February 2010
Transcription
February 2010
The Log February, 2010 Free L A N T Z V I L L E Serving the Lantzville Community for over 50 years Visit our website: www.thelog.ca District Council - A Sense of Community? - by Glen Dunsworth At the recent Council meeting residents cess they create little LAS commuon Owen Rd. were told the District would nity nodes where only the people in only repair their road if they paid. We are the neighbourhood care about what talking a $22,000 road repair. The Mayors’ goes on there because they are the response to Councilor Negrave’s query of only ones paying. why this should be an LAS (Local Area At some point you have to ask Service) was “that’s 1.5% of our annual yourself why are we a communitax base!” Yes, and what are taxes intendty? I believe that a key role of our ed to provide if not road repair? Clearly Council is to enhance our sense of taxes pay for nice District offices, salaried community and to provide comstaff and Councilors. But just as clearly it munity leadership. Residents are seems taxes don’t pay for community serleft with little sense of either when vice, that’s for the LAS. We are rapidly with every request for service or asapproaching a time when we will have to sistance the District answer is “you pay directly to fix potholes in front of our pay”. Lantzvillians care for each homes, or water service repair, or flood proother, we value where we live and tection or sewer repair. the resources we share. Sharing How did we get to this state where simmunicipal expenses is part of that ply fixing a road is no longer a District reand it’s the glue that holds us all tosponsibility? Our Council seems to have gether. adopted a “new principle” of municipal I would suggest our Mayor and government in Lantzville. The principle Council underestimate the intelliRichard Nash in front of Glen’s house on they use is simple; make sure to keep taxes gence of the residents. We can see Shangri-la Rd near Eby Rd. low with small District budgets, because that taxes are being redistributed voters don’t want their taxes to increase. But how do you through LASs. The “new principle” may seem simple but provide municipal services for infrastructure that ages and it has unintended consequences. We need to consolidate needs fixing, things normally paid with taxes? Again their our tax power and become a true community. The alternaprinciple is simple; make the residents who get a service tive is a slow drift into the fracturing of Lantzville through pay for it directly and just don’t call it taxation. In the pro- LAS. See our blog for more info at www.thelog.ca LANTZVILLE RESIDENT Lyn Hancock “Outstanding Alumnus Of The Year” ! Between 1976-1981, Lantzville resident, Lyn Hancock, well known teacher, writer and guest speaker, was a grad student at Simon Fraser University studying cougars and living with an orphan raccoon called Tabasco. They were constant companions – attending classes, visiting schools and universities, hiking, camping, boating, skiing, shopping, and travelling by car and plane across Canada and the USA. Tabasco was the mascot of the English Department and her picture adorned the SFU calendar. Lyn took the raccoon to one of her convocations in a mortar board. On Wednesday January 27th at a dinner and ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver, SFU is honouring Lyn with the prestigious Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award for her lifetime contributions to Art and Culture, specifically writing, photography and nature education. Her raccoon will be attending the ceremony too - in book form asTabasco the Saucy Raccoon. Her front yard on Nanoose Bay in Lantzville provided the last chapter for Lyn’s book. “I had just finished the last line o the math! and shut down my computer,” said Lyn, “I was determined to tell the truth but was worried that readers might find the ending too sad. I walked to the kitchen and, still wondering, looked out at the pool-side garden. I stared in amazement. There, in the middle of the day, standing on the rocky edge of the pool was a raccoon, the biggest raccoon I have ever seen. It stared at me, unmoving, then slowly padded past me, across the lawn, and down to the beach. At the edge of the sea, it turned back to give me one last look, then disappeared. I was so stunned I did not even pick up my camera to take its picture. In many years of living on Nanoose Bay, I had never seen a raccoon before and I have never seen one since. I raced back to open the computer and write the real ending of Tabasco the Saucy Raccoon. To see Lyn in action as a guest Lyn Hancock & Tobasco speaker and teacher in schools, view www.lynhancock.ca/links for a video on her work produced by SFU and called “Lyn Hancock: A Passionate Presentation.” It will introduce Lyn at the ceremony. Treat your Special Someone.... ✃ Buy 1 Peanut Buster Parfait and receive 1 for (Canadian Tire Plaza) 6888 Island Hwy. Lantzville Polar Bear Swim 2010 - by John Garenkooper. What a day, what a crowd! The Lantzville Polar Bear swim was again a roaring success! A last minute rush of anxious dippers swelled the total of folks attending to well over 80. While the Phantom-of-the-Lost-Mine kept up a steady drum beat by the fire, every-one, bundled up or in bathing suit, waited for the magic moment. At the countdown exactly at noon the school bell rang and 55 brave souls rushed in. Yes, it was January 1st, 2010 and Lanzvillians and guests kicked it off in style, taking their first bath of the year in the choppy Pacific! Whoops and hollers were heard blocks away. Some belly flopped, others dipped, and still other folks did a slow submersion. A few considered it a cleansing baptism to underscore their new year’s resolutions. About seven swimmers plunged in twice just to make sure. First ones in the salt chuck: Bryan Muise and Jim Gillespie. Last one out: Dane Hansen. With the northeaster blowing a temperature of minus five degrees and the water at a balmy six Celsius, the sea seemed a welcome refuge. Of the three levels of hypothermia no-one got past the first stage: shivering, yelling, giggles and goose bumps. Ten minutes after this 16th annual watery riot the beach was deserted once more. All swimmers went home with one thing in common: Bragging rights for one whole year! Comments overheard: ''Oh, this is horrible," muttered a bundled-up onlooker, her breath freezing into a white cloud…. “If the sea is warmer than the beach, why is it a shock to hit the water?” “You gotta love Global Warming!” ‘'I'm old enough to know better and too young to resist” See group photo on page 3.... See full color photos on the web: www.thelog.ca Preorder or pick up your Valentine’s Cake now! ✃ FREE Present coupon at time of purchase. Dickinson Crossing Location Only • Expires Feb. 28, 2010 Owned and Operated by ✃ 250-390-1595 Dickinson Crossing “Griffin” in front of Glen’s house on Shangri-la Rd Jim & Kristy Costain Community Events Page 2 The Log Serving Lantzville and Area - February, 2010 FEBRUARY MARCH Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 7 to these winter buys.... Sat 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 Plus.... Tarps & roof patch! and in our flooring department... 1.49 ea. Porcelain Tile In-stock $ Starting at Lantzville location only. LANTZVILLE 7187 Lantzville Rd. 100% CANADIAN OWNED & OPERATED 250-390-1207 OBITUARY WHITWORTH Elizabeth “Betty” Betty was born in Red Deer Alberta on November 28th 1919 to parents, Bessie and Captain John Whitworth. She passed away on December 20th 2009 at Nanaimo Hospital where she had worked in the past for many years and where she had recently celebrated her 90th birthday with friends. Betty was predeceased by her parents and by her brother John and his wife Marjorie with whom she had shared a close friendship. The Whitworth family moved from Alberta to Armstrong in the north Okanagan where Betty and John went to school. Betty took ballet classes and later taught ballet. Betty was to be married during World War Two but her fiance was tragically killed in that war. Betty's nursing career began with training at St Paul's Hospital in Vancouver. She graduated as an RN in January of 1944. From 1945 to 52 she worked at the 17 bed hospital in Port Alice on northern Vancouver Island where she was head matron. She delivered all the babies and got to know everyone in the town. She worked in doctor's offices part time while she looked after her mother and an aunt in Parksville before returning to full time nursing at the old Nanaimo Hospital. She assisted in the move to the present NRGH location. Her Nanaimo nursing career was spent in the hospital's neo-natal unit where an entire generation of local residents passed through her capable hands. When she retired in 1982 she was presented with a baby incubator as a souvenir. Outside of her nursing career, Betty lived a full and interesting life. She received her pilot's license in 1947, completing her solo at Vancouver Airport. She accompanied her mother to London in 1953 for the coronation. She travelled extensively in India in the mid 50's and was the guest of a maharaja. Betty loved dogs and had a series of Kerry Blue and Yorkshire terriers. She never met a dog she didn't like. Betty lived in Lantzville at Shoregrove Resort on Dickinson Rd for over 40 years and was a member of the OAPO and attended St Philips Anglican Church. In retirement Betty had a wide circle of friends with whom she travelled, played cards, gambled, went to countless lunches, and swam in the sea. She saw her Shoregrove friends every day, including many of the summer people she got to know over the years. Of her many fine qualities surely the most outstanding was her capacity for friendship. Betty was a warm and hilarious companion who was always willing to drop what she was doing and go off to lunch at Ricky's, a bus trip to Reno or shopping in Hong Kong. Most of her social circle have also passed on but those who remain miss her infectious good humour and the example of the pure fun and enthusiasm with which she embraced life and proved that retirement can indeed be golden. A memorial service for Betty will be held at St. Philips By the Sea Anglican Church at 1:00 pm on Monday February 15th. