FISHBOWL MAGAZINE MAY 2016

SALT SPRING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT & CULTURE

May 2016 - FISSUE #93 FREE & EASY

Bike your Beliefs

BIKE to WORK Week • 5 Find your way around

SALT SPRING MAP • 8 May Calendar of

STUFF to DO on the ROCK • 9 Dr. Patrick Callas

The Allergy SOLUTION • 13

40 YEAR REUNION ANNOUNCED www.fishbowlmagazine.com read us online at issuu.com/fishbowlmagazine email us today at thesaltyfishbowl@hotmail.com

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Salt Spring

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338 Lower Ganges Road, 2nd Floor, 250-931-0420

On Our Cover

Valdy &

the hometown reunite after 40 YEARS band August 6th & 7th at the 2nd Annual SALT SPRING MUSIC & GARLIC FESTIVAL

The event coordinators of the upcoming 2016 SALT SPRING MUSIC and GARLIC FESTIVAL are proud to announce that headlining the Sunday night slot is the 40th year Reunion of the cross Canada success ‘Valdy & the Hometown Band’. Coming together again is Valdy, Shari Ulrich, Claire Lawrence, Doug Edwards, Geoff Eyre who will be joined by Connie LeBeau on bass and Michael Creber on keyboards. Much missed will be the late B 3 Hammond keyboard wizard, Robbie King. Valdy recounts that: “In 1975, producer Claire Lawrence chose players for my recording sessions at Little Mountain Sound in Vancouver who became the core of The Hometown Band. We went on to play fifty-nine full house in seventy-two days, coast to coast including Newfoundland!

We toured together around the United States and Hometown Band proceeded to open for Supertramp. Here we are, forty years later playing these same songs and digging it immensely.”

Other Main Stage Acts confirmed so far are certain to appeal to all tastes and demo-graphs of our community. Headlining on Saturday night will be the much acclaimed ‘Odds’, with other acts on the roster for this August 6th and 7th including ‘Jesse Roper’, ‘Petunia and the Vipers’, ‘Shred Kelly’, ‘Jon and Roy’, ‘The Maureen Washington Quartet’, ‘The Bills’, ‘Daniel Lapp and Friends’, ‘Carmanah’, ‘The Barefoot Thieves’, ‘Billie Woods +’, ‘Yael Wand +’, New Zealand’s ‘Graham Wardrop’, Jose Sanchez and more...stay tuned! This year’s event takes place August 6 & 7th at Paradise Within Farm on Musgrave Road.

Early Bird tickets, available until May 14, are the best deal in the western world at $60 for a Weekend Pass. saltspringmusicandgarlicfestival.com.

FISHBOWL

Scopes Brought to you by our own in-house astrologer who now goes by her numerologically correct name of “Ya Righta.”

^ Aries: The economy is

rocky. Don’t take anything you have for granted - insure everything you own for 125% of the original cost. If all else fails marry your insurance broker.

_ Taurus:

c The light is coming closer. You will soon see exactly what the future holds. The light is a little bit blinding though, so you might want to look away when it gets close, or possibly even turn around. But don’t turn around for too long as we think it’s a light, we don’t know it’s a light, it’s either a light or a brick.

Virgo:

Whilst occasionally stern, Taureans are renowned for their good sense of Libra sees a lot but humor and their ability to laugh at the d strangest things, even funny horoscopes doesn’t say a lot. They are highly observant but often don’t say much at all. They play www.laughsend.com/horoscopes.php. it a little smarter than that and save those ` Gemini or juicy details and may use them against you “The Twins”, is one of the more sensual at the most surprising times. of star-signs. This sensuality is often A Scorpio at first marred, however, by a random nervous e twitch. The twitch most often takes the may look quiet, serious and serene. This may give you the wrong impression. They are not form of an involuntary lashing of the tongue which more often than not can approachable! or...Approach with caution! really kill the mood. f Love comes in all shapes & sizes. Unfortunately by the a Cancerians are very active in the game time you make a decision all the good shapes and sizes will have gone. of life, and enjoy living ‘to the max”.

Cancerians are probably the best bunch g of people to be around, although cynics What happened yesterday was beyond will point out that this is because they’ll your control however what you did do all the crazy funny stuff whilst we today...that was all you baby! watch and laugh.

Libra:

Gemini:

Scorpio:

Cancer:

Sagittarius: Capricorn:

b Leo:

h Aquarius:

Your coworkers will seem to be against you today. Try not to get the wrong end Much of what you believe now will later of the stick, especially the pointy end. be shattered by an obnoxious man who i Crossing your will probably wear glasses and have a fingers and wishing upon a star may not distinct lisp. Carry on. He likely had no work out as planned this month. idea what he’s talking about.

