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Pictured are some of the North Oyster Volunteer firefighters who attended the scene Back row L to R: Brian Eagle, Florian Schulz, Jason de Jong Fire Chief), Ron Strazza, Ryne Paetz, Sandy David Front Row L to R: Colby Sedola, Aaron Bergeron, accident victim
First Responders The North Oyster Volunteer Fire Department attended a very serious motorcycle accident in 2010. To show my appreciation to these first responders who took exceptional care of me, I attended at the North Oyster Fire Hall before Christmas. This visit gave me an opportunity to thank them. Their efforts saved my life! We would like to thank the North Oyster Volunteer Fire Department for their efforts! Their patience, caring nature and invaluable expertise were nothing less than amazing. We were shocked to lean that first responders rarely receive thanks for their heroics nor are they advised of the outcome of their efforts regarding accident victims. We hope this story will encourage more accident victims to come forward and give thanks to their first responders. After all where would we be without them? We would like to express a special thanks to the Air Ambulance and Paramedics that attended the accident. -Accident Victim (Name withheld by request)
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Roll out the roosters What in the world were you thinking when you published Rob Pinkerton’s story about cock fighting (TAKE 5/March 2012). It is not a sport and there is absolutely nothing macho about the cruel slaughter of these birds. I could not tell if Rob Pinkerton supported the activity or not, he seemed to be quite ambivalent about it – I do fault him for attending such an event and for not clearly expressing his revulsion of such a cruel activity. So where is Take 5 going to stoop to after this article? You should be ashamed of yourself for publishing this article. There is no place for ambivalence when it comes to animal cruelty. - Mark McGladrey
Photo correction The caption under the photo: (News: $16 million investment protects island jobs) had an error. The person on the podium is Lee Doney, Vice Chairman of the Board for Western Forest Products Inc. and not Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson - Garth Buck
Compost Queen It has been fun and great for my business to be on the cover of Take 5. If I’d known I would have had a more elegant picture taken. By the way, that was not a posed photo. I was cooking dinner (thus the apron). Already had good feedback about my article. - Dianne Andrews
Loaves & Fishes A food bank depot at St Philip Cedar began with a letter from Chris and Margaret Couchman to the Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes. They were responding to the need for more satellite outlets to serve those in need of food in the Cedar community. The wheels were set in motion to begin our participation in Loaves and Fishes. With the help of leadership team of volunteers, we opened our doors in March 2011. Each month the need rises. March 2011 we served 52 people and by December we were serving 333 people. With the help of volunteers from St. Philip Cedar, the Tai Chi Club of Cedar and the larger Loaves and Fishes community, we are able to serve many more people. In one year we have served more than 2000 clients. St Philip is part of the network of the Loaves and Fishes satellites who strive to offer the same consistent, reliable bag of groceries across the Nanaimo region. Loaves and Fishes continues to be supported by local businesses, service clubs, church groups and farmers who, when possible, top up the non-perishables with milk, bread, eggs and fresh, seasonal vegetables. Each week a dozen volunteers gather to serve the community with an average of 25 volunteer hours per week. We have over 40
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volunteers who do everything from tea and treats and conversation, to handing out bags of grocery, to paper work, to attending meetings. To date the volunteers have given more than 1200 hours of their time. We appreciate their support and we thank in particular Glenn White. Having a Loaves and Fishes depot each week in our hall has raised everyone’s awareness of the needs that exist on our doorstep. Parishioners have supported the efforts of Loaves and Fishes with food and financial donations. With the support of the 49th Parallel we had a two day hot dog sale and awareness campaign. We were able to raise over $700. We could not serve the hungry without the donation of time, talent and money from people who support this effort and we salute all of these volunteers. And to our clients who are unfailing cheerful and patient, thank you, for you add so much to our lives. In 2012 we would like to expand our volunteer group to the wider community of Cedar. There are many different ways to support Loaves and Fishes: food drives, fund raisers or giving a little extra when buying your groceries at your local store. Another way of giving is for a local group of people to take the fifth Wednesday of the month that happens only four times a year. -Anita Brideau, Co-ordinator, Loaves & Fishes & Rev. Howie Adan
Ladysmith council set to replace aging trolley this summer
Letters to the Editor are welcome but subject to space and editing. Please note that letters published do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TAKE 5. editor@take5.ca, or post your comments directly at www.take5.ca.
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Going Green – It’s a Matter of Necessity Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, 32 years ago, in an effort to raise awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment. Unfortunately, the vast majority of citizens and communities around the world paid little heed to those early environmentalists who began to sound the alarm, “all is not well with our planet.” Today, despite the increasing number of bizarre weather events occurring world wide, there are still some individuals who do not accept that climate change is upon us and will have serious implications for the world we know. We do not just have to look to the melting ice in the Arctic and Antarctic for evidence of climate change; there are many examples close to home. The average temperature in central and northern B.C. rose some 1 ½ degrees Celsius in the latter part of the 20th century, resulting in devastating consequences for the great interior forests ravaged by the Mountain Pine Beetle. Closer to home, the average temperature of ground water in the Cowichan River Basin, that feeds the large Cowichan Tribes Fish Hatchery, has also risen 1 ½ degrees Celsius just in the last twenty
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years. Cool water is essential for fish egg survival. A few degrees change in average air temperature may seem insignificant, but in nature, the impact is enormous. In the Cowichan Valley, during the last one hundred years, the difference in the average daily temperature of our coldest winter (with months of freezing temperatures and over a dozen feet of snow) and the average daily temperature of our warmest winter was just 2 degrees Celsius. Perhaps the greatest threat posed by climate change is not raising sea levels, but rather the potential impact on the world’s food supply. Food security (making sure food is affordable and accessible) is already a challenge. In 2012, the world’s population will surpass 7 billion people; double what it was just fifty years ago. At this time, 800 million people worldwide are going hungry. The price of food, worldwide, continues to rise every year. In 2011, the cost of a “basket of food” in British Columbia increased by 5 per cent over the year before. Recent increases in food prices are not so much due to climate change, but more due to increases in the cost of fossil fuels, used in both food production and transporting the food to market. However, add in the ever-increasing impact of climate change, with its erratic weather patterns and extreme events occurring worldwide: food security will eventually reach crisis proportions. We cannot undo the past, but we can take action to decrease our present and future use of fossil fuels (which create the Greenhouse Gas Emissions that contribute to climate change) in our homes, businesses, and in our vehicles.
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In mid-March, Town Council received a report on the use of biomass (wood) to fuel District Heating Units that heat whole communities in many countries in Europe. The housing density of our community and the nearby availability of wood waste may make Ladysmith an excellent candidate for the introduction of District Heating. Great strides have already been made with increasing the fuel efficiency of the vehicles we drive. Cars that exceed 40 mpg are readily available, hybrid vehicles are becoming common, and we are now seeing the first wave of electric vehicles. For heavier duty vehicles, compressed natural gas may be a more environmentally friendly choice than diesel or gasoline. But most importantly, we can mitigate the impact of climate change on local food security by turning the clock back and growing much of our own food right here on Vancouver Island. Right now, less than 10 per cent of what we eat comes from the Island, making us vulnerable to rising transportation costs. It is time to resurrect the back yard garden and give far greater support to our local agriculture industry so it can flourish and provide us with a secure food supply close to home. Betty Pearson takes a moment to admire mother nature’s work Photo: Rob Johnson
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Home Trends: 2012 BY HEIDI DERHOUSOFF – GNB BUILDERS INC.
In February, GNB Builders’ Greg Bianchini and I (Heidi) attended the International Builders Show put on by the National Association of Home Builders in Orlando, Florida where we got to see and learn about the newest trends and products. This was our fifth year attending and were sad to see the show was the smallest ever with the American market still recovering. After an inspiring opening ceremony in which Aron Ralston spoke of overcoming obstacles and learning from times of pressure, we were ready to see what to expect for homes in 2012. (Aron Ralston, an incredible motivational speaker, was a hiker that fell into a crevice and had to sever his own arm for a chance of survival – the movie 127 Hours was based on his experience.) Without further ado the top trends for 2012: Energy efficiency – High efficiency was everywhere you turned from lighting, heating, windows, and doors with each company offering more efficient options than ever before. Gas fireplaces have come so far in the last few years; Valour Fireplaces capitalized on this, stealing the show. Water efficiency - In the past consumers had several choices for water sense faucets, shower heads and toilets; however this year the water sense flag was raised in many booths. Kohler has extended many of their
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lines to capture this market. Aging in place features – Each year we have seen many products that allow people to live in their homes longer and be more comfortable, however this year more companies jumped on board. When building a home with aging in place in mind GNB Builders suggests creating the main living area on one floor, prepping for a future elevator for multi level homes, large door openings, curbless showers, grab bars, lever door handles to name a few features. Kohler has some striking easy entry tubs including their Elevance Rising Wall Bath that can easily replace existing tub/shower units found in most homes. Guest suites – In many of the homes we are building we are including a full guest suite which includes a large bedroom with a smaller living area and full bathroom. This allows for guests to have a spacious room for their stay, particularly for children and grandchildren, as well could later be used for an elderly relative or a personal caregiver. Compact beverage centers with a small sink and area for small appliances such as coffee maker or built in microwave were prominent at the show making these suites very luxurious. Be careful, your guests may never leave. Outdoor living – Who doesn’t want their own oasis outside of their home? From outdoor furniture, decking, speciality outdoor lighting, water features, heaters, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, pizza ovens, artificial grass and even synthetic thatch roofing for creating a tropical feel. Home automation: Many companies are competing for this market with Lutron and Leviton having some great products. With Leviton Z-Wave® radio frequency technology you are able to automate many items in your home without pre-wiring, such as multiple scene lighting, one touch control of lights and appliances, unlocking doors, turning on
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Heidi Derhousoff and Greg Bianchini security systems, etc. Some of these products can even be controlled using a smart phone. Solar – From preheating domestic hot water to powering your home the show had it all. We saw solar roof shingles, solar blinds, and many types of panels. GNB Builders has installed solar panels to preheat domestic hot water with the savings realized quickly. Rain water harvesting: With our ever growing concern of replenishing the aquifers with our limited supply of ground water, rain water collection along with storm water management is becoming an important component of residential home construction. In the states you see many developments having a collective holding area for storm water that becomes a beautiful water feature for the
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community that can be used for irrigation as well as fire protection. Greg Bianchini, owner of GNB Builders recently completed a rain water harvesting course as we are continuing to install rain water collectors on the majority of homes we build.
