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Letters Shots for Kids 2020 cancelled It is with great sadness that we will not be hosting our annual Shots for Kids Juvenile Diabetes Fundraiser Tournament at Cottonwood Golf Course this year. Way back in March when this all started to go sideways we had marked a date in September with hopes that we would be able to move forward. But given the current situation in British Columbia, and Canada as a whole, and the current guidelines imposed on us from our Provincial Health Authorities we will have to do the right thing for the safety of our guests, sta and the community and move forward looking and hoping that we can return to our regular date in May 2021. We know some of you were very eager and even went so far as to donate or purchase sponsorship packages already for this year. We will of course carry over all donations and sponsors to 2021, but understand if you need a refund of these monies. Please contact myself directly with any refund requests or questions and thank you for your continued support. - Trent Kaese, General Manager & Owner Cottonwood Golf Course Letters to the editor on community topics and concerns are welcomed. Please email editor@take5.ca or fax: 250-245-7099 or PO Box 59, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A1.
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Community comes out to thank Mary Marcotte Seldom does a retiring local politician see such an impressive show of appreciation. Starting at 10:30 on Sunday, 23 of August, over 115 people, 50 vehicles, 5 fire trucks, 2 tractors and one cyclist paraded past long-serving CVRD District H Director Mary Marcotte. After 25 years of service to her community, Marcotte retired from her position as Director in October 2019 for health reasons. A byelection later this Fall will determine her replacement. “Her love of community has been inspirational for all of us,” said Ben Maartman one of the organizers. “And that’s why we are here to tell Mary how special she is as well as her family.” The Drive-By Celebration began as a caravan at the North Oyster Community Center on Cedar Road and made its way to Yellow Point Park where Mary and her family waited beside the road to greet and talk to her well-wishers. “I’ve been so happy with the stewardship she has given to the neighbourhood,” said Richard Hill of Yellow Point Lodge. The caravan was led by five fire trucks from the North Oyster Fire Department, whose new facility had been championed by Mary as Area H Director. With Covid-19 restrictions being observed, people called out from their ve-
Mary Marcotte with members of the North Oyster Volunteer Fire Department. The community came out to thank Mary for 25 years of service as CVRD Area H Director. Photo: Nick Longo
hicles, waved, and got out to speak to Mary through a microphone. A member of the NOFD read a moving tribute to Mary, thanking her for years of support to the volunteer fire department and the overall well-being of the district. (Area H encompasses Yellow Point, the Diamond, and part of Cedar.) Mary was accompanied by her husband Barry, son Tony, son John and daughter-in-law Sherry. The event was a moving celebration and recognition of Mary’s countless contributions. In the short speeches, there was widespread recognition that Mary’s strong leadership and vision had made a lasting difference to the CedarYellow Point-Diamond communities. Many of those present expressed gratitude for living in such a beautiful, safe, and welcoming part of the world. And
they gave credit where credit was due. “There’s something about Mary Marcotte and we can’t thank her enough.” By 11:30, with greetings and statements of appreciation winding down, people took their leave with an impressive caravan of fire trucks close behind. Mary’s legacy will never be forgotten. Mary championed for the new NOVFD, the North Oyster community, and the Cowichan Regional District. “You don’t always get it right but you don’t always get it wrong,”said Mary. For many there will always be a special place in their hearts for all the hard work that she’s done. Event was planned by the Mary Marcotte Appreciation Committee: Ben Maartman, Kelly Daniels, Guy Dauncy, Pamela Walker, Ross Shepherd, and Marshall Soules.
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Ladysmith’s first bike trails The Brown Drive Park Bike section is complete thanks to Ladysmith Parks, Recreation and Culture, local service clubs (Rotary, Kinsmen and Lions Club) and many volunteer hours, especially from our local youth. The project highlights a partnership between the Town of Ladysmith and the Cowichan Trails Stewardship Society (CTSS) – Ladysmith Chapter to provide safe and inclusive bike trails for youth of all ages and abilities. “This is a family friendly bike trail section of the park that gives participants, especially youth, a chance to get outdoors and work on their bike skills in a safe and local environment,” said Rich Huggins, vice president of CTSSLadysmith. Town staff and a team of CTSS-Ladysmith volunteers, as well as professional mountain biker Ace Hayden, started the initial heavy lifting on August 21,, roughing in new flow trails and jump features. Youth and parent volunteers then arrived the next day to complete this initial phase of the trail work and a pump
Volunteers building a bike trail at Brown Drive Park. Photo: Town of Ladysmith
track–working alongside CTSS-Ladysmith Chapter volunteers who provided guidance on building the trails and features to International Mountain Bicycling Association standards .An official grand opening for the new Brown Drive Park Recreational Bike Trails will take
place in the near future. In the interim, temporary signage has been installed at the entrance to the wooded area as well as the trailhead. “Unfortunately these trails will not hold up to motorized vehicles and we would hate to see all this hard work go
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to waste,” says Huggins. “As for hikers and dog walkers, please be aware that youth come down the trails at a decent click. We also ask that people not walk on the jumps and berms and respect the signage (one way traffic) for everyone’s safety.” Ladysmith Council approved a multi-phased plan for the site which will be completed in the coming months, and as funding becomes available. A portion of this work will form part of the CTSS-Ladysmith Chapter’s Youth Trail Building workshop in the fall supported through a Town of Ladysmith Grant in Aid.
