Take 5 Newsmagazine March 2013

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Letters

Trashing our waterfrontOur waterfront is becoming a mess.If you walk from Black Press offi ces down the roadways and

pathways, go by the old train station, take a look up and into the bushes and by the streams, look over the banks, look in the trees and see what is laying around them or hanging from them. You will be shocked at what you see.

My husband and I frequently walk down there with our two little dogs and it always amazes us at how “Joe Public” can leave such a mess behind them without even blinking an eye. It truly disgusts us.

Be it a beautiful sunny day, or a cloudy and rainy day, there is always someone down there out for a walk along the numerous small roads, trails or along the railway tracks. I wonder what is going through their mind when they are walking in such a gor-geous area only to come upon heaps of garbage strewn around.

Nobody has ever sent in photographs or voiced complaints about the garbage along the roadways and paths leading to our waterfront. Is this because we have become accustomed to such

Garbage mars local trails along the waterfront. Phot Muriel Carlson

destruction, do we not care anymore, or is it because people think to themselves that nobody would care anyhow if I/we complained about the mess left behind by individuals who have no respect for our waterfront or walkways.

I would also like to point out that due to the fairly nice winter weather we have been having that some local people have started dumping off their garden de-bris, such as branches & clippings from shrubs etc.

Somebody or someone has to be held accountable for this mess. Do we need to have the Town put up “No Dump-ing” signage along the roads and paths? I doubt that this would stop people from dumping off their household debris any-how.

Perhaps if we want this cleaned up, we need to promote a work party of some sort.

If this type of behavior continues our paths to the waterfront will be inaccessi-ble due to all of the garbage that is tossed out down there.

Instead of saying “Welcome to Lady-smith’s Waterfront” we instead will be saying “Welcome to Ladysmith’s Gar-bage Front.” - Muriel/Ken Carlson

Sentencing of RCMP Constable should be deterrent

As a citizen of British Columbia and the Cowichan Valley I am concerned about the fi nal outcome of RCMP Const. David Pompeo’s trial

While he has recently been found guilty of aggravated assault in the shoot-ing of Bill Gillespie in Chemainus -- the sentence is yet to be decided.

In the past two or three years we the public have seen an increasing number of our Mounties getting charged with serious criminal offences and sentenced with conditional sentences. This means no criminal record and they return to the police force. Recently one offi cer killed a man on a motorcycle while impaired driving with his children in the vehicle. and in the end got two months condition-al sentence.

In this case thousands of dollars of public money was spent on the trial, the defence lawyer and the crown attorney. This offi cer shot a helpless member of our community and luckily did not kill him. The victim carries the bullet in his spine today and for the rest of his life


will suffer from this offi cer’s actions.Trial evidence showed an unusual oc-

currence where this third year apprentice offi cer –still on probation was a member of a street crime unit and on the Emer-gency Response Task Force. Positions usually reserved for more experienced offi cers.

His training was far beyond the normal offi cer and he had no excuse to lose con-trol and shoot a citizen. Is this a man we want on our police force? Would we want to meet this man on the street?

Now convicted of Aggravated Assault, which easily could have been murder or attempted murder do we want to see this man go back to the police force? Should he carry a gun in the future? Should he be held to a higher standard?

We the citizens of British Columbia and the Cowichan Valley want to see this case and this offi cer made an example of our Law and Justice System. No special treatment, no conditional or probation-ary sentence. This man must never again posess a fi rearm and serve considerable jail time. Police are not above our laws. Serious crimes like this deserve to be dealt with in a manner which will act as a deterrent to others who still believe they are above our Laws. - Larry Woodruff

NCFD fi refi ghter fundraiserThe members of the North Cedar Fire

Department would like to thank the many attendees and supporters of our recent fundraiser to help fellow fi re-fi ghter, Brad Coulter, who is currently recovering from a bone marrow trans-plant in Vancouver General Hospital. As well as being a member of our fi re department, Brad is a husband and father of two young boys, Primary Care Para-medic with the BC Ambulance Service and works full time for BC Ferries. The recovery from this procedure is lengthy and Brad will be unable to work and sup-port his family for several months.

Approximately 250 people gathered at the Cedar Community Hall for burgers donated by Plecas Meats, cooking done by the Cedar Lions Club, and entertain-ment by a talented local band The Moon-shine Mollies.

A silent auction was held with goods and services generously donated by lo-cal businesses and individuals. Please visit our website ncid.bc.ca or Face-book page https://www.facebook.com/

events/311833868920375/ for a com-plete list of the 50 plus generous con-tributors.

Bidding on the items were Brad’s friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and members from neighboring fi re de-partments. It was wonderful to see so many people come together for a great cause. We wish Brad a speedy recovery and look forward to having him back in the driver’s seat of NCFD’s fi re trucks.

If you were unable to attend but would like to make a contribution, donations can be dropped off at the North Cedar Fire Hall, 2100 Yellow Point Rd (Mon-Thurs 9am-4pm or Tues 7-9pm) or mailed to: NCFD (Beer and Burger for Brad), 2100 Yellow Point Road, P.O. Box 210, Cedar, BC. V9X 1W1

- North Cedar Fire Dept. members

Reader objects to Seaside Trailers development

Many area residents will remember the old Seaside Trailer Court in Saltair. It was a collection of older style mobile homes that were impeccably groomed and landscaped by many senior owners. These citizens of Saltair were my friends and neighbours. My three children would ‘trick or treat’ there at Halloween. My son split fi rewood and did small chores for many older couples. .Many had been long time local residents with deep roots in our community, who had retired to this small, quiet trailer court. Most of all, many of them were vulnerable seniors living on a small fi xed income with most of their life savings in their homes.

In 2007/2008 the trailer court was pur-chased by developers. Looking back at what happened to our friends and neigh-bours as the process of their eviction unfolded seems very much like a night-mare. Tree fallers came in without no-tice and fell huge fi r trees across much of the grounds making it impossible to access the common areas of the park. A new caretaker was hired that seemed to ignore the complaints and issues of the residents.. In my 40 years as a neighbour I can never remember the police being there once, now it seemed to be a regular occurrence. I witnessed much of what my neighbours suffered but appeals to the CRVD and area MLA couldn’t stop this nightmare. I cannot imagine how it affected these vulnerable seniors. There

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is nothing more sacred to most of us than our homes.

In a last desperate attempt to save their homes the park residents went to the Ten-ancy Dispute Resolution. The new own-ers (developers) of the trailer court stated that they intended to use the property as a single family dwelling and the trailer court would be shut down. The dispute resolution offi cer said he had no choice but to take the developers statement in good faith, that they would discontinue the use of the property as a trailer park. Our friends and neighbours were evicted and many of their lives were devastated. Many lost their life savings because their mobile homes were too old, costly to move and no park was available to take them.

Today the same developers that evicted these vulnerable seniors have proposed building a new trailer park, much larger than the old Seaside Trailer Park. Our area director says “it will be something we can all be proud of “.

The CVRD and our area director seem to forget the statements these developers made when they ruined the lives of my friends and neighbours.