Pisces:

cOLUMNISTS: John Bateman • Dorothy Price GREEN PRINTING & LAYOUT: IMAGINE THAT GRAPHICS.CA Peter Vincent • Dr. Patrick Callas • Marsha Moreau aD sALES: Deadlines are the 10th of the month Lisa Sigurgeirson Maxx • Sean Patrick Hogan previous to book ad space & submit content.

Melinda Parks-Divers • Matt O’Connor • Ken Brudner Calendar events can be submitted up until the 17th. sponsors: Dorothy teaches classes & retreats locally & worldwide.

Dorothy classestoday & retreats worldwide.

Pharmasave • Barb’s Bakery & Bistro • Hawthorne Hill teaches Call Genevieve at 250 538locally 8427 or&email Visit www.santosha-yoga-retreats.com or phone 250.653.4655 Gravel Sales • Valcourt & Sons Roofing • John Lefebvre thesaltyfishbowl@hotmail.com for rates250.537.7675 & information.

Visit www.santosha-yoga-retreats.com or phone THE FISHBOWL is brought to you by publisher Genevieve Price along with the following local columnists & sponsors.

Salt Spring Island’s #1 Source for Arts, Entertainment & Culture.

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2013 SMALL BUSINESS of the YEAR!

T H E F I S H B O W L - M AY 2 0 1 6 • PA G E F O U R

Price is Right

PRODUCT REVIEWS

by: Genevieve Price Sponsored by

Neutrogena CLEAR FACE SUNSCREEN with SPF 30 Neutrogena clear face Sunscreen is a fantastic product. It is non greasy, doesn’t give me a white cast and, as promised, hasn’t broken me out. I prefer the SPF 30 to the 55. I did notice on days my skin was dry or a little irritated before I applied that the formula did sting for just a second upon application.

However, the formula absorbs fast and with no redness so this wasn’t a concern for me.

This product doesn’t have a strong “sunscreen” smell which is a real bonus.

I would say it’s a keeper for me.

T H E F I S H B O W L - M AY 2 0 1 6 • PA G E F I V E

Lisa Sigurgeirson Maxx, ECE

Nurturing, empowering & educating families for over 30 years *amma = grandmother in Icelandic

Dear Singing Amma, My baby and soon-to-be toddler gets upset sometimes and I feel like I have no energy to deal. I don’t know how to help her and I’m worried about giving in to her every whim. signed, Distressed and Tired Mom Dear Tired and di-Stressed, It will be a happy day when our culture realizes that responding to our babies and children’s cries is not a “giving in,” that it can bring no harm to the relationship, but rather, will only strengthen it.

Bike to Work Week on its Way!

Instead of pushing the child away and creating more distance, try reaching out a gentle hand, acknowledging, and giving reassurance. “It can be frustrating not being able to say how you feel. I know. I feel that way, too, sometimes.”

“Slow” is a watchword on Salt Spring, not just because we’re not in the city. As drivers, we know we’re sharing the road with deer and other wildlife, with pedestrians… and cyclists - especially during BC’s Bike to Work Week, from May 30 - June 5.

In communities big and small, Salt Spring too, people do their bit for personal and planetary health by biking to work, or to wherever they need to go, and keep track of their kilometers on the biketowork.ca website.

Once again, the Islands Trust is hosting a “celebration station” with goodies from Jana’s bake shop and other local sources for participants; you can check it out on the morning of Wednesday, June 1, at the Islands Trust office on Lower Ganges Road.

You’ll notice something new at the Islands Trust and BC Hydro office - a bike rack and shelter designed and built by local businesses. It’s getting lots of use, as 3 Trust staff members bike to work daily, rain or shine, and another has joined their ranks since the shelter was constructed. A great example of “walking your talk”, “biking your beliefs” and helping to achieve Salt Spring’s climate action and Official Community Plan goals!

For more information on Bike to Work Week, please contact local coordinator Jan Slakov (537-5251) or visit the biketowork.ca/salt-spring-other-gulf-islands website.

“…children who need the most love will ask for it in the most unloving ways.”

(Dr. Russell Barkley). When a child is “acting out” they are actually in need of something. For a baby or young child it might be something as simple as a dry diaper, some food or some time cuddling and/or nursing. Even if it is “just for attention” remember that human beings are social by nature and attention can be a very real need. Whenever possible, close the gap and fill the need.

Assistant Coaches Needed

Babies cry because they do not yet have language to speak. Toddlers cry and have meltdowns (also sometimes called “tantrums,” though that word holds negative connotations) because they, too, do not fully have the language to communicate all that is going on in their rapidly growing bodies and minds.

The best response is always a loving one. “We liberate children not by making them work for our love, but by letting them rest in it.” (Dr. Gordon Neufeld).

Treating a child gently is not “permissiveness,” and will not “spoil” a child - (a rather ignorant concept when looking at the developmental curve of human communication and our biological need for connection) - it is simply respectful and positive role modeling for our young ones to imitate as they grow.

