TAKE 5 March 2018

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Letters Protecting our coast Thank you to Premier John Horgan and his government for taking a strong stand against the Kinder Morgan pipeline, and those who are promoting it. We must protect our coast from a catastrophic oil spill. Every time one of these pipelines leaks, communities are left with oiled beaches, and the marine ecosystems never recover.

There’s only one sure way to prevent these man-made disasters and that’s not to put toxic oil there in the first place.

Kinder Morgan wants a sevenfold increase in the number of tar sands tankers navigating the coastal waters of the Salish Sea. The proposed pipeline would cross over 900 streams and rivers in BC — all of which eventually drain into the Fraser River.

This puts all those ecosystems at great risk. One bad day is all it would take for the life-bearing waters of our region to suffer permanent, catastrophic damage. Prince William Sound in Alaska has never recovered from the Exxon Valdez tanker spill. Decades later, oil still scars the beaches. Only 12 of the 27 species impacted have a hope of recovering. One pod of killer whales, which lost nine of 22 members, has never birthed a calf again. The Pacific herring in Prince William Sound, a fishery once worth $8 million a year, remains closed.

I have lived on Vancouver Island since 1988 and since then I have seen a lot of degradation of nature on this beautiful island and elsewhere. It is time to change and move toward a greener future. This future includes jobs in the green technology sector. - Diana Hardacker, Chemainus

Tough law In the 1950’s and early 1960’s we had an RCMP Corporal who ran the town. His office was where City hall is now along with two other Constables. His name was Corporal Bill Frazer.

We kids all called him “Hammer head” because his head was shaped like a Blacksmith’s Anvil....longer than it was wide..He would stop anyone on the street back then that he didn’t know while he was on patrol and ask where they were from and if they had a reason to be in town and if they had a job or a place to stay. If they could not answer any of his questions properly to his satisfaction he’d tell tell them. “If it’s a job you need, go Chemainus and put you name in down at the Sawmill. If you want to go logging try the Crown Zellerbach office across

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the Highway or M&B’s hiring office in Nanaimo on Terminal Avenue or the Unemployment office in the basement of the old Post Office on Front street in Nanaimo. And then he’d tell them: “Now before the sun sets tonight be on your way back to where you came from or where you are going to look for work but you are not to be in my town tomorrow morning Is that understood?” There were very few B&E’s in those days I’ll tell you...or old “Hammer Head” would get you and all transients would be shuffled out of town quickly..I think we need old Corporal Frazer back in town again. -Gord Barney

Area G Saltair Meeting please The last Area G community meeting with Mr. Dorey having a Q & A and information on Saltair was held on June 2014.

Why is he not having community meetings to let people know what he is doing and when it is happening etc.?

Almost all other Area Directors have community meetings to let their area know what is happening and if anyone has questions to ask they try to answer them.

I have emailed Mr. Dorey several times in the last couple of months asking general questions on our community and about the old school. He does not reply.

Is this not the job of our Director to keep us in the know?

I have the feeling when it comes to his answering questions from the “naysayers” he will not response. I am not a naysayer…just the wife of one! He calls us “naysayers” because he does not agree with any of us. He doesn’t have to agree but he is in a position as Director Area G where he should respond to all residents of Area G. That is one of his jobs as Director!

We need a meeting with our Area Director to let us know what is going on with the community and the old school instead of hearing bits and pieces from the papers, residents and other avenues. -Islay Brand Letters to the Editor are welcome but may be edited for space, clarity or legality. This is an open forum and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of TAKE 5 or its affiliates. editor@take5.ca, PO Box 59, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A1, or fax: 250-245-7099 Facebook: Take5Publications

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“The new operation is ... a clear reflflection of Ladysmith’s role and reputation as a progressive ... leader”

Bio-solids facility a generational investment in Ladysmith’s future Spring is around the corner — a time for new beginnings and new growth.

Typically, I would equate the season with the emergence of daffodils and crocuses; however, completion of the Town’s stateof-the-art bio-solids facility is an even more exciting example of new growth and sustainability in our community.

While not as aesthetically pleasing as a colourful spring flower, the new facility will process bio-solids (sludge) from our Waste Water Treatment Plant and transform it into the Class A compost that, in

turn, is spread over the Town’s landscaping as a rich topsoil, helping to fertilize and grow beautiful plants and flowers for everyone to enjoy.

Design elements for the bio-solids facility include: an enclosed processing area on a concrete floor, an air-handling system complete with bio-filtration, an aeration system to ensure the process remains aerobic, negative air pressure to help contain odours, a leachate collection system, and an automated compost turner/mixer.

Completion of the new facility has been a testament to the importance of community resilience and working together to overcome difficult challenges.

Many of you will remember that Ladysmith had been composting bio-solids at the Public Works yard for years.

However, the nature of the bio-solids changed when our new and improved Waste Water Treatment Plant became

operational. While the new technology resulted in dramatically cleaner water being discharged from the plant, no one anticipated the odour from the Town’s bio-solids would be as difficult to manage as it was.

We knew we needed to act quickly to find a solution that responded to the concerns of the community and in a way that met Council’s strategic priority for maintaining, renewing and expanding natural and built infrastructure. With that in mind, we found a new location to process our bio-solids in an industrial-zoned area on Thicke Road. We secured an interim partner to temporarily process our bio-solids so that we could stop composting operations at our Public Works Yard while the plant was being built. And we worked hard to ensure the design of the new facility was based on leading technologies, innovation and sustainability, all hallmarks of Council’s strategic priorities and our Town’s vision for the future.

The new operation is not only socially responsible, economically viable, and sustainable; it’s a clear reflection of Ladysmith’s role and reputation as a

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progressive, innovative and self-reliant leader. Ladysmith doesn’t have to rely on others to treat, test and dispose of our bio-solids. We can manage our own operations over the long term and ensure we are building on the infrastructure foundation for our community’s future.

The same can be said for our Waste Water Treatment Plant and our soon-tobe-built Water Filtration Facility. These generational investments set a solid foundation for our future.

I am so proud of the steps we’ve taken to improve the quality of Ladysmith’s infrastructure. With the new bio-solids facility now operational, the Town’s composting program can continue to create a useful new product by effectively and safely returning bio-solids to the land we all love so much while also ensuring new growth and new beginnings are realized in Ladysmith each and every spring.

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Ladysmith came alive on February 24.

Wounded Warrior came through town in the morning.

Then it was off to the Heritage Stands the Test of Time. Hundreds of people came out to visit the Ladysmith Maritime Society Boat Restoration Workshop and see the progress on the C.A. Kirkegaard. The steam locomotive 11 was a popular draw as always, but the star of the show was the Humdirgen.

Members of the Ladysmith & District Historical Society’s Industrial Heritage

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Preservation Committee have worked hard to get the humdirgen running again to the delight of those present.

The day also marked the reopening of the Harbour Heritage Centre. The centre had been closed for almost a year after the floor in the building was replaced.

The exhibits of oyster farming, and waterfront are better than ever. Stz’uminus artist John Marston demonstrated carving, while people milled about enjoying the refreshments and ambiance of the centre.

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A special moment was shared by Stz’uminus First Nation members and the Town of Ladysmith representatives as the Salish Wind canoe, a Canada 150 art installation was recognized as being a bridge connecting the two communities.

Sponsored by the Ladysmith Maritime Society and the Ladysmith & District Historical Society, and spearheaded by organizer Shirley Blackstaff, the day was a huge success, but it was hardly over.

Next up was the Coldest Night of the Year. Families, couples, and individuals walked to raise awareness and funds for

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the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association’s programs that help the hungry and homeless.

The end of the day was picture perfect as hundreds of lanterns were released into the sky at 6:15 pm in the Rotary Club of Ladysmith’s Annual Lantern Festival.

C.A. Kirkegaard getting a restoration. These are some of the hardworking volunteers from Ladysmith Maritime Society.

Lantern Festival lights up the sky. Photo: Cindy Damphousse

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PUPPIES!!