Saltair’s regional director has sug-gested that the former tenants at Seaside Trailer Park be compensated with Saltair Parks money. Although I believe they should be compensated, I am offended and outraged by the idea that Saltair Parks money would be used for compen-sation for the acts of these developers.

If you feel as many of our area residents do: that there should be consequences to the statements made by the developers of this property and that the CVRD has an obligation to act on our behalf; please contact CVRD Chair Rob Hutchins and Saltair Area Director Mel Dorey.

- Ray Bradford, Saltair

Keep those recipts comingThank you Cedar/Yellowpoint folks

who continue to bring in the grocery receipts from 49th Parallel Grocery and Country Grocers. We have had the Com-munity Policing outside drop box at St Philip Cedar since August 2012 when they handed this program over to us. This Christmas we did 18 “Baskets of Compassion” for people in our commu-nity who are shut in. We also used some of the certifi cates to support some of our programs like “Kidz Zone”, coffee time

for “Loaves and Fishes” on Wednesday and the list goes on. This month we hope to expand locations so that it is easier for you to get the receipts to us. We also collect receipts from Salon Luminence, Slice, Staples Offi ce Supplies and Cana-dian Tire money. Every little bit helps build programs locally.

- Diana Slater, St. Philip Cedar

Decisions in cameraWhilst I fi nd myself often in disagree-

ment with Rob Johnson, his “As I See It” regarding transparency in the Feb issue of Take 5, is totally valid.

I hope others also are concerned about this fl aunting of responsibilities by the elected. If Town Funds are being dis-pensed, then the Town Council is hon-our bound to hold the discussion into the decision to spend Town Monies in open forum. In Camera meetings are a forum only to be used for some stated valid reason. If no valid reason is to be promulgated then we should, perhaps, look closely at our Town Council, with a view to either, making them more ac-countable, or replacing them.

- Name withheld by request

Letters on suite disputeI wish to respond to the letters re: suites

in the past issues of TAKE 5 regards to the Carriage house on Roberts Street. Al-though there are 17 other occupied stand alone town houses in Ladysmith – these never seem to attract a mention.

The writer stated that the occupant has always resided on this property up until a recent Supreme court ruling. Not true! Although using the property by day, at night he lived with a family member, spending summers away fi re fi ghting in Alberta as a pilot of a fi re bomber aircraft. Upon returning to Ladysmith, when the uncertainties and accusations became too much, he, like any person, had enough, although complying with every council request made to him. No court appearance ever happened. There are still no cooking appliances or beds on the property. The property has also been inspected on numerous occasions to check for compliance.

This resident has become a major part of our community (within a community), has far more people, ‘Onside’ for his sit-uation than not.

And I, I am his next door neighbour.

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Personally, I like both property and per-son, as they both enhance my property and environment.

I have to say that I, and others, are becoming somewhat disillusioned with Take 5 over the past few issues. Is this not a magazine aimed at promoting our beautiful, community orientated town? With full page individual editorials pri-marily Town Council bashing (as to conspiracies behind closed doors) and readers letters attacking the same, the magazine must be providing a very neg-ative picture to an outsider.

- Nick Epp-Evans

Editors Note: Letters is an open forum and we encourage all views. An opinion expressed in letters from our readers or by a writer does not necessarily refl ect those of TAKE 5. We invite everyone in our community to share their opinion – whether we personally agree or not.

My Boy RustyHe was just a little guy, 9 weeks old

with big paws and a wide forehead (which led me to believe he would be very intelligent). Little did I know then just HOW intelligent he would be. His mother was a white Maltese Terrier and his father a black Poodle. We had a gen-uine Malti-Poo !!! This little guy was the colour of champagne.

He was to be my Christmas present from my husband but we couldn’t take him home for another four weeks until he was old enough to leave his mother, and when we did collect him I felt so sorry for his mother (how awful to have your baby taken away). We named him Rusty.

I have to admit that, at 72 years of age, I had forgotten how much hard work puppies could be but we survived the holes being dug in the lawn, my hus-band’s book covers being chewed up, the desire to play as soon as sat down to watch the news, and the constant outings to get him house-trained.

He soon became “family” and ev-erywhere we went, Rusty went too. He quickly became wise to the fact that if he wagged his tail and smiled (yes smiled) at people they would pat him and tell him what a cute little guy he was. I’m not going to say he didn’t have his naughty moments all the same. Some of them

would make your hair curl, like the time he blatantly snatched a sandwich from the hand of a friend when we were out on a picnic and devoured it, leaving us with no option but to share what was left of our lunch.

We made lots of new friends because of Rusty and, as the years wore on and our hearing got worse, he became our ears and barked to let us know if the

doorbell or the telephone rang.My husband had to spend the last

six months of his life in The Lodge on Fourth in Ladysmith. Every day Rusty and I would visit him and we were al-lowed to attend the various social activi-ties as a family. Rusty brought a smile to so many faces. The Residents looked forward to seeing him and being able to pat him and feel his nice furry coat.

Rusty doesn’t hear the phone ring any more, nor the doorbell. He’s going on 16 years old and he’s wondering where his Dad is.

My husband passed away on Christmas Day but Rusty still goes to stand at the top of the stairs and waits for the door to open and his Dad will come home. I’m not ready to lose him yet but I know I have to prepare myself for the day when he eventually joins his Dad.

– Doreen Semmens

Letters to the Editor are welcome but subject to space and editing. Letters do not necessarily refl ect the opinion of TAKE 5. email [email protected], or post at www.take5.ca/

Rusty. Photo submitted


YPDG LookingYellow Point Drama Group explores

the comedy and pitfalls of middle-aged dating in Looking, Feb. 28 to Mar. 16

Looking is a laugh-out-loud look at love in the age before the Internet by Canadian playwright Norm Foster. Di-rected by Armando Dosantos, Looking stars Gordon MacInnis (Andy), Brian March (Matt), Moira Steele (Nina), and Barbara Metcalf (Val). Looking runs over three weekends on March 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16. There is a special dinner theatre presentation on Sat. March 9; the show follows three-course dinner (tick-

ets $35). On Saturday, March 16, tickets are $12 for a special matinee showing.Tickets are available at the door at Cedar Hall, 2388 Cedar Road, by calling 250 245-7516 or emailing [email protected] or www.yelloepoint.org.

Our townLadysmith Theatre is presenting Our

Town by Thornton Wilder.This endur-ing tale of small town life at the turn of the 20th century has been thrilling audi-ences for 75 years. At the heart of the story is the beautiful love that George and Emily share with the people of Gro-vers Corners. This unusual play is pre-sented without scenery. The actors skill-fully take the audience through a journey of the heart and imagination. March 21-April 7, 2013 www.ladysmiththeatre.com or 250-924-0658

Island Glass Art Show, SaleJoin the Island Glass Artists on March

30 for their third annual Spring 2013 Art Show and Sale in the Dodd Narrows Room, Vancouver Island Conference Centre. The show features the latest from 10 studios of the Island Glass Artists - outstanding Vancouver Island and Gulf Island artists who work in stained, kiln cast, fused, lampworked, sand-carved and furnace blown glass. Their array of work will range from functional to deco-rative and architectural applications: win-dow and door panels, lamps, jewellery, vessels, glass sculpture and much more. The studios represented are: Glaskrafter Art Glass, Cheeky Monkey Glassworks,

Redroom Art Glass, Kiln Art Glass Stu-dio, Anthony Jamieson Design Studio, 3 Herons Studio, Glassworks & Anvil Art, Illuminati Glassworks, LG Arts, Cedar Moon Glass Studio, Rhythms Artglass, Crawford Studios ….and friends.