Insure your home dreams come true… So, you are building your dream home… congratulations! For most families, the months and years leading up to this significant event included a lot of saving, budgeting, compromising, planning and dreaming. Now that the project is about to get underway, a final item on your (or your contractors) building phase checklist should be ‘Course of Construction’ insurance coverage. Course of Construction (COC) insurance is a specialized type of insurance policy that is specifically designed to insure buildings or projects - in this case your custom dream home. COC insurance includes protection against repair and replacement costs while the property is under construction. Course of Construction insurance covers things like building materials, appliances, fixtures and fittings, and many other items that would become an essential part of the finished home. The Supreme Court of Canada described the purposes of COC insurance as: “Provide to the owner the promise that the contractors will have the funds to rebuild in case of loss and to the contractors the protection against the crippling cost of starting afresh in such an event, the whole without resort to litigation in case of negligence by anyone connected with the construction, a risk accepted by the insurers at the outset.” Although a COC insurance policy is designed to provide broad coverage, it does not cover all property connected to the construction project nor does it cover every risk, so it is important to educate yourself, and ask your contractor company about their insurance coverage. For example, COC insurance coverage is limited specifically by property type, location and owner, and can also be further limited by a list of exclusions, depending upon the insurer. So, as you can see, Course of Construction insurance is just one part of an overall policy strategy you (or your contractor) must have in place to ensure proper coverage of your dream. It is also important to acquire coverage that insures the full value of the construction project – aka your dream home – when it is completed. If you are unsure of what constitutes ‘full value’, ask your insurance agent for clarification. Just as you budgeted, prepared and painstakingly planned to make your dream of a custom family home a reality, make sure that you and your contractor has the adequate and appropriate insurance coverage, while the dream is under construction. Vancouver Island InsuranceCentres offers a wide range of exclusive residential insurance programs including home, condo and course of construction. 250-245-8022 or viic.ca
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Meet our local H & G experts Alpine Group. Being part of the solution has been the mission statement of Alpine Group since inception over 25 years ago. A leader in the commercial and residential garbage and recycling industry, Alpine Group’s newest endeavour is in the compost and soil industry. Using compost created through the Regional District of Nanaimo’s Green Bin Program, in partnership with International Compost Corporation, Alpine is producing top quality compost and top soil that landscapers and gardeners are raving about. Taking a waste product that only a few short months ago was bound for the land fill or the down the sink and into the ocean then turning it into a high grade usable commodity has not only made a huge positive impact on our landfills, but brings the concept of recycling full circle. Alpine also offers solutions for those large and small clean-up jobs around the yard by offering “mini” bins from only $70.00 to pick up loads drop off at their transfer station at 2250 McGarrigle Road for as little at $5.00. Alpine Group’s goal is to send as little as possible to the land fill and through their separation process, they are able to recycle over 80 per cent.
Alpine Group takes recycling to a higher level. It turns waste product into quality compost. Photo submitted.
Dunn Lawn & Garden has expanded to include power washing service. Their new equipment is especially suited to clean concrete and vinyl decks and cement walkways. Most often the Flat Surface Cleaner will clean without the need for detergent soaps or degreasers. But if needed only Bio degradable products are used.“These accessories allow us to complete the work quickly and effectively and thus save water and time and staying environmentally friendly,” says Peter Dunn. Peter Dunn with power washer uses biodegradable products.
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Nails, 1818 Cedar Rd. If you would like more information or want to be part of the talent show please call Vicki at 250722-3767.
Cancer Awareness
Skatepark gets funding The Cedar Skatepark Funding is in. It was good news for the Cedar Skatepark Association. After 10 years of fundraising the group heard that a grant of $439,410 is going toward the construction of the new Cedar Skateboard and Bike Park - the first of its kind in the community. “It’s incedible,” says Vicki Suddaby “we’ve waited so long for this to happen, and now here it is.” The Nanaimo Regional District is receiving a total of $578,910 for three recreation projects that will help encourage physical fitness and provide more activity options for families Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development., announced recently. Of this funding, $439,410 is going toward the construction of the new Cedar Skateboard and Bike Park - the first of its kind in the community. The park will be an asset for everyone, whether you are a participant or just want to enjoy sitting in a park bench, says Suddaby. “It’s a win, win for everyone.” The Skatepark Association is holding a night of fun and family entertainment, “Cedar Has Talent”, May 11, 7pm at Cedar Secondary School. Tickets can be purchased at Ultimate
April is Cancer Awareness Month. Canadian Cancer Society Ladysmith Unit is once again asking your support when the
Sherry Marcotte accepting a daffodil pin box from Don Grinnell to be placed on her desk at her “Hair Designs” in Yellow Point Photo: Janice Grinnell
volunteer door to door canvasser calls. All donations are eligible to receive a tax receipt which will be issued by the canvassers, who will cover all areas with a Ladysmith address. To volunteer as a canvasser, contact the Ladysmith Office at 250-245-0671 or 630 Second Ave. or email ladysmith@bc.cancer.ca
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Byron Neubauer of 49th Parallel shows off their local chickens. Photo: Rob Johnson
Cedar residents to weigh in on community design options
Local chickens flock to 49th The 49th Parallel Grocery shops local The grocery has partnered with Island Farmhouse Poultry, the only provincially inspected island poultry plant and the only poultry plant that uses Vancouver Island grown poultry exclusively. Island Farmhouse Poultry is located in Cowichan Bay, which means quick delivery to the four 49th Parallel Grocery locations, and most importantly the freshest product possible for customers to buy. “Buying local Farmhouse poultry means you are supporting local farms, local jobs and keeping agriculture viable on our beautiful island,” says Don Florence of the 49th Parallel Grocery in Ladysmith.
A growing group of Cedar residents, business owners, and others are shaping the future of Cedar by participating in the Cedar Main Street Design Project, a Regional District of Nanaimo-facilitated community planning and design initiative. The project goal is to create an illustrated village plan for the area, which includes the lands located on both sides of Cedar Road between MacMillan and Hemer Roads. www.cedarmainstreetconcepts.com, email cedarmainstreet@ rdn.bc.ca or call Greg Keller, Senior Planner, at 250-390-6510.
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Support the Riders Adam Laforest, a Ladysmith resident and high school teacher, will cycle in the over 250 km Vancouver to Seattle Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer on June 16 and 17, 2012 with Nanaimo Rides Again, a team of riders from Nanaimo. On April 14 and 15 from 9am to 5pm Adam and his team mates will be spinning on their bikes in front of the 49th Parallel Grocery Store to help raise money for this event. Stop by and cheer them on.
Local group joins Women Walk the World The Cedar Women’s Institute will join Women Walk the World for ACWW on April 29, (ACWW day) The group will join the Walk to raise awareness of the association. If you see them, give them a wave. The Associated Country Women of the World is active in over 70 countries, offering women and their communities the chance of a better life with support, friendship and help through development programs. ACWW gives women a voice at an international level by its links with the United Nations
Adam Laforest bikes for cancer
Skellig scores third What a journey the last few weeks have been for local band Skellig. They thank all of their well-wishers for the ‘Hard Rock Rising’ competition in Toronto, where they came in the top 3 out of 400 bands nationally. The winner of the international competition will play with Bruce Springsteen in London.
Estuary campaign
Cedar WI ladies getting ready for Women Walk the World for ACWW. (l-r) Janice Grinnell, Connie Grinnell, Lynne Williams, Rose Spencer, Anne Fiddick and Pat Quinlan. Photo: Don Grinnell.
The Nanaimo River Estuary needs your support! A campaign is underway to establish an extension of the proposed NMCA around Gabriola Island and into the Nanaimo River Estuary. Everyone is welcome to voice support, share ideas, concerns and stories about these coastal waters and this important estuary. Our campaign will look at long-term strategies for sustainability and stewardship and economic and social benefits to the region and mid island coast. For details www.missimidisland.com MISSI - Mid Island Sustainability & Stewardship Initiative 250 722-3444.
