C:\10.MBC.DATA\Mary Brooke\6707
Transcription
C:\10.MBC.DATA\Mary Brooke\6707
Breaking news as it happens: www.sookevoicenews.com/breakingnews.htm Pet Store Sooke VoiceSVNNews Open daily 250-642-4318 The Grooming Salon Open Mon-Sat ~ 250-642-2280 6703 West Coast Rd News and views for attentive, inquisitive readers. www.wiskersandwaggs .com Ask ab outour militarydiscount! SVN $1.25 in colour at newsstands 4 pages this issue Free nitty- gritty weekly e-news bulletins, short & fast: [email protected] Courtesy take-home edition: Alternative Kitchen, Caffe Sofia (Prestige), Little Vienna Bakery, Mom’s Cafe, Reading Room Cafe, Serious Coffee, Sooke Library, Sooke River Store, Stone Pipe Grill, The Stick. Read while you wait: Island Haircutting, Karma Salon, Livivi Hair, StudioJ, TD Bank. Friday, July 12, 2013 Publishing to support a knowledge-based economy & an informed society. Your ads & subscriptions make this publication possible. Sooke, BC WEB EDITION Economy grinds on consumers, business .............. 1 RESP teaser is a bad shot: money now or later (editorial) ..... 2 Summer sailing for youth is off to a smooth start ...... 3 Communities in Bloom: heritage & horticulture ......... 3 Norman Nelson to conduct this summer’s Fling! ....... 4 BC Premier Christy Clark wins July 10 WestsideKelowna by-election Vol.3 No.25 ISSN 1925-2722 Broad-s cope @sookevoicenews and lo cal @SVNLocalNews Tweets post ed live at www.sookevoicenews.com Community newspaper published weekly on Fridays (print & online) by Brookeline Publishing House Inc. NEWSSTAND COPIES IN FULL COLOUR ~ retail $1.25 for sale at Shoppers Drug Mart (Sooke) Print subscriptions: by 1st class mail: $25+GST (b&w 15 weeks or colour 10 weeks) Cannabis petition to have 90 days for gathering 10% of BC voter signatures SOOKE VOICE NEWS on the Beat An initiative petition application “to amend the Police Act”, to be issued to proponent Dana Larsen on Monday, September 9, 2013, was granted approval by BC’s Chief Electoral Officer, Keith Archer, it was announced July 11. “This initiative petition application is the ninth to be approved since the legislation came into force in 1995,” Archer said in the news release. Any registered voter can apply to have a petition issued to gather support for a legislative proposal. After the petition is issued, the proponent will have 90 days to canvass and collect signatures of at least 10% of the registered voters in each of BC’s 85 electoral districts. WEB EDITION Individuals or organizations who intend to oppose the initiative, conduct initiative advertising, or canvass for signatures must be registered with Elections BC. The deadline for opponent application is Mon., Aug. 12, 2013. Registered voters as of Sept.9, 2013 may sign the petition once for the electoral district in which they are registered. www.elections.bc.ca The initiative draft Bill entitled, “Sensible Policing Act” proposes to amend the Police Act to no longer use provincial police resources on the enforcement of current laws in relation to simple possession and use of cannabis (marijuana) by adults. The draft law would prohibit the use of provincial police resources for this purpose, would require police to report in detail to the Minister of Justice any actual use of resources for this purpose and why it was necessary, and require the Minister to publish that report. WEB EDITION The Bill also proposes that the Province would call upon the Federal Government to repeal the federal prohibition on cannabis, or give BC an exemption, such that BC is able to tax and regulate cannabis similar to the regulation of alcohol and tobacco. As well, it proposes that BC establish a Provincial Commission to study the means and requirements necessary for the province to establish a legal and regulated model for the production and use of cannabis by adults. The Bill would make non-lawful possession and use of cannabis by minors an offence similar to possession and use of alcohol. The 90-day period to collect signatures will give the proponent until around December 6 of this year to achieve the collection of signatures of 10% of registered voters in each of BC’s 85 electoral districts. News doesn’t stop in summer! Breaking news daily! www.sookevoicenews.com Signatures of at least 10% of registered voters in each of BC’s 85 electoral districts will be required for the proposed Police Act amendments Bill to be presented in the BC Legislature. www.maplelinebusinesscentre .com Print | Laminate | Spiral Bind A lot done in 16 minutes by Mary P. Brooke Larsen, whose track record includes running unsuccessfully for the leadership of BC's New Democrats, said in Sept.2012 that a similar petition (for which he was issued permission for a petition in Nov.2012) wouldn’t be used for gathering signatures that fall but instead for generating attention and gathering volunteers to find, train, excite and mobilize "an army of welltrained disciplined signature gatherers." Even at that time he intended to submit another application for Sept.2013 and then begin the process of collecting signatures. A similar