THURSDAY JUNE 21, 2018 VOL. 44, NO. 23
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GRADUATION ISSUE 2018
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO THIS YEAR’S BOWEN ISLAND GRADUATES
Bowen Buzz: Road delays and high fire danger BRONWYN BEAIRSTO EDITOR
Road repaving began Monday in Snug Cove. Crawling traffic and a 20-minute ferry delay are among the consequences this week of the long-expected resurfacing. Affected areas include Trunk Road and a small portion of Dorman Road. Roadwork is expected to take up to two weeks, during which cove traffic will be reduced to a single lane from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. “Resurfacing includes grinding down the existing pavement, re-paving and then painting new lines,” says the BIM website. “We appreciate your patience while we complete this work before the peak of the summer season.” With all the road construction BICS says there could be delays of 10-15 minutes on some bus routes. There’s a new police officer in town: Cst. Greg Copeland started Monday. He’s replacing Cst. Chris Coulter since Coulter and his family departed for Vancouver Island. Watch those flames – Bowen fire danger rating is now at high With recent hot, dry weather the island’s fire danger has risen to high. Backyard campfires, blasting and using a chainsaw in public spaces are prohibited and if you’re barbecueing – propane only. The B.C. wildfire service says that under high danger conditions, “Forest fuels are very dry and the fire risk is serious. New fires may start easily, burn vigorously, and challenge fire suppression efforts. “Extreme caution must be used in any forest activities.”
Bowen Island’s high school class of 2035 got together for a picture at Bowen Children’s Centre June 16. More than 20 babies gathered for the annual photoshoot of children born in the last year. PHOTO PAUL WINNY
Major funding for cross-island multi-use trail BRONWYN BEAIRSTO EDITOR
On the tail(pipe) of Bowen Island Municipality’s 20-year transportation plan being adopted, the province announced June 13 that BIM would receive $135,666 for phase one of a cross-island multi-use trail. The funding, which is part of the BikeBC program, will allow the municipality to do the technical work required to see exactly where
the trail will go. The trail was one of the high priority items on the new municipal plan. “This is a really great kick start,” said councillor Melanie Mason. “Often these plans stay plans, but we’re actually going to get going.” TransLink has already agreed to 50 per cent cost-sharing for phase one and the BikeBC funding will cover 75 per cent of the remaining costs.
Mason says this is the first time BIM has applied for this kind of funding, as funding at this level usually requires demonstrated community engagement. She says the transportation plan allowed BIM to show the province this engagement. According to the transportation plan, the multi-use trail is projected to have five stages. Transportation committee chair Rob Wynen says that construction of the trail is expected to begin in 2019.