“This show began last year with us looking for new ways to connect with the public,” explains Christopher Smith, a professional art glass creator in Nanaimo for 35 years. “We set the show up as an Arts Festival with the artists at their dis-plays. More than 400 visitors enjoyed our fall show, and urged us to do an en-core in the spring. Admission by dona-tion to the Loaves & Fishes Food Bank, and there will be a glass art Grand Prize draw valued at $500 drawn at the end of the show. See www.islandglassart.ca or e-mail [email protected]

(top left to right): Gordon MacInnis, Barbara Metcalf, Moira Steele, and Brian March in the Yellow Point Drama Group’s spring comedy “Looking”

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It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s WestJetBY ROB JOHNSON

On February 11th the Nanaimo Air-port Commission and WestJet jointly announced that WestJet will start fl ying daily direct fl ights between Nanaimo and Calgary. Nanaimo was selected as one of the two fi rst cities to be serviced by West Jets newly formed subsidiary, WestJet Encore. WestJet Encore, is a regional airline based in Calgary, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of WestJet. Flights are scheduled to begin on June 24th 2013 using a fl eet of Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s that WestJet will be tak-ing delivery in June. Flights will leave Calgary at 11am and arrive in Nanaimo an hour and 43 minutes later, while the return trip to Calgary will leave Nanaimo at 12:30pm. The announced prices based on Westjet's of fee of $79 each way will add up to $128 from Nanaimo and $141 from Calgary once all the other charges are applied.

This announcement is expected by many to lead to lower prices and bet-ter service, as it has been reported that Air Canada who also fl ies out of the

Nanaimo Terminal, has said that they are price competitive in all their mar-kets. Now with two major airlines fl ying out of Nanaimo it gives the public more choice and greater opportunity to fi t their fl ying plans.

Why is Calgary important as the fi rst destination for service from Nanaimo? Calgary serves as a hub offering passen-gers connecting fl ights to Southwestern Ontario, the Southwestern United States and Mexico, as well as servicing those passengers that just want to go just to Calgary. WestJets decision to come to Nanaimo will lead to greater tourism, increased investments and potentially more residential growth in the area.

At the offi cial announcement held in

the arrival area of the terminal, there was an overfl ow crowd of well wishers cheer-ing WestJest’s arrival. This supportive crowd was composed mostly members of Ladysmith and Nanaimo's City Coun-cils, our local MLAs, plus members and the executives of regional Chambers of Commerce’s along with members of the general public. This show of public support was appreciated by the repre-sentatives and management of WestJest Encore, that fl ew in for the welcoming celebrations.

Spirit Award winnersThe winners of the Spirit of Ladysmith

Community Awards presented by the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce were honoured on Feb 23 at The Aggie Hall.

The awards recognize achievement and leadership by individuals and orga-nizations for making an impact in and around Ladysmith.

Taking away the honours this year are: Business of the Year (1-5 employees) Uforik Computers, Business of the Year (6-20 employees) In The Bean Time, Business of the Year (21 +employees) Ricky’s All Day Grill. The Entrepreneur of the Year went to the well deserv-ing Janice Peters owner of Ladysmith Health Food Store & Step this Way.

This year’s Not-for-Profi t Organiza-tion went to Mid Isle Soccer Club

Service Employee of the Year (1-5 em-ployees) Paul Hamlyn at Bouma Meats, Service Employee of the Year (6-20) Colleen Wheeler- Chronicle, and Ser-vice Employee of the Year (21+) Natalie

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Short – 49th Parallel Grocery. The at-tendees gave the Volunteer of the Year Jack and Cora Maier a standing ovation. Youth of the Year is Cameron Manns. Congratulations to all the nominees and the volunteers who organized the event.

Local volunteer recognizedLadymsmith volunteer Kathy Holmes

is one of this year’s recipients of the B.C. Community Achievement Awards.

From the annual Home and Garden Show to Oktoberfest, Ladysmith Days, and the Waterfront Art Centre Kathy is a regular contributor. “Everyone in our family volunteered”, says Holmes.

Recipients of the awards will be recog-nized in a formal presentation at Govern-ment House in Victoria, March 14.

Girl Guide Cookie Drive-ThruIt’s that time of year again when Girl

Guides will be out in force selling their cookies. The 5th Annual Cookie Drive-Thru will be April 1, 10-4pm at the Wheatsheaf Field, 1865 Cedar Road. At the same time, they are holding a Food Drive in favour of the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank.

LSS Annual Fashion ShowThe Ladysmith Secondary School

Graduating Class of 2013 is hosting the traditional silent auction, bake sale and Fashion Show Fundraiser March 12 at 7pm. Students are putting on a live New York Style Fashion show that closely re-sembles Fashion Week.

The group has had generous support from the community. The amazing New York set was donated by the Chemai-nus Theatre Festival. Many individuals and business have donated items . Tick-ets are only $10 and can be picked up at LCU Insurance Agencies and TAKE 5 Publications. Tickets are now on sale and as in previous years they anticipate a sell out so get them soon.

Briana Parker modeling one of the prom dresses from Ladysmith Top Drawer Bou-tique that will be in the show.

Recipients of the Spirit of Ladysmith Community Awards presented by the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce were honoured on Feb 23 at The Aggie Hall. Photo: Nick Longo

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RDN - Area ABY ALEC MCPHERSON

In the early 1990’s, a recessionary pe-riod caused local politicians in many of the major cities to address the issue of how to provide affordable housing. Del-egations opposed to changes that would allow secondary suites lined-up in droves and complained about the adverse effects that would have on their property values. Cities such as Vancouver and Richmond pushed forward with zoning changes to accommodate secondary suites in the formerly single family units. As housing costs continued their rise and Canada endured another recession in mid-2002, more communities adopted the idea of secondary suites as a way of not only pro-viding more affordable housing but also

to allow owners to retain their homes in the tough economic times. The City of Nanaimo is an example of this progres-sion. With the continued ups and downs in the economy over the past fi ve years, the Regional District of Nanaimo has realized that this is not simply an issue confi ned to incorporated municipalities; rather, it also extends to the rural areas. The RDN’s 2010 Housing Action Plan had as its goal to increase the number and choice of affordable housing units. In January 2011, the RDN Board tasked staff with studying the issue of Second-ary Suites. In February 2012, the fi rst draft of the study was presented to the rural area Directors. In October 2012, a second draft study was brought forward for review. In the next month or so, the

public consultation phase will be imple-mented. I urge everyone to provide their input either by completing an online survey or attending one of the public in-formation meetings. Look for notices in your local newspaper as to where, when and how you can provide input. I will be interested in the level of interest in al-lowing secondary suites within the RDN and, in particular, Area ‘A’.