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Guilty as charged ‘Guilt is a weight that will crush you whether
you deserve it or not’ - Maureen Johnson
My whole sordid tale of guilt started with one of those visits to my Grandparents. I was seven, Johnny was three. We were barely out of the car when Gramma informed us that there would be no backyard tea party this visit. What? No childsize table and chairs, no sipping KoolAid in wee china cups, whilst scarfing down little tarts on tiny green plates and...well you get the picture. I was furious, but stifled the temper tantrum. That is until I found myself alone in the backyard with the old gal’s much-cherished, prize-winning roses. The injustice of it all, and Gramma’s role in it, resurfaced and in a moment’s illfated haste I reached over and in Queen of Hearts fashion, it was ‘off with their heads’. The enormity of my deed only confronted me as I plucked off the last bloom. I ran into the house and down to the basement. Even from my dank dark sanctuary,
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I heard the blood-curdling scream and plaintive wail of my Grandmother, followed by Dad’s revelry call for the four kids. We were lined up ceremoniously, like prisoners in front of the firing squad (where was that wintergreen candy cigarette when I needed it). Dad went from oldest child down asking “Did you pull the roses off?” “No Dad, I didn’t,” said Sharon, indignant at the inference that she might do something so childish. “No Dad, I didn’t”, said Sandy, looking sadly at Gramma, feeling her pain. On my turn I mustered up all my acting skills, and with pants on fire and nose growing with every word, I lied through my baby teeth. “No Dad, I didn’t”. Dad glared down at Johnny and yelled “Son, why did you do it?” Tears streaming down his chubby cheeks, my wee buddy, my sweet innocent baby brother, blubbered repeatedly in a tiny voice, “De wind did it, de wind did it”. Over my Dad’s knee he went, spanked and put to bed. Dodged that bullet. Case closed. NOT! That’s when the real guilt started... and it festered, for years, and I’m talking decade-type years. No amount of
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good deeds would wash the feeling away. Favours for Johnny were plenty; not just monetary-wise. More than once I took the fall for something he did, my lips were hermetically sealed concerning his behaviour - I kept the tattling for my sisters. I became Gramma’s little helper, later advancing to personal homecare provider, seamstress, taxi and daily Scrabble companion. Alas, nothing lessened my feeling of remorse.
After 30 or so years, I came to the conclusion that only by bearing my soul, my sin, to the victims of my crime would I be cleansed and able to truly move on. I went to my brother first and explained it all, choking back the tears, the memory still smarting. He looked at me not with sympathy as much as mocking wonderment at my drama and replied, “I
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don’t remember that Jackie”. Of course not - he was only three years old! Then I went to visit my Grandmother, now living in Central Park Lodge, pushing 87 years. This time I only just managed to make my confession with dry eyes. Obviously the apple truly doesn’t fall far from the tree because she gave me the exact same look as Johnny had as she said, “Dear, I don’t remember that”. Everyone had long forgotten while I recalled every single detail for far too long. When it comes to guilt, Erma Bombeck is right on: it is the gift that keeps on giving! Jackie Moad is an RN at NRGH, farms 20 acres organically on Vancouver Island with life-partner Laurie Gourlay, whilst trying to live an honest and guilt-free life.
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Invasive species attack Holland Creek Trail BY ROB JOHNSON The path winds through Ladysmith’s Holland Creek Trail offering a new vista with each turn. The coolness of the forest refreshes you, the sounds of the cascading waterfall as it rushes to the sea is mesmerizing. All the stress of the day melts away. Welcome to the world outside office walls. The most popular trail in the community is utilized by all ages and fitness levels. The trail is a cornerstone of our outdoor community life and yet not long ago, it wasn’t there. It was mostly bush until the early nineties when residents brought forth a plan
to make the creek and the woods accessible to more people. Up until the present trail system, the “creek” was almost the exclusive domain of the youth of Ladysmith. On any sunny day, you could find them fishing or swimming there. Today the trail enjoys many users; families with small children enjoying a pleasant walk along the trail, dog walkers and runners getting their cardio workout. The Holland Creek Trail has become an important part of the social life of Ladysmith. And while at first it may seem like everything is peaceful here, the reality is that the trail is under attack. Take a short walk though the trail and you’ll quickly spot invasive species such as holly, Scotch broom, St John’s Wort, and English ivy. These plants become quickly established and spread quickly. Everything that is green isn’t good. Invasive species of plants are changing the ecosystem and threatening the nature of the forest. They are considered to be one of the greatest threats to biodiversity.
Invasive species are non-native plants usually brought in by accident or intentionally introduced. Unfortunately they tend to be voracious and thrive to the exclusion of our native plants. They are highly competitive, and are prolific in seed production. Often, these plants have no natural predators to help control their spread. How did these plants manage to get a foothold along the trail? In some cases the seeds were spread by birds or the wind, but in many other cases it is from residents that have used the woods along the trail as dumping grounds for their yard and garden waste. If you go along the trail behind the public works yard or
Left: Invasive species such as English ivy are choking out the native plants and killing trees on Holland Creek Trail.. Above: Although pretty this ground cover doesn’t belong here. Photo Rob Johnson
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the police station or even the private homes that back on to the trail you will find dense patches English ivy and St Johns Wort. This is worrisome as English ivy can quickly strangle trees leading to the weakening of the banks and erosion of the trail. Some of the trees here are completely covered by ivy. Unless it is removed they are doomed. Ladysmith Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission reported in their October 20, 2010 meeting that some of their members “have charted most of the invasive species in Ladysmith.” The Commission went on to encourage Ladysmith to adopt a program and to plan an event to promote awareness and to educate, while encouraging residents to join work parties to remove invasive species. Unfortunately attempts to establish a Many users enjoy the Holland Creek Trail. Above: Dan Spence takes an admiring look at the trees. Below: Katie and Rosie Dodd play in the creek.
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work party failed due to various circumstances, so this hasn’t happened as yet. At the CVRD level, there are at least 16 organizations that protect or enhance endangered ecosystems. At home we have Ladysmith Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission and working to enhance the creek with its salmon program is Ladysmith Fish and Game Club. The Friends of Holland Creek played a significant role in protecting the trail from encroaching development. Last year the Province made $3 million available through Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations to “Take Action”. Some of this money went to hiring people across the province to help prevent and reduce the spread of invasive species. Check out http://www.bcinvasives. ca/programs/outreach/take-action. There are opportunities for the Town of Ladysmith and other concerned groups to access some of these services, but what is needed is a champion. Unless someone steps forward to initiate this, the Holland Creek Trail is in danger of being overrun by invasive species although it is well maintained by the Town. At present the south side is not nearly as bad as the north side of the trail, especially adjacent to the Public Works yard and the police station. These spots have well established plants that are choking out native trees and plants. It was common in years past to throw garden waste and other material over the bank. But hopefully today we know better and understand the consequences of allowing invasive species free reign. What can you and I do to help solve this problem? If you are a home owner, be responsible with your garden waste. Don’t dump it but dispose of it by recycling at Peerless Road drop-off depot. It’s free. Plant more native species in your garden. And even though the crocii and snowdrops are pretty to look at, they have no business being in that ecosystem. They too are non-native. If you use the trail consider volunteering in an invasive species work party. Contact Ladysmith Parks, Recreation & Culture 250-245-6424 and offer your support. And use your common sense – it will go a long way towards safeguarding the trail for today and future generations.
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Merry Monarchs The most memorable experience of my trip to Mexico this winter, indeed a scratch off the bucket list, was a drive into the interior mountains to see the Monarch butterflies at the end of their southern migration route. We took it slow, using the back roads of Colima state, past looming volcanoes, into Jalisco and finally into Michoacan. The countryside was spectacular in places. Some of the roads in the Jalisco mountains, horrendous. We stayed in lovely old colonial towns such as Mazamitla and Patzcuaro and finally to the gold mining town of Angangueo. It is situated on a good sized creek and is built up on both sides about two kilometers in either direction from the town centre. We had our pick of hotels. Even though it was an easy drive from Mexico City, we saw no other tourists that first night. The recession has hit Mexico hard and very few Americans are traveling. Our room had a fireplace and three blankets on the bed.