Instead of asking – or telling - a child to stop crying and tell you what they want or need, practice acknowledging the crying and giving words to your understanding of it: “It sounds like you have something you are really trying to say or that you need something! I am right here, and I am listening.”

for SPECIAL OLYMPICS BOCCE

Having said all of this I will also acknowledge that it can be challenging, (to say the least!) when one is as exhausted as any parent can be. Self-care is as important for us as it can be difficult to get in our busy days blurred with sleep-disturbed nights.

Five simple suggestions for self-rejuvenation: If you feel like you are going to react – b.r.e.a.t.h.e. - and count to ten; take a shower (when somebody’s home to mind the baby); take a walk outside, observe and breathe in the beauty of Nature; make a walking date with a friend; put on some music and dance!

Send your parenting questions to: the.singing.amma@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/thesingingamma Could a private session with the singing amma be helpful for you and your family? email: lisasigurgeirsonmaxx@gmail.com to book yours today!

The Bocce program runs each Thursday 3:30-5:00 from the middle of May to the middle of September at Centennial Park. We also host a bocce tournament each year and this year it is on August 14, 2016.

If you are interested please contact Merv Anderson at mervsue@shaw.ca

T H E F I S H B O W L - M AY 2 0 1 6 • PA G E S I X

kind SPRING FLINGS, KITTENS BRING

paws with Sean Hogan

At our local SPCA branch, I manage a team of dedicated staff and volunteers. We’re getting ready for kitten season that often starts in May/June and runs hot through summer and into November. People are often wanting to adopt kittens in the Spring, but we generally have few to none until about three months’ after the start of the nice weather.

Generally, longer sunshiny days in March herald the beginning of us mammals spending more time outdoors. Coincidently, it is when un-spayed female cats begin their heat cycles.

Toms, that is, unfixed males, roaming about can hardly resist the allure of a nearby she-cat. When impregnated, she will gestate her kittens for a term of 60-66 days before birth. If born outside in the wild, mother will hide the newborns to protect from harm, moving them as need arises.

At about 3-4 weeks old, those wee ones will start to wander and scream for their mother who may leave them temporarily to hunt for food. This is often when people find them toddling about in the barn haystacks or from under the blackberry bushes or other coverings. It’s times like these when it’s good to know Salt Spring has a progressive group of caring people at the BC SPCA branch ready to help those kittens.

Our branch is ready and willing to help kittens with sheltering and adoption to great homes. We will take care of medical needs including spay/neuter and provide a BC Pet Registry microchip prior to adoption. Our goal is to ensure healthy, adoptable, and well socialized kittens are ready to go to their forever homes when they are 12-weeks of age or older. Until adoption, we support our volunteer foster families and find the best adoption match.

We are a reliable local resource to speak to about all things kittens and cats as our branch specializes in felines. Our aim is to help 75-100 kittens this year by recruiting more fosters, enhancing our foster training and providing ongoing care until adoption. If you would like to step forward to join our foster team, sign up today at www.spca.bc.ca/volunteer.

For Salt Springer’s who want to take on the role of kitten caregivers and home finders on their own, we say, go for it! You won’t find any judgment from us. We do ask you reach out to the branch for information about our by-donation Spay/Neuter Identification Program (SNIP) Fund that offers low-cost sterilization and micro chipping of kittens older than 3 months old. Our aim is to prevent unwanted litters and the awful quality of life many kittens experience without our help. The SNIP vouchers from our branch are valid at both of our awesome veterinary practices on the island.

For more information about BC SPCA Salt Spring Island, call 250-537-2123 or email saltspring@spca.bc.ca. You can contact me anytime shogan@spca.bc.ca

For Everyone

T H E F I S H B O W L - F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 • PA G E T W E L V E

with Salt Spring Island teacher Dorothy Price

Yoga

WORKING WITH STRESS Stress is inevitable.

There are physiological changes that happen to us when we get stressed, such as increased heart rate, higher blood pressure and restriction of the blood vessels (flight or fight response).

Over time, this can be harmful to us.

Did you know that these harmful physiological changes can be minimized by how we view stress? How we think about stress dictates how we experience stress biologically. In her book called “The Upside of Stress” Kelly McConigal Ph.D., cites studies that show when people think that stress is harmful to them, it, in fact, is; and when people think it won’t make a difference to their health, it significantly lessened the harmful effects. The key, according to McGonigal, is to change your mindset from avoiding stress to “managing” stress. She calls this shift “Mind Set Interventions.” She believes this shift in thinking can actually stop you from having a stress related heart attack!

Change your perception of stress. Get good at it. In fact, embrace your fear and anxiety. Take that stress-induced physiological energy to help energize you and raise you to the challenge! In fact, McConigal calls this the “Challenge” Response, as opposed to the “Stress” Response.

Remove “fear” and you have “focus”. Change the feeling of “I am stressed” to “I am excited”. Amazing things will happen. This will become your underlying biology of courage and growth. Believe you have what it takes to face the challenge!

