a new battery if necessary.

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.

When you mention this ad and buy a package of hearing aid batteries you will receive one complimentary package of batteries for your revitalized hearing aid.

(Limit 1 per customer) This offer ends May 31, 2014

Call today for an appointment and let Jon and Barbara pamper your hearing aids!

www.pqbhearing.ca LOCAL FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 10 YEARS

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SERVICES

GROUPS/SOCIETIES/CLUBS

FIRST RATE MASONARY – Over 14 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.

INDOOR STORAGE SPACES FOR RENT – 10’X20’ and 10’x15’. Clean, carpeted, heated. Bowser area. FMI call (250) 7579244.

DOWN BY THE SPA – Re-opening for Spring and Summer! Same great service. Same great location. Manicures, pedicures, massage and more! Please call to book an appointment (519) 932-0322.

THE FIX-IT SHOP – Repairs to all makes and models of lawnmowers and ride on lawn tractors, including John Deere. Pickup and delivery available. Used equipment for sale. Call (250) 702-2191 or email fixitshop009@gmail.com 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.

DON’S HOME REPAIR – Plumbing repairs and installations, complete renovations, no job too small. Call Don at (250) 7578757 or cell (250) 951-8757.

THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF QUESTERS – Next meeting May 26th. For more information call Chris (250) 752-1419.

LEARNING/HEALTHY LIVING 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

NELSON'S MUSIC STUDIO Piano/Theory Lessons Parksville/Qualicum Area Beginners to Advanced Your Home or Ours John/Margaret 250-954-5895

WORSHIP

ISLAND GOSPEL CENTRE “A house of LIGHT in Lighthouse Country” Sundays - 10AM Worship

FOOTCARE – HYGIENE Soaking feet, cutting nails, filing calluses, treating dry skin – fingernails too. Reflexology – 1 hour sessions. Services offered from Nanoose to Royston. Please call Vikki at (250) 757-9244.

Classifieds

90 McColl Road, Bowser, BC (250) 757-8253

WORSHIP WILDWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH 113 McColl Road, Bowser

Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 am 757-8136

Scholarships and Bursaries Available Canadian Federation of University Women PQ invites applications for 2014 Scholarships and Bursaries. Nine scholarships are being offered in School District 69 for female high school graduates, university students and for women wishing to upgrade their education. One memorial scholarship is also available for either a male or female student.

Deadline June 2nd 2014. For details and eligibility, visit our website: scholarship@cfuwpq.ca

Canadian Federation of University Women PQ Scan our QR code for more information about our scholarships and bursaries

RV V SIT SITES AVAILABLE A PLANT SALE MAY 17, 10am to 3pm •

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250-619-8047 50-61 619-804 47

FARM MARKET OPEN

www.pineridgefarm.ca

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interior decorating

Septic Installation

We encourage you to “think local” when looking for products or services

DEJA~VU DECOR CUSTOM DECOR & WINDOW COVERINGS

Call

250-752-8772

Bookkeeping Services Sage Simply Accounting & QuickBooks Free Consulation

250-248-2429 www.hbhorizon.ca

INSTALLATION SERVICE & REPAIRS

Drywall

Heating

PLUMBING • GAS • HEATING

Philip Brown

250-240-4902 • 250-757-8077

Bobcat & Excavator

Land Surveying

surveyor-ark@uniserve.com

Insurance

Custom Renovations

Plumbing

EVENINGS

Picture Framing

Plumbing Gas Heating

Unit 11A, 1009 Allsbrook Rd, Parksville, BC

Yoga

Home Improvement

Bookkeeping

Convenient In Home Appointments

Underhill Trucking Topsoils, Driveway Blue Chip, Fish Compost, All Aggregates (4 yrd loads max.), and Tandem Trailer Moves.

Bobcat & Excavator Service Serving Bowser, Qualicum Beach & Parksville

Call Carey in Bowser

250-757-2089 (H) 250-951-4861 (C)

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RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Roofing

· Re-roofing · Sheet Metal · Shakes · Tile · Repairs · Maintenance

cjsroofing@shaw.ca Justin Molyneaux (250) 240-3472

www.facebook.com/eyesonbc

Chimney Cleaning

Follow EyesOnBC Magazine on Facebook and our website for ...

• Community news and articles • Local events • Special offers from our advertisers • Bi-weekly newsletter • Food reviews and recommendations • Vancouver Island travel and adventure

Electrician

Sani Services

www.eyesonbc.com IRV MUELLER R.O.W.P. Treatment Plant Certified Maintenance Provider Assessments Available

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL ALTERNATE ENERGY

T.J. Farrell

250 • 240 • 7778

Sand - Gravel - Topsoil

tjfarrell@shaw.ca

105 Islewood Dr. Bowser, BC V0R 1G0

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Discover Lighthouse Country!

CHINESE & WESTERN CUISINE * Fully Licensed * Ocean View Dining *

SMORGASBORD

Every Friday to Sunday 5:00 to 8:00pm

(250) 757-8288 Tues to Fri & Sun 12 to 8:30pm Saturday 8am to 8:30pm 5968 W Island Hwy,Qualicum Bay

Deep Bay

Georgia Park Store Liquor Store Agency Post Office Fishing Tackle Lottery Centre Groceries

• Your Neighbourhood Pet food Supper Store • Farm Feed • Garden Supplies • Rental Equipment

250-757-8386 Fax 250-757-8386

HOURS Mon-Fri 7:30am to 9pm Sat & Sun 9am to 9pm

6871 W. Island Highway, Bowser, BC V0R 1G0

TREASURE HUNTERS ALL WANTED! CLOTHING

FREE SCRAP METAL DROP OFF

6881 West Is. Hwy., Bowser

250-757-8815

THE CONE ZONE • 32 Flavours of Ice Cream • Milkshakes & Sundaes • Freezies & Popsicles • Hotdogs & Smokies • Coffees & Hot Chocolate • Cold Drinks & Snacks ... and more SPECTACULAR PANORAMIC OCEAN VIEW

Open 7 Days 9am to 9pm 5970 W Island Hwy, Qualicum Bay

FOR A BEAUTIFUL YOU

778-424-9200 Tue-Fri 9am to 5pm Sat 9am to 3pm In Magnolia Court 113-6996 W. Island Hwy, Bowser