BY SANDI MALCOLM Are you looking to add a dog to your family? With a purebred dog, you know what you are getting, guaranteed. When you see a breed you like that fits your lifestyle, buy a purebred because that is what you will get - guaranteed. Bred to their breed standards – not just for looks but for health, functionality and the ability to do what they were bred for historically. You know what their size will be, how their temperament will be, how much exercise they need, and how they will fit into your family.

There are many good ethical breeders on Vancouver Island.

A good breeder will have an application for you to complete to get on a wait list for a puppy. They will welcome ALL your questions. You will probably have to wait as good ethical and responsible breeders do not breed often, and most have wait lists because of that. All do applicable health testing for any health issues for their chosen breed, give written genetic guarantees, sell pups on non breeding contracts, with return clauses, and pups will be Canadian Kennel Club registered. A good breeder will be there for you and for your dog; for life.

To find an ethical responsible heritage breeder of the breed of your choice; there are several ways to find them. Google the Canadian Kennel Club, National breed clubs, and provincial breed clubs. Attend local dog shows and talk with the people that know the breed best. They will be honest if the breed suits your family or not. By being honest about suitability it ensures that our dogs do not end up being returned to us and certainly not being surrendered to shelters or rescue groups.

Purebred dog breeders support anyone’s choice of where to buy your new family pet. If you want to buy a shelter or rehomed dog, there are some good organizations on the island, and there are some that are not so good. Be wary, ask lots of questions and do your due diligence Ethical breeders are not the reason there are so many dogs in shelters.

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Home is where the bees be

BY JIM AND ROSE MCCULLEY It’s Mason bee time — time to get your yard and garden set up with the amazing No. 1 pollinating bee.

You can get your yard started by putting up a structure, either south, southeast or southwest — never north and never on a tree. The side of a building and under an overhang is best. Wood is the best material to use, with a good over hang to protect the bees from the weather. Cardboard tubes are also preferred over other types of material. You can make your own tube out of coloured construction paper or parchment paper. A 5.75-inch long hole is best, as it will hold a six-inch long tube, and this will give you more female bees for next year’s supply. Always keep some empty tubes in your structure, and if you don’t, your bees will leave your yard and you will lose your pollinating.

Be ready when it has been 16–20 C for five or six days or when you see the dandelions. The boys come out first; wait for the girls, as they come out five or six days after the boys. The boys fertilize the girls and then die. The girls then work until they run out of eggs and then the girls die, having left their legacy for their species to survive for another year.

Before the females start to lay she will seal the back of the tube with mud. Then she is off to your blossoms to pollinate for you. She is a very hard worker and very smart. She decides the sex of the eggs she lays and puts all girls in the back of tube and always two boys in the they front of the tube. If her eggs are not fertilized, she will still lay eggs, but can only lay male eggs.

The Mason bee is usually starting to work about mid-March and is usually out of eggs by mid to the end of June.

While she is busy working and mudding up the ends of tubes, you know she has filled your tube with eggs for next year’s bee. When you don’t see any more bees going in and out of your tubes, you know the Mason bees are out of eggs and are finished for the season. At this point, take down your structure and store your Mason bee nest and all full and/or empty tubes separately. At this point, you simply store your mudded up

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tubes in a metal container, like an old cookie tin, with small holes drilled in it for oxygen and keep in a cool dark place, such as a non-heated basement, garage, shed or outbuilding. Rodents can smell the nectar and would love a yummy gourmet meal.

The eggs in the tubes need to grow until the end of September and into October. At this point, they are adult Mason bees inside a silk cocoon and can stand a washing process. To wash the cocoons, soak the tubes in warm (not hot) water for about ďŹ ve minutes and unravel the tubes. Rinse the cocoons in water and transfer to a colander. Next, put about a half teaspoon of bleach in about two inches water, soak the cocoons for a few minutes and return them to the colander. Rinse the cocoons under running water to remove the bleach o of the cocoons and place the co-

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coons on layers of paper towel on a cookie sheet to air dry.

Keep changing towels until no moisture is visible. Then return loose cocoons back into the cookie tin. Store all winter until next spring and start the process all over again.

Next spring, at Mason bee time, use a pill bottle, earring box or similar container, with an emerge hole (approx. a quarter-inch wide) to put your cocoons in and attach the container to the structure when the temperature is right.

The bees will start the process all over again.

Good luck and happy pollinating!

If you have any questions about Mason bees, contact Jim or Rose of J&R Farm, Nanaimo, by phone 250-754-8351 or email at mccus@shaw.ca.

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put pensions and benefits before big banks and executives.”

The town hall at Ladysmith’s Eagles Hall was co-hosted by Malcolmson and Cowichan—Malahat—Langford MP Alistair MacGregor with guest, MP Scott Duvall, the NDP’s Pension critic who has introduced legislation, C-384, to level the playing field for all Canadians and support their retirement security by fixing federal bankruptcy laws so our workers’ pensions and health benefits are given the same consideration as secured creditors. Under current legislation, large multinational corporations are using Canada’s inadequate bankruptcy laws to take money meant for workers’ pensions and divert it to pay off their secure creditors, who in many cases are often their parent companies.

Get a Mammogram Town Hall Highlights The Need To End Pension Theft Following a well attended and highly engaged town hall on stopping pension theft, Nanaimo—Ladysmith Member of Parliament Sheila Malcolmson is convinced that it is time to pass legislation to protect the pensions workers and retirees have earned.

“Pensions are not a gift from employers; they are the result of money that workers deferred from their wages,” Malcolmson said. “When I think about the workers & retirees from Sears Canada having their pensions ripped away after years of employment, some after decades of service to the company, it’s deeply distressing. But we can change this.

We can create bankruptcy laws that

Get a breast of your health. A mammogram coach will be providing breast screening in Ladysmith in March.

The mobile mammogram screening unit will be located in the Ladysmith Community Health Care parking lot at the corner of Symonds St. and 4th Avenue starting from March 20th to the 22nd. You must book your appointment by calling the BC Cancer Agency at 1-800-663-9203.

Lesley Moore of Ladysmith Museum prepares the Pop Up Exhibit "Still Here".

Photo: Bonnie Weistz

Come join the conversation.

The Ladysmith Historical Society’s Museum is open Tuesday,Wednesday , Thursday noon to 4 pm.

“Still Here” exhibit Heritage is everywhere or is it?

Come explore heritage and visit the pop-up display titled “Still Here” on view at the Ladysmith Museum until late March. Visitors are asked “What does heritage mean to you?.

What do you hope to see still here in Ladysmith in 20 years? What makes something of heritage value?”

A wolf at dinner A seafood dinner and silent auction at the Stz'uminus Community School on Feb. 23, helped raise funds for the Stz'uminus Eagles team uniforms.

At the end of the night a surprise visit had everyone up on their feet as Tundra, a female wolf, was brought in to visit.

Gary Allen of SWELL Wolf Education Centre introduced her to the guests.

If you missed it but would like to donate towards the uniforms, contact the school at 250-245-6650 from Monday to Friday 8am to 3 pm.

Checking out the silent auction table .

Photo: Nick Longo

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Top dog - this Newfie is no joke

BY CINDY SAVORY Miss Andie, a Newfoundland, along with her handler Guillermo Fano took Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York recently.

The Westminster Dog show is one of the most prestigious of dog shows, and all of the top dogs from all over the world show here.

This was the 2nd year in a row that Andie had received an invitation and that we made the trek to the Big Apple. Last year she was Best of Opposite to Receiving the Best of Breed honour sent her to Madison Square Garden’s where she competed at the Group level with 29 other working dogs.

Although she did not place in the group she did make the final cut and showed her little heart out.

To show your dog at the Garden is a dream come true, something that most people in the dog show world would aspire to do.

Miss Andie finished 2017 off as the No. 3 dog of all breeds in Canada and a career total of 40 Best in shows. She also won the Judges Choice and People’s Choice awards at the Newfoundland Dog Club of America’s National Specialty.

Show-stopper Newfoundlander Miss Andie at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York. Photo submitted.