“Stress is not what happens to us. It is our response to what happens.

And response is something we can choose.” ~Maureen Killoran~ Another “Mind Set Intervention” is to see the stressful situation as “bigger than self ”. Use stress as a way to see your values and what is important to you. “This is something I care about and I want to do the best I can with this situation (and possibly help others)”.

Whether you have taken on a significant life challenge, or in just living your daily life, expect stress and prepare to get excited and rise to the challenge.

McConigal calls this facing your own personal “Mount Everest.”

The fact of the matter is that happy people are not stress-free, nor does a stress-free life guarantee happiness. Significant levels of stress seem to go along with things people want: love, health, and satisfaction with their lives.

When you change your mind about stress, your body’s stress response becomes healthier. Yoga gives you a physical relaxation process that will begin to move the accumulated stress that can show up in your consciousness as anxiety.

Meditation’s greatest gift is the experience that you are at one with “everyone/everything”. At this point, primal fear and days, months, even years of stress can fall away. This brings a wonderful sense of peace. When you feel at peace, everything seems more manageable.

Back to the mat! ~ Dorothy Dorothy teaches classes & retreats locally & worldwide.

Visit www.santosha-yoga-retreats.com or phone 250-537-7675

The 2016 SALT SPRING MUSIC & GARLIC FESTIVAL planning team listened to you “Garlicheads” This year’s event promises many improvements like free parking, free shuttle bus, more music, more farm booths, food demonstrations, a chef tent, more kid stuff, better second stage, improved site layout and more, more, more!!)

The NEW, smaller, second stage is called ‘The ARVID STAGE’ celebrating the Island’s beloved, Arvid Chalmers (one of last year’s emcees) and his passion for community and music. This stage will go ‘live’ while Main Stage is doing set-up and re configuring.

Twenty minutes of performance by more intimate music acts, kid entertainers, poetry readings, comedy monologues, teaching workshops with musicians, and even a geezer ‘Soapbox’ is scheduled in true Arvid fashion where you can ‘have your say’ on what is broke and how you would fix it if you ruled the world!

In the same spirit of honouring a recently departed and a valued volunteer, the food service for the backstage musicians and tech volunteers will be called ‘Arlo’s Restaurant’ (a play on iconic song title ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ by Arlo Guthrie).

A large kids zone will be present with children’s’ entertainers, amusements rides, and other family fun events. Food booths will be re-located on site promising a wide variety of palate pleasures and especially lots of tasty, garlicky treats and foods. Award winning B.C. wines and brews will be offered in a more central tent.

All this will be located at the picturesque 53 acre Paradise Within Farm that offers mountain vistas and bit of an ocean view.

The focus of this Music and Garlic Festival is to promote garlic, organic farming, music, and the arts on SSI. This is a charitable organization registered as a Community Contributions Company in B.C (C-3) so money raised beyond expenses will go back to our community to support these initiatives.

Please join us in celebration of Salt Spring’s farming and arts community.

Keep checking the website saltspringmusicandgarlicfestival.com for updates on entertainer’s bios and other events to take place at this year’s fabulous music and garlic festival.

What’s on at

Moby’s Pub

continuing the tradition of

rocking the May Long Weekend with three stellar bands

Whether you’re arriving by boat, playing in the soccer tournament, checking out the market, or are one of our loyal regulars, we’ve got something for you this weekend.

On Friday evening, one of our local favourites, The Coalition, will start off the weekend with its 90s-influenced grunge rock. Saturday evening hails the return of Dope Soda, a inspired group of Vancouver Island musicians playing a mix of reggae, punk rock, jazz, hiphop, and ska. Don’t miss this fresh band with their incredibly lively horn section and dance beats. To top off the weekend, we have Ange Hehr with her talented band from Victoria. Ange brings an energy and enthusiasm to any evening and the skilled musicians and tight harmonies will get you shaking it on the dance floor.

Get there early each night, as it’s always sold out for the May Long Weekend!

We’ll of course have our friendly service and delicious menu available every day!

T H E F I S H B O W L - M AY 2 0 1 6 • PA G E S E V E N

this

May Did you know that ArtSpring Executive and Artistic Director Cicela Månsson is also an accomplished coloratura soprano? You can see her in concert on Thursday, May 19th with Canadian pianist Arthur Rowe and Salt Spring percussionist Luanne Katz (marimba and vibraphone) for a delightfully innovative musical collaboration.

Consistently praised for her brilliant technique, tonal beauty, and superb musicianship, Canadian pianist Angela Cheng has appeared regularly with virtually every orchestra in Canada and now she performs at ArtSpring on Tuesday, May 24th. The ArtSpring menu includes Haydn C Major Sonata, Beethoven 110, and Chopin Polonaise Fantasy in A Major, among other pieces.