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 7 Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 28 Presto Logs and Woodstove pellets! 2 LOCATIONS NANAIMO TO SERVE 4950 Jordan Ave. YOU 250-758-8329 Fri 1 Feb. 14 - Valentine’s Day th FREE DIABETES Self Management workshop: Dates: Wednesday Feb. 24 & ending Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Time: 1:15 to 3:45 pm for six weeks Place: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 257 Address: 7227 Lantzville Road, Lantzville, BC To PRE-REGISTER, please call the toll-free line at 1-866-902-3767 or email self-management@eastlink.ca web site link: http://www.coag.uvic. ca/cdsmp/schedules_viha.htm Sponsored by the University of Victoria & Centre on Aging. Seaside Community Society - by Julie Hustwick Costin Hall activitiesThe holiday celebrating has come and gone and I hope you all had a great time with family ad friends. On Dec. 6 the Annual Christmas dinner was held with the Girl Guide group in charge once again. And, as in the past, they serveda delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings, then entertained us with carol singing. Pres. Barb DeJonghe presented the Organization with a cash donation to assist the Brownies and Guides in their many activities. On Dec. 12 the Short Mat group held a Christmas tournament with 29 players in attendance. A refreshment break took place half way thru and prizes were presentd at the end of the tournament. All teams received a monetary prize and the team with most points was Bill Roos, Roelie Roos, Julie Hustwick, Jean Wilkinson and Julian Mattock. A Pot Luck is being planned for Feb. 14m at 5:00 pm,, so mark that on your calendar. Mar. 17th - St. Patrick’s Day Live Music & Dance February 13th 8 pm Costin Hall The diverse band Time Well Wasted will perform on Valentines Eve, February 13th, with local folk and blues artist Gerry Barnum opening. • Tickets are $15 and are available to those 19 and older in advance at the Black Dog Cafe in Lantzville, Tom Lee Music in North Nanaimo, and Tina’s Diner downtown Nanaimo. Available also by phone at 1-800- 667-0689 or visit www. twwcomoxvalley.com Mid Island Rose Society The Mid Island Rose Society met on January 18th with 25 members attending. Pam Kitchen was welcomed as a new member. The group meets on the third Monday from January to June and then again in September and October in the Heritage Church. A summer potluck and Christmas Party round out the year. It was decided to donate 300 hundred dollars to the Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund. Other charities donated to have been The Food Bank and the SPCA Snip program. One of the benefits of membership apart from the wonderful fellowship is the yearly rose order from Pickering Nurseries in Ontario. Their roses arrive as bare roots in March when members look forward to adding them to their gardens. New members are always welcome. The next meeting is February 15th at 7:30. Lantzville Heritage Church 10 am Sunday Worship 7244 Lantzville Road, Lantzville Rev. Steve Wilkinson Ph: 390-3679 Please join us downstairs after worship, for coffee and fellowship after the services. Trinity United Church 11 am Sunday Service & Sunday School Program Rev. Peggy Jenson 6234 Spartan Road, Nanaimo Ph: 390-2513 St Philip’s Anglican Church 7113 Lantzville Road, Lantzville Ph: 390-3641 Sunday Services 8 AM Holy Communion 10 AM Holy Communion & Sunday School / Music Children’s programs include an “Interactive Story time” with the minister at the beginning of 10 am worship, followed by Sunday School classes. Probus Club of Lantzville Our Club continues to promote numerous and varied interest group activities. Membership stands at 194 and there is room to grow. The Christmas buffet at the Coast Bastion was again a success and well attended. A high school jazz group entertained. President Margaret Pierce has an interesting list of speakers lined up for 2010. Come as a visitor and see if you would like to join our enthusiastic membership. Nanaimo Family History Society - General Meeting Beban Park Social Center Feb. 15, 2010 - 7:00 PM Speaker: Candy-Lea Chickite Topic: Historical Newspaper Collections Visitors Welcome. OBITUARIES CARNDUFF, Alice M. Born Comox, B.C. January 3, 1927. Passed away Kiwanis Village December 18, 2009. Alice will be greatly missed by her husband Ross, daughters Candi, Debra, stepdaughters Lynda and Diane, stepson Darrell, many granddaughters, grandsons, great granddaughters and great grandsons. Gone Forever But Never Forgotten A Memorial Service was held at St. Philips Church, Lantzville, followed by a reception at Br 257 Legion. In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity of your choice or to Parkinsons. BUCHAN, Muriel Irene August 3,1929 -January 5, 2010 It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Muriel on January 5, 2010 at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital at 80 years young. Muriel is survived by her mother, Gladys Boyko of Regina, her son Pat of New Westminster, her daughter Beverly (Brian) of Prince George, sons Randy (JJ) of Vancouver, and Bryan (Leah) of Salmon Arm, 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Muriel was an amazing, inspiring and brave lady who will be deeply missed and fondly - remembered by her extended family and circles of friends who meant the world to her. Muriel was an active member of both the Lantzville Royal Canadian Legion- Branch #257 (25 years), and the Nanaimo Chapter of the Order of the Royal Purple (20 years). A Celebration of Muriel's life was held at 2:OOpm on Thursday, January 14, 2010 at the Lantzville Legion Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Lantzville Legion or the Royal Purple, both who are kind and accommodating hosts for her Celebration of Life. BRADLEY, Gordon Thomas Oct 15, 1933 – Dec 13, 2009 Passed away suddenly at home on Dec 13, 2009. Born in Manitoba in 1933, Gordon operated a plumbing & heating business until 1970, at which time he moved his family to Lantzville BC. He continued to operate Bradley’s Heating Service, remaining active in his business up until Dec 11, 2009 and participated in the Annual Turkey Shoot at the Nanaimo Fish & Game Club the following day. Gordon leaves Judy, his wife of 50 years. Children, Janice Vawter (Jim); Alyson Cervo (Randy) and Scott Bradley (Vannessa & Avery). Grandchildren, Jared Vawter (Lauren); Dustin Cervo (Ashley); Sharday Cervo (Jeromie); and Chanyce Cervo. Sister Joyce Wedderburn and cousin Evelyn Joynt and their families, as well as many family & friends in Nanaimo, Parksville & Manitoba. Gord was a very caring & giving person to whom family & friends were the most important. A celebration of life was held on Monday Dec 21, 2009, at St. Philip’s By-The-Sea Anglican Church, Lantzville, BC. Community The Log Serving Lantzville and Area - February, 2010 Page 3 Hurford District Girl Guides - by Kim Plumley World Thinking Day first began in 1926 when members an annual international conference decided to create special day for Guides around the world to "think" of each other, give thanks and appreciation to their "sister" Girl Guides. The date February 22 was chosen because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, and his wife, Olave, who served as World Chief Guide. On this day, girls participate in activities and games with global themes to learn North to South roughly in that order: Daniel, Ben and Sarah Cameron, Hugh Middleton, Kim, George and Grace Plumley, Rick Clough, about Guides in other countries. This year's theme is Monique Beauliue, Ulric Hosang, Jan Garenkooper- Phantom, Jim Gillespie, Max, Sam and Melanie Norcutt with pup Annie. Jim, Judy and "together we can end extreme poverty and hunger". Cassie Smith, Hannah and Sebastian Frizzell, Lori, Bob, Bevan and Kate Payter, Blair, Tara and Amy Christensen, Jeff Bob, Bryan