The Monarch butterflies resting on their migration route. Photo: Rob Pinkerton
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We were at 10,500 feet and it was cold. There was only one restaurant open in Angangueo, run by a couple of disinterested girls who stared off into space as we chose our meals. No menu; just some rapid fire Spanish outlining the two specials. We were quickly given our meals and they resumed gossiping and checking out the boys going by. After walking
back to the hotel, we were very glad to get the pine log fire going and dive under the three blankets. Next morning there was frost and there were no restaurants open. There are two sites to see the butterflies, both about the same distance, about 15 kilometers from Angangueo. Sierra Chincua is to the north. We chose the southern one, through Ocampo (looks like good hotels there) and up a mountain, through pine forests, to the bucolic village of El Rosario. At the highest end of the village was a huge parking lot, room for hundreds of
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cars. We were the only vehicle. Our saviors were two women with a fire going who cooked us fresh blue corn tortillas with cheese and poured boiling coffee from a pot. We contributed an avocado from our cooler to the feast. Now we had to hike. At first there were a few other eating places and then for about half a kilometer, the trail was lined, both sides, with rough shacks for selling souvenirs, all empty. No tourists. Breathing became difficult and we had to stop often to fill our lungs with the thin cold air. A nice information area with good washrooms and Spanish signage told us the sanctuary was at 12,000 feet. We paid our very reasonable entrance fee and were assigned an obligatory guide. The rest of the trail wound up through a beautiful forest with alpine flowers and bushes blooming all around. It was well defined and maintained with seats every 100 meters for lowlanders to sit and gasp their heart rate down. We chatted to our young Spanish speaking guide and he pointed out flowers, trees and birds. Suddenly we were there and all discomfort was forgotten. From a hill we gazed into a valley of pines. Every tree’s branch was hanging with masses, thousands of butterflies. In the perhaps two acre area there must have been millions of them. We sat, silent and mesmerized. As the sun made its way into the valley and touched them, they rose in the thousands and danced through the trees, lighting on our jackets, hair, on
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sunny patches of ground and shrubs. The Monarch butterfly ranges from southern Canada to Central America. In the spring and summer their life span is less than two months but the last generation of summer produces a non-reproductive phase called a diapause that lives seven months. Our western Monarch diapauses fly to California and the eastern ones fly to Mexico and some further south. They are, of course, escaping our weather and searching out food sources. They congregate in the same places every year, hibernating in massive clusters part of the time and then waking and sipping at the mountain flowers. They mate in early spring and then head for Texas or Oklahoma to find milkweed where they lay eggs and die. This is the same insect that flew south, months ago. Three or four generations later, their children’s children reach Canada. These beautiful creatures, tawny orange with black outlines with white spots at the extremities, have few predators as the larva feeds on milkweed and ingest nasty chemicals that are poisonous to birds. Habitat destruction on the migration routes is their biggest threat. Hours later, we reluctantly pulled ourselves away. The butterflies seemed to follow us but they were feeding on the flowers now that the sun was up. One thing became apparent as we hiked down the mountain. We had to get back to the coast. It’s cold up there. See photos of Rob’s Mexico visit www. facebook.com/take5publications
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Naturescaping: Butterflies & hummers BY NORM WAGENAAR Now’s the time of year when many gardeners ask the question “what’s next?” One answer is to consider setting aside a corner of your garden for butterflies and hummingbirds. You’ll enjoy the extra life and colour, and the plant selection isn’t half bad either. Search on the internet for either butterfly or hummingbird gardens and you’ll find long lists of plants for both categories. The good news for those just getting started is that there’s a reasonable amount of crossover on the lists, which lean towards hardy native species. Shrubs and perennials that attract both butterflies and hummingbirds include red-flowering currant, elderberries, butterfly weed, bleeding heart and bee balm, to name just a few. Other hummingbird favourites include clematis, weigala, red hot pokers, foxglove, gladiolas, zinnias and dahlias, all of which will provide
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plenty of garden colour. The list for butterflies is even longer, to include cone flowers, native roses and asters, fennel, thyme and sage – providing an opportunity to add fresh herbs to your kitchen as you benefit the butterflies. Different species of butterflies rely on different plants to provide food for their larvae. For example, fritillary butterflies require violet leaves, while red admirals and tortoiseshell butterflies need thistles. This means you’ll need to do a little homework on the internet and in your library, if you’re hoping to optimize your garden for your favourite butterfly species. But rather than think of this as a chore, consider it an opportunity to learn how your patch of heaven fits into the ecosystem around it. Norm Wagenaar is a landscaper and writer living in Cedar. For more on Naturescaping, see his blog at www.naturescapesnanaimo.com
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The Jones Hotel One of Ladysmith’s landmark buildings is located on Gatacre Street between the Island Highway and First Avenue. Although showing its years these days, it is a charming building with wonderful wrap around decks and an imposing view. Used as a residence today, it also houses a private museum that sadly is not open to the public. Built in the 1880’s by Lodwick Jones in Wellington, it started life as the Miners’ Hotel. When the mines were near exhaustion, it was moved to Oyster Harbour in 1900, renaming it the Jones Hotel. The Jones Family lived in the back where there was a parlour and sleeping quarters. Reportedly the Jones’
two children and 17 grandchildren also lived there. Toilet facilities were in the rear with a washhouse for miners, a laundry, a wood stove provided hot water. Lodwick’s wife Sarah ran the kitchen and dining room to a strict regime with its fine bone china and crystal glass. Cussing and spitting were not allowed. Lodwick ran the saloon which was a noisy, rough
place until a gambler accused of cheating was shot dead, prompting a separate room to be organized. By the bar was a door in which a small panel was opened and a potential gambler had to show he had enough money to “sit in” and then he had to leave guns or knives t the bar. In 1908, flecks of gold were found in the stream in the street outside, prompt-
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THEN: Opposite page: View from First Avenue down Gatacre Street. The Jones Hotel is third from front. Photo: Ladysmith Archives
NOW:
Above: The building is now a private residence and a former museum. Photo: Rob Johnson
ing a gold rush; the street became full of people digging up the road; it took two weeks of digging to realize there was no gold, six to repair the road. Eventually the mystery was solved. Lodwick was having the bar mirror gilded and a few flakes had got into the stream. In 1912, fire swept down the street and was stopped just before the hotel. Prohibition and more stringent licensing laws forced its closure in 1930 and it was used by the Ancient Order of Foresters and later the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In 1972, Kurt Guilbride bought it and restored it to its original state then opening it in 1980 as the Black Nugget Museum and Visitor Centre. Visit Ladysmith Archives for more stories 250-245-0100.
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RDN - Area A BY ALEC MCPHERSON Thursday, March 22, 2012 turned out to be an exciting day for the young boys and girls of Electoral Area ‘A’ (Cedar, Yellowpoint, South Wellington, Cassidy) as the Honourable Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development awarded a grant of $439,410, representing 70 per cent of the capital cost of constructing a Skate-Bike Park, for the area. This action rewarded the tireless efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers who have been advocating for such a facility for the past 10 years. The grant award represents 70 per cent of the $625,000 total cost of constructing the facility. Construction is expected to begin in 2013 following completion of the design details and the tendering of the contract. While the provincial government doesn’t seem to receive many kudos these days, I commend Minister Ida Chong, CGA for her apparent nonpartisan approach in selecting the recipients of these awards. Other communities within the Regional District of Nanaimo included the
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community of Bowser which is going to see upgrades to the Henry Morgan Community Park thanks to an $85,000 investment in the community. The Minister also awarded $54,500. for Phase 1 of the Meadowood Drive Community Park, adjacent to Little Qualicum River Regional Park. Improvements to this facility include a multi-use sports court with basketball and ball hockey facilities, gravel parking area and amphitheatre. According to the statement from the Ministry, the total value of approved projects is more than $70 million; creating an estimated 458 direct jobs and 251 indirect jobs. On April 17, a public meeting will be held at the site of a proposed boat launching site on Quennell Lake. The selected site is off Ritten Road. The information tent will be in operation from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 17. Come out and give your candid thoughts on the proposal. On March 15 I had the pleasure of attending the first year anniversary of the Loaves and Fishes food bank operations. Each Wednesday, a group of dedicated
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volunteers meet to assist in distributing food to those in our community who are in need of a little support. Approximately 30 volunteers were recognized for making a difference in their community. A big thank you goes out to Rev. Howie Adan of St. Philip Anglican Church on Cedar Road for allowing the church hall to host the Loaves and Fishes. The event featured certificates of recognition to the volunteers and included a few goodies for the assembled group to taste while they socialized with each other. The surprise of the day for me goes out to one Peter Sinclair who announced as he was being introduced to me, “You’re Allison’s father, aren’t you?” I’m not usually lost for words but I couldn’t top this one. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, Peter and my eldest daughter had been employed at the same place and had kept in touch after Peter and his family relocated to Nanaimo. Can’t wait to have a rematch as I’ve been given the inside scoop on Peter and will use it to good advantage – all in good humour of course.
