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Letters LDCU announces properties purchase The Board of Directors for Ladysmith & District Credit Union is pleased to announce the purchase of properties adjacent to our current building at the corner of First Avenue and Roberts Street. Several months ago the board of LDCU became aware that these properties neighboring our offices were about to come onto the real estate market. The properties involved were two commercial premises with two residences above, and a house adjacent to Queen’s park. Recognizing the opportunity, LDCU negotiated to purchase all three properties for future needs. The Credit Union carefully researched the prospect and determined that the return on investment would defray the cost of purchasing the properties in the short term. Longer term, the Credit Union will be developing a plan for expansion utilizing the properties in a phased and measured way. This purchase reinforces our published long-term vision that LDCU remains the cornerstone Credit Union for our community. Serving a growing membership and community requires ever-increasing space. We understand this change in ownership has caused some concern to existing tenants and would like to take this opportunity to reassure the community that existing businesses have in no way been adversely affected by the Credit Union assuming ownership. We anticipate development of more concrete plans over the coming months and years and will certainly be a good neighbor and provide all the tenants with plenty of notice of any anticipated change. Building on our proud history as a community Credit Union, our passion is to have a positive impact on our members, neighbors and community. The board of directors feels very fortunate to have secured these properties for the good of the Credit Union and to continue its leadership role well into the future of our growing community. - Tim Richards, Secretary, Board of Directors, Ladysmith & District Credit Union
Canadian Cancer office closes Re: Closing of Ladysmith’s Canadian Cancer Society Office A great big thank you to the little town with a big heart. To everyone that has gone out in April knocking on doors asking for donations for the Door to Door Campaign. Over the
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Even the dog wore a pink t-shirt at Van Isle Truck Tech on Feb 27 in support of the Pink T- Shirt Day Anti Bullying Campaign.
years Ladysmith residents have been the greatest donors on the Island. To everyone that has stepped forward to help us put on a successful Tour de Rock stop in our town. To all the business owners who have generously donated their merchandise to our silent auctions in support of Tour de Rock and our Relay for Life Fashion Show. To all the business that allowed us to put the daffodil pins on their counters for sale by donation. And finally a special thank you to the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. We, in the Ladysmith Unit, are at a complete loss as to why the regional office in Victoria decided to close our office. We are sorry that we will not be there to answer questions or hand out a brochure that describes various types of cancers. We are sorry we will not be there to accept a donation made in memory of a lost friend. Thank you from our volunteers of the Ladysmith Unit who have a total of 235 years of volunteering for the society: Lois, Lilian,Jenny, Janice, Sheila, Grace, Patricia, Maureen, Letti, Molly, Audrey Gillian, Barbara, Dina, Donald, Betty,Helen, Adrian, Ed, Jillian, Anne, Peggy, Nellie, Morna, Emily, Seth, Anita, Peter, and Noriko. - Janice & Don Grinnell
CVRD falls short in Saltair home park This is in response to Ray Bradford’s letter (TAKE 5/March 2013) regarding the redevelopment of the Seaside Manufactured Home Park in Saltair. No, it does not make any sense that a manufactured home park is removed in order to replace it with another manufactured home park. In essence what is happening is that a manufactured home park is being replaced with a new housing subdivision. The eviction of the previous residents from the Seaside MHP may have been legal, strictly speaking, however the current owners and developers have been very aggressive in getting what they want. The CVRD has done nothing but allow and encourage this situation. The CVRD could have prevented the current development but chose not to, based on an undisclosed in-house legal definition of the issues. The CVRD could have gone to court to challenge some of the rules and regulations. By their own admission, they chose not to engage in a legal battle. This is
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in the minutes of the EASC for anyone interested in looking it up on the CVRD website. Indeed the CVRD is now entertaining an application from the developers for a variance to remove some of the amenities that define a manufactured home park. If questioned, our experience is that the CVRD is going to say they did everything correctly. The Area Directors are choosing to ignore the fact that people along with their homes, were forcibly, though legally, removed from a property. They are choosing to encourage the replacement of these homes with up-market housing. By making these decisions the CVRD is showing that it has no interest in the everyday person’s housing situation. - Megan Terepocki
Thank-you “sew” much Cedar Women’s Institute would like to thank the generous community of sewer’s who have donated beautiful hand made pillowcases for the Childern’s Hospital. Our goal was 30 pillowcases and we are expecting over a hundred by the time they are all collected. We will
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take the pillowcases to our District meeting on April 20 and from there they will make their way to the hospital.Thankyou very much, to all of you. - Connie Grinnell,
Letter on trash gets response With regards to my letter you published in the March Take 5 magazine about the waterfront garbage, well done! I have since heard from Ladysmith Mayor Rob Hutchins and he said that he and the Councillors were quite dismayed at the garbage that is laying about the waterfront. I have heard from different people in town who also were shocked to learn about the latest dumping ground in Ladysmith. - Muriel Carlson Editors Note: The Town of Ladysmith and TAKE 5 to sponsor Community Clean Up Days April 21-22 in celebration of Earth Day. it www.ladysmith.ca or www.take5.ca for details.
Walk for Autism April is Autism month and the Autism Society Central Vancouver Island is holding a fundraising walk on April
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Police officer’s sentencing I am responding to the Letter in the March issue regarding the “sentencing of RCMP Constable should be deterrent”. I was there for the trial and know the facts. The media is always one sided and I didn’t think that the Take 5 magazine would be as well. I wish that more articles would write the whole story and not just one side. -Rosalyn Brown Letters to the Editor are welcome but subject to space and editing. Letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TAKE 5. email editor@take5.ca, or post at www.take5.ca/
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Reducing our environmental footprint one step at a time On Vancouver Island, for much of the last 140 years, we strove to build our communities and create wealth for our families. In many cases, we did so with little respect for the air, land, or water. We dumped raw sewage into our marine waters, we destroyed creeks and altered rivers to meet our economic and development needs, we created unlined landfills beside creeks and in wetlands, we burned fossil fuels in abundance, and we burned our garbage by the tonne, putting harmful carcinogens into the air. Although early environmentalists began to raise the alarm on the world stage some 50 years ago, it was not until about 25 years ago that the mainstream population began to recognize that maybe, just maybe, these practices were not the best for the Earth or humanity, and slowly we began to change our ways. In 1995, the Town of Ladysmith was the first community in the Cowichan Valley to introduce universal curbside collection of recycling. In 1996, the Town was first in the region to ban backyard burning and the burning of land clearing waste. In 1998, the CVRD closed the Peerless Road garbage Incinerator. In 2001, Ladysmith introduced universal water metering. In 2006, our town was the first community in Western Canada to introduce universal curbside collection of household organics. In 2008, we stopped using pesticides in our parks and gardens and began to replace annual flowers with vegetables and herbs. This is just a partial list – but there is still so much more to do. These are some of the steps we are taking in 2013: Peerless Road Recycling Depot Upgrade Starting April 15, the CVRD Peerless Road Recycling Facility will undergo a major renovation and expansion. When the work is completed by late fall, the Peerless Road Depot will be the region’s largest public recycling drop-off depot, hosting 21 grade-separated bays and extensive covered areas. The new site layout will offer much
easier traffic flow, adequate expansion capacity for years to come, and an expanded free drop-off area. Interestingly, the expansion is based on the need to remediate thousands of tonnes of ash left from when the site was a garbage incinerator. The ash will be recycled as a structural fill for the site. A temporary, near-full-service recycling depot will be open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday, throughout the construction phase, just a few yards south of the present site. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations on First Avenue. Thanks to a $16,000 grant, Ladysmith is joining communities the length of the island in creating a network of electric charging stations to support those who choose to drive electric cars or trucks. We have already spotted local and out-of-town motorists taking advantage of this new facility. An additional charging station at Public Works will be put to good use soon, as the Town
will replace one of Public Works older gas vehicles with an electric vehicle. Sewage Treatment Upgrades The final stage of our $22 million upgrade to the Town’s sewage treatment will commence this year. When finished, the plant will be able to service a population more than double the present one,
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and best of all, it will provide secondary treatment of our liquid waste (sewage), which will help restore the health of the Ladysmith Harbour to its original condition. Carbon Neutral Ladysmith The Town of Ladysmith signed the Provincial Climate Action Charter in 2008 and pledged as a corporation to be carbon neutral by 2012. We have made great strides in reducing our carbon footprint, but in order to keep that commitment, we will have to purchase some carbon offset credits. Council recently voted to buy these credits from a local source – Cowichan Energy Alternatives – which will be investing in local carbon reducing initiatives. If we had commenced our curbside organics pick-up a few years later we would have been able to include that in our carbon reduction initiatives and would be considered carbon neutral without the purchase of carbon offsets. Community Clean-up Days Council has designated April 21 and April 22 (Earth Day) as Community Clean-up Days in our Town. The Town will supply garbage bags and we are working with the CVRD to have tipping fees waived at Peerless Road. Get together with your neighbours and friends, and spend an hour or a few picking up garbage in our community. This is especially important along our waterfront, which too many people seem
to treat as their personal garbage dump. Take 5 Magazine is a sponsor of this event – check our websites for details as the days get closer.Contact the Mayor: rhutchins@ladysmith.ca Announcement of Gas Tax Fund Grant for the Sewage Treatment upgrade
