November 2015 vol 11 issue 11
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Fairburn Farm: Where the Buffalo Roam • 7 Walking into a Room ... What’s Involved? • 10 John Beaton’s: “The Combustion of Apples” • 19
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Your cut, colour & style in November
Fairburn Farm: Where the Buffalo Roam Tide Table ECHO: Vancouver Island One-Act Play Festival Poet’s Corner: John Beaton’s “The Combustion of Apples”
COMMUNITY LIFE 13
Live Life in Vibrant Style!
Editorial Walking Into a Room ... What’s Involved? You Want Me to Do Fifteen What?
In the Stars: Georgia Nicols Horoscope Classifieds Community Events At Your Service - Local Services & Trades
Articles and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and published for general information purposes only. Articles are not intended to provide specific advice - the publisher will assume no liability. Articles and/or data may not be quoted or reproduced, in part or in whole, without permission from the publisher. Freelance writers & photographers Queries can be directed to Linda Tenney, Publisher at info@eyesonbc.com
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EDITORIAL by Linda Tenney
MAGAZINE
November 2015 vol 11 No 11
EyesOnBC Magazine is published monthly Showcasing our community since 2004 Main Email: info@eyesonbc.com Phone: 250-757-9914 Mailing Address EyesOnBC Magazine, Box 182, Bowser, BC V0R 1G0 Hours: Mon - Thu 10-4 Our Contributors this month: Georgia Nicols, Joanne Sales, Bill Veenhof, David Morrison, Linda Tenney, John Beaton On the Internet www.eyesonbc.com & www.facebook.com/eyesonbc For Advertising Options Call 250-757-9914 to inquire or visit www.eyesonbc.com/advertise to request ad rates. VISA & MasterCard accepted Printed on Vancouver Island, BC
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omewhere around 2003, I had the opportunity to interview Anthea and Darryl Archer of Fairburn Farm in Duncan at a time when her small herd of Water Buffalo was relatively new to Vancouver Island. In fact, the entire concept of raising a herd of water buffalo for meat and milk was mostly unheard of in Canada. It was a risk, but one well taken. During that interview, Anthea told me about their plans, as yet unrealized, to sell their buffalo milk to a local cheese-maker. That inspired vision became reality and David Morrison’s story, “Fairburn Farm: Where the Buffalo Roam” (p.7) moves us into the future to meet Anthea and Darryl’s son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Alicia, who now operate the farm and lovingly care for the giant gentle beasties. The small herd of twelve or so that I met in 2003 has grown to ninety-five, and Natural Pastures cheese company is the proud maker and supplier of a handful of water buffalo milk cheeses. Aren’t we lucky? Sustainable, local and delicious, too!
I
’d never heard of a Skull Crusher before meeting Susan Obieglo of Powerhouse Fitness Club in Bowser, and I certainly never expected to enjoy hovering 15lbs of solid carbon steel over my head, but ... I do. Join me on page 12 for the next installment of my personal journey to fitness. It’s definitely an adventure! You can also join me on my blog at cuppalifestories.wordpress.com. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Harvey Sommerfeld of HPS Power Ltd. to learn about his new business in Lighthouse Country. Since moving to Deep Bay, Harvey and his fiancee, Janice, have immersed themselves in getting to know the community. Janice, in fact, is a new volunteer with the Bowser Seniors Housing Society. Many hands make light work, and I’m sure they’re thrilled to have her on board. Harvey and his nephew, Josh Hagedorn, have been hard at work promoting HPS Power in our area. With no job too small, they offer expert service for all commercial and residential electrical needs ... including grid-tie options. Backed by 37 years of experience, you can expect professional electrical work from HPS Power Ltd. See Harvey’s ad on page 14 for contact information. Welcome to the neighbourhood, Harvey and Janice! Lest we forget ... take a moment, especially on November 11th, to remember those who fought for our rights and freedoms. Case in point ... our recent National election that may not have been possible had it not been for their valour. I pause in awe and thankfulness. ~
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Fairburn Farm
WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM Richard and Alicia Archer · David Morrison photo
by David Morrison
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ace-to-face, just a few feet apart, we gazed intently at each other. She was silent and still, her liquid brown eyes fixed on mine. I was captivated by her beauty, flattered by her fascination in me. It seemed from those few moments as if we could stand there admiring each other all day, but sadly I had to leave her and continue with my work…
that will live long in the memory. The location is gorgeous, the animals are fascinating, and their keepers, Richard and Alicia Archer, are not only walking encyclopaedias of dairy farming and water buffalo knowledge, but a delightful couple to boot. Close to Duncan but for all the world feeling like the middle of nowhere, in respect of water buffalo Fairburn Farm was the very first of its kind in Canada. There are now several water buffalo farms across the country, but as Richard explains it was his parents Darryl and Anthea that pioneered the concept:
No, not an excerpt from a Harlequin novel, but an account of my recent introduction to a water buffalo heifer! I have romanticized the meeting just a tad for comic effect, but I was indeed entranced by the magnificent beast, just as she was deeply interested in me and the purpose of my presence in her territory. I met this lovely, docile creature, and over ninety more just as beautiful as her, on a sunny September Saturday at Fairburn Farm in the Cowichan Valley.