A cloud of Lotus Members of the Lotus Car Club of BC visited fellow Lotus car enthusiast Bill Rathlef at his Yellow Point home. This was an Island staycation tour event of the club with a stop over and BBQ on Aug 15. A total of 15 Lotus cars representing over 60 years of various models attended. Photo: Janet Rathlef
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Ladysmith Fire/Rescue encourages public awareness of wildfire risk Ladysmith Fire/Rescue (LFR) is encouraging the public to be prepared at home as hot and dry weather conditions increase the threat of possible wildfires in our area. LFR has responded to multiple calls for bush fires in the past month. These fires were contained due to a rapid response but had the potential to affect the community. With the exception of fires resulting from a lightning storm, all of these incidents were determined to be human-caused. Knowing how to protect against the threat of a wildfire starts with knowing how to prevent one. “We live in a beautiful rainforest on Vancouver Island. Thick forest has its beauty, but during this time of year it also has its risks,” said Ladysmith Fire Chief Chris Geiger. “Dry forest is an excellent fuel source, and can very quickly become problematic for us. Whether by intent or by accident, the outcome is the same, and poses a risk to all of us.” The emergency call for a bush fire near Christie Falls was also an opportunity for LFR to implement skills from its recent wildland-urban interface training exercise. This training included participation from an official representing both the Office of the Fire Commissioner and BC Wildfire Service. Please continue to watch for and report any fires you may see to 1 800 663-5555 or *5555 on cell phones. FireSmart is the recognized authority on mitigating wildland fire risk. Visit www.firesmartbc.ca or www. firesmartcanada. ca
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Rotary Club Meetings and Fundraising in the Age of COVID BY GERRY BELTGENS The Rotary Club of Ladysmith has always favoured face-to-face meetings and events. Fundraisers are usually programs that include speakers or music and an audience. Of course, COVID-19 has changed all of that. Event after event have been cancelled. We soon realized that face-to-face meetings and events were not going to happen in the foreseeable future. After some initial resistance, the club pivoted to weekly Zoom meetings. Attendance was low at first; many of our members are not big fans of technology. The first meetings were understandably frustrating for some and entertaining for others, as members struggled to log on, left their mics on as the dog howled in the background. Our club held its installation via Zoom in June. This is our 50th anniversary as a club in Ladysmith, and it was well attended by members, guests and even Rotary District royalty, including outgoing and incoming DGs and
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ADGs. Our incoming President Eileen Beltgens (the author’s wife and partner) gave an address that acknowledged that we are “people of action.” She committed herself and the club to stay engaged, address community needs and work through the challenges to become a stronger club and build community relationships. We were not going to be let off the hook just because the pandemic had changed the world as we knew it. And we were still going to celebrate our 50th anniversary in style. Concerns about fundraising were raised early and often. We set up a fundraising committee with the mandate to explore ways of either adapting existing events or creating new ones. First out of the gate was a series of bottle drives. We booked the Ladysmith & District Credit Union parking lot for two months for every other Sunday. We raised over $800 on our first Sunday and had a lot of fun. Our next fundraiser is our annual golf tournament, held with our partner club in Chemainus. Other events in the works include a cooperative garage sale,
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a “shredding day” this fall and we are reviewing the possibility of holding an online auction. Our club applies to the BC Gaming Corporation annually for funds for other dedicated projects, and we work with the Mid Island Group for our ongoing projects in Guatemala. This year Disaster Aid Canada held an appeal and raised over $13,000 that was distributed to the Guatemalan villagers for food and COVID-19 relief through our club and two others. So while we recognize the challenges of the pandemic, we have adapted, and we expect that even though it will be a different year, it will still be a successful year and we will continue to be “people of action” in our community and abroad.
Skye Alexandra Skagfeld’s solo show at St Joseph’s Artist Studios and Gallery Cap off summer and see what is happening at St. Joseph’s. The former elementary school is now a professional artist studio space and gallery. The Gallery at St Joseph’s Artist Studios is hosting local emerging artist, Skye Alexandra Skagfeld, in her solo exhibi-
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tion: Euclid Elemental. This series of abstract acrylic paintings are colourful, contemplative, and showcase her unique abstract style which is as intriguing as it is appealing. Skye has been annually exhibiting her work on the Equinox in intimate residential showings but is now providing the opportunity for a public viewing. The show runs September 23 to 30. Hours are 5pm – 8pm on weekdays and 12-2 on Saturday and Sunday. For more info email SkyeSkagfeld@ hotmail.com Ladysmith Air Cadets participants at Survivor's Camp one of the many training opportunities available. The program is open to area youth from 12 to 18 years. To register or for more informaton on the program email ladysmithaircadets@ yahoo.ca or call Tony at 250-668-2838 Photo submitted.
