Comox Valley Echo - April 11, 2014

Inviting new and current clients to join us on April 26 10 am to 5pm

Grand Opening Celebration & Open House Mosaic Vision Care (and formerly Courtenay 1-Hr Optical) now has a second convenient location at Crown Isle Shopping Center

Door prizes, refreshments, eyewear promotions

www.mosaicvisioncare.com • 250-338-1665 • 444 Lerwick – Crown Isle Shopping Centre • Open Monday – Saturday

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com Friday April 11, 2014

Price: 57 cents plus GST

Volume 20, No. 29

City backs off funding extra cop after hearing the cost

By Philip Round Echo Staff The cost of recruiting an extra RCMP member to boost policing in Courtenay has proved too much for City Council.

Last summer the municipality agreed in principle to fund its 90 per cent share of another recruit to strengthen the ranks, but now the figures are in, the Council has backed

away from that offer - at least for now.

Comox Town Council has similarly declined to fund an extra officer in 2014 because of the high additional cost and impact on taxpayers - in its case, it would have had to find 70 per cent of the cost.

The problem for the municipalities is that it is not just the wages of the additional RCMP member they have to cover. There are plenty of “add-

on” costs that go with every member of staff under a revised RCMP funding formula over which City and Town Councils have no direct influence.

In Courtenay’s case, it currently pays for 30.4 RCMP members at the Comox Valley Detachment along with its share of all the related costs that go with those positions.

Last year’s total policing bill for those posts was about $5.2 million, of

which the City’s share amounted to more than $4.7 million. The balance came from the federal government.

Most of the City’s allocation was collected directly through local property tax bills, but four of the posts were funded from other sources - two from some of the profits the municipality receives from Chances Gaming Centre, and two from refunds of provincial traffic fine revenue.

But, said Courtenay’s director of

financial services, Tillie Manthey, even without paying for an extra RCMP member the 2014 bill is set to rise by $63,000 under the revised funding formula, due to mainly salary, allowance and pension cost increases.

If the City stuck with the plan to fund its share of another member, the bill would go up by $219,000 - an increase over last year’s costs of 4.64 per cent.

(Continued on page 2)

Soccer pitch dream about to become reality

By Philip Round Echo Staff

Local astrophotographer Les Disher will be photographing the total lunar eclipse that will be visible across Canada, including the Comox Valley, on midnight Monday from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Look up Monday night for celestial event

By Michael Briones Echo Staff A rare celestial event will be gracing our skies this coming Monday night.

A total lunar eclipse will be occurring and will be visible roughly from around 9 p.m. to around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

It’s an opportunity for people who have a sincere passion for stargazing, and for those who’ve never seen this rare event way above the clouds.

You can watch it unfold from any location in the Comox Valley depending on the weather.

“Your backyard will do fine,” said local astrophotographer, Les Disher. “It will be way up in the sky and you will be able to see it right from home. But it will be more spectacular if you’re at a high point place or out on the beach. It would be quite visible as long as the weather cooperates.”

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon,

Earth and sun line up, with the Earth being in the middle. During the eclipse, our planet’s shadow is projected onto the full moon, slowly darkening its surface until it is completely covered.

Disher said capturing the rare celestial event on film is not that difficult.

“As long as you can fit it stationary some place, you can photograph it with a camera,” said Disher, whose hobby is snapping photos of things outside the solar system with a refracted telescope.

“It’s happening at a good time of the night. The moon would be quite visible.”

Disher had no plans to shoot the eclipse but is now considering it if the weather is half decent.

“I am not sure who is going to be looking at it but it would be relatively spectacular to look at it through binoculars,” said Disher. “It would be quite a sight to look at visually. It doesn’t happen that often.”

Eclipses happen periodically because

the plane of the moon’s orbit around the Earth is tilted at about five degrees to the plane of the Earth’s orbit around the sun, said Disher.

During a lunar eclipse, a portion of the bright moon would be subdued in colour as it moves into the umbra of the earth’s shadow. Half of the moon will be bright and a part of it would be more orangey and reddish in colour.

With all the traces of direct sunlight gone, the moon will glow fiery orange for nearly an hour.

This month’s eclipse is only the first of four that will occur over the next year or so. The next visible one will be on October 8, 2014 and again on April 4, 2015. The moon will blush red a fourth time on September. 28, 2015.

The weather forecast for Monday night in the Comox Valley shows clear skies with patches of clouds.

A long-held dream of local soccer players to have an artificial turf pitch on which they can play all year round is about to become a reality.

Contracts worth almost $1 million will soon be signed to get the work underway so the field can be built and available for play by the fall of this year.

The Comox Valley Sports Centre Commission considered contractors’ competitive tenders on Tuesday, and recommended approvals to the regional district board.

The board will meet on April 29 to formally accept them, after which preparation work will quickly get underway on the site below G. P. Vanier Secondary School.

Six contractors submitted bids to undertake the construction work to prepare the site for the pitch, including essential drainage works. Leighton Contracting (2009) Ltd. submitted the lowest price at $562,551 excluding GST. The company, described by the tender assessors as “a local contractor with a good reputation,” has committed to starting work in May and completing its part of the job by August 29. Leighton’s will recruit subcontractors for some elements of the project, including concrete, asphalt and fencing works.

Once the site is prepared, the synthetic turf will be laid along with a shock/drainage pad that will help extend the life of the field and provide an even safer playing surface than originally envisaged. Eight specialist contractors put in bids for those elements of the job, with Richmond-based AstroTurf West Distributors Ltd. coming out top in the assessment process, which considered 11 different options for implementing the project.

The cost of the synthetic turf and its installation will be $319,000 and the additional shock/drainage pad will add another $116,000. Those two items take the total value of the contracts to $997,551, but yet to be added are approximately $100,000 in consultant fees and the costs other items of equipment still to be ordered, such as soccer posts and nets. All the sums come well within the agreed budget of $1,340,000, of which $400,000 has been pledged by Comox United Soccer Club, $850,000 by the City of Courtenay (found from the sale of an existing playing field alongside Lerwick Road for the new hospital development), and the balance from the regional district.

School Board 71 owns the landand is a full partner in the project.

Cumberland mourns the loss of historic King George Hotel

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff You could always find old loggers, coal miners and pool sharks at the ready in the heart of the old King George Hotel if you were to take a gander down Dunsmuir between Second and Third Streets. But this family-run establishment which played a critical role in the history of Cumberland has been forced to shut its doors, leaving plenty of fond memories behind.

“It brings tears to my eyes, it really does,” said Dee Burns, an ex-employee who spent about 15 years of her

life serving and bartending at the watering hole. “It’s the end of an era.”

Last week the province officially shut the bar down and the word spread around town quickly. Officials confirmed the owners owed thousands of dollars in tax, although there is an opportunity for the business to pay that debt in a set amount of time.

The building has been listed with Dale McCartney of Royal LePage for $429,000.

Burns says she will always remember the unique energy of the place that kept Cumberland’s social scene pumping.

“It was iconic,” she said. “It was pretty near and dear to my heart.”

Part of her job was to play pool with older gentlemen who would come in for a drink.

“It was all rough and tumble but so were the other bars at the time,” she said. “You just never knew when something would transpire.”

While the rabblerousing dynamic has been muted somewhat with the changing demographics of the community, many Cumberlanders still feel close to the business.

The hotel opened in 1911, although it was rebuilt after the big Cumberland fire that knocked out half the down-

town area - a fire supposedly started by the late first owner’s widow.

The Brown family purchased the building in 1971, endearing itself to the local community through its support of community functions such as Empire Days throughout the years.

Mayor Leslie Baird says the King George was the place she used to go as part of a softball league.

“We used to go there every night after a ball game and sit and drink,” she said, tipping her hat to the Browns. “They were wonderful.”

Baird remembers the many sandwiches and other items that were offered to the pipe bands during

Empire Days festivities.

“The pipe bands were always welcome there,” she said. “They actually fed them during the day.”

In recent years the Brown’s daughter, Julie Gibson, has operated the business, although it is no longer a hotel that rents rooms.

In an interview with the Echo, owner Gibson explained she didn’t want to comment on the possibility of reopening, noting options are still being discussed.

“It’s a sad thing,” she said of the closure.

“That’s where I grew up.”

A2 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

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Comox Valley Weather

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Friday, 11 April Sunny.

High 13°C.

Saturday, 12 April Sunny.

Low 5°C. High 14°C.

Sunday, 13 April Sunny.

Low 4°C. High 14°C.

Monday, 14 April Sunny.

Low 4°C. High 17°C.

Tuesday, 15 April Sunny.

Low 5°C. High 17°C.

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For the latest Comox Valley Weather visit: www.comoxvalleyecho.com

Concerns raised over future of train service to Courtenay

City backs 18 new patio homes at Crown Isle

By Philip Round Echo Staff

By Philip Round Echo Staff

If there is any doubt that a restored passenger train service might not serve Courtenay on a regular basis, Comox Valley Regional District ought not to release its share of the money to help restore the line.

That’s the view of Courtenay Coun. Jon Ambler, who is also vicechair of the regional district board and who supported last year’s onetime tax levy that raised $392,000 from Valley property owners towards essential bridge and structure repairs.

That money has not yet been released for the work, as it was part of a package agreed with five other regional districts through which the tracks pass on their way to Victoria.

All agreed to contribute to the restoration fund on condition a legal agreement guaranteed the return of passenger services.

While the line’s owners, the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF), says a tentative deal has been reached with VIA Rail and Southern Rail for the return of passenger services, nothing has yet been signed and rumours persist that any restoration might not benefit Courtenay as much as the southern section of the line.

Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula represents the Comox Valley Regional District on the board on the ICF and has consistently expressed optimism that an agreement will be secured.

But at Monday’s City Council meeting he was challenged to say whether the proposed restoration of services would be at very least to the level they used to operate - that is, a minimum of one train daily in and out of Courtenay.

Plans for 18 new patio homes adjacent to the Ryan Road entrance to Crown Isle were granted a development permit by Courtenay City Council on Monday.

The project, by Monterra Builders Ltd., will see nine pairs of single-storey duplexes with garages clustered around a new cul-de-sac accessed off Bristol Way. It will be marketed to potential buyers as The Grove, and will feature several ‘age in place’ features intended to appeal to mature buyers, such as level entryways, wider doors, and provision for future safety bars to be installed in bathrooms.

To be built in three phases, six homes at a time, the development will be in what was the heavily treed area between Crown Isle Drive and phase two of the Crown Isle shopping centre, on which work has just begun.

The original intention was that more of the large trees on the residential site would be retained, but City planning staff said many had been removed following an arborist’s assessment suggested some trees were in poor health, and most of those intended to remain would be subject to wind throw - that is, in danger of being blown down in a storm.

Councillor Doug Hillian recalled that a similar scenario had unfolded at the Ryan/Lerwick corner when phase one of the Crown Isle shopping centre was being built. There the intent to retain many mature trees, followed by the action to cut every one of them down, had led to “significant community reaction.”

Monterra has promised to replace the lost trees with intensive landscaping, including a berm (embankment) on the Ryan Road side planted with native species.

Staff said it was proposed to plant almost 200 new trees of different sizes in the development - a move welcomed by Hillian even though he recognized it would take them a long time to mature.

Councillor Jon Ambler said people were always concerned when trees were removed, but the Comox Valley Regional Growth Strategy called for a concentration of development in municipalities, in part to offer more protection to treed rural areas.

So the community couldn’t win if it tried to back both positions. He supported the Monterra plan and the landscaping proposed, which includes the retention of some traditional species still growing on the site.

For Monterra - which has already completed other similar developments at Crown Isle - Garry Renkema advised Council in a letter the project location and high-quality design would be a great fit for the area, with the homes just a short walk of new stores and facilities. He added: “This project is sure to be a success.” pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

Jangula said he was limited in what he could say as the negotiations were ‘in camera,’ but he stressed the tentative agreement actually involved the provision of two train sets rather than one, and they would be based in Nanaimo rather than Victoria.

That would offer opportunities for better services than previously existed, with an early train from Nanaimo southbound and a separate train travelling north to Courtenay before heading south itself.

But council wanted to be sure Jangula was talking about a daily service to and from Courtenay from the start, and not just a future hope of better services.

In answer to Coun. Ronna-Rae Leonard, the mayor said there was “no plan not to have a service” to Courtenay, although he could not say for sure it would be daily from the start of restoration.

Southern Railway, which would be responsible for running the trains provided by VIA Rail, would need to work out what service it could provide in the early stages, and the detail hadn’t yet been determined, he added.

To begin with it might be only a limited service, perhaps at weekends only, but he remained optimistic it would get better as ridership increased.

But Ambler was far from happy with that scenario. He had supported the CVRD budget move to raise almost $400,000 for the bridge and trestle repairs currently held in reserves pending an agreement, but if there was any doubt about passenger services not being restored to Courtenay he would not support releasing any of that money.

He wanted to be absolutely clear he was not interested in using local money simply to subsidize the southern section of the line; every regional district along the route had been asked to contribute to the repairs so all needed to have access to restored services.

No decisions were taken, as the issue of whether the funds in reserve should be released for repairs will be one for the regional district board to decide.

But the following day, Ambler raised the same concerns at a regional district committee of the whole meeting. That committee voted unanimously to ask Jangula - as its representative on the ICF - to appear before it to provide a clear update.

“We want the straight goods from our representative,” said Ambler. “We need to have a straight story.” pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

Courtenay backs off on hiring police officer (Continued from page 1) Of that increase, the one extra RCMP staff member and related costs accounted for $156,000 of the new total.

And as policing is a major heading in the City’s overall

budget, that hike would inevitably have a noticeable impact on this year’s property tax rate.

She further warned the province has not yet confirmed whether it will continue the program of refunding a share of traffic fines in the future, so that

put a question mark over how the two RCMP members already funded from that source would be financed in the future.

Councillors agreed that for the time being they could not commit to another RCMP member of staff, but would look at the

whole staffing picture again at a later date, after the new RCMP Officer in Charge of the Detachment has taken up post and after the province has given clear direction on traffic fine refunds for the longer term.

FERRY SCHEDULE For the most up-to-date schedule info check www.bcferries.com

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Leave Tsawwassen 5:15 am1 7:45 am2 10:15 am 12:45 pm

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Leave Powell River 8:10 am 12:00 pm

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014 A3

News

Norm Potvin (left) of St. John Ambulance Training thanks Comox Valley Foundation representative Fred Bates (right) for a grant that has enabled the purchase a casualty simulation kit - complete with realistic looking limbs and wounds. St. John

will use the kit in training cadets in first aid and also for its upcoming competition on Saturday, May 3, when ‘casualty’ scenarios will challenge contestants’ first aid skills.

Decision on permits for cable ferry terminal delayed

By Philip Round Echo Staff Construction work for the proposed cable ferry to Denman Island is set to start just two months from now.

But on Monday rural directors on Comox Valley Regional District put off a decision on whether to grant an environmentally sensitive areas development permit and waive another specific OCP permit requirement that together would allow the Buckley Bay

terminal improvements to move forward.

They delayed voting on the issues for a month to be sure the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans reaches final agreement with BC Ferries over compensation for any loss of fisheries.