“My grandparents bought the place in 1954, and ran a small farm growing vegetables. When my dad took over he ran a hundred sheep, but it was a tough deal making it, so he was always looking for an animal that could eat what grows here, was healthy and hardy enough to handle the weather. People were getting into alpacas and ostriches, but there’s no real final product like there is with water buffalo
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with their milk and meat. Then he read in a magazine about a water buffalo farm in England; he was heading there anyway, so went to check it out…and, long story short, now we have ninetyfive water buffalo!” Male calves born at Fairburn Farm are bought by Island Bison in Black Creek to be raised for meat, but the final product Richard speaks of at his farm is milk. Milking began here just over nine years ago, and now the milk is purchased by Natural Pastures cheese company in Courtenay to be turned into Bocconcini di Bufala, Mozzarella di Bufala, Buffalo Paneer and – just thinking about it makes me drool! – Buffalo Brie. Water buffalo milk makes not only wonderful cheeses (and other dairy products), but is believed to have many beneficial health properties. Containing 58% more calcium, 40% more protein and 43% less cholesterol than cow’s milk it is, for example, apparently effective continued on page 18 E Y E S O N B C . C O M
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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER!
250-757-9222 • website: www.rcl211.ca • email: rcl211@shaw.ca Nov 17 – Branch 211 Executive Meeting Nov 24 – Branch 211 General Meeting & Elections 7pm Hall Rentals 250-757-9222 • Tue to Fri 9am - 12 noon
Nov 11 – Remembrance Day Service................... 10:30 am Nov 23 – Christmas Craft Fair...................... 10 am to 3 pm Nov 28 – GIANT MEAT DRAW (Turkeys & Hams) L.A. meal available for purchase Ladies Pool Wednesday ........................................................4:00 pm Cribbage
Wednesday ........................................................7:00 pm
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Aries (March 21-April 19) In November, you will explore hidden aspects of yourself. You might do some soul searching or psychological self inquiry. You might also contact someone who helps you do this. You will have a strong desire to experience life on a feeling level that is real – and not just superficial. You might also encounter someone who challenges your values. Meanwhile, midst all this desire to become a better person through self-discovery, your passions will be ignited, especially sexually. Woo, woo! Taurus (April 20-May 20) This month the Sun is as far away from you as it can get all year. Since the Sun is your source of energy, this means you will be more tired than usual. You will need more sleep and more rest. However, this is not the time to go it alone. Au contraire, you will benefit most by working with others and even consulting with experts because other people will benefit you in the month ahead. Study these relationships to discover how well you fill their needs, and vice versa, how well they fill yours. Gemini (May 21-June 20) It’s good news for you this month because the shift of the Sun will energize you big time! Suddenly, you will want to tackle everything around you to make your life run more efficiently. You will figure out what tasks need to be done and you will do them. You will want to manage your life in a way that makes every action account. This quest for efficiency will also apply to your health. You will want to eat a more healthy diet and exercise more. (Practice safe eating. Always use condiments.) Cancer (June 21-July 22) Lucky you! November is one of the happiest months of the year for you because your focus will be on fun activities – the theatre, the arts, sports, parties, social occasions, playful times of children and romance, romance, romance. You will want to have a good time; and your life will feel more lighthearted and fun loving. Many of you will have a stronger focus on children and activities
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with children. And because there is such an emphasis on social fun -- dating, flirtations, and love affairs will be tops on your menu. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) As the Sun shifts into the sign of Scorpio, for Leos, this heralds an increased focus on home, family and your personal life. Not only will you be involved with parents and family members more than usual, you will also want to retreat or withdraw somewhat. You will enjoy hiding or cocooning at home among familiar surroundings. These thumb-sucking moments will give you a warm feeling in your tummy. In this respect, you will use this quiet time to regenerate and catch up on things that have gotten out of control. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Oh boy! Take your foot off the brake because November will create an accelerated daily pace. Suddenly, your schedule will be jam-packed with appointments, conversations with everyone, increased interaction with siblings, relatives and neighbours, short trips plus more reading, writing and studying. So much to do! So little time! This is also an excellent time to have important discussions with others, especially to tell others how you feel about something. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) This month your focus will turn to money, cash flow, earnings and major purchases. As you ponder your finances, you will tend to wonder if your financial situation is your true worth? Of course, you are not your bank account. You are where you eat and what you drive. (Kidding.) That’s why at a deeper level, you will ask yourself if you are actually putting your money on the right horse. In other words, do you really know what matters in life? Are your values wise and realistic? Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Happy Birthday! The Sun is in your sign for the first time in a year. Because the Sun is your source of energy, you’ll be energized! In addition, the Sun in your sign will attract people to you as well as attract favourable circumstances to you. You will also be able to project yourself with more force, strength and focus. All of this is not too shabby. Obviously, it behooves you to make the most of this opportunity. You will also be able to make a great impression on others, which is timely because this is going to be such a popular year for you!