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Skye Alexandra Skagfeld’s solo show
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A Year for Disease! The year 2020 will go down in history as the year of COVID-19, and it will also go down in my books as one of the worst years for disease in the food garden. The gardening year started well enough, an early start in a mild April, followed by lots of rain to keep the garden growing lushly. Now we are paying the price for that prolonged period of rain in the form of endless plant diseases. It began with the discovery of club root on the cauliflowers’ roots. Fortunately, it was only after the harvest of large white heads of cauliflower that the roots were discovered to have formed gnarly club root fingers. We chopped off the roots (sent to the burn pile!) and solarized the greens in black plastic bags left lying in the sun. Anything to prevent those spores from spreading! Club root is a common disease of Brassicas, affecting cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli and brussels sprouts. Its spores can be spread easily, and it persists in dormancy for years. This means unless you nip the problem in the bud, you will not be able to grow Brassicas, host plants for club root, in your garden. I hope that by early detection and careful sanitation of footwear and tools, we will be able to nip club root in the bud. Two other ways to counter this problem are to adjust the soil pH to 7.2 or slightly above, as this fungal disease only thrives in acidic soils. You can do this by adding dolomite lime to the garden soil. Solarizing the soil in the heat of summer under black landscape fabric works, as the soil heats up and destroys the fungal spores. Removing and destroying all infected material is a good idea when it comes to fungal diseases. It continued on into the tomato patch, where we had over twenty varieties of heritage tomatoes planted in long wellstaked rows, growing through heat-trap-
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Plums exhibiting brown rot. Photo submitted.
ping black landscape fabric, with drip tape irrigation laid down at the roots. The perfect set up for tomatoes, and no weeding needed because of the landscape barrier. I spotted it first on the “Gardeners delight” vine, brown patches on the main stalks, a giveaway to the blight’s presence. Early blight is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani, which favours prolonged wet conditions, just as we had this spring. It affects the stems, leaves and fruits, which discolour to brown, and though the plants may not die, they will be weakened and set less fruit. We decided to strip all the affected leaves and fruits off the plants and remove all the lower leaves to open up air flow throughout the patch. We did this three times in all until we saw that the spread had abated and the plants had perked up and gone on to set fruit, so all was not lost. Thankfully, early blight spreads more slowly than late blight because that could have blackened our tomato plants in a week. Next year, we’ll need a new tomato patch. Our three 50-foot rows of onions were victims to downy mildew, a disease that can kill plants rapidly. The battle was on and many hours were spent trimming off fuzzy infected leaves, hoping to stop the spread and save the developing onions. We prayed that the weather would warm up, as mildew thrives and spreads in cool humid weather and stop when it is warm and dry. In the end, the battle was lost, and we pulled up all the baby onions. We then covered the onion beds with landscape fabric to solarize the fungal spores, but we will not be able to grow onions in these beds for years to come. The Italian plum tree, branches loaded with plums in spring, promised jars of plum jam and pies galore. That was until brown rot hit the tree; this is when the tree has done a massive fruit thinning
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and drop and the remaining plums have started to rot and shrivel up, leaving only the pit attached to the tree. I guess this was our fault as we procrastinated last year on whether to give the tree a hard pruning and waited one year too long. Trees need to be pruned for good air circulation. Now our job is to pick up and remove all the fallen fruit, spray the tree with a sulphur fungicide and give the tree a good haircut for next year’s harvest. This year, I have been practising my mantra “to prevent disease remove disease,” and I hope that with timely intervention, we can stop the spread of fungal diseases in the garden in future. Carolyn Herriot is author of The Zero Mile Diet, A Year Round Guide to Growing Organic Food and The Zero Mile Diet Cookbook, Seasonal Recipes for Delicious Homegrown Food (Harbour Publishing) available at your local bookstore.