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An Ecologist Returns "Those who have the privilege to know, have the duty to act." - Albert Einstein He grew up on the beach, living in a tent all summer in Evening Cove, Ladysmith Harbour. Dad was a schoolteacher and outdoorsman who would often get up early, catch a coupl'a springs and blue-back off the Five Finger Islands, and give them away to the other teachers. Grandfather was part owner of Walters and Akenhead Trading Company at the turn of the 20th century, before it became the Ladysmith Trading Company. Great grandfathers and mothers arrived from the Scottish diaspora, to clear land and farm in Fanny Bay, and to build hotels that would be burnt down in the Great Fire of Nanaimo in the 1870's. Scott recalls the summer ritual when his mother would send him out in the canoe with a handline, "and for heaven's sake, don't catch a big one." Because, who wants a 10-lb salmon for dinner
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every night? And there's the time when he and his dad wanted to see how many little-neck clams his sister could eat before she was full. He figures they dug up about 200 clams that afternoon, while sis slurped them down smothered in butter and lemon juice ...before they gave up. And if you let him he'll tell you about the annual clouds of grouse (grice?) migrating over Woodley Range to Mt Sicker and the back country. "Of course I'm an ecologist," he says, surprised at the question. "If you spent your life as a poet, after 30 years you can't not be a poet." Mr Akenhead, Scott, you're a bit of both I'm thinking! A member of the elite CVRD Environment Cttee, and President of MISSI the local society for sustainability and stewardship, Scott gives back to the community ...while making a living as a consultant on fisheries management, on things like the food web of the Strait of Georgia. And he's got this company, Strategies for Sustainability, that uses the experience he's gained in computer modeling, ecosystem-based management, urban design and land use planning, that could just as easily develop a 100-year sustainability program for the mid island as he did for Vancouver. You know, provide answers for complex challenges we're facing. Scott says he owes it to work at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, in Victoria, that brought him back from his cozy gig as a fisheries biologist with the Government of Canada; based in St Johns looking out from 'Akenhead National Park' across the great Atlantic Ocean. "You have to leave Vancouver Island to truly appreciate it." he says, one eye on the horizon. "This could be Provence, or Tuscany right here ...a place where our natural wealth, history and culture Scott Akenhead October 1971 Amchitka Atomic Bomb Protest. He had just turned 21 years old
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are valued, and people come from all over the world just to see what it could be like to enjoy our quality of life." "We have been, and can continue to be the number one Island in the world," he adds, as I consider my cultural circle of farmers in comparison to those of France and Italy. "That means we beat out Hawaii and Tahiti." And, with a nod to my long hair and sixties roots, Scott draws upon that great philosopher of our time to make his point. "This is a Pacific Island paradise, and if you're ever going to get back to the garden, this is the place!" Memories of wishing I'd been at Woodstock is all it takes to convince me. Our backyard heritage and coastal region is, it would seem, in the global scheme of things, significant. I stop singing Joni Mitchell songs in my head, and remember to think how lucky I am to be here before I ask Scott my carefully considered and insightfully revealing question, "Well man, like what happens when more people move here?" "When the population doubles, as it has every 30 years or so," he asks me, adding "Within the decade we'll have a million people here, and another million a decade later. So, how do we retain a high quality of life, the beauty and diversity we enjoy, and value our culture and heritage?" My question exactly. But, without going into the details I did begin to pick up on his optimistic, we-can-do-it vision that sees the salmon returning with the killer whales and humpbacks, our wildlife taking to pocket wilderness, while forests and farm production increases, and quality, valueadded manufacturing provides us with the jobs and means to become largely self-sufficient. Like Provence maybe. Mr Scott, I do then accept your kind invitation to continue this conversation about conservation, sitting by the fire, down on the beach, sometime this summer. By then I should know more about Tuscany! Laurie has worked with environmental groups for thirty-odd years, farms 20 acres organically on Vancouver Island with life-partner Jackie Moad, and is more than happy to sit by a fire and chew the fat about the good 'ol Earth, and it's quirky inhabitants!
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Earth Day activities Earth Day Canada, which officially occurs on Monday, April 22nd, is part of International Earth day - the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide. More than 6 million Canadians join 1 billion people in over 170 countries in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues. Nearly every school child in Canada takes part in an Earth Day activity. This year there are a number of community events planned here in our community. Ladysmith is hosting Community Clean-up Days. Council has designated April 21 and April 22 as Community Clean-up Days. The Town will supply garbage bags and they are working with the CVRD to have tipping fees waived at Peerless Road. Get together with your neighbours and friends, and spend an hour or a few picking up garbage in our community. The waterfront needs special attention as lately some people
Many hands make light work. Joey Ruppenthal; Elwyn Thom; Hannah Eck; Angus Eck; Aidan Llewllyn: Rosie Dodd; Alden Thom; Katie Dodd; Sophia Beech. Adults (l-r) Chantal Blumel; Karen Fediuk. Organizers hope many people will come out to help clean up and pull out invasvive species such as the ivy growing on the popular trail. Photo: Rob Johnson
seem to treat it as their personal garbage dump. TAKE 5 is media sponsor. Check our websites for details as the
days get closer. www.ladysmith.ca or www.take5.ca Also on April 21, Ladysmith Parks,
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Recreation and Culture Commission is hosting an Invasive Species Pull at the Holland Creek Trail entrance off Sixth Avenue. They are targeting English ivy, and pulling out broom if it's there any small enough. They will have an information table set up with information on various invasive species, and ways to control/remove them. Plus some tips on identifying invasive species, and gardening alternatives. They are contacting various community organizations to let them know what's going on, and asking for their support on the day. If you can help bring gloves, and your gardening tools. Pull is from 1pm-3pm. “The most important reason in my mind to do an invasive species pull is to limit their impact on our natural ecosystems. Everything is tied together, and if we allow a non-native plant to take over, all other flora and fauna are affected. This includes the insects and birds that rely on certain plants, all the way up to the top predators that rely on a healthy population of prey,” says Chantal Blumel, one of the organizers. Being a forester, she understands how healthy ecosytems are a priority for our future. This year, the Town of Chemainus has formed an ad Hoc Committee to help spread the word and coordinate events in order to generate more awareness and participation. Committee Chairperson, Marlie Kelsey of the Chemainus Visitors’ Center explains, “In past years, our schools, service agencies and volunteer organizations have held Earth Day events individually and have done some wonderful work. We want to put a proper spotlight on these great deeds, so our group will act as the loud speaker for all the hard work our town is doing.” Central to this year’s Earth Day activities is Neighbourhood House, who is hosting garbage pickup at Kin Beach from 1 pm until 4 pm. They will be organizing the cleanup and offering refreshments. At the same time, the Boy Scouts will be leading a garbage and invasive ivy clean up at Askew Creek Park. The Mayor of North Cowichan, John Lefebure plans to kick off these events at Kin Beach at 12:45 pm. In addition to supplying bags, the CVRD will provide a special garbage pickup for the event.
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New marinas proposed in waterfront development There’s renewed interest in Ladysmith’s waterfront development. Recently Canadian Pacific (CP) Property Development, has made application to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources to acquire a lease for Slack point and the water lot known as Dog Patch. They have proposed two marinas, numerous business, and homes on the site. The outer marina would have 390 slips, and an inner marina would have additional slips. There would be housing on piles, commercial development, brew pub, parkland, and pedestrian walkways. A staff report to Council reads “This application states that the overall project is expected to create 300+ full time jobs during the construction phase and approximately 50-100 full and part time jobs for the on-going operation of the brew pub, coffee shop, other commercial businesses and the marina. The 300 slip marina has the potential to generate $2,000,000 per year in economic impact. The inner marina proposal could generate $3,000,000 per year in economic impact”. The Ministry is asking for written comments on this application by May 2, 2013 from anyone interested making their views known before making their decision on CP’s request to secure these sites. Ladysmith Council will be reviewing the recommendations made by staff in its report to council, at Council’s April meeting. The full report is available on the town’s web site as part of the agenda package for the April 4th Council meeting. www.ladysmith.ca - Rob Johnson
Locals head to Dragons’ Den Two local businesses are going to be heading to Toronto to make their dream pitch. In early April local potter Chip Nary of Crystalline Vortex pottery and
Perfect Pitch. (Above) Alexa Grier and Chip Nary hope their product will win then a fan on the Dragons’ Den. (Right) Doug Godkin makes an entrance on the TV show as well. He is looking though his Seaward Kayak. Photos submitted
Doug Godkin of Seaward Kayaks will be seeing if they can win over the Dragons’ Den. The popular TV show has aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business concepts and products to secure investment finance from a panel of Canadian business moguls. Will the dragons love it or spit them out? Regardless of the outcome, both are excited about the opportunity to show off their products nationwide. Godkin who will be taping April 6 says the audition went well. He walked onto the set carrying the Intrigue Kayak that features a glass bottom. “They said It was the best pitch in Western Canada.” He says his time with Ladysmith’s Toastmasters came in handy. “Forty-three per cent of Canada watch the show. It’s an great opportunity to show off our products and tell our story to the country.” On April 10, Nary along with his partner Alexa Grier will be pitching their Happy Zak Cream to the Dragons. Nary and Grier are selling Happy Zak’s a soothing organic lotion with a twist. It comes in a ceramic bottle shaped like a scrotum. “We added a humorous label attached by a thread listing benefits (ie. soothing scrunched scrotums, etc.) and our anti-biotic, anti-fungal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory super soothing organic ingredients.