It is understood there is agreement in principle and discussions are at a very advanced stage on the detail.

But with plenty of local residents opposed to the cable ferry project,

CVRD directors are not eager to rush into agreeing any permits before the key player with ultimate jurisdiction over the water - the DFO - has signed off on the project.

Rural Area A director Bruce Jolliffe, who represents residents on both sides of the Sound, said there could easily be misunderstandings among local people of what the regional district was being asked to do.

So the committee agreed it should wait for firm news from the DFO, and

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Beaufort Avenue Upgrade – Nordin Street to Comox Avenue Beginning April 21 thru to June 27, 2014 construction crews will be upgrading sewer mains, roads, and sidewalks along Beaufort Avenue; mainly between Nordin Street and Comox Avenue. Non local motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to use alternate routes around the construction zone to avoid delays. Local residents and service providers will experience single lane alternating traffic between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 pm, and may experience delays from time to time. Emergency services will maintain unrestricted access thru the site, at all times.

works would be contained within the existing water lot boundaries, but there would still be some marginal loss of fish habitat.

An specialist assessment carried out for BC Ferries suggested there would be a “low to negligible” ecological impact from the project, he added, which meant the DFO was content to pursue compensation arrangements rather than blocking the proposal.

Area C director Edwin Grieve referred to the lack of support on Denman Island for the new style of ferry, and asked if it was true that whoever was in command of a cable ferry did not need the same credentials as someone in charge of a traditional vessel. Adams confirmed that was the case.

Although the necessary permits for the terminal works have not yet all been granted, BC Ferries has already announced two contracts have been awarded totaling $15.2 million for the construction of the berths and pontoons at both Buckley Bay and Denman West.

Adams said the current intention was to start construction on June 15 to take advantage of a DFO ‘window of opportunity’ for work in the water that runs until late summer, with all the terminal facilities in place by the end of November. The cable ferry is expected to commence service on the route in the summer of 2015.

BC Ferries has pledged the construction program will not impact the scheduled operation of the current ferry between Buckley Bay and Denman Island. pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

if that is positive, the regional district will have little option but to endorse the permits that have been requested.

Staff had already recommended that there should be a ‘safety clause’ in any decision taken on Monday. They suggested the permits and amendments could be agreed but not legally signed off and handed over until the DFO confirmed it was happy. But rural directors preferred to wait.

Details of the physical changes proposed at Buckley Bay were outlined at the meeting by BC Ferries’ agent James Adams.

He explained the three cables across Baynes Sound would all be anchored on land and for most of their length would lie on or just above the seabed.

The drive mechanism would still come from the ferry itself, not through a land-based winching system.

The cables would have a lifespan of about three years, if - as planned - they are rotated every year with, for example, one of the side guide cables becoming the drive cable.

Changes were needed at Buckley Bay to slightly widen the breakwater that carries the approach lanes to the ferry on the Courtenay side, and the extra width would allow the creation of two departure lanes for traffic coming off the ferry from Denman Island, so speeding turnaround times.

In addition, because of the direct nature of the ferry, a new ramp needed to be provided going straight out from the end of the breakwater, although Adams noted there was no plan to remove the existing loading ramp and berth on the left hand side.

Planner Brian Chow said all the

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A4 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

News

City scrapping blue box collection fee - at least for this year

By Philip Round Echo Staff Homeowners in Courtenay will stop paying for the curbside pickup of their blue boxes when Materials Management BC takes over running the recycling service on May 19.

City Council agreed this week the incentive money the municipality expects to receive from MMBC should be used to cover the current annual $17.35 recycling charge levied on each single-family home and currently included in overall garbage utility bills “Accordingly, the City’s garbage user fee for 2014 should be reduced to reflect the recovery of these costs from the MMBC program,” advised chief administrative officer David Allen.

As MMBC’s service will not start until four-and-a-half months into the calendar year, the 2014 charge will not drop by the full $17.35. But

every affected household will get a $10.79 credit to cover the remaining period from May 19-December 31.

A similar credit will apply to multifamily developments like apartments, condos and townhouses in the city, where larger toters are used for recycling.

By far the biggest part of the gar-

bage user fee, covering general weekly trash pickup and disposal along with yard waste collections, will remain as previously agreed. That means the revised total annual bill for 2014 will be just over $152 for a single-family home, and not the $163 originally agreed by Council.

Whether the blue box credit will be applied in 2015 and beyond will be decided once the City has had experience of how the MMBC program works in practice.

As there are penalties to the contract - especially if too many “contaminants” are included in recycling - as well as incentives, it has yet to be seen how much net gain City Hall will enjoy.

At the same meeting, Council received a letter from the publisher of the Comox Valley Record, Zena Williams, urging the City to reconsider its participation in the MMBC scheme, and calling on the Premier to delay its wider introduction in BC.

She said the direct cost of the program to BC newspapers under all ownerships would be approximately $10 million a year, and that would be a huge additional burden for what was already a “challenged” industry.

“Even without the imposition of millions of dollars in recycling fees, we have had to close newspapers and reduce editorial staff,” she wrote.

“If we are forced to pay millions in fees, every newspaper in the province would be impacted. Some would close, others would merge, and all would have to reduce coverage. This is bad for the province and for local communities and businesses.”

She suggested BC “is the only jurisdiction in the world where newspapers are facing these onerous fees - all other jurisdictions have recognized the unique position of newspapers.

“These regulations are about packaging. We are not a package but a product.”

In response, MMBC insisted news-

papers were not required to join MMBC; they were effectively seeking a subsidy from other industries that had to participate in the stewardship program; and their advertising campaign against MMBC and the implementation of the program was a tactic to scare the government and confuse the public.

Courtenay councillors simply noted the letter and the MMBC response, with Mayor Larry Jangula suggesting the newspaper industry was really in dispute with the province about the policy and its wider implementation, and the City was not really a party to that dispute.

Councillor Jon Ambler commented that as elected officials it was their duty first and foremost to look after the interests of citizens.

“The promise of this program is that more things will be recycled for less money from taxpayers,” he said.

“I’m optimistic that our citizens will welcome this.”

BC Hydro: Puntledge River Paddle Festival a ‘go’ Managing water has been a challenge for BC Hydro this season.

Luckily for paddlers, the provincial Crown corporation has now confirmed that there is enough water to hold the annual Puntledge River Paddle Festival in May. “In February, BC Hydro and the Vancouver Island Whitewater Paddling Society (VIWPS) were thinking about canceling the annual May kayak event because of the dry winter conditions and the very low snow pack,” said BC Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson. “However, conditions have changed enough in the past two months for BC Hydro to confirm with VIWPS that the kayak event can proceed.”

Things have been so tough BC Hydro has held its local 24 megawatt generating station to between 20 and 40 per cent of capacity since October in order to conserve water to protect

downstream fish habitat. But with runoff increasing the electrical utility was able to jump to full-on power production at the beginning of April.

“Going into May and June, even in drier years like this one, this is a period of water abundance,” Watson explained. “The limited reservoir storage capacity of the Comox Lake Reservoir is expected to fill, potentially spilling over the dam from the snow melt.”

The past month saw above average water inflows into the Puntledge River system, and the moderate storms also increased the snow pack on upstream mountains.

The March water inflow into Comox Lake Reservoir was just above normal, and this has not only helped with short-term water level issues but also improved water supply optimism into the future.

That being said, it’s still below average.

“Water inflows from a series of moderate storms in March increased the Comox Lake Reservoir level to about normal for this time of year,” said Steve Watson, spokesperson for BC

Hydro. “Looking at the forecast for the week ahead, it looks to be fairly dry with warming temperatures.”

The Comox Lake Reservoir is currently at about 134 metres, approximately a full metre higher than this time last month. To put that in perspective, the 135.3 metre level is considered full.

The snow pack is now 60 per cent of normal - up from 52 per cent last month, according to the Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin for the month of April issued by the BC government.

“The snow pack at a nearby watershed is now around 65 per cent of normal, with it typically peaking in early May before the freshet or melting process begins,” he said.

And now VIWPS and the fisheries ministry are working together to make sure the yearly release of water that makes for great competitive whitewater kayaking conditions will also help promote the growth of the salmon population, too.

“VIWPS and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are coordinating the event timing so the Puntledge

River Hatchery’s chinook salmon smolt release can take place at the same time,” Watson said. “The higher river flows enhance the success rate of the out-migrating fish reaching the ocean.”

While things are looking okay for now, bigger hurdles may arise further down the metaphorical waterway.

“Ultimately, the challenge will be to maintain various water use interests in the system from July through September,” he said. “The lower than normal snow pack may be depleted by early summer.”

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014 A5

The Comox Valley Farmers Market IS NOW OUTDOORS m a 9 for the 2014 season at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds noon!

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News

Reviews lift lid on positives and negatives at CVEDS

By Philip Round Echo Staff On the one hand, Comox Valley Economic Development Society is a very active organization pursuing many avenues to help develop the local economy, and has proved itself to be a valuable and relatively cost-effective asset to the community.

But on the other, it needs to do much more to improve communications with almost everyone to ensure greater transparency and accountability, work on rebuilding its relationships with local organizations - particularly those in the business community, and seek more income from sources other than local taxes.

Those are the views of independent consultants brought in by Comox Valley Regional District to conduct twin reviews of the work of CVEDS, which receives around $1 million every year from local taxpayers to underpin its work.

Reporting back to the regional district’s committee of the whole on Tuesday, Urbanics Consultants pulled no punches on both the positives and negatives they had found in their detailed studies, which included many interviews in and out of the Valley.

They stressed a lot of good work was being done, and while CVEDS might well be meeting the demands specifically placed on it by the current service agreement, “it might not be meeting them in a way that is entirely satisfactory to significant sections of the community.”

They make 31 recommendations for potential improvements, many of them relating to improved governance and communications to local governments, business, the media and the wider public.

“While these suggestions would benefit any community, the complex political landscape found in the Comox Valley makes them all the more necessary,” state the consul-

Vancouver Island Visitor Centre drew praise and complaints tants.

“Economic development is hard regional economic development is harder.

“The central challenge is in providing regional value in a realm of local expectations. Communication of the value brought is essential for longterm acceptance.

“As we have seen in other communities, public support can be very fickle, so CVEDS must address these matters forthwith if it expects to be entrusted with delivering the economic development service function in the long run.”

In carrying out the review, the consultants compared CVEDS to similar organizations and services elsewhere in BC, particularly in terms of the costs incurred. The task was not easy, they concluded, as no two bodies were the same.

But they homed in on four broadly comparable operations - in the Cowichan Valley, Chilliwack, Vernon and Prince George.

Working out a fair comparison of budgets was extremely difficult, but total spending on economic development activities (including tourism) per person in each of the five areas ranged from $7.45 in the Cowichan Valley to $37.20 in Prince George, with CVEDS falling in the middle at $25.54 But because some economic devel-

opment organizations raised more money to fund their spending from sources other than local government, when it came to the amount local taxpayers contributed towards budgets, CVEDS was much closer to the most expensive at $16.35 per person, with Prince George highest at $18.78 and Vernon lowest at $6.41.

While encouraging CVEDS to draw in more income from external sources, the consultants suggested it should consider boosting its own staffing by one full-time equivalent person to help improve services, particularly in relation to communications.

From the interviews, they noted “a very common perception that CVEDS ignores whom they ‘do not like,’” and better and more timely communication might well change some of that negativity.

“Historically,” they added, “the approach from CVEDS leadership was to ‘have a thick skin’ and simply not respond to criticisms made, assuming that responding would only exacerbate the situation. We disagree.

“Not engaging ...further fuels the common perception that there is not enough transparency in how CVEDS operates.”

While heaping praise on the new Vancouver Island Visitor Centre and its visitor numbers, the consultants said the chief complaint they heard was that it was too expensive to advertise there and if local businesses were to be supported some cheaper option, such as $50 for brochure racking, was needed.

On the wider economic development front, there also needed to be more positive partnerships formed or restored with other complementary organizations in the business community, like the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Associations and Community Futures.

The chair of the regional district board, Edwin Grieve, commented after the presentation: “The service delivery and the service function reviews were useful processes, in that they identified a number of things that are working well with local governments and other like-minded business organizations, as well as identifying some areas that can work better.

“For example, the review identified

that CVEDS is delivering a valuable service for the Comox Valley, but that we need to see improved transparency, public consultation and communication to keep residents informed on activities, and that the local governments must continually work with CVEDS to define and agree upon their respective roles and expectations.”

And Ian Whitehead, president of the CVEDS board of directors, added: “The CVEDS service review clearly reinforces the importance of regional economic development in the Comox Valley. Several of the report recommendations are complementary to specific areas of the updated Comox Valley Regional Economic Development Strategic Plan and the society’s detailed 2014 work plan,.

“The service review process was a most worthwhile undertaking, highlighting service delivery areas in which we have clearly succeeded, and noting specific areas for improvement in our service delivery. We intend to continue to enhance our focus on communication with, and outreach to, the regional community, ensuring our services are drawn upon by a broad spectrum of local businesses and industries.”

The full reports from Urbanics Consultants can be found on the CVRD website at www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/ecdev pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

No extension of life for Housing Task Force There will be no extension to the life of the Comox Valley Housing Task Force.

The regional district’s committee of the whole agreed on Tuesday the agreed closure date would remain as originally intended - June 30 - despite a suggestion from Area B director Jim Gillis to extend it until October 31.

The regional district will, however, consider as soon as next month whether some form of replacement organiza-

tion is appropriate. In the meantime, the regional district will request the return of the balance of funds allocated to the Task Force but not yet spent, amounting to $18,181. At the suggestion of chief administrative officer Debra Oakman, the committee agreed to write to the Task Force thanking them for their dedication and volunteer efforts in addressing affordable housing and homelessness initiatives.

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Information in this advertisement is believed to be accurate at the time of printing. For more information on our 5-year warranty coverage, visit kia.ca or call us at 1-877-542-2886. Kia is a trademark of Kia Motors Corporation.

A6 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

News Date set for new and increased charges at region’s landfills

Part of Fitzgerald Avenue where the new pavement markings will be painted.

DELAYED FITZGERALD LINE PAINTING ABOUT TO START After being postponed over the winter, the Fitzgerald Avenue road improvement project is ready to roll now the weather is better.

The project includes bicycle lanes on both sides of Fitzgerald, new signage, marked on-street parking areas, and improved sightlines at junctions between 8th and 21st Streets.

The project will involve several steps. The contractor has been marking out the layout on the pavement this week, but the real work starts next week when the old lines are removed. Once that task is complete, they will begin painting the new lines.

While the City hopes the project will be completed by the end of next week, it is dependent on having a period of good weather. If it rains, the project could be postponed until the following week.

Residents are asked not to drive over the freshly-paint-

ed markings until they are dry. The contractor will be using traffic cones to mark the fresh paint, and removing the cones once the lines are dry enough to drive across.

Temporary ‘no parking’ signs will be installed along Fitzgerald for the duration of the project. Traffic control personnel will be on hand to assist all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.

The City is applying for project funding through the Province of B.C.’s Cycling Infrastructure Partnership Program, as well as through ICBC’s Road Safety Department towards the costs of the work.