On Sunday, May 22nd see Mary Shelley’s famous Gothic tale Frankenstein brought to life with Royal Ballet Live Broadcast.

American composer Lowell Liebermann has created a new score for this production, which is co-produced with the San Francisco Ballet.

For tickets to any of our shows call the ArtSpring Box Office at 250.537.2102 or visit www.tickets.artspring.ca.

For tickets to any shows at ArtSpring call the Box Office at 250.537.2102 or visit www.tickets.artspring.ca.

For a complete listing of events at ArtSpring visit www.artspring.ca/events.

Did you know that most of our ArtSpring Presents shows have a youth ticket price of only $5 courtesy Country Grocer’s generous support?

Salt Spring Island

T H E F I S H B O W L - M AY 2 0 1 6 • PA G E T E N

PETER VINCENT

Marsha’s

Book

CITIZEN Reviews at LARGE

with Marsha Moreau

Saltspring Bucket List As you read this, dear reader, I may or may not be in Barcelona, Spain, home of the iconic Gaudi La Familia Cathedral, lively tapas bars, and the tumescent Museé de L’erotica. And, as you read this, my loveable, porcine, flatulent Rottweiler “Bella” may or may not be dead. These two events are inextricably intertwined.

On February 18 of this year, loveable Salt Spring country veterinarian Harold Bond delivered some decidedly unlovable news - that loveable Bella had cancer. This news was delivered in a sombre, fatalistic fashion - suggesting in no uncertain terms there was nothing that could be done, save divine intervention.

Ten days prior to receiving this bad news, my partner Karen and I, in a martini fuelled moment of indiscretion, had booked ten fabulous days of non-refundable fun in the aforementioned Barcelona - airfare and rooftop terrace penthouse with breathtaking views over the city.

Therein lies the moral dilemma. If loveable Bella continues to be ‘of this world’ as the Lufthansa flight approaches, then I am compelled to do the right thing. That would be to stay home - administering tummy rubs and medication. But if loveable Bella kicks the bucket between now and May 1, then we pack the Bermuda shorts and dust off the passports! Woohoo!

It’s a thorny predicament, to be rooting for your dog to drop dead so you can enjoy a Spanish sun filled vacation. There is no way I would leave the ailing four legged love of my life in the hands of a dog sitter. It would be too much responsibility on the sitter should the unthinkable occur, not to mention the large karmic dent it would put in the Catalonian adventure, with the imminent death of loveable Bella gnawing incessantly at my conscience as we reel from tapas bar to tapas bar five thousand miles away.

And so we sit, on the one hand hoping for a death defying recovery and on the other hoping we wake up one morning, and the much loved Bella does not.

It’s not as if we are encouraging a visit from Death - far from it.

While we are not forking over tens of thousands on chemotherapy and other medical exotica, we are administering our own Googleassisted treatments. She now eats human grade organic meals, cooked up every evening, accompanied with alkalinized water. Phoenix Tears pot oil is massaged directly onto the offending lump in her lower jaw twice a day.

The anecdotal evidence surrounding pot oil and cancer is compelling and overwhelmingly positive in human beings, so what the hell, give it a shot. It may well be in our head, grasping at any straw, but the lump seems to be smaller, and she remains lively and active - well, as active and lively as a fat, lazy and now well fed rotti can be. Damn.

Unless there is a precipitous decline, it looks like we put away the party hats and guide books for another time. Barcelona will always be there. Fat, loveable Bella will not.

If I Fall, If I Die

by Michael Christie Agoraphobia. I’m sure we are all familiar with this word, but so often an assumption is made that the fear is of either open spaces, or of crowded places themselves. More often than not, it’s the avoidance of the anxiety and panic attacks brought on by occupying those spaces that cause the sufferer to retreat to “safe spaces”. If you are “Inside” as opposed to “Outside” you are less at risk. Crippling panic attacks may often be around the corner, but surrounding yourself with an environment you can control, such as your own home can be a key self-soothing tool.

Diane, mother to our young protagonist Will, is agoraphobic.

At some point the anxiety crept in so far that she stopped being able to venture outside, or even to some parts of her house. Will only ever remembers Inside. He and his mother live an eccentric, unusual life in which everything is delivered to their door and there is never any need for Outside with the potential for danger and disaster “There’s a mystery in that surely would ensue if they this novel, something were to venture out. Until one that Will is doggedly day Will does. And he lives determined to uncover.” to tell about it. He discovers literally an entire world of sights and smells and experiences that have been awaiting his arrival. Will goes to school, meets other kids, discovers the freedom of skateboarding and as a result, he slowly stretches the glue that has bond him so tightly to his mother for all these years. They have a close, loving relationship and Will is fiercely protective of Diane but he’s beginning to believe that he’s meant to experience Outside, even if it means getting hurt, even if it makes his mother sad. There’s a mystery in this novel, something that Will is doggedly determined to uncover. To a lesser extent there is also mystery in how Diane ended up where she is, who she is, and her chapters are almost painful to read they are so evocatively written.

