Comox Valley Echo - April 24, 2015

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.COURTENAY,BC. APRIL 24, 2015

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Courtenay supports $10-per-day child care proposal

BY MICHAEL BRIONES Echo Staff Child care is one of the biggest expense for families, especially if you have more than two children.

It is the second highest family expense after housing.

The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC has

come up with a plan that calls for a $10-a-day child care program in the province to make child care affordable for families.

A Comox Valley early childhood educator, Charlene Gray, has taken the task of securing local support for this cause.

Gray appeared before Courtenay council to high-

light the key points of the plan that includes $10 a day for full time care, $7 a day for part time care and no parent fee for families with annual incomes under $40,000. The coalition is also proposing child care to be placed under the mandate of Ministry of Education and for it to become a publicly funded system.

Gray said the Community Plan builds on wellestablished evidence that public spending in the early years is a wise social and economic investment and that quality child care is learning and high quality promotes healthy development.

What the coalition is trying to do is integrate the strengths of the public education system with the best quality, communitybased child care.

“Public education is fairly universal. People know what to expect when you talk about school teachers and about education is publicly funded and democratically controlled,” said Gray.

“There’s support, a wellrespected work force and an infrastructure to deliver the services to the public. Child care has none of those.”

Gray said Canada is a wealthy nation but it ranks last among devel-

oped countries in supporting quality early care and learning programs.

Parents who are working are often faced with the dilemma of finding affordable, quality child care. That’s because BC has licensed child care space for only about 20 per cent of children.

Fees are expensive because unlike libraries, parks and schools that receive public funds to cover most operating costs, child care is primarily a user fee service Gray said the Community Plan is the solution to the child care crisis in the province.

“Children and families

now have the right to quality early care and learning and current policies and approaches are just not working,” said Gray.

Gray has asked Courtenay council to back this initiative. She has already gained endorsement from various organizations in the Comox Valley and also the support of Town of Comox and School District 71.

Courtenay council voted to write a letter to the Provincial Government in support of the adequate funding of quality affordable child care such as the model advocated by the BC Coalition of Child Care Advocates.

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

3

AGRICULTURE

Anti-GE lobby pitches purchasing idea Courtenay urged to follow lead of Duncan’s move away from buying any GMO products

BY DREW A. PENNER Echo Staff

You would actually be the first community on Northern Vancouver Island to have a procurement policy like that.

Agriculture is one of our big investment areas. ...

The demand for products is really growing.

Growers will really step up to this demand.�

ARZEENA HAMIR GE Watch Comox Valley

More and more consumers and customers I’m working with are very concerned and interested about what they’re consuming�

MANNO THEOS Courtenay councillor

FOOT

When Arzeena Hamir appeared before Courtenay council April 20 to promote an anti-genetically modified organism (GMO or GE) perspective, it was clear the particular tact had been carefully selected by the Amara Farm owner.

She was appearing on behalf of a GE Watch Comox Valley delegation in an effort to convince the City to adopt an anti-GMO purchasing policy. “You would actually be the first community on Northern Vancouver Island to have a procurement policy like that,� she said, adding buying foods that haven’t been engineered under the microscope could help promote local producers. “Agriculture is one of our big investment areas.�

This was not a gloves-off debate between those who feel the science is firmly against activists and those who believe the precautionary principal should always take precedent in what we

Arzeena Hamir, of GE Watch Comox Valley, said it wouldn’t be all that difficult to put in place an anti-GMO purchasing policy at the municipal level. eat. Instead, it was an opportunity for GE Free Comox Valley to promote the most realistic avenue for advancing their cause municipally. “The demand for products is really growing,� she said, suggesting the community could be built as a hub for organic agriculture. “Growers will really step up to this demand.�

There are already 15 organic farms in the Comox Valley, all of which are required not to include any GMOs in their output.

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be as difficult as it sounds, she said.

The sugar in this part of the country is derived from sugarcane and not sugar beets, so that would not need to change.

No horticultural plants include GE elements, so that would not involve any additional funds.

The biggest problem would be dealing with dairy. The already expensive commodity is the main product produced locally that uses GE hormones and is consumed by humans, but Hamir said the

cost in shifting over would be “quite small and quite minimal.�

Activists are also extremely worried about the introduction of the GMO apple which stays ripe longer due to genetic updates.

Duncan has adopted an anti-GMO purchasing policy that includes language that will bar the planting of GMO apple trees.

Vanessa Goodall of the Cowichan Green Community appeared at the podium to speak about the drive in the Cowichan Valley to shut out the GMO companies. “How do you make that affordable and effective for staff to implement?� she stated, addressing something she hoped she could provide some guidance on.

May 17th will be the one-year anniversary of Duncan’s move away from GMO purchasing.

Coun. Erik Eriksson wondered if the issue with GMOs had more to do with a problem with Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, which

wa s re ce n t l y d e e m e d “probably carcinogenic� by the World Health Organization.

Hamir replied that that issue is much broader. “I was working on a lot of GE product development,� she said, looking back on her life in the 1980s. “There is much that we do not know about GE products.�

She commented that because her neighbour grows GE corn she can’t grow organic corn, since it could get contaminated too easily.

Eriksson wasn’t so sure about writing off GE products so quickly. “What if we found one that is disease resistant?� he wondered.

Hamir said proliferation would still be a problem.

Coun. Doug Hillian commended Hamir for the “vital role you play in the local agricultural community,� but said he didn’t know what the implications of the proposed procurement policy would be.

(Continued on page 5)

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Day of Mourning ceremony for workers Local organizations are coming together to honour workers who have been killed, injured, or suffered illness as a result of work-related incidents. On Tuesday, April 28 at 10:00 am, the City of Courtenay, Work Safe BC and CUPE 556 will hold a ďŹ&#x201A;ag-raising ceremony at the Simms Park Pavilion in Courtenay.

Paige Knapman, occupational health and safety advisor for the City of Courtenay, said the event is an opportunity to raise awareness of the need for workplace safety. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Day of Mourning is a reminder to all of us that proper safety procedures are necessary to save lives,â&#x20AC;? noted Knapman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Safety standards have come a long way over the years, but we need to

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Horticultural Society plant sale Saturday

Goodbye Glenice,

The Comox Valley Horticultural Society is pleased to host their annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 25 at the Florence Filberg Centre from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. There is sure to be a good selection of interesting plants!

Come early for best selection and bring your own box. Cash sales only. maintain our focus and make sure that workers are given the tools and support they need to keep themselves safe and healthy. Workers also need to know that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for them to speak up if something isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t safe.â&#x20AC;?

The Day of Mourning has been a national event

since 1991.

Statistics from WorksafeBC show that employers and workers need to remain vigilant. In 2014, 173 BC workers died as a result of workplace injury or disease.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Day of Mourning ceremony. For more

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information, please contact Knapman at 250-3344441.

For more information on the Day of Mourning, including a list of other ceremonies around B.C., visit www.worksafebc. c o m / n e ws _ ro o m /c a m paigns/day_of_mourning/ default.asp

City council considers anti-GE proposal (Continued from page 3) He asked about the response of local producers to the plan.

Hamir acknowledged some were not necessarily on board -- particularly considering there are nine dairy farmers left in the Comox Valley. But most of the 491 non-dairy farmers are supportive.

Coun. Manno Theos, who embraces fitness pursuits enthusiastically and works in food and beverage service, said he agrees with

Hamirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point that people really want to know about the contents of their diet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s absolutely correct,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More and more consumers and customers Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m working with are very concerned and interested about what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re consuming.â&#x20AC;?

He noted there is often a low-degree of education about what specific regimes - such as gluten-free or GE-free - are actually all about.

Mayor Larry Jangula

was quick to point out that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two sides to this,â&#x20AC;? and added â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very difficultâ&#x20AC;? for local politicians to make decisions about scientifically-technical issues like the GMO debate.

Further, he said the topic should more properly be debated at the federal or provincial level of government.

Hamir retorted that GE Watch was only pressuring the City to move in line with a 2013 Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities/Union of BC

Municipalities resolution that asked the province to prohibit the importing, exporting and growing of plants and seeds containing genetically engineered DNA and to make the raising of GE animals illegal.

The group isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even seeking a ban, just a smart procurement policy, she added.

Staff will prepare a report on a potential antiGMO procurement policy and the topic will be back on the council agenda within weeks.

Oh No! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m leaving the valley! I want to send out a big â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank Youâ&#x20AC;? to all of those who have supported me during my career in car sales here in the Comox Valley. I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be here much longer so if you want to buy from me, now is the time! Call me today or stop by and say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hi!â&#x20AC;?

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Police conduct search for clues on missing woman ority investigation, contributing hundreds of investigative hours towards uncovering any evidence related to Strobach’s disappearance.

Investigators have spoken to dozens of people from across the province, conducted a ground search in the 1000 block of Braidwood Road in Courtenay, and remained in regular contact with Strobach’s family overseas.

Despite these investigative efforts, and multiple public appeals through the news media and social media, few answers have surfaced.

“Julia’s family, friends, and particularly her three-

BY MICHAEL BRIONES Echo Staff

year old son, deserve answers about what has happened to Julia,” said Inspector Tim Walton, Officer in Charge of the Comox Valley RCMP. “Despite the best efforts of our investigators over the past seventeen months, we have been unable to bring them solid information.”

Police believe someone knows something and are appealing to the public for help in this case.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321 or do it anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1-800222-TIPS (8477).

Fifty police officers spent two days searching two wooded areas in Courtenay for Julia Strobach, who has been missing since October 31, 2013.

Members of the Island District RCMP Tactical Troop scoured the muddy riverbed along Headquarters Road and Ryan Road, and also the 1000 block off Ryan Road behind the Washington Inn apartments.

Cpl. Darren Lagan, spokesperson for the RCMP, said investigators Members of the Island District RCMP Tactical Troop carefully search the muddy riverbed along Headquarters were acting on informa- Road and Ryan Road for any sign or clues that will help solve the mystery behind Julia Strobach’s disappeartion compiled throughout ance. their 17-month investigation.

“Julia was known to frequent these two locations in the months she spent in the Comox Valley so we’re hopeful that there may be something there that 24 HR Service we’ve yet to find and that something will be uncovterranovaplumbing.ca 250-338-8026 ered,” said Lagan.

The police officers worked in a formal grid pattern search, were shoulder to shoulder and literally performing a hands and knees search in some instances to make sure every square has been covered.

The two areas are close to where the 27-year-old Strobach used to live here on Braidwood Road. Police confirmed she was last seen on this road in Julia Strobach was last seen Oct. 31, 2013 the evening hours of Oct. Strobach might have met and friends, our concern 31 2013. levels are very high,” said Strobach’s family is in with foul play.

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Germany but she’d spent conditions apply, For the last 17 months, see dealer for details. time in Alberta and Victo- time that’s passed and it’s ria before coming to Cour- out of character for Julia to officers with the Comox tenay. She also has a three- disappear for any length Valley RCMP General Inof time without staying vestigation Section have year-old son.

Investigators said that in contact with family considered this case a pri-

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Jane Murphy, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s Hospital

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it will take over the acute services. This is a big change and St. Joseph’s is examining the needs of the community to see how they can continue to provide non-hospital based health and seniors’ care services. Jane and Patti’s presentation will look at the challenges of creating a sustainable health care system and provide examples of innovative ideas to meet the needs of the community using existing resources.