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CVRD - Area H BY MARY MARCOTTE Groundwater Sampling: It travels through layers of soil, clay, sand, gravel and rock, nature’s filtered ground water, providing communities with a viable and natural source of clean drinking water. The vast majority of the water supply in Area H, North Oyster/ Diamond, is drawn from ground wells. While wells allow us to access this elixir of life, they also provide greater opportunities for ground and surface water to interact prior to any natural filtration. This interaction can present a potential risk to the health and safety of groundwater and those who rely on it for drinking. While groundwater quality is an important component of healthy communities and the environment, the state of groundwater within the Cowichan Valley Regional District has yet to be fully explored. A significant start on determining the quality of the well water in portions of Area H was undertaken in February, 2012. In partnership with the Regional District of Nanaimo, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the CVRD sought to fill these information gaps and collect data as part of a greater initiative to better understand and monitor groundwater within this area. Through the Cassidy/South Wellington Groundwater Sampling project, groundwater was sampled from a number of privately owned wells in these neighbourhoods. Participating well-owners received a site assessment on the care of their wellhead and water samples were taken to reveal information about the state of the aquifer and how it may be impacted by human activities. Samples are currently being analyzed by a certified laboratory and will be comprehensively tested for over 40 parameters, including bacteria and metals. Once analyzed, test results will be sent to the well owners for their information and will also be incorporated anonymously into a final report outlining the general characteristics of groundwater in the area. This report will be publicly available on the CVRD and Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations websites, as well as presented at a public meeting in the near future. Thanks to the enthusiasm and coopera-
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tion of local residents who volunteered their time and efforts, staff members from both the Ministry and the Regional District were successfully able to take groundwater samples and begin establishing baseline data that will help to monitor the health of this important aquifer and be proactive in protecting our water supplies for the future. On behalf of the Cowichan Valley Regional District, I would like to extend our thanks to the participating residents of the Takala/Cameron Road Area and the Cassidy and South Wellington neighbourhoods for their support and assistance. Any questions regarding this initiative or groundwater quality are most welcome. Contact CVRD Engineering and Environmental Services at 1-800665-3955 or email kmiller@cvrd.bc.ca.
CVRD - Area G BY MEL DOREY The Saltair Water System is in need of considerable upgrades. What’s the Problem? Much of the system is made of old concrete asbestos pipe that is brittle and prone to cracking and has house connections that deteriorate over time. Some of the lines such as Old Victoria Road have small lines and low pressure. Fireflows in certain lines are low so that people may have to pay higher fire insurance. And some of the system, especially in the south end of Saltair, is not looped, so that the water can get stagnant and algae can grow. These are long dead end lines. This would initiate a boil water or cease water use order advisory like happened last summer. Some areas like Gardner Road and Dogwood Road have too high a pressure which can make water breaks a dangerous situation. We had serious breaks on Gardner Road where huge expense was incurred. The front bank of one house slid into the ocean. Numerous places the pavement burst loose and big repaving bills mounted. In fact the total bill for water breaks alone in 2011 was $98,000. This money would be better spent on upgrading. The situation will probably get worse if we don’t do anything about it. What’s the solution? Much of the old concrete asbestos pipe has to be replaced to give us a dependable supply. Pressure reducing valves have to be put in to pro-
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tect the lower parts of the system from excessive pressure. Pumps may have to be put in to increase the water pressure in some higher elevations. In other words, the pressure needs to be balanced. The long dead end lines need to be looped so that water is constantly circulating and fresh. Chlorine only lasts so long. Looping also gives the fire hydrants double the supply because the water is coming from both directions to the hydrant. The total cost spent over 15 years will be $4.5 million. We will be doing about $390,000 each year of upgrades. Presently you pay $95 every 6 months for water usage. This number will remain the same or maybe inch up with inflation. You also pay on your land taxes each year as a parcel tax of $226. This number will be boosted to $584. And if you are one of those people who defer your taxes, you can also defer this amount also. In effect the upgrades could not cost you any more than you already pay. By doing upgrades each year we are eligible to apply for grants each year lessoning the cost to Saltair taxpayers. Each year the CVRD gets Federal Gas Tax money in the form of grants. This extra money will allow us to do the upgrades over a shorter period of time also. And by doing it over a longer time we only disrupt selected neighbourhoods at a time. If this method does not prove to be fast enough we can always revisit the process to speed it up. In order to move ahead with the project we need to get public approval. We had the choice of getting public approval by referendum which would cost about $15,000 or by petition which costs much less. We chose to do it by petition to save money. To get consent from the people we will have canvassers out in the community going door to door getting property owners to sign this petition. We need to get 50% of the property owners that represent at least 50% of the assessment value of the properties of Saltair. These canvassers will be trained to supply all the relevant information and answer any questions. If there are two owners of the property, both have to sign. We have 14 canvassers but need more. You will be trained and you can partner with a canvasser or alone. If you can help email or call 250-245-2116 or cell 250-510-5431 or call Dennis Ahola 250245-2055.
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The Jaws Of Godzilla I’ve been having trouble with my wife again. Lately, when people have invited us over for dinner, they’ve asked, “Do you like Dungeness crab?” Before I get to send out a secret spousal communication, discretely transmitted by a kick under the table, she goes, “I love Dungeness crab.” “In that case”, they say, “we’ll get lots and have it as an entrée instead of a first course.” Signed, sealed, delivered. I have a few problems with crab. Primarily accessibility. Getting at the meat is not easy. A knife and fork bounces off a crab like a BB gun off a tank. The only practical place to eat one is your shop, and make sure you’re wearing overalls and protective eye wear, armed with the tools normally used for safe cracking. Definitely you’ll need a vice, drill, saw, pliers, welding gloves, torch and in the event of a larger crab, a come-along. Another problem is the lack of colour coding. Both meat and shell are white, leaving those of us who haven’t been to the optometrist lately at a distinct dis-
advantage, especially in a dark dining room, and when you’re serving something as ugly as crab, it better be dark. Since you’ll be eating a lot of shell anyway, I say go for it and use what’s known in etiquette manuals as “Jaws of Godzilla”, where you eat shell and all with great relish, interspersing crunching sounds with an enthusiastic chorus of, “Delicious, simply delicious.” That way you never get invited back. If you were subjected to a crab only diet you would quickly die of starvation simply because every calorie of energy provided takes two calories of energy to extract. It is possible to extract crabmeat from the shells, but it’s best left to the professionals. These unfortunate people are called crab meat extractors, which is a
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profession that ranks #2 on the Undesirable Occupation List right behind #1 which is bull semen collector, a profession equally as messy as crab extraction but which provides advantage at a cocktail party when someone makes the mistake of asking what you do for a living. Compounding this problem is the hostess never being able to locate the crackers and crab forks. It’s one of the few times a chopstick would come in handy, it could be used to poke the meat out! Another flaw with crab is they’re bottom feeders. Every bullhead that swims over goes, “Ooh yuck. Look at that ugly crab. Hey, watch this.” And boing! Yet another projectile of hot steamy bullhead dung bounces off Mr. Crab. Considering a crab’s diet consists primarily of fish excrement, it should come as no surprise that their guts are green and resemble the phlegm balls hawked out by old, tobacco chewing Uncle Wilbur. People who serve crab always apologize. “This might get a little messy,” they say. How very perceptive. Steamed crab is bad enough, but when it comes to a messy evening, nothing tops Chinese
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crab. That’s where the crab, in shell, is thrown in a wok with lots of oil, garlic and soy sauce. (Don’t forget the green onion.) This would be bad enough if you had been allowed to bring your vice, but without it, crab parts go squirting off your plate in all directions. Across the table, on the floor, in your shirt pocket and, yes, in your wine glass, which now sports an oil slick. At this point, when your hands couldn’t get any slippery if you dipped them in a pot of oil, and as aromatic as Uncle Wilbur’s phlegm ball, your cell phone rings. Automatically you reach into your pocket thereby ruining your expensive new slacks, never mind your cell phone, which will be accompanying you to the shower. Finally, slipping and sliding, you make your way to the door where you try to deliver a friendly little hug to the hostess but slide off and bang your head on an umbrella stand. At this point your gracious wife says, “That was so delicious, I enjoyed myself so much.” And they say, “Next time we invite you over, we’ll be sure to have crab.” So you hop into the car, everyone waves and says good night for maybe the fifth time, and you drive off. Right into the woodpile because your hands, the same hands you’ve washed five times, are still so slippery you couldn’t turn the steering wheel. While you’re waiting on the tow truck to pull you out of the woodpile, might I recommend a tasty French white that will go nicely with the crab still clinging to your shirt, the Paul Mas Viognier at $13.95. Delbert is the co-proprietor at Mahle House. Read more at Slightlycorkedandmore.wordpress.com
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Earth oven cooking