“People like the bottle, get a chuckle from the label, and get hooked on the lotion.” Available for $20 at the Vintage Rose The Medicine Garden in Ladysmith, or at the Crystalline Vortex Pottery, at 1010 3rd Ave., Ladysmith. 250924-8007
Kinsmen ramp up their support for museum On March 23-24 members of the Ladysmith Kinsmen Club took on the project of building a wheelchair ramp for the Ladysmith Museum. In the fall the club was approached by the Ladysmith & District Historical Society about building a wheelchair ramp. Jerry Lealand, from Lealand Contracting offered to supervise the project and donated the equipment they needed. Dan
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Standing on the ramp Ron Legault. (l-r) Jerry Lealand, Ron Albertin, Jason Mikolas, Larry Adair, Bill Drysdale, Mike Sumptner and kneeling Larry Adair.
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(l-r) Mike Symons, Vancouver Island Wing Chair of the Air Cadet League, FSgt Kieran Wilson (Master of Ceremonies) 89 Pacific; LAC Daniel Niles, 89 Pacific; Sgt Tristan Avery, 386 Komox; FSgt Benjamin Preston, 848 Royal Roads; Sgt Andrew Jutte, 386 Komox; Cpl Devlen Cole, 89 Pacific; Terri Slater, Effective Speaking Coordinator for the Air Cadet League.
Bowes manager of the Western Forest Products Saltair Mill in Ladysmith, jumped at the chance to donate all the lumber required. Ladysmith Home Hardware donated the material for the railings and a lot of the hardware. The non-skid deck coating was donated by General Paint. And coffee from Renee’s Cafe fueled the work. All the community support made it a fun project.
Air Cadets host speaking competition Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron 257 Parallel Ladysmith had the great honour of hosting the Air Cadet League Vancouver Island Effective Speaking Competition March 24 at the Aggie Hall. Earning the Gold Medal was Leading Air Cadet Daniel Niles of 89 Pacific Squadron, Victoria. (right) Ladysmith Health Food store owner Janice Peters and her daughter at the newly opened Step This Way Store featuring earth friendly clothing, shoes and accessories. Photo: Loyola van Rooyen Buck
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Chemainus Village Square local sales team Chemainus Village Square shopping centre developers, Len Wansbrough and Ian Spurling appointed John Kelly and Dee Kinnee as their marketing and sales team. “Their knowledge and experience will assist us to develop a shopping centre that meets the community’s needs,” said Wansbrough. John Kelly is a long time Vancouver Island resident with over 28 years in real estate experience. “The brand-new shopping centre is in the heart of Chemainus – a perfect location,” says Kelly, “If you’ve always wanted to open your own business, we can help fulfill your dream.” Having lived in the town for over 23 years, Dee Kinnee considers herself a Chemainiac. “We’ve been waiting for the shopping centre for over 15 years.” says Kinnee. “Residents want more local shopping options and Chemainus Village Square will help fill that need.” For more info email sales@onsitesales.ca or 250-920-6713 Download the brochure at www.onsitesales.ca
Scientists to remove selection of research trees Forest scientists are ready to harvest about eight per cent of a stand of Douglas-fir research trees planted at Nanaimo River Regional Park in 1979 when the lands were privately owned. The research plantation makes up the northwest corner of the park, and is managed by the Forest Genetics section of the Tree Improvement Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the Canadian Forest Service and Yellow Point Propagation. The purpose of the research plantation is to study the characteristics of special crosses of Douglas-fir and ultimately create a higher value wood for planting in coastal BC.
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“The RDN and the park landowner, The Land Conservancy of BC, are pleased to support forest genetic research in coastal BC,” said RDN Regional Parks and Trails Select Committee Chair Diane
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Brennan. “While neither agency likes to fell trees in parks, the Douglas-fir plantation at Nanaimo River Regional Park was in place long before the lands became a park. The vast majority of the trees planted at the site will be left to live on to a very old age, and this is of great benefit to the park and the many people who enjoy it.” Harvesting of the 96 trees will take place in April under the Ministry’s supervision. For more information, members of the public may contact Parks and
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Trails Coordinator Joan Michel at 250248-3252 or 1-888-828-2069.
Get septic savvy! How well do you know your septic system? You’ll find out more April 18 from 7-9 pm at the North Oyster Community Centre. Retired Environmental Health Officer Dave Coombe will walk you through the details and answer questions, along with an expert panel of industry professionals. This event is free from CVRD Environmental Initiatives Division. Contact Emily Doyle-Yamaguchi at 250-746-2641, edy@cvrd.bc.ca.
April is Parkinson’s Month. Do you have a family member living with Parkinson’s? The association wants to hear from you. Submit your best tips, for living well with Parkinson’s in the family to info@parkinson.bc.ca. For more info www.parkinsons.bc.ca.
Cedar Women are walking gain On April 29, ACWW Day, the Ladies of Cedar Women’s Institute will once again join Women Walk the World for Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW). Members and other women are invited to walk to raise awareness of the ACWW and funds for ACWW. Ladies from the Cedar Women’s Institute will have pledge sheets, to help raise funds as they walk from Cedar Community Hall to Cedar Heritage Centre. The Walk will start at 10am, with a stop at Coco Cafe and then continue. If you are interested in joining call Janice at (250) 245-4016 or Connie at conniegrinnell@ shaw.ca. Above: At last year’s walk: Rose Spencer, Janice Grinnell, Pat Qunkan,Connie Grinnell, Carolynne Fiddick, Lindsey & Aden Wilson. In back row Kathie Aarsen and Vickie Bellingham. Photo:Don Grinnell
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Gardening clubs can help you get going This area is a mecca for gardeners. With our Mediterranean like climate we enjoy a longer growing season than most of Canada. So it’s no wonder that gardening is so popular here. If you are a newbie you are in luck. Because one thing those gardeners like to do is share. They’ll share their extra plants, their seeds, but most important of all, they’ll share their advice. And along with the knowledgeable staff at the local nurseries, your next best bet is dropping in to one of the many local gardening groups in the area. The Mount Brenton Gardening group is one of those places where you will
feel welcomed. Their roots go back to 2004 when they held their first meeting at the Mt. Brenton School on South Oyster Road. And from there it grew. Soon a volunteer group formed that took care of the indoor courtyard gardens at the Chemainus Care home for several years. In 2005 they relocated to the Chemainus Firehall. Finding the large room not very suitable to their meetings, they moved to the Chemainus Museum which was soon filled to capacity so in 2009 they moved again to the Calvary Baptist in Chemainus which is where they are today. Their first garden tour was in 2009, and
from the proceeds the group donated a $500 scholarship to the Chemainus High School student interested in horticulture. We donated the same amount for the following year. A very successful plant sale in 2011 and $500 went to the hospital X-ray fund. Recent donations were made of $100 to the church for new dishes and $400 to the Chemainus Elementary school for the breakfast program. The group features guest speakers each month and have had many day tours. This year they are planning a Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, April 19-22 at a reasonable price. Their summer break starts with a strawberry tea when the local island berries are at their best. Annual fees are $15 per year and a $2 drop in fee every month. They meet the first Tuesday of the month at the Calvary Baptist Church at 3318 River Rd. in Chemainus from 1 -3. Visitors are welcome. Watch for their local garden tour, a “Step Back in Time”, coming up on Sunday June 23, 2013.
Gardening groups and farm markets are good sources of information for new growers. Cedar Farmers Market
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There’s gold in those horsetails! Horsetails can be a pain in the garden. Rip ‘em out and more appear. Try a chemical approach and find out why horsetails were the first plants to recolonize Mount St. Helen’s after she blew her top. They are survivors, predating humans and even the dinosaurs. And it’s reasonable to presume horsetail will be among the species that inherit the earth, long after humans have left the scene. A few horsetails, we tell ourselves, would not be so bad – a novelty. But try digging them out and you’ll discover one of the keys to their survival; an interconnected root system that goes on forever and guarantees that where there’s one horsetail, there’s hundreds more. Ecological approaches to controlling horsetail involve changing soil conditions, requiring patience and time. Horsetail does best in acid, nutrientlimited soil, and needs moisture, at least early in its life cycle. So the theory is that by adding lime to lower soil acidity, and organic material to provide nutrients, you’ll eventually discourage the horsetail while encouraging most of the other plants you want to
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Prehistoric horsetails are survivors. They can be difficult to eradicate.
see growing in your garden. I’m trying the liming approach on one site, and reducing soil moisture by limiting irrigation on another. Only time will tell me how these experiments will work. I’ve also read that continuing to pull the horsetail will eventually reduce its vigour, although you have to be careful not to spread bits of root and contaminate your soil even further. So as you weed horsetail from your garden, take time to appreciate one of nature’s success stories. And remember, there’s gold in those green stems. Horsetail has the ability to accumulate gold in its cells, as much as four-anda-half ounces in one ton. Trouble is, no one has yet figured out a way to extract it profitably. There’s a challenge to occupy your mind, as you’re on your hands and knees in the garden, pulling away. Norm Wagenaar is a landscaper and writer based in Cedar. For more information, www.naturescapenanaimo.com
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Water Saving Tips
Coastal Water Systems
Spring Flower Show
As the weather warms up our water consumption picks up. In the summer months our water use doubles mainly due to lawn and garden watering. Here’s some watering tips. Leave a measuring container in the yard to help you monitor the amount of rainfall. Water in the early morning, before 9am to reduce evaporation. Water on calm days to prevent wind drift and evaporation. Set up your sprinkler or hose to avoid watering hard surfaces such as driveways and patios. Water slowly to avoid run-off and to ensure the soil absorbs the water. Regularly check your hose or irrigation equipment for leaks or blockages. Collect rainwater from your roof in a rain barrel or other large containers and keep it covered with an insect screen Choose an efficient irrigation system. A soaker hose placed at the base of plants on the ground applies water to the soil and reduces evaporation
Qualicum based Coastal Water Systems provides service for private well systems. These well systems usually require a well pump, pressure tank and water treatment in some form or another. These wells can include residential, commercial and industrial applications. On the water treatment side, Coastal Water Systems has a strong support group of certified water specialists in this industry. It all starts with a water analysis which is reviewed by specialist and in some cases where the water is complex we have a water chemist available to determine the best method for the water treatment. CWS water treatment products are supplied by recognized North American manufactures and distributors such as Waterite Technologies Inc. Their water treatment products meet or exceed standards required by the water treatment industry and in a majority of cases are both NSF and WQA certified, this is your assurance that the end users are getting a quality product. Special pricing is available for upgrading water systems.