For more information, contact the City of Courtenay Engineering Division at 250-334-4441 or email engineering@courtenay.ca

New and increased fees for waste disposal at landfills in both Cumberland and Campbell River have been agreed by the Comox Strathcona Waste Management board and will come in to effect on July 1.

As previously reported in the Echo, the higher fees are part of a budget package to boost income to pay for both short and long term investment and operational costs required to handle the volume of waste and satisfy environmental compliance regulations.

Among the changes is the introduction of a new ‘site access fee’ of $4 for almost all vehicles passing over the scale at each landfill, on top of a $6 charge for up to 100 kgs of waste being carried.

The current charge is a flat $4 for up to 60 kgs, with no site access fee, so the minimum total charge will now become $10 - although more weight than previously allowed will be accepted. Higher charges will apply based on weights greater than 100 kgs.

The new $4 site access fee will not, however, apply to residents simply dropping off recyclables, including glass, scrap metal, or product stewardship items, or for customers picking up SkyRocket compost. However, users will be charged the access fee when dropping off household hazardous waste, grass and leaves.

“We’re really encouraging residents

to maximize their trip to the waste management centres,” claimed Tom Boatman, Comox Valley Regional District’s senior manager of waste management services. “Rather than taking 60 kilograms of garbage to the landfill for the current $4 rate, think about making one trip to the centre to dispose more per load - up to 100 kilograms. Residents can still take their recyclables to the depot at the landfill free of charge.”

To review a complete fee schedule including comparisons with current charges visit www.cswm.ca/fees

NO OBJECTORS TO L’ARCHE PROJECT No objections were voiced at a public hearing Monday to consider proposed zoning and official community plan amendments that, if approved, would allow L’Arche Comox Valley to build a residential and community activity centre on land at 1465 Grieve Avenue in Courtenay.

City Hall has received two written representations about the potential impact of extra traffic and on-street parking, particularly in relation to the use of communal rooms at the centre, but no one spoke against the proposals at the formal hearing. Council is likely to decide whether to move the bylaw amendments forward towards final approval next Monday.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014 A7

News Growing the Island Organic Food Economy The Comox Valley Organic Collective is an organization of local, certified organic farmers and producers. We are hosting our first public event.

This is an invitation for anyone with an interest in producing and sourcing local, organic food products to come and meet us and find out more information.

Presentations include: · Gloria Chang, an executive director of the Canadian Organic Association of B.C. will be introducing a new project that has been developed for the organic sector. · Andrea Lawseth from AEL Agroecological Consulting will give an overview of the organic sector and the basics of how it operates. · Comox Valley Organic Collective will give an overview of the reason for its’ formation.

We will talk about achievements to date and what we are hoping to do in our community moving forward.

Date: Thursday, April 17 Time: 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Location: Vancouver Island Visitors Centre, 3607 Small Rd. Courtenay Our mission “To support and encourage organic farming, agriculture and consumer education on Vancouver Island.”

For more information contact: Barbara Odegard - eatmorebarbara@gmail.com Carmen Wakeling - eatmorecarmen@gmail.com

Photo taken by Major John Lalonde, friend of Kathleen Kenna, while serving in Afghanistan in 2003. In this photo, posing with our troops, are sports celebrities Dave “Tiger” Williams, Kirk McLean (former Vancouver Canucks) and Cassie Campbell (former Captain of Women’s Team Canada hockey team), visiting the troops as part of OPERATION Hockey Heroes.

Reading from ‘Our Longest War’ On Saturday, April 12th at 3 p.m. at the Courtenay Branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library, there will be a free public reading from The Toronto Star’s new e-book, Our Longest War. Eleven of The Toronto Star’s best writers, and Kathleen Kenna, former Washington & South Asia bureau chief, wrote 12 chapters about Canada’s 12 years in Afghanistan.

Kathleen Kenna will be introduced

by Rob Morrow, her brother and a veteran, who served in the Canadian Army for 20 years on four continents.

Kathleen will read excerpts from the book. This is part of Kathleen and Hadi’s promise to dedicate their lives to helping troops wounded at

war, in her words: “Canadian veterans of all generations need our help.”

A Question-and-Answer session after the reading will be open to suggestions about what each Canadian can do to show more support to veterans.

You can Download “Our Longest War” for $2.99 at: http://starstore.ca/products/ourlongest-war Kathleen Kenna is one of the few international journalists to survive an alleged al-Qaeda attack. On March 4, 2002, a group of men hurled a homemade bomb (IED: improvised explosive device) into a vehicle with her photographer-interpreter husband, Hadi Dadashian; Star photographer Bernard Weil (pron: While);

and an Afghan driver.

Kathleen was almost killed when the bomb exploded beneath her. Her life was saved, first by her husband and the driver, then by other journalists, including Kathy Gannon, the AP special correspondent wounded in a brutal attack last week in Afghanistan. (That shooting killed the friend sitting beside her, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Anja Niedringhaus.)

Kathleen and Hadi were rescued

by U.S. Special Forces, who helped them to safety and, for Kathleen, life-saving surgery at four U.S. military bases in five countries — Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Germany.

The Toronto Star then flew her

home for more surgery at Vancouver General Hospital. She almost died again during a trauma-induced heart attack in the spring of 2002 at that hospital.

Still, Kathleen is a survivor and vowed she would walk again within one year of the Afghanistan attack.

Her recovery was filled with hope.

Hadi wheeled her around Stanley Park in a wheelchair; then she graduated to a walker and a cane. They kayaked before she could walk without help again. One of her rescuers, Special Forces Air Force Colonel Mike Wright brought his wife to Fanny Bay to meet Kathleen’s family, and reunite with Hadi.

Kathleen was walking without a cane by the first anniversary of the attack, in March, 2003. She won national and international awards for her humanitarian coverage of the Afghanistan war.

She had one more surgery in 2003, and went to the United States in 2004 to recover at the University of California, Berkeley. There, as an international scholar at the Graduate School of Journalism, and a fellow at Berkeley’s Canadian Studies department, Kathleen decided to leave her life’s passion, journalism and study for a new career that would help “pay it forward” for all the courageous men and women who risked their lives to save hers.

She graduated from San Francisco State University in 2008 with a Masters of Science in rehabilitation counseling.

Since then, she has worked in four states with people of diverse disabilities. She works today in Washington state with “wounded warriors” and new veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hadi and Kathleen promised to dedicate their lives to helping troops wounded at war, and Kathleen has become a specialist on the so-called “invisible wounds” of combat — Traumatic Brain Injury, Post Traumatic Stress, and soul wounds.

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PROPOSED STRUCTURE: The proposed installation is a 62.0 metre selfͲsupport structure with wireless telecommunications antennas.

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LOCATION OF PROPOSED STRUCTURE: The proposed site will be located within the Comox Valley Regional District on the parcel legally described as Lot 9, Block 2, Section 5, Township 6, Comox District, Plan 1818 ANY PERSON may provide comments to the individuals listed below with respect to this matter by May 6, 2014.

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A8 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

Gardening and selling many of these new ‘Winter Jewel’ series.

‘Amber Gem’ is a double apricot dream with its pale green center, yellow hues and Peach edging. ‘Berry Swirl’ forms clusters of double blooms in pink and purple shades. The exquisite ‘Rose Quartz’ looks dramatic with double pure white petals and delicate pink picotee edging. Gorgeous. On the darker side is ‘Onyx Odyssey’ sporting purple and black flowers which don’t fade to green.

‘Rose Quartz’ has delicate pink picotee edging

WONDERFUL NEW HELLEBORES

By Ellen Presley/Anderton Nursery Even though we have been having some dark and gloomy days outside, our greenhouses have been filled with an abundance of Spring Color.

The vibrant colors of the Tulips, Daffodils, Camellias and Fritillaries, mixed with the heady fragrance of the Hyacinths and Skimmias has made this season outstanding. One of the highlights this year is the new Hellebores. Often referred to as The Christmas or Lenten Rose, not because of its relationship to the rose but rather the time in which it blooms, this plant can make the dreariest day seem bright.

These hardy plants are frost resistant and their leathery, serrated evergreen leaves form a dark green mound that showcases the most amazing blooms. Of the many varieties, the Hellebore orientalis is the most popular and like the snow drop is the welcome harbinger of Spring.

Hybridising the Hellebore orientalis with several other closely related species and subspecies has vastly improved and expanded both the color range and shape of the flowers.

Now’s the time to get those home projects started

By Steve Nixon With the warmer weather and longer days, now is the perfect time to embark on some home projects before the weather gets so pretty that you just want to play and enjoy your island life.

According to a recent survey more than 60 percent of Canadians plan to do some type of renovation project this year.

If you are among that group, you are likely giving consideration to the type of project and your budget.

Depending upon how long you plan to stay in your home, you are also thinking about the return on investment, in addition to your own personal goals.

Front doors and thermal windows should top your list.

You’ll not only save on hydro, but you can make a style statement with a door that can actually increase the value of your home and its curb appeal.

Kitchens and bath renovations continue to yield a 75-100 percent ROI, according to the Appraisal Institute of Canada.

And, a coat of fresh paint and new window treatments can give new life for a modest investment of time and money to a room that is just ho-hum.

You may also want to think about your indoor living and entries in terms of accessibility if you are planning to stay in your home well into senior years.

A growing number of people are modifying their homes for “aging in place”-modifications to improve safety and accessibility. These modifications can be as simple as sliding shelves in cabinets and anti-slip strips on steps to construction of a wheelchair ramp or taller toilets.

Think about your landscaping and outdoor living space, as well.

Since we live in a place that just compels us to spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer months, give thought to your patio and/or deck —an extension of your home for your own personal getaway space or entertaining.

With regard to the products you may want to use for that space, think about how long you will likely be in your home. Experts say that if you are going to be in your home more than 20 years, go with pavers, concrete, or synthetic wood decking, so they will last. If you’re selling your home in 10 years or less, then a traditional wood deck could be just fine for you, and save you money.

Don’t forget your lawn either, with now being the time to lime and fertilize. BC-produced MicroClover seed can give you a green lawn all year long, including our very dry months here on the island.

For your plants, think about a greenhouse. Greenhouses, if well constructed and attractive, can be a bonus to a prospective buyer and very handy for you. In this climate, with our short post-frost growing season, a greenhouse gives you a jump on growing and fertilizing, so you can enjoy big blooms and fresh produce earlier than your neighbors.

Steve Nixon is owner of Black Creek Farm & Feed, which is a TimberMart/ IRLY Building Centre, with a full-service lumberyard and hardware department. www.

BlackCreekFarmAndFeed.com.

The Royal Hertiage series is a beautiful hybrid strain that produces a wide range of sumptuous colors from the white, light pink and pale green, to deeper shades of red or to a deep purple almost black flower. This variety is grown from seed and in 2005 was chosen as Perennial plant of the year, not only for its beauty but because it is hardy, deer and rabbit resistant and very easy to maintain. It is a taller variety at 30 inches and spread of 18”.

The Hellebore Golden Collection is propagated vegetatively, not from seed. The HGC guarantees variety identity and uniformity and must pass stringent criteria over the years to insure the best of their species.

Two fine examples are ‘Plantinum Rose’ with its bright rose buds which open to creamy flowers that later fade to dusty rose and ‘Champion’ which has large creamy white flowers. This sturdy variety is more compact at 8-12” tall and spreads to 8 inches Although Hellebores have always been reliable plants for the shade or woodland garden, it wasn’t until recently that there have been dramatic changes. Thanks to Marietta O’Byrne in Oregon, Hellebores have become a whole lot more interesting.

By selecting and hand-pollinating the best specimens from around the world, she has created some of the most sensational fully double Hellebores in an amazing range of colors. We are excited to be growing

‘Sparkling Diamond’ has fully double snow white blooms with an apple green center and ‘Cotton Candy’ has double soft pink fluffy flowers. All of them are spectacular and stay compact.

Plant care: Hellebores are perfect for naturalizing in the woodland garden, preferring partial to full shade and good drainage. Water well to establish a good root system, add some compost and after that will need very little care.

Choose your site carefully to give it a

permanent home, as it does not like to be moved. Remove any dead leaves to keep it tidy. It has a long bloom time of 6 or more weeks and can be used as a cut flower. You can also use it as a border flower or in containers.

These lovely new varieties are on display now at our Nursery. They are even more beautiful up close and personal amid all the wonderful displays.

Time to chase away the grey of Winter and celebrate the start of Spring.

Happy Gardening.

Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014 A9

COME WISH GARY A HAPPY RETIREMENT! After 40 years of service with Central Builders, Gary Rawlings has decided to start a new chapter in his life.

We wish to congratulate him on his retirement and hope you do too!

April A Ap p i 11th 11 1th h iis h his i last asst st d day, ay so o ccome e do d down o tto oC Ce Central e t Bu B Builders ui d b between ett e 1 pm and 4pm, have a piece of cake, and wish him well.

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A10 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 201410

News

Aboriginal history celebrated as high school looks to future

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Students, teachers, administrators and guests crowded the Mark R. Isfeld front lobby as 12-year-old Jessie Everson performed a Hoylikala - the chief’s peace dance - with sincerity in traditional regalia. Although the feathers fluttering out of his hand and onto the floor were from chickens and not eagles, the significance of the April 4 blessing of the new school pillars was just as strong, representing the culmination of two years of student efforts to celebrate the community’s aboriginal roots.

K’ómoks First Nation member Randy Frank had carved four vertical panels, representing school success pillars of Citizenship, Academics, Athletics and the Arts, and the process was facilitated by an AEC Cultural Grant. But it was Mark R. Isfeld students themselves who brought the project to fruition.

“I am impressed and very pleased,” principal Jeff Taylor said. “We did not run out of steam when it was needed most.”

When he saw the results of two years of hard work Taylor was thrilled.

“I had the opportunity to see it at spring break,” he said. “I knew it was going to be a powerful moment in the life of our school.”

Andy Everson joined his younger brother, beating a hand drum as part of the blessing.

He said he was happy to help a local school delve into the wealth of history forged by aboriginal people on this land.

“It’s all part of the process,” he said. “I think it needs to be done.”

A 2004 Frank carving featuring a Komodo bear overlooking the Queneesh Glacier has already been hanging above the lobby.

Jessie Everson, who is a Grade 6 student at Aspen Park Elementary School just down the road, said it was different to dance in front of

Jessie Everson, 12, performs a Hoylikala - the chief’s peace dance - during a ceremony unveiling four carved “pillars” at Mark R. Isfeld April 4. people he didn’t know, instead of like usual at the longhouse or with his friends.

“It was pretty cool,” he said. “It has a different feel to it because you don’t really know anyone at the school.”

Christopher Mattila, a Grade 10 student at Isfeld has been working on the pillar project for the past two years.

“It was right when I got here,” he said, explaining he had been involved in painting the panels. “We made them just look better.”

The biggest reward he said was that the project allowed him to understand his own Tahltan background better.

“It meant a lot,” he said. “I’m aboriginal too. I get to share this stuff with my school.”

It’s nice to be able to delve into aboriginal culture with the school looking on, he added.

“We’re just sharing knowledge and facts about our heritage,” he said. “We take pride in our culture.”