The mystery drives the plot, but it isn’t what keeps us coming back for more. It’s Will himself.

Author Michael Christie grew up with an agoraphobic mother.

He writes from a place of such startling honesty that of course he’s writing what he knows. Understanding that in order to be truly living, sometimes we have to know what it is to fall.

T H E F I S H B O W L - M AY 2 0 1 6 • PA G E E L E V E N

My Food Matters

by CHEF KEN BRUDNER

Restaurant Armageddon?

There has probably never been a more difficult time in the restaurant industry as there is these days.

Food prices have soared to a level where they have never been before in our shopping venues. Restaurant prices generally increased moderately during this time.

The personal, compassionate, keep everybody happy, look you in the eye with a smile approach that restaurateurs need to keep customers returning (which is not necessarily true in all businesses) include not raising their prices too often. This is true even when their costs have risen. The only source of funds is through what customers spend, as is in all businesses. However, the volatile nature and razor thin margins in the industry do not allow for a single dime, a burnt bun, a burnt steak or a scorched pot of soup to happen and still expect to maintain the desired food cost percentage, especially if these things are a common occurrence.

If a restaurateur purchases from his distributor; let’s say a full cut of beef strip loin intact, he/she will then get his cooks to butcher that loin into portions according to the recipe and the consideration of cost vs. selling price.

Generally, restaurant owners aim for an approximate 30-32 percentage for the cost of the ingredients for a dish. If one of those steaks is not properly portioned or gets returned by a patron or falls on the floor, the food cost for that dish rises because they have to replace it with another portion and that razor thin profit margin becomes invisible. To get a true picture, they will look at the weeks or months sales vs. cost over that period of time. When the owner discovers that the food cost is too high, it usually relates back to that burnt steak or three. It can be attributed as well, to too much of one ingredient being used in a particular menu offering such as cheese on a quesadilla or that the portioning in a basket of fries is incorrect according to evaluation. So there lies the problem. There is literally no wiggle room and often not enough investigation. That is one of the reasons why so many restaurants fail especially in the first year.

Broken coolers cracked dishes, stoves that require a new thermocouple, (email me if you want to know what that is), all require attention, are costly and often decreases the profit unless the business plan succeeds and allows for these unforeseen expenditures.

Survival is man’s first basic instinct. A restaurant owner has that same need. With so many potential or existing financial difficulties they will do whatever it takes to both satisfy their customers and make a profit. So beware, that after further investigation they might have to compromise quality for a better food cost, make their portions smaller in order to keep breathing, or raise their prices according to what they are being charged in a more efficient fashion.

Love What You Cook, Love What You Eat! allmyfoodmatters@gmail.com

T H E F I S H B O W L - M AY 2 0 1 6 • PA G E T W E LV E

MEL byitMelinda OVER Parks-Divers Little Effer I have a confession to make. The other day I was sitting at my dining room table, minding my own business and a wasp strolled on in my open window, flew directly onto my armpit area and stung me!

It hurt like the dickens, and me, in my shock and confusion, rose from my chair and danced around the house sucking in air and “ewe” and “awed” like a baby while pressing my fingers tightly against the sting location.

It had been years since my last sting (my friends request this story complete with acting it out at parties and such) and I was taken aback from the intensity of the pain associated by getting stung by a little a&$hole bug!

Anger flooded my veins and I turned into the hulk. I think there is anger serum in wasp sting venom.

I grabbed a dishcloth and ran about the house in a rage all muscles bulging through my ripped clothes as I transformed. I howled more like a werewolf then a hulk but who is judging, or paying attention.

I was all alone except for the dog and she loves me. I feed her.

I found the little jerk and I launched with dishcloth wound for maximum impact. I knocked it on its little evil back and took a second swipe as it pathetically attempted to flip himself and take flight the h outa there!

I laid the cloth over it, gave it a push into the windowsill, and walked away.

As the green left me and my ripped clothes became nine sizes too large from all the stretching, I felt guilt. Why did the little turd need to die just because he stung me? Does he not have just as much right to life as any of us fortunate enough to beat the odds?

What gives me the right?

And then I thought of the story Maggie always makes me tell…

It was late August some years ago and my kids were going to go back into the school system after homeschooling. I decided to phone an undisclosed school for enrolling info. I was wearing a skirt (I know, you are already frightened for me!) and wandered outside the open sliding door as I waited for the “beep” so I could leave my message.

I heard the little jackass fly about me and knew when the sound became muffled that he found his way up my skirt. Still listening to the greeting message, I took my free hand and started trying to flip my skirt or find the little effer. Still waiting for the beep... There is a lot of info on school answering service messages in August.

Then, all of a sudden, he stung me really hard on the inner thigh and...