The Cowichan Valley Garden Club is presenting their 2013 Spring Flower Show & Plant Sale, on Saturday, April 13, 2013, from 10am-2pm at the Duncan United Church Hall, 246 Ingram Street, Duncan The show features a special presentation by Leaf and Petal “Is Floral Design A Dying Art?” 10:30am and 11:30am. Plus there is a Container demo: by Sand Piper “One Pot Four Ways” at 11am. Check their website for full details and times. Come shop for unique plants and view fabulous displays of floral designs, interesting plant material, and the best spring flowers grown by entrants in the judged flower show. Non-members are invited to enter in the flower show. Admission is only $3 and includes a hot beverage, home-baked goodies by donation. Refer to web site for flower show schedule and further information: www. cowichanvalleygardenclub.com.
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Unique flat roofed house gets new lease as a rental unit If you have driven up Symonds Street in Ladysmith, you couldn’t help but notice the transformation of the house on the corner of 3rd. Avenue. The flat roofed house has always stood out from the neighborhood with its unique lines. Now with a massive makeover the house which features two rental units is drawing appreciative glances from passersby. Mike and Traci Graf of Graf Excavating had just completed a project and wanted to invest in the Ladysmith area. The Two floor, flat roof, 50 year old home had a large lot, great view and lots of potential. It was very dated, and needed to be brought into current style. Plus, the lot was situated on a hill and the yard had been neglected. The Grafs were up to the challenge. Started in November 2012 and now
The 1950s house got a makeover inside and out. Photos: Cindy Damphousse & submitted
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Slinger truck made the project go smoother. Spacious living room with lots of light in upper unit. Below: Attractive kitchen looks onto a large living room with fireplace in lower unit.
nearly completed the transformation speaks for itself Both upper and lower floors have a gorgeous view of Ladysmith Harbour and First Avenue. There’s ample parking for both units. The landscaping and retaining walls are impressive. “We removed some of the older trees that were in poor locations and replaced them with new trees and plants that work with new landscaping.” To improve the home’s energy efficiency they updated insulation in roof, walls, between floors, and installed a 98% energy efficient gas on demand heating and hot water system a Mini
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Split Carrier Heat Pump, and replaced old windows. “We focused on easy keeping and energy efficiency. A place that tenants would love to call home.” Their company has been in business for over 20 years, but the Graf’s have never done a whole house renovation before. Some of the challenges in this project were access to the site when doing earth work. They found that the Slinger truck was the tool for this site; all import granular fills were placed on the conveyor on the truck. The old method with bobcats and mini excavators would have been near impossible, expensive and reduced the overall quality of project, they said. “Drainage and planning is critical on all lots but more so on a hill side like this one. Catchments for debris prior to letting storm water enter your piping system is important in the long run. Better to do it right and bear the additional costs than deal with issues later.” “This project was tailor made for what we do.” This wasn’t an easy lot to work on, but with equipment like the Slinger truck, excavators and their knowledgeable staff, challenges were virtually eliminated. Using the Slinger truck made some of these challenges so easy. They were pleased with the excellent service from the Town of Ladysmith’s building department and found them very helpful with advice and direction. The Grafs are pleased with the results. The inside of the units have been completely updated with fireplaces, large windows and a fabulous kitchen. There are many features of the home that the Grafs like in particular: off street parking, ample storage for each tenant, heating systems, great views, close to town, totally separated units…it’s easy to see why anyone would love to call this house their home. “This has become a pet project, and it has made us a part of the community.” Proud to have been a part of the project: Bryan’s Mechanical Ltd Eric Tait Contracting Graf Excavating Company Ltd Kent Knelson, Nanaimo RE/MAX South Shore Cabinetry Ltd For more photos visit facebook.com/ take5publications
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RDN - Area A BY ALEC MCPHERSON
RDN voting process explained During my first year or so as a Director, a number of constituents have indicated that they are puzzled about the voting process at RDN Board meetings. In a couple of instances, the constituents said that by a count of the hands the number of Directors voting NO on a motion exceeded the number voting FOR; yet, the motion was declared passed. Since the voting system is similar in all regional districts in the province, a quick summary of the process with examples might be beneficial to people’s understanding.
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Generally, on matters such as receipt of staff reports and minutes of meetings or accepting late delegations, a simple show of hands FOR and AGAINST is sufficient to pass a motion. At the RDN, for example, there are 17 Directors. In the case of the examples above, a show of hands 9 to 8 FOR would result in the motion be passed. On other matters which have a financial component, the Local Government Act, RSBC, S. 783, provides for what is termed a ‘weighted vote’. At the December 11th 2012 meeting of the RDN Board, staff presented a report that showed the number of votes each municipality and rural electoral area were assigned by the provincial government as a result of the 2011 Census. The table below is an excerpt from
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that staff report. For the RDN, the number of votes applicable to each community is determined by dividing the sum 2,500 (the population of a single voting unit) into the community’s population. Under this system, anomalies can exist. A jurisdiction that had, for example, a population of 4,999 would receive 2 votes whilst one with a population of 5,001 would receive 3 votes. It is clear that the City of Nanaimo has a majority. Should all other municipalities and electoral areas cast their votes FOR a particular motion, the show of hands would provide a 10 to 7 majority; however, if the weighted voting system applies then the vote would be 34 to 29 AGAINST.
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Regional Districts are portrayed as a collaborative federation. In order for this to be factual, those jurisdictions who can control the vote must act in a fair and judicious manner that considers the effect on all jurisdictions when casting their votes. A Director from one of the Electoral Areas, for example, has only a good argument and moral suasion techniques to influence the outcome. Interestingly, if the population required to receive one voting unit was placed at 3,200 then the City of Nanaimo would control 27 votes whilst the balance of the federation would also control 27 votes and everyone would have to come with a good argument.
CVRD - Area H BY MARY MARCOTTEE
Municipal Boundary Expansions – Species At Risk The expansion of municipal boundaries has long been a simmering issue in this Province. Larger urban areas have a tendency to gobble up neighbouring communities when they feel there is a need for a larger tax base to pay for servicing the existing municipality, thereby keeping taxes lower for their citizens. In the early 2000’s at the annual Municipal Conference, the Government of the day made a commitment that there would be no forced boundary expansions between large municipal communities and smaller municipalities. Unfortunately, although intense pres-
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sure has been applied over the years, the Provincial Government has not made that same commitment to the rural nonincorporated areas of the Province. The Electoral Areas are being treated as land banks to keep taxes lower for municipalities. While this may work well for the populated urban areas, it is devastating to the rural residents who are gobbled up with little or no say in the matter. It leaves us with a reduced tax base, and makes it almost impossible to maintain our current services, let alone provide improved infrastructure. Boundary expansions can force people who never wished to live in a city to become part of a municipality and pay for things they never had a chance to vote on. This is so wrong. The legislative framework from the Local Government Act (section 20) describes the requirements that must be met before the Province considers approving a municipal boundary extension. These requirements include the stipulations that municipal council has requested the boundary extension; that the property owners and residents of the boundary extension area are aware of and have been provided an opportunity to express their opinion; and that the majority of municipal electors that reside within the current municipal boundaries do not object to the proposed extension. Nowhere in the legislation is there a requirement that the remainder of the impacted residents who would continue to reside in the Electoral Area must be provided with an equal opportunity to express their opinions; nor are they entitled to vote. It is obvious to
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me that Electoral Area residents throughout the Province are not being afforded the same democratic rights as other residents in the Province and that the process is prejudiced in favour of the Municipality. In effect, this makes Electoral Area residents second class citizens. I urge you to make this an issue during the upcoming Provincial Elections. Contact your MLA and see where he or she stands on this issue. Rural residents will soon become extinct if this process is allowed to continue. We must make it clear that rural residents are NOT second class citizens. AREA H RED LISTED - Ladysmith Boundary Extension Timberwest Forest 1 is currently in the process of adjusting and consolidating a number of large parcels on the west side of the Island Highway. These parcels are currently within the boundaries of North Oyster/Diamond. The intent of these actions is part of a long term proposal to incorporate the properties within the Town of Ladysmith. Once they have been taken in by the Town, these properties are slated for high density residential and mixed-use commercial development. Under the existing zoning the uses for this property include: A-1 zone with a minimum 12 ha parcel size and agricultural use; F-1 zone with a minimum 80 ha forestry use and F-2 zone with a minimum 20 ha forestry use. More than 700 ha are part of this proposal. Neither the property owner nor the Town Council was courteous enough to inform me about this proposal. I learned
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about this expansion by reading the local newspaper. There was an ad advising Town residents about the expansion. Unfortunately, this proposal was well advanced by that time. Upon questioning the Town, I learned that the Town had not yet made a decision on whether or not to support the expansion. Recently, I again learned information through the local press; apparently, acquiring the aforementioned lands within the Town boundaries is one of the Mayor and Council’s high priorities for 2013. This is not the first time the Town has expanded their boundaries; it’s not the second time, not the third time, not the fourth time. In spite of a commitment from the Mayor that the Town would not expand its boundary beyond the power lines and that the Town has ample room for future growth without taking in more lands, I can think of at least five times that they have expanded into Area H. The current trend in developing better cities is to build up not out; to develop only where municipal services are currently provided; to protect farmland and ensure sustainable agriculture; to have viable, working forests; to make cities more liveable by providing green spaces. It is my opinion that this proposed boundary expansion follows none of the above planning principals, and will incur a long term burden for both Town and North Oyster/Diamond residents. I urge all the citizens in this area to become informed about this proposal and make your views known to the Town and the Province before it’s too late. The future of Area H is in your hands.