Stirling Shears, a Grade 12 student, echoed his sentiment.

“It’s more of me allowing my heritage to be presented to everyone,” he said. “A lot of people are confused about what actual First Nations do.”

Jenna Everson, Andy’s niece who is in Grade 10 at Isfeld, was recently voted vice chief on the aboriginal student council.

“This has been a huge project for a couple years now,” she said, adding she hopes it will bring more attention to the council, since they are tucked away in a little office. “We made this all happen, which is really cool.”

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014 A11

News

Local BC Conservatives off to elect new leader

By Philip Round Echo Staff More than 100 members of the BC Conservative party in the Comox Valley are getting the chance to vote for a new party leader this weekend.

Many have already cast a ballot for one of the two candidates - Dan Books of Vanderhoof and Rick Peterson of Vancouver - while others are travelling to Richmond for the Leadership Convention tomorrow (Saturday).

Because the local party has more than 100 paid-up members, it gets a full say in the choice of a new leader.

Under the special voting system being used, every riding with 100 or more members gets an identical number of votes at the convention, to be cast to the same proportions as the way their local ballots go.

The idea is that urban and rural ridings all get an equal say in the choice of leader, however many members they have enrolled - as long as they passed the 100 threshold by the pre-convention deadline.

Candidate Dan Brooks visited the Comox Valley twice during his campaign to rally support, but Rick Peterson did not appear locally, although had announced he intended to do so.

At the last provincial election in May, BC Conservatives came fourth both in the Comox Valley and in their overall provincial vote, where they scored less than 5% under former leader John Cummins.

But party activists locally believe they now have time to build a much stronger local and provincial organization under a new leader for next time, pointing out that at the federal level in BC, those of a Conservative sympathy have won many BC seats and secured as much as 45 per cent of overall provincial votes

SENIOR CVRD MANAGER MOVES ON After five years with Comox Valley Regional District, Kevin Lorette - the authority’s general manager of property services - is moving on. Lorette, whose responsibilities have included all development, planning and infrastructure issues, will take up a new post with Capital Regional District in Victoria on Monday, where he will be its general manager of planning and protective services. This week, the CVRD’s committee of the whole wished him every success in his new role and literally applauded his work and achievements in the Comox Valley.

Valley getting $84,000 in carbon tax refunds The four local governments in the Comox Valley are to share a refund of more than $84,000 in provincial carbon taxes previously paid based on their fuel and energy use.

The payback from the BC government is in appreciation of the efforts the various authorities have already made to cut greenhouse gas emissions after signing on to the province’s Climate Action Charter, and are provided as an incentive to take further steps.

The biggest beneficiary is Comox Valley Regional District, which receives a refund of $50,087, followed by the City of Courtenay on $22,169, the Town of Comox with $7,843, and finally the Village of Cumberland receives $4,256.

The fuel use by the regional district is the most significant not especially because of fleet vehicles, but primarily because of consumption at the major sports and aquatic centres - for example the huge amounts of gas used to keep the water warm in swimming pools.

Comox Valley MLA Don McRae commented: “I’m a big supporter of local government sustainability initiatives. This money will help our municipalities to work towards a greener future.”

POLICE BLOTTER Comox Valley RCMP responded to the following incidents between April 1 and 7: On April 1st police were called to a report of a motor vehicle collision that happened at the intersection of Dunsmuir Avenue and 2nd street in Cumberland at 4:53 P.M. A pedestrian was struck by a slow moving vehicle while the pedestrian was crossing the street. This investigation is continuing. (2014 3661) A report of a mischief to a vehicle, that was parked at the owner’s residence on the 1900 block of Dogwood drive in Comox, was called into police on April 1st.

The owner stated that sometime over the night someone had slashed two tires on their vehicle.

(2014 - 3677) Police attended to a report of an attempted theft of a vehicle, on April 1st that had occurred on the parking lot at 757 Ryan Road in Courtenay. The investigation revealed that someone had entered the vehicle and had tried to start the vehicle by pushing a screwdriver into the ignition. (2014 3679) On April 2nd police received a report of a theft of a black and red Honda XL 500 motorcycle from a residence on Salisbury road in Courtenay. (2014 - 3690) The Comox Valley RCMP received a report of a stolen motor vehicle on March 21st. The owner reports having the car parked on the lot at 6th street by Central Builders and when leaving work found that it was gone. On April 3rd police attended a residence on the 2100 block of the Comox Logging road, on an unrelated matter and located the stolen vehicle.

The vehicle was recovered and returned to its owner. (2014-3762) On April 3rd police received a report of a mischief to a residence on the 1700 block of Urquhart Avenue in Courtenay. The home

renter reports that unknown persons drove by in a vehicle and fired a paintball gun at his home.

The paintballs struck the siding and caused holes. (2014-3759) A theft of a 2000 Honda XR650R motorcycle was reported to police on April 3rd. The owner reports that the bike was parked in his driveway, on the 400 block of Willmar Avenue in Courtenay, when it was taken. (2014-3753) On April 5th the Comox Valley RCMP were called to a suspected indecent act at a business on the 2000 block of Comox Avenue in Comox. Through investigation it was found that a male was perpetrating an indecent act while having a hair treatment. The man was arrested and is now facing Criminal Code charges and will be appearing in court on a later date.

(2014-3828) During the early morning hours of April 5th police responded to a report of a break and enter at the Highland Secondary school on Pritchard road in Comox. After smashing their way into the school they smashed the glass in several display cases and several windows and doors. (2014-3813) On April 7th a report of a break, enter and theft was received from a business owner located on the 5400 block of Island highway North. Unknown culprits entered through an unlocked door and stole approximately $5000. This investigation is continuing. (20143899) If you have any information on one of these crimes or any other crime, you can call the Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321 or if you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or you can text: cvcstips to crime.

WANTED If you have any information about the whereabouts of either of these two people, call the Comox Valley RCMP Detachment at 338-1321, or Comox Valley Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477). You don’t have to give your name and you could be eligible for a cash reward.

Justin William HEDICAN

Dalton Shawn COLE

DOB: 1981-06-18 173 cms, 73 kgs, Brown hair, Blue eyes Warrants: Evading police Dangerous driving Comox Valley file # 20142562

DOB: 1975-01-05 168 cms, 64 kgs, Brown hair, Brown eyes Warrant: Break, enter and commit Comox Valley file # 2013 10835

www.comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca

Comox Recreation COME PLAY WITH US!

OurPharmacy Pharmacy Colleagues Colleagues ToToOur Acrossthe the Street, Street, Across neighbours.

neighbours. relationship with you when it comes to patient care exchanging collegial advice, or relationship withmeds, you when it comes to professional patient care referrals. exchanging meds, collegial advice, or professional You will be missed, and we wish you well as you go referrals. your separate ways next week.

You will be missed, and we wish you well as you go your separate ways next Best wishes, fromweek.

The Pharmacists & Technicians Best wishes, from of

The Pharmacists & Technicians of

1530 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay 1530 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay

to the North Island to the North Island

Supplier & Sponsor to the Supplier & Sponsor to the CV CV Supplier & Sponsor toCare-A-Van the CV Care-A-Van Pharmacy Pharmacy Pharmacy

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Comox Community Centre COME PLAY WITH US! 1855 Noel Ave, Comox info@comox.ca 250-339-2255 www.comox.ca

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A12 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

Opinions ECHO

THE COMOX VALLEY ECHO Publisher Dave MacDonald Editor Debra Martin Advertising Manager Keith Currie Office Administrator Deb Fowler Circulation Manager Hedi MacDonald Production Manager Ryan Getz Phone 250-334-4722 Fax 250-334-3172 Classifieds 250- 334-4215 Circulation 250-334-4734 E-mail: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com

An independently owned and operated newspaper published by Echo Publications at 407-D Fifth Street, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 1J7 All material herein is protected by copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part is not permitted without written authorization from the publisher.

Canadian Publications Mail Agreement Number #0661538

Letters

Turn rail to trail Who would want BC Ferries on land?!

Sure a passenger train sounds like a great idea until you ask yourself and elected officials these key questions: Will it be affordable? Who would be utilizing train services? Will schedule be convenient? Would visitors transportation budget be nil after arriving by ferry? Is there an understanding the railway would have to be utilized by freight trains as well as passenger to be feasible?

Do you want coal trains to be running through your town, city or backyard? What will happen to my property value?

The only sustainable option for this corridor in my opinion is a clean, affordable, easy to maintain, paved multi-use, non-motorized, trail running from Victoria to Courtenay and possibly beyond.

A trail would open many doors to a wider tourism market and provide residents with a safe corridor to travel freely. This trail would attract cyclists, hikers, equestrians’, geocachers, athletes, and families from around the world. Other potential revenues could stem from marathons, triathlons, races, and other athletic events. New business potentials will arise across Vancouver Island along corridor such as bike and bike trailer rentals, GPS rentals for geocaching, campgrounds, hostels, and the list goes on. All businesses would see increased revenue. The trail is accessible from by airports, BC Ferries, and all municipalities. This trail would put Vancouver Island on the world eco-tourism map and invite the world to explore beautiful British Columbia and Vancouver Island in a unique way.

Megan Olsen Parksville

HELP PEOPLE TO VOTE The Unfair Elections Act is designed to reduce voter fraud through vouching, which has not been proven to be a problem. At the same time, it weakens the ability of Elections Canada to investigate fraud at the political party level, such as robocalls, which have been proven to be a problem.

Raising campaign donation limits is a step in the wrong direction. It opens politicians up to more undemocratic influences than,sadly, already exist.

I hope that all concerned citizens are prepared to inform and help the young, seniors, First Nations, and new Canadians with having the needed identity documents and with being registered to vote.

I would hope that just knowing that Harper’s administration doesn’t want them to vote is motivation enough to make these groups want to vote.

Kathy Duperron Cumberland

Letters to the Editor

Where is this new technology?

Your article about the successful “Olympicsized Companies” that will be now will be entering the next phase of planning our new community hospital was an interesting read.

However, it raised a few questions for me.

It was interesting to note that Balfour Beatty (a UK company) was recently involved in a situation “that caused two profit warnings and that a prominent division was completely reorganized after a review revealed poor project management.”

Since they are “shouldering 70% of the equity”, what strategy is in place should they fail?

The other part of the article that made my eyes fly open wide were Mayor Jangula’s comments that: “Ultimately it will mean better care close at hand for residents, which will alleviate some of the necessity for long journeys to Victoria” and “You’re going to get newer technology, newer facilities,” [he said] “There will be more specialists and less need to leave the Comox Valley.”

I am asking Mr. Jangula (respectfully) to

actually state which new technology and specialists will be coming to the new community hospital saving us long trips outside the Comox Valley.

Where Is he getting this? Is there a plan to have a cardiac catheter lab in this new hospital? Actual funds to provide for a neurosurgeon or his specialized equipment?

The Mayor’s statements have no merit as we will not be funded as a regional hospital and so it will be virtually impossible to attract any young, specialists in oncology(cancer), neurology, or cardiovascular surgery.

The adage “if you build it, they will come” only works in the movies. No matter how impressive the builders are.

Barbara Mellin, R.N. Comox

IT STILL DOESN’T ADD UP Mr. Ruttan replied to my letter in the papers by telling you that the water you don’t use but paid for from October through

March is not being stolen from you.

That is definitely an opinion not shared by many of us. I spoke to him shortly after his rebuttal to my letter, and he tried to tell me that the rates reflected the cost of the service not the amount of water used.

This definitely is not the way it is. To reiterate, if you use more than 15 cubic metres of water in any given month you will pay for that extra water at a higher rate. The fact that they separated the 2 months where you would normally use more water on to 2 different bills does not change what i said.

The simple fact is if you don’t use it you lose it ;and if you need more than your alloted amount you will pay for it at a higher rate.

Just bill us once a year for 180 cubic metres of water and adjust the difference at the end of the year. The metres show who abuses the water, use the technology to work for us, not against us R. McCulloch Area B

More Beefs and Bouquets BOUQUETS to Denman Island trust for questioning the continuing aquaculture pressure on Baynes Sound. A prudent decision to step aside from land claims issues. Meanwhile, will the South Sewer project clean up Baynes sound?

Has anyone studied the impact of the growing Geoduck Hatchery and historic dairy farm on the contamination issue near the mouth of the Trent River? Everyone wants to clean up the Trent, but is Cumberland the problem? More studies would be prudent, before investing $41.5 million.

I MUST SAY, the Crown Isle shopping centre had the potential to become a unique shopping area ... a quaint pub, specialty gift shops and restaurants ... considering there will be a new hospital nearby, the addition of yet another Tim Hortons could be considered tolerable but seriously, a dollar store, McDonalds, and an oil change place? Honestly, I believe no thought was given when deciding what should fill this plaza. Where is the diversity and originality? We don’t need any more of these businesses in the valley! I am thoroughly disappointed. More fast food and cheap unenvironmental products made in China available in an otherwise small town that already has enough of these things. BOO! A BIG BIG BEEF to the young lady in the newer model white VW bug heading east on 26th street about 3:30 Saturday March 29th. It was a rainy day & I was walking with my daughter with my big huge black & yellow umbrella, we were at the cross walk at Piercy & 26th & the truck coming in the opposite direction had stopped to let us cross so we proceeded but you, who had plenty of time to stop, didn’t.

You were actually looking down at your lap when you just about hit us so I can only assume you were texting at the time & didn’t even see us. Life is too short so please stop texting & driving, nothing is so important that you can’t wait until you’re parked.

BOUQUETS to 2 fine ladies, front counter employees of Canada Post. They are under fire right now but these 2 went above and beyond to help me with a Postal problem, yes anther postal problem. Have some compassion for the front line workers, Canada Post policies are not their fault but they are the ones we see and complain to. I receieved great advice and help from one at Home Hardware and one at London Drugs. You ladies rock. Thank you.

BOUQUETS - I finally found a retail store with great customer service. Jason at Bartle and

Gibson was full of information and happily answered all my questions for a minor purchase. He spent time getting my information so I could make a choice that would best fit my needs. You rock Jason and the rest of the staff there seemed to enjoy their work, a happy place to visit. Thank you.

A BOUQUET to the person that wrote in last week about the electronic big box store and letting others know. I know of the place you talked about and had the same experience with the store last year. Yes I have to take responsibility for not going over the paperwork before signing but what about honesty in the staff?

When a person declines an optional service the salesperson should not try to sneak it in. I still go into the store occasionally but it is not to shop but to let them know that they still had lost me as a customer and tell them about my latest purchase that I got somewhere else such as my new $1,100.00 computer. So a big Beef for the electronic box store for not looking after your customers in what appears to be questionable tactics being used by your sales staff.

THE RURAL OCP review is underway. Why is this important? It could impact everyone living in the Comox Valley. Rural residents want to be rural, is the message that has been received.

However, if rural residents want piped water, we are told that rural residents will have to join a municipality. Why? Some only need the water services and are willing to pay for this service, and the big water pipe passes nearby. Our Area directors say they have no influence on the water board which they say is controlled by Courtenay Directors Ambler, Theos, Anglin, Winchester. Why are those 4 people allowed to deny an essential service to fellow Comox Valley residents out of their boundaries? What value is a rural OCP if it does not address critical services in rural areas? We need a new direction, and new directors in the Comox Valley.