The North Island Hospitals Project is the development of two new hospitals to serve the North Island; one in Campbell River and one in the Comox Valley. Slated to open in late 2017 these facilities will provide acute care ser-

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vices for decades to come.

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Jane Murphy has a Masters in Health Services Planning and Administration and extensive experience in health care management.

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Since moving to Comox in 1980, Patti Fletcher has served as an elected councillor for the Town of Comox from 2002 to 2014, worked for 27 years as Program Director at the Comox Community Centre and has served on many local boards, such as Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association, Comox Archives and Mu-

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Equivalent lease payments of $63/$38/$29 on the 2015 Rogue/2015 Sentra/2015 Micra must be made on a monthly basis and cannot be made weekly. Weekly lease payments are for informational purposes only. ±The $500/$750/$750/$750 additional cash discount offer is valid on the purchase financing or lease (at inception) of all new 2015 Micra SV and SR trims/2015 Sentra/2015 Rogue/2015 Juke. $500/$750/$750/$750 is comprised of $350/$500/$500/$500 NCF cash and $150/$250/$250/$250 deaelr participation. Offer is available to eligible customers for a limited time from April 6 – 30, 2015 on approved credit only. Offer is based on stackable trading dollars. The discount will be deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes. Applicable to Nissan Canada Finance (NCF) contracts only through subvented and standard NCF finance rates or subvented NCF lease rates. Not combinable with fleet discounts and not applicable to cash purchase buyers. Offer not eligible for program protection. Certain conditions apply. †Offer is administered

by Nissan Canada Extended Services Inc. (NCESI) and applies to any new 2015 Micra/Versa Note/Sentra/Altima/Juke/Rogue/Pathfinder models (each, an “Eligible Model”) leased and registered through Nissan Canada Financial Services Inc., on approved credit, between April 6 – 30, 2015 from an authorized Nissan retailer in Canada. Eligible only on leases through NCF with subvented rates. Offer recipient will be entitled to receive a maximum of six (6) service visits (each, a “Service Visit”) for the Eligible Vehicle – where each Service Visit consists of one (1) oil change (using conventional 5W30 motor oil) and one (1) tire rotation service (each, an “Eligible Service”). All Eligible Services will be conducted in strict accordance with the Oil Change and Tire Rotation Plan outline in the Agreement Booklet for the Eligible Vehicle. The service period (“Service Period”) will commence on the lease transaction date (“Transaction Date”) and will expire on the earlier of: (i) the date on which the maximum number of Service Visits has been reached; (ii) 36 months from the Transaction Date; or (iii) when the Eligible Vehicle has reached 48,000 kilometers. All Eligible Services must be completed during the Service Period, otherwise they will be forfeited. The Offer may be upgraded to use premium oil at the recipient’s expense. The Eligible Services are not designed to meet all requirements and specifications necessary to maintain the Eligible Vehicle. To see the complete list of maintenance necessary, please refer to the Service Maintenance Guide. Any additional services required are not covered by the Offer and are the sole responsibility and cost of the recipient. Offer may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain offers NCESI reserves the right to amend or terminate this offer, in whole or in part, at any time without prior notice. Additional conditions and limitations apply. Ask your retailer for details. ≠ Representative monthly lease offer based on any new 2015 Rogue S FWD CVT transmission (Y6RG15 AA00)/2015 Sentra 1.8 S Manual Transmition (C4LG55 AA00)/2015 Micra S 5MT (S5LG55 AA00). 1.99%/0.9%/4.99% lease APR for a 60/60/60/60 month term equals monthly payments of $274/$166/$126 with $0/$0/$998 down payment, and $0 security deposit are due at lease inception. Prices and payments include freight and fees. Lease based on a maximum of 20,000 km/year with excess charged at $0.10/km. Total lease obligation is $16,464/$9,972/$8,577. $250/560 dealer participation included on 2015 Micra S 5MT (S5LG55 AA00)/2015 Sentra 1.8 S Manual Transmition (C4LG55 AA00). These offers are only valid from April 6 – April 30, 2015. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Conditions apply. ▲ Models shown $36,598/$25,960/$18,315 Selling price for a new 2015 Rogue SL AWD Premium (Y6DG15 BK00)/2015 Sentra 1.8 SL (C4TG15 AA00)/2015 Micra® 1.6 SR 4AT (S5SG75 AA00). * ±≠▲Freight and PDE charges ($1,750/$1,567/$1,567) air-conditioning levy ($100) where applicable, applicable fees (all which may vary by region), manufacturer’s rebate and dealer participation where applicable are included. License, registration, insurance and applicable taxes are extra. Lease offers are available on approved credit through Nissan Canada Finance for a limited time, may change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers except stackable trading dollars. Retailers are free to set individual prices. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Vehicles and accessories are for illustration purposes only. Offers, prices and features subject to change without notice. Offers valid between April 6 – 30, 2015. For more information see IIHS.org. ALG is the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data, www.alg.com. ∞3,197 Litres versus GAC (AIAMC) Intermediate segmentation.

April 15, 2015. Offers subject to change, continuation or cancellation without notice. Offers have no cash alternative value. See your participating Nissan retailer for complete details. ©2015 Nissan Canada Inc. Nissan Financial Services Inc. is a division of Nissan Canada Inc.

If you live in Comox and are interested in current issues and the town’s future direction, you will want to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Comox Town Residents Association on Tuesday, April 28 at the United Church Hall, 250 Beach Drive, Comox. Doors open at 6:30 pm with the meeting starting at 7 pm.

Jane Murphy, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Patti Fletcher, St. Joseph’s Hospital Board Vice-Chair, will discuss one of the big issues facing Comox: The Future Role of St. Joseph’s Hospital. They will also provide information on the new North Island Hospitals.

St. Joseph’s General Hospital has served the

8 www.comoxvalleyecho.com

FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

Future of St. Joseph’s topic for Comox Residents’ AGM seum Board, Town of Comox Advisory Planning Commission, and Town of Comox Business in Action Society.

She is currently the Town’s elected representative on the Comox Valley Regional District Board. She and her husband, Simon Brampton, have owned and operated a bicycle retail store in town for 27 years.

This meeting is also an opportunity for you to bring up an issue, nominate a director for the board and learn more about the Comox Town Residents Association.

Refreshments will be served. So come out, learn and even take part in shaping the present and future of Comox.

www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

9

Comox reviews possible pickleball site

BY MICHAEL BRIONES Echo Staff Comox is considering a preliminary feasibility review of a possible location for a pickleball court.

Staff has asked council to authorize $4,000 to be spent on the review that will include survey, geotechnical report and construction cost analysis. This initiative stemmed from the request of the Comox Valley Pickleball Association, which sought council’s support on April 8 for development of a court.

Staff was given the task of exploring the request. They had met with members of the CVPA to look at an undeveloped piece of land at Highland Park, adjacent to the roller

hockey box.

The location, currently leased by the town from School District 71, looks to be an ideal site for a pickleball court because some infrastructure is already in place such as public washrooms, adequate parking and it is also close to the school.

Staff indicated it could complement the existing park usage and also build capacity for further recreational and school physical education programs.

However, consultation with School District 71 will be necessary in order to acquire their input and also to determine if there’s interest in having access for student use.

The planned survey will determine if there is adequate space available

for a pickleball facility. The geotechnical report will confirm the base material that is in place and would assist in determining what the capital costs would be. The review will establish a realistic budget for the project.

Staff is looking at a joint venture with the association to fund the construction of the project. It is a good candidate for a cost-sharing model.

Although council has been asked to authorize $4,000 for the feasibility study, the funds are not available in the Parks Department’s budget.

But the CAO and Director of Finance have advised that the proposed funds could be made available from other sources in the Town’s Financial Plan.

Proposed pickleball court site at Highland school

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New stained glass window recognizes history of base

BY DREW A. PENNER Echo Staff The sweeping Baroque stained glass sky is pierced by two Lockheed T-33 Shooting Stars, better known by its T-Bird moniker, soaring over the old airport terminal as a family waves. This historical scene, created by local artist Jan Lindstrom, is now on view for all who pass though the sliding doors at the Comox Valley Airport, and has been placed opposite a tableau of the modern airport.

“It’s a beautiful glass and I cut it all from one piece,” Lindstrom said of the process involved in creating the sky. “The whole background is not disturbed and it flows in behind.”

New stained glass window at Comox Valley Airport is unveiled by the artist and community members behind the project

Crafting an artistic work like this takes persistent attention to detail. Tree navy blues were used to give depth to the mountains.

Even the soldering work adds to the perspective.

Lindstrom has been stashing glass that has gone out of production in order to have the material to create the effects she wants.

But getting something like this produced takes a community, as well.

Thrifty Foods paid $5,500 into the project, with Dave Mellin and Doug Inrig both chipping in $1,000 to this particular stained glass segment - one of several surrounding the entrance to YQQ. (Continued on page 11)

Courtenay has no plans to increase police force

BY MICHAEL BRIONES Echo Staff Courtenay will not be increasing the number of police members it needs for the city this year.

Council approved the 20152016 Municipal Policing Contract expenditure cap of

$5,493,584, of which 90 per cent is funded by the city or $4,944,226. This reaffirmed last year’s approval in principle that called for the authorized strength of 30.4 police officers to be maintained.

The city pays two of its officers from host gaming revenues, two from the provincial traffic fine

revenue sharing grant, and the remaining 26.4 members are funded from general property taxation.

To accurately project anticipated costs and prevent overtaxation for police services, each year the city budgets for a “vacancy pattern” of seven percent or 2.13 members. The use

of the prior year surplus keeps tax increases down at zero per cent this year for policing costs, which equates to 20 per cent of the city’s annual General Operating Budget.

The Comox Valley RCMP Detachment is a combined provincial/municipal detachment, which provides police protec-

tion services for the entire Comox Valley.

While Courtenay pays for 90 per cent of its budget, the remainder of the funds comes from the province which covers 19 of the members staffed in the detachment on Ryan Road and 11.6 are funded by the Town of Comox.

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

11

RD proposes new nuisance bylaw with added no-no’s

BY MICHAEL BRIONES Echo Staff The Comox Valley Regional District has drafted a new bylaw that aims to deal not only with unsightly premises but also nuisance types of infractions.

CVRD staff has been greatly hampered by the limitations of the current

nuisance bylaw because it doesn’t allow them to address neighbourhood nuisances such as obtrusive light shining onto a property other than where the light originates.

There are also other issues like dust, smoke and graffiti.

There were cases where staff has had to deal with more than five complaints

against one property owner but were unable to discourage the activity.

In one of the complaints, the source of excessive light has been vandalized several times, creating more animosity between neighbours.

The regional district’s current unsightly premises regulation bylaw was last reviewed and updated

in March 2010.

It only addresses accumulation of rubbish and other unsightly debris on property.

Staff now proposes a new bylaw that includes prohibitions that would prevent specific conditions or situations on a property that would interfere with another property owner’s use or enjoyment

of their property.

They include excessive or obtrusive light, emission of smoke, fumes or other effluvia, graffiti, and dilapidated or collapsed structures.

Bylaw staff feels the additional prohibitions would provide the enforcement tools necessary to obtain compliance in contentious neighbourhood disputes

before they escalate.

The changes are considered to be beneficial to the public, to CVRD staff, and to the bylaw compliance officers when dealing with compliance and enforcement issues.