Muise, www.worldthinkingday.org Don and Alivia Acorn, Haley Redfern, Tobey Digney, Kevin and Dane Hansen, Ed Bowman, Puck Biesheuvel, Phyllis Johnson, Penny Pepper, Tina Vlad, Heather Pardon, Steve Page. To anyone we missed: there’s always next year! See full color photos on the blog! Foothills Goes In-camera by B. Blood Not only have the property owners closed Copley and Bald Mountain areas (commercial name Foothills) to the public but Lantzville council have prematurely closed their public deliberation of the issue by going in-camera. The Sterling Group, mortgage holder for the failed project, citing liability issues, have posted the property with no trespassing signs and tape and have a security patrol. Mayor Haime has cited legal issues for placing council deliberation under a bushel even though no litigation involving the district is underway. Lantzville council, famous for placing everything controversial behind the in-camera iron curtain, are once more keeping their opinions and discussions away from the citizens who elected them. In a nutshell, the sterling Group have asked council for two things. First, can they re-negotiate the agreement to allow them to quickly develop some lots without sewer and water service in the Vipond Rd area? Second, can they link the park dedication in a more balanced staging where 20% of development would yield 20% of parkland etc? It is easy to see where some of council's concerns may lie, particularly in this development which was to be totally serviced. Also, what kind of staging formula would protect the public interest in receiving the ultimate 900 acres of parkland? What is less easy to see is why these issues cannot be discussed at a regular council meeting open to the residents of Lantzville? Visit thelog.ca for more comments and to express your views. Council About Face On Knarston $18,000 Flow Study by B. Blood The motion to spend approximateely $18,000 on a flow study for Knarston Creek was re-introduced at a special council meeting held on Jan 4th and attended by many residents of the flood-prone neighborhood. The flow study is required by Fisheries before the District can proceed with the engineering works designed to mitigate flooding in this area. Council's lack of enthusiasm at the Dec 14th meeting was based on their perception that most of the 21 flood-prone property owners had shown no indication they were willing to pay the balance of project costs above the $400,000+ provincial grant monies. Even at the meeting on Jan 4th many speakers still felt that either all Lantzville residents should share the costs or all residents of the Knarston Creek drainage basin. (View Council Minutes at www.lantzville.ca). If residents of the flood area fail to approve a Local Service Area mechanism for paying the balance of costs then the provincial grant will be withdrawn, no engineering works will take place and the expenditures incurred so far on this project – now over $60,000 – will be eaten by all the taxpayers in the District. Council approved the motion and the mayor commented that they did so because they now had more information. Visit thelog.ca for more comments and to express your views. Amalgam-Eighters’ Square and Round Dance Club Dance dates for Feb., March, April and May, 2010. Sat. Feb. 6 at 7:30 pm, Regular dance at Lantzville Community Hall (Costin Hall). Sat. Feb. 20 at 7:30 pm, Sweetheart Dance, where the Sweetheart Couple for 2010 will be announced. Cake, Berries and Icecream to follow! Sat. Mar 6 at 7:30 pm, Regular dance at Lantzville Community Hall. Couple of the Year selection. Sat. Mar 20 at 7:30 pm St. Patrick’s Dance. Nominations for Club Executive. Sat. Apr 3 the Amalgam-Eighters Square and Round Dance Club Dance is cancelled, due to Easter weekend. Sat. Apr 17 at 7:30 pm Regular dance at Lantzville Community Hall. Sat. May 1 at 6:00 pm, Dogwood Wind-Up Dance at Lantzville Community Hall with a Pot Luck Supper. For more information on any of the events, call Laverne, 250-751-8211 Heavenly Escape Esthetics Winter Detox Package C Detox foot bath C Foot & Leg massage C Infrared sauna/ color therapy C snack & beverage included $ 79 reg $110 Phone Debbie 250-390-2639 DEL NORTE KENNELS 250-390-3289 BOARDING & GROOMING FOR DOGS & C ATS Friendly & comfortable environment Call 250-390-3289 for Boarding reservations Grooming Salon Custom styles & creative clips, bathing & de-matting for all breeds & sizes! Call 250-797-2264 for your appointment now! 7491 Lantzville Road, Lantzville, BC V0R 2H0 Personal Income Tax Returns $29.95 Starting at Allisar Solutions Your Asset in a World of Liabilities Next scheduled sessions are: Allison Cooney Ph: 250-754-8709 • Lantzville, BC info@allisarsolutions.com • www.allisarsolutions.com ADVERTISEMENT Long-time Lanztville Resident Enjoys life at Origin at Longwood! ‘My Life at Origin’ By Stan Walpole When I had told my friends that I had sold my house in Lantzville and moved into Origin at Longwood one said “ Isn’t that an Old Folk’s Home? Stan Walpole in diningroom I quickly corrected at the Origin that and said that is is ‘Independent Retirement Residence’ where we rent a suite, either a one or two bedroom unit, and live entirely independently. Most residents are able-bodied, some ladies use walkers but you won’t see any wheelchairs here. We get two main meals each day, the food is very good, a continental breakfast from 8-10 for anyone wishing to partake of it and coffee and fresh-baked cookies at 3 each day. Coffee is available all day. I have a small fridge and microwave in the suite should I wish to make my own breakfast. My one bedroom suite is 600 square feet with a lounge and den for my computer, desk, bookcase etc. I also have a great balcony where I enjoy sitting out on nice days. My suite is cleaned and linen is washed once a week. There are two washers and driers on each of the four floors where we do our ‘smalls’. Other amenities at Origin at Longwood include a games room and library, a theatre where films are shown every Saturday evening. There are two exercise rooms with modern equipment, a saltwater pool and sauna. There is also a pub and happy hours are every Friday from 4-6. All of this is included in one monthly payment. The Health Spa has a hair salon and massage rooms which are not included. I have a hair cut and a sports pedicure once a month at prices much less than at other neighbourhood salons. There is adequate parking as most of us have given up driving. Who needs to when we have a 16 seat bus and 6 seater van to take us out and about on trips, to doctor’s appointments and shopping. The North Nanaimo Shopping Centre is just across the road and grocery stores in the Longwood community just a short distance away. All in All, Origin at Longwood is a very comfortable home with friendly staff and as added bonus, I get lots of hugs! What more could a fellow want?!? Would you like to know how to improve your financial situation? Educational Workshops for February Emmanuel Lint invites you to preview advanced wealth planning strategies. Next scheduled sessions are: 1) 6 Strategies You Need To Build And Protect Your Wealth on February 11th at 7pm (Open to people who are building wealth) 2) Estate Planning “What You Don’t Know... You Don’t Know” on February 18th at 2pm (Open to people retired or about to retire) For more information about Origin at Longwood, give them a call at 250-751-7755 or visit them online at www.originway.ca Seats are free but limited... Emmanuel Lint, B.Sc., CSA, CFP Division Director Ph: 250-729-0904 ext. 234 emmanuel.lint@ investorsgroup.com Call now to ensure your reservation! ™Trademarks owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsiduary corporations. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Community Page 4 The Log Serving Lantzville and Area - February, 2010 GasWise Heating Service ise Choice!” “Make The W With over 35 years of experience in the gas industry, trust Alan Neary for all your service, repairs and installation needs. •Furnaces •CookStoves •HRV’s •DryerVents •Fireplaces •Hotwatertanks •Ventilation •FilterMaintenance 250-729-0576 Fax: 250-729-0599 BARBER & HAIME CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Serving all your business needs large or small • Personal Income Taxes • Financial Statements • Corporate Income Taxes • Business Valuation • Tax Planning Consulting • Bookkeeping & Payroll • Financing Proposals • Incorporation Advice Free Initial Consultation 250-390-4131 7190 Lantzville Rd., Lantzville BC V0R 2H0 Need Estate Solutions? Wills & Estates. Business. Real Estate. P e t l ey-J o nes & Co. Law Corporation 250 758-7370 5732 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5N2 www.petley-jones.net • fax 250 758-8703 Lantzville Legion Branch #257 7225 Lantzville Road, Lantzville 250-390-2841 - Pres. Cde. Barry Ostrand Executive Meeting Feb. 1 • 7:00pm st Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Sundays: General Meeting Feb. 15 • 7:00pm th Closed Pool and Bridge Darts•Pool•Crib Open Shuffleboard 7pm Birthday Parties (3rd Sunday of the