TUESDAY MAY 22, 2012
www.pqbnews.com
QF CELEBRATES 30TH YEAR
ON TARGET
The Parksville-Qualicum Fish and Game Association hits 100 years of age
Quality Foods marks three decades in the grocery business
B6
A10
ENVIRONMENT
High heaven A short stretch of paradise is plagued by an ungodly stink NEIL HORNER
news@pqbnews.com
It’s spring in Oceanside and at this time of year the thoughts of French Creek residents often turn to the question of: what’s that smell? The odour, though foul, has nothing to do with the sewage treatment plant on Lee Road, say officials with the Regional District of Nanaimo. Board chair Joe Stanhope said the smell isn’t sewage, it’s rotten eggs. The spring herring spawn, he said, brings millions of fish to lay their eggs in shallow waters, with the French Creek area being one of the most important spawning areas on the coast. NEWS FILE PHOTO Each year after Is herring roe to blame for the spawn millions the big stink? of eggs wash up on the beaches in the area, providing food for local sea birds. Later, as the eggs begin to rot, a strong odor of hydrogen sulfide is produced. Depending on the direction of the winds, the odor can be detected for kilometers. The beach that typically sees the most eggs is next to the French Creek Harbour, close to the French Creek Pollution Control Centre. See SEASONAL, page A4
NEIL HORNER PHOTO
BROOM IN BLOOM: Gerry Vanderwolf tackles a yellow wall of Scotch broom as the Broombusters and local volunteers battle the invasive species in Parksville Friday. The cut continued on both Saturday and Sunday.
Union OK with fewer school days Teachers’ association, School District 69 agree on a cost-saving measure BRENDA GOUGH
reporter@pqbnews.com
Cutting five educational days out of the school calendar is the option the board of education voted in favor of to make up for a $546,175 budget shortfall in School District 69 (Qualicum).
The Mount Arrowsmith Teachers Association (MATA) agreed to the calendar change and it was formally approved at a special budget meeting May 15. Taking five days off the calendar was the option trustees preferred to stretch the district’s funding dollars. See SCHOOL DAY, page A4
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