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) The Sun is in a hidden part of your chart this month, which affects your subconscious mind. That means this highlights a hidden part of you. We all project a persona to the world of what we think we’re trying to do versus what we are actually doing. (Yeah, the old Queen of Denial bit.) Now your hidden, subconscious persona will be more public. Silly, childish behaviour patterns might trip you up. (Gulp) Because your personal year is coming to an end, use the next several weeks to plan how you want your new year to be different from last year. Ideas? Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) November is more popular than any other month of the year. Enjoy hanging out with friends and dealing with groups, because you will benefit from your relationship. This is not the time to go it alone – be open to what others can do for you. Naturally, this is a two-way street. Examine your friends now. Do you hang out with quality people? It’s important to be aware that your friends influence your thinking, and anything that influences your mind, which makes your choices, will ultimately, influence your future. True dat. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) This month the Sun is at high noon acting like a spotlight on you. And lo! This light is flattering! Since others see you in positive terms, they will ask you to take on new jobs. Just say yes because you don’t have to be a superhero to dazzle them. Meanwhile, this is the best month of the year to examine your life to see if you’re going in the direction you want to go. If you do want to change your direction, this is a good year because you will get support both financial and practical – from others. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You will be keen to broaden your horizons to travel, study and meet people from other backgrounds this month. Because you want to expand your world, this is a good time to go back to school, sign up for a course, or do anything that offers you new, fresh and unfamiliar experiences. You want to be stimulated! You want adventure! If you can travel– please do so! Some will be more involved with the law than usual. Others will want to explore religious and spiritual paths. ~
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WALKING INTO A ROOM….. WHAT’S INVOLVED? by Joanne Sales
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was debating - should I go to that retreat? It was good in the past. Why was I hesitating? And then I saw it – the tail end of an embarrassing moment, hardly worth mentioning, from seven years ago. In a pond of good experiences from that weekend, that embarrassment could hardly fill a teacup. But there it was. I was in a room, in a circle of about 200 people. Unexpectedly, I was asked to offer a few words. “Can you…?” I was so surprised by the request that I said “no” instead of “yes.” Stumbled, heehawed, turned red, looked stupid, and finally maneuvered myself through that bottleneck of my own making. It all took place in less than a minute, but has lived on in me for about 7 years. (We are rather unkind to ourselves, aren’t we?) Now this was emotional garbage of the first degree – a hidden, confidence crushing memory. I was lucky to catch a glimpse of it as it ran for shelter under a couch. I pulled it out by its tail and looked it in the eye. “Really? Seven years have passed and you’re still here? Who cares about that event? In fact, who even remembers it?” I held the memory firmly but kindly, like a struggling puppy. If you look at such critters of the subconscious long enough, with patience, compassion and humor, they will usually fade away like dream images. And so it did.
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But now I was intrigued. What else might I be carrying with me if I enter that room again? What do we take with us when we walk into any room? Two images come to mind: Santa Claus and Pigpen. Starting with Santa. We all arrive at the door, any door, each of us carrying a Santa Claus size bag of stuff over our shoulders, filled with memories, expectations, beliefs, needs, likes and dislikes, a whole smorgasbord of emotional afflictions, and our secret but constant companion, projection. Emotional baggage, it’s often called. I continue to recommend the Ted Talk by Jill Bolt Taylor, a brain scientist who watched herself have a serious stroke at the age of 37. The judgmental left hemisphere of her brain was shutting down from the stroke, so she had heightened awareness of the nonjudgmental, creative, “connected” right hemisphere of her brain. She says she entered a rather blissful state, which in highly scientific terms she described as “la la land”. She exclaimed how wonderful it was to be free of 37 years of “emotional baggage!” She had to struggle to want to come back, but she did. (My account hardly does her justice. Look her up on Ted Talks.) Buddhists use the term “emotional afflictions”. We all have them. They can be tortuous, powerful, tenacious and blinding – but they are hardly unique. We can go back thousands of years, or
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travel thousands of miles, to find that human emotional afflictions will still be the same. Jealousy, rage, desire, fear, regret, embarrassment, shame, guilt, and on and on. Our emotional afflictions can annoy or blind us, visit occasionally, or constantly cover our windshield. But they can’t be underestimated. We all see through stained glass windows. The chemicals of intense emotional surges peak after about 10 seconds, if we can just wait them out. Our prisons are full of people who unfortunately never learned that emotions pass and change - after 10 breaths or 10 days. One of my son’s childhood friends lived alone with his mother. His brother was in jail for killing their father. That is an extreme case, peace be with them. But I know I have been so angry that I was sure I would never get over it – never ever! But emotions do pass – they go somewhere. As I found out with my embarrassment memory, sometimes they just hide. What else is in the bag? Expectations. We all have history. When we enter a room “with a history”, we expect a repeat performance. (I would prefer an improved performance!) There is a complex dance going on here. Our desires and expectations follow the lead of our belief systems, which rule us ruthlessly. What is going to happen in that room is determined by what we believe is possible, what we believe we deserve, and a whole array of arbitrary CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
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continued from page 10 beliefs, not confined at all to religion. We may believe we’re always right or never right, that you can’t trust Southerners, his nose is too big, your mother didn’t love you, garden bugs are invincible, cleanliness is next to godliness, and so on. These beliefs may or may not be true, but we cherish them anyway. And while we believe them, they have power over us. We can catch these critters too, and stare them down - or “aware them down.” Doubt can be the friend of freedom. Anyway, it’s all just more stuff in the bag, waiting to walk into the room with us. What else is in the bag? A slew of unquestioned, often superficial judgments. We might want to take our judgments with a grain of salt. Too often, we only go wrapping paper deep, failing to recognize the complexity of a situation or individual. We also forget to remember our own stained glass window lenses, and that much of what we see is a mirror reflection of our own insecurities and shadows. So as the bumper sticker said so well, ”Don’t believe everything you think.” Sounds hopeless! (But that’s just another belief.) That’s why I also like the image of Pigpen. Pigpen was the dirty-little-boy cartoon character in Schulz’s famous comic strip Peanuts. Pigpen is described as “happily traveling in his own private dust storm.” That’s us! All the emotional debris that circles around us is just like the dust storm that circles around our beloved Pigpen. But Pigpen is said to carry himself with dignity, knowing full well that he has affixed to him the “dust of countless ages.” That is us as well! We can’t free ourselves entirely from our stained glass window lenses, the emotional imprints of our upbringing, or the limited visions of our culture and time. But
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as Loving Kindness meditations with active intentions of good will for others. When we practice “May all beings be well and happy”, our health, immune system, attitudes and countless other things improve. There are actually measurable changes in our brains! That’s news.