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Yellow Bicycles Blossom in the Boonies BY PAMELA WALKER Brightly coloured yellow bicycles started appearing on Yellow Point Road and Cedar Road early last month. Social media was quick to spring into action with comments, such as, “I gotta ask. What’s with all the yellow bicycles?” Replies ensued, ranging from an art project to the promotion of an annual bike race to a “pant and paddle” race. Most agreed they were “pretty cute.” A few said their kids had a great time trying to spot them all along the circular route. Many, however, guessed it right: The yellow bicycles are a ploy to get people Andreanna Joe checks out the Yellow Bikes appearing in Yellow Point. Photo: Marina Sacht
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talking about the idea of having a multi-purpose off road path around the Yellow Point and Cedar area with offshoots to Duke Point Ferry at one end, and the Nanaimo Airport bus stop to the Park and Ride at South Cedar Road, on the other. People were also quick to respond to the proposed trail with concens. If it was about a bike path, then who would pay for it? Would people give up have to their land? Would the bicycles and the path be used by thieves to make fast getaways? Most people, however, seemed to agree the roads are dangerous for anyone who is cycling, riding horseback, pushing their toddlers in a stroller or merely walking to their neighbour’s. Drivers are speeding, there are many blind corners and some places lack adequate shoulders. The yellow bicycles and the idea of a Yellow Point Trail is the brainchild of the Yellow Point Ecological Society (YES). Wouldn’t it be wonderful, someone said at a meeting, if we were to have a dedicated path around the area that would make it safer for those who want to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Somebody else got on the phone, and we started making enquiries. To date, YES has received endorsement letters from Paul Manly MP, Doug Routley
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MLA, the directors for RDN Area A and CVRD Area H and the Chamber of Commerce. They have also joined the BC Cycling Coalition, consulted with an engineering firm and spoken with folks at the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. It turns out there is a lot of interest — and money — for what the provincial government calls Active Transportation Infrastructure. The truth is that governments at all levels have realized roads and highways are not the bee’s knees they once were. Driving makes for an overweight population who have to breathe polluted air. It is also very dangerous for wildlife. The COVID pandemic has taught us that getting out into nature is healthy. And fun. Bicycle riding has become so popular, in fact, that it is difficult to get bike parts and nearly impossible to find fancy bike outfits. People are realizing that they want somewhere safe to ride. And to walk to school. And to ride their horse. And hop on a mobility scooter. And walk the dog. The provincial government has responded by creating a comprehensive
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design guide for paths, by allocating money for projects and by encouraging city planners to think more carefully before paving more paradise without thinking first about pedestrians and peddlers. So, could the CVRD and the RDN get some of that money? The folks at YES think it’s possible. Nanaimo just received $500,000 towards the Metral Drive Active Transportation route. North Cowichan got almost $300,000, and Salt Spring Island received $490.000. (https://news.gov.bc.ca/ releases/2020TRAN0089-001145) Of course, it will take all of us to make it happen. YES thinks we need to support it in ways that don’t include digging into our own pockets. As a young man on a recent YES Zoom call suggested, “If you go to referendum and ask people if they want their taxes to go up, you won’t get the support. But if you don’t have to do that, I think we have a chance.” Let’s hope we do. To get involved or for more information, contact YES at yellowpointecologicalsociety.ca or call Pamela Walker at 250 245-9155.
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RDN Area A Cedar After the column on open fires on beaches was published in the July issue of TAKE 5, I received an email from a community member pointing out that I had overlooked the obvious points about smoke from open fires and its potential effects on air quality and human health at a time when respiratory viral infections were so much in the news. The provincial Ministry of Environment did send out a notice in late March 2020 outlining the possibility for air pollution to increase susceptibility to respiratory viral infections by decreasing the immune function. The ministry made a connection between deterioration of air quality and an increase in COVIDrelated infections and in the severity of those infections. It also predicted that improvements to air quality would help to protect the whole population from COVID-19 and its potentially severe effects. You may recall that the ministry issued open burning restrictions for many zones across the province to help alleviate potential complications with COVID. The broader discussion, then, is about restricting open fires anywhere that there are people living near one another to improve overall air quality and personal health. While beach fires are mostly wood burning, there are people who burn scrap wood, yard waste and other combustible material on a regular basis. In some cases, the air quality around these fires may be noticeably compromised by the products being burned. People living in Area A have complained to me in the past about their neighbours burning trash and the noxious smoke and odours that drift into their properties. Where do you stand on backyard burning? Have you dealt with smoke from a neighbour? Or have you created a fire that may have bothered those living around you? I would like to hear from residents on their experiences with open
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burning. Are you happy with the current situation? Is there a need to regulate open fires or is it time for a complete ban on open burning? Let me know your opinions and thoughts, and I will report back to you about what the community said about this issue. You can send your comments to me at keith.wilson@rdn.bc.ca.