The issues surrounding secondary suites are many and varied. These in-clude provision for off-road parking, the maximum allowable size of the suite, concerns from residents about who will pay for any additional services used, en-suring that basic health, safety and build-ing standards are met and a variety of other issues. While these issues are more easily addressed in new construction, the reality is that many residences already contain a secondary suite. I was recently in a residence in a more affl uent area and brought up the topic of secondary suites. The owners smiled at each other and then said that they were the sixth house on their block and each of the fi ve homes before theirs had secondary suites. They said one wouldn’t know that there were suites in these homes if they weren’t, like them, home most of the day. Recog-nizing that secondary suites are a fact of life, I’m inclined to favour a policy that would allow those with secondary suites to come forward without fear of retribu-tion. If the suite conforms to building codes, safety and health regulations then it would be considered legal, conform-ing. For those suites in which some of these considerations are substandard, the owner need to upgrade to the safety requirements related to entry/exit points and fi re protection regulations. Over a period of time, these owners would have the opportunity to bring their suites up to a legal, conforming status. When the City of Nanaimo adopted a secondary suite policy, they provided a phase-in period for existing suites.

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CVRD - Area H BY MARY MARCOTTEE

Agriculture in the Cowichan ValleyOver the last couple of months, concrete actions in support

of sustainable agricultural production have taken place in this Valley. One of these actions is the second annual Island Agri-cultural Show, which was held on February 1st and 2nd 2013. This year the Show was sponsored by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Once again, the event was deemed to be a huge success.

Although the attendance records have not yet been fully calculated, it is estimated that the show attracted about 1,500 people from all over Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. These numbers include session participants, school children and the general public. Because most of the sessions were sold out in 2012, participants were encouraged to pre-register for this year’s event online. The registration process went much smoother in 2013 because of the great number of people who took advantage of online registration. And far fewer people were turned away because the sessions were full.

The Show hosted sixteen conference sessions over the two days. By far, the session on new taxation rules was the most requested forum; it sold out early. Other sessions included Water Management and Agriculture, Forecasting Weather on Vancouver Island, Selling Fresh Products into Retail Markets Island Feed Production, Getting the Most Out of Your Wood Lot and much more. The cost of each session was a very rea-sonable $15.00.

The Trade Show had sixty-fi ve booths, with everything from heavy equipment, to children’s toy tractors, to live chickens in motion. Daisy the Cow from Island Farms entertained the chil-dren; the children also had opportunities to dig in the soil and plant live seeds. Admission for the trade show was a reasonable $5.00 for adults while children were allowed in at no cost.

I wish to thank everyone who participated in the Show; the participants, the organizers and the Provincial Government at-tendees. The 2014 Islands Agriculture Show will be held dur-ing the fi rst week of February. I encourage you to check the website early. The show will, most assuredly, have sessions


that will interest you; to avoid disap-pointment, please register early.

Climate Action Initiative:In the fall of 2012 the Regional Ag-

ricultural Advisory Commission was requested to be a partner in the BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative. Other partners include the Agriculture Industry organizations & producers as well as the BC Minis-try of Agriculture. This initiative is one of three pilot projects on climate change and how it will affect the pro-duction of agricultural products. The Commission agreed that it was an is-sue of vital importance to farming, and agreed to participate. The proposal was to involve local farmers in understand-ing the potential impacts of climate change and to develop adaptation strat-egies to ensure agricultural sustainabil-ity in the Region.

A steering committee was formed, and proceeded to assist the facilita-tors in developing the necessary infor-mation to hold a workshop with local farmers. The fi rst workshop was held on December 5, 2012 and included a number of local producers from vari-ous sectors and areas, Ministry Staff, Local Government Staff and Regional Directors. The participants were pro-vided with scientifi c information and statistics, and small groups focused on assessing potential climate change im-pacts for agricultural production in the Cowichan Valley. The groups worked hard to identify, assess and prioritize the issues raised by the groups.

All of the information produced at the fi rst workshop was complied into categories and priorities and brought forward to the second workshop, which was held on February 12th. This work-shop focused on developing adapta-tion options and an action strategy to strengthen agricultural resilience in a changing climate. The participants were to build on the results of Workshop #1, and to develop actions for the issues raised. The action items included an-swering these questions on high priority items: “what needs to happen next?”, “how will it get done?” and “who will do it?” At the end of the session, the groups reported out on their discussion and solutions. All of this information will again be compiled. A written report on the action items is to be circulated to

the participants when the report is com-pleted. Again thanks to all who took the time out of their busy schedules to par-ticipate in these workshops.

The above mentioned activities are just two of the many ways that the Re-gion supports our agricultural industry. The farmers in this area are capable of supplying most of our nutritional needs, and are very worthy of our support. I en-courage you to buy fresh and buy local.

CVRD Area GBY MEL DOREY

Each year after the winter the road-ways begin to show signs of frost heaves and breakage. In some areas potholes form or the pavement cracks. Some of our roads are also 50, 60 or 70 years old as well where age is a factor in their decay. Originally some were made of good pavement and others were what we called, “cold mix.” The cold mix tends to break up more easily and was much cheaper to lay down. The cold mix was a mixture of gravel and tar that was laid on the roadway and spread evenly with a grader. The sun and the air would then be allowed to bake it into a hard surface.

All the roadways in Saltair come under jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in Nanaimo. Nathan Vanden Dungen is our highways area manager and he covers all the way up to Nanoose Bay. It is his responsibility to see that all the work on the roadways is carried out properly and the maintenance is done regularly. A pri-vate contractor called Emcon with their offi ce and maintenance yard located in Cedar actually does the work. They can be contacted at 250-722-9494 or their

Island Agricultural Show, Photo submitted

24 hr emergency number at 1-866-353-3136. They also do all the snow plowing in the winter.

Normally the roadways were put in when the land was originally de-veloped and the developer paid for the road. These developers were profi ting from the subdivision so they were made to put in the road-way like it was done on Clifcoe Road and Gait Road in Saltair. These Roads were of a high standard not like some of the earlier subdivi-sions done in the old days. These will be easy to maintain. For some

reason there are some road ends in Sal-tair that were never paved like Mountain View Road, Lytton Road and Shannon Road. They are a problem today with residents complaining about their con-dition. Personally I think it would have been cheaper to pave them rather than do all the maintenance yearly on them. The Ministry of Transportation has a limited budget to do these small jobs and some-times it is years before they get done or not done at all. But the public can make an application to have these road ends paved. Presently there is no budget for it.

Each of the roads in Saltair is rated ac-cording to their level of use and has a pri-ority. Chemainus Road is a primary road of the highest level and it must be kept to the highest standard. This includes snowplowing in the winter. Our second-ary roads include South Oyster School Road and Olsen Road. South Oyster is in good shape but Olsen is substandard for its use. We need to get some work done on it. It is too narrow near Princess Diana Park and there is a right of way is-sue to get it widened. All the other roads are tertiary and as a result get less snow-plowing. The roadways in Saltair are not the responsibility of the Cowichan Val-ley Regional District and you do not pay taxes to the regional district for this ser-vice. But because I get many reports on the roadways I usually report them to the Ministry of Transportation and I go for an annual ride with area manager once a year to make him aware of all the issues with our roads. It’s not my responsibility, but I do it because is easier and better for the people of Saltair.