these too are the residue from ancient civilizations, the “dust of countless ages.” We inherited it all. It’s historic. We’re historic as well, but with each of us on our own path, constantly sitting on the leading edge of now. The best we can do is the best we can do. So we can enter that room with dignity – carrying our imperfections - just like Pigpen. Here we go again, trying one more time. What COULD we carry with us as we enter the room? Our bag of bad habits is old as the hills, but we now know there are things we can do to lighten the load, to change ourselves, to create more positive experiences for ourselves and others. We can put down that bag, open it up, deal its contents, and when we pick it up again, it will feel much lighter. We are not the servants of our past. Then when we enter the room, we have a choice between expansion and contraction; radiating out or drawing in; being awake or continuing to sleep. “When we enter a room, we don’t turn on the darkness switch. We simply fail to turn on the light switch.”* When we stand there at the doorway of any potentially new experience, we can intentionally influence what’s going to happen. Motivation and intention are powerful forces, even though we’re not sure why and how much. While I lean towards the teaching that “mind is king,” I still brush my teeth with a physically incarnated toothbrush! Most of us straddle this middle ground. Being free from the past does not mean being stupid in the present, but it does allow for a renewed innocence and openness, and makes room for new intentions. “I am determined to see things differently.” Neuroscientists are measuring actual changes in the brain when we immerse ourselves in such positive activities
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Our relationships with each other appear to be the cause for the heavy bag we carry around, but it is also our relationships with each other that inspire us and give us meaning. We WANT to be with each other. It is our survival, our refuge, our salvation. Why even bother to go into that room? Because we love each other! Remembering that is a game changer. We’ll still feel annoyed, embarrassed, guilty or whatever because of our Pigpen nature, but those annoyances will feel more like fruit flies and less like dragons flying overhead. We cannot even fathom how vast and deep and profound our interconnectedness is. And it is in that interconnectedness that forgiveness lies, loving kindness lies, hope lies. We don’t carry those things into the room with us. Those are the things that are waiting for us. Those are the reasons why we enter the room. ~ www.ted.com Esther Hicks. www.acim.org
Joanne Sales is a freelance writer, blueberry farmer living in rural Qualicum Beach, and Director of Vancouver Island’s Broombusters Invasive Plant Society. Questions about her articles should be directed to joanne@glasswing.com. For information or questions regarding Broombusters Invasive Plant Society - www.broombusters.org. Ph: 250-7524816, Email: info@broombusters.org
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YOU WANT ME TO DO FIFTEEN WHAT? by Linda Tenney
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n just about 17 hours, 23 minutes and 15 seconds, I’ll be on a treadmill putting one foot in front of the other and wishing there was an easier way to lose weight and get strong. Oh get real! There’s no easy way … but it doesn’t have to be really hard either.
and further motivates me to be there for an additional two days a week on my own. Yup! Four days. Every week.
I have a busy life … professionally and socially … and when I decided to get serious about a fitness plan, I quickly discovered that my time at the gym had to be scheduled. It couldn’t be a ‘whenever I found time’ thing, because I never found the time. There was always something else that came up to fill that hour, on that day. I needed accountability.
“Fifteen Skull Crushers,” Susan repeated.
Try this, she said. It’ll be fun, she said. “You want me to do fifteen what?” I wasn’t sure I heard correctly!
Two months ago, I started doing Skull Crushers … with only 5lbs. I’ve progressed and now heave 15lbs up and over my head. It’s working my triceps, and it’s not as easy as it looks. In fact it’s damn hard! The upside is that
A solution came along in the form of personal training with Susan Obieglo at Powerhouse Fitness Club in Bowser. We have an accountability agreement … a fitness pact. At least that’s how I think of it. The pact is simple; we both show up. An hour on Thursday, and an hour on Saturday. It’s a partnership that works,
Accountability! That’s where it’s at. If you’re having a problem committing to your own ‘gym time’ … find a partner, or think ‘personal training’. I highly recommend it. ~ The saga continues next month ... ~ Powerhouse Fitness Club www.powerhousefitnessclub.com
Skull Crusher ... not as easy as it might look!
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the ‘bat wings’ are starting to tighten up, something I never thought would happen! No woman wants bat wings … we’re really not meant to swoop around in the background of Dracula movies! Really!
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FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR
rlene and I hope this finds you well. We have had a wonderful summer and are looking forward a less hectic schedule this winter. Below find a few items I have been following:
BILL VEENHOF
Crime There has been a spike in vehicle break and entries in the past several months in the rural areas of the RDN. It is believed that most of this crime comes from substance addicted people who need to fund their habits. It is pretty clear that they target unlocked vehicles so, lock your cars.
• I mprove pedestrian and cyclist safety and enhance the 19A corridor
Strategic Planning We are moving forward on Strategic Planning at the RDN and new this year is that there will be a dedicated session focused on Rural Directors, this is a wonderful change.