petition initiative in 2011 (first spearheaded by former BC premier Bill Vander Zalm) was the first step in bringing about the end of the 12% HST in BC, which succeeded. The HST was repealed as of April 1, 2013. SVN Fire service costs “There are some definite challenges in trying to balance an effective em ergency service while carefully managing financial considerations,” says Sooke Fire Rescue Chief Sorensen. See page 3. The District of Sooke Regular Council meeting on July 8 was one of the 'shortest on record' said Mayor Milne, with rapid adjournment at 7:16 pm. In the 16-minute meeting a number of things were efficiently discussed and approved. • Deputy Director of Finance (Brent Blackhall) has been hired starting July 15. • It was approved that Mayor Milne send a letter to the Vancouver Island Library Board looking for clarification and progress on a new library for Sooke, as well lodging a bit of a complaint about the 6.5% library tax hike for taxpayers. • Canada World youth was granted funds for bus passes again this year. They are looking for home-stays and volunteer opportunities for their 18 youth volunteers who will arrive in sooke on Nov.6 and stay to the end of January 2014. This year's group of volunteers will (for the first time) include youth from Vietnam. • Congratulations for 35 years service in the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) by District of Sooke CAO Gord Howie was passed along from CAMA by Mayor Wendal Milne. WEB EDITION • Director of Finance Michael Dillabaugh reported that 2013 expenses are on budget. "Revenues with exception of a few primary areas are also within budget. Staff will continue to closely monitor this and over the next two quarters...and exercise any necessary measures to make sure the District is in a healthy position at year end." Councillor Herb Haldane to the Director of Finance: "I commend you on the legals (cost of legal services) being so low." • Mayor Milne announced that starting July 8 and running for four weeks, TV ads from TourYou can view District of Sooke ism Vancouver Island will be aired for promotCouncil and Com mittee ing tourism to this island. The 15-second slot meetings via live webcas ts at will be "on quite a number of stations in BC www.sooke.c a where archives and some in Alberta," Mayor Milne said. SVN can also be viewed. View from afar Economy grinds on consumers, business “Consumer confidence is a significant economic generator,” said NDP Finance Critic Mike Farnworth, in the BC Legislature this week. He said that with the HST ending this spring on March 31, there was the expectation that there would be an upswing in renovations and consumer purchases on a significant number of items, but added that “to see a weakening of demand in forecasts (in the BC government’s budget), causes some concern”. WEB EDITION Locally in Sooke, there has been financial caution at the District of Sooke since the current Council began grinding the numbers early in 2012. Mayor Wendal Milne often refers to a challenged economy at meetings of Council, Finance & Administration, and Land Use. This week the District’s Director of Finance, Michael Dillabaugh, reported that projected revenues are down in four distinct areas (based on actuals through May 31): Building Permits, Subdivision Fees, Rezoning Fees and Plumbing Permit Fees. Mayor Milne says: “I haven't delved into the specifics other than to say we would look at everything,” (in terms of adjusting expenditures or other ways to stay within budget). Developers in Sooke have slowed their building activities because the sale of housing products is very slow. A lack of local jobs is part of the problem. “Our municipality struggles to supply jobs that will keep families here, so most travel to Victoria,” says District of Sooke Councillor Herb Haldane. “Our biggest draw is affordability but we are competing in this shrinking market with Langford. Langford has facilities for kids and young families so that leaves us with the seniors market. Seniors seem to like the size and pace of our town so that has been an attraction,” Haldane says. “The real issue has been the bureaucracy itself. With by Mary P. Brooke more and more rules piling on and banks refusing to lend money we (property developers) are at a wall,” Haldane continued. “Venture capital is 10-12% so when a developer looks to build he takes into account time and effort.” “In Sooke there is a reluctance to change the way we do business at our town hall and that reputation causes concern with banks and builders,” Haldane said. “Both our planning and engineering departments plague development with unreasonable time delays and inconsistent rules. This leaves us with the very problem of the day in that revenues and permits are at an all-time low. Either we change the way we do business or our town hall needs to shrink,” he said. The MP for our area, Randall Garrison (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca), is also concerned about the economy. “The odd part is that the federal government keeps saying the recession is over – and we