Unlike the regional district the people in the Town of Ladysmith pay directly for their roadwork. The town responds

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directly to their complaints. There are exceptions where the Is-land highway going through Ladysmith is covered by the Min-istry of Transportation but Ladysmith covers the landscaping along the highway.

Our roadways will be affected this summer by upgrades being done to the Saltair Water System. New pipes will put under and crossing certain roads which have not been fi nalized yet.

I will soon be going for my annual ride with highways area manager and if you have any areas of concern you can email me at [email protected] or phone me at 250-245-2116 cell 250-510-5431 to get them on the list. I already have about a dozen points on my list. You can also contact Nathan Vanden Dungen, the area manager for highways, directly at 250-751-3249.


Best of the International Builders Show

Greg and Heidi Bianchini of GNB Builders attend the International Build-ers Show each year. Here are some of the of new products and technologies they discovered.

BY HEIDI BIANCHINIThe show is so big that in three days

there is no way to see and learn about it all. This year’s show was held in Las Vegas in January and after an eventful trip getting there, fog, airport change, security screening, baggage delays we (Greg and Heidi Bianchini and Kelsey Ann Smith) managed to enjoy the show.

Our favorite items:

Murphy Doors turns closet doors into exciting display cases as well provides access to hidden storage areas or even panic rooms. We were impressed with the ease of use with their pivoting hinge. One can purchase the entire unit or build their own bookshelf and purchase just the hardware. http://www.cshardware.com/#

Dog Bathing Center – GNB Builders commonly installs custom dog baths in custom homes. An excellent alternative to a custom bath is Forever Stainless Steel Dog Baths. They have thought of it all; stairs into the tub, built-in hair trap

drain system, rotatable platform systems which allows for an elevated platform for grooming. http://content.forever-stainlesssteel.com/

Harmony Paint - Formaldehyde Re-ducing Paint to help improve indoor air quality. Sherwin Williams is rolling out their new paint this spring which reduces the levels of these volatile organic com-pounds (VOCs) from potential sources like insulation, carpet, cabinets, fabrics, etc. Harmony paint has zero VOCs even when tinted and has odor eliminating technology so rooms stay fresher, lon-ger. If you are planning to paint you

should fi nd their website very helpful: http://www.sherwin-williams.com/hom-eowners/

Taco SmartPlus Hot Water Recircu-lation - This is a great energy and water saver! Do you fi nd yourself waiting for hot water? Waiting for hot water equates to wasting water. According the US de-partment of Energy, the average family of four wastes up to 12,000 gallons of water a year waiting for hot water. The SmartPlus circulator has two modes, pulse mode or smart mode. When set on pulse mode the circulator will run for 150 seconds every 10 minutes to main-tain hot water to all fi xtures. The smart

Above: Heidi and Greg Bianchini of GNB Builders attend the International Builders Show in Las Vegas

(r) Checking out the Murphy Doors

TAKE 5 take5.ca 21

mode will monitor and record the homes hot water usage pattern for the fi rst sev-en days and then proceed to cycle the pump on high usage times. This would be a great addition to homes in Ladys-mith – perhaps a town rebate should be established? Call you plumber today to start saving. http://www.taco-hvac.com/uploads/FileLibrary/100-97.pdf

Liftmaster MyQ technology Garage Door Opener – How many times have you left your home for the day and you begin to wonder if you remembered to close your garage door? With Liftmaster Internet Gateway System you can moni-tor and operate the garage door opener anywhere via an internet-enabled mobile device or computer. Custom apps for PC and Smartphones are available. With no annual activation fee this is a sure bet for our personal home. http://www.liftmas-ter.com/lmcv2/pages/productmodelde-tail.aspx?modelId=8186

Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylightby Velux – Impressive technology with a solar panel attached to the skylight that recharges a highly effi cient, fully concealed, battery powered operator and control system. No more long poles to open skylights; with a remote con-trol this unit requires no wiring which makes it easy and cost effective instal-lation. This unit even has an integrated rain sensor that will cause the skylight to close automatically. Velux promises no leaks with a warranty to back it www.veluxusa.com. Available at Slegg Lum-ber this spring.

Proslat wall solution made in Canada from 90% recycled materials garage or-ganization systems lets you customize your storage. Proslat is versatile as indi-vidual panels may be installed as a track, in a section or over an entire wall. Instal-lation is simple and the unique hidden screw design gives a professional fi nish. No need to pay for drywall as Proslat can be installed to studs. With a number of accessories such as hooks, baskets, racks pro-bins, and cabinets this is a great stor-age solution for any home. http://www.proslat.com

To fi nd out more check out our new website www.gnbbuilders.ca or for the latest news and information fi nd GNB Builders Inc on Facebook!


Saltair Garden ClubBY CAROL HENDERSON

The joys of gardening in our west coast location are innumerable, but with win-ters that are usually mild and wet and with summers that are often short and dry, challenges abound.

With the characteristic winter rains, nu-trients in the soil can become depleted. While forest giants thrive, some of our vegetable plantings fail to produce the desired results; for many, unripened or blighted tomatoes immediately come to mind. Their need for long, hot summer days cannot always be met. Diseases, insect pests and unwelcome wildlife can cause further frustration for those of us who strive for fresh produce and/

Diana Gould of the Ladysmith Saltair Garden Club. Opposite page: Saltair Garden plant sale

TAKE 5 take5.ca 23

or a beautiful ornamental garden. Learn-ing how to build healthy soil, extend the growing season and deter competitors is an ongoing quest for those of us who want to be responsible stewards while reaping the rewards of a well-planned garden.

Knowing what to plant in given condi-tions means careful reading of plant la-bels and following sowing instructions. Many of us have had to move or elimi-nate poorly located plants, or give up on those not suited to our gardening zone. In contrast, some plants grow too well! Whether accidentally planted or part of the original habitat, an invasive menace plant can present a takeover bid in a gar-den and eradication can seem like a never ending job. In pest and weed control, old methods and products are not always the best solution due to poisonous residues in soil, water and air. Much work has been done in fi nding more sustainable, earth friendly ways in which to have our food and eat it too.

Within our town some of us are gar-dening on rugged slopes, some have clay on poorly drained properties and others work with sandy soil, not to mention the rocks just under the surface. Landscaping and modifying the terrain is all part of creating a special environment. Amend-ing the soil is a prerequisite for most of us. Look for organic fertilizers with mi-cronutrients, build a compost pile and try building a “lasagna garden” bed.

Fortunately, for those of us without all the solutions, most gardeners love to share their experiences, enthusiasm and knowledge.

Regular meetings of The Ladysmith

Saltair Garden Club begin at 7:30pm in the United Church Hall on the third Thursday of most months. These pro-vide opportunities to ask questions, get advice, hear guest speakers and socialize with plantaholics. June, July and August gatherings are held in gardens.

Some members are pros, but many are just starting out. Newcomers from other areas often wonder how their previous experiences will apply when winter here rarely equals a long lasting blanket of snow and hard frosts. Trips, garden visits and social events round out the club year

and broaden our horizons. The club li-brary offers up books on many garden related topics.