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DUBLIN 2 Terry Boyle and Martin Nolan are teaming up to bring you Dublin 2, an night of Irish traditional music, song and good humour.

They will be performing at Ladysmith First United Church March 23, at 7 p.m.

Boyle from Dublin, Ireland, arrived in Canada in 1989. Before that, he toured in Europe with various bands and spent six years singing in Boston, New York, Vermont and Austin. While teaching in Ladysmith for 20 years, Terry also found time to perform all over Vancouver Island and write “Ladysmith, Jewel of the Island,” which was Ladysmith’s centennial song for 2004.

Nolan, also from Dublin, is a world music traveller and virtuoso exponent of the uilleann pipes, a melodic and vastly more complicated instrument than the Scottish bagpipes. Nolan makes regular visits to Vancouver Island as his wife is from Nanaimo.

While Terry and Martin played in various groups in Dublin during the folk revival of the seventies and early eighties, they never had the opportunity to play together until 2017 when, as Dublin 2, they played a series of house concerts, festivals and open air shows, including Butchart Gardens.

Now they return for a very special post-St. Patrick’s Day performance that will keep your toes tapping.

Martin Nolan and Terry Boyle perform traditional Irish music. Photo submitted.

Humour and sex in novel about living with MS In the new book, A One-Handed Novel, Nanaimo writer Kim Clark, fearlessly channels her experiences with disability into the character of Melanie Farrell and her unconventional prognosis. It seems, based on a new study, that she only has six orgasms left. Six! Fortyish and single, Mel must decide how best to spend, save or at least not waste those precious orgasms.

In praise of the novel, Dina Del Bucchia, author of Don’t Tell Me What to Do, writes, “To reveal too many details would deprive the reader of the wicked delight in discovering each fearless narrative surprise that awaits them in Kim Clark’s novel. In both humour and heart, this book doesn’t tread delicately when addressing the reality of living with a disability, financial struggle, women’s sexuality and the complications that arise in every type of relationship.”

Kim Clark will sit on three panel events at the Growing Room Festival on March 2 and 3: “Hidden Intersections,” “Writing the Body,” and “Sex, Bondage & Fetishes.” In April and May (Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month), Kim will tour Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.

The book sells at $24 and can be purchased at: http://caitlin-press.com/ourbooks/a-one-handed-novel/.

Inspiring exhibit The Inspiration is the new exhibit at the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery.

“Sense of Place” is one of those terms cited often but rarely defined. Places are said to have a strong “sense of place” have a strong identity and character that is deeply felt by local inhabitants and by many visitors. The Artist will capture their Sense of Place in their art, where they live, or want to live, a time, or reason they are here now. The show is on now until March 23.

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Fuller Lake Skating Club — 50 years old and skating on!

On the heels of celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday and Festival of Lights 30th Birthday, celebrations continue in the Valley. This season marks the 50th anniversary of Fuller Lake Skating Club (FLSC). In the spirit of the club’s founders, the organization continues to promote, support and enrich the lives of many through skating.

To celebrate FLSC, the public is invited to the March 24th ice show, “Canadian Road Trip,” where we highlight our passion, as well as Canada’s 150th.

There will be a 2 p.m. matinee and 6 p.m. evening show.

Established in 1968, the year of the opening of Fuller Lake Arena, FLSC is a member of SkateCanada, the national governing body for figure skating in Canada, recognized by the International Skating Union and the Canadian Olympic Committee. As a member of Skate Canada, all skaters in the club receive coaching and development that supports the disciplines of the sport: dance, skills , free skate and interpretive skat-

ing. Skaters may join the club at any age and move through the introductory CanSkate program to develop foundational skills, such as stroking, stopping, gliding, balance and introductory spins.

Once hooked by the love of the sport, skaters can begin the test/competitive stream where they develop confidence to perform their skills to music in solo performances. FLSC has also expanded to include a synchronized team, Fuller Lake Fusion, of 16 skaters who build skills to perform simultaneously.

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Fuller Lake Skate Club Photos: Kuhlphoto.ca

FLSC’s Head Coach Shannon McKinlay is a long-time “Valley Girl,” who began her skating career in Lake Cowichan.

She has been with FLSC for many seasons and has over 20 years coaching experience. She has developed a program that exposes our skaters to a wealth of skating strengths by building a coaching team of professionals that share their unique talents on the ice. Lorraine Francisty has 33 years of teaching and is our dance specialist. Adrian Matei is a four-time Romanian national silver medalist and is our jump and spin specialist. Kailee Bowman has 10 years coaching experience and is our interpretive style coach. In addition, Shannon has created a culture of mentorship where our advanced skaters “pay it forward” as assistants for our CanSkate program. “Each one teach one” is a philosophy that is woven throughout the club and shines brightly on the ice.

A strength of FLSC is the Power Skating Program. Under the leadership of Clive Shillingford, this program develops the skating skills required to elevate hockey performance in emerging NHL stars. Ice time includes drills and stroking refinement that supports hockey players at both junior and senior levels.

Led by our current and long standing (or, in skating terms, gliding) President Luisa Shillingford, FLSC remains focused on sustaining a vibrant environment where all skaters can explore their love of the sport. Under her steady hand, the active executive and parent volunteers work hard to ensure that the full spectrum of options within the Skate Canada framework are available for skaters at all levels. No small feat for a club of 42 Skate Canada level skaters, 44 CanSkaters and 60 Power Skaters. FLSC leadership has developed many hours of on and off ice for our club and, through cooperation with neighbouring clubs, has expanded our season into the late spring.

We are proud that over the 50 years of club history many of our skaters have achieved the highest level of Gold and Diamond tests set by SkateCanada. Several have competed at provincial and national levels. Several have gone on to pay it forward by performing professionally in touring ice shows that took their love of performing all over the world. Others have become professional instructors, who support the next generation of “rink rats.” And many have become mothers and fathers who passed their love of blades, ice and freedom that skating provides on to their children. Our club is truly inter-

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generational. We have grandparents and parents gathered at rink side to cheer on our current skaters while remembering their own magical skating memories.

The high level of commitment of the coaches, executive and ultimately our skaters is sure to bring success to all those associated with the FLSC. While some will go on to be Canada’s next Chan, or Virtue and Moir, many will gain through their love of this sport the discipline to learn, the encouragement to dream and the bravery to know that when they fall in any performance, they can get up and carry on.

Fuller Arena

BY FRED KILNER Fuller Lake Arena is a 1967 Centennial arena. The building was finished in 1968 at a cost of $ 430,000 with the official opening July 1, 1968 and first use was Sept 1968.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the arena. The first ice use was busy, early morning ice started as early as 5:30 am and the night time ice ended late, well into the early hours of the next morning. The Fuller Lake Skating club, Fuller Lake Minor Hockey now called Cowichan Valley Minor Hockey, Fuller Lake Flyers Jr. B team and the Chemainus Blues senior men’s hockey team were the drawing cards for people to come to the arena.

As one of the first arenas in the area the user groups and skaters came from Mill Bay, Lake Cowichan, Duncan, Chemainus, Saltair, Ladysmith and north. There was no ice resurfacer to clean the ice at first, open hose floods happened at night and arena staff with kids helping at times, would push the snow off the ice in between hockey periods with wide metal snow scoops. The kids that helped out would be let in for free to watch the Hockey games.

For figure skating there was a large barrel on wheels filled with water that was used to flood parts of the ice during their skates or shows. Minor hockey and Figure skating clubs are still going strong as well as adult men’s hockey, women’s hockey on week nights and weekends. Over 55 hockey and drop in hockey happen twice a week during the day, along with school use and our public skates.

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needed to cook evenly, until onion begins to blacken and tomatoes collapse, about 10 minutes.

2-Combine tomato-onion mixture, chipotle and sauce, cilantro, garlic (if desired) and lime juice in blender jar of the KitchenAid® Pro Line® Series Blender. Secure lid and turn dial to Speed 1. Slowly increase speed to medium high (Speed 8). Blend, using the Flex Edge tamper to push down ingredients, until mixture is pureed, about 30 seconds. Season to taste with salt.