month) Lounge Opens Tuesday - Sunday @ 1pm Closed Mondays Meat Draws every Friday night at 5:30pm & Saturday at 3:30. Hall Rental available Feb. 7th - Super Bowl Game on the big screen with food, snacks and prizes! of fun!! Lots Valentine’s Day Dance Feb. 13th with a mini meal before. LIFE ALONG THE TIDE LINE Wow! Mother Nature, pretty impressive winter storms. I have to say that I have never seen seaweed and beach gravel thrown four meters up onto the bottom of Tweedhope road before. Bravo. I am starting to think of Georgia Straight as a lake as opposed to a portion of the North Pacific Ocean. There has been so much movement in the sand and beach logs that it is sometimes difficult to recognize our beach between storms. Just the other day the water looked more like the mouth of the Fraser than the mouth of Nanoose Bay. There is a texture and colour change between the fresh and salt water that is very obvious to the naked eye, and that isn’t just because of the suspended sediments refracting the light differently but because of the viscosity relative to salinity changing the surface tension. The surface of the water is actually shaped differently. Neat stuff. The only down side is I am starting to count the pilings in front of Oar road more often expecting to see one or two less of our heritage pier pilings. It is amazing how sturdy they are when you paddle next to them though. Let’s hope that they last for a good while longer. Unfortunately the Saga of Elf The Squirrel came to a sad end on January 8th of this year. Wolvergreen buried Elf The Squirrel next to Murtle the Turtle in the Thomas’ Pet Cemetery. I found him dead in the woodpile, of no apparent causes -Bradley Wolvergreen Thomas the day after another Red Squirrel first challenged his territory from Barry’s place across Tweedhope road. Everyone has been very sad to hear the news, but you should know that the new squirrel Hudson took over the territory completely in four days. It was amazing how quick it all happened. Hudson I have to say is a superior squirrel, Elf was a bit of a “goober”. For example all of Elf’s peanut stashes were underground flooded soaked and molded by all this rain. He liked to climb to exposed branch ends and bark his territory, even when he was being hunted by a hawk. This morning I scared a hawk away from Hudson, about one meter away… and he hasn’t left the ivy around his house all day. Smart squirrel. Hudson will already come within a foot of me to feed and bark, and has already turned over all of Elf’s cone stashes. He even found the cones that Elf first buried when he was first striking out in the woodpile of Camp Life last June He is almost more “Elfish” than Elf was, after he made it back from the beach. Hudson has a fetish for any of the fur scraps still kicking around after making Elf’s wrestling octagon and punching bags. Hudson is a better name to yell out in the back yard, because “Elf” can sound a lot like “Help” and people have asked if I need any… Hahaha. See you at the beach, it is there all year long. LIFESTYLE - Emmanuel Lint It is basic – an RRSP is good for you When it comes to investing and saving on taxes, you have options. Within your financial planning process, you should look at all of them and select those that work best for your unique situation. But there is one investment option that’s a no-brainer. The Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), since being introduced 53 years ago, has become the basic foundation of almost every financial plan. RRSPs have stood the test of time as the best tax-saving, income-building vehicle for most Canadians. Here are the keys to making the most of your RRSP opportunity. • Contribute to the max Always make your maximum allowable contribution each taxation year to get the most in immediate tax savings and to maximize the potential longterm growth of your RRSP investments. You’ve still got some time to contribute for 2009 – the deadline is March 1, 2010 – and you’ll find your maximum allowable contribution room on the Notice of Assessment sent to you from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) after filing last year’s income taxes. • Contribute regularly Making automatic monthly contributions to your RRSP is much more rewarding than contributing a lump sum once a year. Here’s how: By investing $250 regularly each month at a compound rate of return of 8%, you’ll have $372,590 in your retirement nest egg 30 years from now.* But if you wait until the end of each year to invest a $3,000 lump sum, you’ll have only $339,850. By investing monthly, you’ve added $32,740 at retirement without contributing a dollar more. • Play catch (up) If you have unused contribution room, fill it up as soon as possible for additional tax savings and longer-term tax-deferred compound growth. You can fill your unused contribution room in a single year or over a number of years until you reach age 71. • Borrow to save An RRSP loan can be a smart way to maximize this year’s contribution or to play catch up on your past contributions – but you must get the loan at a low interest rate and pay it back as quickly as possible. A best practice: Use your RRSP tax savings to pay off the loan. • Spousal savings A higher-earning spouse can contribute to an RRSP for the benefit of his or her partner and enjoy a tax reduction on the contributions. There are other RRSP strategies that can work for you like a Double Up strategy or a laddered RRSP loan strategy – the right ones, incorporated into your overall financial plan, will help you save on taxes every year, retire with more and enhance your estate. Talk to your professional advisor about what’s best for you. This column is provided by Emmanuel Lint from Investors Group. It is presented as a general source of information only and is not intended as a solicitation to buy or sell investments, nor is it intended to provide professional advice including, without limitation, investment, financial, legal, accounting or tax advice VILLAGE GARDENS - Barbara Samarin Apart from the gray, rainy days, January has been a fairly warm month. Sometime in February, the skies will clear, the sun will shine warmly and we will be lulled into believing spring is here early. But beware, there is still a chance of a cold snap as well as some snow, so proceed in the gardens with care. On clear days, the dead leaves can be raked up under fruit trees and rose bushes and then destroyed. This prevents the spread of disease and pests. A safe organic spray of dormant oil and sulfur can be applied to the trees and bushes, too. Choose a clear day so that the spray can stay on the plants for at least six hours. Repeat this spraying several times during the spring. This is a good time to plant bare root fruit and speciman trees. Just be careful about treading in the gardens and on the lawns in order to prevent compaction of the soggy soil. Relocate or transplant shrubs, bushes and trees now. Always use a transplanting solution when doing this and if it doesnt rain very much, keep them well watered. It is time to order or buy seeds when the selection is best. Begonia and geranium seeds can be started now indoors because they take longer to germinate than most other seeds. Broad beans and sweet peas can be planted outdoors in the gardens. Some lettuces like to germinate as well towards the end of the month. Joe and I begin our pruning chores beginning with the hardy rugosa roses and if you have grape or kiwi plants, they too can be pruned. However, wait for the forsythia to bloom before pruning the other rose bushes and most shrubs. Gather up your garden tools and containers and get them ready for the growing season. Perhaps you may want to have your lawnmower serviced. If it does snow, gently shake it off the plants. It is not necessary to take it all off because it acts as an insulation against the cold. On a happier note, look for the signs of spring to begin showing up in the form of snowdrops, yellow winter aconite, crocus and iris reticulata. These promises of the better weather to come are a welcome sight indeed. Community The Log Serving Lantzville and Area - February, 2010 Page 5 Lantzville Faces -By Brian Blood The Negrin Farm - by B. Blood Giordano, the first child in his generation of the Negrin family, was born in the Veneto region of northern Italy in 1890. His mother had three more sons before she was widowed and the landless and now fatherless family struggled to make ends meet, labouring for landowners in the village 40 miles north of Venice. In 1907 Giordano left for New York and in 1918 went on to Washington State and Alaska Territory where he worked in sawmills and goldmines. In 1920 he returned to Italy to visit his mother and while there met and married America Lazzarin. She was 30 and he was 33. In 1921 they came to Vancouver Island. Their son Bennie was born in Nanaimo on Oct 23 1921. Bennie’s sister Alba was born in 1926. The family lived on Jinglepot Rd and Giordano, now known as Gordon outside the home, worked in the mines. He was injured at the Jinglepot Mine and was unable to work for four years during which time (1924 to 1927) they lived in Vancouver and Benny started school at Strathcona Elementary. The family returned to the island and rented Marshall’s farm in the Millstone Valley where they began a dairy operation as well as raising chickens, pigs, calves and vegetables. Benny and Alba walked along a logging railway grade to attend East Wellington School. The Negrins moved to Lantzville in 1935 when their lease was up at Marshall’s. They rented the Walter Auld farm property behind the current Lantzville business district. Benny and Alba attended Lantzville School. In 1938 Gordon and America bought the land on Lantzville Rd from the Thicke family that is known as the Negrin farm today. They moved the dairy operation to the new location and the two generations managed a dairy herd for a total of 50 years. Only a family can operate this kind of small dairy operation. Long hours of hard work, seven days a week, w e r e p a r t of the package. 