• C onnect Area H to Nanaimo and Courtenay thru regular transit service
The new strategic plan will set the broad direction of the RDN for the coming 4 years. All Directors will have an equal opportunity for input and these sessions will start shortly. While, I am still shaping my thoughts, following are the areas I am beginning to consider. You can expect that there will be a great deal of revision between now and then, your comments and advice would be appreciated: • C ontinue to support all our economic drivers with a priority focus on tourism, which is an area where the RDN can be a significant enabler.
Regional Director, Area H billveenhof.com - ph: 778-424-2810 ■ bill.veenhof@shaw.ca
• C ontinue to support agriculture and aquaculture • E nsure that the services the RDN delivers are both efficient and effective, (keep taxes down)
• M ap, mark and publish all trails on Crown land in Area H • R educe barriers to owner builders • C ontinue our effective and positive relationship with QFN • C onsider a rationalization/study of ALR lands in Area H • C reate an RDN that is adaptable. When change happens, recognize the opportunities and seize them. For instance, we have a new federal government that has promised more for infrastructure and transit. If the RDN is to be adaptable, we will need to accomplish OCP reviews more often. • D evelop formal and effective linkages and communications with
external influencers (All FNs, VIU, RCMP, MoA, MoT, MoF, DFO. CFIA, TC, Improvement Districts, Chambers of Commerce, LCBA, Tourism Associations, our MLAs, our MPs…there are many more…) • S upport our volunteer communities • S upport Nile Creek Enhancement Society • E ncourage young people to settle here • O ther than enhanced transit, continue existing RDN services at about the level where they are right now. Business Walk In mid-October I had the privilege to participate in a Business Walk (survey) in the Bowser Area. This event was sponsored by the Qualicum Beach Chamber and well supported by the Ministry of Jobs as well as the Lighthouse Country Business Association. It was a very positive experience. We managed to visit 7 storefront businesses in the Bowser core. Thus, my comments, below, represent a small sample size.
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NOVEMBER 2015
... with 37 years of experience
Harvey Sommerfeld Honest Professional Service
Our tide table measurements are taken from the Hornby Island substation. For other tides, visit http://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/english/Canada.shtml on the Internet. Printed courtesy Canadian Hydrographic Service.
LOCAL TIDE
Commercial • Residential • Grid-tie Solutions Your Lighthouse Country connection! NO JOB TOO SMALL!
harvey@hpspower.net
Phone: 250-757-8944 Fax: 250-757-8654
Open daily 8am to 8pm
ECHO PLAYERS PRESENT ...
VANCOUVER ISLAND ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL ECHO Players is pleased to welcome you to the 11th annual Vancouver Island Juried One Act Play Festival. This one act festival runs from Thursday November 5th to Sunday November 8th at Village Theatre in Qualicum Beach. We will present 7 plays for your enjoyment (one of which is an original) and we hope you will support us in our effort to encourage local talent from around the island. This year we have two extremely talented jurors judging this event. Nicola Cavendish and Rob Mowbray will have the unenviable task of selecting the winners.
The plays entered are as follows: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5th at 7:30pm ECHO Players Nasty Things, Murders (Mystery) River City Players - Campbell River Day Trippers (Comedy) FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6th at 7:30pm Kwalikum Secondary School Troupe The Whole Shebang (Mystery) Portal Players, Port Alberni A Matter of Husbands (Comedy) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7th at 7:30pm ECHO Players The Swan Song (Tragedy/Comedy) Courtenay Little Theatre The Christmas Tree (Comedy) SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH AT 2:00 Gabriola Players Society Lemon Yellow Laces (Mystery) Presentation of Awards.
TICKETS Ticket prices are $12 for Adults and $10 for Seniors and Students. There are also 3 and 4 Day Festival Ticket Packages available and tickets for the closing awards party. For tickets and further information call 250-752-3522 or visit the Village Theatre Box Office at 110 West 2nd Avenue in Qualicum Beach.
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SERVICES OFFERED / NEEDED
WORSHIP
LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS GROUP - Needs your volunteer help! FMI Call: Val Weismiller: (250) 757-9667.
FIRST RATE MASONARY – Over 15 years experience providing first-rate, creative workmanship within budget and on time! Old brick restoration. All stone and tile work. Fireplace facing. Retaining walls and pavers. Chimney construction, cleaning and repairs. FMI Call Jason Buxton (250) 802-5515.
CAREGIVER NEEDED - Looking for a caregiver for our 2 children (1 & 5 yrs old) - $11/hr, 40 hrs/week, optional free accommodation in employer’s home. Large dog at house. Call for details: 250-240-8119.
THE FIX-IT SHOP – Repairs to all makes and models of lawnmowers and ride on lawn tractors, including John Deere. Pick-up and delivery available. Used equipment for sale. Call (250) 702-2191 or email fixitshop009@gmail.com
HEALTHY LIVING KOMBUCHA - Make Your Own Kombucha Workshops offered in Coombs by Joanne Sales who has been making Kombucha for over 20 years. joanne@glasswing. com, www.islandhealing.ca
DON’S HOME REPAIR – Plumbing repairs and installations, complete renovations, no job too small. Call Don at (250) 757-8757 or cell (250) 951-8757.
WILDWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH 113 McColl Road, Bowser
Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 am 757-8136
ISLAND GOSPEL CENTRE “A house of LIGHT in Lighthouse Country” Sundays - 10AM Worship 90 McColl Road, Bowser, BC (250) 757-8253
FOR SALE FOR SALE ... large wooden artist’s easel LIKE NEW - $200. Mitre saw: $50, Pressure Washer: $25, Pine Armoire: $200, Rattan Chair & cushion: $25. Phone Ann at 250-871-5708
Parksville / Qualicum / Bowser PICK-UP, TUNE-UP AND CLEAN-UP FOR SMALL ENGINE POWERED EQUIPMENT. Riding mowers, garden tractors, etc. Call Ron at (250) 937-0044 or email ronmorrison100@gmail.com
LEARNING / CLASSES NELSON'S MUSIC STUDIO Piano/Theory Lessons Parksville/Qualicum Area Beginners to Advanced Your Home or Ours John/Margaret 250-954-5895
FOOTCARE – HYGIENE Soaking feet, cutting nails, filing calluses, treating dry skin – fingernails, too. Reflexology - one-hour sessions. Services offered from Nanoose to Courtenay. Please call Vikki at (250) 757-9244.
LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE
Available for Rentals Call 778-424-9900
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unclear whether he was including water buffalo in his statement, it is well known that they are intelligent animals that learn patterns early in life and develop routines that please them. Alicia certainly supports this: “They learn very quickly. They love human interaction and have favourite things, like always laying down in a certain stall or to be milked in a particular stall in the milking parlour. They are creatures of habit, and are alert and sensitive to change.” Besides the joy of meeting and learning so much about the Fairburn Farm water buffalo, including one little beauty just a week old, it would be remiss of me not to also acknowledge the effect Richard and Alicia’s own tale had on my wife and I. We are unashamed romantics, so to hear their love story capped a truly memorable visit.
The Girls of Fairburn Farm heading back to the barn · David Morrison photo in helping to cure or control eczema and psoriasis, high blood pressure and irritable bowel syndrome. It also provides a great alternative to goat’s milk for those with allergies to cow’s milk, and above all else it is delicious. One great benefit for water buffalo farmers like Richard and Alicia, however, is the incredible volume of milk their cows produce. “A typical old dairy cow would be an eight or nine year-old,” says Richard, “but water buffalo can be milked until they’re thirty years-old. We brought the first two in from the States in 1999, and they’re still here and producing milk at seventeen years-old.” “Some will produce longer and some shorter,” Alicia continues, “so it depends on when and how quickly they get pregnant, their genetics, what we’re feeding them - a number of different factors - but we like them to milk for about three hundred days. Regardless of how long they milk we always like them to get two months rest, just so the energy they would put into milking they then put into their babies. They relax and get ready to ‘boot up’ again.” Wandering around Fairburn Farm in its heavenly, tranquil rural setting, my wife and I received a running narrative N O V E M B E R
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from Richard and Alicia about the farm’s history and every possible aspect of life working with their water buffalo herd. As we absorbed it all one fact shone blindingly through the wealth of information, being that while the bottom line is that the animals are their livelihood, this 31 year-old farming couple utterly adore them. They know every single one by name, and remain fascinated, amused and delighted by their individual personalities and behavioural quirks on a daily basis. “When you look into their eyes you can tell there’s something going on,” Richard says, as he tenderly strokes the head of one of the two bulls at Fairburn. “And they genuinely want to please us. They like us, they know we take care of them, and of course the better we treat and feed them, they just keep on taking care of us by producing good milk.” When conducting a little extra research for this piece in the wake of my profound experience in the company of these gentle, curious and, as I felt it, soulful creatures, I stumbled across a quote that made my hackles rise. Yale University geography professor and climatologist Ellsworth Huntington (1876-1947) is said to have declared that, “The buffalo is a surprisingly stupid animal.” Well, although it remains E Y E S O N B C
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“We met five years ago,” the heavily pregnant Alicia explains. “I came originally from Northern Saskatchewan to work on a dairy farm down in Mill Bay, and happened to meet Richard at one of the local pubs on my first night in the Cowichan Valley! We married in January and are now expecting twins - a boy and a girl! It will make us a little extra busy, sure, but it’s great to have two new farmhands coming at once!” In conclusion, Richard revealed that the couple’s first proper date was at the Kinsol Trestle, but at night. Considering the inspiring visual spectacle that the Kinsol Trestle provides, we were intrigued as to why they would choose to visit the historic site under cover of darkness. “Well,” replied the young man in the ‘Agriculture is My Culture’ t-shirt, “we can never find any time during the day…because we’re farmers, you see?!” ~ Fairburn Farm is located at 3310 Jackson Rd., Duncan. For further information please visit www.fairburnwaterbuffalo.com or email Richard and Alicia Archer at info@ fairburnfarm.bc.ca. Natural Pastures: www.naturalpastures.com / cheese@ naturalpastures.com / (250) 334-4422 Island Bison: islandbison.com / (250) 650-9303
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By November, the old Gravenstein apple trees on our acreage have dropped their leaves for winter and we’ve harvested their fruit. This poem came to me while I was looking at one of them and thinking of Hubble telescope pictures of the Eagle Nebula, where new stars are being born in deep space. ~
THE COMBUSTION OF APPLES Old Gravenstein, your boughs are scabbed and mossy but you expand them graciously, a host inviting passers-by to share the glossy hospitality your bushels boast. Your blossom spangled spring rain’s spectrumed prism and dropped; green stippled you and turned to reds and golds. They coalesce—spring’s pointillism is smeared as autumn’s flaring wildfire spreads. Now fanning winds gust leaves—sparks float to earth and apples fall like coals. They’ll leave a tortured candelabrum etched above a hearth where ash still smokes—the frosted misty orchard.