BY KAMAL SAAB, THE WORLDLY GOURMET This month on diplay at The Worldly Gourmet Kitchen Store is the KitchenAid® Professional Series Blender.

This is a powerful blender and tool for making healthy, nutritious eating easy.

This KitchenAid blender with its heavyduty motor and advanced motor control board, produces more power than the leading competitors. With the optional Thermal Control Jar, you can enjoy making hot sauces and soups right in the blender in no time.

Here is a KitchenAid Blender Recipe

Roasted Tomato Chipotle Salsa Recipe Yield: Prep Time: Total Time:

About 3 1/2 cups 10 minutes 18 minutes

INGREDIENTS 2 pounds Roma tomatoes (about 6), cored and halved lengthwise 1 small yellow onion, roughly chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 chipotle pepper with adobo sauce (about 1 heaping tablespoon) ¼ cup packed fresh cilantro leaves and stems 2 tablespoons roasted garlic 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice Kosher salt to taste METHOD 1-Preheat broiler and position rack about 6 inches from heat source. Place tomatoes, cut side down, on broiler pan.

Sprinkle onion over tomatoes and drizzle oil evenly over top. Broil, stirring as

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3-Serve immediately, or store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

The Worldly Gourmet Kitchen has a reputation for quality local and international gourmet and commercial cookware to satisfy “The Chef In You” and “The Chef To Be” and to seriously complement your kitchen. Local and international visitors come for the service and high-quality gourmet and professional cookware.

MARCH 1 – 3

4 – 10

Theory, Saltair Centre, 3850 South Oyster School Rd., Saltair, happpypair@shaw.ca

2, 7pm, World Day of Prayer Worship Service, reception and refreshments to follow, all welcome, St. Andrew’s United Church, 311 Fitzwilliam Street, Nanaimo, 250-753-1924 or 250-327-3086

4, 2pm–4pm, Ladies of Gospel, with Maria Manna, Maureen Washington and April Gislason, will rock your soul, tkts $20, Pat’s House of Jazz, Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Ave., Crofton, 250-324-2245

6, 7pm–10pm, Ruby Tuesday, a circle jam hosted by Glenn and Yetta, all skill levels and ages welcome, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468

2–23, 11am–4pm, Sense of Place, art exhibit at Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1252

5–April 30, qualifying seniors can have their 2017 tax returns completed and filed at no charge, an appointment book is located at the centre, Chemainus 55+ Activity Centre, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111

3, 7pm, Sense of Place Gala Opening, guest speaker Bracken Hanuse Corlett, Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1252

5, 7pm, Town of Ladysmith Council meeting, City Hall, 410 Esplanade Ave., 250-245-6400

3, 8am–3pm, 47th Annual Digger’s Club Antique & Collectibles Show & Sale, Island Savings Centre, 2687 James St, Duncan, 250-746-0440

5, 7pm, Paint Nite, for tkts go to paintnite.com, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468

3, 9am–10:30am, $5 Pancake Breakfast, Chemainus 55+ Activity Centre, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111

5 & 6, 9:30am–3:30pm, Chemainus Art Group presents Mono prints with application of Colour

9, 7:30pm, Kevin’s Bacon, a Nanaimo Ladysmith power trio covering songs from the Beatles, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash and Weezer, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468

11 – 17 11, 2pm, Chemainus Classical Concerts: “The French Connection,” pianists Susan de Burgh & Ed LeBarron, tkts $20/$5, adv. tkts $17, St. Michael’s Church, Chemainus, 250-748-8383 11, 2pm–4pm, cabaret-style show with International award-winning recording vocalist Diane Pancel, tkts $15, Pat’s House of Jazz, Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Ave., Crofton, 250-324-2245 11, 2pm, Ladysmith Community Gardens AGM, LRCS 630 2nd Ave. 250-924-8809 14, 7pm–9pm, Nanaimo Horticultural Society Meeting, First Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 595 Townsite Rd., Nanaimo 15, 10am, General Meeting, Chemainus 55+ Activity Centre, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111 15, 7pm–9pm, Open Mic Night, hosted by Bob Johns, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468

18– 24 18, 2pm–4 pm, 10-piece NOLA NightHawks with Andrew Homzy, The Music of Old and New Orleans, tkts $20, Pat’s House of Jazz, Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Ave., Crofton, 250-3242245 19, 7pm, Town of Ladysmith Council meeting, City Hall, 410 Esplanade Ave., 250-245-6400 19, 7pm–9pm, Island Stitchery Group Meeting, Christ Community Church, 2221 Bowen Rd., Nanaimo 20, 7pm–10pm, Ruby Tuesday, a circle jam hosted by Glenn and Yetta, all skill levels and ages welcome, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St.,

Chemainus, 250-324-7468 20 to 22, The BC Cancer Agency’s digital mammography coach will be providing breast screening outside Ladysmith Community Health Clinic in their mobile clinic, appointment MUST be booked by calling the Agency at 1-8000-6639203 21, 11:30am–1pm, Soup and Sandwich with entertainment, $6, Chemainus 55+ Activity Centre, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111 21, 9:30am–11am, Blood Pressure Clinic, Chemainus 55+ Activity Centre, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111 22, 5pm–8:30pm, Beer and a Cut, with Victory Barbers North, $25 minimum donation, all proceeds going to Cowichan Valley Women Against Violence, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, call 250-324-7468 to reserve your spot

event, tkts $25, St. Andrew’s United Church, 311 Fitzwilliam St., Nanaimo, 250-327-3086

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25, 2pm–4pm, Lust Life with Bryn Badel and Wayne Kozak, jazz, blues, bebop, funk and swing, tkts $15, Pat’s House of Jazz, Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Ave., Crofton, 250-3242245

1-2, 10am, BC Forest Discovery Easter Eggspress, 2892 Drinkwater Rd, Duncan 3-9, Spring Clean Up Week, Ladysmith

25, 6:30pm, Ladysmith Newcomers, Legion Hall upstairs, general meeting, socializing, potluck, new residents of Ladysmith area welcome, call Shanon at 250-924-8809

5– 7, Soul Work: The Spirit of Creativity, with Nan Goodship and Murray Groome, early bird registration for residential program $545 & commuter program $365, Bethlehem Centre, 2371 Arbot Rd. on Mt. Benson, Nanaimo, 250754-3254

27, 7pm, Cedar School & Community Enhancement Society AGM, Cedar Heritage Centre 1644 MacMillan Rd.

7, 10am–5pm, Pacific Brant Carving and Arts Show, admission $5, Parksville Community Centre, 132 E. Jensen Ave., Parksville

27, 7pm, Ladysmith Camera Club — “Creative Expression Through Landscape Photography,” with professional Dave Hutchison, Hardwick Hall, High St. at 3rd Ave., Ladysmith, www. ladysmithcameraclub.com

7, noon–4pm, Celebration of Life for Laurie Gourlay at the Cedar Community Hall, all welcome.