Camping season is just around the corner. Easter marks the first camping trip of the year for many. It is the practice camp trip where everything that was stored and put away for the winter is wiped of cobwebs and tested to see if it can last another camping season. It is also the practice cooking camp trip where methods of cooking on open fire, with camp stoves or not cooked at all meals are put to the test. Last year my family and I were fortunate to experience a method of cooking that was completely new to us. An earth oven or pit cooking is one of the oldest methods of cooking that has been used by
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every culture on every continent. Friends invited us to their annual family Thanksgiving camping trip where the holiday meal is cooked in an earth oven. A trip to celebrate the end of the season and give thanks for the memories created while camping. Who could say no to that? There are no special tools or equipment required to create an earth oven. All that’s needed is a shovel, rocks, seaweed, fire, burlap sack and an adventurous spirit. Creating the earth oven is easy enough. Dig a pit about 2 feet deep, line the bottom of the pit with rocks, and then build a fire on top of the rocks. After the fire has burned for a few hours the coals need to be removed. The great thing about doing this while camping is it becomes an endless source of entertainment, conversations, jokes, and impromptu visits from fellow campers wanting to see what is going on. Curiosity gets the best of people especially when they witness a fire being moved. After coals have been removed a thick layer of seaweed is placed on top the hot coals. At last the burlap sacks of food are placed on top the seaweed. Remember the dirt removed to dig the pit? It’s time to shovel most of it back on top of the burlap sacks of food. To add to the experience, the fire was also returned on top of the earth oven and for the rest of the day we sat around the fire watching and wondering how our Thanksgiving meal was doing. A few notes to mention when cooking with an earth oven. Anything you cook in a traditional oven can be used. Wrap
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food in tin foil before placing in burlap sacks. Wet the burlap sacks before placing on hot rocks. Fresh herbs, salt and pepper is all that is needed to add to the fresh food but feel free to experiment. No need to peel or cut potatoes or yams. Keep corn in their husks. A wide variety of meats can be cooked like pigs, chicken, turkey, lamb, and seafood. Keep the food buried for at least 8 hours. Everyone gathered around with excitement when the meal was ready to be dug out. Yes boys, time to use those shovels again! Once again move the fire and carefully dig until the burlap sacks are located. It is a triumphant moment when the first sack is spotted. It is immediately followed with the wonderful smell of the meal we have been waiting and waiting for. Cooking in an earth oven does not limit what can be cooked. Our meal was like any other Thanksgiving meal. We enjoyed rosemary chicken, garden potatoes, yams, corn on the cob, mushrooms, and garlic all cooked in the earth oven. The meal was finished off with fresh buns, a few salads, dessert and plenty of wine. It was one of the best Thanksgiving meals I have ever had. This year I am adding a shovel to our camping cooking utensils and hope to add a new method of cooking to our camping again this summer. How does a traditional clambake along the west coast of Vancouver Island sound? Above: The boys placing dirt on top of the burlap sacks which turns the oven on Left: Line the bottom of pit with rocks then start the fire directly on top. Photos: Jill Collins
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Garage Showroom, 201-330 Duncan St. 250-748-7246
Road, Nanaimo 250-722-3455
6, 3pm, Good Friday Service, St. Mary’s Catholic Church - 1135 - 4th Avenue 250-245-3414
13, 7:30pm, Clubhouse Party, Mount Brenton Golf Course Clubhouse 250-246-4948
7, Creative Photography, Broody Rooster Guesthouse and Gallery 250-245-4405
14-15, Acrylic Painting Workshop, Broody Rooster Guesthouse and Gallery 250-245-4405
7, 8am, Rummage Sale, Eagles Hall 921 First Ave
14, 9:30am, Pancake Breakfast, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111
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7, 11am, Ladysmith Lions Easter Egg Hunt, Transfer Beach
1- 7, All Shook Up, Chemainus Theatre 250-246-9820
7, 1:30pm, Water Wise Veggie Gardening Workshop, Cedar Community Hall 1-888-828-2069
1-15, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Ladysmith Little Theatre. 250-924-0658 1,9am, Passion Sunday, St. Mary’s Catholic Church 1135 - 4th Avenue 250-245-3414 1, 9:30am, Palm Sunday, St. Philip Anglican Church, 1797 Cedar Rd. 250-722-3455 1, 10am, Maria Stuarda, Pacific Opera Victoria, 1815 Blanshard St.,Victoria, 250-382-1641 1, 2pm, Hope King Hour, Duncan Garage Showroom, 201-330 Duncan St. 250-748-7246 1, 8pm, Camille Miller, Duncan Garage Showroom, 201330 Duncan St. 250-748-7246 2-4, 7pm, Prayer & Meditation, St. Philip Anglican Church, 1797 Cedar Rd. 250-722-3455 2, 4:45pm, Bingo, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 2, 7pm, Ladysmith Town Council Meeting, 410 Esplanade 250-245-6400 2, 8pm, Headliner’s Rock School, Duncan Garage Showroom, 201-330 Duncan St. 250-748-7246 3, 11:30am, Nanaimo-Ladysmith Retired Teachers’ Lunch, Cavalotti Lodge 250-753-5971 3, 3pm, Stations of the Cross Good Friday, St. Philip Anglican Church, 1797 Cedar Rd. 250-722-3455 3, 7pm, Nanaimo Glad & Dahlia Society monthly meeting, Paine Horticulture Centre 250-722-2109 5, 4:45pm, Bingo, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 5, 7pm, Holy Thursday Service, St. Mary’s Catholic Church - 1135 - 4th Avenue 250-245-3414 5, 7pm, Maundy Thursday Eucharist, St. Philip Anglican Church, 1797 Cedar Rd. 250-722-3455 5, 8pm, Dayna Manning/Ryan McMahon, Duncan
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7, 2pm, Poetry Workshop, Duncan Garage Showroom, 201-330 Duncan St. 250-748-7246 7, 7pm, Songwriter’s Open Mic, Willow St. Café, 9749 Willow St. 250-246-2434 7, 7pm, Dennis Brown – The Gods Must be Crazy, The Waterfront Gallery 7, 8pm, Poetry Night, Duncan Garage Showroom, 201330 Duncan St. 250-748-7246 7, 9pm, Easter Vigil, St. Mary’s Catholic Church - 1135 4th Avenue 250-245-3414 8, 7am, Easter Sunday Sunrise Service, Blue Heron Park 250-722-3455 8, 9am, Easter Sunday, St. Mary’s Catholic Church 1135 - 4th Avenue 250-245-3414 8, 9:30am, Easter Sunday Eucharist, St. Philip Anglican Church, 1797 Cedar Rd. 250-722-3455 8, 10am, Easter Egg Hunt, Fuller Lake Park 250-2463811 8, 2pm, Anna Borch, Duncan Garage Showroom, 201330 Duncan St. 250-748-7246 8, 8pm, Bill Bourne, Duncan Garage Showroom, 201330 Duncan St. 250-748-7246 9, 4:45pm, Bingo, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 12, 10am, La Traviata - Live at the Met, Cowichan Theatre, 2687 James St. Duncan 250-748-7529 12, 8pm, Maria Stuarda, Pacific Opera Victoria, 1815 Blanshard St.,Victoria, 250-382-1641 13-15, 9:30am, Central Vancouver Island Orchid Society Show & Sale, Country Club Centre 250-246-3447 13, LDBA Outrageous Fundraiser, Aggie Hall 250-245-2112 13, 7pm, Live Auction, St. Philip Cedar Hall 1797 Cedar
14, Live at the Met – La Traviata, Cowichan Theatre, 2687 James St. Duncan 250 748-7529 14, Chemainus Rotary Auction, 250-246-2994, cedarridgegang@shaw.ca 14, 7pm, Dance - Esquires, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 14, 8pm, Maria Stuarda, Pacific Opera Victoria, 1815 Blanshard St.,Victoria, 250-382-1641 15-21, National Volunteer Week 16-20, Ladysmith Spring Clean Up Week 250-245-6445 16, 4:45pm, Bingo, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 16, 7pm, Ladysmith Town Council Meeting, 410 Esplanade 250-245-6400 18, 9:30am, Blood Pressure Clinic, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 18, 11:30am, Soup & Sandwich, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 18, 8pm, Maria Stuarda, Pacific Opera Victoria, 1815 Blanshard St.,Victoria, 250-382-1641 19, 6pm, Ladysmith Preschool Annual General Meeting, 232 High St. 250-245-4712 20,7pm, Teens, Teens, Teens, St. Philip Cedar Hall 1797 Cedar Road, Nanaimo 250-722-3455 20, 8pm, Maria Stuarda, Pacific Opera Victoria, 1815 Blanshard St.,Victoria, 250-382-1641 21, 9am, Nanaimo Glad & Dahlia Society Tuber Sale, Country Club Mall 250-722-2109 21, 11:30am, Bridge Tournament Lunch, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 21, 1pm, Bridge Tournament, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 21, Growing a Great Vegetable Garden, Broody Rooster Guesthouse and Gallery 250-245-4405 21, 1pm, Richard Scarry’s Busytown, Cowichan Theatre, 2687 James St. Duncan 250-748-7529
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22, 1:30pm, F.EA.T.H.E.R.S, St. Philip Cedar Hall, 1797 Cedar Road, Nanaimo 250-722-2201 22, 2pm, Ladies Spring High Tea, Good Cents for Change Fundraiser, St John’s, 309 Buller 250-245-5044 22, 2pm, Vancouver Island Symphony, Cowichan Theatre, 2687 James St. Duncan 250-748-7529 22, 8pm, Maria Stuarda, Pacific Opera Victoria, 1815 Blanshard St.,Victoria, 250-382-1641 23, 4:45pm, Bingo, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 23, 7pm, The Guard - Reel Alternatives Film, Cowichan Theatre, 2687 James St. Duncan 250-748-7529 24, 7pm, Workshop Night Ladysmith Camera Club meeting, Hardwick Hall 250-606-7011 25-29, Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show, Quw’utsun’ Cultural and Conference Centre 250-746-1633 25-29, Tamarack, VIU Malaspina Theatre 250-754-7587 25, 4:45pm, Ready, Set, Learn Pizza Dinner, St. Joseph’s School, 9735 Elm St. 250-246-3191 26, 7pm, Ladysmith Search & Rescue meeting, classroom behind Ladysmith Fire Hall 250-245-8726 27-June 2, Noises Off, Chemainus Theater 250-246-9820 27, 7pm, Live Music – Lena Birtwhistle, 49th Café, 49th Parallel Grocery, 1st Ave. Ladysmith 27, 7:30pm, Crystal Shawanda, Cowichan Theatre 2687 James St., Duncan 250-748-7529 28-29, Paddle Canada’s Level 1 Sea Kayaking Course, Sealegs Transfer Beach 250-245-4096 28, 10am, Edible wild plants hands-on workshop, Wildwood 250-816-1816 28, 9am, Live at the Met – Manon, Cowichan Theatre, 2687 James St. Duncan 250-748-7529 28, Arts and Ethnic Fest, Chemainus Seniors Centre. 250-416-0382 28, 7pm, Dance – Happy Hans, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111 28, 7:30pm, Cougar Annie Tales, St. Mary’s Catholic Church Hall, 1135 -4th Ave. 250-245-4726 29, 2:30pm, Yellow Point Singers Sing in the Spring, Oceanview Community Church 250-245-3727 29, An Ancient China Interlude, Chemainus Classical Concerts. 250-748-8383, chemainusclassicalconcerts.ca 30, 4:45pm, Bingo, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre 9824 Willow St. 250-246-2111
You can submit your event for free or view our full events calendar at www.take5.ca/events
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Cycling for a greener community - 500 Miles in Cedar A heritage church takes action to go greener. Last year Rev. Howie Adan took on his parish challenge to bike instead of drive for a year. From July 1, 2011 – July 1, 2012, he will be riding his bike. To date sponsorship has raised $1200 towards “green” projects in our church. St. Philip Cedar is looking at more green initiatives. Diana Slater says they switched lights to energy efficient ones and are looking at how to move from a large tip bin to recycling and attending water recycling workshops. “More ideas will be forth coming.”