WHAT ARE THE TAXPAYERS’ spending priorities for the Comox Valley? We are now hearing of many, many $ millions required for infrastructure upgrades, and still a new Courtenay Fire Hall is on the wish list.

Courtenay is the commercial hub of the Comox Valley - all business will be paying the increased taxes and fees and these costs will be passed onto all Comox Valley consumers! We will all be funding that low priority Fire Hall - even shoppers from Denman Island.

SO FAR, the P3 approach to the NEW Hospital

does not sound so great. People in existing hospital maintenance and housekeeping positions will lose their jobs and be replaced with lower cost workers. Another knock on the local economy. Who actually owns this new hospital?

Who is paying the unsuccessful bidders the $800,000 in compensation for losing the bid? It should not be local taxpayers -we didn’t dream up the P3 idea. Who actually benefits from this P3 approach? Ask your elected CVRD directors - they are funding this with our tax dollars. The hospital tax is going up and there is no shovel in the ground.

AN ELECTION YEAR. Cumberland Council gets a Bouquet for democracy - big challenges with infrastructure but they consider their customers’ ability to pay. Next would be Comox by the Sea - one resident complained about unfair water meter rates and they changed their policy.

No big issues in Comox. Next would be the city of Courtenay. At best, Council is ineffective, at worst dysfunctional. These Councillors, once appointed CVRD directors determine policies and budgets for the Comox Valley Regional District. Courtenay, Comox, and Area Directors have approved a process where CVRD rural residents have little influence on policy. The CVRD process is the least democratic - 10 days notice for presenting a concern, limited to a 10 minute presentation on an issue, is not democracy. CVRD Directors approved this process - all ten. So let’s elect people who will work to change this.

FINALLY - A WELL DESERVED BOUQUET to CVRD staff. They deserve it. Their website is informative and transparent - one of the best anywhere. They have responded to budget questions with Q&A’s They have created a new site to clarify facts -This is all good. They provide good, dependable water, treat sewage, manage the landfill well. Budgets have been increasing - this is their job. They are top heavy in some areas, but the Board of Directors have approved all budgets, so they are just following directives.

So, Beefs need to go those who approve budgets and set priorities - not the staff.

A CAUTIONARY BEEF to those who would have us believe that they know chapter and verse of how the Motor Vehicle Act reads. In the April 4 Beefs & Bouquets one such individual expressed their displeasure at having to wait for traffic exiting highway 19A northbound at the Sunnydale golf course. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a golfer and agree that it is a prime place for a left turn lane but until a “No Left Turn”

sign is posted there, it is perfectly legal to enter or leave a highway across a double line at a legal access point (driveway, parking lot, laneway etc.). At no point does the Act make mention of prohibition of such turns. Section 166 of the “Motor Vehicle Act”: Turning left other than at intersection 166 A driver of a vehicle must not turn the vehicle to the left from a highway at a place other than an intersection unless (a) the driver causes the vehicle to approach the place on the portion of the right hand side of the roadway that is nearest the marked centre line, or if there is no marked centre line, then as far as practicable in the portion of the right half of the roadway that is nearest the centre line, (b) the vehicle is in the position on the highway required by paragraph (a), and (c) the driver has ascertained that the movement can be made in safety, having regard to the nature, condition and use of the highway and the traffic that actually is at the time or might reasonably be expected to be on the highway.

IT IS LESS THAN 3 miles from the existing modern fire departments in Comox and Courtenay, to the new hospital site. It is a much shorter direct distance to the Comox Airbase which has extensive fire fighting capabilities.

All of these emergency response resources are directly taxpayer funded. St Joseph’s General Hospital has been around for a century. The new ultra modern P3 hospital will be built to latest fire protection standards. Why are Courtenay politicians even considering a third fire hall in the core of the Comox Valley? These same politicians just committed Comox Valley taxpayers to a $67 million CVRD budget.

Councillors Ambler, Theos, Anglin are CVRD directors as well as Courtenay Councillors. The issue of attracting and retaining volunteers has been in the news for some time. Politicians need to work on the volunteer issues and find a way to make more efficient use of the existing facilities in Comox and Courtenay. We can’t afford another fire hall full of shiny new trucks, with no one to operate them.

I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE a thank you gift basket bouquet to Phyllis at Thrifty’s Ryan Road deli. She was so friendly and helpful, she escorted me to my car with my gift baskets on a trolley, so I would not have to carry them. I was so impressed, I thought she was giving me extra service, but she just smiled and said that was her job. What a lovely lady she is!

Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014 A13

SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014

Easter

Brunch [ at Crown Isle

Complete with "build-you-own" omelet station, ham carvery, and chocolate fountain

Kids 7 and under eat for free!

COMOX VALLEY CREATIVE HANDS wish to send a bucket of golden daffodils to all those who helped to make our spring craft show and sale such a great success! Special thanks to Pat and the Comox Legion Ladies for their super lunch menu! Gift basket won by Sophia Priestman and mom.

See you all again in mid-November.

HOUSES FULL of JamCan rocks to our sponsors for making this fantastic event possible! They are: Quality Foods-Comox, Superstore, Walmart, Safeway, Subway and Cumberland Ready Mix. Without their contributions the 1st annual JamCan Curling

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Bouquets The Comox Valley’s First and Best Readers’ Forum Email to: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com

THE COMOX VALLEY GIRL GUIDES would like to send out a big “twit-twoo” to the businesses that allowed us to sell cookies outside their stores this past weekend. Thank you Courtenay Thrifty Foods, Comox Quality Foods, Superstore, Canadian Tire, and Midland Tools and thank you to all our buyers! Your support helps purchase unit supplies as well as send girls to sleepovers, camps, and international trips.

OLYMPIC-SIZED COMPANIES selected to build our P3 Hospital? It reminds us of former Premier Gordon Campbell who left us with a huge Olympic debt. Even us middle road folks are not impressed with this “free enterprise initiative” that will see Comox Valley residents lose their union jobs in the new hospital. Local taxpayers are contributing $240 million - surely we should have more say than on the Vancouver Olympics spending spree.

SO IF THE $13,000 per door, from developers, did not go into infrastructure - water, sewer, garbage, roads - where did it go? Why are taxpayers now facing huge increase in tax bills?

BIG BOUQUETS to GIGI’s restaurant in Comox. They have an incredibly diverse and eclectic menu. We had the chicken-noodle-asian salad.

Divine. Excellent service. Our only concern is that the prices are so low, we’re afraid they might not be able to continue. Check out this place. You’ll love it.

GREAT THAT North Island College business students will debate the Raven Coal project’s economics and environmental risks, as well as shellfish production. Both have pros and cons - so looking forward to reading more from today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders. We need your views! How about a debate on the cost of the local 4 government model and the impact on low income earners, and the economic future of low income earners in the Comox Valley?

BIG BOUQUETS for my staff at the Black Creek General Store for only doing what we are told to do. So if it is towing a car we were only doing our JOB!! We at the store are pleased you were reimbursed!

TO THE PERSON or persons that witnessed my black Mustang being

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gratitude to all the Courtenay Superstore customers who donated to the Comox Valley Millennium Girls U13 soccer team during its second “bagging” fundraiser on Saturday April 5. The team would also like to thank Brad, the cashiers, and the rest of the Superstore team who cheerfully provided their support. Not only did the girls raise funds for travel to an upcoming tournament in Kamloops, Millennium shared $100 with the President’s Choice Children’s Charity in the process. It was a fabulous experience for our girls and a win all around. Thanks again everyone!

&

A HUGE BOUQUET to Wendy & Marsha for organizing a wonderful year end Pot Luck at the Merville Hall last Sunday. Great food along with very creative & challenging games, thank you!

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Huge shout out to the CVRD Sports and Aquatic Centres for their enormous contributions and support!

Also many thanks to The City of Courtenay for their huge part in making this all work! This event gave many children an opportunity to experience the fun of curling! You guys “ROCK”!

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399 Clubhouse Dr, Courtenay, BC | 250-703-5050 A HUGE BOUQUET of roses to Mike of Dulux Paints on Cliffe Ave. for his excellent customer service to help me pick a colour and tint my paint from another store. Thank you so much.

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This week’s winner

hit last Sunday morning in the Superstore parking lot and had the kindness to get the hit and run driver’s plate number and report it to the police, I just want to say thank you.

It’s nice to know there are people like you still in this world. To the person that hit my car and took off without any thought of taking responsibility I also would like to say something, but I don’t think this newspaper would print it.

LOTS OF BEEF to the lady who had her car towed from the Black Creek General Store as the staff tried to find her before the gas truck came in as she was parked over the gas lids! They didn’t know she had a dead battery because she didn’t let them know! Shame on you for swearing at the staff ... They are happy you have been reimbursed!

BIG BEEF to the “powers that be” for wanting to close our Safeway which has been part of our community for over 75 years. Seems like these big corporations don’t give a hoot about their customers.

A HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY SPRING thank you to “Hot Chocolates”. My visiting girlfriends from Edmonton and Kelowna and I were shopping on 5th. Street in Courtenay recently. We were all so pleasantly surprised to see a 6’ white Easter Bunny. He approached passers-by and offered milk, white and dark chocolates from his large, colourful easter basket. What a friendly welcome on an otherwise rainy day. My friends also commented on the piped music playing on 5th. Street as we enjoyed our shopping afternoon. HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY SPRING TO ALL BOUQUETS TO CURLERS! A recent letter to this paper said golf courses are not publicly funded, but — not entirely true. The Sunnydale course gets a 100% tax exemption from the CVRD on land and buildings except the pro shop, to the tune of $25,000 a year. Other courses may also receive benefits from the public; subsidies come in all shapes and sizes.

THE JOHN HOWARD SOCIETY of North Island (JHSNI) would like to thank all of our KidStart mentors for making a difference in the lives of local children and youth every week.

You are an inspiration! Happy National Volunteer Week! For more info about KidStart, visit www.jhsni. bc.ca/kidstartchampion.html NOT TO PANIC about the $74 million in sewerage upgrades. Thanks to administrative planning, the CVRD has over$ 90 million in reserves in the bank of CVRD. We get to vote on the curling club, but who authorized the $2000/voter to fund this massive bank account? No worries, it will soon be gone. Also, Possibly some directors who approved this scheme.

How many of those voters can afford to save a year and half of income for emergencies? Sure, it is prudent to have contingency funds -just in case

This week’s winner, drawn at random from submissions received up to Tuesday, is:

Paula Greissel of Courtenay, 2 Classic Cheese Basket Meals from Dairy Queen.

Winners, you may pick up your prize certificates at the front desk of the Echo, 407-D Fifth Street, during regular business hours.

Thanks to everyone for the great submissions- keep ‘em coming!

someone wants to build a wooden bridge.

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A BOUQUET to the “What’s New - Fact or Fiction”, for attempting to clarify CV Exhibition Grounds curling costs. This is a multi-use, fine facility - but, be clear about funding the budget. Taxpayers covered the $453,000 - who else could have possibly created the $116, 195 surplus to balance the book? Surpluses and Reserves are funded by taxpayers.

CVRD Staff found $ millions in surplus money to reduce the 2013 budget of $72.5 million down to $67.1 for 2014 - is this prudent management, or an election year budget?

Over 30 years in the Comox Valley

SENDING AN 8-ENDER of lovely yellow stones to Mare and her volunteer team at the Comox Valley Curling Centre. It was another successful season of teaching new and returning juniors what a lovely sport curling truly is. The aspect of team building while getting exercise is a great thing for today’s youth and this couldn’t happen without eager volunteers to be there each week, twice a week. The Comox Valley has one of the most successful programs in BC, having a waitlist each year! Thank your for your hard work and dedication to keeping this sport alive!

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MANY PENALTY-FREE GAMES to Ken MacKenzie and Kyle Rayner.

They volunteered their time (on a Friday night) to ref in the Mayor’s Cup Game (all proceeds going to KidSport). Ken and Kyle are super examples of community minded individuals supporting kids in our community. Thanks a bunch!

WONDERFUL PEOPLE who gave a cold young man a bag of hot fast food and a grocery bag stuffed to the brim! You rock! I saw him a few minutes later, he shared his hot food with another cold young person. He too rocks!

THE INDIVIDUAL ASSERTING that it is illegal to make a left turn across double yellow pavement markings is unfamiliar with Section 156 of the Motor Vehicle Act. Section 151 is quite clear that double yellow lines may not be crossed, but Section 156 grants an exception when entering or leaving the roadway. So long as there is no sign posted explicitly prohibiting such a turn, turning left across double yellow centre-lines is perfectly legal.

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BOUQUETS of safe and happy driving to each of the two men who went out of their way to let me know both of my brake lights being out.

One on Friday at the intersection at the bottom of Mission Hill, who got out of his car at a red light to come and inform me, and the other on Saturday in the parking lot of the TD bank in Comox. I appreciate the effort each of you made. I have replaced both bulbs and will be driving once again without worrying about someone piling into the back of me if I have to stop suddenly.

ANOTHER SOCCER BAG full of

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS! Our weekly feature, Beefs and Bouquets, is intended to be a light-hearted forum for you, our readers, to express brief views on issues and events in your lives.

It’s not intended to hurt people or make unsubstantiated and libelous comments.

Names won’t be published with the beefs and bouquets; however, we do need your full name, mailing address and telephone number for verification purposes.

Each week someone will win a 2 Classic Cheese Basket Meals from Dairy Queen.

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A14 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

News

Volunteers needed to help count smolts in Brooklyn Creek

Cumberland Community Forest plant sale Saturday The Cumberland Community Forest is holding their annual Spring Plant Sale and gardeners of all stripes do not want to miss this variety show of gardening delights!

From 10 am till 2 pm, Saturday April 12th, stop by 3rd and Derwent in beautiful Downtown Cumberland and get your hands all kinds of perennials including small trees, berries, shrubs, grasses, flowers, border plants, starters and much much more. Local experts will be on hand with great advice and to help identify plants for your unique gardening needs.

This year the Spring Plant Sale has added a selection of community vendors to the mix including Twining Vine Garden, Delphine Flowers and Garden, Cumberland Rotary, Comox Valley Seed Growers and Seed Savers, Spiral Glassworks and Doug’s Bees.

Vendors will be selling everything from nut trees and Japanese Maples to seedlings, seeds, soil amendments, and rhododendrons, hanging baskets, Mason Bees and bee condos, and beautiful glass jewelry.

This volunteer-driven annual event is a fun community gathering where gardeners and forest lovers unite! A selection of gently used garden tools and gardening resource books will also be available for sale.

Bring a wheelbarrow if you’re on foot as most plants are in 1 gallon pots or larger. Bring your own container for fish amendment too.

Proceeds from the annual Cumberland Forest Spring Plant Sale go towards to purchase of forest lands surrounding the Village of Cumberland. These forests are scheduled to be logged by 2016 and

Aurornis xui: Oldest Jurassic feathered animal? Bird or Reptile?

