Elder abuse Program helps educate and protect vulnerable seniors. PAGE 21 Chasing first V.I. Raiders back in top form after weekend win. PAGE 29 New leaders Parks and rec program inspires youth, develops skills. PAGE 7
o/Ladysmith
Greater Nanaim
Family
Success By Six INSIDE
WIN it Weekend! SEPT. 14 & 15
Celebrating
1988
Win the value of your purchase in cash.
See details at: countryclubcentre.com
2013
Years
www.nanaimobulletin.com
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
VOL. 25, NO. 47
www.countryclubcentre.com
Car strikes child walking to school I
POLICE STEPPING up traffic enforcement in school zones. BY CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
Food for thought
Harvest Festival features larger farmers’ market
Crystal Dennison, Nanaimo Foodshare executive director, shows off a small sample of some of the produce gleaned from Nanaimo Community Gardens on Pine Street last week. Nanaimo Foodshare is one of the beneficiaries of donations raised at the upcoming annual Harvest Festival and is among local farmers and organizations promoting local food production strategies highlighted at the festival. CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
BY CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
T
here will be more than a little something to sample at the third annual Harvest Festival. Once again Wesley Street in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter will be blocked off and stacked chock full of fresh-from-the-farm produce, plus locally made preserves and crafts from at least 40 vendors, live entertainment and fresh food whipped up by local chefs. “Our farmers market has doubled in size
over last year, so that’s an exciting attraction,” said Kim Smythe, event organizer. “We’ll have about 20 booths of farmers and value-added vendors. By value-added, I mean things like honey and salsas and locally processed and canned goods.” Live entertainment runs non-stop throughout the festival, which happens Saturday (Sept. 14) 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with five acts, including the Mount Benson Ceilidh Band, Tribute, Gerry Barnum, Coombs Old Time Fiddlers and more. ◆ See ‘EVENT’ /4
A five-year-old girl was rushed to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital after she was struck by a car Friday. The accident happened at about 8:30 a.m. on Wakesiah Avenue between First and Second streets. The girl was walking to school with her mother and her younger sibling when she suddenly ran onto the road. “Suddenly the kid just bolts from her mom,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “Her mom tries to grab her and she just ran right into traffic.” The child was struck by the front bumper of a Dodge Caliber, driven by a 27-year-old woman, and thrown about eight metres by the impact. The girl suffered a broken pelvis and other possible internal injuries, police said. Neither speed or alcohol were factors in the accident and no charges are pending against the driver. Victim Services are tending to the mother and the driver. O’Brien said there is a church property near where the accident occurred that children will often cut through to get to school. Police closed Wakesiah temporarily while they conducted their investigation into the incident. “It’s a tragic accident that was probably unavoidable,” O’Brien said.
Not all accidents can be avoided, but Nanaimo RCMP’s municipal traffic section has stepped up enforcement in school zones with the start of the new school year. Cpl. Norm Smith, head of municipal traffic, said speed enforcement in school zones is being delivered with a two-pronged approach of education and penalties. Speed Watch volunteers are manning school zones with speed boards displaying drivers’ speeds. “People who are travelling in excess of the speed limit will be receiving letters in the mail warning that they were caught speeding,” Smith said. Police are also setting up at zones and handing out tickets to violators. On Wednesday, police issued more than 20 speeding tickets. “One person on Jingle Pot Road lost their car for seven days for excessive speeding in a school zone,” Smith said. “They were travelling 77 in a 30 zone. We are out in force. We value our children, so we want to make sure people slow down in school zones.” A 30 km/h speed limit is in effect in school zones Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on days when classes are in session. The fine for driving one to 20 km/h over the speed limit in a school zone is $196. For speeds exceeding 20 km/h over the limit, the fine climbs to $253. Excessive speeding is considered any speed higher than 40 km/h above the posted speed limit and carries higher fines. photos@nanaimobulletin.com
JEWELLERY SERVICE
GOLD RECYCLING
250.585.1648 Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm 3392 Norwell Drive, Nanaimo
WE B U Y GOLD