BY REV. HOWIE ADAN
“So, I guess that means we’ll need new bikes” said Renata, as we sat in our Amsterdam apartment contemplating our upcoming move to BC. I had just received the happy news that I was to be the pastor of St. Philip Anglican Church in Cedar. As we celebrated we discussed the changes we were facing having lived for 27 years in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is commonly referred to as “Holland”, a small northern European country known, among other things, for being extremely flat and cycle-friendly. In fact, for most of our years living there we had managed quite easily without owning a car: if we absolutely needed one we could always borrow a friend’s but for the most part we could do everything by public transport or bicycle. Even during the years when we were carting our four small daughters around, bikes had
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proven more than adequate for our transportation needs. Our girls were grown, and now we were finally making that long anticipated move to Canada: “home” for Renata, an original Vancouver Island girl, but a totally new experience for me. And our current bicycles simply would not do. “We’ll need something a bit lighter,” I said, showing my wisdom, “and with at least 4 speeds”. Some decisions in life you wish you could do over again! Four speeds? That might do for the small dunes and dikes of Old Holland but, now 10 months and counting after unpacking the bikes I find I’m still pushing my lovely Dutch bike most of the way up the Holden Corso/ Barnes road “S” curve. Maybe 10 or 21 speeds would have been better. On July 1, my first Canada Day as a resident of this fair land, I started a fund-raising initiative at our church, asking the congregation to sponsor me for every kilometer I ride on my bicycle while making ministry-related rounds in and around Cedar and Nanaimo. As I write, the odometer is just about to hit 800km, or “500 miles in Cedar”. Five hundred miles in and around Cedar sounds like a lot but compared to the regular distances we were putting up in Holland, it’s really very few. One of our years in Amsterdam particularly stands out: my work was split over three different locations and I was attending courses at the university at the same time. Result: I clocked over 13,000 kilometers. Cycling in Cedar is different. The hills are the obvious difference, but there are other challenges as well. Lots of gravel at the
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sides of the roads, for instance, or outright disintegrating asphalt at the edges. The few roads that have a bit of a margin outside the driving lane are a real treat (Cedar Road). BC drivers too are not quite as familiar or at ease when sharing the road with cyclists. I am always amazed at the incredibly wide berth I’m given by most drivers; still, better safe than sorry I guess. I’ve only one time run into a purposefully obnoxious driver; but perhaps he took issue with my clergy collar, not my bicycle. Generally though, people are courteous sometimes even stopping to offer to throw the bike in the back of their pick-up and give me a ride. If your drive in Cedar, chances are you’ll see me Above: Rev. Howie Adan cysles for a greener Cedar. Photo” Marina Sacht
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SEMI RETIRED MASSAGE THERAPIST working in Cedar By The Sea, $65 an hour session. 250722-2669
DRIVING LESSONS: Approaching Road Test time? Need an Evaluation of your driving skills? Collision Avoidance Training. Road Test Package Discounts. Gift Certificates available. 49th Parallel Driving School 250-416-1606 or 250-619-2713 CEDAR HERITAGE DUPLICATE BRIDGE Tuesday afternoon play will continue until the end of April 2012 at 1:30 pm at Heritage Centre, 1644 MacMillan Road. Cedar. We will resume in September 2012. Watch for ads. Call for info: (250) 722-2656, 722-3399, 722-3546; and leave your email. LIGHTWORKS WINDOW WASHING AND GUTTER CLEANING Careful and Considerate. Call David at 250-722-3599 AJ’s PLUMBING AND GAS Licensed-BondedInsured Service-Installations-Renovations-New Construction. Quality workmanship. No travel charges. Free estimates. On time every time. 250802-7123 GOT GRANITE? Have your Granite and Marble Countertops professionally sealed and buffed. Kitchens starting at $75. We do tile as well! SealTech Specialties Call Stuart at 250-734-2681 www.sealtechspecialties.com PROFESSIONAL PET CARE SERVICE: leash ‘em & walk ‘em with Marlena. Insured & bonded. Animal First Aid and CPR. Service for all pets including dog walking, home care visits, overnight with pet in your home and much more. As my love is yours! 250-246-3394. HOME BUDDIES PET & HOUSE CARE since 1994. Licensed, Bonded, Insured. Professional, kindhearted, experienced & reliable care for all pets. Pet First Aid and CPR Certified. Certified Security Professional through Westguard Security. When loving care & security are essential, Peggy Wildsmith 250-245-0151 BOBBY’S MINI HOE & CLEANUP Landscaping, lot clearing, debris removal, excavating, small deliveries with dump trailer, mulch, lawn soil, garden soil, driveway chip, serving Nanaimo, Cedar, Ladysmith and area call Bobby 250-7134970 OFFICE SPACES - Downtown Ladysmith, modern, a/c, renovated, wired, reasonable rent or lease. 250-245-3395 THINKING OF SELLING YOUR HOME? Perhaps ready for a fresher look in your existing home? The affordable design services provided by Rooms n Blooms can help. Call Shar at 250-245-0548 or email shar@roomsnblooms.ca
OVERCOAT PAINTING - Professional - Reliable - Reasonable. Operating 6 years in Ladysmith. No job too small. Will do minor painting repairs. Special senior rates. Call Heather McIntosh for a free estimate. 250-245-5557 AGILE HOME REPAIR & IMPROVEMENT For all your carpentry and home repair needs. From repairing/replacing siding, decks, fences to interior finishing including home ventilation. FULLY INSURED Call IAN 250-714-8800 HANDCRAFTED GEMSTONE NECKLACES. Jade, garnet, lapis, aventurine and more! $20 each. See jewelry table at Campers Corner Saturday flea market, 8am-3pm 250-245-3829 QUALITY RENOVATIONS, big or small. 25 yrs exp/journeyman, affordable. For a free estimate call Lars 250-616-1800. ISAGENIX DISTRIBUTOR - Get Lean & Healthy Fast - Less than $5/ meal. Our protein shakes are amazing! - No Gluten, Wheat, Barley or Trans Fat. Suzanne Deveau 250-245-8407 KAREN’S INDUSTRIAL SEWING - Alterations and repairs, from Grad and Wedding to heavy work clothes and accessories. Can also do Manufacturing and Prototypes. Second Ave., Ladysmith. For appt. call Karen 250-245-7945 LYNN’S SENIORS CARE HOME High Quality Personalized Care. Warm caring environment, Great food & snacks, Family events, Couples & Pets welcomed, Ocean views, Gardens. North of Ladysmith. 250-245-3391 www.lynnsseniorcare.com LADYSMITH KYOKUSHIN KARATE -Traditional Japanese Karate. Adult classes 12yrs and up. Beginners always welcome. Start anytime, call Brad 250-245-1352 CLASSIFIEDS Sell! Try one today!