Bird Evolution: New ideas about our feathered friends offered at Sunday talk The Vancouver Island Paleontological Society and the Courtenay Museum presents Gary Kaiser, bird expert, paleontologist, and author of “The Inner Bird” to reveal new information on a recently uncovered fossil bird from China.

In the 1860s, Thomas Huxley first linked birds to dinosaurs but was still puzzled about the gap between the reptile-like Archaeopteryx from the Jurassic and more advanced toothed bird forms like Ichthyornis from the Cretaceous.

Gary will be presenting a newly discovered fossil, the oldest feathered animal yet found, 20 million years older than the Archaeopteryx.

Gary Kaiser will also be unveiling an amazingly beautiful cast of this new fossil. You will have to come and see it in person if you are interested.

Birds survived the Cretaceous extinction event 65 million years ago while the dinosaurs did not?

How did birds live and evolve while so many others perished?

Please join us for this interesting lecture at the Courtenay Museum, April 13th Sunday at 1:30pm. All welcome. Cover charge $3.00, Kids free.

For more information call Dan Bowen 250 897 5026 or Pat Trask 250 334 0686

Have you called Welcome Wagon yet?

Call Welcome Wagon if you are…

New to the Comox Valley: Penny 250-703-0709 Charissa 250-336-2275

New Baby: Charissa 250-336-2275 www.welcomewagon.ca

Drop by the plant sale in Cumberland tomorrow and help save the Cumberland Forest, below organizations and individuals from across the Comox Valley and beyond have been joining forces to raise funds and ensure this forest is protected. You can sign up as a donor at the Plant Sale on Saturday and find out more about the campaign from hardworking CCFS volunteers.

To find out more about the Cumberland Community Forest Society, their project, how to support them and upcoming events please check out www.cumberlandforest. com.

The Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society (BCWS) will have a counting fence installed near the mouth of Brooklyn Creek over the next several weeks and is looking for volunteers to assist with the survey of this year’s coho smolts exiting the creek.

Brooklyn Creek is home to spawning populations of coho and chum salmon as well as resident cutthroat trout, sticklebacks, and sculpins.

This “community jewel” has its origin at the Crown Isle and Longland’s Golf Courses and flows through the City of Courtenay, the Regional District, and the Town of Comox before emptying into Comox Bay at Mac Laing Park. The BCWS is a community organization that develops and implements projects to facilitate the restoration and protection of the creek.

The information collected with this project provides a reference on the value of Brooklyn Creek as a salmon-bearing creek and to determine if past restoration activities are having a positive impact on salmon productivity.

This will be the fifth year BCWS has monitored the exit of coho smolts from the stream. Previous records indicate fluctuations from 660 to 3,680 coho leaving the stream in a single year.

The BCWS is hosting an information and practical session about the counting fence on Monday, April 14th , 6-7pm at the creek site adjacent to 70 Orchard Park Drive.

Participants will learn how to handle fish fry collected from the fish trap, data collection and species identification. The trap will be operational starting April 17th until early June and will require daily monitoring. The process takes about 1 hour, typically in the morning, and each volunteer is asked to assist about one day each week.

Anyone interested in getting outdoors and doing something great for the community is encouraged to contact Larry Jefferson at 250-890-9159 or visit BCWS website at Brooklyncreek.ca to reserve a space for the April 14th session.

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ECHO

‘5 Hot Women ... the Joys of Menopause’

What do you get when five women of a “certain age,” who are going through a certain “change”, are trapped in a fitness class during a power outage? You get heat, hormones and hilarity.

Come and listen to a reading of this original musical written by the Comox Valley’s own Camille Soper and Anne Clarkson, which features interesting lyrics set to the tune of several classic pieces with a few original tunes thrown in. Starring Roberta Lacroix, Chandra McFayden, Jennifer Moses, Michelle Sinclair and Karae White, with special guest appearance by Tom Clarkson, this presentation will have you laughing.

Come join us on Tuesday, April 15th at the Courtenay Little Theatre Space (1625 McPhee Avenue, behind Jet FM) starting at 7:30 pm.

Light refreshments served from 7 PM. Admission is by donation to the bursary fund. Seating is limited so get there early ... and bring a fan!

Customer Appreciation Party in Black Creek Black Creek Farm & Feed Supply’s owner, Steve Nixon, invites the community to the store’s Customer Appreciation Party on Saturday, April 12, 10-5pm.

There will be drawings, in-store specials, and refreshments.

In addition, the staff at the store’s garden centre, are presenting “Fun With Annuals,” a demonstration on hanging baskets and container planting, 11-12.

Guests are asked to encouraged to bring non-perishable food goods that will be donated to the Comox Valley Food Bank.

Nixon also notes that a percentage of any gift card sales is donated to the Black Creek Community Centre.

This reminder is “perfect timing” with Mother’s Day and Father’s Day just around the corner.

Black Creek Farm & Feed Supply is an award-winning IRLY/ TimberMart building supply center that has been privately owned in Black Creek for 31 years.

The store is located at 2184 Lalum Road, easily accessed from Route 19, in Black Creek. FMI: 250-337-8922

This photograph, “Heron Armour,” is by Ron Pogue and is part of Everson’s current exhibition at CVAG

ARTIST TALK AND ‘VOICES OF FIRE’ AT CVAG SATURDAY Saturday will be busy at the Comox Valley Art Gallery with an artist talk by Andy Everson, the launch of a new art discussion forum called “Voices of Fire”, and a family-friendly “Discover Art Saturday” lead by local screen printer Andy MacDougall.

Everson’s talk begins at 11 a.m.

He will discuss his current exhibit, “Like? Indigenous Musings in a

Digital Age”, which is showing at the gallery until May 2.

Everson’s talk will help inform a public discussion afterward, as CVAG launches its first “Voices of Fire”, a new series of public forums about art. The discussion will begin at noon. Everyone is welcome to attend, ask questions, present ideas, and offer responses to the questions posed by Everson’s work.

part of a partnership between CVAG and the Wachiay Friendship Centre.

Eight of their students are featured in the “Hands of Next Generation” exhibition that is currently showing at the gallery.

All of Saturday’s events are free and open to everyone.

Find out more at www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com or call the gallery at 250-338-6211.

Choral Society sings Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ tonight, Saturday

Comox Valley Spirit Fair on at Westerly This spring marks the 9th Comox Valley Spirit Fair. This popular event put on by Mystic Vancouver Island, showcases talented mediums, clairvoyants, readers and holistic practitioners from the Comox Valley and mid Vancouver Island.

It is an opportunity to get a taste of the different types of psychic readings and energy healings available and to meet with likeminded people.

The two day fair will be this Saturday April 12th from 11-4 and Sunday April 13th from 12-4 in the Beaufort Room at the Best Western Westerly Hotel on Cliffe Ave. Admission is free. FMI: www. mysticvancouverisland.weebly.com.

From 2 to 4 p.m. CVAG will host its monthly “Discover Art Saturday”, a free program that draws young people and their families to visit the art exhibits and then participate in art-making.

This month’s program will include print-making with Andy MacDougall. MacDougall and Everson have been instructing young people in the art of printmaking as

DIVAS are back on The Bridge tonight An engaging and hilarious two hour musical comedy celebrity impersonation show will be happening tonight at The Bridge Lounge. It will feature Bonnie Kilroe’s DIVAS - Vegas meets Vaudeville. This will be Kilroe’s third appearance at The Bridge, located on 90 - 5th Street in Courtenay. Advance tickets are $20 and $25 at the door. You can purchase them at the Velvet Underground and Bop City. For more information, please call 250-871-7277.

Since the start of this year, the 60 strong North Island Choral Society has been rehearsing and fine-tuning their upcoming performances of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and particularly his “Requiem in D Minor (K.626).”

The Choir will be performing both Mozart’s “Requiem” and his well known “Ave Verum” on Friday, April 11 at 7.30:P.M. and on Saturda, April 12 at 2.00:P.M. in St. George’s United Church, 505 Fifth Street, Courtenay.

This is another 30th. Anniversary Concert to be given by the Choral Society. It follows their very successful Christmas Season concert in December 2013.

It is one of the greatest paradoxes of classical music that the most-often heard and best loved of Mozart’s choral works is the one in which he composed the smallest part.

Mozart, when he was commissioned to write the “Requiem” by the Austrian Count Franz von Walsegg in the summer of 1791, had no idea his own end was near. Mozart fell ill and took to his bed in October of that year, where he died on December 5th. 1791.

Ironically, it is believed that neither Mozart nor his wife, Constanze, were aware at the time of the name of the person who commissioned the work.

The Count, a fairly proficient musician himself, had a habit of passing off compositions as his own. This may have been different this time. The commission was a requiem for his young wife who had also died in 1791 at the

young age of 20. The Count never married again. He must have been broken hearted. He died eight years later, aged 28.

A student of Mozart, Franz Xaver Süssmayr, who may have been helped by other composers, completed the work. It was first publicly performed in Vienna.

The “Requiem in D Minor (K626)” remains one of the greatest settings of the Requiem text. It is still almost as popular as Handel’s famous “Messiah.” If you are a lover of classical choral music, this is a concert not to be missed.

The Choir will be, as it has been for many years, conducted by their musical director, Paul Colthorpe, a music teacher in School District 71 (Comox Valley), and supported by accompanist Elvera Penner. Combined, Colthorpe’s enthusiastic direction and Penner’s technique for giving the choir tuneful support, produces a very high quality of choral performance. In fact, the sound produced deserves space with good acoustics. And that is why the performance is held in St. George’s United Church.

The Choir is made up of local singers, who are not auditioned. So the quality of sound is a truly remarkable product of careful and considered rehearsal.

The NICS is joined by soprano, Megan Skidmore, contralto Lisa Deith, David Brown, tenor, and a newcomer to NICS performances, Nicholas Allen, bass, from Victoria.

(Continued on page B2)

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B2 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

What’s On - They are well into their second year of growing as a group. They are delighted for the opportunity to perform for you this Saturday at the Zocalo.

On Saturday night at 7:00 they will to get together and have fun playing a handful of hand-picked tunes. The vibe, refreshments and meals are consistently first-rate at the Zocalo while the musicians have a wonderful time playing. They have enjoyed enthusiastic audiences in the past, and hope to see you this time at the Zocalo on Saturday April 12 starting at 7:00 with Loose Gravel.

Loose Gravel breaking it down Saturday night at the Zocalo Cafe

FALLEN ALDERS HALL AGM ON MONDAY NIGHT The Fallen Alders Hall is holding its Annual General Meeting on Monday, April 14 at 7 pm. Please come and support the Hall by purchasing a family membership of $20. New board members are needed. Bring your ideas. Come and volunteer to help with the Memorial Garden. Everyone welcome - coffee and donuts. This community hall was deeded to the Residents of Royston in 1953 (Minto District - railroad tracks up to Cumberland).

Three horns and an acoustic bass make Loose Gravel.

Loose Gravel includes Tony Morrison on sax and flute, Jay Havelaar on trumpet, Paul Nuez on trombone and James Lithgow on upright bass.

There are countless Loose Gravel signs along local roadways announcing their arrival. However, the signs do not tell when and where to find this group in performance.

Look for them at the Zocalo Café on April 12. No piano, drums or guitar. They are breaking it down into Loose Gravel at the Zocalo this Saturday. For these four friends, interaction on the spot during each tune can happen with dynamic that is impossible when they have instruments that play chords or even percussion. Tunes unfold as the musicians listen to each other and react.

They have developed some arrangements as well. The original idea of Loose Gravel is so see what happens in a band with no guitar or piano where the members interact with variety and spontaneity. They tried and got excited about the experience. In fact they got attached to it

TIME FOR UKE SUNDAY Zocalo’s is hosting Time For Uke on Sunday, April 13th 2-4 pm.

This ukulele playing group plays an eclectic selection of music including folk, old-time favourites, jazz, singalong, and even classical.

Their blended harmonies and easy listening style of play will make for an enjoyable afternoon of music.

Since 2011, Time For Uke has been playing to ‘invitation only’ appreciative audiences so this afternoon concert at Zocalo’s is an opportunity for the group to play to a wider audience.

Drop by for a coffee and enjoy!

Loose Gravel performs their original blend of sounds at the Zocalo Cafe on Saturday night.

CHURCH MOVING TO MERVILLE HALL

Turn your ‘green’ business practices into revenue

The pros from Merville Excavating are busy digging the foundation hole for the heritage church and manse that will be moved to the Big Yellow Merville Hall site. On Tuesday, April 15th, Nickel Bros. House Movers will be hauling the buildings while a flurry of hall volunteers get the buildings ready to transport. It is planned to have the church as the center of a historical site on the grounds. Above: Merville Excavating’s heavy equipment scoops the dirt for the church foundation in front of the Big Yellow Merville Hall.

Transition Town Comox Valley [TTCV} invites businesses and organizations in the Comox Valley to join us for a presentation/ workshop that shows how implementing practices that reduce green house gas emissions can generate new sources of revenue for your business.

Brian Rogers ,executive director of the Cowichan Energy Alternatives Society, will

Choral Soc. (Continued from page B1)

explain how the Community Carbon Marketplace program works and suggest a range of actions that businesses and organizations can adopt to achieve a new level of sustainability.

Please join us at Rhodo’s Cafe # 103 364 8th St from 5:30 to 7:30pm Wednesday April 23. Rhodos will be open for coffee and snacks.

Valley Newcomers’ Club welcomes you April 14 The Comox Valley has so many attractions and opportunities that the monthly meetings of the Comox Valley Newcomers’ Club are always entertaining and informative! We are able to do this by focusing our attention on what is important to new residents of the valley.

The Comox Valley Newcomers’ club is a social group for women who have moved to the Comox Valley within the past two years. We help women new to the valley feel comfortable, meet friends and learn as much as they can about the valley.

The Monday, April 14th meeting will feature a presentation by Jane Murphy, President & CEO at St. Joseph’s Hospital, entitled ‘The changing face of health care and

the new Comox Valley and Campbell River hospitals’.

Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and connect with others new to the valley.

Meetings are held at the Comox Valley

Curling Rink, 4835 Headquarters Road, Courtenay. Doors open at 6:30 pm with the meeting starting promptly at 7:00 pm.

For more information email us at cvnecomers.bc@gmail.com or check out our website at www.cvnewcomers.net

The NICS Orchestra is led by Comox violinist Linda Donn. It will be performing Mozart’s much loved “Eine kleine Nachtmusik (K525).”

A very special feature of the ALL MOZART program will be the performance of the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C major (K246) by Towa Stewart, an up and coming, award winning pianist. Towa is age 12 and attends École Puntledge Park Elementary School.

Tickets for each performance are $20. The tickets are available from Blue Heron Books, Comox; Laughing Oyster Books, Courtenay; Choir members. Tickets for children under 12 are $5. at the door and from Choir members.

For more information: northislandchoral.wordpress.com/ - Submitted by North Island Choral Society

COURTENAY LAWN BOWLING CLUB

Open House for New Bowlers April 16th & 19th 11am – 2pm & 6pm-8pm Coaching Sessions Start April 21st FMI Contact Jackie West (250) 338-4289 Or visit the Club at 23rd & Kilpatrick

School District No. 71

Invitation to Tender Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School Construction and Installation of Entrance Sign The services required are described in Tender 2014-001-063 and are available from Carol Snead (carol.snead@sd71.bc.ca) or (250) 334-5547

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014 B3

What’s On

Voices Three lend talents to National Advance Care Planning Day event at Berwick Voices Three - Helen Austin, Sue Pyper and Judy Wing - will be performing “The Last Rhapsody” at the Wednesday, April 16th, National Advance Care Planning Day Reception and Art Exhibit hosted by Berwick Comox Valley from 5:307:30pm.

