CALL TO ARTISTS The Sooke Fine Arts Show is now accepting applications.
Editorial
Page 9
Entertainment
Page 14
Sports/stats
Page 32
Sooke is Selling!
Classifieds 27• 75¢
3.125x1.2” Dimock
2014 Sooke Home Sales: 300 2015 Sooke Home Sales: 28
36 Pages in one section
Page 23
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
M E D I A
TAMMI DIMOCK
Agreement #40110541
Personal Real Estate Corp.
250.642.6361
Shopping service caters to home-bound people Pirjo Raits
Sooke News Mirror
Carol Harding is a woman about town who is known for her plethora of community-minded activities. As if she doesn’t have enough to do, she has started what she hopes will become a tremendous success — a grocery shopping service. “The whole idea came from CHI and the District of Sooke,” said Harding. “Originally I think it came from the doctors’ office when they asked a senior the question, “What can we do to keep you safe and happy in your own home?” Later at a gathering where a lot of seniors happened to be, the question was raised
once again and the one thing they came away with was, yes, they needed a shopping service. Harding and Judy Planes went to see Buz Merriam, the general manager at Western Foods and he agreed this was a good idea. Western already has a delivery service, Monday to Friday, and the addition of shopping would add to the services they have been providing to people in Sooke over the last 20 years. “I think it’s something we need in the community,” said Buz Merriam. “The seniors requested someone do this for them and since we have seniors’ day, we would be a good fit for them. I hope it goes
Pirjo Raits photo
Carol Harding, Judy Planes and grocery supervisor for Western Foods Luc Walters, are gearing up for the start of a shopping for shut-ins service. well and people use it.” The shopping will be done by Harding and Planes and they will deliver the groceries to
The Violin
It was a cold winter’s night in late January, as a visitor to Sooke I was looking for a store to buy a few groceries. I parked my car and began walking across the square towards the lights. Reaching me, through the dusk, resonating high and low came the sound of a violin. I stopped to listen. How could such a small instrument have such carrying power, such richness, and versatility? Drawing closer, I saw a tall, lean man, his smile beaming through the darkness. He was playing a Celtic melody with such energy and enjoyment, foot tapping,
Norman Nelson.
File photo
his whole body swaying to the rhythm. I searched in my purse for some coins, adding them to the violin case. The violin was eye-catching, made of smooth, dark curled maple. I stayed; enjoying the moment, his enthusiasm catching,
the client in their own vehicles. A $5 charge will offset the cost of gas. The service is avail-
able to those who are shut-in and cannot easily get out and shop for themselves. It is open to anyone of any age
and my foot began tapping in spite of myself! Just then an older white haired gentleman walked towards us, he walked slowly, listening, he took his wallet out of his pocket and began folding a note and reaching the player he bent down and put the note into the violin case. As he straightened up he said to the violinist, “When I was younger I used to play the violin.” The man stopped playing, he hesitated, thoughtful, trustingly his younger hands held out the violin and bow. The older man’s hands eagerly took them. He felt the curved lines of the violin, as if sensing its strength and weakness and he began to play. The violin changed
that is house bound. Starting March 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. and every Thursday after, the “client” will call the telephone line at Western, (250-642-6525), and give Harding or Planes their grocery order. “One of us will answer and we will need to know exactly what you want,” said Harding. She said the person ordering needs to know the brand and size as well of quantity of everything they order. They need to be specific, she said. Do they want butter, if so, what brand, and is it butter or margarine? While one of them is on the phone the other will be shopping and as it is Thursday the customer will get the
tune, as with the help of the player each violin sings its own song. It was haunting, soulful, a classical piece, it filled, warmed the spaces deep within the heart. The younger man was spellbound, and finally he said to the gentleman, “I had better pack up now and leave you to it.” The older man smiled and returned the violin to its owner. He then invited him to play at a venue on Saturday night, the man thanked him but declined explaining he was just passing through Sooke and would not be here then. The older man continued on his way into the store. I went on mine, quietly reflecting on such a poignant moment.
As serendipity would have it, a couple of days later I was dining at a local spot with a friend and picked up an advertising leaflet for the 2014-2015 Concert Season. Sooke has a Philharmonic Orchestra - Wow. Reading the leaflet I saw a picture of a white haired gentleman, it was of Norman Nelson, a man who had studied violin at the Royal College of Music in London, internationally acclaimed. I thought I recognized him, but could this possibly be the same man who had so modestly entertained us the previous evening? What a magical introduction to Sooke. Barbara Geary Galiano Island
Selling 7x2.5 this Spring?
COMPLIMENTARY MARKET EVALUATIONS
oliver katz
OLIVER KATZ Personal Real Estate Corporation
250 642 6480
CAMOSUN WESTSIDE
10 per debt discount for seniors. This, said Harding, can offset the $5 cost for delivery of the groceries. The shoppers will have a float and they will be reimbursed when the groceries are delivered. They cannot process credit or debit cards. All of the money raised with the delivery charge will go to a local charity. “I hope we can get it going,” said Harding. “It is something that is needed, even for people who are sick.” If all goes as hoped, Harding foresees the need for another volunteer. “It’s a Sookie thing to do, isn’t it?” said Harding.