THURSDAY December 19, 2013 Vol. 28 • No. 102 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
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A cast of 17 is rehearsing Courtenay Little Theatre’s impending production of The Drowsy Chaperone. page B1
Comox snowboarder Darcy Sharpe earned the overall title and best trick honours at a Colorado competition. page B11
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Snow god deaf to resort’s pleas
Hot drinks, dedication to aid needy
much further than plenty of fluffy powder in terms of being able to Record Staff get the groomers out to pack the With a mid-mountain base of slopes. Although the mountain opened about 25 centimetres as of Tuesday afternoon, Mount Washing- early for the past four seasons, ton Alpine Resort spokesperson Curtain pointed out that historiBrent Curtain said he’s crossing cal data, dating back to when the resort opened in 1979, shows his fingers and toes this week. “We’re supposed to see some opening the slopes in the second snow on probably late Thursday, or third week of December is early Friday,” Curtain said Tues- actually the norm. “That being said though, day, noting the snow forecast has been changing frequently of late, obviously, we’re not seeing the so predicting the weather on the weather that we’d like to see,” he continued, pointmountain has ing out the typibeen difficult. cal fall weather “There is Anybody that systems, which some mixed prebring strong cip predicted for knows Mount Washingsoutheast winds the weekend, so ton knows if the right and high precipiwe don’t know system moves in we can tation amounts, if that’s going to have so far been fall in the form get a ton of snow in a non-existent. “We of snow or rain or short period of time. literally haven’t both; it’s tough to Brent Curtain seen one of those say at this point.” this fall.” The mounCurtain noted a recently tain’s anticipated opening day was Dec. 6, and 10 days later, Cur- issued BC Hydro news release — tain said it’s hard to say whether announcing the dry and cool fall the resort will be able to open in season’s impact on the Puntledge time for the Christmas holidays River hydroelectric system — as he pointed out this fall has been next week. “It’s one of those things … it’s a “very, very dry.” According to the release, “water waiting game, “ he said. “Anybody that knows Mount Washington inflows into the Comox Lake Resknows if the right system moves ervoir from Oct. 9 to date have in we can get a ton of snow in a been the lowest in 50 years of short period of time. So fingers record,” resulting in a need for crossed that that can happen, Hydro to operate the Puntledge because we can definitely go from River generating station at 25 per not a lot of snow to a lot of snow cent of capacity to conserve water. Meanwhile, Curtain dispelled in no time.” He added there is no set num- a circulating rumour that if the ber the mountain needs to reach mountain doesn’t get enough in terms of a snow base to be snow to open for the holidays, able to open; a smaller amount the resort may choose not to open ... see TOO EARLY ■ A2 of moist, dense snow would go Renee Andor
Renee Andor Record Staff
Jessica Lewis is determined to raise as much money as she can for the Comox Valley Food Bank, even if that means standing outside four hours per night in wet and cold weather. The Grade 12 G.P. Vanier student has been offering hot chocolate, tea and apple cider from a little stand on the corner of 26th Street and Fitzgerald Avenue from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday, since Nov. 28. As she served hot drinks to passersby Monday night, she said she got rained out only one evening since she started. She smiled as she confirmed she was even out there during those cold nights earlier this month, which saw temperatures dip well below freezing. “I just thought I’d make a hot chocolate stand and start donating to (the food bank) because it looked like they could really use some help this time of year,” Lewis says, noting all proceeds after costs will be donated to the food bank Dec. 23. The minimum donation for a hot chocolate is $1, or $1.25 with whipped cream, and she has chocolate sprinkles. The minimum donation for tea and apple cider is 50 cents. She is considering a career as a baker and usually has a toaster oven with warm homemade miniapple pies on hand, too. Lewis had raised just over $191 as of Monday. In an effort to raise more money, she will be at her hot drinks stand each
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GRADE 12 G.P. Vanier student Jessica Lewis offers hot drinks on the corner of 26th Street and Fitzgerald Avenue each evening to raise money for the Comox Valley Food Bank. PHOTO BY RENEE ANDOR
night until Monday, Dec. 23, including Sunday, which she normally takes off. After she closes Dec. 23, she plans to hand the money over to the food bank. Because it’s fully dark by the time she opens up her stand for
the evening, Lewis sets up festive decorations each night. “I have it all lit up,” she says. “I have a Christmas tree I set up every night for it to try to get attention because it’s really dark around that corner.” ... see HOBBITS ■ A2
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