Staff has asked the board of directors to endorse the recommended bylaw and that it be given first, second and third reading.

Will politics trump social efforts?

CVRD kicks off drive to formulate a homelessness strategy amidst accusations of ‘conflict of interest’ and ‘backdoor’ deals

BY DREW A. PENNER Echo Staff The Comox Valley Regional District voted in support of a plan to reach out to Comox Valley governments for ideas about how to work together to tackle homelessness during its April 21 Committee of the Whole meeting, but not before a few shots were fired.

Concerned about board staff ’s last-minute recommendation to forward a proposal from Dawn to Dawn: Action on Homelessness Society along with a survey, Cumberland director Roger Kishi said he refused to support the motion - and didn’t mince words.

“The addendum came so late - it was this morning,” he said, stressing he supports the actual process of developing a homelessness strategy.

“In some ways it does look like there is some favouritism or back door deal going on with this.”

The regional district is trying to come up with a way to tackle poverty in the community following a non-binding referendum held last fall that revealed a plurality of local residents would be willing to pay up to $10 a year per $300,000 of assessment value to reduce homelessness.

CAO Debra Oakman said staff actually wanted to forward the Dawn to Dawn proposal to Comox Valley politicians not to allow the group to get ahead of other organizations seeking to bid on future projects, but out of a desire for honest communication.

It would go along with useful information provided by the Association of Registered Nurses of BC, she noted.

“Please appreciate the position that staff are in,” Oakman pleaded. “To me

it’s information.”

During a 2012 round of grant funding from the local health authority Dawn to Dawn secured a $174,000 contract with the CVRD for a scattered housing program.

Some have raised concerns that Dawn to Dawn may have too cozy a relationship with the CVRD, and the fact the proposal now in question was prepared in part by Tom Grant, a former regional director who was an active part of crafting the homelessness poll last summer, hasn’t helped squelch those concerns.

But Oakman said the suggestion to forward the document ahead of a similar plan from other any other socially-focused group was simply a way to get useful perspectives out in the open for discussion.

“It’s all good,” she said.

“It’s all good to understand what people are thinking

in the community. We’re trying to be transparent around this.”

Courtenay director Erik Eriksson challenged Kishi to take back what he said, unsuccessfully.

Kishi was appearing at the meeting as an alternate for regular Cumberland director Gwyn Sproule, but he is employed by the Wachiay Friendship Centre and listed on the board of directors of the M’akola Group of Societies.

So Larry Jangula, after expressing concerns businesses might end up being taxed to fund a regional service to help the homeless, shot back, asking staff if Kishi might be in a conflict of interest position.

Staff reminded the board there is no official service or contracts currently being debated and noted it would be up to Kishi to remove himself from discussions (and voting) if he so chose.

Ultimately, Kishi was the only voice against the motion to send the nurses’ submission and the Dawn to Dawn proposal to local governments for information purposes.

Puntledge-Black Creek (Area C) director Edwin Grieve made the comment that the bigger problem could be politics getting in the way of actually helping homeless people.

“We’re in real jeopardy of burnout,” he said, listing the wide range of community groups that have been working tirelessly on anti-poverty issues.

“We’ve skirted the issue.”

The only way to succeed this time around is to “look at it with brand new eyes” in “a 2015 context,” he added.

To that Lazo North (Area B) director Rod Nichol gave his hearty support.

“I couldn’t have said it better,” he said.

Local author’s second book being launched at Rhodos Coffee tonight Local Poet Neil Lemke will be launching his second book of poetry, Shachar: Shards of Light, on Friday, April 24th at Rhodos Coffee in Courtenay (364 8th Street, Unit 106) from 7.00 to 9.00 p.m.

There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a time for gathering and chatting from 7.00 to about 7.25-7.30. There will also be a cash and carry coffee bar operating. This will be followed by a brief introduction by Neil’s publisher, Natalie, and the reading of selected poems by the author (and by Carrie Lemke).

Endorsements for his poetry include: Words of praise for

the rhythm, imagery and resonance of Neil Lemke’s poetry. He is a true wordsmith; and his writing reminds me of the beauty, simplicity and mastery demonstrated in the metaphysical poetry of John Donne. Kendra Brown.

Poet Neil Lemke Neil’s first book, The Fields of Life: It’s a gorgeous book and a powerful work and Neil should be very proud.” Tanya Lloyd Kyi, author of Anywhere But Here Words of praise for Shachar: Shards of Light: As a teacher of English Literature, I appreciate

Shachar: Shards of Light, is an intense exploration of the human condition. From the evocative and powerful epic, “Sent,” to his shorter narrative poems, Neil Lemke conducts a literary symphony of hope, love, despair and joy in this beautiful arrangement of his work. Natalie Fuhr-Salvatore, Master of Arts in English Literature and Creative Writing, Publisher, Author.

Jan Lindstrom says she was so detail-oriented while producing the work she even did the soldering in perspective.

New stained glass installed (Continued from page 10) Lindstrom turned to the Comox Valley’s past for inspiration this time around.

The aircraft design was requested by the funders and will provide viewers with an interesting link to the community’s military past.

T-Birds were introduced to Comox in the 1950s, serving a variety of functions over the years.

Early on it was used for weapons training, and later for electronic warfare (EW) applications.

Lt. Col. (retired) Yves Bossé, former commanding officer of 414 Electronic Warfare Squadron, recalled how useful the aircraft could be.

“The T-bird was a good airplane,” he said. “It was a trainer. It was a target.”

The T-Bird was versatile, able to go head to

head with F16s and F18s.

“Through the magic of electronics we could fake targets in the sky where there were none,” he said.

“These guys wouldn’t even see us.”

In fact, T-Birds from 19 Wing Comox played a vital role in training Canadian fighter pilots ahead of the Gulf War. They would fly to Canadian and American military sites to challenge the pilots.

“We would deploy the Tbirds to the bases to do the training, and sometimes they would come here,” he said. “Or we would meet at some location in the States where there were more electronic warfare assets and we could create bigger war scenarios.”

Now that this stained glass panel is complete, only one section remains, although Lindstrom has already begun planning for the final piece of art.

12

www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

13

ECHO

OPINIONS

LETTERS

Is UBID holding up Kensington?

Until recently, many landowners of Union Bay were hopeful that the Kensington Island Properties development would move forward. In doing so, it would help with the heavy financial burden of a VIHA mandated water treatment system and the CVRD’s South Area Liquid Waste (Sewer) Management Plan facing the community.

Despite receiving final approval for the Master Development Agreement from the Provincial Government in October 2014, Kensington is now being stonewalled by the Union Bay Improvement District board for approval of new water agreement.

The former agreement, which expired on December 31, 2014, allowed for a phased-in approach to water treatment, sufficient for all existing Union Bay properties plus the initial phases of the development.

It now seems that the current UBID board has their own demands from the developer which have yet to be made public to Union Bay landowners.

I would encourage all Union Bay landowners to attend the Annual General Meeting at 1 PM at the Community Hall this Saturday, April 25th.

Let us all hear the report from the board how their

plan is going to benefit our community without bankrupting its residents. Let them prove to us that the UBID’s stand alone water treatment plan is more cost effective than having a major developer ready to invest in these systems taking the financial burden off the taxpayers.

Dave Godfrey Former UBID Trustee

KEEP IT SPECIAL We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the world that has remained mostly unspoiled. We have the rare opportunity to develop our Region in a way that is economically prosperous and sustaining without compromising those things that are already becoming scarce elsewhere: beautiful natural landscaping, fresh water, a wonderful growing environment for food, clean air, to name a few.

As the awareness of the value of the area spreads, Comox and the Comox Valley increasingly will attract greater numbers of young families and retirees.

In an era of monopolization by big companies there continue to be opportunities for small and home based business to co-exist comfortably with the natural things this Valley can offer to residents

COMOX VALLEY ECHO A division of Black Press Ltd.

407-E Fifth Street, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 1J7 www.comoxvalleyecho.com Phone 250-334-4722 • Fax 250-334-3172 Classifieds 1-866-415-3535 Circulation 250-334-4734 E-mail: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com Publisher Dave MacDonald Editor Debra Martin Advertising Manager Keith Currie Office Administrator Deb Fowler Circulation Manager Hedi MacDonald Production Manager Ryan Getz The Comox Valley Echo is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, PO Box 1356, Ladysmith, B.C. V9G 1A9. For information, phone 1-888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org. All original content in this publication is copyright material belonging to Black Press. Any re-use or reproduction without the expressed, written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited.

and visitors alike.

Over the years downtown Comox has lost its appeal to visitors as more and more main street storefront shops turn into professional offices. Big business development won’t bring back the visitors that enjoyed both the beautiful surroundings and the quaint shops.

For me it’s not a no to all development but a no to any development that continues to erode that which makes the Valley so special and precious.

The fundamental question that our Town leaders should consider before any development proposal is approved is: Does this proposal capitalize on the future value and appeal of the Comox Valley without undermining the essence of what makes it so special?

Frieda Home Comox

SWARM SEASON 101 Here in the Comox Valley, every year at this time, many small scale beekeepers are looking to prevent swarms.

For those people who are fortunate enough to have a small scale beekeeper in your neighborhood, you may be treated to one of mother nature’s most amazing spectacles.

A tornado of bees swirling and circling around the

queen while their scouts look for a new home.

Honey bee swarms are not dangerous and honey bees in general are not aggressive.

A swarm is the bees’ natural inclination to populate a new hive in a new location (beekeepers try to prevent this because those bees are valuable foragers for the nectar flow and ultimate honey crop).

Before the bees decide to leave their hive with the old queen and look for a new home, they fill up their stomachs with honey and nectar which they will need to build honeycomb for the queen to start laying.

With their abdomens distended and full of honey and their task at hand to find a new home, they are even less likely to be able or inclined to sting.

So if you are fortunate enough to see a swarm, enjoy the spectacle without fear and if one lands near where you live or you see one on a tree branch or building, please call any one of our 12 “Swarm Catchers” in the Comox Valley Beekeeping Club http://www.comoxvalleybeeclub.com/swarm-catchers/ .

Beekeepers will always be happy to come and hive a swarm.

Swarms are a valuable resource and local beekeep-

ers work hard to help them survive against all the odds they face these days.

Comox Valley Bee Club

PILLAGE BY THE SEA The restoration of Baybrook is a moral obligation, not a legal one. The obligations for Shakesides in Mack Laing Park, ARE legal, with a financial legacy, which the Town of Comox has chosen to ignore. Many Canadians are appalled at the disrespect inherent in the decision to demolish both his homes.

Comparing a small nature house to Swan Lake is spurious - and those doing so know it. Baybrook is NOT Swan Lake, and no cherry-picking will make it so. The Town demanded financial models for a nature house. The MLHS provided them. Period.

The MLHS moved on when Council voted to demolish in February. However, it will continue to preserve Mack Laing’s legacy - which goes far beyond his two homes. MLHS plans will benefit all the citizens of the Comox Valley.

The Town of Comox and the Baybrook enclave deserve more of what they are already getting, illegal night time activity and the growing and outspoken contempt of those who care about Canadian culture and history.

Business is all that really

matters in Comox - Pillage by the Sea. Angela Burns Comox

SHOULD HAVE BEEN A BRIDGE We have people wanting to build a bridge where it is not something needed (pedestrian bridge in downtown Courtenay) and then where a bridge would be a good idea, we string cables and build a new ferry.

