TUESDAY AUGUST 21, 2012
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RIGHT NEIGHBOURLY
GENERALS CAMP
Errington’s annual Hi Neighbour Day
Coach now looks to pare down the roster
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Help on the way Discussions ongoing for partners to help the troubled Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
After a presentation from Karen Hunter, Parksville city council asked staff to look into how the city might be able to help the struggling Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve (MABR). “We’ve begun discussions with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, ScientiďŹ c and Cultural Organization), the university (VIU) and other partners,â€? mayor Chris Burger updated THE NEWS on Thursday. Formed in 2000, the reserve is one of over 500 UNESCO designated sites in the world, but one of only two in B.C. Hunter, former co-ordinator and current board member, gave council basically the same presentation she recently gave to the Regional District of Add your COMMENTS at Nanaimo www.pqbnews.com highlighting the work the MABR has done and asking for help. The RDN turned down taking over MABR completely, but is looking into how they can help. The local MABR foundation has struggled with governance issues for years and failed a periodic review in 2010 for “not meeting the statutory framework criteria.â€? They were given two years to ďŹ x it or face losing the UN designation — which would be See FUTURE OF, page A9
Beachfest hits 90,000 people Sandcastles, entertainment, food and fun for the family at KidFest AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
A sure sign that the lazy days of summer are numbered, Beachfest wrapped up its ďŹ ve week exhibition this weekend. The Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition welcomed just over 90,000 visitors through the gate this year, second only to 99,000 people in 2010. “It was a terriďŹ c ďŹ ve-week span with amazing sculptures and fun events intermingled throughout,â€? said Beach Fes-
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tival Society president Cheryl Dill. From those visitors 81,131 votes were cast for favourite sculpture giving the People’s Choice Award to the Orbital Sanders from Seattle for their sculpture “Backyard Battleâ€? and to individual competitor Brett Stocker from Los Cabos, Mexico for his “Medieval Mansion.â€? Dill said the sand art stood strong for the extended ďŹ ve week exhibition, their longest ever, and it was bitter-sweet Monday when they were taken down. See PRIZES TOPPED $32,000, page A4
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STEVEN HEYWOOD PHOTO
RAISE YOUR ARMS IF YOU LOVE KIDFEST: The crowd at the main stage at KidFest in Parksville’s Community Park cheer loudly, as they await the announcement of winners in the Quality Foods Children’s Sand Castle Competition. See page A5 for more KidFest coverage.