THURSDAY MAY 3, 2018
VOL. 44, NO. 17
$1
including GST
Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
REMEMBERING COLIN
Bowen Island mourns the loss of talented young musician, Colin Ruloff
BEAUTIFUL BOWEN
A look at the island through the paintbrush of a Bowen Island nana
BIKING ON BOWEN
Tips to help you get pedalling around the rock this summer, even if it means walking your bike
Road work equals traffic delays in May CHANTAL EUSTACE EDITOR
The municipality says to prepare for up to 15-minute traffic delays on sections of Dorman Road and Bowen Island Trunk this month due to road work. Crews will be enhancing a new bike lane going up the hill from the Cove, and completing the temporary road repairs done after BC Hydro’s work last fall, says a municipality press release. This work will take between two or three weeks, “depending on contractor availability and weather,” it says, and will include grinding down the existing pavement, re-paving and painting lines. It’s schedule to take place Monday to Friday — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — with single lane traffic while crews are at work. They say exact dates will be announced once contractors for the work are confirmed. “We appreciate your patience while we complete this work before the busy summer season arrives,” they say. (In other words, remember to give yourself plenty of time to get to the ferry!)
For those who want to balance in life, slacklining is also an enjoyable form of exercise, as Baz Cardinal demonstrates. Feature page 3
Message to impaired drivers — stay off roads CHANTAL EUSTACE EDITOR
Plan ahead and don’t drink and drive, says Cpl. Paulo Arreaga of the Bowen RCMP, talking to us at the paper, about road safety and alcohol on the island. Here’s more of what he had to say on this. Undercurrent: Calls for causing a disturbance or being intoxicated in public were higher for 2017 with 27 calls, up by 10 from the year before. What do increases like this indicate? Arreaga: There could be several factors that would contribute to an increase in these types of calls. Some years might see several larger events being held during good
DEE ELLIOT; 3.417 in; Process color; -; R0011560391
weather that might even extend late into the season. Good weather tends to increase noise levels and in alcohol related activities. As the popularity of Bowen Island increases we might see an increase of all kinds of calls for service. Undercurrent: Anything else you’d like to say about drinking responsibly on the island? Arreaga: Yes. It never ceases to amaze me how much of a set back an evening of a little too much alcohol can bring to anyone’s life. I have experienced people losing their jobs, friends, family, licences, housing, and livelihood all due to one night that ended up being the last straw. Continued page 9
Plant sale is this Saturday JOHN LAWRENCE B.I. GARDEN CLUB
Attention all gardeners. The Garden Club’s annual Plant Sale and Raffle is this Saturday at BICS, from 11 a.m. until noon. The Plant Sale and Raffle is the club’s annual fundraiser. The funds raised support a num-
The Plant Sale is just one hour, so there’s a queue. John Lawrence
ber of programs that benefit the community. For example, the annual spring bulbs sale, the monthly program of Open Gardens and visiting speakers and funds for public garden spaces. The Plant Sale will open promptly at BICS at 11 a.m. — and will last for one hour only. Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to get a place in the front of the queue. The better items sell out very quickly! The club’s members have been busy collecting a wide variety of plants and shrubs over the last six months to ensure that there will be generous choices available for your gardens. Prices will be competitive. Given the ravages of our resident deer population expect to find a large collection of “deer resistant” plants for the unfenced portions of your property. Continued page 9