The “Last Rhapsody”, based on Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, is a parody that visits the themes that may or may not arise in time to say goodbye.

This work was written by Voices Three, long-time supporters of Comox Valley Hospice Society, as their submission to the heARTful Expressions which celebrates the many ways people may explore issues related to advance care planning and end of life conversations.

Live music, refreshments and draw prizes will round out the day’s celebrations.

Earlier in the day an Advance Care Planning Educational Open House takes place from 1:30 - 4:30pm and will include videos, resources and conversations.

You can expect to come away with information, suggestions and tools for starting the conversation with

your family and friends and how to develop your own advance care plan.

You are invited to consider putting advance care planning on your ‘Bucket List’ and gifting yourself and those you love with the knowledge of what your voice would be if you were ever unable to speak for yourself.

Please join us for any or all of these events and put your heART into advance care planning: H ave the conversation E xpress your wishes A llow your voice to be heard R eveal what is important to you T ell those you love Both of these events are open to the public.

As space is limited please register by contacting the Comox Valley Hospice Society at 250-339-5533, or visit the online event registration site here: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/ national-advance-care-planning-day-2014-tickets-7866164911?aff =es2&rank=1&sid=93c6bcebba8411e3a99b1231381b30f6.

Forbidden Jazz Trio returns to Zocalo Café for an evening performance on Friday, April 11.

Featuring Jake Masri on trumpet, flugelhorn, & vocals, Mike Eddy on keyboards, & Grahame Edwards on bass, they strive to reach audiences of all ages by performing a wide variety of timeless jazz standards & original compositions.

Representing more than 4 decades of experience, their unique blend of voice, brass, & strings will weave their collective magic through 2 sets of entertaining music.

Keyboard master Michael Eddy is a recent addition to the trio, replacing Jim Chew on guitar. Although relatively new to the valley, he has been fortunate enough to collaborate with many fantastic musicians over the past few years, including those in the Lensmen, Jazztet, DMN, & the CR Big Band.

We invite you to join us for a casual, entertaining evening of jazz. Music commences at 7:00 pm and admission is by donation.

The spacious café displays local artwork & the licensed kitchen will be offering a supper menu of sweet & savory food plus assorted beverages.

For more info & reservations, please contact Zocalo Café & Gallery @ 250 331 0933, or simply drop by the corner of 5th Street and Cliffe Ave. in downtown Courtenay (www.zocalocafe.ca.)

Voices Three - Sue Pyper, Helen Austin and Judy Wing

For more information visit: www. advancecareplanningcv.ca

Highland’s 2014 Grad Class presents annual fashion show Highland Secondary’s graduating class of 2014 will present its annual fashion show on Monday, April 14th at 7:00 pm, at the Highland Secondary gymnasium.

This year’s theme is “Music through the Ages”. To accompany the music, grads will be modelling period costumes from the turn of the 20th century through to present day.

Imagine Downton Abbey, flapper girls, wartime swing through to 1960’s beach music, disco and modern day rap - this show will have it all.

The students have had amazing support from the community and local retailers, with Courtenay Little Theatre and Courtenay Costume Rentals providing period costumes, and The Ski & Surf Shop, Silhouette Theatre and Dance Shop, JACK’D Clothing, Alberni Outpost, Cherry Wine, Trousers, Winners, Carosel Fashions and Jim’s Clothes Closet providing clothing from the modern era.

Plan to arrive early as the grads and parents will be hosting a bazaar and raffling off baskets, again generously donated by community retailers.

Guests will be entertained

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Forbidden Jazz Trio performs at the Zocalo tonight (Friday, April 11)

throughout the evening with musical and dance performances, with special guests Jesse Turnbull and Blind Ambition performing.

All are welcome to attend. Tickets are $5.00 each and are available from the school. Tickets will also be available at the door.

RON JAMES Courtenay Sid Williams Theatre Thursday, May 8th Showtime: 7:30pm “gut-bustingly, knee-slappingly funny” - Ottawa Citizen

Marriage Commissioner The Vital Statistics Agency, Ministry of Health, is looking for an individual to serve as a Marriage Commissioner for Courtenay. The individual will perform civil marriages within their community on behalf of the Agency.

For information and an application form please visit our website at: www.vs.gov.bc.ca/marriage

Ticket Centre:

250 338 2430 www.sidwilliamstheatre.com www.ronjames.ca www.shantero.com

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B4 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

What’s On

Creating the world of ‘On Golden Pond’ through set design spectator lives a coherent experience, from seeing the first ad through to seeing the play itself.

By Pippa Ingram For CLT Audiences attending Courtenay Little Theatre’s production, On Golden Pond, on now at the Sid Williams Theatre, will be entering the world of an elderly couple, Ethel and Norman Thayer, who spend each summer at their vacation home on a lake called Golden Pond.

It will be an easy, enjoyable transition to make as quite simply what they see onstage will be a stunning visual setting for the iconic production.

The set designer Clair Guiot though a relative newcomer to designing theatre sets - is a highly talented professional graphic designer and has nurtured the project from start to finish. Guiot is highly articulate and very knowledgeable.

Interviewing her was an absolute delight as the ardor she shows for theatre is very easy to see, not only in her responses to questions but also in the visibly successful result of her efforts.

What is your theatre background... have you designed sets before?

This is my third set - all have been for CLT thus far. I was very interested in doing On Golden Pond because it offered a very different setting from the first two plays I worked on (Half Life and The Winslow Boy). I have no formal training in theatre although I am a professional graphic designer. I started with a BSc in 3D product design then went into web design which was an emerging industry

What would you hope the audience will “feel” when they look at this set?

The first rule of any design should be crystal clear communication. I would want the audience to understand within seconds that they are looking at a cabin by a lake, set in modern times, that has been owned by the same family for a couple of generations.

Beyond that basic information, I tried to achieve feelings of warmth and comfort, like those you get from an old slipper that has moulded to the shape of your foot perfectly. I hope the audience will feel they already know the Thayers, just from seeing where they live, and that they’ll feel instant affection towards the family.

I also hope that the set and its lighting will convey a summer holiday feeling, where the soil has been warmed by the sun, the chores of everyday life are far away, and the lake water is lazily lapping at the shore.

Norman Thayer Jr. (Tony Arnold) welcomes his daughter’s fiance Bill Ray (Matt Williams) and his son Billy Ray Jr. (Zach Wood) to the summer home of the Thayer family in the CLT production of Ernest Thompson’s On Golden Pond. Set designer, Claire Guiot, hopes audiences will “understand within seconds that they are looking at a cabin by a lake, set in modern times, that has been owned by the same family for a couple of generations.” To this end, an integral then evolved into graphic design. My training and experience stood me in

part of creating credible surroundings depends on such mundane items as rubber boots, fly swatters, a stuffed fish hanging on the wall etc. They are all part of the “finds” that help to create a world where Giot hopes audiences will also experience “feelings of warmth and comfort, like those you get from an old slipper that has moulded to the shape of your foot perfectly.”

Photo: Terry Penney

good stead as I created the posters and ads as well as sets for all three

plays. I like doing both graphics and set design because I can ensure the

+

Are you an actress as well? Has the set been designed to consider the flow of the director’s blocking and/or ease of movement for the cast?

I performed in a couple of high school productions but I never displayed enough talent or enthusiasm to pursue the hobby further.

(Continued on page B5)

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Spend an evening with local author, Kim Bannerman, for an intimate reading and the launch of her latest novel, The Tattooed Wolf, on Tuesday, April 15th at North Island College’s Comox valley campus.

In her most recent tale, Bannerman writes of seduction, beauty, and murderous intentions.

The story follows a reclusive man with a dark secret as he fights for his life, love, and human form.

“The author displays unusual and sometimes uncomfortable characters, and I care about them all, the significant players and the extras. If you like short, satisfying reads between your Harry Potter or A Song of Ice and Fire, ten pound seat-raisers, then buy [The Tattooed Wolf],” writes Joe Murphy of The Dragon Page.

With an educational background in anthropology and travel writing, Bannerman has written four novels, including Bucket of Blood, a historical murder mystery based in the Comox Valley.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014 B5

What’s On

international career credentials as a Sax/Clarinet player. Audiences are always mesmerized by her electronic wind instrument (EWI) with which she can jump through eight octaves in a split second, double up two notes at once, glide and bend notes and choose from an array of 50 preset sounds. Audience members are usually baffled and full of questions after the show.

For those clarinet fans attending, Rachel will feature exhilarating transcriptions from Jazz immortals, demonstrating technical brilliance.

Opening act performances have become a popular part of the “Beltone Jazz Series” evenings.

This Thursday’s “opener”, is 64 years young, Walter Jordan, who is a

CLT member, Alan Kneeland, and designer, Claire Guiot, confer about the set for On Golden Pond using Guiot’s intricate model and plan as a guide. Kneeland has been hugely responsible for getting the job done. The results of Kneeland’s and indeed the whole team’s efforts have certainly brought Guiot’s vision to fruition. Photo: Terry Penney

Building ‘On Golden Pond’ (Contiued from page B4) Because of my limited theatre experience I only understand the basics of acting so I rely heavily on Kirstin Humpherys, the director, to point out any ways in which my design may not work well. As well, I study the movement of the actors described in the script and try to spread the action over the whole stage so that maximum use is made of the space available. I also try to divide the set into different areas so that each area establishes a “miniscene” of its own.

Did you have a particular vision for this set? The large number of windows look really great.

Was this deliberate?

After reading the script and researching sets that other companies had designed, I developed a good sense of the overall effect I wanted to achieve with this set. My main goal was to create a real sense of place as the location is a vital part of the story. I wanted to make it feel as though this set couldn’t be situated anywhere other than on Golden Pond. Considering the SWT stage size, multiple windows meant stage lights can bring as much of the “outside” in as possible.

sense of place through the multitude of objects that narrate life on Golden Pond (rubber boots, fly swatters, a stuffed fish hanging on the wall etc.)

Our lead set dresser, Linda Lillico did a tremendous job finding all the right objects to furnish the Thayer’s summer home. She enjoys relentlessly scouring charity shops, auctions and friends’ houses for new finds. Linda also meets regularly with the director Kirstin and me to review her finds and ensure they fit the concept we have. In fact the whole teamwork aspect (director/ set designer/set builders/set dressers/painting crew) cannot be praised enough and has very conclusively proved that a great team equals great results.

The iconic Ernest Thompson play will be performed in the SWT theatre April 11, 12, 16 and 17 at 7:30pm and Sunday April 13 at 2:00pm.

perfect example of the old saw “it’s never too late” to pursue your passion. Since taking his voice from the shower to the stage 4 years ago, Walter now studies with vocal coach Jackie Lambeth and is involved with 4 vocal groups.

The “Beltone Jazz Series” is a family friendly venue, located at The Little Red Church hall in Comox .The purchase of tea, coffee, soft drinks and goodies, is currently by donation to the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society.

Advance Tickets are $10 and available at Bop City in Courtenay and The Red Carpet Boutique in Comox. Doors open at 7:00 and performance begins at 7:30.

UADRA

Rachel Fuller

ISLAND GOLF

Beltone Jazz Series show features Rachel Fuller and Friends The “Beltone Jazz Series” continues on Thursday April 17 at The Little Red Church with another great evening of Live Jazz, as “Rachel Fuller and Friends” take to the stage. This high skills local combo includes an eclectic mix of the Valley`s finest musicians featuring Rachel Fuller, Jay Havelaar, Charity Munro, Mike Eddy, Don MacKay and Neil Clark.

British musician Rachel Fuller moved to the Valley in 2010 with

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Were there particular challenges to building the set?

Many items suggested in Ernest Thompson’s script wouldn’t translate well in our production. For example, we have considerable size and set moving constraints as the play will be performed at the Sid Williams Theatre and also at the Qualicum Village Theatre, as CLT will be performing On Golden Pond in the North Island Zone Theatre Festival in May. Both are somewhat small stages and each has a different configuration. Because the set has to be taken apart to fit in a moving truck, it also meant walls have to break up into panels that are 6’ wide or less. Thankfully Bruce Taylor, our lead set builder, is an expert at figuring out new ways to make things fit. His main helper Alan Kneeland has effectively followed through with Bruce’s ideas resulting in a set that is solidly built as well as being portable.

Who coordinated the colour palette and set furnishings?

The colour scheme in Thompson’s script called for deep brown wooden walls but they would feel oppressive given our size constraints, so I opted for a warm yellowy cream and used lots of wood trim instead.

Set dressing contributes much to the

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B6 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

BRIDGE NEWS Comox Valley Duplicate Bridge Club Congratulations to Pete Marinus and Cathy Wolfe on their 71% game on Thursday, April 3rd!

Seems all we had to do was get a trophy, and people would start to rack up big games!

Our next monthly lessons will be on the 3rd Thursday of April (April 17th), and then will be suspended for the summer; but will start back up again in September.

Don’t forget to register at playbridge@shaw.ca so that we have enough handouts for everyone!

The Team Game on Monday, March 31, 2014 results: 1. Jack Bradshaw - Carole Bradshaw 2. Slava Simice - Barrie Turnham 3. Glen Parsons - David Proctor 4. Richard Grant - Cathy Wolfe Our regular game on Thursday April 3, 2014 results: N/S 1. Pete Marinus - Cathy Wolfe 2. Corinne Montgomery Margaret Wynde 3. Jean Tait - Dianna Rickson 4. John Godfrey - Dorothy Branch E/W 1. Carole Bradshaw - Barbara Morris 2. BobDugas - J Bradshaw 3. Tim Kennelly - Sharon Feduniak 4. Slava Simice - Arlene Petersen Our club is located on Nordin Street across from the Comox Mall under the newly renovated Museum and Art Gallery.

Thursdays at 12:30 we have FREE 20 minute information sessions before the game.

We also offer guaranteed part-

Sports and Recreation

nerships, so if you’re visiting or your regular partner is away, make sure you come out to play anyway!

If you don’t have a regular partner, I’m sure you’ll meet one.

Our Website is www.cvdbc.com and our email is playbridge@shaw. ca For more information, please contact Linda Marinus at (250) 338-2544.

D’esterre Duplicate Bridge Results for Tuesday, April 1 (26 pairs): N/S - 1. Betty and Tom Thomsen; 2. Dianna Rickson and Howard Cohen; 3. Carole and Jack Bradshaw; 4. Diane McKinnon and Ruby Paulson; 5. Lynne and John Godfrey.

E/W - 1. Evelyn and Keith Ware; 2. Jeanette Baron and Tom Dugdale; 3/4. Julie Tuepah and Pat Pantuso; 3/4. Irene Pearl and Trish Heyland; 5. Bernice Blonarwitz and Doug Poole.