The club’s annual Plant Sale, to be held on May 11th this year, is a great opportunity to buy reasonably priced seedlings and all categories of plant materials raised by our members and suited to our local climate. Line-ups are typically long when doors of the Unit-ed Church Hall open at 9a.m. Proceeds help fund an annual award presented to a local high school graduate. Our com-munity also benefi ts from the the keep-


ers of Queen’s Park, members of our club who keep that town property looking lovely year round. www.ladysmithsal-tairgradenclub.wordpress.com

Caring for your treesBY NORM WAGENAAR

I used to wonder what was so attractive about the Japanese art of bonsai, in which practitioners grow and prune miniature trees so that they look like tiny, perfect replicas of the real thing in nature.

But now, as a tree pruner in the middle of a busy season, I’m starting to understand.

There are many reasons why we might prune a tree. We may wish to stimulate larger fruit by thinning branches to let in more light and air. Or the tree might be growing too close to wires or driveway. Or maybe we have an ornamental plant that one of your trees is overshadowing.

But, at the end of the day, you still want your tree to look like a tree. And perhaps the best compliment you could give a tree pruning job is that you hadn’t really noticed anything was done.

There are folks who think otherwise. I have an ecologist friend who questions why any plant should be pruned when it’s already perfect. His point is more than phil-osophical. It is good landscaping practice to plant trees and shrubs in locations where they’ll have enough room to grow to their full size and form – and this means keeping them away from power lines, sidewalks, driveways and buildings.

Then there are some folks whose idea of pruning is to cut a tree back to little more than a stump. I fi nd this a particularly ugly practice, one which puts the tree under extraordinary stress. If you hate the tree that much, better to power up the chain-saw and get rid of it entirely.

Back to good pruning. Make sure your tools are sharp. Lopers should cut the branch cleanly, not crush it. Learn to

recognize what a tree or shrub ‘collar’ is, and make your cuts there. Cut branches where they join with other branches; don’t leave stubs which will die and pro-vide a gateway for disease.

When choosing branches to prune, start with those which are cracked, bro-ken, diseased, or touching other branch-es. There’s a saying, “prune light growth heavily, and heavy growth lightly.” This sounds purposefully obscure, like a Zen koan, but it makes sense. If you take out any more than a third of its canopy, you’ll stress the tree. It will respond by sending many suckers which will grow straight towards the heavens requiring even more pruning later on.

Another saying is that the test of a prop-erly pruned fruit tree is that you should be able to toss your hat through its middle. This is because many varieties of fruit trees, such as apples, are pruned into an open ‘vase’ shape when they’re young. Ongoing pruning involves keeping the centre of that vase open so light and air can get to the tops and backsides of the fruit.

Most important, I think, is to regu-larly take a break from your pruning to stand back and take in the overall impact of your work. It’s a little like bonsai, I reckon, but in full scale. At the end of the day, a tree should still look like a tree.

Follow Norm at www.naturescapes-nanaimo.com or www.naturescapes-nanaimo.com/blog/

Mason Bees5000 Mason bees need a home in

March as these little creatures are early pollinators. J & R Farm has the cocoon houses and all the information you will need. Call Rose at 250 754 8351. Join her in a talk about starting Mason Bees in your yard on Saturday March 2nd 10am to 12pm at Diana’s Garden Centre Nanaimo.

TAKE 5 take5.ca 25


New build in Old Town boasts legal suiteBY CINDY DAMPHOUSSE

Although this is not the fi rst legal suit e home in Ladysmith it is one of the fi rst houses to be built with a legal suite.

This is the second spec home for Pride Home Improvements, and building a legal suite home made good fi nancial sense, as fi rst time buyers need assis-tance in paying the mortgage.

“After seeing this lot go up for sale I knew that we had to build here.” Says Pride Home Improvements owner Doug McNeil

“This was one of the last lots in Old Ladysmith and it was the lot’s charm that drew us to this location.”

As the construction moved forward in the beginning some residents voiced concerns about a duplex be-

ing built, “This is not a duplex” as Doug pointed out. Once people knew that it wasn’t a duplex it was

accepted by the neighbourhood.The entire house stands at 2436 sq. ft.

on two levels. With skyrocketing energy

Doug McNeil owner of Pride Home Improvement standing in front of the home at 326 Warren. Front view of house with covered top deck and front covered entrance for rental suite. Both units have a attached garage. Photo: Cindy Damphousse

TAKE 5 take5.ca 27

costs the construction of the home takes advantage of energy effi cient build-ing practices. Using 2x6 framing at 24 inches on center, this makes for more effective insulation. A mini split heat pump, in line bath fans, gas fi replace, low e cubed windows with argon gas, fi -breglass doors and halogen lighting used in the construction are great alternatives to increased energy savings.

The primary living area is on the sec-ond fl oor. Just off the living room is a covered deck that takes in harbour views towards Salt Spring Island. Inside you can cozy up to the gas fi replace. The liv-ing room fl ows into the kitchen separated by sliding pocket doors.

The bright and sunny eat in kitchen with maple cabinets has a great deck har-bour views toward Page Point Marina.

Continuing along upstairs are four sky-lights that make the area light and bright. There’s lots of space with three good sized bedrooms, and two bathrooms with ceramic tile, a 5 ft. shower in the master en suite bath.

The secondary suite is located on the main fl oor with private separate en-

28

Top:Rear view of house with attached insulated garage for rental suite

Middle: View from front covered deck off 2nd fl oor with awesome harbour viewsPhotos: Cindy Damphousse

TAKE 5 take5.ca 29

trance. An inviting open concept kitchen that opens to the living area dominates the suite. This large unit has 2 bedrooms and 1 1/2 bathrooms. Sound proof insu-lation in the ceiling gives each unit pri-vacy. Both units come with an attached insulated single car garages.

Doug faced several home challenges. Just two days before excavation was to start and still waiting for permits, the building inspector told Doug that the home was six inches too big for the lot. It was back to the drawing board to change building plans by nine inches. Although winter weather also hampered construc-tion. The arrival of windows just three days before Christmas, plus a very tight concrete delivery schedule, meant the Pride Home Improvement team worked seamlessly to complete this project in a timely fashion.

This beautiful home is now for sale at $ 409,000 including net HST. With 25 % down and suite rental of $950 a month you can live in this home for $544 month (aprox mortgage payment).

“That’s a new home with ocean views, heat pump, 1480 sq ft etc not including down payment - now that is affordable,” says Doug. With a wide street, back al-ley access and excellent ocean views this home will not sit on the market long.

Pride Home Improvement would like to thank all the participating contractors that worked on this project.

Pride Home Improvements - General Contractor 250-245-2884

Rock City Insulation – Insulation – 250-729-5901

Mid Island Plumbing – Plumbing 250-739-1581

E& S Heating - Heating and Cooling – 250-924-0114

Aarsens Gutters – Eave troughs – 250-619-7691

McNeil Contracting – Excavating – 250-714-9125

Visit us on facebook/take5publications for more photos


How to recover from surgery at home

Let’s face it, we’re all getting older and parts are wearing out. In my case, thanks to a boyhood injury and 10,000 miles of hard running, a right hip needs a full re-placement. Some say, “Why stop there? Get your memory replaced while you’re at it. To them I say, “What did you say your name was?”