The $80 million in savings would build the bridge, right? A toll bridge to keep the looksy-loos at bay from touring Denman would just sugar coat cost of the bridge for the government.

I would be much more willing to buy a board or two towards the cost of construction of a Homeless shelter than buying a plank in the new pie dream of a bridge.

Something built on the style of a University Residence would be economical and efficient, and we could likely find a plan for one somewhere without needing an architect to design something new.

But then, in this valley, even a simple expansion requires a plan by a professional Environmental consultant and/or an Engineer.

I mean, good work if you’re an Engineer, I am a retired one, but really necessary?

Paul Ellegood Comox

14 FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

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FROM AN EXTREMELY GRATEFUL 85-year-old senior to an extremely honest senior, Mr. Y. I had just picked up my dog from a local groomer and had a huge forgetful moment, putting my purse on the top of my car. Getting home and no purse. This wonderful senior brought my purse to my door - to my ever gratefulness and refused any reward. How very fortunate we have a wonderful, honest community to live in. A very grateful DMD. SMOKED BEEF to neighbors who spoil beautiful spring days by burning their yard waste piles without first checking the BC Ventilation Index for “good” conditions, as required on your residential burn permit. You can easily avoid making everyone living near you into smoked beef by checking online at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/ epd/epdpa/venting/venting.html (or just Google “BC Ventilation Index”) for the Mid-Island before you strike that match.

You will know for certain whether it is a good day to burn and avoid smoking yourselves and your neighbors like a rack of salmon, regardless of the wind direction. You will be happy with the results, and your neighbors will be happy with you.

ON A BEAUTIFUL SPRING morning like today it’s great to go out for a walk before it gets busy. It’s also great to find a cafe that is open at 6 a.m. (weekdays).

The Early Bird, a funky eatery serving homestyle cooking at a very reasonable price in downtown Courtenay, is where I start.

Its quietness makes me nervous though, thinking that there is not enough business to entice them to stay open so early. So, I want to encourage others who like the idea of an early breakfast of real

food to try Early Bird or go there more often.

A HUGE sudsy bouquet to Westview Ford, GP Vanier School 2015 Grad Committee, and the Comox Valley Special Olympics athletes, parents, caregivers, and coaches who participated in the Drive a Ford for Grad event and Comox Valley Special Olympics Car Wash on Sunday April 19. Westview Ford was a wonderful host for these events, providing Special Olympics with the venue and supplies needed to make our car wash a resounding success (their only interest was the success of both events), and GP Vanier School graciously allowed us to partner with their Drive a Ford for Grad event. Our partnership was beneficial for both Special Olympics and for Vanier - many people who attended patronized both events. Special Olympics athletes, care givers, coaches and parents even took test drives and bought food and drinks from the grads (some of us even bought raffle tickets from the grads). Biggest thanks go to our customers - we sincerely hope that you were pleased with the quality of work we provided, and we hope to see you at future car washes and other Special Olympics events!

A BIG THANK YOU to the very nice gentleman who paid for my meal at Costco April 21. I wasn’t aware it was cash only, no debit, and when I came back from the cash machine, he had already paid and with a big smile presented my meal. A free meal tastes pretty sweet, but I aim to pay it forward. Thank you again.

A BOUQUET to the folks complaining about all the “rewards” cards. There is an easy way to solve this problem: to quote former

U.S. First Lady Nancy Reagan, Just Say NO. What you probably don’t realize is that every time you sign up for a “card”, you give the retailer your name, address, phone number (and, God forbid, e-mail address) and often a lot of other personal information, maybe your date of birth, family size and annual income. This is worth millions to retailers. It is entered into their computers. They can track your spending habits such as what you bought, when you bought it, the quantity, size, etc. Read the cash register receipt...all that detail is not just for stock tracking purposes, and it’s linked to your personal information. This is OK if you don’t mind ending up on another computer, but remember that no one’s computer data base is secure any more-hacking abounds. Just ask Visa, Target, or the Canadian Gov’t. So while they are offering you a rewards card, points card, club card, optimum card, loyalty card or special Mastercard, and YOU think you are being rewarded for “loyalty” they are using you. This is not just a Conspiracy Theory; it’s the truth. Why else would they do it? Too much personal information is swirling around out there as it is. Me, I just say NO and shop where I want, and my wallet is less crowded. And a special beef to the grocery store that did have a good system - they had a true “loyalty card” that gave you cash off your grocery bill, and now that they are part of a megacorporation, what do you get? Travel miles. You can’t eat that.

I WOULD LIKE to send my thanks to the staff of Home Depot - I go in there quite often and have to say, they always are able to help me find what I need - and not by pointing me in the di-

rection of where to find it - they actually go with me down the aisles to ensure I have what I need. And this is every time I go into the store - great service and a bouquet of happy customers to you!

A BIG BOUQUET of flowers to all those using the Highland Sports field... it is so nice to see it being so well-used by our community! Those using the baseball fields, soccer fields, hockey arena and the many, many other activities going on by our children & families, while being so respectful of the facilities! Keep up the great work!

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CONGRATULATIONS to our postal service for their attempt to deliver air mail by travelling 80 in 50km zone in front of Shell bottom of Mission Hill. It’s nice to see fast delivery but possibly slow that tan van down ...especially on wet roads.

A BEEF with CVRD Directors who have approved CVRD property taxes increases at over 4 times the rate of inflation, while the CVRD administration sits on a growing $10.8 million cash account from developers who strain the infrastructure and pay fees for this. Why are Directors approving such large property tax increases while the CVRD has all this cash on hand?

GIGANTIC BOUQUET to all the Comox Valley RCMP, SD 71 and volunteers (and Plates Eatery for making fabulous meals) for putting on an amazing RCMP camp for the high school kids last week at Quadra.

There will be many fond memories for all the students!

Thank you for a great impression made with my son. He learned so much about the RCMP and himself.

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FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

15

BEEFS & BOUQUETS I HAVE BEEN SPENDING some time at Tee Pee park campsite this week, with the intention of watching the snow birds and the F18’s. I heard today from someone staying there that a fellow who works at the base told him that they get 400 complaints a day about the noise. It’s too bad that people don’t find out what the valley is all about before they decide to move here! The Base has been here since the beginning of the last war and they contribute millions to our economy and businesses wouldn’t survive without them! We should be proud of our armed forces. When you move to our beautiful valley, not only do you have the enjoyment of the ocean, golfing almost year round, skiing, hiking, fishing and everything else that goes with it but we also are honored to have the Canadian Armed Forces part of us too. Instead of complaining, encourage them and by the way before you decide to move here, do your homework!!

A HUGE BOUQUET of white lilies to Mid Island Drywall. Not only were they quick to arrive but went above and beyond what was required, thank you so much!! Highly recommended.

HUGE BOUQUET - We were extremely pleased with the help we received from Mary in the MillWork Dept. She went above and beyond. We had come in to order 2 doors and a window and the system would not allow us to order the door to the specs the book had given. Mary tried everything to get it to work, As we had already built the rough opening,according to the book we were not impressed thinking we would have to change everything costing us more money. Mary took the time to call the company and was able to find out that we could in fact get the door we wanted. We would also like to acknowledge Lorne who took the time to help us find all our other needs, and Shawna at Special Services who always has a smile. They were all extremely helpful making this one of the best shopping experience, A HOLE IN ONE for the very kind gentleman at the Comox Golf Club who donated an amazing set of golf clubs for my son to

THE COMOX VALLEY’S FIRST AND BEST READER’S FORUM Email to: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com use while he is a member there. You went above and beyond and we just wanted you to know how much the kind and thoughtful gesture was appreciated!

And to the club for sizing them...a great big thank you!!

MS WALK SUPPORTERS! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all those who donated or came out to the 4-legged family members - but it is important to remember to pick up after your pet, keep them out of children’s playgrounds, and off outdoor tables! Its part of being a good neighbor that makes this community great!

THE CHILDREN of the Miracle Beach Out of School Care Program would love to thank all of the owners at Discovery Foods in Oyster River for their generous support during our recent Hot Dog Fundraiser. Dale and his staff showed amazing support and enthusiasm for our efforts on March 28 to raise money for our non-profit childcare program which is located on site at Miracle Beach Elementary. A big shout out to all of you at Discovery Foods, our manager, staff and board members for making this a success, and finally, and most importantly to those of you who enjoyed the offerings and made donations to this essential services provided to the children in this program!

MANY THANKS to the observant person who saw my keys fall off the roof of my car. You turned them in to the Komox Grind, wrote about it in this column, and I was able to claim them. I sincerely appreciate your effort.

THE O.A.P.O. Branch #51 (Cumberland Lamplight-

ers) would like to offer beautiful bouquets of spring flowers to everyone who helped make our Spring Bazaar a huge success again this year. Thank you for the donations for the raffles, the door prizes, the white elephant table, the bake sale table, and the grocery hampers.

Thank you for the donations of home cooked soup and delicious crisps for the lunch. Thank you to everyone who volunteered time and energy setting up, running the bazaar, and cleaning up after it was done. Thank you to the community, who came out and supported the day. Special thanks to the Girl Guides who took time from their meeting to set up the tables for us.

A BEEF to the Sandwick water district for taking even the slightest chance with our water. I find it surprising that there hasn’t been more uproar from those using this water when a threat like this is brought up. No one on my block will drink this water already because it tastes terrible, so who knows what’s already in it.

It’s high time the piping was connected to Courtenay’s water supply and Sandwick mothballed.

I HAVE TO AGREE with the beef directed at BC Hydro for spilling millions of gallons of water for a few jocks to play in. Anyone can see we are in for a dry summer and we need every drop we can get even if that means filling the reservoir to the brim.

Hydro should be actively looking for ways to keep the water we have, not trying to close the gate after the cows are out. I say that the ‘few’ should go look for another place to play.

BEEF to the person who

used the internet to find fabricated statistics about “pit bulls” and managed to get them published so that readers of this publication might be led to believe that they are factual: They are not. The statements you made have been refuted by science and discredited by dog experts. Breed specific laws have no basis in science.

TWO MORE PITBULL attacks. Who’da thunk, eh?

Unfortunately, this problem likely won’t be dealt with until someone’s toddler gets chewed. Please note, a pitbull ban doesn’t hurt the dogs, it can be a phasing-out process. Existing dogs might stay, with restrictions, including requiring their owners to carry extra insurance. But no more pitbulls could be imported, bred, licensed, or sold here, and pretty soon, they’d be history. The writer who suggested a survey to determine how people feel had a good idea. Until then, parents, joggers, walkers, and cyclists, you can get a perfectly legal can of dog repellant pepper spray on Amazon.ca for $10.95.

And well worth it. Ban the bulls!

so you can follow along.

That river site is properly zoned, the houses stored there properly permitted for the move and more than that, those houses are going to be recycled.

I’m sorry that high tides wait for no man, ruining your transit ride - you were on the bus I hope. Too bad the transition from water to land can’t be done out of your sight or at night.

And compared to some of the permanent housing along the Dyke Road, Nickel Brothers homes are a pleasant distraction.

Did you know they have a TV show on W Network Game of Homes! Thanks for the continued support of housing.

A BOUQUET and thank you to all the people that must have been involved in developing the simple trail along the Piercy Creek that starts near the housing co-op. I noticed the shredded bark leading off into the woods and was very pleased to find the path. So were our little dogs. Look forward to exploring the branch that takes a right to?? Don’t know how long it has been there but a heartfelt Well Done to all who contributed!