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22, 7pm–9pm, Ladysmith Ground Search and Rescue will be holding their AGM, behind the Ladysmith Fire Hall at 340 6th Ave., in the portable classroom

31, 10:30am, Ladysmith Lions Club Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Transfer Beach, Ladysmith

22 & 23, 9:30am–3:30pm, Chemainus Art Group presents Lino Reduction Prints, Saltair Centre, 3850 South Oyster School Rd., Saltair, happpypair@shaw.ca

31, 10am, BC Forest Discovery Easter Eggspress, 2892 Drinkwater Rd, Duncan

8, Soul Work: The Spirit of Creativity, with Nan Goodship and Murray Groome, early bird registration for residential program $545 & commuter program $365, Bethlehem Centre, 2371 Arbot Rd. on Mt. Benson, Nanaimo, 250754-3254

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8, 10am–4pm, Pacific Brant Carving and Arts Show, admission $5, Parksville Community Centre, 132 E. Jensen Ave., Parksville

25 – 31 24, 10am–noon or sold out, Vancouver Island Heather Society’s Heather Sale, from unusual varieties to Kits and Cassiopes (Mountain Heather), society members and master gardeners available to answer all your garden questions, Stu Armour Building, Cobble Hill Fairgrounds (Fisher Rd.), 250-746-1994 24, 1pm–3pm, Vintage Fashion Show, charity

31, 11am, N.O.H.A. Annual Easter Egg Hunt, North Oyster School

3, 8am–3pm, 47th Annual Digger’s Club Antique & Collectibles Show & Sale, Island Savings Centre, 2687 James St, Duncan, 250-746-0440 17, 3pm & 7pm, John McDermott in concert, Vancouver Island Symphony, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St., Nanaimo, 250-754-8550 24, 1pm–3pm, Vintage Fashion Show, charity event, tkts $25, St. Andrews United Church, 311 Fitzwilliam St., Nanaimo, 250-327-3086

12-14, Ladysmith Little Theatre presents Once Upon a Mattress, 4985 Christie Rd. 250-9240658 15-21, Ladysmith Little Theatre presents Once Upon a Mattress, 4985 Christie Rd. 250-9240658 5, Paint Night 24, Heather Sale 31, Easter Egg Hunt

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RDN Area A (Cedar, Cassidy, S. Wellington) Opportunity to Provide Input on Expanded Transit Service - Cassidy, South Wellington and Within Cedar You may have read the article, “RDN seeks input for south Nanaimo transit plan” in the Thursday, February 15th 2018 issue of the Nanaimo News Bulletin. Open houses were noted as scheduled for the Nanaimo Regional Hospital on February 21st and on February 22nd at both Vancouver Island University and Port Place. The object of these meetings was to gather feedback that would provide direction to both the RDN and B.C. Transit – partners in providing bus service within the region – on future expansion of service to south Nanaimo

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and to Cassidy, South Wellington and within Cedar. The current thinking is to develop a plan that will be presented to the RDN Board in late 2018 or early 2019 with the expanded service to begin in September 2020.

The short notice as well as the selected open house locations did not rest well with me. In the intervening days I made my thoughts known to staff on how to improve the response rate from the community. Staff have now agreed to discuss possible meeting locations that would engender a more fulsome response from the communities involved.

In my opinion, a meeting at the Morden Cranberry hall in concert with the South Wellington Community Association (SWACA) would likely be the best opportunity to get input from that community. Similarly, a meeting held within the Cassidy area – perhaps the Western Maritime Institute School or the Timberlands Pub – would prove to be an effective vehicle for community input.

There is also consideration being given to expanding the current bus routing within Cedar. Whether or not a separate meeting to be held within that community is not yet known. Over the past several years I have heard from a number of seniors living in the area that they will soon have to give up their driving privileges and, if transit – even limited service – was available they would not have to give up their homes and move elsewhere away from their long-time friends and neighbours.

As I outlined in last month’s column, it is essential that to one’s mental health that they have reasonable opportunities to socialize and access recreational facilities. Regular conventional transit service may provide that opportunity to many within the communities. In addition, those without easy access to a vehicle for everyday shopping would be able to patronize the supermarkets and know that the journey to and from is within reach.

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Currently, there is a one-day pass that allows one to travel within the Regional District without the need for transfers with time and directional limits attached. The cost for this is $6.00. Other routings such as to the B.C. Ferries at their Duke Point terminal may soon be implemented. Having mass transportation opportunities available to more residents is, in my opinion, a worthwhile goal to strive for.

Such services are not free. However, the costs to the residents is eased somewhat by the provincial government contributing 47% of the operating costs with local government taxation and the fare box contributing to the costs.

Look for notices on the RDN website at www.rdn.bc.ca, in the Nanaimo News Bulletin or your Take 5 issue for details on the meeting times and places. Opportunities to shape your area’s transportation service needs are few and far between. It is important to get your ideas to the decision-makers and I urge you to take advantage of the opportunities being presented within the next several weeks. Note that if you are not able to attend the information sessions, you can send an e-mail to me at the address below and I will ensure that it makes its way into the information stream. alecmcpherson@shaw.ca

CVRD Area G (Saltair) Saltair Community Centre Report The Saltair Community Centre project is turning out to be a huge success mainly because of the great work of the Saltair Community Society. They have overseen improvements by volunteers such as painting of the interior of the centre, maintaining the operations and cleaning the grounds. All of the rooms are leased out to different community groups and businesses which is a smart way of drawing income and controlling expenses. There is steady income every month that exceeds expenses so that the Society can finance small improvements

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Art group at the Saltair Community Centre

to the building. For example, they paid for a new furnace at the far end of the building which makes for a cozy environment for the artist group, the photographers and the quilters that lease those rooms. In fact, the Centre is turning out to be more of an arts and cultural centre than it is a typical recreation centre.

That may change somewhat when the gym gets repaired and operational which is in the plans for this summer.

The building is completely paid for now and the CVRD has approved funds to do the necessary renovations like a new roof and upgrades to the gym. The Centre has such a value to many people and who could argue about the cost. There will be zero increase to the taxes because of the upgrades. We will use $130,000 of federal gas tax grant, $31,000 of reserve money and borrow $137,000 over 5 years. Currently our taxes were $8.80/ $100,000 of assessment for the building and 5 1/2 acres.

We will pay the same amount moving forward with the renovations. No increase. This gives us a clear path for 5 years of financial security. What a relief to the Daycare, the 60 kids & families and the 9 daycare workers. A relief also to the artists group that bought all their own furniture and now have a secure place to do their work. The Society can use their extra money, income and donations for added minor improvements.

What a sunny picture for “Sunny Saltair.”

Saltair Parks Commission The CVRD is rewriting their bylaws for local parks commissions and formulating a volunteer policy for volunteer people working in their parks. There have been many changes over the years in how the parks are operated so they thought a refresh was warranted. All the Saltair parks have increased in size over the years and many trails added. The parks commission also sponsors the Easter and Halloween events in Centennial Park. The Saltair Parks Commission meets once a month on the first Monday of the month at the Saltair Community Centre at 7 pm. The meeting is open to the public. The commission discusses issues and plans for park improvements at the meeting and then makes recommendations to the CVRD Board for action. On this commission there is an elected parks chair, vice chair and secretary who writes the minutes for the meeting. The minutes are published on the agendas at the CVRD. At the present time there are openings for parks commission members. If you want to volunteer call Mel Dorey at 250-510-5431.

Dogwood Road And Chemoy Road Water Upgrades David Stalker Excavating, a Saltair based company, has been awarded the contract to do the annual water upgrades in our 15 year program on Dogwood and Chemoy Roads at the Southern border of Saltair.

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Get Organized

BY TANNIS MCLAREN Spring is just around the corner, the days are getting longer and warmer, the buds are appearing on the trees and the flowers are beginning to bloom. It’s the time of year when we start to dress a little lighter, crave lighter foods and shed the heaviness of winter.

As a professional organizer, one of my favorite times of the year is spring because it is the perfect time to organize the house and sort through all of the “stuff ” that has accumulated through the winter. However, most of us are busy, and the thought of organizing the entire house can usually feel extremely overwhelming to the point that we don’t do anything at all. Things begin to pile up, and what most people don’t realize

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is that there is a link between an overabundance of household objects and your health. It can increase your stress, waste time, as you are continuously looking for things, and even cost you money when you lose bills and receipts, thereby accumulating late charges.

The one area that I find completely fascinating is how excess clutter has been linked to weight gain. Living with clutter increases stress, which causes hormone levels to rise, and the result of that is overeating.

So if you are ready for spring after a long winter and you’d like to shed some winter weight, why not start with a little spring decluttering? There’s probably that one room or area in your home that is driving you mad, and rather than organizing it, you avoid it. However, an entire room can feel extremely overwhelming, so what I usually recommend is to start with a category. For example, if your entrance is piling up with winter boots, shoes, jackets, ski pants, toques, mitts, and so on, pick one category, such as footwear, and follow these three simple steps:

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1. Gather all of the footwear from the entire house and find a space that is large enough to lay them all out. Group them by which belong to each family member.