CVRD Area G BY MEL DOREY
A community meeting place for Saltair For almost forever, Saltair did not need a community hall because we could rent the Mt Brenton School for large meetings or other activities. Then the school closed as a functioning educational building and the children went to Chemainus or Ladysmith for their education. The school sat empty and it cost the school board about $10,000 a year to maintain the building and grounds without any education going on. It was declared surplus to their needs. The previous CVRD director for Saltair, Rene Beaudin, initiated some discussion in the community about whether we should buy it and run it as a community centre. They tried to get groups signed up to have activities going on that would keep the building busy. They tried hard but were not very successful. The community group even opened a library in one of the vacant classrooms but it had very little use. Big wooden tables were built for a flea market that functioned for a short period of time. The building is very large and seemed much too big for our needs. The school board under financial pressure of operating costs finally put the school and the 5 acre grounds up for sale. The community did an informal cost/benefit analysis to see if the school and property were worth buying. It was brought to the Saltair Ratepayers Association for discussion as well to see if it was worthy of buying. Even though there was strong sentimental interest in the school property it didn’t seem strong enough to want to pay for it. Rising taxes were the big worry and the fact that they couldn’t find enough uses for the building stalled
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the purchase. Also renovating and upgrading the building for a different use were a consideration. The property was sold to John Dove and company for just under $550,000. John Dove tried to operate it as a semi commercial operation running it as private community centre/business centre. It was a money loser and taxes went up because the provincial government classified it as a commercial building. John passed away and it is owned by a company in Victoria. Currently it is being used as a private day care/nursery school. The school has been up for sale several times in the last five years and was listed for $750,000 at one time. It is currently being listed at $579,000. One of the problems with the property is it is zoned Institutional which restricts the possible uses of the property. The owner would have to come forward with an appropriate use before other development or use would be permitted. The Saltair Ratepayers has initiated some new discussion whether we should make an offer to buy the school or use some of our other property to build a new facility perfectly suited to our needs. Right now we rent the school for our meetings but who knows in the future and it may be in the very near future whether it will be available. In the coming months I expect there will be some sort of committee formed to look into the need that Saltair has for a community meeting place. We are at the very early stages of looking at this problem. At a later time public meetings will be called to discuss this very issue. Surveys and planning charettes could be done if and when there is a proven need. Nothing will be done without thorough public consultation.
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part arrangements. Special guest singers Panache , the all female chorus from Nanaimo. For this concert Josslyn Meyers will accompany both of the choirs. Tickets are $10 or $20 for a family and available at the door.
Islands Celtic Festival The Islands’ Celtic Festival is coming back to Ladysmith this April. The Festival is spread over three days and held in two venues. On Friday April 26, the Big Session takes place in the North Oyster Community Hall. The Big Session is a layered circle of traditional Celtic (Scottish & Irish) musicians playing jigs, hornpipes, polkas, reels, and aires on traditional instruments (fiddles, flutes, whistles, pipes, bodhran, guitar, and banjo). All are welcome to play or listen, for no charge. On Saturday April 27 and Sunday April 28 in the North Oyster Community Hall, workshops are available, free of charge. Celtic music and techniques are explored for fiddle, flute, whistle, pipes, harp, bodhran, voice, and dance. At noon on Saturday, an informal free concert will be presented by Workshop participants. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided by the North Oyster Community group at a reasonable price. The Concert and Ceili is presented in the Aggie Hall on Saturday night (April 27,7-11pm) for an admission of $20. The Concert starts with a Sean nos singer and Celtic Harpist, followed by a traditional Ceili Band (flute, fiddle, guitar, bodhran, etc), Solo Scottish folk singer, Gaelic singing group, Uilleann pipe duet, and solo Irish singer (Terry Boyle). At the end of the Concert, the Ceili dance will start with a performance of Scottish & Irish dances. The evening is completed with the audience invited to participate in traditional Celtic dancing, led by Celtic Dancers. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or from Salamander Books in Ladysmith. Info: 250- 245-5080
Ladysmith’s Spring Art Tour Welcome to a three day self-guided art studio tour April 26, 27 & 28. 10 am- 4 pm daily. What could be more delectable than to discover the creations of some of Ladysmith’s finest artists when you visit them in their own habitat? You don’t have to be an art expert to enjoy this tour—from pottery to acrylic painting, jewelry and fused glass--there is something for everyone to experience during BC Arts and Culture Week. Some art studios will provide live demonstrations of a work in progress, while others will have a surprise guest artisan on site.
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Jonaco Spring Craft Show It’s time for the annual Jonanco Spring Craft Show & Sale. Drop by on April 20-21, from 10am-pm and see demos in silversmithing, lapidary, wirewrapping, woodworking, quilting and much more. Refreshments, raffle, home baking, handcrafted items for sale. Admission is free. All proceeds to Jonanco programs & facilities. 2745 White Rapids Rd, Nanaimo, 250 753-3650
2013 Cowichan Valley Artisan Studio Tour Opens
Three studios are actually gallery-shops which represent the artwork of dozens of local artists. Visit all 12 studios and you can enter a draw to win great prizes. Get your treasure maps to view some of Ladysmith’s hidden gems at www.ladysmithwaterfrontgallery.com or pick up a brochure from the Waterfront Gallery 610 Oyster Bay Drive. 250-245-1252
YPS Spring Concert Yellow Point Singers present their annual spring concert Sing in the Spring at Oceanview Community Church, 381 Davis Road in Ladysmith on April 28 at 2:30pm. The choir has met weekly at the Cedar Secondary School since January to prepare the music under the direction of Doug Roszmann. The repertoire includes choral works from folk, classical, African and contemporary styles in four Above: Terry Boyle and Bryan Henderson warm up for the Islands Celtic Festival. Photo Cindy Damphousse Right: Potter Mary Fox one of the artists at the Cowichan Valley Artisan Studio Tour
The 2013 Cowichan Valley Artisan Studio Tour opens on April 26-28 and features 15 participating studios and artisans between Mill Bay and Ladysmith. While each studio and artisan sets their own hours, the Artisans are kicking off 2013 with a traditional studio tour weekend: all 14 locations are open to the public from 10-5pm. on April 26-28 and are ready to show off their latest creations! Ladysmith potter Mary Fox, wellknown for the sensuously curving bodies of her sculptural vessels and unique lithium and crawl glaze finishes, will be introducing new sculptural work. Cathi Jefferson’s studio is exhibiting the latest pieces in her finely crafted salt-fired functional pottery as well as her natureinspired sculptures. For more information contact Cathi Jefferson 250-743-1469
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The invention of hospital attire. Hospitals, though highly necessary, are unpleasant places where a lot of screaming goes on behind closed doors. Places where bodies are bent, folded, sawed, hammered, stapled, and if that’s not fun enough, a tube can always be rammed up your penis. (Historical note: Ben Franklin was an amazing guy who invented pretty much everything, a short list being: the wood stove, day light saving time, swim fins, the lightning rod, the odometer, the catheter, and slightly after that, the blood curdling scream.) Being on the front line of all this blood letting and penis poking takes an emotional toll on hospital staff and explains how union boss, Bernice (Triple Time and a Half) Stanfield, while watching Candid Camera one night, came up with an idea to make hospitals a more fun place to work. “Why not bring a sense of delight to the work place?” She asked. “Maybe dress the staff up like clowns? No, better
“... a consortium of circus clowns designed the clothing with engineering provided by the Three Stooges.” yet, dress the patients up as clowns, only keep the laughs to ourselves like they do on Candid Camera.” Out came the pencil and paper, and a few sketches later the hospital gown was born. The gown idea was an instant hit. Soon it was impossible to walk down a hospital hall without encountering peels of laughter from the cleaning crew to the brain surgeons. So much fun was had laughing at patients that additional garments were brought aboard, that being trick pajama bottoms, slippers and a housecoat. Here’s how the gag works: You arrive at the hospital where you are told to take a seat and enjoy their collection of magazines, all of which have feature articles about Sheila or Molly, but never Larry, losing 63 pounds, which is quite a miracle when you consider the rest of the magazine features nothing but double cream, triple sugar, ultra fattening cup cake recipes. By the time you’ve read the articles 17 times, and have reached the opinion that Molly could still lose another 40, an innocent looking woman, trained to suppress the giggles, leads you off to a changing room where she hands you four well worn bed sheets of varying sizes, thread count 26. With a serious voice, she says, “Take your street clothing off, including socks and underwear, and put these on.” Nowhere is it mentioned a consortium of circus clowns designed the clothing with engineering provided by the Three Stooges. “Hey Larry, is it okay to put this belt loop at shin height?” “Sure, go right ahead Curly, should be good for a laugh. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!” For the patient, it’s like approaching a