A BEAUTIFUL SPRING BOUQUET to Encorp ReturnIt bottle depot for now taking white styrofoam, styrofoam meat trays, milk cartons, juice cartons and glass household bottles. Now I hope that a won’t see these items at the Courtenay Country Market recycling center.

Please keep these items out of the landfill.

A BOUQUET OF FLAT TIRES to the woman in the small black car on Friday, April 17th at 11:20 a.m who held up traffic crossing 5th Street Bridge while she made an illegal left turn into Lewis Park. As “do not enter” signs are clearly visible, suggest woman study the road signs and soon!

KUDOS to the great recycler - Nickel Brothers. To the contributor to B & B last week complaining about the three chrysalis structures on the Dyke, pay attention - I’ll write slowly

SPRING BOUQUETS to ABC Printing. Thanks for the great customer service in getting our business cards printed on short notice, after several changes, in time for my conference!

THIS WEEK’S WINNER, DRAWN AT RANDOM FROM SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED UP TO TUESDAY, IS: Libby Juthans, of Courtenay Winner of two classic cheese baskets 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!

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.

Have fun with this!

A BIG BOUQUET to the Outback Nursery on Headquarters Rd. The staff were so friendly and informative and the beautiful plants they had for sale just made one want to get out and garden! I will be going back! Thanks Outback Nursery!

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

*Limited time weekly lease offer and all other offers are from Honda Canada Finance Inc., on approved credit. #The weekly lease offer applies to a new 2015 Accord LX model CR2E3FE/Civic DX model FB2E2FEX/Fit DX model GK5G3FE (“Specified Models”) for a 60-month period, for a total of 260 payments of $61.93/$38.95/$39.97 leased at 0.99%/0.99%/2.99% APR based on applying $325.00/$1,100.00/$1,175.00 “lease dollars” (which are deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes). ‡In order to achieve $0 down payment, dealer will cover the cost of tire/battery tax, air conditioning tax (where applicable), environmental fees and levies on the 2015 Accord LX, Civic DX and Fit DX only on customer’s behalf. Down payment of $0.00, first weekly payment and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $16,101.80/$10,127.00/$10,392.20. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. 120,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometres. **MSRP is $25,745/$17,245/$16,070 including freight and PDI of $1,695/$1,495/$1,495 based on new 2015 Specified Models described above. License, insurance, registration and taxes are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. */#/**Prices and/or payments shown do not include a PPSA lien registration fee of $30.31 and lien registering agent's fee of $5.25, which are both due at time of delivery and covered by the dealer on behalf of the customer on Specified Models only. Offers valid from April 1st through 30th 2015 at participating Honda retailers.

Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.

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17 Mortgage Consulting

NIRS grower Brian Staton passes on culture tips for rhodos.

Everything’s coming up rhodos

The truss display shows rhodos at their peak. growers themselves so buyers can get important advice on their planting and culture “straight from the horse’s mouth.”

This year’s sale will take place from 10AM to 1PM Sunday April 26 at the K’omox Band Hall, 3320 Comox (Dyke) Road.

A new feature added to the sale this year is a workshop series starting at 11AM that will feature experts from the club talking on various aspects of rhodo culture.

Judy Walker will speak on three workshop topics: The Dos and Don’ts of Planting Rhodos, How to Feed the Soil and Feed the Plants and how to choose rhodos if you have limited space.

Annual spring sale Sunday

A

pril showers bring May flowers-they also bring a surge of shoppers nudged from winter hibernation by a host of plant sales offering everything from primulas and petunias to trees and shrubs. Among the favourite shrubs on gardeners’ lists this time of year are rhododendrons.

Jake Ellis, president of the North Island Rhododendron Society explains: “I think rhodos love this Valley for all the same reasons we do. It’s all about climate-moder-

ate weather both summer and winter with very little snow but lots of moisture in the form of rain.

“Throw in our soil which is just about perfect for growing acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons and you have the perfect place to live-for you and those beautiful rhododendrons.”

One of the best places to stock up on rhododendrons is the annual North Island Rhododendron Society (NIRS) spring sale.

Rhodo shrubs at the sale are grown locally and most are sold by the

Cathy Storey suggests companion plants to a sale customer.

(Continued on page 18)

18

www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

Murder-Mystery dinner theatre to benefit food bank “In the Deadwood saloon in the town of Gravestone, the townspeople are gathering for an evening of poker, dancing, and drinking -oblivious to the trouble that is brewing around them. Suddenly the evening takes a turn when one of the locals turns up dead!”

While you enjoy your dinner, the cast of amateur actors and volunteers from the Comox Valley Small Business Association will uncover “who done it.” Then un-holster your guns and kick up your boots on the dance floor.

The murder-mystery dinner theater, to be held at the Courtenay Legion to benefit the Comox Valley Food bank, is schedule for Saturday May 2, 2015. Doors open at 6:30. Western apparel/costumes are encouraged.

The buffet dinner will be catered

by Carmie’s Catering, and the full bar will be run by the Legion. Music is donated by Audio Xcellence DJ Systems. A photo booth will be set up by Prestige Video Transfer.

There will be plenty of door prizes, too.

In addition to fundraising through

ticket sales, there will be a silent auction. This is a great marketing opportun ity, so donations are welcome in advance by contacting Lori Ball at 250-703-3444.

Country and Western Props are being provided by the Treasure Shack and various CVSBA members.

Seating is limited. Tickets are $30 per person, including dinner/ dance /door prizes/silent auction/ chance to decide who done it. They are available through www.EventBrite.ca (Murder At The Deadwood Saloon) or call Lori/Russ at 250 703 3444.

For entrepreneurs looking for a group that combines networking with education and events such as this, please attend meeting of the Comox Valley Small Business Association as a guest at no charge. If you like what you see and the people you meet, membership in the association is only $95 per year.

The SBA meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Florence Filberg Center, Evergreen Room (lower level).

Everything’s coming up rhodos at sale (Continued from page 17) As a member of NIRS, Judy brings years of hands-on experience: “The biggest mistake people make in planting rhododendrons is to plant them too deep,” she says.

She places a lot of emphasis on good healthy soil with lots of microorganisms, beetles and earthworms if you want healthy plants.

There is a misconception among some new gardeners that rhodos are hard to grow and need a lot of TLC. Rhodo experts however point out that once rhodos are established they take very little maintenance and can easily be moved from one bed to another because of their shallow root base.

Member Garth Wedemire’s workshop topic is how and when to pinch and prune rhododendrons.

“The main thing to remember about pruning rhododendrons IS to prune them,” he says, “especially for shaping and controlling their size and branching.”

Bernie Guyader, another grower who will be at the sale, specializes in dwarf rhodos and alpine plants and favours rhodos with good indumentum and bluish-coloured leaves.

“These are usually only found at plant sales featuring

Courtenay

rhododendrons,” he says. “If the ones a buyer wants are not available, the very knowledgeable growers at the sales can steer the customer to where they can be bought.”

Paul Wurz, a familiar face at the annual rhodo sales, owns Hidden Acres nursery in Campbell River and he willingly dispenses a long list of tips on what to look for when buying a rhodo.

“When you find a plant you like, pull it out of the pot and take a look at the roots,” he says. “This might raise eyebrows but you need to know that the plant has healthy roots and is not totally root bound.”

Most growers are concerned about how their rhodos fare after they go home to gardens and caution against buying plants just because they are cheap or on sale or in places that sell plants that are mass produced.

Wurz adds: “Many of these places just have a few choices and varieties that look good at first. These are often just sold in one-gallon pots where the roots are not totally developed yet. Studies have shown that 70% of rhodos like this can die in the first year.”

The information table manned by NIRS experts and stocked with lots of reference books will be back this year so buyers can get additional tips

for all the details, go to

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T Courtenay and District Museum The is i celebrating the City’s 100th anniversary with the publication a of a coffee table style book with the help of the Comox Valley Echo.

It is a high quality magazine style publication with a durable cover.

Historically rich content focuses on activities of people who have shaped our community over the decades. Proceeds from the sales of book copies will help the museum with funding development of programs and activities. Copies are $5.00 each which includes GST, and are available at the Museum and the Echo.

and specific growing information or learn more about the characteristics of the plants they buy.

Another asset for buyers is the annual table displaying trusses showing the wide variety of forms and colours a buyer can expect when his rhodo is in full bloom. Spot a rhodo you like, jot down its name and see if one of the vendors has that particular plant for sale or can direct you to where it can be purchased.

Every year the NIRS sale sets up a large selection of “companion plants” donated by members and these range from delicate early spring trilliums to robust hostas and much more.

Fran Thornton, an NIRS member who is a familiar face at the annual companion plant table, will be offering a workshop session just before noon on choosing the right companion plants for your garden.

In addition to plants, the Therapeutic Riding Society will have a spot near the Hall exit where composted horse manure can be bought and volunteers with wheelbarrows will be available to help buyers with loading plants into cars.

Admission to the sale and parking is free.

Visitors will also be given a free chance at a draw for a rhododendron.

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CBC Literary Award author at the Fat Oyster Headlining at this month’s Fat Oyster Reading Series is Jane Eaton Hamilton.

She is a two-time first prize winner of the CBC Literary Awards most recently in 2014.

She, along with authors Maleea Acker, David Fraser and Patricia Smekal will be reading at the Fanny Bay Hall on Wednesday April 29th.

The Fat Oyster does it again with a wonderful line-up of authors this month.

Hamilton is author of 8 books, most recently the poetry collection Love

Will Burst into a Thousand Shapes (2014).

This work has been described as intimate, sexy, grief-stricken, witty, and urbane. She has written for the Globe and Mail, McLeans, the New York Times and many other magazines and journals; and has won numerous literary and arts awards.

Joining her is Maleea Acker, an author and teacher who is currently completing a PhD in Cultural Geography at the University of Victoria.

Acker’s most recent book Air-Proof Green (2013) is a collection of poetry that

Jane Eaton Hamilton crosses continents and asks the essential question, How do we live in the world? Her previous book Gardens Aflame: Garry Oak Meadows on

BC’s South Coast (2012) is a wonderful book that examines her relationship to the Garry Oak forest and has been described as a lyrical and ethical parable. Her poetry and nonfiction has been published by numerous literary journals. She is a Director for the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team.

Patricia Smekal and David Fraser will be reading from their recent book, Maybe We Could Dance, A Collaboration of Response Poems. Each live on opposite sides of Northwest Bay in Nanoose. This collection represents a won-

derful collaborative process of in which one author would respond to the others writing from across the bay. This promises to be a lively spoken-word performance.

This delightful Fat Oyster reading will be on Wednesday April 29th at 7:00 pm at the Fanny Bay Hall. Doors open at 6:30.

The cost is by donation at the door. For more information please see the Fanny Bay Hall website at: http://fannybaycommunity.com/fat-oyster-reading-series/ and Facebook Jane Eaton Hamilton’s recent at: https://www.facebook. book: intimate, sexy, grief-stricken, witty, and urbane. com/fatoysterreading.

CV Piano Society celebrates 25th anniversary with concert To celebrate its 25th anniversary, The Comox Valley Piano Society is pleased to present a special Variety Benefit Concert featuring several of the valley’s finest musicians. This event will be held at the Stan Hagen Theatre, NI College on Saturday, April 25 at 7:00pm.