2.Have each family member go through their pile and ask them to set aside the ones that they absolutely love and want to keep. And this means love, not the ones that you paid a fortune for but never wear because they hurt your feet. For all of the rest, create a donate pile of any footwear that is acceptable to donate and a trash pile for the ones that are no longer acceptable to donate.

3. With the shoes that are left over, separate the winter footwear from the spring and summer. Pick a location to store all of shoes out of season, such as a spare closet, bins, or in each family member’s closet. This is Canada, so you never know, we may get another snowfall and you will need those winter boots, but if they are in a consistent and easy to reach location, you can still wear them if need be.

Don’t forget to put the ones you are donating into a bag and drop them off at a charity or location of your choice. This doesn’t mean driving around with them in the trunk of your car for four months either.

Tannis McLaren is a member of the Professional Organizers in Canada. She is also the rep for Stor-x, a custom closet and storage-system company for Upper and Central Vancouver Island.

How to increase your home’s value

BY GERRY BELTGENS Thinking of selling your home? Here are some ways to prepare.

Good clean homes are selling fast, however problem homes still languish on the market or sell for below owners’ expectations. If you are thinking of selling, walk around your property from the perspective of a Buyer; What do you see? Would you want to buy this house?

Most buyers are looking at several properties. Some will be in great condition and meticulously maintained. Some will be neglected and run down. Where does your house fall. First impressions are critical for value. Here are a few tips

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that can help you prepare for the selling process.

Does your trim need to be repainted?

Are your gutters dirty and overflowing?

Is your roof covered with leaves and moss? Is there garbage and construction materials lying around the yard? Each one of these items detract from your home and creates a poor impression, yet they are relatively easy and inexpensive to fix.

Declutter! You may think your house is cosy and has character but the Buyer will see a home that is messy and cluttered. They probably won’t identify with your “cool” collections of spoons and historical plates. They are trying to imagine their own stuff in the space and it will be hard to see past all your stuff.

Before you list your property, start preparing for your move by pre-packing as much of your stuff as you can. You may not need to stage your home but the more minimalistic your home is the better. That includes the personal photographs and nick nacks. When selling your home “Less is More”. As in Less Stuff = More Money and Faster Sale.

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Cleanliness is next to Godliness when it comes to selling a home. If your bathroom is dirty or the laundry room smells of old socks you will lose the sale. Clean up inside. Better yet get a professional in for a thorough cleaning and then stay on top of it. If your paint is in bad condition take the time to touch it up. If needed repaint with a soft neutral colour.

Clean up your yard! When someone walks into your yard and steps in your dog’s mess you may have just lost a sale. Tripping over a bicycle or walking around spilled garbage may not be deal killers but seriously, take the time to clean up your yard before a buyer comes. At the very least mow your lawn, trim your hedges and mulch your gardens.

All good realtors recommend a home inspection and 9 out of 10 buyers get one done. What problems does your house have? Having a pre-inspection may be

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daunting but it is worthwhile to know what is going to show up. If you have a reputable inspector go through your house in advance you can deal with the issues in advance and will get a better price.

Today’s market is in flux. In Ladysmith and the surrounding area we are impacted by what happens in Vancouver and Victoria. But no matter what happens in that market the basics of selling your home remain the same. Good clean homes sell quickly for good prices.

Problem homes, not so much.

Gerry Beltgens is a REALTOR with Pemberton Holmes Ladysmith and a partner with Denise Tutte in the Van Isle Real Estate Team. He was born in Ladysmith and is involved with Rotary and the Ladysmith Maritime Society. He is also proud to be Head Pirate for Kids Pirate Day coming on June 2, 2018

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Seeding “I see spring is in the air,” said the person behind me at the supermarket checkout. He was referring to the pots of flowering spring bulbs in my trolley: hyacinths, irises, narcissi and tulips.

How could I resist after this long bleak winter? I am going to place them on the kitchen island to remind me that spring is just around the corner. With the thought of spring looming, it’s time to start planning what I am going to grow this year.

I get a head start on the season (and save a fortune) by growing veggie and flower transplants from seed. Ideally the growing medium should be sterilized

Getting a head start. Photo submitted.

and able to retain moisture, so as not to transmit pathogens or fungal diseases, such as damping off to delicate seedlings. It’s good to know if the mix has a nutrient component. If seedlings go yellow or stop growing, it’s because there was little to no nutrient content in the medium. An application of liquid fish fertilizer quickly corrects this problem.

I sort seeds into cool weather plants and those that need heat to thrive. I don’t heat my greenhouse, but I do supply power to a propagation box lined with a heater cable on a thermostat set at 70 F. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, melons, tomatillos, cape gooseberries, dill and basil are started at the end of February/ early March on bottom heat in this box.

The box is covered by glass windows to keep the heat in. Seeds should be planted three times the depth of their size.

The smaller the seed the less it needs covering, and some really tiny seeds need light to germinate. To avoid confusion, use plastic labels to mark the seeds.

A sign of spring. Photo: Dave Smith

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You can cut used plastic tubs into strips with a pointy tip for free. A fine tipped black Sharpie pen works best.

Cool weather vegetables, such as lettuces, peas, favas, onions, leeks, brassicas, leafy greens, kale, chard, parsley, coriander and arugula, are also seeded but are grown on in an unheated greenhouse (poly tunnel or cold frame). At the end of March/April you can seed radishes, beets, carrots, turnips, coriander, spinach and oriental greens directly into the garden.

It’s not until May that I seed the “heat lovers,” such as corn, beans, squash and cucumbers, with more dill, coriander and basil. With the warmer days and more sun, they germinate within a week. One thing to know about squash seedlings is that they hate to have their roots disturbed, so avoid having to pot them on. They grow fast and will be ready to plant out in the garden when the soil has warmed up in June. This way you avoid root-bound plants.

Sow bugs (pill bugs) can be a nuisance, especially around wet wood. A pile of cornmeal does the trick — when sow bugs eat it they explode! With poor ventilation and overcrowding fungus, gnats can be a problem. If you get clouds of tiny black flies hovering about your plants, a fan or taking plants outside on a windy day will dissipate these pesky flies. Hanging a yellow sticky paper above the plants monitors the insect population in the greenhouse. If there is an infestation of whiteflies, sticky yellow paper attracts them and controls the problem.

If seedlings get leggy, it’s because they are reaching for light. Move them to a brighter source of light. The first set of leaves are seed leaves, cotyledons, and look different than the next set, the true leaves. When seedlings get their second set of true leaves, the roots will be established enough to prick them out into larger pots. At this point, you can introduce a biologically active soil blend or add sieved compost to your growing mix to provide fertilizer that will stimulate the seedlings to grow. As they establish, it’s helpful to feed plants weekly, alternating one week with liquid seaweed and one week with liquid fish fertilizer.

Eventually, it’s time to move your plants out into the garden, but first they

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need to be hardened off. Put them outdoors in the daytime and bring them in again at night for a week to ten days. Otherwise plant them and provide a cloche cover.

Now you are ready to “hoe a row in five.” Using a flat edged hoe, make a long six-inch deep furrow in the garden. Line the furrow with sieved compost or granular fertilizer (or both). Simply lay the transplants into the furrow, adequately spaced for growth, and cover by hoeing soil over them along the row. Five minutes to plant a 15-foot row of food plants.

At this point, the roots will be well established, so the plants take off with fast growth.

I wait until June to plant out tomatoes, but by then, I have grown them on into one gallon pots, with the first flowers forming. Tomatoes also grow well in five-gallon pots. Peppers will yield more when grown covered by a polytunnel or cloche, and I have had great luck growing one pepper in a two-gallon pot in the greenhouse. For more tender plants, such as squash and peppers, covering the soil with black landscape fabric and planting seedlings through slits cut into the fabric makes a big difference. This locks the heat of the sun in at day and prevents it from escaping at night.