35 dairy cows were milked by hand. Benny met Lorraine Dunbar from Pleasant Valley in 1943 and they were married in 1945. Bennie built the “little house” for he and Lorraine next to the original Thicke farmhouse where his parents were living. When their children were born (Danny 1947, Donald, 1949 and Diana, 1951) Benny and Lorraine swapped houses with Benny’s parents who lived out their days in the smaller house. True to his Italian heritage, Gordon had a one-acre vineyard in a sunny location close to Lantzville Rd for many years. During the postwar era the Canadian family farm reached its peak and began a slow decline. The Lantzville area was no exception. One by one, the old farms went out of production as resource and town jobs lured workers away and prices of farm products fell as agribusiness and supermarkets came to dominate the food industry. The Negrins persevered and where Benny had delivered milk by bicycle as a teenager they progressed to delivering to 150 customers a day by truck. Surpluses went to the Nanaimo Dairy and later to Palm Dairy. Other farms going out of production created an opportunity Continued on page 8 Lantzville Legion Branch No 257 -Stan Walpole Lantzville Council Members 250-390-4006 Joe Bratkowski e: joe@bluerockmanagementcom Brian Dempsey e: bdempsey@telus.net Warren Griffey e: warrengriffey@shaw.ca Colin Haime e: colinhaime@shaw.ca Denise Haime e: denisehaime@shaw.ca Ron Negrave e: negrave@telus.net Douglas Parkhurst e: parkhurst @casb.com Sports, entertainment and other areas where help would be very welcome. If members want a good, successful branch then every able-bodied member, with a little time to spare, should help out. Marilyn Cholin has graciously agreed to fill in temporarily as secretary, and will continue to assist any one who does this job. The office has all the latest equipment to make the job that much easier. No pay but lots of love from grateful members. Harvey Bist, the Sports chairman has plans for a Super Bowl party and other events with 'in-house' etc. Wendy Forsyth, entertainment, has plans for a Valentines Day dance on February 13th. and a St Patrick's Day social on March 13th. As you will appreciate, the committees are just getting 'their feet wet' but, I feel sure, will have some interesting activities for members in the coming year. Watch the notice boards for information. The New Executive, elected at the December meeting, is : President ; Cde. Barry Ostrand; first V.P. Cde. Roy Cardinal; 2nd V.P. Cde. Jean Brown; Treasurer, Cde. Lynn Rankin; Secretary, Cde. Cathie Zacharais; Immediate Past President, Cde. Ken Gourlay. Executive , Cdes. Georgina Rosewall. Ron Bowman, Ron Jones; Ginny Ostrand; Harvey Bist; Wendy Forsyth; Gary Peters; Art Lefever. Zone Reps; Cdes. Roy Cardinal and Liz. Breingan. Off and running for, hopefully, a successful year. JBV Brett Verhiel jbvcontracting@shaw.ca 250.667.4447 7340 Harby Rd. East Lantzville, BC For Business Hours and Price Lists visit: 250-390-9257 www. donnashairdesign.shawwebspace.ca Lantzville Dental Clinic Ph. (250) 390-2832 7180 Lantzville Road Lantzville, BC, V0R 2H0 “General Dentistry” • Chiropractic • Massage Therapy • Custom Orthotics Applecross Chiropractic Corporation Dr. Randal Austin, B.Sc., B.S.F., D.C. 7221 Royal Drive • Upper Lantzville • 250-390-1123 250-816-0719 www.glscontracting.ca • Specializing in sanitary sewer connections. • Extensive references from Phase One of Lantzville’s sewer collection system. • Prompt, reliable, friendly service. Call Geoff Schulson for a no obligation quotation. w to Ask us ho our Connect y e for sewer lin FREE! CONTRACTING Ltd. Since I last wrote there has been a change of plans by the new Executive. Sub-committees have been set up (13 in all) and one is for Public Relations with Comrades Gary Peters, Bruce Chic Clayton Williams and myself. I will continue as the Log correspondent. It is hoped that the branch can now receive the publicity in the local media so lacking in the past. The branch does a lot of good work, make numerous contributions to charities. youth groups. seniors, hospitals and other worthy organizations without any publicity such as the other Legion branches get. We hope to correct that with cooperation from the media. Many members are not aware of what the branch does, those who do not attend monthly meetings or even read the many notices in the notice boards can now, hopefully read it in the papers. we shall see !. At the January meeting new committee chairmen seemed most enthused with their responsibilities and plan many interesting programs and events in the coming year. It was a very interesting meeting attended by 42 members which was a disappointing number considering we have almost 800 members. As a volunteer branch it is every members responsibility to help with the operation in one way or another. The bar always need help with servers, cleaners etc. Just a few hours a week would be a great help. Then there are the Hair services for the entire family... Your Trusted Local Excavating Service 15 Years Experience Fully Insured Precision Quality Exper ien Sanita ced Lantz ville ry Co n Speci nection alist Rock Walls Site Servicing & Prep Drain Tile & Backfills Planning & Design Expert FULL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL EXCAVATING Community Page 6 The Log Serving Lantzville and Area - February, 2010 EATING SMART... For Health & Energy - Patricia Chuey, Reg. Dietitian Health and Fitness Being Active In and Around Lantzville Chocolate is Healthy: Widespread Falsity or Sweet Truth? Submitted by Cheryl Morch By February, New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight or get back in shape may be in the back of our minds and we may need some fresh ideas on how to carry them through 2010. Becoming more active is a long term lifestyle change, made easier by engaging in activities we love to do. I have compiled a few simple ideas that may help you on your journey towards a healthier way of life. - Walk the streets of Lantzville or take a hike. Your cardiovascular system will especially love you if you conquer some of the many hills right outside your door. If being off the road is more appealing, try the beach or one of the many nearby hiking trails. Hiking in the Foothills now includes the adrenalin rush of dodging a security guard, but there are great trails around Westwood Lake, up Notch Hill in Nanoose, at Top Bridge Park on the Englishman River, at Pipers Lagoon, Neck Point, or on Mount Benson. - Walk around Woodgrove Mall before it opens. Enjoy the company of Nanaimoites doing laps at 7:30am before stores open. Register at guest services for this free activity. - Check out one of the running stores. Don’t own spandex or know what your PB is? That is ok! Frontrunners at Longwood Station, offers clinics not only for those wishing to finish a marathon or run faster, but also for walkers and runners of all abilities. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and keen to get you active again with resources ranging from Chi Running to Pilates. - Join a gym. You could buy yourself some simple equipment and workout at home but chances are that your motivation will last a week or two at best. Many gyms offer a free trial and have no long term contracts. Personal Trainers are extremely helpful if have no idea what you are doing, and will create a personal program for you. Every gym is different, offering different programs including spin classes and yoga, as well as discounts to get you in the door. Do your research. - Check out the Rec Centres. Badminton, floor hockey, basketball, pickle ball, and futsal...there are programs for adults and children galore! The Nanaimo Aquatic Centre is a world class facility and between it and Beban Pool, there is an aquatic activity for every age and ability. - Join the Seaside Community Society. With activities at Costin Hall such as carpet bowling, dancing, bridge, crib and whist, the Seaside Community Society is a great way to meet some extremely nice people and exercise your body and mind. All ages are welcome and there is a free trial period. Contact Barb at 250-756-1470. The society is keen to have families join and if you have an idea of a group you would like to start, they would love to hear from you. There are so many great activities accessible to us within minutes of home. One of my mottos has always been to try something that scares you. Whether it is bungee jumping, checking out a fitness class, learning to sea kayak or row, you never know who you will meet, or how it will change your life. There is no better time than today to get active. Cheryl Morch is a Registered Massage Therapist, student of Health Sciences, has bungee jumped and is excited for the next adventure. Lower Back Pain Christmas just behind us, Valentine’s Day marks the start of another round of chocolate indulgence. Who doesn’t want to believe that one of the world’s favourite treats is in fact a health food? Fingers crossed, let’s look at the situation a little closer. Cocoa, used in chocolate production, comes from the plant Theobroma cacao. It’s a plant. It’s natural. Good so far. The seeds from the fruit are fermented and dried to extract the cocoa beans, which are eventually used in cocoa products. The chocolate in most formats we enjoy is made by combining cocoa with ingredients such as liquor, cocoa butter, sugar, cream or milk. Cocoa has been found to have a high antioxidant capacity and to contain health-promoting flavonoids. Antioxidants minimize the damage free-radicals can cause to cells. Flavonoids have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing LDL (bad cholesterol) and increasing HDL (good cholesterol), reducing clotting and inflammation and improving circulation. Cocoa also contains caffeine and theobromine, which act as stimulants. This is sounding really great. Critical to know is how much and which kinds of chocolate to consume to benefit. Moderation (arrgh) is key. Lucky for the researchers who figure this stuff out, but approxi- mately 6 to 7 grams/day are sufficient to obtain health benefits. This corresponds to a small square of very good quality, high cocoa percentage chocolate 2 or 3 times a week. This modest amount provides the benefits of the antioxidant and flavonoids without unnecessary calories, saturated or trans fat. Note that dark chocolate has significantly more antioxidant and flavonoid properties than milk or white chocolate. If you love chocolate, try substituting dark chocolate for milk chocolate when eating or using in recipes. Prepare a trail mix with almonds, dried cranberries, and dark chocolate chips – and use the trail. Bake oatmeal muffins sprinkled with a few dark chocolate chips. Prepare homemade hot cocoa with lower fat milk or soy milk, cocoa and just a little bit of sweetening. Grate it on vegetables? Maybe a stretch. Although cocoa research is promising, we still know that the vegetables and exercise do even more for your heart. Happy Valentine’s Day! Patricia Chuey, MSc., RD, operates www.patriciachuey. com, a national nutrition consulting firm based in Lantzville. If you eat WAY too much chocolate and need help, be in touch. STREAM KEEPERS - John Dunn Winter in the watersheds is a wet place these past weeks, with all the rain we have had and are still having is good news for the aquifers but not too good for the actual streams. Flash floods bring huge volumes of debris and sediment downstream from the upper watersheds. (Loss of forest cover in the watersheds) With watersheds that are relatively stable this presents few problems but for the ones that are not we have seen many changes to the streambed and along the banks as the water volume scours out new channels and fills in pool habitat. Only time will tell as to how this has impacted on the salmon eggs buried in the streambed from last fall. Some eggs will be buried deeper and make it more difficult for the emerging fish to wiggle their way to the surface while some will have been flushed out completely. “Where are all the fish” is the question most asked by the younger stream keepers when we visit the streams during these flood periods, the vast majority of over-wintering fry and Trout know through pressure changes that heavy rains are coming and sense it is time to move into off channel habitat, back eddy’s, wetlands etc. It is not too surprising that the fish know what to do; they have only been doing it for thousands of years in order to survive. As humans we think that fish are not very smart after all they are just fish, well think about last time you tried to catch one and could you find your way back to the same creek you came from after spending years cruising around the North Pacific avoiding predators and all the perils that they face every day without your GPS. Evolution of the species has ensured that they can achieve these amazing feats as they have adapted to changes over the millennia. Each stream has its own unique ecosystem making fish survival reliant on adaptation, this does not happen overnight but over thousands of years. Studies have shown that taking hatchery fish and introducing them into different streams other than their own natal stream makes them vulnerable to different viruses, bacteria, habitat parameters, etc. The other question that is asked is “how come after all the work done to introduce hatchery fish (Hybrids) into the streams in years past that we still have no fish” This is a tricky question to answer given all the good intention put into fish “Management” and one could write a book speculating on all that has gone before. To go from streams full of spawning fish to what we have today is a sad reflection on our abilities as stewards of such abundance. The straightforward answer is that messing around with the spawning of fish by using hatcheries to supplement loss of habitat has had marginal impact on the recovery of fish from habitat destruction whether through industrial activity or urban sprawl. Loss of habitat is the most limiting factor in the survival of wild fish, yes we can literally pour hundreds of thousands of hatchery fry into rivers and streams but time has shown us now that the question still remains “where are the fish”. As stream keepers we adopted the philosophy years ago to avoid the hatchery approach and concentrate on habitat was the best approach we could do to preserve what wild stocks that were left. In the old days among the first nations stewardship of the all-important salmon was a very high honor past down through the generations. In those days the survival of the salmon was intricately entwined with human survival. Protection and restoration of this important habitat is possibly the only way to ensure we have wild salmon for future generations to experience. It is a sad reflection on our abilities as humans to have good intention while ignoring the obvious, so remember every action you take has consequences. Nature is forgiving but only so far. CHIROPRACTIC CARE - by Dr. Randal Austin To kick off my column in the Log, I’d like to outline a common, yet often overlooked cause of low back pain for which patients frequently seek chiropractic care. Many patients are sent to chiropractors for low back pain. After having ruled out the more sinister causes of the back pain such as infection, tumor, metabolic disease, or diseases of the internal organs such as kidney, prostate or female reproductive system, the chiropractor will treat your back for what the medical profession terms “mechanical back pain”. This form of back pain is quite a complex issue and presents as a problem with the facets, muscles, disks and nerves of the lower back. Complaints of pain in the lower back and buttocks can be treated by manipulating the lower back and sacro-iliac joints with great success. However an often-overlooked cause of low back pain is dysfunction of the thoraco-lumbar area where the rib cage ends. This Two Eagles Upholstery Ltd. Residential & Commercial is one of the high stress areas in the spine, the others being where the head is attached to the neck, where the neck is attached to the chest and where the low back is attached to the pelvis. Branches of spinal nerves that exit this area travel backwards and downwards to supply the skin over the buttocks as far down as the hip so any dysfunction to this vertebral segment by your last rib can cause pain over your low back and buttock area. These nerves are called the “cluneal” nerves. This area can be hard to manipulate in some patients but should always be a consideration when dealing with a low back complaint. If you are seeing a chiropractor for low back pain and are not getting results ask him/ her whether or not they have considered manipulating higher up to treat your lower back pain condition. Your questions and feedback are always welcome by email at sportsdoc@shaw.ca. European Craftsmanship Over 20 years experience Serving Lantzville and surrounding areas. Call for a FREE quote: 250-390-4203 Community The Log Serving Lantzville and Area - February, 2010 Page 7 “The Lawnmower Doctor is in...” LANTZVILLE FIRE RESCUE Emergency 911 Non-Emergency 