Proceeds from this concert will go the the CVPS music awards fund which has now been supporting promising music students in the Comox valley for a quarter of a century.

Two outstanding local young pianists will be featured in the program.Opening the concert will be Towa Stewart. Towa,

at the age of 13, already has an impressive list of awards: winner of the Chopin Piano Competition (2012); winner of the Virginia Gracek Music Scholarship (2013); winner of Junior B Piano, BC Festival of the Arts (2014). Thomas Drew, another rising talent, was last years winner of the Marie Josephine Richard Scholarship Competition administered by the CVPS. Local pianist/accompanist/teacher, Erik Taynen, has invited several of his friends to join him in rounding out the concert: Dagmar Kilian,Tracy Canil, Eleanore Krullaarts, Tanya Renaud, Tom Spratt, Tlell Mooney, Eve Mark, Tony Morrison

CV Horticultural Society hosts their annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 25 at Florence Filberg Centre from 9:30-11:30am.

Come early for best selection and bring your own box. Cash Sales Only!

TV SCENE NEW

Available Every Friday at the following locations: s:

Discovery Foods

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Thrifty’s

Oyster River

England Ave. & Ryan Rd

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Comox Valley Echo o Cumberland Generall Store

Mail subscriptions available Contact the Comox Valley Echo 250-334-4734

and Peter Walker. All these musicians are known in the valley as well-seasoned performers and several are also inspiring teachers.

True to its name, this concert will be diverse in musical styles: a jazz saxophone/piano duet; an Italian art song; a Mozart trio for viola, piano and clarinet; a Schubert Impromtu; and a Bach Suite for cello. There will be a variety of ensembles: duos, trios and of course piano solos. You will hear many favourites: Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Debussy’s Reflets Dans L’Eau, and Brahms’ Rhapsody in G minor.

This concert has been planned as a family event. The music is varied, interesting and tuneful; just over an hour in length and reasonably priced. All tickets are $10 with a family pass of $30. Tickets may be purchased at Laughing Oyster Bookstore or Blue heron Books with family passes available only at the door.

CVPS would like to thank all the musicians who are giving their time an talents to make this event possible.

For further information about this concert, please contact Donna at 250-33833299and/or www.comoxvalleypianosociety.com/events.

20 www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

HAMM to host Centennial Anzac Day Commemoration

Evergreen Club spring garage sale fundraiser The Evergreen Club’s Spring Garage Sale takes place on Saturday, April 25th from 9am-noon in the downstairs Rotary Hall of the Florence Filberg Centre.

The Evergreen Club is a 55 and better club that provides a wide range of activities and programs.

This fundraising event will bring bargain hunters together.

The Evergreen Club has been doing these Sales (along with their famous Pancake Breakfasts) for countless years and has been a major reason why we have the Florence Filberg Centre for the public to use today.

Typically you will find books, clothing, jewellery, kitchen ware, and so much more. The kitchen will be open for some well priced treats and for parking it is suggested to use the lot below on Anderton Ave. It’s a free event and all arewelcome. For more information call 250-3381000 or check out www. evergreenclub.me

Ceremony, musical guests, films on Saturday

Classic Cruisers planning Swap Meet for Sunday, May 3 Rain or Shine the Classic Cruisers Annual Swap Meet is on Sunday, May 3 at the CV Sports Centre, Vanier Dr., Courtenay.

The Concession will be open. Traditional bannock will be available , as well as coffee and drinks.

Admission is $2pp and children 12 years and under are free.

A donation to the Food Bank from the first 75 participants in the Show and Shine will get you a Dash Plaque to keep as a souvenir.

It’s not just cars. Antiques and Collectables are invited for the price of a $10 or $20 stall rental

size 10x10 or 10x20, indoor or outdoor location.

If you have a car for sale the opportunity is there.

Want to buy something for your car? Vendors will help you and answer any questions. For more information contact Yvon @ 250-898-9782 or email yjsavoie@shaw.ca You are invited to this Swap Meet, enjoy a cup of coffee and chat with the President Couple Bill and Terry Fisher.

At the Car Club’s monthly meeting recently their guest speaker was Bill Barr from the Masonic Temple Assn. His presentation on organ donors

was very informative and registration forms were distributed. Members are currently planning the Annual Graffiti Bash on July 25 and 26.

This promises to be an exciting celebration in conjunction with Centennial Celebrations of The Courtenay Fire Department.

Classic Cruisers invite all car enthusiasts to join them every Thursday night at 6:00pm at the A & W on Cliffe Ave. The Club extends gratitude to Comox Valley Dodge and all the sponsors of this Annual Swap Meet.

This Saturday, 25th April, will mark the centennial of Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corp) and the HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial will host the first annual Anzac Day commemoration at its Comox Centre Mall location at 12:30pm.

This will also be in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli, a tragic battle of the First World War. Anzac Day is similar to Canadian Remembrance Day in honouring Commonwealth Military Forces.

Musical guest will be Shayne Stuchbury who will provide music in both English and Maori. The MC for the event will be Lewis Bartholomew E.D. for HAMM. The Remembrance ceremony will be presented by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 (Comox) after which the audience will be treated to a wonderful expression of what Anzac Day repre-

sents with presentations

by Lucas Evans and Cathy Kaardal.

The museum will also have a small interactive exhibit on Anzac Day as well as two documentary film areas playing short films on a loop and will present the 1981 film Gallipoli with Mel Gibson at approximately 2:00 pm with admission by donation in the neighbouring store front at the Mall.

The Museum is also expecting a shipment of actual Anzac Day poppies from the RSA in New Zealand to wear for this event. These can be purchased from any Museum volunteer for $2 with all proceeds benefiting the Museum’s Remembrance Days fund.

For more information on this event, or to share your own family’s Anzac memorabilia (or bake some Anzac cookies) please contact Lewis Bartholomew at 250-339-4322 or email the museum at tap103@ alberniproject.org

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Wayne’s

quote of the week

www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

21

To bee or not to bee many plants that you can grow. You want to encourage various bees to visit your garden throughout the year, so try to grow plants that have different flowering times: Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Bees are attracted to blue, purple, white and yellow. They cannot see the color red, for them it blends in with the tones of green. Different bees are attracted to different flowers (i.e.: different tongue lengths of the bees need different shaped flowers), so have a variety of choices for them.

If you have limited space in the garden, you might want to choose

BY ELLEN PRESLEY Anderton Nursery

There are many species of bees in our area and we all need to do our part in attracting them to our garden. Over the last few years, we have been concerned with the diminishing numbers of these wonderful creatures and the overall threat to our food supply.

What can we do? Plant a garden to attract bees and other beneficial wildlife.

Whether you have a large garden or are restricted to a small space and container gardening, there are

plants with a longer blooming time.

I have listed some of the longer blooming perennials and annuals that bees love.

BLUE Borage (Star Flower) is a wonderful annual herb native to the Mediterranean region.

This beautiful periwinkle-blue flower blooms from June to September.

You can harvest the flowers and add them to salads, drinks or desserts.

(Continued on page 22)

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22

www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

To bee or not to bee (Continued from page 21) This is an awesome flower to put in the vegetable garden as it is a good companion plant for tomatoes, squash and strawberries and is pest and problem free.

Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ (Hyssop) grows 30” and forms wands of blue flowers that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It is an easy care fragrant plant that is good for the compact border. Both the flowers and leaves are edible, but the deer and rabbit leave it alone. It is great as a cut flower and will grow in full sun to part shade in average soil.

Another easy to grow, bee loving flower is the Centaurea montana (Blue Cornflower). It grows 1223” in bushy clumps of grey-green leaves with deep blue fringed flowers which can be deadhead for repeat blooming throughout the summer.

It will tolerate most soil types and can be pruned for shape. It is deer and rabbit resistant, droughttolerant and both the bees and butterflies love it.

This is the perennial version but the annual form

Centaurea cynus (bachelor buttons) also attracts bumblebees and carder bees. The centaurea have lots of pollen to offer their guests.

PURPLE The Echinacea ‘Magnus’ (Coneflower) is a familiar easy care, long blooming plant that attracts many beneficial creatures to your garden: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and song birds.

You can also use it as a cut flower. This drought tolerant plant is deer resistant and will flower into the fall. There are many varieties of Echinacea but go for the ones that have the exposed cone heads that allow the bees to access the pollen. Leave the seed heads on during the fall and winter for the birds.

All the Lavenders seem to attract bees and butterflies; whether it is the English angustifolia ‘Munstead’ or the lovely large headed Spanish Lavender.

They are deer resistant and can be used in a variety of ways for cooking and baking or potpourri.

For the late fall into winter, plant Asters. Aster (Michaelmas Daisy) novibelgii ‘Professor Kippen-

It is difficult to list all the plants that attract bees.

I have provided a short list to get you started.

Agastache Alyssum Bearberry California Poppy Catnip, catmint Centaurea Cistus (Rockrose) Cranesbill Crocus Echinacea Fennel Helianthemum (Rock rose)

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

Apple Holly Apricot Horse chestnut Arbutus Unedo Locust Basswood Magnolia

• • • • • • • •

TREES Catalpa Maple Cherry Michaelia Clerodendron Mimosa Carnelian Cherry Mountain Ash

• • • • • •

Anemone blanda Bachelor buttons Buckwheat Cilantro Clover Cosmos

• • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Blackberry Black raspberries Blueberries Boysenberries Caryopteris Ceanothus Choisia

• • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Rock Cress Romneya Rose Mallows Rosemary Rubus calcycinoides Rudbeckia Sage Sedum Spearmint Squills Strawberries Yarrow

• • • • • • • •

Crabapples Oxydendrum Evodia Plum Golden chain Tulip poplar Hazels Willow

ANNUALS Cucumbers Green beans Green Peas Pumpkins Snowdrops Squashes, all

• • • • •

Strawberries Sunflower Sweet Peas Thistle Zinnias

SHRUBS Deutzia Heather Hydrangea Loganberries Mahonia Pieris Raspberries

• • • • •

Rosemary Rose of Sharon Viburnum Weigela Witch Hazel

The list is credited to Thom Lee of the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association.

Superstore Garden Centre Opening this Weekend!!!

Start Saving Today

PERENNIALS Hellebore Hyacinth Lavender, all types Lemon Balm Lupin Michaelmas Daisy Oregano Ornamental Goldenrod • Parsley • Peppermint • Poppies • Pulmonaria

• • • • • • • • • • • •

burg’ looks like the wild Aster but this is a compact, well behaved variety and the bees love it.

WHITE Don’t overlook the annuals when selecting bee attractors. They are inexpensive and bloom all summer.

No stranger to the garden, Alyssum ‘Snow Crystal’ (3-6”) flowers from June to October. They produce masses of dainty fragrant little white flowers - definitely a cheerful accent to any garden or container. Alyssum tolerates many types of soil and prefers it well drained and moderately moist. Plant in full sun to part shade, and by cutting them back they can be encouraged to re-bloom.

The award winning Cleome ‘Helen Campbell’ (Spider Flower) is a beautiful, pure white flower about 36” tall that is making a comeback. This annual is lightly scented and blooms from summer to the first frost. It is good as a cut flower and grows quickly. Great along a fence or as a backdrop to a flower bed and makes an excellent temporary shrub. Even though it is tall, no staking is required, but protect it from strong winds. Plant in mass and watch the bees and hum-

mingbirds flock to it.