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clown car. From a distance it looks normal, up close you discover the only way in is through the trunk. Take the pajamas for instance. If your waist size is 30, they give you size 50 with a drawstring impossible to tie even if your last name is Houdini. But they are well engineered. How else do you get pajamas to fall off in exactly 20 paces, that being the midpoint of the average waiting room? The slippers are double enders, a nautical term meaning it’s impossible to tell the bow from the stern, the front from the back. Nor is it self-evident where your feet go, as there are two openings to choose from. I wore one slipper on my left foot, the other on my head, which was the only place it fit properly. The gown itself is an architectural triumph. The seemingly random placement of hoops and drawstrings suggests it can be worn with total disregard for the compass. North, South, East or West, it doesn’t matter what side goes up. Some wear it as a cape, others as a shawl or a diaper, still others as a snot-encrusted hankie. Bernice realized nothing brings laughter quicker than the unexpected, so the garments were designed accordingly. One minute an attractive, middle-aged woman is walking down the corridor with all her dignity attached, then, peeka-boo, out pops a butt cheek. She tries to recover. Exactly the moment the gown has been waiting for. No sooner are her hands dispatched to the stern, than the treacherous garment falls off her left shoulder, which in hospital waiting rooms is known as the full Janet Jackson. You can’t beat this kind of entertainment; just ask the lucky cleaning guy who took it all in. A piece of clothing that does make sense is the housecoat, but by the time you reach it, your confidence at self dressing is shot and anything can happen. One health care worker, between machine gun bursts of giggling, described a patient wearing their housecoat upside down and over their head. Keep in mind dressing isn’t easy when your mind is overloaded with distracting thoughts like, “THEY’RE GOING TO CUT MY FRIGGIN LEG OFF IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES!” I mention all this not to keep you away from our medical institutions but as a
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precaution if you happen to be in one and encounter a staff member bent over in what looks like emotional distress, don’t stop to offer succor, as they’ve been overcome with laughter because some guy such as myself has walked by with two hands clutched to his failing pajama bottoms, his gown on sideways, one slipper on his left foot, the other as a hat, the ensemble topped off with the house coat worn upside down and wrapped around his head Lawrence of Arabia style. To keep your mind of your ridiculous attire, ask Nurse Cratchet for a bottle of Santa Cristo Garnacha, $11.99. Exceptional value. Delbert is the co-proprietor at Mahle House. Read more at Slightlycorkedandmore.wordpress.com
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Crawl, wriggle, and squeeze in some adventure – Go Caving! Caving has always been on the adventure list of things to do with my family. Vancouver Island, or as cavers like to call “Island of the Caves”, has more explored limestone caves than all other Canadian provinces combined. Four per cent of Vancouver Island’s surface area is karst landscape making it the highest concentration of caves in North America. (Source: cancaver.ca) With just over 1000 documented caves and some 1800 more thought to be out there, the time had come for us to venture to the dark side! Spelunking is the act of exploring caves and it is a perfect fit for us. We already rock climb so some of our gear can be used for both sports. Caving fuels our passion for outdoor adventure by exploring new places and trying new things. Bonus is the caving community happens to be full of warm, inviting, and the most encouraging group of people I have ever
met. One of the oldest caving organizations in Canada, the Vancouver Island Cave Exploration Group (VICEG) is open to anyone interested in speleology. VICEG works to conserve caves for the appreciation of future generations and members are not thrill seekers, rather they explore, study, and locate caves while promoting safe caving practices, fellowship, and bring awareness to cave conservation. Recently my family and I were invited to attend a VICEG event called the Midwinter Madness held at Horne Lake Caves. Here members, family and friends
gathered for two days to enjoy a variety of caving activities. We had the opportunity to get some hands on experience in rope descends, climbed down cable ladders, rappelled into caves, learned about cave mapping, watched cave search and rescue scenarios, and enjoyed group cave tours with fellow cavers. In between all these fascinating activities were caving stories and home movies of caving trips from Vancouver Island and around the world. It was a weekend full of advenA spacious cave perfect for the whole family. Photo:Jill Collins
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ture, fun, friendships and knowledge. Prior to this caving event our time spent underground was minimal. We began caving as a family back in July 2012 at Upana Caves near Gold River. Even though this was a first for us, I treated caving like any other outdoor adventure we did; prepared the gear, researched online, and had conversations with Ben and Liv about what we were doing and what to expect. That first trip was successful by all accounts and left us wanting more cave adventures. We picked up caving again in Dec 2012 (thanks to a story I was working on) when we met some amazing cavers who really showed us what caving is all about. Aside from adventure and exploration, caving offers a wide selection of activities and interest. Photography, biology, geology, archeology, surveying, mapping, search and rescue, and conservation can all be enjoyed while caving. For the past three months we have explored several caves on Vancouver Island and the knowledge, skills, and friendships we have developed is amazing. Caving provides the four of us an opportunity to adventure together while satisfying our own interests. For me, finding caves is what I like best. How caves are made, where to find them, and in what type of landscapes? I could hike through forests looking up and down ancient creek beds for cave entrances all day if I had to. Joel’s interest is the technical side of caving. He enjoys using and learning about the specialized equipment required for caving: ropes, harnesses, safety gear, and search and rescue related activities. Pushing deeper into the darkness not knowing what lies ahead is exhilarating for some and terrifying for others. This is what Ben, 7, enjoys the most about caving and the tighter the passage the better. His caving gear is by far the dirtiest of all. What interests Liv, 5, is what lies deep within the cave. Caves are home to many critters; spiders, crickets, moths, salamanders, and bats. She is quick to point them out and often can give me an accurate tally of how many crickets we just crawled past. I hope she never counts a bear! Follow Jill and her nature loving adventure seeking family of four at www.getonthebeatenpath.blogspot.ca
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The Nettle Patch The sting of stinging nettle may evoke a tinge of fear (and a rash where fresh leaves and stem touch the skin) as well as a sense of mystery. Who knew that cooking eliminates the sting and transforms the plant into a delicious, versatile and nutritious food? Long favoured among those who enjoy wild foods, stinging nettle has many virtues, which make it an important plant in many parts of the world. It forms the basis for many springtime nettle festivals around the world; for example, the village of Marshwood in the U.K. hosts the World Nettle Eating Championships. The French even have an Association of the Friends of the Nettle. (What a brilliant idea.) With care, nettle can be woven into a very fine and strong fabric. You can pick stems in late summer or even winter and by rubbing it between your hands separate the bark and the long inner fibers. Archaeological studies show the use of nettle as fiber for clothing, fishing nets and ropes goes back at least 3000 years (and
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probably much more). Making rope, nets and weaving cloth is no longer a regular activity in our lifestyles, but when people were performing those tasks, nettle was a generous provider. Nettle’s distribution around the world, and it’s association with human occupation, hint at a mutually beneficial association. Stinging nettle favours moist soil rich in nitrogen and potassium. When foraging I find it most regularly near farm buildings where it benefits from either old or new deposits of manure (old farmsteads are a great source of nettles) as well as moist woods (nutrient and moisture receiving sites in scientific lingo). The above ground part of the plant dies in the winter, but the roots (rhizomes) live on. So you can visit the same patch over many years. The tender shoots are the best eating. I try and harvest the shoots when they are about six inches tall by cutting them off with scissors into a basket, cooking pot or bag. I also wear gloves to avoid the sting, but if you are careful and grasp the plant just right it is possible, at least for a short time, to avoid the stinging hair on the leaves and stems. Some people with arthritis actually apply stinging nettle leaves to the sore joints to reduce inflammation. In addition to arthritis, nettle has a long history of medicinal use including
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treatment of allergies, urinary problems, eczema and anemia. Stinging nettle is a diuretic, so if you have kidney or bladder issues get some expert advice. It also has anti-coagulant properties so may affect menstrual flow. Any wild food or plant we ingest has a physiological effect, so the first time you try something new, exercise caution. For the most part nettle is generally considered safe and nutritious. Stinging nettle can be consumed in various ways, so if the spirit moves you, try them steamed, in omelets, soup, bread, pesto, pie, curry, smoothies, stir fries, casseroles, stews, tea … The following recipe is just a suggestion from which to experiment.