just don’t see the evidence of that at the local level,” Garrison said this week in an exclusive interview with Sooke Voice News. “The relentless cheerfulness that they’re pursuing just doesn’t match the facts. In all kinds of areas,” Garrison said with a sense of exploration, adding that Sooke “has a problem for small businesses in this economy.” WEB EDITION Sooke still struggles to establish a viable Going mobile! economic identity (is it 250-642-7729 sti ll touri sm?) as the After July 19 ~ We come to you! economy continues to Digital document manageme nt fracture. The next Mayfor dynamic businesse s. or ’ s Pr omote Sooke Local pic kup/delivery in Sooke Task Force meeting is www.maplelinebusinesscentre .com Wed. July 17 in Council [email protected] Chambers, 7pm. SVN Print | Laminate l Spiral Bind WEB EDITION Page 2 of 4 ::: Full edition online: www.sookevoice news.com A view to the world, from Soo ke... co ntributing the ‘pieces’ for inquisitive readers. As a community service, editorials are ‘mini essays’ that EDITORIALS address broader issues of c oncern t o the c ommunity as a whole. RESP teaser is a bad shot: money now or later The BC Liberal decision to provide a $1,200 Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) contribution for every child born after January 1, 2007 (and any child thereafter when he or she turns 6 years old – if the family has an RESP for that child), is a poorly aimed shot at ‘families first’. While money can help, as any business person will tell you, it matters when and how you apply the funds – sometimes even more than the amount itself. Even with accrued interest, the $1,200 is a drop in the bucket of post-secondary costs, and its result is so far down the road for a young family. Having raised four children (with an RESP for each), I can say I would rather have had each month’s RESP contribution in hand instead for groceries, clothing, and extra-curricular activities than for a rainy day. Income is usually greater farther along in one’s career – does the government presume that no one can properly manage their family spending pattern over time? All my children over 18 – BC NEWS based on their own academic performance, scholarships, student loans and part-time jobs – have successfully made their way through post-secondary; unless an RESP is substantial (possible only for higher-income families), that form of forced saving is a hard-won drop in the bucket along with overhead (caveats and paperwork). A $1,200 contribution of *real* money into the pockets of every family with children under 16 would be such a gamechanger. If there is a BC Liberal philosophical aversion to perceived ‘handouts’ then it is misguided and shows only that the provincial government wants tight psychological reins on an already struggling populace. The NDP said in the May election they would have (upon winning) put $1,200 per child into child care funding. That’s not bad. But I can’t think of a struggling young family anywhere who wouldn’t wisely apply $1,200 cash to the immediate needs of children or household debt in these disastrous economic times. The RESP idea is almost Friday, July 12, 2013 ::: SOOKE VOICE NEWS Available to July 19, 2013 TD Canada Trust Open a new TD Select Service or Infinity account and get the latest 7” Samsung Galaxy Tab!* BC Training and Education Savings Grant: www.budget2013.ca/bc-training-and-education-savings-grant/ RESPs, starting an RESP, education savings grants from the Government of Canada: www.canlearn.ca BC's Education Plan: www.bcedplan.ca SVN FEDERAL FOCUS WEB EDITION RANDALL GARRISON, MP visiting in Sooke Sooke Rotarians who attended their regular weekly lunch meeting enjoyed Randall Garrison, MP as their July 10 speaker. “I talked about my job as MP and what I work on. Questions had to do with fisheries and various ways the federal government has removed itself from an active role in fish habitat and protection,” Garrison said in an interview that day. More of the fish licence revenues are now going toward habitat and conservation – a small victory that Garrison helped to achieve in Ottawa in June. Garrison is home in the EquimaltJuan de Fuca riding for the summer and hopes to come to Sooke a couple of times a month. He’ll head back to Ottawa for the House of Commons resuming on Sept.16. This week Garrison toured Sooke Family Resource Society operations at the CASA building on Townsend Rd. “They have federal funding for the family programs there. I was surprised how many services are run out of that building, also serving people from Shirley, Jordan River, Port Renfew. Garrison is starting a petition locally, along with the NDP’s Science Critic Kennedy Stewart, MP (Burnaby-Douglas), about cutting public education programs at Bamfield. “We’re losing public outreach programs that bring students into science programs.” SVN Office: 2050-D Townsend Road, Sooke, BC (to July 19; then call) Mailing: PO Box 851, Sooke, BC, Canada V9Z 1H8 Phone: 250-642-7729 Fax:250-642-7785 Email:[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] * see branch for details