Another easy to grow annual is Cosmos. They come in a variety of colors and look lovely billowing along a fence line and bloom all summer with very little care.

YELLOW Plant of the year in 1999, Rudbeckia fulgida (Blackeyed Susan) ‘Goldsturm’ (24”-30”) is an amazing perennial that is a must in any garden. This native selection loves full sun to part shade and forms a bushy upright clump of green leaves showcasing lovely cheery yellow daisy like flowers. It blooms mid-summer to fall and then the seed heads add winter interest - a good choice for mass planting and great with ornamental grasses. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and many species of bees, yet is both rabbit and deer resistant. It is easy to grow and makes a lovely cut flower.

One of the best bee flowers for the late summer and fall is the perennial Solidago (Goldenrod) and goldenrod honey is considered a delicacy with a distinctive bite. Solidago ‘Golden Baby’ is 23-27”, easy to grow and has large heads of golden yellow flowers.

(Continued on page 23)

eper Master Beeke John Barrett g on will be talkin ees” “Regarding B

• Trees and shrubs: In full bloom; Rhodos, Azaleas, Ribes es (Flo (Flowering ow ng currants), Cherries, and so much more. Come talk to ourr st staff ff oonn how ow to plan your garden.

• Perennials: Holy Cow! We have so many to choose from m and and th the girls keep bringing more in. Incredible selection of both old favou favourites ourrit iites an and th thee new and unusual.

• Fruits and Vegetables: Time to get your fruit trees in: Apples, plesss, Pears, ears, Cherries, Plums, Peach and many more. As well as Grapes, Kiwis, wiss, Figs, F s,, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Goji Berries & Honeyberries. The Vegetable e abbbll st starts tart t t such as Lettuce, Broccoli, Cabbage, Onions, and Kale are all readyy to t pputt in your garden for that head start to the season. Get them all in now and an a be eating fresh from your garden all Summer!

• Annuals: Yes...most of them are out and ready to go for fo you early rly birds..

Lots of plants for pollination !! Just ask us.

Baskets! Lots to choose from and for those who want custom basket...time me to put in your orders.

Like Us On Facebook to win a hanging basket for Mother’s Day

www.comoxvalleyecho.com

How to attract bees to your garden (Continued from page 22) It is well behaved and does not need staking.

It used to be given a bad rap for causing allergies but it was later found out that the ragweed which flowers at the same time was the cause not the golden rod.

It is very useful in the garden adding good texture and form and makes a great cut flower. It attracts hummingbirds, butterflies but is deer resistant.

One of the best loved flowers, Helianthus (Sunflower) is a fantastic flower for attracting bees. It is such a cheery flower and there are hundreds of varieties to choose from - from the dwarf varieties such as ‘Sunny smile’ or tall Russian classic, you can find a place for them anywhere from a container to a fence line. There is also a perennial version as well.

The

westerly F A M I LY R E S TA U R A N T

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Daily 6:30am - 1:30pm, 5:00pm - 9:00pm

Reservations 250.338.7741

The Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre

1590 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay

TIPS FOR THE BEE GARDEN Some plants like Heather have many buds and can accommodate a lot of bees at one time. Heathers also come in a variety of bloom times.

Having an Herb garden will also attract a lot of bees - their favorite plants being: borage, chives, thyme, oregano and Lavender. When we are harvesting the herbs, leave some of the flowers on the plant for the bees. We can all share.

Leave the Clover in your grass and let the Herb garden go to seed.

Bees need a water source and love to take baths. Make sure, if you have a bird bath that you put stones in the water as landing pads for the bees.

The blossoms of all the Prunus family of trees (e.g.: Plums, Cherry, Peach) whether they are edible or ornamental produce nectar so if you do not have space in

your garden, one ornamental cherry will help. By providing blossoms for the bees in your yard, you are helping to pollinate your neighbours’ garden.

Try not to use pesticides in your garden. In attempts to kill one insect, you might well be killing off many beneficial creatures, and sadly, the irony is that you kill its natural predator in the process. Often nature takes care of itself.

90% of plants rely on pollination from beneficial insects. The more you attract these wonderful creatures, the more abundant your yield of fruits and vegetables. By choosing a few of these flowers, you will be feeding the bees all summer long. Happy Gardening!

NOTE: Master Beekeeper, John Barrett will be giving information on bees, this Saturday from 10-11:00am at the Nursery.

FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

Bridge News CV DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB Play and learn on Thursday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00. Bid and play arranged hands and ask questions as you go. Cost is $5:00 for the session. For more information call Jack Bradshaw (250) 703-0397.

Monday, April 13 A 1 Jeanette Baron - Dorothy Branch 2 Arlene Petersen - Cynthia Tree 3 Glen Parsons - Dave Proctor B 2 Allen Hopwood - Lorraine Waring Thursday, April 16 A 1 Doug Nash - Gary Priestman 2 Arlene Petersen - Bernice Blonarwitz 3 Allen Hopwood - Tom Thomsen B 2 Richard Earl - Gillian Earl 3 Lorraine Waring - Lorraine Gargan C 3 Ann Cook - Jim Poulson Our club is located on Nordin Street across from the Comox Mall under the newly renovated Museum and Art Gallery.

We offer guaranteed partnerships, so if you’re visiting or your regular partner is away, make sure you come out to play

Welcome to the Westerly’s WEEKNIGHT Buffet

23

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 CLUB Results for Tuesday, 14th April (7 tables): N/S - 1. Lys McCrone and Karin Franzen; 2. Dianne McKinnon and Ruby Paulson.

E/W - 1. Daphne Welsh and Ann Cook; 2. Irene Smith and Cynthia Tree.

Results for Friday, 17th April (9 tables): N/S - 1. Tom and Betty Thomsen; 2. Jean Tait and John Biehl; 3. Gary and Fran Priestman.

E/W - 1. Chuck and Lorraine Hodson; 2. Dick and Lynn Sangster; 3.

Pat and Liz Dawson.

Results for Saturday, 18th April (9 1/2 tables): N/S - 1. Pete and Glenda McGrath; 2. Jean Tait and Neil Jackson; 3. Tom Dugdale and Jeanette Baron.

E/W - 1. Irene Smith and Betty Fountain; 2. Keith and Evelyn Ware; 3. Jim Pulson and Frieda Home.

“Best Brunch in Town”

Join us Monday through Thursday from 5:00pm - 6:30pm for our NEW dining experience

Choose from our Salad Bar, Vegetable, Meat, Seafood and Vegetarian stations and finish up with our Dessert Bar!

Adults $19 Kids (11-16) $9.99 Seniors $13 Kids (10 and under) $5.99

beverages, taxes and gratuities are not included – reservations recommended

Join us every Sunday from 11:00am - 2:00pm only at The Westerly!

24 www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

Hockey pool winner claims TV Rick Aker, (centre) Visual Sound Store General Manager, and Artur Ciastkowski (left) of the Comox Valley Echo present Stu Barry, the first place winner in the Comox Valley Echo Hockey Poo,l with his prize of a big screen TV just in time for playoffs.

Varietyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Radiothon

All the funds we raise benefit local children who have special needs.

Tune in April 29 & 30 Help us create little victories in the community for kids like Talia.

For information on how you can get involved visit variety.bc.ca or call us at 310-KIDS (5437).

Special thanks to Michele Courtney and Rough Bay Enterprises.

www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

CODES COUNTRY LANES Bowling highlights from Codes Country Lanes: Monday AM - Dave Stacey 196, Heather Abraham 193, Bob Van Nes 277, Pat King 221, Arnie Morrison 214, Arnie Auerbach 218, Roy Brekke 243, Micki MacDonald 239, Ria Tjart 199.

Monday PM - Lucille Smith 240, Ruth Johnson 190, Shirley M. 172, Erma Wilson 217, Shirley Evans 198, Grace Rodriguez 207, Ivan Ally 216, Bill Tower 168.

Tuesday Breakfast - Mary McArthur 185, Brenda Searl 180, Pat Fish 170, Jane Wedge 179, Laurie McWillis 219, Isabelle Bracchi 182, Syvlia VanDerVliet 227.

Tuesday 12:30 - George Andrews 178, Ed Schievink 105, Garry Pearson 141, Ev Andrews 169.

Tuesday Adult - Brian Booth 250, Cynthia Taylor 202, Bruno Bagdan 239, Bill Brundige 216, Lynda Brundige 189, Marlo Duncalf 245, Jill Comeau 171, Steve Robson 245.

Wednesday 9:30 - Heather Abraham 199, Rosalee Williams 198, Yvonne Melancon 235, Andre Melancon 224, Gerry VanAchte 203, Ria Tjart 226, Marie Israel 203, Minnie Frame 238, Paul Riley 165.

Tuesday/Wednesday CRA Linda Christie 123, Debbie Downer 128, Cori Pagnoni 161, Randy Poole 128, Walter Martin 121, Russell Enright 155, Michael Campbell 195, Bill Howard 141, Jim Battram 123, Rachell Anderson 100.

Wednesday Adult - Scott McLellan 253, Ken Bird 212, Rick Granneman 205, Susan Pendergast 173, Louise Bundschuh 210, John West 208, Vicki Major 194, Bruno Bagdan 225, Tannis Pond 197.

Thursday Golden Age - Rick Rodriguez 213, Ivan Ally 205, Lynn Devries 202, Jim Hume 170, Linda Jeffery 170, Barb Casey 189, Sharon Shepherd 183, Jill Comeau 197, Bob Van Nes 234, Bob Sharp 233, Linda Meers 226, Rosemary 220, Kelvin Davis 205, Kaela McLean 203.

Thursday Adult - Darrell Funk 200, Jessica Davies 208, Elaine Allen 171, Jordan Austin 221, Scott Van Achte 255, Jessica Giroux 275, Janet Butler 178, Janet Ellis 170, Steve Robson 267, Paul Zorz 256, Andrew Stubbings 231, Aprile Brekke Reidl 236, Jane Wedge 200.

Friday GA - Ruth Rivington 184, Ickle Brown 206, Ken Scavarda 206, Roy Brekke 229, Nick Tjart 221, Ria Tjart 190, Ed Tanner 218, George Railian 214, Arnie Auerbach 203, Jim Bennett 196, George Sand 232, Art Wesner 193, Gerhard Sorger 196.

Special O - Jamie Bennett 195, Chris Malboreuff 191, Allison Bennett 163, Lindsey Clayton 127, Debbie Downer 132, Colin Wells 176, Trevor Carter 192, Larry McCooey 182, Rose Fletcher 149, Leona Wagner 141, Chris Gillis 214, Mary Wells 153, Jesse Anderson 156.

Savour the tastes of Spring!

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26 www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

WE PAY THE TAX

WWW.MUSEANDMERCHANT.COM NANAIMO

1711 Bowen Road 250-753-8900

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Mon-Fri 9:30-6:00pm Saturday 9:30-5:30pm Sunday Noon-5:00pm

MUSE & MERCHANT & SCANDESIGNS

www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

27

Do something healthy & have fun at the same time!

The Peewee Cardinals went all the way last year, snagging a provincial championship.

Baseball team honoured with park banner for stellar championship season

BY DREW A. PENNER Echo Staff The sun beamed down with the boys gathered at the grass baseball field behind Aspen Park Elementary in Comox April 16.