CVRD Area H North Oyster/Diamond Thank you, Mary Marcotte! On August 23, the Area H Community and others did a celebratory drive-by to thank Mary for her 25 years as our Regional Drector. I would like to recognize the contribution that Mary made to the community and beyond, including her time on the AVICC board. I think it is important to also thank Barry Marcotte and the rest of Mary’s family, as time spent on Area H and other governmental issues is time away from family. Thank you to all in the Marcotte family. Board Activities August is traditionally a “no-meeting” month for the CVRD directors. On September 2, 2020, the Electoral Area directors are back at it with the Electoral Area Services Committee meeting, and then on September 9, the full board will be hard at it with multiple meetings that day. Watch for the posting of agendas on the Friday prior to the meeting date at https://cvrd.primegov.com/portal/#/. Area H Community Parks and Trails Input As a result of last month’s column, I have received input on what people like and dislike about the Area H Parks and Trails. It was not a surprise that people liked the more developed parks Blue Heron and Elliot’s Beach. The access to the ocean/beach was what drew them to use the parks. There was some concern
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regarding limited parking at Blue Heron on a busy day. Possibly alternative transportation modes, such as multi use trails, could help address this as people may be more comfortable getting there by bicycle or walking. Yellow Point Park is a park enjoyed by many. The trails are a highlight although the limited access for equestrians is a concern. As mentioned previously staff at the CVRD are looking at future budgets to rectify the limitations of horse crossings in the park. I did receive inquires as to where Christie Road Park and Oriosi Park are. They are in the Diamond area off Christie and Arroyo Roads, respectively. You can see the mapping on the CVRD website at www.cvrd.bc.ca/2025/Maps-GIS. Click on “Web Map” and zoom into Area H to locate the parks. On the subject of trails, the Yellow Point Ecological Society is “testing the waters” regarding a project to build a safe pedestrian and cycling trail on Yellow Point Road and Cedar Road tying into similar trails in Area A of the RDN. It would require government grants from other levels of government (provincial/ federal) as well as interjurisdictional cooperation. This concept is at the early stages, but conceptually, I believe in the separation of vehicles and other users if possible. There are no funds in the Area H budget for such an initiative, so it will require creative fund raising to achieve this goal. Keep up to date through www. yellowpointecologicalsociety.ca. Area H By-election As you are aware, the Province put any local government by-elections on hold due the COVID-19 pandemic. The concern of the government was that “The nature of by-elections and assent votes traditionally requires many in-person ‘high touch point’ – interactions that can increase the transmission risks of COVID-19 and put electors and election officials at some level of risk.” The provincial government, in consul-
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tation with provincial health officials, has developed guidelines for conducting by-elections, and therefore, by-elections can now proceed. I expect the CVRD board to be considering setting the critical dates for the Area H by-election at a meeting in September. Once a chief elections officer is appointed, the by-election will occur sometime within the following 80 days. I have been performing the duties as the alternate director for the past year, and to date, it has generally been a positive experience. It is an honour to step up to follow the legacy of Mary Marcotte and to help Area H retain its rural nature. I certainly have been welcomed by the other members of the CVRD board and more specifically the other Electoral Area directors. I have shared my years of local government experience and knowledge in assisting the directors in making decisions at the board/ committee table, as well as re-activating the Area H APC and Parks Commission. I would like to specifically thank the current Vice Chair, Ian Morrison (Area F), Director Lynne Smith (Area G) and Director Mike Wilson (Are C) for their welcoming nature and policy discussions. Enjoy the summer. Colin.Haime@cvrd.bc.ca 250-616-3986
CVRD Area G Saltair/Gulf Islands Here we are on the doorstep of fall. Our vocabulary has changed over the past five and a half months. Our summer vacations have turned into Plan A, B or C. Gary Record, who has been the go-to egg man in Saltair (Record Eggs) for the past 10 years, has retired. Thanks to Gary, we have had access to fresh eggs and great chicken manure for our Texas tea garden mix. “Why did the chicken cross the road?” I’m sure Gary has the answer. Happy retirement Gary. Saltair Water System Filtration System On August 28, 2015, Island Health amended the Saltair Water System operating permit to include the installation of a filtration system by January 31, 2018, to meet drinking water regulations. Here we are, in September 2020, and no filtration system has been installed. In June 2020, I asked the CVRD board to write a letter to Island Health requesting reconsideration of the CVRD staff March 5, 2020, CVRD pre-COVID 19 proposed timeline. After receiving the letter, Island Health requested a teleconference. A new timeline has now been submitted by the CVRD Water Department to Island Health. Due to the Island Health Water Contravention Order, there is a need to move forward with a loan authorization by the community. The loan amount is a pre-authorization for the full capital cost of a filtration system. If the full amount is not required, the amount actually borrowed will be less. If the CVRD receives a grant for the system, the amount borrowed will be the
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amount not covered by the grant. In September, the CVRD will start a 60-day public information/consultation period. Because of COVID-19, a Communications Engagement Plan is being prepared that will likely include letters to all Saltair Water System customers, virtual public meetings and public Town Hall meetings that follow BC Health regulations. Details will be provided at a later date. Saltair Water System Treatment Grant application On February 27, 2020, the CVRD applied for funding under the Green Infrastructure (Quality Sub-Stream) grant. We are expecting a provincial decision in October. Saltair Water Distribution Upgrades Because the filtration system installation has not met our operating permit timeline, Island Health is withholding all work permits for our water distribution system upgrades. The taxation funds that have been collected are being held in reserve. In 2012, the phased approach of contributing $300,000 per year for distribution upgrades might have been the apparent solution for addressing the multiple breaks and repair costs at that time. Now, seven years later, about $1.8 million has been invested in the system. Unfortunately, bids have been coming in higher than anticipated because contractors were busy with larger projects. In 2012, it was thought the phased approach would allow the CVRD to apply for and receive grants. This has not happened. In my opinion, as a community, we need to revisit our distribution system upgrade plans and funding. We might want to consider putting these upgrades on hold until we have had time to fully explore our options and use a portion of the $300,000 for the filtration system. Saltair Water Advisory Committee volunteers have assisted me in studying documents, reports and emails from the CVRD Water Department and Island Health. The committee’s work has produced lists of questions for the CVRD staff about the filtration project, the filtration methods being considered, what we need to meet the drinking water regulations/guidelines, and the projected costs for capital, operations/maintenance and replacement costs over the lifespan of the project. CVRD Housing Needs Assessment Engagement “As of April 2019, local governments are provincially required to develop and publish housing needs reports” (www. cvrd.bc.ca/3291/Housing-Needs-Assessment). This is not part of the Harmonized/Modernization Official Community Plan process. The Placespeak.ca online questionnaire will be open to all CVRD residents from September 1 to 30, 2020. Saltair Centennial Park Revitalization Survey Summary You can find the Saltair Centennial Park Revitalization Survey summary at www.saltairnews.ca/2020/08/04/saltair-centennial-park-revitalization-surveys/ lynne.smith@cvrd.bc.ca or 250-701-1407, saltairnews.ca.
