TUESDAY JANUARY 14, 2014
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DANCING LEGEND
TOUGH WEEK FOR QUALICUM BIZ
Peggy Baker here to teach and perform this week
Four businesses in Qualicum, one in Coombs, decide to shut their doors
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FLU SEASON
All out of vaccine Your family doctor may be the only place to get one JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
Local pharmacies have run out of vaccine in the middle of what’s become a bad year for the flu. Your family physician is your best bet for a vaccine — the Oceanside Health Centre’s urgent care facility does not provide vaccinations. Island Health reports it distributed more than 200,000 doses of vaccine (209,000 as of mid-December) — a 12 per cent increase over last year. Since Dec. 1, 2013, there have been 57 people in Island Health hospitals who have tested positive for influenza. Island Health officials say there are 21 people currently in hospital with lab-confirmed influenza (eight in Nanaimo). Island Health says there have been two deaths in hospitals where influenza is suspected to have been a contributing factor, one in late December and one last week. One patient was aged 20-65 with underlying health conditions and the other patient was over the age of 80. “Supplies are getting low after two months, particularly since seeing a significant spike in demand in the past couple of weeks,” Island Health’s Val Wilson said in an e-mail to The NEWS. “There still is a limited supply of vaccine available at this point. We are monitoring supplies and moving them around to resupply sites as needed. We did distribute a shipment of additional vaccine doses (last) week.” All the local pharmacies that were given vaccines, and Family Place in Parksville, reported Monday they were out of stock. “Any one of them may not have a supply left, but in total we may have a fair bit left on the Island,” said Dr. Paul Hasselback, Central Island medical health officer. See YOUNGER, page A4
JOHN HARDING PHOTO
LOUNGING LIONS: This colony of sea lions is back at its favourite winter spot to lounge, just off the government docks in Fanny Bay, attracting dozens of human visitors every day.
School closures ‘a fait accompli’ JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
Mayor Chris Burger says he believes school closures are coming to Parksville Qualicum Beach soon and he is trying to start the conversation about how these facilities may be utilized by the community. The local school district has been hosting public meetings and developing reports on what it is going to do to address its multi-milliondollar budget shortfall. The school board is expected to act on the feedback and the reports at its meeting
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Jan. 28, but Burger said last week he believes closures are “a fait accompli.” “I think it is, certainly to the extent we have 4,000 students and 6,000 capacity, we’re going to see some facility closures — I think that is a fait accompli,” said Burger. “They (facility closures) are going to have to ultimately occur.” Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell wasn’t prepared to say school closures are inevitable. “I would say it’s not something I have heard from the (School District
r e t n i W Wonderful 10 FREE $
69) administration or from school trustees that they are at that point now, but tough decisions have to be made,” said Stilwell. “There are lots of (ideas) that are floating around. The more ideas we get out and get the conversation started its going to help us find solutions (to the budget woes of the school district).” One of those ideas, according to Burger, is to use any closed school district facilities for health-care-related issues. See MAYOR SAYS, page A5 Also See WE’RE FACING, page A5
GIFT CARD
With a minimum $40 Cosmetic purchase in the month of January.
*Purchase must be $40 before taxes of participating Cosmetics, Skin care, and Fashion Accessories. Gift card will be valid on you next $40 Cosmetic purchase up to February 28th, 2014. Valid only at participating locations. Some restrictions apply, see store for details.