Tomato and Nettle Soup Heat a tablespoon of oil and add 1/2 tsp. cumin and 1/8 tsp. fennel seed (so that they pop). Add 1 cup chopped onion and spices (1/2 tsp. turmeric, 1/2 tsp. curry powder or garam masala, cayenne to taste, 1/2 tsp. thyme, 1/2 tsp. basil, a pinch of cardamom). Sauté. Add 8 cups (packed) of fresh nettles and 1 tsp. salt. When nettles are cooked add 1 quart canned tomatoes and 2 tbsp. coconut butter or oil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Let it cool for a few minutes then add a cup of milk or cream (do not bring it to a boil after adding cream or it will curdle). Mash yolks from 4 boiled eggs and mix in. Top servings with the boiled eggs whites (halved or diced). Jay Rastogi is a naturalist, horticulturalist and educator living in Yellow Point. ecoforestry@gmail.com
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13, 7pm, Dance The Esquires, Chemainus Seniors Drop In Center, 9824 Willow, 250-246-2111
23, 7pm, Open Badminton, North Cedar Intermediate School, 250-722-2241
14, 9am, Messy Church, St. John’s Anglican Church, 314 Buller St. 250-245-5512
24, 5pm, Spaghetti Dinner, St. Joseph’s School, 9735 Elm St. 250-246-3191
14, 9am, Chemainus Legion Flea Market, Chemainus Legion Hall, 250-924-8482
24, Women’s Night, Cottonwood Golf Course, 1975 Haslam Rd. 250-245-5157
14, 1pm, Dyslexia Information Seminar, 250-245-8412
25, 7pm, Ladysmith Search & Rescue Meeting, classroom behind Ladysmith Fire Hall, 250-245-8726
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15-19, Town of Ladysmith Spring Clean Up Week, 250-245-6445
1-7, “Our Town”, Ladysmith Little Theatre, 4985 Christie Rd. 250-924-0658
15, 1:30pm, The Nanaimo Hard of Hearing Group, Christ Community Church, Bowen Rd. 250-616-2962
1-3, Communications Level 2, Western Marine Institute, 3519 Hallberg Rd.
15, 5:15pm, Chronic Pain Support Group, 1111-4th Ave. Rm. 101, 250-667-5587www.chronicpainsupport.ca
250-245-4455
15, 7pm, Town of Ladysmith Council meeting, 410 Esplanade, 250-245-6400
1, 10am, 5th Annual Girl Guide Cookie Drive-Thru, , Wheatsheaf Field, 1865 Cedar Rd. 250-327-3449 2, 1pm, Mt. Brenton Garden Club meeting, Calvary Baptist Church 3318 River Rd. 2, 6pm, Healing Pathway Group, Ladysmith First United, 232 High St. 250-245-2183 2, 7pm, Town of Ladysmith Council meeting, 410 Esplanade, 250-245-6400 2, 7pm, Open Badminton, North Cedar Intermediate School, 250-722-2241 4-7, 6pm, Dinner Theatre, Mount Brenton Golf Course, 250-246-2259
15, 7:30pm, Randy Bachman, Cowichan Theatre, 250748-7529 or www.cowichantheatre.bc.ca 16, 6pm, Healing Pathway Group, Ladysmith First United, 232 High St. 250-245-2183 16, 7pm, Open Badminton, North Cedar Intermediate School, 250-722-2241 17, Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce General Meeting time & location TBA, 250-245-2112 17, 7pm, Soup & Sandwich, Chemainus Seniors Drop In Center, 9824 Willow 250-246-2111
4, 12:30, Career Fair, VIU, 250-245-2112
17, Men’s Night, Cottonwood Golf Course, 1975 Haslam Rd. 250-245-5157
4, 5pm, Business After Business, Oyster Bay Quay 1030 Oyster Bay Dr. 250-245-2112
17-30, 8pm, Les Belles Soeurs, Nanaimo Theatre Group, 2373 Rosstown Rd. 250-758-7224
6, 2-4pm, Pride Home Improvement’s Open House, 326 Warren St., Ladysmith 250-245-2884.
18, 7:30am, LDBA meeting, Legion Hall
6, 8am, Eagles # 2101 Rummage Sale, 921 1 st Ave. 250-245-2447 6, 2pm, Tea & Entertainment, Chemainus Seniors Drop In Center 9824 Willow, 250-246-2111 7, 9am, Chemainus Legion Flea Market, Chemainus Legion Hall, 250-924-8482 7, 9am, Messy Church, St. John’s Anglican Church, 314 Buller St. 250-245-5512 9, 7pm, Open Badminton, North Cedar Intermediate School, 250-722-2241 10, Cowichan Job Fair, 250-748-9880
18, 11am, Easy Cure for Vertigo video demonstration, Pharmasave, 441 1st Ave. 250-245-3113 18, 6pm, Ladysmith Preschool Annual General Meeting, 232 High St. 250-245-4712 18, 7pm, Get Septic Savvy, North Oyster Community Centre, 13467 Cedar Rd. 250-746-2641 18, Nine & Dine Thursdays, Cottonwood Golf Course, 250-245-5157 18, 7pm, Festival of Lights Meeting, FOL Building, 1163 4th Ave. 250-245-5888 20, 9:30am, Pancake Breakfast, Chemainus Seniors Drop In Center, 9824 Willow, 250-246-2111
10, 6pm, Cowichan Valley Chambers of Commerce Mixer, Arbutus Ridge 315 Telegraph Rd. southcowichanchamber@shaw.ca
20, 10am, Walk & Bounce for Autism, Wall St. Nanaimo
11, 6:30pm, Nancy’s Fashion & Furnishings 3rd Annual Spring Fling Fashion Show, Ladysmith Little Theatre, 250-245-8217
20, 11am, Free Family Symphony Community Day, Port Theatre, 250-754-8550
11- 30, 8pm, Spring Awakenings, Nanaimo Centre Stage, 25 Victoria Rd. 250-739-0721 12-14, Central Vancouver Island Orchid Society Show & Sale, Nanaimo North Town Centre, 250-748-8004 12, Senior Bus Trip Naval Military Museum & Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, 250-245-3079 13-14, Folk Guild Heavy Metal Drop Off, Providence Farm, 250-748-3975 13 - 14, 10am, Edible Wild Plants Workshop, Wildwood Forest, Yellow Point, 250-245-5540 13-14, Junior Golf Day, Eaglequest Golf, 250-754-1325
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20, 10am, Jonanco Spring Craft Show & Sale, 2745 White Rapids Rd. 250-753-3650
21, 9am, Messy Church, St. John’s Anglican Church, 314 Buller St. 250-245-5512 21, 9am, Chemainus Legion Flea Market, Chemainus Legion Hall, 250-924-8482 21-22, Earth Day – Community Clean-Up. www. ladysmith.ca 250-245-6424 or www.take5.ca 21, 1pm-3pm Earth Day – Invasive Species Clean Up, Holland Creek Trail, www.ladysmith.ca,250-245-6424
26-27, Islands’ Celtic Festival, North Oyster Community Hall, 250-245-5080 26-28, 10am, Ladysmith’s Spring Art Tour, self-guided art studio tour, 250-245-1252 27-28, Annual Multi family Garage Sale, Friesen’s -1694 Cedar Rd. 250-722-2737 27-28, 10am, Edible Wild Plants Workshop, Wildwood Forest Yellow Point, 250-245-5540 27, 7pm, Islands’ Celtic Festival - Concert & Ceili, Aggie Hall, 1110 1st Ave. 250-245-5080 27, 7pm, Dance Happy Hans, Chemainus Seniors Drop In Center, 9824 Willow 250-246-2111 28, 9am, Messy Church, St. John’s Anglican Church, 314 Buller St. 250-245-5512 28, 9am, Chemainus Legion Flea Market, Chemainus Legion Hall,. 250-924-8482 28, 2pm, Choral Concert, Chemainus Seniors Drop In Center, 9824 Willow 250-246-2111 28, 2:30pm, Yellow Point Singers – Sing in the Spring, Oceanview Community Church, 381 Davis Rd. 28, 7pm, Concert and Ceili, Aggie Hall, 1110 1st Ave 250-245-5080 30, 7pm, Open Badminton, North Cedar Intermediate School, 250-722-2241
MAY 1-14, 8pm, Les Belles Soeurs, Nanaimo Theatre Group, 2373 Rosstown Rd. 250-758-7224 1, 7pm, North Cedar Improvement District Annual General Meeting, 2100 Yellow Point Rd. 250-722-3711 1, Men’s Night, Cottonwood Golf Course, 1975 Haslam Rd. 250-245-5157 2-26, The Foursome, Ladysmith Little Theatre, 4985 Christie Rd. 250-924-0658 2, 7pm, All Candidates Meeting, Eagles Hall, 921 1st Ave. Ladysmith 3, 6pm, Spring Fair, 921 1st Ave. admission by donation for food bank, 250-709-0204 4, 10am, Spring Fair, 921 1st Ave. admission by donation for food bank, 250-709-0204 4, 1:30-3:30pm, Family Education Series, Alzheimer Society, Upper Meeting Room, LRCA. 250-245-3079 4, 1:30pm, Dementia Caregiver Education Series, Upper Meeting Room, 630 2nd Ave. 250-245-3079 5, 9am, Chemainus Legion Flea Market, Chemainus Legion Hall, 250-924-8482 6, 7pm, Town of Ladysmith Council meeting, 410 Esplanade, 250-245-6400
22, 9am, Pro-D Camp for Kids 5-12, 810 6th Ave, 250-245-6424
7, 1pm, Mt. Brenton Garden Club meeting, Calvary Baptist Church, 3318 River Rd.
23, 6pm, Cranberry Fire Protection District Annual General Meeting, 1555 Morden Rd.