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Creatures of the Night BY SASHA MARK I see movement out of the corner of my eye. In the twilight, I can just make out two webbed wings fluttering back and forth in a frenzy towards me. It’s moving fast, dodging invisible obstacles, headed right for where I’m sitting on the dock at Wildwood Ecoforest. At the last second, it swoops to the right, misses my knee by inches and devours an insect flying above the water. I sit back in my chair and relax into the calm of dusk on the water. I’m watching the bats dance across the evening sky in a feeding frenzy. I trust that they won’t hit me; their ability to navigate in the dark
There are many myths about bats. Little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) are great pest control. Photo submitted.
is awe inspiring. There are many myths about bats — most of which started because people don’t know that much about them. They’re active at night when we’re asleep. They hunt in the dark using echolocation to track their prey with deadly accuracy. Little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), the species that roosts in the orchard at Wildwood, can eat up to 1000 insects in one hour. They are great pest control! There are also big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), long-legged
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myotis (Myotis volans) and California myotis (Myotis californicus) swooping across the lake at Wildwood. Bats are a bit of a mystery in some ways, even to scientists, but what we do know is fascinating. For starters, they are the only mammal that can fly (flying squirrels glide). There isn’t a lot of data on bat populations in BC, so at Wildwood, we are keeping track of the little brown bat colony. Earlier this year, volunteers conducted a bat count at Wildwood to see how the colony is doing. In 2018, the bats were relocated from the attic of the homestead to bat boxes placed on the side of the building and in the orchard nearby. These are used as a maternity roost, where hundreds of moms come together and have their pups, staying safe and warm until it’s time for them to fledge. In June, volunteers counted 357 little brown bats. More recently, in August, the count was down to 151. They had also moved from the two bat boxes on the side of the homestead to the two orchard bat boxes. Biologist Trudy Chatwin, who led the bat count, thinks the homestead boxes got too hot in the summer, so they relocated to the cooler orchard boxes. The drop in numbers may be because the pups have fledged and left to find their own habitat. At Wildwood, there are no shortage of places for bats to live. The giant old growth Douglas-fir trees have thick furrowed bark that bats can hide under and roost. Thanks to Merv’s philosophy of keeping the ecosystem whole, there are also plenty of hollow snags or “wildlife trees” for bats to call home. Bats are an important part of a healthy forest ecosystem, and we are glad they’ve decided to stay. For more information on bats of BC, visit www.bcbats.ca/.
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All decked out! If you drive into Ladysmith you cannot miss the uber-sized deck that is shared between Zack’s and Appetit Foods. Dining outside is nothing new, but COVID-19 has sent diners looking for more outdoor options, and local restaurants are responding by beefing up their patios, and decks, and offering Al Fresco dining in style. Maya Norte offers flavourful Mexican cuisine inside or outdoors in their beautiful yard. A variety of seating configu-
rations can accommodate most groups and still be physically distance. Plantitude has seating indoors, tables in front plus an outdoor deck along the side. Retro lighting, shrubberies and herbs make this a hidden oasis where you can enjoy fresh vegan entrees. Try their artichoke cakes, simply delicious. The Mahle House is known for its gardens. Now diners can appreciate fine
dining inside or outside. Ma Masion in Saltair serves breakfast and lunch farm to table style, takes advantage of their mature gardens for indoor or outdoor dining with a pet-friendly area. Enjoy eating out outside! Clockwise: Lauren Cartmel of Ma Maison, Maya Norte patio, peaceful Plantitude deck, country garden at Mahle House in Cedar.
