FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2012
www.pqbnews.com
ORCAS ON TOP
BUS ROUTES SCHEDULE
A28
B12
Slo-pitch team wins local championship
School district releases the routes for this year
Arts in trouble Parksville’s McMillan Arts Centre might close by Christmas if it cannot reinvent itself LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
The McMillan Arts Centre (the MAC) building will be 100 years old next year, but as it stands there will be no grand celebration as there was for Qualicum Beach’s art centre last month. In fact the centre is in dire straits and might not even make it that long. Funding from the City of Parksville came through just in time to avoid reducing operating hours recently, but it may not be enough to keep the centre running for long. “If we can’t come up with enough money to sustain (the arts centre) we’re good for about 2 months,” said vice president of the Oceanside Community Art Council (OCAC) Dave Klinger. “We would be out of it. We would probably shut the doors by Christmas time.” Klinger said the OCAC was somewhat blindsided by the imminent prospect of closing its doors, when in the Spring they appeared to be doing fine. But a number of things haven’t come together since then, he said, mainly grant money, and now the centre is scrambling for ways to raise funds. Although the OCAC does get some funding from the City of Parksville, it isn’t enough, said board member of the OCAC Valerie Dare, adding the money makes up to only eight per cent of their operating costs. See ART CENTRE, page A5
NEIL HORNER PHOTO
RELAXATION DAY: Keith Young, 4, relaxes in a small tide pool at Qualicum Beach. To see how other visitors and locals enjoyed the first Relaxation Day in Parksville and Qualicum Beach, check out THE NEWS’ Facebook page.
A festival for the children Sandcastles, entertainment, food and AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
P
arksville’s famous expanse of sand is expecting an outbreak of sandcastles this Sunday, when hundreds of kids start a building boom. The fun starts the night before with fireworks and continues as one of the region’s biggest family days with KidFest in the the big field in Community Park and the separate Quality Foods’ Children’s Sandcastle Competition next door on
fun for the family at KidFest
the beach. KidFest starts in the kite field with entertainment almost non-stop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting with juggler and sleight of hand artist Jake West. There will be more than 30 vendors and community booths, live entertainment and an array of activities for children from newborns to teenagers, said chair Bonnie Wallis. See KIDFEST IN PARKSVILLE, page A6
Va c u u m S a l e s , S e r v i c e & I n s t a l l a t i o n Systems Starting from $399 “Your local dealer & warranty centre”
Superior Cleaning. Healthier Living. Local Agent
1A-1209 E. Island Hwy, 250.954.3211
#
Parksville
(in the Heritage Centre Mall)
IslandCleaningSupplies.com
designed for a well-lived home.