They were there to look back on the incredible season they had last year as their provincial championship-nabbing efforts

were honoured with the unveiling of a banner.

Comox Mayor Paul Ives, a baseball player himself, attended the event and reminisced about the original drive he had been part of to get the fields established.

At the time they had hoped a group of players might rise up and do the community proud.

Registration & Orientation for New Riders only

‘Banner’ installed on fence at Aspen ball park And that’s exactly what happened in the illustrious Comox Valley Peewee A play witnessed last year by supporters and opponents.

The Cardinals, a rep baseball team in the U13 division, gave it all they had and took home one of only four provincial championships ever garnered by the Comox Valley.

The team plays in the Comox Valley Baseball Association but made their mark in the British Columbia “A” levels in Vancouver last fall.

Robert Mulrooney, assistant coach and a member of the local baseball association, said it was fantastic to see the way the kids came together.

(Continued on page 28)

Wednesday April 29th at 7 pm 1782B Comox Avenue, Comox

CARRIERS WANTED No collection required. Great exercise!

Call Comox Valley Echo • 250-334-4734 or drop by 407-D 5th Street, Courtenay

COURTENAY Rt. 7125 – Salsbury, Bood, Barford

Comox Valley Multicultural Society www.comoxvalleymulticultural.ca PRESENTS

Friday, May 1st @ 7pm LOCATION:

Florence Filberg Centre Conference Hall TICKETS:

$15 / adult $10 / youth

COURTENAY CENTENNIAL UPCOMING CELEBRATIONS JUNE 26 TO JULY 2, 2015

For more info call Jin:

250-338-9386

COMOX Rt. 2118

OUTDOOR CONCERTS NIGHTLY, SIMMS PARK, 7PM START

– Comox Ave, Mack Laing, Baybrook, Orchard Park Dr.

Rt. 2121

– Anderton, Robb, Sable, Holly, Noel

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015 CENTENNIAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

P.M.Q's

AND TAILGATE PARTY

MIRACLE BEACH

ALL DAY, COMOX VALLEY SPORTS CENTRE

(12 and under)

AVAILABLE AT: • Laughing Oyster Bookstore • Bop City Records • Blue Heron Books

Rt. 7134 – Salsbury, Mills, Rachel, Houlgrave

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015

CANADA DAY PARTY SIMMS & LEWIS PARK, 7AM START #Courtenay100

courtenay.ca/100

Rt. 6111

– C.F.B. Comox

– Seaview Road

VALLEYVIEW SUBSTITUTES NEEDED

Earn extra $$$$ for all that fun stuff that mom won't buy!

28 www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

GG LADIES WERE STALWART Several stalwart women came out Tuesday to see what the day had in store for the golfers at Glacier Greens.

Half had coffee and cheerfully left and the other half braved the weather.

Seven stoically teed off in the drizzle and persevered for a couple of holes ... then voila! it was good for the rest of the 18 holes.

Good things come to those who wait and play the back nine twice! First low net winner was Gene Renaud with a 65 and second low net winner was Ellie Nicholas with a score of 68.

The KP on hole 15 was won by Tobi Norris.

Well done all of you, coffee drinkers too and thanks for coming out! See you next week in the sunshine.

SUNNYDALE LADIES COOL Despite the cool weather, we had 15 ladies playing golf at Sunnydale on Tuesday, April 14.

1st low gross with 92 was Carolyn Walker, 2nd Vicki Bombini 102, 3rd Judy Berkeley 104. 1st Low net Lois Westbrook 78, 2nd Lys McCrone 85, and 3rd Pat Rudolph 86.

Lowest putts goes to Lois Westbrook and KP on #10 to Carolyn Walker. Penny Wagenstein had the longest putt on #9.

It is nice to welcome back

our snowbirds. next week.

See you

Rick Adams, Dane Petersen and Terry Christie.

GREAT DAY FOR COMOX MEN

SHORTS AT GLACIER GREENS

Golf results for Comox GC Men’s Club on Sunday April 19th.

43 golfers played 18 holes on a glorious sunny Sunday morning with the following results: 0-16 low gross Nick Usher 71, Kaj Petersen 74 17 + low gross Ken Tait 88, Dave Wood 83 Low Nets Rick Adams 66, Bob Bird 67, Dane Petersen 67 Rick Siddall 68, Rod Nichol 68 Hole Prizes #10 2nd shot 0-16 Gord Baudais, Comox Pacific Express #12 Long Drive 17+ Dave Wood, Westview Ford Sales #13 2nd shot 0-16 Gord Beudais, Investors Group (Keith Gibson) #5/14 All Nick Usher/Ken Loga, Men’s Club #15 2nd shot 17+ Jim Slater, Comox Pacific Express #16 Long Drive 0-16 Tracy Branch, Royal Lepage (Scott Fraser) #5/18 All Russell Strang/ Dane Petersen, Men’s Club PoG for Hank (V12) Verdenhalven at Comox #17 Deuces for Nick Usher #5, Russ Strang, Dane Petersen #18 Snips achieved by Ken Tait, Jim Slater, Hank V12,

Saturday Apr. 18th 95 players started under clear but cool conditions. Some were in shorts. The course is in good shape and drying out. Some good scores and here are the results.

HCP 0-11 1st Low Gross Ken Osborne 73 c/b, 2nd Doug McArthur 73 c/b, 3rd Barry Norris 73, 1st Low Net Karl Cameron 65, 2nd Larry Lott 67, 3rd Burt Graham 69.

Snips Hole # 1 Karl Cameron, # 2 (EAGLE) Stan Mills, # 11 Rob Borland, #15 Doug McArthur & # 17(POG) Jeff Edwards HCP 12-18 1st Low Gross Ferg Webster 81, 2nd Wayne Ogilvie 82, Bob Edwards 83 c/b, 1st Low Net Rudge Wilson 67, 2nd Pat Renaud 68 c/b, 3rd John Pringle 68 c/b, Snips Hole # 3 Wally Berger, # 9 Paul Schroeder, # 11 Jim Larocque, # 12 John Pringle, # 3 Gabe Tremblay, # 15 & # 17 Pete Hill HCO 19+ 1st Low Gross John Holley 85 c/b, 2nd Len Doyle 85 c/b, 3rd Ross Dowe 85, 1st Low Net Armin Reckhard 62, 2nd Bill Krier 64, 3rd Wayne Mabee 65, Snips Hole # 10 & # 14 Nick Mykitiuk, # 13 Len Doyle, & # 18 Murray Polson

Remember, please double check the addition on the score cards, Till next week see you on the course, - Submitted by Ron Carter

EXCITING DAY AT CROWN ISLE Are the Crown Isle ladies tough? You bet!

Rain? Who cares?

A full contingent of shotgun start ladies played golf on Tuesday and then had a wonderful luncheon and Annual General Meeting. chaired by our competent leader, Judy Aldcroft.

THE GAME: 123 Best Ball.

THE WINNERS: Lots!

1st low net: 126: Valerie Dingwall, Jan McFarlane, Pat Johnson, and Pat Chalmers.

2nd low net: 131- Dee Horie, Gillian Kilpatrick, Anne Kostiuk, Karen Currie, Katy Macaulay, Julie Tuepah, Evie MacDonald and Shirley Podosky Birdies: Katy Macaulay, Dee Horie, Janet Phillips, and Jennifer Turner KPs: Sharon Olgilve and Pam Stevens.

Remember ladies that the Crown Isle Nine and Wine starts on May 27th.

Golf, appys, wine, prizes and lots of fun for $45. for non members or $30 for members.

Register your team or as a single at the proshop 250 703-5031.

- Submitted by Donna Cunliffe

Mayor Paul Ives shook the hands of the U13 team members

Baseball team honoured (Continued from page 27) And while the finals were a glorious win, the biggest feat was perhaps in the semi-finals -- when the Cardinals went to bat against Salmon Arm. “We were down 5-1 early on,” he said, looking back on that fateful third inning position, remembering the biggest factor in their favour at that point. “In baseball there’s no clock.”

What he means by that is the team had plenty of time to turn the tables and send more than a few across home plate.

“We just kept coming and coming,” he said.

“That was a fantastic sports moment.”

In fact, the team’s play was so inspirational plenty of fans from elsewhere jumped on the bandwagon at the tournament in

Vancouver.

“A lot of people said they were cheering for us at the end,” he said.

“Comox Valley fans were large in number and very vocal.”

Many of the players have participated in a variety of sports -- particularly hockey -- but had never won a championship before.

The win was an inspiration to the youngsters, who were thrilled to be recognized with the first banner at the Comox diamond during the late afternoon festivities.

When the tarp came down the youth blocked out the sun and pointed at the names on the rectangular sign.

Local baseball officials hope the banner is its own inspiration to another group of worthy competitors.

Shoreline Orthodontics Tri-K Triathlon The Race For ALL Ages!

Participants from 5 years of age to 105 are welcome to participate in the event. Categories are broken down by age group and each group has a set distance appropriate for their age. Check out our web page www.trik.ca for exact age groups and distances.

"We encourage families to participate in the event as individuals or as a team. We even have a Family Team category and trophy! For this category the youngest participant must be a minimum of 12 years of age. The race distance to be completed will be based on the age of the youngest participant on the team. Please see our Facebook page for complete details; Shoreline Orthodontics Comox Valley Tri-K Triathlon."

It is also possible for families to enter and participate as individuals or as members of other teams. Depending on each participants start time an adult may have to start to compete themselves before their child's event is finished.

Not to worry, triathlons are individual events and there are lots of volunteers to help keep junior on track.

Prior to the race both child and parent can enter the transition area and get all their race gear set up. Everyone can head up to the pool then and get numbered ready for the race. Junior will start first for sure. Depending on the adults start time they may be able to run back to the spectator area and watch junior complete all or some or their race before heading back to the pool to compete themselves.

Everyone can reconnect at the finish line for a family photo.

Here is our training plan for beginners and intermediate athletes competing in the Just Tri It or Sprint categories. Suggested workout lengths for beginners are on the top line and intermediate participants on the lower line. Swims are in metres 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.

Week Three Training Plan

Week Four

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

OFF or Weights

Swim 800m 1500m

Ride :55 1:00

Run :35 :45

Swim 800m 1500m

Saturday Ride 1:00 1:15

Sunday Ride :35 :45

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

www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

CARRIERS WANTED EARN $$$$$$$$

COURTENAY Rt. 7125 – Salsbury, Bood, Barford Rt. 7134 – Salsbury, Mills, Rachel, Houlgrave COMOX Rt. 2118 – Comox Ave, Mack Laing, Baybrook, Orchard Park Dr. Rt. 2121 – Anderton, Robb, Sable, Holly, Noel P.M.Q’s

– C.F.B. Comox

MIRACLE BEACH Rt. 6111

– Seaview Road

VALLEYVIEW SUBSTITUTES NEEDED No Collection Required Call COMOX VALLEY ECHO 250−334−4734 or drop by 407−D 5th Street, Courtenay

29

30 www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.APRIL 24, 2015

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NEW LOCATION Free Coffee Pre-Registered Seats held til 7:30 pm

1st - 20% $1000(max) 2nd - 10% $500(max) 3rd - 5% $250(max) 4th - 2.5% $125(max)

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2967A Kilpatrick Ave. Courtenay • Open 9:30 – 5:30 daily 11 – 4 Sunday