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Baseball caps and brain damage On any given day in North America, there are 70 million women complaining to 70 million other women about their husbands, none of who, among other things, can get it into their heads that Tuesday is garbage day. “How can he be so stupid?” these women ask. “He never used to be this dumb.” The answer is perched jauntily on the men’s heads. It’s called a ball cap, and although so far unrecognized, it represents the biggest mental health hazard men face. This startling discovery came out in a recent survey (okay, I was talking to two of my brain-damaged friends) that revealed when it comes to procuring a concussion, nothing beats wearing a ball cap. Hockey isn’t even close. You can take a rocket scientist, put a cap on him, and by summer’s end, he’s a monosyllabic responder. “Yo, Bubba!” The problem is visibility or lack thereof. The ball cap was designed to block out the brightest object known to man
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— the sun. By doing so, it blocks out everything else above the five-foot level, especially if worn low over the eyes. Those who wear baseball caps will know immediately what I’m speaking about. Those of you who don’t, borrow one from a neighbour and go for a walk in a park with low hanging branches or, better still, a construction site laced with overhead hazards. Bring plenty of Band-Aids and wear a blood red shirt because odds are you’ll return bleeding and, possibly, with a lilac branch sticking out of your forehead identical to the one sticking out of mine, a result from mowing the lawn earlier today. If you do not take off the bloodied hat immediately and place it in a safe place, say your toilet, repeated concussions can be expected. For some unknown reason, the brain becomes accustomed to repeated abuse and begins to crave it. How else can you explain some marriages? It’s not dissimilar to those old boxing movies where the much-pummelled hero keeps urging his adversaries on. “Hit me, hit me!” From here on down, the spiral is quick. Even if you were a brain surgeon when you first started wearing the hat, pretty soon you’ll be working in a garage with an overhead hoist, the edges of which are slowly being ground off by baseball-capped foreheads. This begs today’s second question: Why do people wear ball caps backwards? These are the fortunate ones who realized in time what was happening to
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them and spun the bill around back before too much brain damage occurred. Nevertheless, by this point some damage has already been done. That’s why a hat on backwards is the universal signal to “Stand well clear. I am moderately brain damaged.” If they were undamaged, they would not wear a hat at all, but rather toss it in the toilet alongside mine. Individuals who wear their hat with the bill on the side should be given an exceptionally wide berth as the damage has reached catastrophic proportion. This is especially so when the crotch of their pants is at knee level, indicating it’s not just their fully loaded diaper or a brain with similar content. This assessment may seem harsh until you realize wearing pants that low severely compromises man’s most important tool of survival — his ability to take flight, to effect a quick exit, especially when his wife comes stalking toward him with that expression that says, “Alright, what happened to the lilac tree?” An even more serious form of brain damage can be found in those country and music stars wearing a hat with a brim the size of Stanley Park and pulled so ridiculously low they might just as well be wearing a garbage can as far as visibility is concerned. If you encounter one of these individuals, common decency suggests taking her or him gently but firmly by the hand over to the closest hat removal station. Leaving him unattended is like leaving
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a man who’s forgotten garbage day staked out on the lawn with absolutely no chance of escaping his wife’s pummelling when she returns home from work. The repeated pounding these individuals take by limiting their field of vision so drastically explains why they often talk with an affected, totally superficial western whine, a sure sign of multiple concussions. For those of you still in need of outlandish headgear, look to the British for smart design. Some of their efforts, especially around a Royal wedding, can feature large fruit baskets, furbearing animals and, if seagulls have been nesting in the area, an anti-aircraft battery or two is not out of the question. Please note, however, ever since what happened to Prince Charles, building permits are a requirement. As to what happened to Prince Charles, no one’s saying. Now if you’ll excuse me, the arborist is here to see about removing this lilac branch from my forehead and grafting it back on the tree. Once free from the lilac branch, head over to the liquor store before their sale ends. Try the Secret Reserve Cabernet by Santa Rita. A bargain at $12.49. You can follow Delbert at Slightlycorkedandmore.wordpress.com or pick up his book at the Mahle House, Co-Co Cafe, TAKE 5 office or throughout the community for just $20.
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ISLAND PRUNING. Professional tree care from large scale orchards to budding new trees. I can meet any pruning need. Shrubs, vines and ornamental. Large and small clean ups. Call Darcy Belcourt 250-323-1260.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCED HOUSESITTER Now offering Senior Companionship, Respite Care and Concierge Services. peaceofmindcare. wordpress.com. Kathleen 250-619-0786 or email kgrcoaching@gmail.com I CAN EDIT. Copy editing, proofreading, structural editing and more. Fiction or nonfiction, web content and eBook prep. For more information, email editican@gmail.com VIDEO PRODUCTION services, from script to screen, edited and ready to post on YouTube, Facebook or your website. editor@ take5.ca HEALTH & WELLNESS MOBILE FOOT CARE NURSE. Corns, Callus, Fungus, Diabetes. Contact Carol Hollett, LPN/ Foot Care Nurse at ghollett99@hotmail.com 250-210-1191. TAI CHI for mental & physical health. Beginner classes start Sept. & Jan., Mondays; ongoing class Wednesdays. Both classes 10am-noon at the Cedar Hall, 2388 Cedar Road. More information: www.taichinanaimo.org or call Sara 250-245-1466.