To insure a successful operation it is in-cumbent upon the victim (better make that patient.) to properly prepare for the up-coming surgery. This starts at the pre- hab clinic where a team of perky young phys-iotherapists employ considerable euphe-mism glossing over the fact that the tools employed by the surgeon are pretty much the same as those used on any demolition site: One large ball pin hammer, a butch-er’s assortment of saws, one come-along, two blocks and tackle, and fi nally one tube of quick acting carpenter’s glue should the patient make the mistake of screaming. (Just ask for Surgeon’s Lip Gloss.)

Next the patient is coached on how to prepare his home- based support system that being his wife, who will be drafted into a whole new area of servitude. A preemptive approach is recommended, a dozen roses and a box of chocolates up front, possibly a magnum of cham-pagne and don’t forget the sappy card. Most important however is a large bell for summoning purposes, and even more important, a shirt bearing the message, “For Better Or For Worse, Remember?”

An important part of your pre-hab ses-sion is a demonstration of exercises to promote quick recovery. This is a good time to fi t in a little nap because, being a man’s man, you will never do these exer-cises, mainly because it doesn’t involve a bicep or a pectoral, something you can fl ex at a sweetie on the beach. Only con-sider these exercises if you happen to be a librarian, double entry bookkeeper, or person of considerable intelligence, which lets me off the hook.

It’s not just the patient and care giver that need preparation, it is also the pa-tient’s home where he will be confi ned for six weeks or as long as it takes to drive his wife crazy. The preparations oddly enough begin in the bathroom, where one’s toilet seat is removed, which according to Home Depot is the simplest job in plumbing, that being a bald face lie, there being no easy job in plumbing.

The toilet seat needs removing to install armrests, the purpose of which is to make removal of your carcass an easier proposi-tion because, not having done your exercis-es, you will need all the help you can get.

For the job you will need a Phillips screwdriver and a six-pack of Band-

Aids, which a scarred and seasoned home repair guy would never travel without. It can not be over emphasized how important it is to fl ush the toilet be-fore beginning the job, simply because screwdrivers, like Acapulco cliff divers, love nothing better than plunging head fi rst into polluted waters.

Also in need of installation is a toilet seat extension, a mandatory piece of equipment for all those who fi nd abso-lutely no enjoyment having their loved one, or Fat Bob next door if she’s not home, yard you off the throne. Also rec-ommended, just in case Bob and your wife are not available, is a bathroom provisioned with adequate reading mate-rial, and of course light snacks while you await their return.

Those utilizing the extra tall toilet extensions should be informed the in-creased height and the effects of gravity can increase the speed of the projectile to the point where the installation of the optional splash guard, Red Cross part number 456-SPLASH, should be consid-ered. This convoluted set of baffl es will also be appreciated by burrito lovers and those addicted to foot long anything.

But back to removing the toilet seat. In the old days removing one was easy. Pop up the little covers and unscrew the bolts, which by now have all the struc-tural integrity of cream soup.

For some reason known only to the Home Depot Guy who sold it to us, we ended up with what’s known as a Soft Close Toilet Cover, a product designed to close with a kiss rather than a clank.

TAKE 5 take5.ca 31

A gentle push is all it takes to send one of these yuppie toilet seats descending to bowl-top with the grace of a hummingbird. Some guys stand back and go, “Groovy Dude, check it out!” Other’s take a picture of the action and post it on You Tube.

If you fall in the latter group, cancel your hip operation and stand instead in the line saying, “Full frontal Lobotomy, Please.” On your way back from the hospital stop at Home De-pot and pick up a new toilet seat cover as yours is now broken, thanks to someone trying to pry it up, rather than slide it off.

For pain medication, I recommend a delicious Spanish red, the Beso De Vino (Blue label), $12.99.

Delbert is the co-proprietor at Mahle House. Read more at Slightlycorkedandmore.wordpress.com


MARCH

1-2, 7pm, “Looking” Yellow Point Drama Group, 2388 Cedar Rd. 250-245-75162, 8am, Diggers Antique & Collectible Show, Chemainus Elementary School 250-746-77832, 10am, Mason Bee Cocoon Seminar, 2517 Bowen Rd. 250-754-83512, 7:30pm, “Oklahoma”, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St. 250-754-85503, 2pm, “Oklahoma”, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St. 250-754-85504, 4:45pm, Bingo, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-21114, 6pm, Kickboxing, North Cedar Intermediate School 250-722-22414, 7pm, Town of Ladysmith Council meeting, 410 Esplanade 250-245-64005, 6pm, Healing Pathway Group, Ladysmith First United, 232 High St. 250-245-21835, 6:30pm, Tim’s Free Swim, FJCC 810 6th Ave 5, 7pm, Gardening Seminar – Grow the Most Food in a Small Space, Eagles Hall 250-245-36405, 7pm, Open Badminton, North Cedar Intermediate School 250-722-22416, 7pm, Ladysmith Women’s Dragon Boat Info Meeting, LMS Welcome Centre 250-245-04747, 1:30pm, Fall Prevention, Home Safety, Gatekeeper Seminar, Eagles Hall 250-245-30798-9, 7pm, “Looking” Yellow Point Drama Group, 2388 Cedar Rd. 250-245-75168, 6pm, Women’s Clothing Swap, Vintage Rose 32 High St. 250-616-29628, 6:30pm, Whole Heart Health, upstairs at Legion 250-714-50449, 9:30am, Financial Savvy Workshop, St. Philip Church 250-722-34559, 1pm, Ladysmith Community Gardens AGM & Seed Exchange, 730 3rd Ave. 250-245-36409, 2pm, Woodstove Exchange Program Workshop, 1644 McMillan Rd. 250-390-65109, 7pm, Dance - The Esquires, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-21119, 7:30pm, Digging Roots, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St. 250-754-855010, 2am, Spring Forward! Daylight Savings Time clocks are set ahead one hour 10, 1pm, Dyslexia Information Seminar, 250-245-841210, 7:30pm, Terri Clark, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St. 250-754-855011, 4:45pm, Bingo, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre,