About this Poem ... The first five stanzas each have four lines. Each line has five beats (e.g. old GRAVenSTEIN, your BOUGHS are SCABBED and MOSSy).. The rhyme-scheme is abab, with a mix of single- and double-syllable pairs. The first three stanzas describe the apple tree and introduce the bridging images of artwork and fire. The next two stanzas begin with a one-word sentence to mark transition. Then they step across the bridging images to the world of space. A couplet (a pair of rhymed lines) ties the apple tree and space subjects together and brings closure to the poem. “Sound effects” include alliteration and internal rhyme (e.g. specks/flecks and tall/fall). This poem was first published in an e-book called “The Wolves Passed Here”, which you can find online. It has been republished elsewhere.
Dusk. Across the mural of the sky your portraitist depicts another scene: he specks and flecks your boughs with nebulae in blooms of carmine, salmon, gilt, and green. And they too blend as space-dust avalanches down columns light-years tall and then combines in worlds that fall, like apples from your branches, decaying as their core-stored sun declines. Thus apple-trees and galaxies expire— in dappled glades of universal fire.
John Beaton lives in Qualicum Beach. His poetry has been widely published. He served for four years as moderator of one of the Internet’s most reputable poetry workshops and is a Spoken Word performer, a member of the band Celtic Chaos, and a co-organizer of local events, including a community showcase for musicians and Spoken Word performers, the Qualicum Acoustic Café (QUAC). You can find samples of John’s work by searching online for “John Beaton poetry”. To receive a monthly newsletter about local community events organized by John and his family and friends, email him at jabeaton@gmail.com. ~ N O V E M B E R
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Community Event Calendar November 2015 LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE (LCC) 240 Lions Way, Qualicum Bay. FMI on Hall Rentals, call Sheena McCorquodale at (250) 757-9991. FMI on Events at the LCC visit www.communityhall.ca. SECOND SUNDAY MARKET at the Lighthouse Community Centre in Qualicum Bay – Sunday November 8th - 8am-Noon, Pancake Breakfast - $5 or $7. Enjoy live music, breakfast, shopping for a treasure. The Bowser Elementary PAC will be serving breakfast. SECOND SUNDAY MARKET- would you like to be a vendor? We encourage artisans, farmers and crafters. We supply tables and chairs FMI: https://sites.google.com/site/ lighthousecommunityhall/pancake-breakfast. TAOIST™ TAI CHI - Mondays 9:30-noon at the Lighthouse Community Centre in Qualicum Bay. Wednesdays 10:45-12:15, (Sep 30-May 2016) at the OAP Hall in Fanny Bay. Contact: Richard 250-752-1231. LIGHTHOUSE SPINNERS – Bring your Spinning Wheels and fibre and meet the Lighthouse Spinners at the LCC, Tuesdays at 10:30am. FMI Call 778-424-1001. ADULT BADMINTON AND PICKLEBALL at the LCC. Badminton - Mondays 7pm. Pickleball and badminton - Thursdays 4-6 pm. Drop-in fee $4. Equipment provided. 15 years and older. Beginners welcome. steelehunt@shaw.ca, or 250-757-8307 for more info. CARPET BOWLING – 12:45 to 3pm at the LCC. FMI Call Layne (250) 757-8217. AA LIGHTKEEPERS - Fridays at 7pm at the LCC. FMI contact (250) 757-2300. BRIDGE – Nordin Room 1-4pm Fridays at the LCC. FMI Sheila Steele 250-757-8307.
SEE MORE EVENTS AT
www.eyesonbc.com
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affected, their family & friends are welcome. Contact 250-752-7489 or brook@shaw.ca
LIONS REC HALL – 280 Lions Way, Qualicum Bay. FMI on Hall Rentals Call Bert Carter: (250) 240-4538. QUALICUM BAY LIONS CLUB – Meet at 7pm, every second and fourth Tuesday in the Lions Den at the Lions’ Rec Hall. LIGHTHOUSE COUNTRY SCRAPBOOKERS – Meet 3rd Saturday monthly at the Lions’ Rec Hall, 9:30am- 4:30pm. $10. Door prizes. FMI Call Jorgie 250-757-8358 or Shirley (250) 757-8384. Let’s FLOOR CURL! Have fun with us. Every week from mid September to end of MAY. Mondays & Fridays, 1-3pm at the LIONS REC HALL in lovely QUALICUM BAY. We are a happy mixed group of all ages and skills. Game Is played indoors on gym floor. Curling rocks are supplied. Join the club for the season and enjoy “extra events”. Drop-in is $2. Come anytime. FMI call Fred Or Lorraine: 250-752-0216.
IN THE COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREA
The QUALICUM BEACH GARDEN CLUB meets on Mon. Nov. 9, 2015 at 7PM, Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. Speaker is Andrew Pennells, proprietor of Home Grown Gardens. Topic: “Pruning for Health, Beauty and Function”. New members & guests welcome. QUALICUM WEAVERS AND SPINNERS GUILD. Elegant Threads - 19th Annual Fibre Art Show & Sale. Nov 27-29, Fri 11-6, Sat 105, Sun 10-3 at the Rotary House, Qualicum Beach. Free Admission. KNOX 11TH ANNUAL “PERFECT GIFT” CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR – Sat. Nov. 14, - 9:30-3:30 at Knox United Church, 345 Pym St., Parksville. 85 vendors, 10 rooms with a huge variety of “Perfect Gifts” for all ages! Free Admission - Lunch Available - Convenient Parking.
