Change campaign Coins for Kids fundraiser wraps up this week. PAGE 22 Basketball preview High school hoops season set to begin. PAGE B1 Holiday mashup Cate Richardson performs in annual show. PAGE 3
ing n Home Heat o re it /L ¢ 0 1 Save until April Oil from now CALL FOR DE
C&S TRANSMISSION SPECIALTIES LTD.
“EXPERT SERVICE SERVED RIGHT”
TAILS
DFuels.ca 53.5105 • AF .7 0 5 2 o im a n Na
Celebrating
1988
2013
6852 Mart Rd. LANTZVILLE
Years
www.nanaimobulletin.com
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013
VOL. 25, NO. 76
250.390.1871
Group forms to support politicians BY TAMARA CUNNINGHAM THE NEWS BULLETIN
When 25-year-old Lantzville councillor Andrew Mostad throws up his hand, his vote is counted like any other. Now he wants to make sure his opinion carries the same weight. “There is a lot of push back, not so much against young people getting involved, but young people being heard,” he said of politics. “We need to be less of a novelty and something put up on a mantelpiece – your trophy young person on council – and be seen as a contributing member.” Mostad is among the Nanaimo region’s under-40 politicians facing age discrimination in local governReporter Tamara ment. Despite being Cunningham investigates elected by the public, how youth influences it’s a challenge for politics at the municipal the change-makers level during this two-part, to be seen as equals multimedia series on by their older peers. Youth in Politics. Today, They report pervasive youth respond to issues feelings of being disreof age discrimination spected, intimidated raised by council and subjected to members. “cheap” shots about their age in front of the electorate – and they say it’s time for it to stop. Community leaders shouldn’t be tolerant of any kind of discrimination and by leaving negative age comments unchecked, councils are making it more challenging for young people to share ideas, they say, adding it also does little to reverse the trend of youth disillusionment with the political system. ◆ See ‘YOUNG’ /7
Youth in politics
KARL YU/THE NEWS BULLETIN
The Katzberg family – Bernie, left, Jessica, Ethan and Coralee – bring their Christmas tree to their car at the Gogo tree farm in Nanaimo.
Only a real tree will do for Christmas centrepiece
I
MIKE GOGO’S tree farm celebrates 84 years of family traditions. BY KARL YU THE NEWS BULLETIN
M
ike Gogo’s family has been in the Christmas tree-selling business for 84 years and according to him, there is nothing like a real Christmas tree. Artificial trees might work for some people but not for Gogo. “They go great with a plastic turkey,” quipped the tree farm and saw-
mill owner, estimating that a good artificial tree costs $250 and after 10 years, looks like someone “ate it.” “If you pay $25 for a beautiful, fresh tree, that gives you 10 years of beautiful, fresh smelling trees, in your house and also, it’s 100 per cent renewable, 100 per cent biodegradable. The artificial trees are made of oil,” Gogo said. With Christmas quickly approaching, the traffic heading down South Forks Road to get to Gogo’s farm is intensifying. Heading there to choose a Christmas tree can be a chance for families to bond, as grandparents, parents and children can make an outing of it.
Gogo said the second and third weekends of December are when he sees the most customers. “We like coming out here because we love real Christmas trees and the tradition of cutting down our own Christmas tree,” said Blake Howe, who was at Gogo’s farm Saturday. “I like looking around and exploring [for] Christmas trees ... We’re looking for a Charlie Brown tree,” said son Dusty. This is Bernie, Coralee, Jessica and Ethan Katzberg’s first time searching for a Christmas tree in Nanaimo and they were inspired to select their tree. ◆ See ‘GOGO’S’ /13
EvEry nEw nissan on salE at $500 abovE dEalEr invoicE Plus all factory incentives Check hoses, clamps, condition of radiator ONLY AT perform NEWCASTLE performance, pressure test & check for leaks.NISSAN
NEWCASTLE NISSAN
E
SERVIC
250-756-1515 3612 North Island Hwy. Beside Country Club Mall (D.L. 30776) www.newcastlenissan.com