INSIDE: Local companies pitch in to put a lid on airshow chalet Pg. 7 T H U R S D A Y
July 11, 2013
14 N E W S ,
SPORTS,
WEATHER
&
Thompson heads to Halifax
E N T E R T A I N M E N T abbotsfordtimes.com
Manure incident may lead to civil suit
“But overall, it’s looking like we have a good supply and the berries are sizing up evenly.” Abbotsford grower and packer Anmol Mahil agrees it’s shaping up to be a good season, as he moves through the rows of bushes laden with blueberries on his family’s Lefeuvre Road farm. A small portion of the first pick of Mahil’s early producing Duke blueberries suffered a touch of sun scold and went to the frozen market as a result of the short heat wave in early July.
ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com Vancouver area legal advocacy group has taken the first step in a potential lawsuit against the City of Abbotsford for dumping chicken manure on a homeless camp. The Pivot Legal Society has issued a notice of damage to the city after the municipality spread manure across a green space along the railway tracks near the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope last month, to deter people from camping there. DJ Larkin of Pivot said some individuals and organizations are contemplating a civil suit against the city and the Abbotsford Police Department for damages, the loss of property and harassment, alleged to have occurred during the manure incident and on other occasions. SCAN FOR MORE The notice of damage suggests city workers also made daily trips starting around the beginning of June to the homeless camp to remove and destroy the belongings of people living there. It also alleges APD officers have slashed and pepper sprayed tents and the belongings of homeless people. The APD is conducting an internal investigation into the claims made against its members. Larkin said the notice to the city is an administrative step that needs to take place within 60 days of the incident to ensure complainants can keep the door open to legal action in the future. “We’re meeting with people [affected] at the end of the month and discussing what they’d like to do in regards to legal action,” she said. “We can’t say how things will evolve as it’s early days yet.”
see BERRIES, page A7
see LAWSUIT, page A5
A
Abbotsford grower and packer Anmol Mahil says this year’s blueberry crop is looking great, despite a touch of sun scold earlier in the year.
– ROCHELLE BAKER/TIMES
Blue-tiful bunches of berries
ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
T
he recent stretch of sun is leading to predictions of a bountiful blueberry crop in Abbotsford this summer. Debbie Etsell, executive director of the B.C. Blueberry Council, said the harvest of early varieties of the fruit is well underway. “The sunshine has definitely brought things along. It’s early on, but it’s looking like a good season.” Despite the cooler weather and slower starts the last couple of years, B.C. growers, the bulk of which are
Early crops have blueberry farmers cautiously optimistic in Abbotsford, produced a record 120 million pounds of blueberries in 2012. Etsell expects the crop this year will match or even top last year’s figures. And if the weather co-operates, blueberry farmers will be harvesting right until the end of September, as late varieties come on line. There is the danger of too much heat and sunshine that can lead
to sun scold and a lower quality of berry, said Etsell. However, the larger challenge this year was a shortage of commercial beehives, which growers need to pollinate their blueberry bushes in the spring. “I can tell the difference right off the bat between a field where a farmer has brought in bees. There’s a much better quality berry and it’s more consistent,” said Etsell.
The Salvation Army of Abbotsford and Mission Independent Financial Services 201-2190 West Railway Sreet, Abbotsford, BC V2S 2E2
Rick Barkwell, FMA
Financial Advisor 604-851-4292 rick.barkwell@raymondjames.ca
Conservative Investment Advice
Member CIPF
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores are very much in need of your clean, gently used clothing items. When you donate to or shop at our Thrift Stores you are helping us help others. All proceeds from the sale of your items support vital programs and services right here in our community. Together, we are making a difference in our community.
‘Like’ us on Facebook at The Salvation Army Thrift Store - Abbotsford
34081 Gladys Ave. Abbotsford 604.852.9305 • 7221 Park St. & Lougheed Mission 604.826.1315