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PERSONAL COACHING INTENSIVE- Guaranteed results: muscle toning –strengthening - detoxing health. Combined ancient and modern proven fitness methods create fast, lasting results. $48/ hr or $295 8/sessions Discount 45+ 250-245-8188 infit@hotmail.ca LEARN A LANGUAGE -Small groups, conversational approach, excellent teachers. French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese, Mandarin and more. Ongoing registration WENTWORTH COURT LANGUAGE CENTRE, 517 Wentworth, Nanaimo 250-716-1603 SAVE $$$ WITH GORD’S YARDWORKS Time for summer yard preparations. Need a new garden bed or spruce up the old one? Special services and seniors discounts available. 250-246-3640, 250-210-3860, gordsyardworks@shaw.ca ISLAND PRUNING Serving Ladysmith and area for over 7 years. I strive to give professional tree and shrub pruning and shaping. Call Darcy Belcourt and let’s talk pruning 250-245-1260 JUNK TO THE DUMP Jobs Big or Small, I haul it all. I recycle and donate all usable items to local charities, now offering pet waste removal and disposal service. Call Sean today. 250-741-1159 2012 EUROPE. Join me in September 2012 on board Norwegian Sun. Great prices on remaining available staterooms. Call Darlene Wulff at 250390-7401 or after 6 pm call 250-722-3660
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2013 SPRING BREAK. Excellent time to talk about travel plans. Best selection for cruises or other resorts. Call Darlene Wulff at 250-390-7401 days and 250-722-3660 after 6 pm and Sundays. HELP WANTED for caregivers to provide a home environment for youth in need of withdrawal management and stabilization related to substance use. Situated in the Ladysmith or surrounding area, caregivers will provide nonmedical care and support to youth ages 12 -19 in a private, safe, alcohol and drug free home. A reliable vehicle, criminal record check, references, and participation in a care home study are required. If you are interested, have good people skills, a calm approach, and enjoy working with youth, please contact the Transitions Care Home Coordinator 250-754-2773 ext 222 or visit www. narsf.org - employment tab YOGA CLASSES: a new yoga studio offering variety of classes and workshops available this spring in Cedar. Call or email Kristina for more information 250-619-4942 or abhyasayogi@ gmail.com READY TO DE-CLUTTER? Feeling overwhelmed? I can help! Objective & empathetic support can make a difference in creating space that allows you to b r e a t h e. Free consultation-Kari at Re-Inspired Spaces, 250-749-6473 HOW IS YOUR CONCRETE DRIVEWAY? Need a facelift? Have your driveway cleaned and sealed to improve the curb appeal of your home. See our website www.sealtechspecialties.com. SealTech Specialties, 250-734-2681 BOWEN TECHNIQUE is a gentle soft tissue remedial therapy that resets the body to heal itself. Useful for joint, back and neck pain, frozen shoulder, asthma, chronic fatigue and many other problems. For information and appointments call 250-245-7738. Lilja Hardy FMBAC in practice since 1994. www.bowtech.com CINDERELLAS CLEANING SERVICE Same Old Story Residential or Commercial. Call Erin (DeFrane) Saysell at 250-924-4475 CEDAR HERITAGE BRIDGE - Lessons and play. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Please call 250-722-3399 or 250-722-3546 BOWEN THERAPY - B-Well Bowenworks provides lasting pain relief. This very gentle yet effective manual therapy evokes deep relaxation and renews the body’s capacity for self healing. 250-246-4812. email bowtech2@telus.net www. bowenworkacademyusa.com CEDAR GUITAR GROUP class for Beginner Teens, Adults & Seniors. Fridays 2:00 - 3:00 at Cedar United Church Hall. First two lessons free. Begins Friday, April 13th. Phone Cindy 250-2455778 GUITAR - acoustic youth size, perfect for beginner. perfect for youth, with carrying case. $75 obo. 250-245-9165.
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BE PROUD OF YOUR HOME. Driveways, walkways, gutters, roofs. Dirt, slime, algae, mould, moss. Seicoat’s technology cleans gently, thoroughly We can prevent. Technology is what we do. 250-816-5002 www.seicoat.com KITTY KORNERS CAT HOTEL - Purrsonalized Quality Kitty Care. Daily health checks, experienced with special needs kitties. Reasonable rates. Available 24/7. 2km North Nanaimo Airport. Take a virtual tour www.kittykorners.com 250-740KATS(5287) TRUST AN EXPERT WELDER - Jora Designs will fabricate gates, railings and benches for your home, boat or business. Need welding done of any size? They probably can handle it. 250-591-5772 “SHADES OF CARE” Seniors Room and Board. Starting at $1450.00 per month , respite $50.00 per day. Meals, snacks, personal assistance, outings and local doctors appt. Phone 1-250-5918639 for viewing. 100% CANADIAN-OWNED; some Gluten-Free & all-Natural; Nothing over $10!; Catalogue Sales; Taste-testing Parties; Fund-Raising; Career Opportunities; www.sunsetgourmet.ca; Barb 250722-2953; bguenette@shaw.ca LANDSCAPING HAS BEGUN Splitting your perennials this spring and have plants to share? Please call. I am accepting all perennials, bulbs and shrubs you have to spare. Penny Ryan 250245-0789 FINISHED SCREENED DRY compost for sale call Greg Wyndlow 250-245-4235 HOME SHARE - 3 bdrm house with large fenced yard. Pets negotiable. All utilities. Share home with working mature female. $425, 250-245-0030. KWANYIN YOGA DIVAS Downtown Ladysmith. Still the mind, nurture the body and spirit. Gentle enough for beginners or suits all levels of fitness. Visit www.kwanyinyogadivas.com for details Ginette Dimatteo 250-802-7772 POWER WASHING your driveway and walkways using a fast and effective flat surface cleaner, fully insured call Peter Dunn for FREE estimate. 250618-6660 THE NICEST LOT in Ladysmith is for sale on desirable Walker Ave. 80 feet X 160 feet. Build a house and a shop. Fabulous ocean and mountain views. Quiet neighborhood. Close to shopping and school. Corner lot and fully serviced. 428 Walker Ave. Call 250-245-7804 HAIR STUDIO CHAIR rental. Be your own boss! Ladysmith location. Please call 250-739-3730 AFFORDABLE PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICE providing engagement, wedding, modeling, family and boudoir portrait packages. Serving Parksville to Victoria and Greater Vancouver. Rivington Photography rivfoto@hotmail.com see examples at www.wix.com/fotograffer1/rivington CLASSIFIEDS sell! Try one out.
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Come to hear more and learn more of the amazing Cougar Annie - on stage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Hall, April 28. Doors 7:00 pm, show 7:30 pm. Tickets $20, at Salamander Books, Ladysmith. Price includes light refreshments following the show.
Chemainus Arts & Ethnic Fest
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wide array of ethnic taste treats and this will be a chance for people to sample what they have.” The Arts & Ethnic Fest will be held in the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre on Saturday, April 28 from 11 am until 3 pm. Admission is by donation and food samples range from $1 - $4.
Spring Concert
Marilyn Johnson with poster of Cougar Annie who has descendants in Ladysmith. Photo: Cindy Damphousse
Yellow Point Singers are getting ready to share their love of song with their community. Sing in the Spring will be held at Oceanview Community Church on Davis Road in Ladysmith, on Sunday, April 29 at 2:30 pm. Their musical guests are The Centre Belles, a 35 member all-female choral group from Chemainus, with director and accompanist, Ola Sage. Join the performers for light refreshments after the concert. Tickets for each concert are $10 p/p or $20 /family, available at the door.
Cougar Annie Tales
Cowichan Valley Art Show
Victoria actress, singer and songwriter Katrina Kadowski presents “Cougar Annie Tales”, an evening to celebrate the extraordinary life of Ada Annie Lawson. In 1915 Annie’s family of five moved to Boat Basin Harbour on the west coast of the island, where she began her life long work clearing and building upon the family land. It was here she raised her family, established her nursery business, opened a tiny general store, and a post office. The name Cougar Annie comes from another position Ada held that of Bounty Hunter for the West Coast area where she shot over 75 cougars. In order to preserve the legacy of Cougar Annie, the Boat Basin Foundation has been established.
The Cowichan Valley Arts Council (CVAC) presents the 42nd annual Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show - one of Vancouver Island’s largest, non-juried art exhibitions and sales, to be held at the Quw’utsun’ Cultural and Conference Centre, (200 Cowichan Way) in Duncan from April 25 to 29. The event opens with Gala Evening April 25 from 6:30 to 9pm with artists, live music and prizes. April 28 from 6:30 to 9pm is “Cowichan Catch - A Live-ly Auction”. Catch it for art displays, a vendor’s market, and children’s activities. www.cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca or call 250-746-1633.
Marina Kereliuk dances at Arts & Ethnic Fest. Photo: Warren Goulding
“This is one of the most anticipated events to be held in Chemainus,” says festival organizer Shelley Rouse of the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society. “It’s a celebration of the diversity that is the Chemainus Valley with music, dance, and great food,” adds Rouse. “Various local restaurants provide a
“Forum” a must-see at Ladysmith Little Theatre The biggest show with the biggest cast and the biggest budget ever to be seen at Ladysmith’s Little Theatre, Ladysmith Players’ production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Forum”, left the gate with three sold out performances. The zany musical full of songs and dance, action, adventure and lots of laughs runs until April 15. Wear a toga to the performance and be entered to win a prize. Better get your tickets now at 250-924-0458 or www.ladysmiththeatre.com. Coming in May is the farce “Let’s Murder Marsha”, playing May 10-27.
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