Results for Saturday, April 5 (20 pairs): N/S - 1. Carrie Mulcahy and Mark Lawrence; 2. Lynne and John Godfrey; 3. Gary Bishop and Jim Poulson; 4. Dorothy Branch and Corinne ontgomery.

E/W - 1. Irene Smith and Lyall Smith; 2. Glenda and Peter McGrath; 3. Patricia and Roy Lowe; 4. Lynn and Dick Sangster

GOLF NEWS OPENING DAY AT SUNNYDALE It turned out to be a fabulous opening day for the Sunnydale Ladies Club. We had 21 women attend with 3 new members. A big welcome to Monica, Mo and Maylene.

Some of the ladies are home now from golfing all winter in Arizona and for the rest of us, well, we just did our best.

The 9 hole ladies club will be starting on April 15, so if you are interested in playing half the course, please come out and join us. You can pre-register on the bul-

Friday night bridge There were 8/12 tables last week with the following results: N/S 1. Denise Holst/Lorraine Ramesbottom 2. Lorraine/Chuck Hodson 3. Tom Dugdale/Lyall Smith 4. Chris/Ron Toutant E/W 1.Evelyn/Keith Ware 2. Iris/Ben Vansterkenburg 3. Maureen/Lyall Ashbough 4. Pat Pantuso/Gary Priestman.

MARINE A N D B O AT

S H OW

Gallaway (golf socks), KP on #5, second shot was Carolyn Walker (dinner napkins).

The hidden score prize was won

by Maylene Friesen (a golf towel, donated by Earl Costello of Royal Lepage in the Comox Valley) It was a great day to start the new golf year. Our official opening day is Sunday, May 4; it will be a 9 hole scramble with our business meeting and lunch to follow. See you all out next week, 8:30 am sign in and 9:00 am tee off.

- Submitted by Pat Costello

letin board in the club house.

Here are the results of today’s round: 1st Low Gross: Carolyn Walker with 92. 2nd Low Gross: Sandra Gallaway with 102, 3rd Low Gross: Teri Sleigh with 102 1st Low Net: Sharon Littler with 83, 2nd Low Net: Andrea McGinnis, 3rd Low Net: Pat Costello with 86.

It was cart path only and lift, clean and place and boy did we need that. Lowest number of putts went to Sharon Littler (a gift certificate at the pro shop), Longest putt on #9 was won by Pat Costello, KP on #10 which is sponsored by Rob Speer Pro Shop (a sleeve of balls) went to Pat Costello which was needed as she lost 2 balls in the water today.

KP #15 was won by Sandra

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014 B7

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Sports and Recreation

CODES COUNTRY LANES Bowling highlights from Codes Country Lanes: Monday AM Club 55 - Tricia Turnbull 192, Arnie Auerbach 204, Rita Dalby 190, Marion VanLoenen 211, Barb Lane 190.

Monday PM Club 55 - Colleen Torry 174, Pat King 196, Rick Kroeker 236, Lucille Smith 207, Bob Sharpe 216, Ruth Johnson 199, Mildred McLauchlan 181, Val Johnson 208, Bruce Ram 189, Arnie Morrison 283, Rick Rodriguez 224, Grace Rodriguez 191.

Tuesday Ladies - Mina Putnam 205, Marilyn Shetterly 196, Penny Savin 186, Pat Fish 178, Barb Randall 186, Barb Potruff 222, Shirley Webb 170, Brenda Searl 212, Paulette Z 211, Agnes Barker 190.

Tuesday Club 55 - Garry Pearson 186, Judith Munro 127, Allison Bennett 133, Ed Schievink 117.

Tuesday Mixed - Jan Harding 204, Lori Webb 187, Bud Taylor 235, Judy Briosi 275, Wayne Couzens 194, Rick Granneman 192, Bob VanNes 225, John West 225, Cindy Eckstein 212, Andrew Stubbing 261, Ed Carefoot 222, Rita Hymans 184.

Wednesday Club 55 - Kaela McLean 197, Heather Abraham 191, Dave Stacey 183, Lorne King 215, Erin Robertson 204, Ria Tjart 207, Nick Tjart 234, Catrina

Marinus 206, Pat Schmidt 185, Rosalee Williams 190, Laurie Aucoin 215, Minnie Frame 180.

Tuesday/Wednesday Courtenay Rec Karen Slater 167, Russell Enright 141, Larry McCooey 185, Clint McColl 143, John Vincent 128, Allison Bennett 158, Randy Poole 144, Linda Christie 160, Sara Mae 41.

Wednesday Mixed - Barb Pottruff 198, Tannis Pond 204, Dave Pond 205, Ti Patterson 229, Louise Bundschuh 245, Wayne Wilson 195, Bruce Stuart 203, Paul Zorz 255.

Thursday Club 55 - Bob VanNes 229, Bea Tomkinson 213, Rosemary Montreul 202, Rick Kroeker 239, Lynne Conn 198, Mel Thompson 180, Jim Roxburgh 157, George Railian 170, Marie Schultz 188, Grace Rodriguez 234, Rick Rodriguez 236.

Youth Bowling - Lucien Rousseau 154, Devin Sorensen 76, Bryden MacDonald 53, Talisha Miller 95, Morgan Grout 76, Raylyn MacDonald 110.

Thursday Mixed - Jen Roberge 212, Joan Lavoie 198, Vern Greenhill 275, April Gilchrist 296, Jessica Gireaux 212, Chad Kelly 220 Lorne Sutcliffe 227, John West 233, Laurie McWillis 273, Lorne King 195, Roy Brekke 217, Steve Robson 251, Bev Mccain 196, Laurie Aucoin 216.

Friday Club 55 - Arni Auerbach 197, George Andrews 193, Ev Andrews 204, Ji Bennett 222, George Sand 230, Bert Brown 240, Nick Tjart 286, Ria Tjart 271, Roy Brekke 184, Midge Girard 202, George Railian 241, Ruth Rivington 193, Joyce Unsworth 237, Gerhard Sorger 212.

Special O - Jamie Bennett 196, Bobby Bolen 191, Clint McColl 168, Kim Burke 185, Terry Daniels 178, Danny Erb 184, Chris Gillis 271, Clayton Heid 191, Paul Riley 194, Chris Malboreuff 152, Sherri Lyons 166, Matt Cadwell 173, Debbie Downer 158, Marilyn Shetterly 164.

GOLF NEWS CI LADIES PLAY CRIERS TOURNAMENT The Crown Isle Ladies Club was once again treated to a beautiful day of unexpected sunshine!

Today our game was called “Criers Tournament” played as individual stroke play with winter rules still in effect. Each player was allowed to throw their 2 worst holes out and post them as par holes, nice!

The winners in this event were: 1st low gross: Rosemarie Smith 81, 2nd low gross: Dee Horie 82 1st low net: Marsha Mackinnon 65, 2nd low net: Brenda Barrigan 66 KP’s went to Helen Flynn #16 and Marsha Mackinnon #7 Six birdies from our ladies: Katy Macaulay #16, Karen Currie #12, Rosemary Smith #4, Helen Flynn #16 , Dee Horie #7 and #16 Two par 5s went to Janet Phillips #1, Karen Currie #5 With many of our snow birds returning home it should prove to be a lively fun time next week.

- Submitted by Audrey Clark

everyone played their own game, but were secretly matched up with a partner for a combined net score. The winners were Nancy Riva and Nancy Newton. There was a tie for second place: Linda Callender and Sharon Crowe, and Grace Coulter and Pat Everett. Third place went to Barb Buchanan and Janice Nicklin. KPs: Grace Coulter, Janice Nicklin, Linda Broadbent, Brenda Good and Barb Buchanan. Barb also had the longest putt.

We would like to thank our sponsors: Panago Pizza, Playtime Gaming, Loonyrama, the Tee Box Restaurant and Gibby in the Golf Shop for their continued support of the Comox Ladies Golf Club.

Next Tuesday, we will be playing regular stroke play. We hope to see all the ladies and their guests at the club at 8:30 for a 9 a.m. start. Make sure to sign up in before Monday at noon.

On May 1, the Thursday Night Ladies League will begin. This league is open to all lady golfers, members and non-members. It is a 9-hole stroke-play format and prizes are awarded for low gross, low net and various KPs. Come and join us for a fun-filled

night of competitive golf. For more information, please visit our website at comoxgolfclub.ca, or call the Golf Shop at 339-4444.

- Submitted by Linda Callender

GLACIER GREEN LADIES IN FULL SWING Mother Nature has got the message, Tuesday Ladies is in full swing, add to that our course is in remarkable shape.

April 1st we vied for lowest putts with Beth Broomfield and Janet Edwards tied at 32. KP on #4 Ellie Nicholas and #12 Connie Alexa.

April 8th we played the back nine twice to allow scheduled maintenance on the front nine. We took the best score on each hole and half our handicap.

1st low gross Beth Broomfield 42 1st low net Marie Israel 30.5 2nd low net a tie with Wendy Dowe and Marlene Hall 32.

Leslie Hauser nabbed the KP on #12 and Ellie Nicholas on #15.

Next week we look forward to a team format playing the pink ball and not too far in the distant future of May 13th will be our Spring Fling.

- Submitted by Lori Cameron

COMOX LADIES OPENING TOURNEY The Comox Ladies Opening Day Tournament was held on Sunday, April 6, with a great turnout. Thirtytwo ladies came to play a fun 18-hole scramble, followed by a delicious dinner served by the Tee Box Restaurant.

On Tuesday, April 8, the Comox Ladies Golf Club played a fun game called “hidden partners”, where

Fridays & Saturdays Only

Give lawn bowling a shot at open houses

By Pat Cutt Courtenay Lawn Bowling is trying a different approach for new members this year. For those who have never bowled and would like to try the game, there will be OPEN HOUSES on April 16 and 19, 11am - 2 pm and 6pm - 8 pm.

If you have concerns about back or knee problems, we have a tool, a UBI launcher. This item allows the bowler to remain upright while delivering the bowl.

Could be worth a try to be out in the sunshine, enjoying good company and a great game, DON’T YOU THINK? If you are interested in further knowledge of the game, the coaching sessions start on April 21st and are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday April 21, 22, 23, 28,2 9, 30 and May 5th and 6th. The actual games playing starts on May 7 with the Mixed Triples league. For further information: Jackie West 250 338-4289 or leave a message at the clubhouse 250 338-8222.

There are several versions of the game, singles and doubles, (four bowls delivered by each player); triples, 3 bowls by each of three players, and Fours which is very similar to curling and each of 4 players delivers 2 bowls each. We also have these categories in Men’s, Ladies and Mixed formats. Lots of variety there but also we have a variety of levels of competitiveness, from home green pickup games, club tournaments, league games, zone club tournaments, prvincial events and National events, also Senior Game has a Lawn bowling category.

Further activities in April include the Semi-Annual General Meeting at 12:30 pm on Sunday April 13.

Brunch at 11 am and bowling to follow, weather permitting. Opening Day with the flag raising and the march around the green with bowling to follow is Sunday April 20, 1 pm.

There will be some work parties organized as well to get things all spruced up for a season busy with hosting events. More about that in May. GO LAWN BOWL - THIS IS FUN!

Come and try a new set of tees measuring 4754 yards, 855 yards shorter!

Single ....................................... $1210 Senior....................................... $1165 Husband/Wife ...................... $2100 Both Seniors ..................... $2023 One Senior.......................... $2075 Time Restricted Membership ......................... $825 Intermediate (19-29 years). $625 Junior (10-18 years)........ $155

Phone Number: (250) 334-3060 5291 North Island Highway, Courtenay, BC V9J 1S7

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Week one of the Shoreline Orthodontics’ Tri-K triathlon training schedule is “in the books”. You have had a chance to get your equipment together, use it a couple of times and had a few initial training sessions.

Moving into week two distances or the duration of workouts will increase. An important element of all workouts is a warm up and cool down. Be sure to include both in every session.

Also of great importance is the need for athletes to maintain proper hydration. Water provides important functions within the body including regulating temperature, lubricating joints and transporting nutrients and waste. Staying hydrated while exercising enhances comfort, performance and safety. Dehydration leads to muscle cramps, dizziness, fatigue and heat illness. The greater the intensity and duration of the exercise the more important it is to drink.

Two simple methods of estimating adequate hydration: 1. Large amounts of light colored, diluted urine probably means you are hydrated; dark colored, concentrated urine probably means you are dehydrated.

2. Weight lost is likely from fluid, so try to drink enough to replenish those losses. Any weight gain could mean you are drinking more than you need.

When exercising at a high intensity for more than 60 minutes Sports drinks can be helpful.

Fluids that supply 60 to 100 calories per 8 ounces help to supply the needed calories required for continuous performance. You are unlikely to deplete your body's stores of sodium, potassium and other electrolytes during normal training exercise. If you find yourself exercising in extreme conditions and over 3 or 5 hours (for example a marathon or Ironman) you may want to add a complex sports drink with electrolytes.

While specific fluid recommendations aren't possible, most athletes can use the following guidelines as a starting point, and modify it to suit their fluid needs.

Hydration Before Exercise • Drink about .5 liter, 2-3 hours before exercise • Drink .25 liter, 10-15 min before exercise Hydration During Exercise • Drink .25 liter every 10-15 min during exercise • If exercising longer than 90 minutes, drink .25 liter of a sports drink (with no more than 8 percent carbohydrate) every 15 - 30 minutes.

Hydration After Exercise • Weigh yourself before and after exercise and replace fluid losses.

• Drink 1 liter water for every 1 kilogram lost.

Armed with information on hydration lets get to the weeks’ training schedule. It follows the same format as last week but, as mentioned, it increases the duration or distance. The suggested workout lengths are for beginners (on the second line) and intermediate (on the lower line) participants. Swims are in meters and runs and rides in minutes. Swim workouts can be broken up into manageable segments. Participants may want to use a combination run/walk for the runs over the first four weeks. With each outing, try to increase the time you run and decrease the walking time.

OFF or Weights

Swim 600 M 1000 M

Ride :45 1:00

Run :25 :35

Swim 600 M 1000 M

Ride :45 1:00

Good luck with your training. We’ll see you at the finish line!

Run :25 :35

B8 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

CARRIERS WANTED EARN $$$$$$$$ COURTENAY Rt. 8105 – Kilpatrick, 29th - 27th, Moray Rt. 8106 – Kilpatrick, Anfield Centre (Walmart) Rt. 8130 – Cliffe (Between 19th & 10th), Riverside Lane, Beckensell COMOX Rt. 2129 – Sylvan, Parry, Aspen, Idiens Rt. 2136 – Pritchard, Dogwood, Elm, Noel Substitutes: (May/14 to Oct/14) Rt. 2145 – Jubilee, Bolt, Heron Rt. 2153A – Olympic, Murrelet Rt. 2155 - 2300 – Murrelet CROWN ISLE Rt. 3120 – Monarch, Royal Rt. 3134 – Crown Isle Dr., Birkshire, Sussex VALLEYVIEW Rt. 3122 – Swan, Trumpeter, Sparrow, Valley View No Collection Required Call COMOX VALLEY ECHO 250−334−4734 or drop by 407−D 5th Street, Courtenay

Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014 B9

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B10 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 11, 2014

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