This describes my method of getting around the unpredictable growing conditions in early spring and getting an early start for harvests of fresh food from the garden. Happy seeding!

Carolyn Herriot is author of The Zero Mile Diet, A Year Round Guide to Growing Organic Food and The Zero Mile Diet Cookbook, Seasonal Recipes for Delicious Homegrown Food (Harbour Publishing.), available at local bookstores.

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O’Natural How many times have you been sitting on the couch, ready to go, waiting on your wife to finish dressing, watching the news — if yet another gang shooting in Surrey or house fire in Burnaby qualifies as news — and your wife, dressed to perfection, catwalks into the room, looking absolutely stunning, and immediately spots your Zack’s Septic Service sweatshirt (At Zack’s We Pump You Up), causing her right eyebrow to arch up maybe three-sixteenths of an inch, the look she always gets when inspecting your head for newly acquired holes where brain matter might be leaking out, and in her firm but absolutely fair, commander-in-chief voice says, “You’re

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not planning on wearing that, are you?”

This sends you scurrying to your room for more appropriate attire. It doesn’t matter that you’re only going over to her brother Carl’s where you will be subjected to freezer burnt venison, hopefully a more recent vintage. “Of course not, dear,” you say while beating a hasty retreat to your room where, if you’re lucky, she’ll follow you and put together an outfit for you. That way no stripes get mixed in with the plaids.

You emerge as a new man, nattily attired in the cashmere sweater your wife bought you for your birthday, but which you’ve never worn because you not only forgot you had it, but also were afraid to get it dirty. Though looking forward to your night out, it is not without feelings of compassion for your sweater. You know the chances are slim to none it will make it through the evening without requiring dry cleaning.

Dressing up for dinner concerns me because I’m good for about two bites before something about as oily as the Exxon Valdez dives to my sweater or pants, with the precision of an Acapulco

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cliff diver. The last time I can remember walking out of a restaurant stain free was that Italian joint where, instead of being issued napkins, all the guys over 55 were offered tablecloths with holes cut out for their heads.

Well, I say society has got this dressing up for dinner thing all backwards.

We shouldn’t be dressing up to eat, we should be undressing. It’s quite simple really — food and clothing don’t mix.

Dressing up to eat is like dressing up to mud wrestle. Hold on, that’s not true. It’s far worse. Mud is clean dirt. It can be washed off. Oil and vinegar can’t.

Think I’m kidding? Talk to your dry cleaner. He’s the guy with the Lamborghini parked out back. He’ll tell you for every sweater lost to mud wrestling, thousands more succumb to Caesar salad. You don’t think it’s by accident your dry cleaner’s customer appreciation draw is always a gift certificate to a restaurant, do you?

Dining naked only makes sense, skin being the greatest wash and wear fabric known to man. It explains how you can spend seven days at a Mexican all-

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inclusive basting in suntan oil, tequila and guacamole, hit the shower, and other than a nose that looks like it’s been attacked by a blowtorch, there’s no permanent damage. Try that with a cashmere sweater.

Dining in the buff is not new. I got the idea from the Dukabours, the innovative Russian group that lived in the Kootenays and were always getting arrested for walking down Main Street naked. People always assumed it was a protest march, but no, it was just a group of forward-thinking individuals, meeting for lunch and trying to protect their clothing for more important occasions — weddings, funerals, court appearances, that kind of thing.

Now I know what you’re saying, “Delbert, you’ve gone off on a wacky tangent again.” But no, naked dining restaurants are the latest rage and are popping up, if you’ll excuse the expression, from London to Melbourne to Tokyo. The latest is O’Natural in Paris, the City of Light, but we hope not too much light. As a recent Internet article explained: “Leave your coats, your pants and your inhibitions at the door. A Paris restaurant has begun serving up classic French fare to diners in the nude.

Located down a quiet side street in southwest Paris, O’Natural is billed as the French capital’s first nudist restaurant.” The restaurant is the brainchild of 42-year-old twins, Mike and Stephane Saads, who used to be fully clothed insurance salesmen.

Though retired from the restaurant business, one of my responsibilities is keeping the new owners of the Mahle House, my niece, Tara, and husband, Stephen, up to speed on hot new dining trends. Their Adventure Wednesday concept, a surprise five-course dinner where, up to four people, get something different, has served the restaurant and its customers well, but perhaps its time for something new.

That’s why I’m suggesting we “kick it up a notch” and make Wednesday a real adventure. First, we’ll need a name change.

We could call it “Godiva’s, where friends meet,” or something fun, “Cheeky’s,” and let’s not forget “Buff,” if it’s trendy you’re after. But nothing adolescent like “Saggy’s,” “The Sagmeisters,” “The Sagatoreum” —(Best I stop here before they set the leg hold trap.)

Being the first buff dining establishment in North America will not only bring acclaim to the Mahle House, but also will put the community on the map, always a consideration with Slightly Corked. In fact, The only problem is Tara isn’t returning my calls. I’ve left numerous messages for her outlining the plan, explaining how any money saved on clothing will be spent on wine, emphasizing the importance of marketplace leadership, but no response.

You’d think with an idea as good as this one, she’d be right on it. That’s the problem with young people these days — no initiative.

Not surprisingly, I’ve had support in higher places. Our buff PM Justin Trudeau is all for nude dining. As he put it, “I’ve got a few more tattoos to reveal when the time is right.” He suggested, for historical accuracy, we call the place “Sons of Freedom.” The sons, of course, has to be changed to “PER-sons,” not that Tara wants to have anything to do with it.

Woodwork Cabernet Sauvignon from California, tasty with apparel or without, about $15.

Follow Delbert at Slightlycorkedandmore.wordpress.com

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The saga of Mount Sicker

BY ROB JOHNSON Are you one of the many people who has walked past the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce on First Avenue and has not paid any attention to the ore car on the sidewalk? This ore car is one of the few connections left to the undertold story of the Mount Sicker mines and their connection to Ladysmith.

Most residents of Ladysmith know something about our coal mining history, but few know anything about our connection of the copper mines that

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Ore cart downtown Ladysmith.

Photo: Rob Johnson

populated the top of Mount Sicker or the Tyee copper smelter that played a major role in Ladysmith’s development.

It was located on the waterfront where the Western Sawmills are located. It employed hundreds of people and extracted tonnes of copper, along with large amounts of, gold, silver, lead, zinc and cadmium.

In 1895, copper ore was first discovered on Mount Sicker. It soon became a hub of mining activity. The first of these mines was the Lenora established in 1898. Soon after the Lenora mine started operations, two other mines opened

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around it — the “Tyee” and the “Richard III.” By 1900, enough people had moved up the mountain to form the town of Mount Sicker. It was the highest town on the Island, situated about 1,700 to 2,000 feet above sea level. The new town site boasted a population of over 1,700 people, making it the fourth largest community on the Island. It had two hotels, numerous shops, a school and many homes.

The town of Mount Sicker was unique in that it had two post offices: one at the Lenora mine site, and the other at the Tyee mine site, just few hundred feet higher on the mountain. Later that year, the mine was sold to Harry Croft and others. The ore from the mine was shipped to Oyster harbour by road and rail, then transshipped to smelters elsewhere until Harry Croft could build a smelter on the shores of Osborne Bay. In 1902, the smelter was ready to go into production. A town site quickly developed around the smelter. This community became what we know as Crofton — now not only the people at the mine were dependent on the Lenora mine,

Wounded Warrior On Saturday Feb. 24/18 the Wounded Warrior Run BC 2018 passed through Ladysmith. This years run began in Port Hardy Feb 19 and finished in Victoria Feb 25, and the run is to provide increased public awareness and financial support for Wounded Warriors of Canada. It is a relay style run composed of 7 runners covering the length of Vancouver Island in just 7 days.

While in Ladysmith the team was presented with a cheque for $540 from the Ladysmith Legion RCL Br. 171, which was raised from a roast beef dinner. Photo submitted.

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but so were hundreds of more people in Crofton.