LETTERS WEB EDITION [email protected] The Sooke Voice News We are so happy to have you and the great Sooke Voice News. We always read every item. Thanks for all your hard work. ~ Lis Johansen, Sooke Web:www.sookevoicenews.com Twitter: @sookevoicenews (regional / national / global); @SVNLocalNews (Sooke local) Publisher, Writer/Editor, Layout: Mary P. Brooke Ad Sales: Mary P. Brooke Contributors this week: Gord Fulcher, Brenda Parkinson. Distribution Support: Danica Fruttarol. Printing: MapleLine Business Centre Distribution: Readershipbase of5,000 print& online;including print deliverydirect to selected businesses weekly.Colour edition $1.25 at Shoppers Drug Mart. Free copies at library, coffee shops. Online at www.sookevoicenews.com Subscriptions:weeklyby1st class postal mail: $25+GST (15 issues in grayscale or10 in colour) Regional s cope o n Twit ter: @sookevoicenews $1,200 education savings grant goes ahead Premier Clark wins • • • Published by Brookeline Publishing House Inc., Sooke,BC, Canada cruel for its time-delay. Political teasers don’t help; in fact, they seriously aggravate. A more feet-on-the-ground awareness by government of what is really going on for BC families would be wise politics, and greatly appreciated by many. DAILY UPDATES: www.sookevoicenews.com/breakingnews.htm Starting immediately, all BC children with a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and born on or after January 1, 2007 will be entitled to receive the BC Training and Education Savings Grant, it was announced July 3, 2013 in a news release from the BC Ministry of Education. W hen a BC resident child turns six-years-old, the Province of BC will put $1,200 into the child’s RESP. In the last week of June, as part of the introduction of last week's provincial budget, the BC government “has reaffirmed its commitment to the new $1,200 BC Training and Education Savings Grant,” said Education Minister Peter Fassbender in the news realease. “By investing in an RESP, the $1,200 provincial grant, other savings grants, family contributions and compound interest will grow over time, making it easier for BC's children to pursue their chosen careers,” says the Education ministry. “Having an RESP in place also makes it easier for grandparents and other family members to help put money toward future education,” the government says. Fassbender was at the Vancouver Public Library on July 3 to talk to a group of preschool children and their parents about the grant, and the importance of planning and saving early for a child's education after secondary school. "Today I asked the preschoolers what they want to be when they grow up – and whatever career they ultimately choose, the grant will make it easier to pursue their dreams. And with the passing of the budget, we are ensuring that this money remains available for parents to save, not for government to spend," said Fassbender. BC says it is working with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to implement the program. Putting the information systems in place to facilitate fund transfers WEB EDITION is expected to take 18 to 24 months. To put the dollar amount into perspective (in today’s dollars, which will not as powerful in 10 to 15 years when the funds mature in an RESP), books for one year of postsecondary cost around $1,000 or more, and tuition is at least $5,000 per year for many programs. RESP funds cannot be used by a student until they complete the first year of their post-secondary studies and have registered to continue in second year. The issuance of funds to active students is normally executed over the second, third and fourth years of post-secondary study. There are many steps (hoops) to jump through if the student does not fall into the standard category of taking four years of post-secondary on a start date immediately following high school. As well, many post-secondary programs at colleges and trade schools are shorter than four years. The first and most important step to receive the grant is for parents to open an RESP before the child's seventh birthday, says the government. Families with RESPs in place will be contacted when the grant is ready to be transferred into the savings plan. When opening an RESP for a child, the Ministry of Education says to have ready: - Family member or guardian's Social Insurance Number. - Social Insurance Number for the RESP beneficiaries (the child or children). - One piece of government-issued identification for the family member or guardian setting up the RESP. The Sooke Voice News 7 DAYS A WEEK | 6670 Sooke Road seat in July 10 byelection Premier Christy Clark once again has a seat in the BC Legislature following her July 10 by-election win as the BC Liberal candidate in Westside-Kelowna. Seven contenders took advantage of the opportunity for media exposure and political momentum during the campaign period, including candidates for the BC NDP, BC Conservative and BC Vision parties, as well as four independents. WEB EDITION The results from 16 polling stations (171 ballot boxes) came rolling in shortly after 8 pm on