BEEEP! My attention was on the sting at that point and not the phone call so I let out a loud “Mother fu$&er!” And whipped the phone across the concrete patio while screaming and swearing a string of bad words.

I apologize profusely to the school and school admin who may have taken my message and wondered “what the h?” I waited three days to call back.

Writings from the heart and shit by Melinda Divers .

Producer of turmeric based elixirs for health, vitality and enjoyment! moonshinemamas.ca

T H E F I S H B O W L - A P R I L 2 0 1 6 • PA G E T H I R T E E N

NATURAL HEALTH NOTES with DR. PATRICK CALLAS

Making Sexual Health Services

Even More Accessible!

Options for Sexual Health (Opt), Canada’s largest non-profit provider of sexual health care services, is dropping the price of all birth control pills that it offers at its 58 clinics in British Columbia. Providing accessible sexual health clinical services to BC residents, including cost-effective birth control options, is among Opt’s highest priorities.

Opt will be adding a few contraceptive products that are generic equivalents. As of April 1, 2016 the price of all birth control pills that Opt carries will be reduced.

Generic drugs/medications are copies of brand name medications that are manufactured after a patent has expired. Generic and brand name medications are subject to the exact same Health Canada regulatory standards. The active ingredients are the same and they work the same way in the body.

“By adding generic products Opt will be able to provide our patients with low cost birth control options and a broad variety of choices in order to serve the needs of our patients. Having patients actively involved in making decisions about which options are best for them is an essential part of the services we provide,” said Professional Practice Leader Nicole Pasquino, RN. Clinic Operations Manager Helena Palmqvist said “Opt is committed to providing clients with the easiest access to the lowest cost birth control options possible.

Buying contraceptives on site in our clinics is the only option for many of our clients”. To achieve this price reduction, “we have been able to source equivalent generic contraceptive products that are more cost effective, and negotiated lower prices from some brand name suppliers. We are very happy that we can pass those savings on to our clients.”

For clients/patients, the change means a savings of between $27 and $130 per year. Prices for most birth control pill products will drop from $15 to $13 per month.

“By making the cost of different contraceptive options more comparable, the patient’s and clinician’s shared decision about which contraceptive is best for the patient can be made without having to consider variable costs of different products” said Dr. Marisa Collins, Opt’s Medical Director.

Opt will also be adding a 10 year copper Intrauterine Device (IUD) to their contraceptive formulary, and more Opt clinics may be able to offer IUD insertions thanks to the availability of sterile disposable equipment required for IUD insertions.

Opt encourages clients to ask for more information from their Opt clinic care providers, or by calling the 1-800-SEX-SENSE information line.

Opt always welcomes your questions and comments.

The ALLERGY SOLUTION This is one of the worst years in memory for tree pollen. The moment after I clean off my car or sweep my deck there seems to be another yellow dusting on it. Even those of us without tree allergies are coughing and sneezing due to the massive amount of yellow tree pollen in the air.

What are the most effective ways to resolve your allergy symptoms (besides living in a hermetically sealed bubble)? Here are 5 effective solutions for you: Use Natural Anti-histamines: Quercetin and Vitamin C. This combination reduces the release of histamine into your body. This is a more effective “upstream” effect compared to over-thecounter antihistamine medications. These natural remedies require patience and persistence compared to anti-histamine medications because Quercetin and vitamin C may take days to weeks to have a full effect. Your patience will be rewarded though because Quercetin & vitamin C profoundly help treat the root cause instead of just masking symptoms.

Magnesium: Low levels of magnesium are linked to more severe hay fever symptoms. Magnesium deficiency is one of the most common mineral deficiencies in North America.

Reduce Stress: Stop during your busy day and take a deep breath. “But I can’t breathe with these insufferable allergies!”, you say. The air is full of allergens! Find or create a quiet, low allergen place each day to slow down, relax, meditate and reflect on what you are grateful for in life. High stress causes adrenal fatigue and adrenal fatigue worsens allergy symptoms.

Sublingual immune therapy (SLIT): A diluted form of your allergens are administered under your tongue in this 45 minute treatment done in my office. SLIT has an 80% response rate and typically requires 3 to 4 sessions and then a “tune-up” once per year after that. I have seen complete resolution of allergies to cat & dog dander, trees, dust, and diesel fumes with SLIT. Heal your gut: What? Yes, heal your gut because it contains 70% of your immune system. Gut irritation aggravates or causes allergies. Our guts are under more strain than ever with processed Franken-foods, herbicides like Roundup in a majority of non-organic foods, antibiotics in our foods and hand soaps, diets low in fibre and probiotics (good bacteria), toxic metals in food from fish to rice, and stress. These are some of the reasons why so many more people now have allergies, food sensitivities, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and autoimmune conditions – just to name a few of the problems our compromised foods systems and polluted environment is causing us.