BOWSER TENNIS CLUB - info: steelehunt@shaw.ca, or ph 250-757-8307
MID ISLAND FLORAL ART GROUP: A Floral Christmas Gala Thursday Nov. 19, 2015 at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. Open at noon: demonstration presented by Andrea Strachan EMC begins at 1pm. Tickets are available at a cost of $10 each from Mulberry Bush Book Stores in Parksville and Qualicum Beach, or Rae 250-2382976 or Darlene 250-586-7733.
QUALICUM BEACH FARMERS’ MARKET Saturday mornings, 8:30-noon. The majority of our Market vendors have now moved inside the Community Centre at Veteran’s Way and Memorial in Qualicum Beach. You’ll find a variety of from-the-farm produce, meats, fish, flowers, locally roasted coffee, breads, sweets and artisan-crafted products is available throughout the year! Live music! No dogs, please. FMI: qbfarmersmarket.com
FANNY BAY COMMUNITY HALL is holding its ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR this year on Sat. Nov. 21st 10-4pm & Sun. Nov. 22nd 10-3pm. Free admission. Sponsored by the Fanny Bay Community Association. Concession. 40 vendors. Quilting, Baking, Jewellery, Wood-Metal-Pottery, and Needlecrafts.
14TH ANNUAL WORLD CRAFT BAZAAR, Sat. Nov. 7 10 am - 3 pm at Knox United Church, Pym at Humphrey Sts, Parksville. Ethical, exotic gift choices and Fair Trade goods. Lunch available. Free admission. Co-sponsored by P/Q KAIROS & Knox Church. Info call 250-248-0310 Tuesday, Tuesday, November 3rd 2015, 7:00 PM - The OCEANSIDE PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT meets at The Gardens, 650 Berwick North, Qualicum Beach. Those newly diagnosed or
Qualicum Beach Family History Society will hold its regular meeting Wednesday, November 18, 7pm at the Qualicum Legion. Guest speaker will be Catherine Whiteley, with the amazing story of “Hart Leech, a Doggone Good Soldier, Doing His Blooming Job”. Guests welcome.
RDN RECREATION PROGRAMS - View recreation programs online at www.rdn. bc.ca/recreation. FMI call Chrissie at (250) 757-8118, email at cfinnie@rdn.bc.ca or call Oceanside Place at (250) 248-3252. Preregister for all programs to avoid program cancellation.
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Our family has proudly served the Oceanside communities since 1998. We believe in providing the highest level of service in a professional and affordable manner, without compromising our commitment to reliable and respectful service to our families.
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250-752-2921
interior decorating
Service and Repairs Treatment Plant Certified Assessments Available
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Unit #2 - 1306 Alberni Hwy, Parksville
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ll businesses reported a good and increasing business climate. Mostly, this was attributed to an improved tourism market, driven by a weaker Canadian dollar. In terms of business satisfiers, all reported location and clientele as the main elements. Challenges
and Bowser needs more suitable commercial land. There are motions on the books to look at these issues. 2. RDN and MoT signage restrictions are an impediment to small business. There is a motion on the books to conduct a review of RDN signage bylaw. In terms of Provincial support to Small Business, all businesses wanted information on succession planning. Bowser Seniors Housing Society (BSHS) Fundraiser
The top challenges were (in order ): • F erry costs, this links to impediments to tourism
The BSHS is bringing in a Neil Diamond impersonator to entertain at a dinner and dance at the Lighthouse Community Center at 6pm, 13 Nov. It should be a lot of fun at the $35.00 admission goes to a great cause. Tickets are available at the Salish Sea and Georgia Park or online at http://bowser-seniorshousing-society.org/current-events. shtml
• F inding suitable employees. • L ack of public transit, this links to the 2 items above. • T raffic Calming and roadside trails Other challenges included: 1. The RDN was seen as a neutral (neither for nor against) supporter of small business. One interviewee noted that there is too much bureaucracy around development
Water Mapping The Regional District of Nanaimo has launched
a new website interface that offers a friendly map-based method of accessing water resource-related information in the region. This new website can be found at www. dwwp.ca, and houses the program information supporting the Region’s Drinking Water and Watershed Protection (DWWP) program – a service that works to educate, collect data, and improve decision making, related to water and land-use planning in the region. Oceanside Health Centre - Mental Health, Substance Use and Crisis Services There is a new Walk-In Mental Health Service available at the Oceanside Health Centre Provides immediate single session counseling for any person experiencing emotional distress, mental illness, and/or substance use. No appointment required. Open Monday to Friday 10am-7pm. Inquiries 250-951-9550 local 39141. After hours, call the Vancouver Island Crisis Line 1-888-494-3888
For questions or comments, Director BILL VEENHOF can be reached at 778-424-2810 or bill.veenhof@shaw.ca
PHOTOGRAPHY FROM
HERE & THERE OCT 26 - NOV 21
RANDY HALL
WAYNE D. BUHR
TOSH THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE ARTS CENTRE 122 FERN ROAD WEST, QUALICUM N O V E M B E R
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DISCOVER LIGHTHOUSE COUNTRY Deep Bay - Bowser - Qualicum Bay Horne Lake - Spider Lake
WWW.LIGHTHOUSECOUNTRY.CA