390-2811 250-390-9078 lfd@live.ca Fire Time Line It’s two o’clock in the morning. Your three young kids seconds the living room becomes filled with smoke and the are sound asleep in their beds. It’s Friday night after a hard temperature at the ceiling reaches 500 degrees. Do you have week’s work and you are exhausted. You’ve been in a much an escape plan? Are there two exits from every room? deserved deep sleep for three hours. Unbeknownst to you an It’s been three and one half minutes since the fire started. The electrical fault in your lamp plug has started a small fire in bedrooms are filling with smoke. Your spouse has taken two your living room. of the kids outside. You are in the bedroom with your baby but Most fatal fires start at night and most victims are children your route to the stairs is blocked by heavy poisonous smoke. and seniors. We have had two structure fires in Lantzville re- You close the door, open the window and rig the escape ladder cently and in one, the family was lucky to escape with minor to the window. Four minutes after the fire started you are all smoke inhalation injuries. safe outside the house. There is a large explosion in the house Luckily, for you and your family, you changed the batteras the living room contents ies in your smoke alarm and have heated sufficiently to Safety Tip thirty seconds after the fire cause a flashover sending a Avoid hefty fines, injury and possible death. Do not use elecstarts your alarm sounds ball of fire up the stairs. Had tronic devices while operating a motor vehicle. It is illegal. and you jolt upright in bed, you been there, your death awake, but dazed and conwould have been instantafused. Ten seconds later you get out of bed. Those blasted neous. You meet your partner at your designated meeting alarms! point ensuring that everyone is safe and run to a neighbour’s to What you do in the next five minutes may change your call 9-1-1. It has been five minutes since the fire started. life! Shortly after, pagers are ringing at all the fire fighters’ You do not smell or see anything unusual so you head down homes and they wake up get dressed and are on the way to the the stairs to check further. The kitchen and family room are firehall. The duty officer responds directly to the scene. Within clear. You stop for a glass of water. You check the garage. seven minutes of being paged five firefighters are in the truck Nothing there! As you approach the living room you smell and are on their way. Three minutes later they arrive at your smoke and as you round the corner you see the curtains catch house, a full fifteen minutes after the fire started. If there were fire and burst into flames. people inside they would be dead by now. All the firefighters It has been one minute and thirty seconds since the fire start- can do put out the fire and attempt stop or minimize damage to ed. You panic and run back up the stairs screaming to wake up other buildings. Think about how fast fire can change you the kids and get your spouse to help vacate the house. Within life! Check your alarms! Have an escape plan! started to arrive in Haiti on the weekend of January 16 to 18, only days after the ‘quake hit on January 12. The total number now, on or about February 1st, has probably grown to between fifteen hundred to four thousand, with still more on the way. Entire towns of shelter boxes have happened almost overnight in several other areas of the world which suffered catastrophes. Only one example is the homelessness caused in Bangladesh by Cyclone Aila on May 25, 2009. A complete village of shelter boxes was established within days on this occasion. Many members of Rotary Club of Lantzville are making individual contributions to this great cause. A complete box costs $1,000 CA, reduced from $1,200 recently due to the upward surge of the CA dollar. To make a contribution contact: don@ shelterbox.ca Donations large and small are welcome. Tax receipts are issued for all donations of $20 or more. Reg.#85502 2704 RR0001. Cheques payable to ShelterBox Canada can be mailed to: 1272 Mysty Woods, Victoria, BC V8Y 3G8. Or, phone 1-800-677-0990 to use Visa or Mastercard. Bert Ollivier, author of the monthly Rotary Column is presently writing a sequel to his recently published book. It will be named “Hawaii’s His Game” and is about his 13 years working with the State of Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau. Watch for it. • logos • web sites • newsletters • business cards • graphic design • advertisements • corporate branding Photo submitted by Kim Plumley Not a Christmas Goose, but a Lantzville Swan. This beauty named “Sebastion” was hanging out with the seagulls over the holidays between Sebastion and Harper beaches. Lantzville Legion Branch #257 7227 Lantzville Road, Lantzville 250-390-2841 - Pres. Cde. Roy Cardinal We are accepting tenders for a one year janitorial contract. Cleaning will include the lounge and upstairs hall & office. For further information and a copy of the contract, please call 250-390-2108 or 250-390-4049. This tender will be open until 3:00pm, February 15, 2010. • Breast Pump Rentals • We accept all third party Prescription Plans • FreePrescriptionDelivery•MedicalSupplies Central Drug Stores - Bert Ollivier Rotary Column Author Is Back From Vacation . . . Yes, my dear reader, my bw [beautiful wife] Juanita and I are back from our “working vacation” in the Caribbean and Mexico. A subject that has caught the attention of Rotarians world wide, which is, of course, the catastrophe in Port of Prince, Haiti. The terrible results of the recent earthquake were uppermost in the news and of course in this writer’s mind at the time of writing this piece. When this issue of The LOG is published it is hoped that most of the myriad of plans to alleviate the suffering in Haiti have been successful. But you may ask for details of what your Rotary Club of Lantzville and others all across Canada are doing to directly assist in the recovery plans. That’s a fair question and one of the answers is contained in the fact that shelter boxes are being sent, not by the hundreds, but by the thousands. In this space I have described in the past, from time to time, what a shelter box is, and what each one contains. In fine, it consists mainly of a tent for up to nine or ten occupants plus a complete supply of emergency equipment. Rather than go into a full description this time, I refer my dear reader(s) who have computer access to: www.shelterbox.ca When on the site, click on “ShelterBox Canada.” Then you will have the entire story about what is in a shelter box and exactly what happened on January 19, namely that several shelter boxes became Haitian field hospitals – right on the spot! Several hundreds of the boxes #1 - 7386 Lantzville Road, Lantzville, BC Nanaimo’s Drug Store Since 1892 7186 Lantzville Rd (Sow’s Ear Medical Bldg) Ph: 250-380-4423 Fax: 250-390-4425 PAINTING ROTARY CLUB OF LANTZVILLE Riding mower and small engine service specialists. Residential Interior & Exterior Specializing in quality re-paints ality... Outs tanding qu Brillant results! Proud user of: 250-618-4480 www.vividcoloursolutions.com The boys The men It’s Valentine’s! Time to separate these two! island’s edge graphics 250-668-5395 • www.islands-edge.com Ph: 250-390-9089 • kellersjewellers.com 7180 Lantzville Road, Lantzville Page 8 The Log Serving Lantzville and Area - February, 2010 CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE FIR FIREWOOD $140 unsplit cord. 250-390-3344 SEWER GRINDER PUMP Submersible, 2 hp, 220 volt. Complete with switch just overhauled. New $2000+/Selling for $750 Call Bill 250-390-3908 The Negrin Farm - Con’t from page 3 for Bennie to rent some of their fields for hay production. He rented the Dunbar farm from his in-laws for 35 years and also cut hay on the Doumont, Ecclestone, Gee, Petchauer and Blood properties and others over the years. Even with this hay production they usually purchased 25 tons of alfalfa from Washington State annually which they mixed with their own hay to feed the cows. Benny and Lorraine remember 1957 as a wet year when they lost much of their hay crop (3,000 bales on the Dunbar farm) and were forced to buy a second load of Washington alfalfa. The farm property was extended several times. The first parcel was purchased from Charlie Thicke in 1938. This was followed by an adjacent parcel purchased from Dave Thicke and another strip on the east side from Mr Kelly, which had originally been part of the Henry Doumont farm. These three pieces of land formed the nucleus of the farm and still do. In 1968 the Negrins acquired the fields above Harby Rd west at the bottom of what is now the golf course. This rounded out the farm at its largest extent but was eventually sold off as were the portions of the original Thicke properties above the re-aligned Island Highway, which had cut off direct access to the farm in 1959. Until then, Lantzville Rd had been the highway. The family did most of the farm work but haying season required more labour when 10 to 12 local