Wednesday night. Few pundits, if anyone, expected Clark to lose. She is the leader of a majoritywin party that awaited its premier in the legislative session which started a ‘lame duck’ session of sorts, without its feisty premier in the House when the 1st session began on June 26. The vote count on July 10 showed Clark with 62.7% of the votes cast on July 10. Runners up were Carole Gordon (BC NDP) with 29.66% and Sean Upshaw (BC Conservative) with 5.81%. A final count by Elections BC will commence July 17. BC Greens did not run a candidate in this by-election; party leader Jane Sterk said the premier needs to be in the legislature (effectively suggesting a Premier in a by-election should not be contested). However, the Greens did not run a candidate in that riding in the May 14 election to begin with. SVN It pays (the library) to return those books late Late fines m ight seem like small change with each transaction, but in 2012 the Vancouver Island Library (VIRL) c ollec ted $698,450 in “fines and other income”. However, that number is down from 2011 (when $756,308 was collected from fines), s o it looks like people are paying attention to where their dollars go when it comes to borrowing books for free. SVN Open Monday to Saturday 1180-6660 Sooke Rd 250-642-3721 | In the Evergreen Centre Piercing & gel polish available NationalLibraryRegistration: ISSN1925-2722 RIGHT of REFUSAL: While we make every effort to maintain accuracy, sometimesoversights, errors or omissions occur. Corrections will be published asrequired. We reserve the right to not publish material orcontributions (letters, ads or otherwise) that are unsuitable for a general audience or possibly libelous or slanderous, or which may be deleteriousto the best interest of the Publisher. Lettersmay be edited forbrevity. Current issue, archives, and breaking news: www.sookevoicenews.com Copy deadline: 5 pm Mon. Ad deadline: 5 pm Tues. [email protected] The Sooke Voice News New libraries on Vanc. Island, none in Sooke In June, the Vancouver Island Re gional Library (VIRL) re le ase d their Annual Re port for 2012, and announced having celebrated the offic ial opening of three “bigger and better branches” in Bella Coola, Gabriola Island, and Quadra Island. Sooke has been awaiting progres s for a new library in Sooke, a sore point brought up by Mayor Wendal Milne again this past week at Council. MayorMilne said that the present library fac ility in Sooke is on a m onth-tomonth rental. A new Sooke library prem is es – often disc us s ed in combination with a youth and seniors center – looks more and more like a far-off poss ibility. The VIRL tax levy went up 6.5% this year, as taxpayers will have noticed on their tax bill from the District of Sooke (the District collec ts the funds and forwards them to VIRL). Mayor Milne received approval from Council at the July 8 meeting, to send a letter to VIRL about Sooke’s dissatisfaction with a 6.5% increase and the tardiness of attention to the matter of a new library here. VIRL says their vision is “to develop strong library branc hes that are vital comm unity destinations for knowledge, ins piration, innovation and renewal.” Their mission is “to enhance lives and c omm unities through univers al ac c es s to knowledge, lifelong learning, and literacy”. At a public m eeting about the Sooke library location last year at Sooke Com m unity Hall, one person said he hadn’t been to a public library in years, and that libraries now serve ‘the disenfranchis ed’. Many people visit the library frequently in Sooke. SVN Sooke LibrarySummer Reading Club: Up, Up and Away! Sign up for this free program (aleady in progress): www.virl.bc.ca/kids/ WEB EDITION Full edition online: www.sookev oicene ws.com ::: Page 3 of 4 SOOKE VOICE NEWS ::: Friday, July 12, 2013 West Coast Lifestyle Sailing Club off to a smooth start Sooke, BC 2013 Stay in touch with hometown Sooke on Twit ter. The Sookie netwo rk! @SVNLocalNews Summer sees three 100th anniversaries in Sooke At t he Mariners V illage dock looking toward the Sooke Basin. by Gord Fulcher Local youth who are interested in Kids being towed, learning to use the tiller. sailing, kayaking or just being around the water in a safe way still have a chance this summer as the newly formed Sooke Sailing Association (SSA) has brought back the Mobile Optimist Sailing School (MOSS) for three 1-week classes. WEB EDITION The sailing school is organized by BC Sailing and certified by Sail Canada (formerly Canadian Yachting Association). Safety comes first, and fun is a close second, and then sailing! By the end of the week, youth ages 6 to 14 years are able to sail on their own. The purpose of the MOSS program is to build the legacy of a sailing program in communities that don’t already have one. For those who are still keen, the children are encouraged to come back and assist instructing the program when they are 15. The sailing camps are held at Mariners Village in Sooke this month, Mon-Fri, 9 am to 3:30 pm. The first week went well and the second week is fully booked. But there are still spots open for