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Organics offer New food-buying club helps make fresh produce available. Car care Our annual special section to help motorists drive safely into spring. On to Olympics Nanaimo swimmer qualifies to compete at London Games.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2012
Linley Valley effort maintains pressure
VOL. 23, NO. 147
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IMPROVEMENTS ON TAP
Strong response to first public forum BY TOBY GORMAN THE NEWS BULLETIN
A team of Nanaimo residents determined to protect western portions of Linley Valley are pushing to drop 10,000 signatures on the mayor’s desk. Team Linley Valley West held its first public meeting Wednesday at the Kin Hut in Departure Bay. Joanne Jonas-McRae, spokeswoman for the team, said the response exceeded expectations. “It was our first public meeting so we weren’t too sure what to expect, but the place was packed and we had a very positive discussion,” said Jonas-McRae. “A lot of people came out to show their support and provide information.” She said the team has worked diligently to explore funding possibilities to purchase some of the valley’s land parcels after Nanaimo council flip-flopped on its own commitment to seek funding. In late February, council passed a motion 8-1 to explore funding mechanisms to possibly purchase the parcels, which have an assessed value of more than $6 million. Two weeks later, council reconsidered that motion, which subsequently failed with a 7-2 vote. Jonas-McRae called that move negative and disappointing. Linley Valley West is 162 hectares of marshland, coastal Douglas fir forest, beaver ponds, wetlands, rock bluffs and wildlife habitat, with much of it enjoyed by hikers, bird watchers, mountain bikers and runners. It is divided into five privately owned parcels with the majority zoned for residential development. Council, after its flip-flop, said Linley Valley West is not a priority for parkland preservation and that it has always been slated for development. ◆ See ‘GROUP’ /4
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We weren’t sure what to expect, but the place was packed.
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
The city will make improvements to the Italian Fountain in front of Port Place Shopping Centre. Some landscaping was already done to thin out and sculpt nearby bushes and clean up garden beds, while a draft design plan for the upgrade is expected later this month. Costs are not yet known. For the full story, please see page 3.
RCMP warn of suspicious men BY CHRIS BUSH
THE NEWS BULLETIN
Nanaimo Mounties are warning the public, especially teens, to take precautions after two recent incidents of men approaching teenage girls. Police say the first incident happened in Woodgrove Centre near the Tim Hortons kiosk March 29 at about 7:30 p.m. A man sat on a bench near an 18-year-old and asked if she wanted to participate in making a pornographic
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when he offered to buy her cigarettes, she agreed to meet him later that day. The suspect in this case is described as Asian, in his mid-30s, chubby and wearing sunglasses and a hat. “This had the classic signs of grooming,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “This male offered gifts – cigarettes – he offered to smoke pot. She actually met him when he offered to buy cigarettes. She put herself in a really precarious situation by doing that.” ◆ See ‘MOUNTIES’ ‘ /4
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movie. She refused, got up and left. The suspect is described as Caucasian, possibly of Middle Eastern descent, , 5’9” tall, with rough, weathered skin. He wore a dark blue rain jacket and had a white smart phone. A second incident happened Tuesday at about 9 a.m. near the intersection of Seventh Street and Bruce Avenue in Harewood. A 14-year-old girl told police a male pulled up beside her in a newer model grey truck and asked if she wanted to smoke pot with him. She refused, but