young people would be hired for a week to ten days. Corn and oats were also grown for cattle feed. A vegetable garden and 600 chickens rounded out the long days work. Eggs were delivered along with the milk. The farm always required a team of horses and one that made the move (and helped with it) from the Marshall property to the Aulds operation to the beginnings of the current farm was a mare named Enis, a standard workhorse weighing around 1300 lbs. The postwar years saw some mechanization of farming and the Negrins bought their first tractor, a Cockshut, in 1948. This tractor proved too small and an Oliver was purchased in 1954 and eventually two English made Leylands. One of the latter may be familiar to local residents as the tractor Ken Spence still uses to tow the haywagon at Minetown Day. Automatic milking machines were introduced in 1949 and were upgraded several times over the years. Mechanized milking still required work but the whole operation took less time than milking 35 cows by hand into a pail. As well as working the farm, Benny took outside jobs in the area, especially in the late forties and early fifties in order to finance the transition to mechanized farming. On one of these jobs he drove a gravel truck for K B Fraser logging for $35 a week including the maintenance of the truck on Sundays. In 1978 they closed the dairy business, sold the milk cows and raised 15 to 25 beef cattle each year. While beef cattle still require daily feeding they are tougher than dairy cows, live out of doors year round and don’t require milking. Beef prices vary a great deal however and in the first year the beef-on-the-hoof price fluctuated from $1.49 per lb to .79 cents. The Negrins fully retired in 2004, selling the last of their beef cattle. Benny and Lorraine made a trip to Italy in 1985. They visited some of the remaining relations and family connections there. Benny, who had spoken Italian at home until he went to school, was still able to communicate in the language as it was spoken in his father’s generation. Benny says that in spite of the hard work and struggle of farming, he doesn’t regret having spent his life at it. He and Lorraine are never lonely and often have a kitchen full of visitors. Farmers are always at home. Business Directory ACTIVE LIVING Origin at Longwood . .....................................250-751-7755 Oliver Rd., Nanaimo (across from Zellers) BOOKKEEPING/INCOME TAX SERVICES Allisar Solutions ............................................250-754-8709 Lantzville Road, Lantzville (beside the Legion) Barber & Haime Accountants .....................250-390-4131 7190 Lantzville Road, Lantzville COMMERCIAL SERVICES Slegg Lumber ................................................250-390-1207 7187 Lantzville Road, Lantzville Two Eagles Upholstery Ltd ...........................250-390-4203 Ye Olde Lawnmower Repair Shoppe............250-390-9078 #1-7386 Lantzville Road, Lantzville CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATIONS GasWise Heating Services..............................250-729-0576 Service, repairs and installation Hi-Tec Industries.............................................250-390-2122 Mfg of roof trusses & supplier of engineered beams Nancy’s Electrical Service .............................250-390-3133 cell 755-9512 Vivid Colour Solutions....................................250-618-4480 Painting - Residential - Interior and Exterior CHURCH EVENTS St. Philips By the Sea......................................250-390-2846 EXCAVATING GLS Contracting.............................................250-816-0719 JBV Contracting ............................................250-667-4447 FINANCIAL SERVICES Emmanuel Lint, CFP- ext. 234 ......................250-729-0904 Investors Group - voice mail ........................250-740-5592 GRAPHIC DESIGN Island’s Edge Graphics - Lantzville ..............250-668-5395 HAIR SALONS & PERSONAL BEAUTY Donna’s Hair Design . ....................................250-390-9257 7340 Harby Road East, Lantzville Heavenly Escape Esthetics ............................250-390-2639 Infrared Sauna, Reki, Body Treatments, Manicures. Community INTERIOR DESIGN Fabrications Drapery & Blinds.....................250-390-3854 7787 Lantzville Road, Lantzville INSURANCE Vancouver Island InsuranceCentres ............250-751-2966 601-5800 Turner Rd (near Cactus Club) LEGAL Petley - Jones Law Corporation ...................250-758-7370 5732 Hammond Bay Rd, Nanaimo LANDSCAPING & GARDEN SERVICES Horticulture Technician Landscaping...........250-390-2799 MEDICAL SERVICES Applecross Clinic - Chiropractic/Massaget..250-390-1123 7221 Royal Dr, Lantzville Central Drugs ................................................250-390-4423 7186 Lantzville Road, Lantzville Foot Care Nurse John Patterson LPN .............250-390-9266 PET CARE Del Norte Kennels ..........................................250-390-3289 REAL ESTATE Bernice White..................................................250-390-4575 Realty Executives Lantzville ....bernicewhite@shaw.ca RESTAURANTS / FOOD SERVICES Black Dog Cafe . .............................................250-390-4541 7217 Lantzville Road, Lantzville Dairy Queen ...................................................250-390-1595 6888 Island Hwy N. (Dickinson Crossing) Legion Br#257 ................................................250-390-2841 7225 Lantzville Rd. RETAIL SERVICES Keller’s Jewellers Ltd ...................................250-390-9089 7180 Lantzville Rd, Lantzville List your business in the Business Directory for only $35 for 3 months. Contact Julie today.... ads@thelog.ca or call 250-668-5395 A VIEW FROM THE OUTSIDE - Lloyd Erickson Wordy Weather I was talking to my son in Winnipeg “How’s your weather today?” “Oh, it warmed up to minus 9, and its sunny. T-shirt weather!” And from my daughter in Saskatchewan “Its about minus 15 today. Sunny. There’s a bit of a north wind. Not bad for calving time.” My son in Wells says “We’ve got about 3 feet of snow on the ground, and the forecast is for some more. I’ll have to shovel off the roof soon.” You might think that my intention is to gloat about the fine weather we are having on Vancouver Island. I’m not. I just like to talk about the weather. Talking about the weather is a good ice breaker because it is something we all have in common. And, of course, since the weather is always great here, you have something positive to talk about! I might be accused of being obsessive about the weather. The family joke is that I rush to my weather station to determine conditions outside instead of just looking out the window. Maybe. My weather station does tell me whether it is raining or windy. But more than that, it tells me how strong the breeze is, the actual temperature outside, what the windchill is (that is, how cold it will actually feel), how much rain has fallen that day, and whether I need gumboots. Basically the weather determines how productive my day will be, spent indoors or out. Chores in the workshop, or working the garden. It has been stated that the Eskimos have 15 words for the word “snow”. Well, I think that our west coast jargon has a whole pile more words to describe the word “rain”. So I am offering the following descriptive rain scale to describe just about any type of weather. For practical purposes the scale is based on the type of outdoor clothing required: “Sandals and shorts” means its overcast, threatening rain. “Running shoes and jeans*” means the sky is overcast, there is an occasional sprinkling, very light showers, Scotch mist, drips, high humidity, or a bit foggy. The wind is calm. *Some people are still wearing sandals and shorts. “Boots, jeans and jacket” means that people are starting to notice it is raining, sprinkling, showering, or plain precipitating. The wind may be blowing 1 to 5 knots from the southeast. The temperature is above 5 degrees. Persons dressed in sandals and shorts might carry a “brollie”. “Boots, jeans, light raincoat or umbrella” means it is really raining, pouring, sleeting, and it is a bit windy. The sky is grey from groundlevel to overhead. Persons in sandals and shorts have dispensed with the “brollie” (its too windy) and are wearing hats; they wonder why the rest of us wear raincoats. “Gumboots, raincoat, hat” or your raincoat has a hood. Dark clouds look ominously low. It is really pouring, a cloudburst, a drencher, deluge, torrent, a real cloudburst, and its coming down in buckets, raining cats and dogs, and its coming down in sheets. Your dog wants to go home. Persons in sandals and shorts carry a raincoat, just in case. “Chest high waders, Halley Hansen oilskin jacket and sou’wester hat” means torrential rains blowing horizontally, a real cataract or monsoon. You didn’t really want to come out in this weather but the gutters are overflowing and you need to clean the downspouts. The neighbour in sandals and shorts holds the ladder, but dashes back home instead of going for a walk. If you think I’ve missed some types of weather, you are probably right. Sunshine? What’s that?