9824 Willow St. 250-246-211111, 6pm, Kickboxing, North Cedar Intermediate School 250-722-224112, 10am, 2012 Income Tax Intake, 630 2nd Ave. 250-245-307912, 10:30am, Sarah Hagen, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St. 250-754-855012, 7pm, LSS Fashion Show Grad Fund Raiser, LSS Auditorium12, 7pm, Gardening Seminar – Grow Food Sustainably, Eagles Hall 250-245-364012, 7pm, Open Badminton, North Cedar Intermediate School 250-722-224112, 7:30pm, Beatles vs Stones, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St. 250-754-855015, LaFF Outside morning of outdoor adventures, Brown Drive Park 250-210-087015, 2pm, Home Garden & Business Show, Aggie Hall, 1110 1st Ave. 250-245-211215, Cotton Club re-opens, 1975 Haslam Rd. 250-245-515715-16, 7pm, “Looking” Yellow Point Drama Group, 2388 Cedar Rd. 250-245-751616, 9:30am, Pancake Breakfast, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-211116, 10am, Home Garden & Business Show, Aggie Hall, 1110 1st Ave. 250-245-211216, 11am, Mason Bee Seminar, Kleijn Nurseries 250-754-448216, 7:30pm, Serenades for Spring, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St. 250-754-855017, Happy St. Patricks Day!17, 8:30am, Central Island Bird Club Auction, 1630 Wellington E. Nanaimo 250-753-246317, 10am, Learn to Read Tea Leaves Workshop, Vintage Rose 32 High St. 250-616-296217, 2pm, Krzysztof Jablonski Piano solo, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St. 250-754-855018-22 9am, Spring Break Activity Days, FJCC 250-245-642418, 1:30pm, The Nanaimo Hard of Hearing Group, Christ Community Church, Bowen Rd. 250-616-296218, 4:45pm, Bingo, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-211118, 6pm, Kickboxing, North Cedar Intermediate School 250-722-224118, 7pm, Town of Ladysmith Council meeting, 410 Esplanade 250-245-640018, 7pm, Simon Sinek, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St. 250-754-855018, 6pm, Kickboxing, North Cedar Intermediate School 250-722-224119, 6pm, Healing Pathway Group, Ladysmith First United 232 High St. 250-245-218319, 7pm, Open Badminton, North Cedar Intermediate School 250-722-224120, Ladysmith Chamber General Meeting, TBA 250-245-211220, 11:30am, Soup & Sandwich, Chemainus Seniors

Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-211121-31, Our Town, Ladysmith Little Theatre, 4985 Christie Rd. 250-924-065821, 7:30am, LDBA General Meeting, upstairs at Legion21, 7pm, Festival of Lights Annual General Meeting, FOL Building, 1163 4th Ave. 250-245-588823-24, 10am, Giant Wine & Beer Garage Sale,#15-1156 Rocky Creek Road Call 250-245-007723, 10am, Meditation Workshop, St. Peter Quamichan Duncan 250-710-317223, 7pm, Dance - The Esquires, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre, 9824 Willow St. 250-246-211123, 7:30pm, Alex & Cuba, Cowichan Theatre, 2687 James St. 250-748-752923, 7:30pm, Flamenco Rosario, The Port Theatre, 125 Front St. 250-754-855024, 8am, Palm Passion Sunday, St. John’s 314 Buller 250-245-551225, 4:45pm, Bingo, Chemainus Seniors Drop in Centre 9824 Willow St. 250-246-211125, 6pm, Kickboxing, North Cedar Intermediate School 250-722-224126-28, Communications Level 1, Western Marine Institute, 3519 Hallberg Rd. 250-245-445526, 7pm, Open Badminton, North Cedar Intermediate School 250-722-224126, 7pm, Adobe Camera Raw, Ladysmith Camera Club, Hardwick Hall 250-606-701128, 7pm, Ladysmith Search & Rescue AGM, classroom behind Ladysmith Fire Hall 250-245-872628, 7pm, Maundy Thursday Service, St. Philip Church 250-722-3455 28, 7:30pm, Maudy Thursday Celebration, St. John’s 314 Buller 250-245-5512 29, 12pm, Good Friday “Three Hours at the Cross”, St. Philip Church 250-722-3455 29, 3pm, Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, St. John’s 314 Buller 250-245-5512 29, 3pm, Good Friday “Self-Guided Journey to the Cross”, Calvary Baptist Church, 3318 River Rd. 30, 10:30am, Ladysmith Lions Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Transfer Beach 30, 11am, Island Glass Artists Spring 2013 Art Show and Sale, 80 Commercial St., Nanaimo 250-390-202330, 8pm, Easter Vigil, St. Philip Church 250-722-3455 30, 8pm, Easter Vigil, St. John’s 314 Buller 250-245-551231, 7am, Sunrise Service, Blue Heron Park - Yellowpoint Rd. 250-722-3455 31, 8am, Easter Sunday, St. John’s 314 Buller 250-245-5512

APRIL1-7, “Our Town”, Ladysmith Little Theatre, 4985 Christie Rd. 250-924-06581, 10am, 5th Annual Girl Guide Cookie Drive-Thru, , Wheatsheaf Field, 1865 Cedar Rd. 250-327-3449

www.take5.ca/events

CLASSIFIED ADSPAINT & 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, kindhearted, experienced and reliable care for all pets. Pet First Aid and CPR Certifi ed. Certifi ed 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

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 250-740-CATS (5287)

THE HAPPY GARDENER. Weeding, Digging, Cutting back (blackberries, etc), Tidying up, Miscellaneous Yard Work. Cheerful and Conscientious. Call David at 250-722-3599

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

LIGHTWORKS WINDOW WASHING. Careful and Conscientious. Call David at 250-722-3599

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, fi rst aid. Linda Stedfi eld 250-245-8647 [email protected]

ACCOUNTING SERVICES with 23 years experience, providing full accounting solutions to include payroll T4’s and CRA remittances. [email protected] 250-802-0048

AJ”s PLUMBING AND GAS -Licensed-Bonded-Insured. Service-Installations-Renovation -New construction. Quality workmanship. No travel charges. Free estimates. On time every time. 250-802-7123

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 [email protected]

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 fi nishing 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 fl ea market, 8am-3pm. 250-245-3829

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 250-245-8407

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

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, [email protected]

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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

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/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

SUPPORT LSS GRAD 2013 COMMITTEE New items are needed for a silent auction in March. Contact Loyola van Rooyen Buck at 250-245-5847 before March 10th NO ITEM IS TOO SMALL

BROKE BRIDES WEDDING CONSIGNMENT offi cially opens Feb. 28th! Visit www.brokebridesweddingconsignment.vpweb.ca for a peek and call Rita - 250-715-7611 to book your appointment today!

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

HALL RESERVATION ST PHILIP CEDAR. For 125 people, only $60 with kitchen & dishwasher; meeting room for 12 people, $20. Both freshly painted. 250-722-3455 or www.stphilipcedar.ca/our-facilities

GIANT GARAGE SALE of beer & wine making equipment on Sat Mar 23 & Sun Mar 24, 10am to 4pm at Art of Brewing #15-1156 Rocky Creek Road Call 250-245-0077 for details. All proceeds to the Ladysmith & District Marine Rescue Society.

GOT BEER & WINE MAKING EQUIPMENT taking up space & collecting dust? Donate it to Ladysmith Marine Rescue Society towards funds to purchase a new needed vessel for all of our benefi t Call 250-754-5051 for details.

RUBBISH REMOVAL - Fast service from your home to the dump. Strong young man with full sized pick up truck, Call Malcolm at 250-619-0595 for friendly service.

COMPUTER PRO -Mobile Certifi ed Technician for on-site computer repairs and service in your home or offi ce. $30 service call. Networks, printers and PC tuning. Senior’s Rate: $25. 250-802-1187computerpronanaimo.com

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. [email protected]

CERTIFIED R.C.A. /22 years experience, affordable, reliable, trusted and personalized care. Available for personal care, respite and palliative care, housekeeping, meal preparation, errands, appointments, etc. Call Sheila 250-924-2273

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 250-246-8953

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 [email protected]

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Documents

Take 5 Newsmagazine March 2013