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HOME & YARD CONCRETE RESULTS. Contracting, fullservice forming and finishing, walls, walks, patios, drives. 35 years experience. Call Gord 250-753-4024. KB HANDYMAN AND YARDWORKS SERVICES. Minor carpentry work, decks, fences, gutter cleaning, power washing, tree pruning, yard clean up, lawn fertilizing, mowing. Seniors discount. Contact Karl kbhandymanandyardworks@gmail.com or 250-714-2738. HEART LAKE ROOFING for all your roofing repairs 250-668-9195. GARDEN RENOVATION AND LANDSCAPING. Are you thinking of a garden renovation or landscaping project? Excellent quality and knowledge. We are happy to assist you with any landscaping or gardening work you need. Estimates are always free. Give Sandpiper Gardens a call! 250-246-2421. QUALITY RENOVATIONS. Big or small. 25 yrs. exp/journeyman, affordable. For free estimate, call Lars 250-616-1800. ALL ACRES TREE SERVICE providing all aspects of tree work. Pruning, falling, hedging, dangerous tree removal. Fully insured. Professional work at reasonable rates. Call 250-246-1265. DARRELL ESSAR RENOVATIONS. Over 30 years’ experience, certified journeyman carpenter. No Job is too small, from fences, decks, tile work, hardwood flooring, painting, drywall etc. For free estimate, call Darrell 250-714-3823. TAKE 5 Ads work! Get them working for you. Book your ad today, 250-245-7015.
PETS PROFESSIONAL PET CARE SERVICE “leash’em & walk’em” with Marlena & Babs. I am bonded, have Animal First Aid and CPR. My service for all pet includes dog walking, home care visits, overnight in your home and much more. As my love is yours! Call 250.246.3394 SENIORS HIRED HAND for Independent Elder, old jobscompanionship-meal prep-etc! Valid First Aid/CPR, Clean Driver’s record, Level 2 Foodsafe, Gardner and Handywoman. Call Marilyn at 250-606-7069. GRANNYS ON THE GO COMPANION SERVICES. Working under COVID guidelines. Contact Janet Bowman at janetmb@shaw.ca or 250-924-1515. LEAVE A LEGACY. Memoirs, family cookbooks, personal histories, we can help get your project ready to press. Available in print and eBook format. Professional publishing services for corporate or individuals. editor@take5.ca or call 250-245-7015. TAKE 5 ADS WORK! The deadline for the October 2020 edition is Sept 15, 2020. Please email your ad to info@take5.ca or phone 250-245-7015 and have a credit card ready. Remember all ads are on discounted for September. WANTED THE LADYSMITH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY is looking for volunteers for a variety of programs. Researching, fundraising, office support, membership drive, museum greeters, program developers, artifact restoratng, and more. For details on membership or volunteering, please call 250-245-0100 or info@ladysmithhistoricalsociety. ca
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On August 22, the Ladysmith Maritime Society celebrated the restoration of a heritage boat. Family and friends came out to see the launch of the 12’ Clinker Joan. LMS volunteers restored the boat over the last three years. “We appreciate the hard work, dedication and love that’s gone into the restoration of the Joan,” said Joan Keel the granddaughter of the builder. Restoration work was extensive and included replacing rotted wood, re-
LMS volunteers work on restoration, 2018. Photo submitted.
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Joan Keel in the Joan with her cousin, 1946. Photo submitted
finishing the original seats, replacing a plywood seat back to red cedar, and the hand-carving of an oar as one of the originals had been lost. “I have a great grandson who will ride in the Joan that was made by his great great great grandfather,” Keel thanked the volunteers. The Joan was built in 1945 by William Robert Lake. She was built in his boat works, W.R. Lake and Son, which was in Nanaimo, situated at the mouth of the Millstream River in the Nanaimo Harbour. William learned his boatbuilding
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skills in England on the Norfolk Boards. The Joan, a 12’ clinker built row boat, was a gift to his granddaughter, Joan Keel, nee Lake, after the death of her father, Wilfred Lake. Wilfred was William’s only child. He was also a boat builder. The Joan was part of the Keel family ever since taking them fishing around Neck Point on summer evenings. The W.R.Lake and Son boat yard was part of the Nanaimo Harbour scene from the early 1930s until the mid-1950s. They produced many lovely row boats and a 32’ yacht, the Quandry, which was the flag ship of the Nanaimo Yacht Club when she was owned by Shelby Saunders. “Maritime heritage has always been important to the society,” said LMS President Dan Lutz. The Joan joins Ladysmith Maritime Society’s restored heritage vessels that include the Saravan, the Kirkgaard, and the Songbird, featuring a working Easthope engine.
Joan (Lake) Keel with volunteers that restored the “Joan”. Photo: Marina Sacht