For these Allergy Solutions, allergy testing and other treatment options, consult your friendly neighbourhood Naturopathic Doctor.

Want to ask me a question or get more info on Allergies or any health topic?

Write me at: islandnaturalhealth@gmail.com or message me on Facebook at DrPatrickCallas. or phone to make an appointment with me at 250-537-0035.

If you have any questions or comments for me, write to info@islandnaturalhealth.ca or DrPatrickCallas on Facebook.

Bateman Has

TB HO E WF LI S-HM B AY O W2L0 -1 6A P I LG 2 THE FISH • RPA E 0F1O6U •R TPEAEGNE F I V E

Issues

starring the most awesome John Bateman What many may not realize is that I am actually an avid supporter of this somewhat dysfunctional community we call Salt Spring. I know that my articles, often dripping with sarcasm can be interpreted as sarcastic. There is really nothing I can do about the way you, dear reader, digest this column that I call home.

In the past I have belonged to several committees for as long as they would tolerate me. I was, for a while the head bird census taker for the Blackburn region until the falling out that is an article in itself, if not a criminal trial. Let’s just say that I might have misrepresented my surname. One that has become synonymous with aviary prowess.

Aside from a few sporadic board memberships, the odd fundraising gig and my “contribution” to island “culture” on these pages, that was it for the support I have given this seemingly fractured community.

Then came baseball.

I have a ten-year-old son, who years ago decided that he wanted to play baseball. This was somewhat as a shock to me because my family has historically bled hockey pucks. Still, I was supportive of his calling and a few years ago, decided to take the plunge and start coaching at the Mosquito level. Factually, coaching baseball has become one of my favorite things to do on Salt Spring. Like many other team sports, baseball is a terrific way for kids to learn skills, sportsmanship and the dynamics of playing with others on a team.

Unlike some of the other sports represented on the island, baseball is in need of a new home. A dedicated location that will allow Salt Spring ball players to not have to travel off island several times a week, just do play a game they enjoy. A place where we can welcome teams from all around the province to come and play in our back yard.

Luckily, we have found just the place to locate these new ball fields.

Unfortunately, the location is within 5000 yards of a house, or in this case, the homes of Brinkworthy. It seems that Brinkworthy is not interested in having a baseball field next to their complex. This is where I think Salt Spring should consider changing its name to Nimby Island. You have to admit, it sounds cute and mildly enchanting.

I have heard just a few of the reasons that the community of Brinkworthy doesn’t want a baseball field nearby. One is that it will be noisy. I actually understand, because the sound of children chattering, laughing and cheering on a summer night can get pretty annoying. (sarcasm). Another reason is there is a fear that a baseball field will result in a rise in crime and vandalism in nearby neighborhoods. I wonder how many times the Fritz has been vandalized by baseball-field-inhabiting-vandals? (sarcasm). Or how many local houses have been broken into because of the presence of a community gathering place? (sarcasm). Perhaps the residents of Brinkworthy should sit down and look at the innumerable ways kids playing near by might actually enhance their neighborhood.

Or is that too community oriented? (not sarcasm) Go to Facebook: “Support of new Baseball & Soccer Fields on Salt Spring Island”

ENVIRONMENTAL CORNER

According to the SSI Water Council, Salt Spring Island has been likened to a wooden bowl floating in the ocean.

There is limited amount of fresh water that the lakes (the inner bowl) can hold and there is a limited amount of fresh water that the fibers of the wooden bowl (well water) can hold. With a growing population (can triple in the summer months) and the effects of global warming (drought), it is time for us to step up to the plate and do our part in conserving our water not just in the summer but all year round when the water stocks are topping up. There are many water saving devices available including low flush toilets, low flow shower heads and timers, low flow dish washers, etc. Below are some reminders, taken from the SSI Water Council website, of how you can help save a few drops...Every Drop Counts!

• Do not let the faucet run when rinsing dishes or cleaning produce; • Don’t let the tap run while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your hands or face.

• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and save up to 500 liters per month — getting a timer may help • Put a bucket under the shower-head to collect water while it is getting hot; this can be used in the garden or for chores.

• Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket or flush it unnecessarily.

• Keep your garden beds mulched throughout the growing season with at least 2” of mulch.

• Leaks can be costly. One drop per second wastes about 10,000 liters of water per year.

“People Power” support from the Saltspring Jazz & Blues Society

For more info: tomkbowler@hotmail.com, www.auntiekate.ca or www.facebook.com/auntie556 “People Power” support from the Saltspring Jazz and Blues Society

THU MAY 19 | 7:30PM

MĂ…NSSON, KATZ & ROWE

Cicela, Luanne and Arthur share some of their favourite music.

Proudly sponsored by Kate Merry 537-2102 | www.tickets.artspring.ca

Adults: $23 Youth: $5

CONGRATULATIONS

to Sascha (Anderson) & Peter Rackemann - Bali 2016

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