Full calendar at www.take5.ca.events
TAKE 5
CLASSIFIED ADS PAINT & SAVE OPTION: Do it yourself, with a little help from a pro together we can make your job more affordable and accomplish a great look. Making the world a brighter place for over 25 years. Call Harvey - 250-245-2174 HOME BUDDIES - PET & HOUSE CARE since 1994. Licensed, Bonded, Insured. Professional, kind-hearted, experienced and reliable care for all pets. Pet First Aid and CPR Certified. Certified Security Professional through Westguard Security. When loving care and security are essential, Peggy Wildsmith- 250-245-0151 “KAREN’S INDUSTRIAL SEWING” IS BACK! Relocated to North Cedar/Akenhead Rd. Open for alterations and repairs, Production work etc… for appt. call 250-323-6322 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 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
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KITTY KORNERS CAT HOTEL - Purrsonalized Quality Kitty Care. Daily health checks, experienced with special needs kitties. Reasonable rates. Available 24/7. 2 km north of Nanaimo Airport. Take a virtual tour www.kittykorners.com 250-740CATS (5287) 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 SENIOR CARE & FAMILY HELPER with Linda. Mature, experienced, reliable help. Transportation, errands, healthy meals, overnight stays, pet care and light house keeping. Excellent references. Criminal record check, first aid. Linda Stedfield 250-797-0796 lstedfield@gmail.com ACCOUNTING SERVICES with 23 years experience, providing full accounting solutions to include payroll T4’s and CRA remittances. betterworth@shaw.ca 250-802-0048 THE HAPPY GARDENER. Weeding, Digging, Cutting back (blackberries, etc), Tidying up, Miscellaneous Yard Work. Cheerful and Conscientious. Call David at 250-722-3599 OFFICE SPACES -Downtown Ladysmith, modern, a/c, renovated, wired, reasonable rent or lease. 250-245-3395
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AJ”s PLUMBING AND GAS -Licensed-BondedInsured. Service-Installations-Renovation -New construction. Quality workmanship. No travel charges. Free estimates. On time every time. 250-802-7123 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 QUALITY RENOVATIONS big or small. 25 yrs exp/journeyman, affordable. For free estimate call Lars 250-616-1800 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 ISAGENIX DISTRIBUTOR - Get Lean & Healthy Fast - Less than $5/ meal. Our protein shakes are amazing! - No Gluten, Wheat, Barley or Trans Fat. www.taketimetoday.com Suzanne Deveau 250245-8407 LYNN’S SENIORS CARE HOME - High Quality Personalized Care. Warm caring environment, great food AND snacks, family events, couples and pets welcomed, ocean views, gardens. North of Ladysmith. 250-245-3391 www.lynnsseniorcare.com
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LEARN A LANGUAGE FOR FUN AND TRAVEL Small groups, conversational approach, excellent teachers, daytime and evening classes. French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese, Mandarin and more. Register now for ongoing sessions at WENTWORTH COURT LANGUAGE CENTRE, 517 Wentworth St., Nanaimo 250-716-1603 SAVE $$$ WITH GORD’S YARDWORKS Time for spring yard preparations. Need lawn mowing and yard debris cleanup and removal? Special services and seniors discounts available. 250-246-3640, 250-210-3860, gordsyardworks@shaw.ca ISLAND PRUNING -Professional tree care from large scale orchards to budding new trees. I can meet any pruning need. Shrubs, vines and ornamentals. Ask about summer pruning. Call Darcy Belcourt 250-245-1260 EXPERIENCED, RELIABLE, BONDABLE, RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & LIGHT CONSTRUCTION CLEANER has openings in the Ladysmith area. Rates start at $18.00 per hour. Seniors Discount. References available 250-327-9644 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 COMPUTER PRO -Mobile Certified Technician for on-site computer repairs and service in your home or office. $30 service call. Networks, printers and PC tuning. Senior’s Rate: $25. 250-802-1187 computerpronanaimo.com
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ARE YOU DOWNSIZING, moving, clearing an estate? We are interested in purchasing jewelry, china collectables, small appliances, small furniture, and newer inside/outside home décor. Wendy 250-245-2079, Fern 250-924-4419. hidden-treasures@hotmail.ca OVERCOAT PAINTING - Professional - Reliable - Reasonable. Operating 8 years in Ladysmith. No job to small. Will do minor painting repairs. Special senior rates. Call Heather McIntosh for a free estimate. 250-619-3718 DO YOU NEED HELP WITH CLEANING, TIDYING, SORTING AND /OR COOKING? If so, do give me a call. $ 16 per/hr. Jane 250-2468953 BROKE BRIDES WEDDING CONSIGNMENT visit www.brokebridesweddingconsignment.vpweb.ca for a peek and call Rita 1- 250-715-7611 to book your appointment today! ITALY VACATION HOMES for rent in beautiful central Italy starting at $600/week.. Many amazing daily itineraries for both car and bike. Call or email Anita 1-250-655-4030 or gordonlitster@shaw.ca
APRIL 2013
HONEST, CHEERFUL, RELIABLE, experienced housecleaner has several openings available. I am also interested in part-time nanny/childcare work, love children and have raised 3, experienced in ECE. 250-722-3599 CANDLES AND ACCESSORIES for your home and garden. Contact Jenn Meuser, 250-619-6520 or jennm_PARTYLITE@shaw.ca and ask how you can earn FREE PARTYLITE products when you host a PARTYLITE party APRTMENT FOR RENT senior block 2 bedroom well maintained 1000 sq. ft. newly upgraded cupboards, new carpet, drapes, repainted W/D – F/S - N/P’s – N/S available April, no elevator free storage & parking $775 mth plus utilities 1-250758-5816 NEED YOUR LAWN MOWED? Experienced local student, friendly & reliable with own mower & weeder, very reasonable rates, satisfaction guaranteed call Ladysmith resident Connor 250245-5518 RUBBISH REMOVAL, big or small, fast friendly service 250-619-0595
SASSA’S HOME AND GARDEN CARE. No job too small, serving Vancouver Island for 10 years. Cleaning, Gardening and Painting, outside and inside your home or business. 250-218-4735, 250-886-8201
E-STORE featuring locally made Island products now accepting listings - products and gift certificates. Free to list. Visit www.take5.ca/estore for details and to view locally made gifts and products.
BRIGHT ONE BEDROOM BASEMENT SUITE quiet area, ocean view, 5 appliances incl laundry, utilities included. Close to Ladysmith, N/P, N/S, ref. required $ 750/month 250-2458388 vedart@shaw.ca
SPECIAL EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHY. Don`t trust just anyone. We have years of experience from weddings, family portraits, to glamour and corporate images. Email for quote and sample images marinasacht@yahoo.ca
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ahooga ooga... It’s a Franklin roadster and it’s a head turner! BY TRICIA PINKERTON
A sunny Saturday is perfect for motoring. Especially if the motor car is a 1916 convertible Franklin roadster with an ahooga ooga horn, used liberally, down First Avenue in Ladysmith - causing curious looks and smiles of delight from the unsuspecting onlookers. Lucky me, to be invited for a ride in such a car! Built in Syracuse, New York, it is owned by Robert and Margaret Lawson of Ladysmith, an early Series 9 which first came on the market in the late spring of 1916. Great efforts to reduce weight had been made and the 1916 Series 9 was 400 lbs lighter than the 1916 series M car. The Lawson’s car was probably built in late June 1916 although it is currently registered as a 1917. The model is a four passenger roadster, one of only three four passenger roadsters from the 1916-1917 model year known to exist. The engine is a 25.3 HP 6 cylinder air cooled by a large Sirocco fan on the flywheel. The body is hand formed aluminium on an ash framework. Aluminium is used for the crankcase, gear case and differential housing. The frame of the car is ash and is designed to be very flexible. This combined with full elliptical suspension and low unsprung weight makes for a very smooth ride, even on a rough dirt road down by the waterfront in Ladysmith. The electrical system is 12 volt employing a Dyneto starter-generator. This is original equipment. The colour is the original olive brown although the fenders have been painted black at a later date. Robert and Margaret have used colourful vintage carpets for floor mats and covers on the very comfortable seats. This is a mostly original car with a professionally rebuilt engine that was designed and built to be lightweight,
“The model ...one of only three roadsters...known to exist.” economical, and reliable. It cost $2,050 at a time when a Model T roadster cost $325. The man responsible for the engineering and design of the Franklin car was an engineer by the name of John Wilkinson. His philosophy was to make a car that was lightweight, economical to run, easy on tires, comfortable to ride in, and very dependable, all within the context of the large percentage of bad roads that existed in the early days of the automobile. The accepted wisdom at the time was heavy and stiff construction made the best automobile whereas a Franklin was light and flexible which was much more suitable for the conditions prevailing at the time. He wasn’t out to save the world but was obsessed with designing and building the most efficient car that would satisfy customers and make a profit for the H.H. Franklin company. Robert Lawson has been interested in
vintage cars since he was a boy. Over the years he has had a number of vintage cars, one at a time and always daily drivers. When he and Margaret sold their 1939 Buick two years ago they decided to get something really old and different. “Thanks to Harry Blackstaff I was aware of Franklins,” says Robert, “and we joined the Franklin club and learned as much as we could about them.” When this 1916 roadster showed up in Port Townsend, Washington, they knew they had to buy it as it was so close and so rare. Of course it could not be used as a daily driver but would be out and about in the good weather, as it was on that sunny Saturday. For Robert, owning the car “is somewhat of a time machine in that you get a sense of how new and exciting the automobile was at the time. It is very easy to work on and beautifully built which is very satisfying for those of us with mechanical inclinations. It provides a lot of pleasure for those who see it passing by and is a wonderful anodyne for the almost overwhelming onslaught of the 21st century.” More information is available at www.franklincar.org the web page for the H.H. Franklin club. Robert Lawson with his pride and joy, a rare 1916 convertible Franklin roadster.
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