The owners of the Tyee mine decided that their ore would be smelted in Ladysmith and not Crofton. To achieve this, they build their own smelter, the Tyee. Like the smelter in Crofton, the Tyee smelter was “blown in” in 1902.

This required that the Tyee mine and the Richard III mine had to supply up to 400 tonnes of ore daily to be shipped from their mines to be processed at the smelter. To achieve this, they needed to install an aerial tramway to bring the ore down the mountainside. The tramway started at the 1,700 level of the mountain and, then, climbed to the 2,000-foot level before it descended to the train tracks at Westhome Crossing.

Once the ore arrived at Ladysmith, it was baked in outdoor ore ovens before the smelting. The smelted ore produced tonnes of “blister” copper that was then shipped to Tacoma for further processing and also extracted large sums of gold, silver, cadmium, zinc and lead.

The construction of the smelter helped create a building boom in the town of Ladysmith, for the homes for the smelter workers and a massive wharf and loading system were also built. With this added shipping wharf, Ladysmith became a major shipping harbour. Oyster harbour was now home to not only the newly built smelter wharves and the Dunsmuir coal wharves, but also a new government wharf, the Grandby coal wharf and the existing E&N rail transfer wharf. In the years to follow, as many as 350 ships and barges were loaded a year, with products shipped from the Ladysmith area. Ladysmith was now

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Tyee Mine, Mount Sicker, 1903, was working at full capacity.

Photo courtesy of Cowichan Valley Museum Archives 1991.9.11.1

a significant shipping port needing its own Customs House.

Unfortunately, the mining boom on Mount Sicker was short lived. By 1904, the mines on Mount Sicker showed signs of financial problems. The Lenora mine was in receivership, and the Tyee mine was operating on its last legs. The demise of the community was obvious, and Mount Sicker was soon to become a ghost town. With the closing of the mines, people left their homes and businesses. What could be moved were moved. Any other buildings were just deserted and later sold for taxes. Homes went for $2, and the prestigious Mount Sicker hotel, along with its fixtures, couldn’t even get a bid for the asking price of $8. While both Crofton and the community of Mount Sicker were dev-

The Salish Wind Canoe at Transfer Beach with a new interpretive sign represents a part of Stz'uminus First Nations heritage. Photo: Nick Longo

astated by the closure of the mines, the effect on Ladysmith was much less, as the Town of Ladysmith had just become a City, and the coal mines were running full tilt — things looked promising.

Over its brief span, the mountain gave up some 6.5 million tonnes of ore. It is estimated that 20.6 million pounds of copper ($77.8 million in today’s Canadian dollars) were extracted, along with 841,000 ounces of silver ($16.9 million) and 39,000 ounces of gold ($61.3 million). The mines also yielded 500,000 pounds of lead, 4 million pounds of zinc and several thousand pounds of cadmium. At today’s prices, this would amount to $160 million dollars.

In 1911, the Tyee smelter ceased operations after only nine years in service.

The smelter was later reopened under different owners and ran off and on till the late 1920s, processing ore from numerous locations, from Alaska to Mexico, but this was unsustainable with the existing copper prices. The smelter did have a resurgence in 1930, but not as a copper smelter; instead, it became a rock wool processing plant. Rock wool was a form of insulation produced by smelting the copper mill rock slag and making it into a form of home and industrial insulation.

The smelter closed for good when it burnt down in 1943 and was never rebuilt. So ended one of the many industries that helped shape the town of Ladysmith.

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WANTED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY –The Ladysmith Golf Club is accepting applications for the position of Clubhouse Attendant. This is a part time, temporary position of 20– 30 hours per week. The position is normally filled from April 1 to Sept 30 each year. No previous experience required. Wages are $12.75/hour. Applicants must be physically active, have good interpersonal skills and must enjoy meeting and serving the golfing community. Please mail application and resume to: Ladysmith Golf Course, 380 Davis Rd., Ladysmith, B.C., V9G 1T9 OR by email to: smittymt@shaw.ca. Applications should be in by FRIDAY MARCH 23.

7-YEAR-OLD MALE REGISTERED BLACK LABRADOR. Very intelligent & loving, (only slightly haywire), wants to meet, greet (and treat?) a great female dog. Object – Son. Please call beloved owner 250-716-0001.

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ISLAND PRUNING. Professional tree care from large scale orchards to budding new trees. I can meet any pruning need. Shrubs, vines and ornamental. Large and small clean ups. Call Darcy Belcourt 250-323-1260 RED ROSE HOUSE CLEANING serving Ladysmith with competitive prices, references available call Jan 250-924-0844 QUALITY RENOVATIONS. Big or small. 25 yrs. exp/journeyman, affordable. For free estimate, call Lars 250-616-1800.

KEEP IT CLEAN SOLUTIONS. Home & office cleaning. General, event, windows, we’ll even make your bed! Great for families, seniors, single parents, office cleaning, flexible service to fit your schedule.

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KB HANDYMAN AND YARDWORKS SERVICES. Minor carpentry work, decks, fences, gutter cleaning, tree pruning, yard clean up, lawn fertilizing, mowing.

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PETS PROFESSIONAL PET CARE SERVICE. Leash ’em & walk ’em with Marlena. Insured and bonded. Animal First Aid and CPR. Service for all pets including dog walking, home care visits, overnight with pet in my home and much more. As my love is yours! Call 250-246-3394.

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quired. Also, the Town will likely have to contract out both a servicing and transportation studies, as well as develop a communications plan. Much of this will depend on receiving federal and provincial funding that the Town will apply for.

The one to two-year plan includes land acquisition (Lot 5?), marketing the developable lands, developing the scope for foreshore fill and stabilization, developing a “master” plan for the Arts The Waterfront Plan: and Heritage Hub, and of course, securThere is still, a long, ing more federal and provincial funding. long way to go The midterm plan (three to five years) contains more marketing of developable On January 23, the Town unveiled its lands, a storm water management study final draft of the latest Waterfront De(likely contracted out), and another velopment Plan. The response by the study that will address the feasibility majority of those who attended was that of establishing a hotel/inn overlooking it is a good plan. It has many of amenithe marina. During this time, the Town ties the majority of our residents want: will also create a design for a “pedespublic access to the waterfront, parks trian bridge” over the highway from and green space, almost First Ave. to and a mix of com- The response by the majority the Expo legacy buildmercial and resiings. In this midterm dential while pre- of those who attended was that planning phase, the it is a good plan. serving some of our Town will develop the industrial past. The master plan for Slack partnership with Point. And, of course, the Stz'uminus First Nations is one that the Town will be looking for federal allows the sharing of cultures and makes and provincial funding, in addition to good business sense. any money raised by selling off TownUnfortunately, some left the meeting owned properties. not fully aware of the time required to Finally, the long-term plan (five years implement this conceptual plan. And and more) will see the completion of the that is what it is – a concept, not a develpedestrian bridge and the stabilization oped plan. It needs a lot of pieces to fall and remediation of the shoreline and into place before it can become a reality.

Slack Point while still marketing TownOne of the handouts at the meeting owned lands and securing additional listed an implementation (plan) process. federal and provincial funding.

This handout rightly pointed out that is As you can see, this conceptual plan a guideline for future work and is subhas many aspects that will take years to ject to funding. The process first begins implement and is dependent on many when Council and the public can see the factors. The most critical factor is vast finalized plan. This plan will then have amounts of federal and provincial monto be approved by Council. Once passed, ey required, as we can’t afford it on our the process of funding and re-zoning own. We will need to have a shared viwill begin. In this plan, the first actions sion with private developers that will be will occur in a year or less. These steps brought in to develop our waterfront. include amending the Official ComDuring the five or more years it will munity Plan and applying for the water take to complete this plan, we will see lease that we presently know as “dog changes in all levels of government. In patch.” This plan is a business plan that fact, our own Council will change this includes “early development opportuniyear and likely a second time before its ties for revenue generation.” The Town completion. Let us hope that all parties will, during this time, “identify and subare willing to support this project until divide development parcels.” it’s completion.

Zoning for these parcels will be reAt least that’s how I see it.