the week of July 22-26. Three levels are taught and the kids are fit in according to their level – Wet Feet, Opti 1 and Opti 2. The cost per child is $250/week. Most lessons are hands-on with skill warmups and a morning sail, lunch break, then back out on the water. Kids learn about wind speed and direction; balancing, steering and maneuvering a boat; leaving and returning to the dock; and different points of sail. SSA has a long-term goal to run these camps all summer long as well adding bigger boats like 14-ft Lasers for older participants. Those who want to keep going and compete have a great foundation and the possibility of provincial sailing and even the Olympics! W ell, maybe good things do occur in three’s! Sooke is celebrating three high-profile centennials this summer for Sooke Fall Fair, the Sooke Fire Department (now Sooke Fire Rescue Service) and Holy Trinity Anglican Church. SVN Now open for everyone who loves candy! 6705 West Coast Road, Sooke across from Peoples Drug Mart You can almost taste the sweetness from here! Open Every Day! | 250-642-0301 CiB: Heritage and Horticulture Flowers and more! The District of Sooke participated on a non-competitive basis in the provincial Communities in Bloom (CiB) program in 2007, to get warmed up and learn the ropes. In 2008, the District received 2 blooms, and 3 in 2009, then up to 4 in 2010. In 2011 we reached for the stars and received 5 blooms. In 2012 we were able to hold on to the previous year’s 5 blooms as you can Report by take one year off from the program. Registration at: moss.checklick.com . Info: www.sookesailing.com or www.bcsailing.bc.ca Brenda This year the Mayor’sAdvisory Panel on Arts Parkinson, Local phone: 778-425-4030 SVN chair, Mayor’s and Beautification took it on. It is a wonderful opAdvisory portunity for the community to come together to SVN CONSUMER TRENDS Panel on work, volunteer and showcase our community. Arts and Beautification Communities in Bloom is not just about blooms, it is about the tidiness effort, environmental CiB EVENT LINEUP awareness, community involvement, Heritage T he launch of T hrifty Foods Conservation, Urban Forestry and landscaped Thurs. July 18 online delivery service in Sooke area. It is about the school children volunteering Awards Ceremony to (which started March 22) has reco gnize lo cal 2013 CiB to clean out the creek beds, individuals cleaning gone very well. “We came out of participants and present up the streets, wrapping local photographers works the gate really strong. Service is awards for Business around electrical boxes, volunteers putting out maintaining at that same level of interest with lots of repeat customers as well,” said Beaut ificatio n and Neighbo urhood Beautification planters and having shop owners watering and Christian Arbez, online shopping manager for Thrifty Foods. “We continue to monitor the service and assess the potential, and we will put caring for them, installing artists signage on the Fri. July 19 on some additional delivery times if the demand warrants. For now, we are satisified CiB judges will have lunch boardwalk and installing artwork in a number of with the current delivery tim es to homes in Sooke (which see only Tuesday and at S unriver Community the bus shelters around town. It is all about the Allot ment Gardens and tour Thursday not served) via www.thriftyfoodsonline.com : community coming together, working together and around Sooke to do t heir Sunday: 4:30pm-6pm Monday & Wednesday: 6-7:30pm evaluations. caring about our town. WEB EDITION Friday: 10am-11:30am Saturday: 2-4 pm There are a number of projects that are Sat. July 20 A minimum order of $50 is required and a fee of $7.95 is charged for each CiB judges will be thanked underway, but may not be completed in time for online order for next day delivery service ($9.95 for same day); these rates apply to at a breakfast hosted by Communities in Bloom, but the projects will be all Thrifty Foods service areas. Payment will be accepted at the customer’s door by Sooke Royal Canadian means of a secure mobile debit terminal that accepts Debit, Visa, MasterCard, Americompleted in short order. We are installing another Legio n, Branch 54 can Express, and Thrifty Foods Smile Cards. one of Maywell Wickheim's benches at a bus stop Online ordering with in-store pick-up service is also available at the Thrifty Sooke’s CiB focus in 2013 is on West Coast Road and will be getting a couple Foods store in Colwood and at other store locations (service fee $4.95). Heritage and Horticulture of planters made to go alongside the bench. SVN Thrifty Foods finds online shopping delivery success in Sooke “Customer demand is pronounced in Sooke because there are a lot of people who commute. They can drive by the store on their way home and not have to stop,” says Arbez. “People order for different reasons. They could be seniors, or home after surgery. More people are working around the clock – they could be home late, or just getting back from vacation or a camping trip. Primarily it’s about convenience.” SVN MapleLine Business Centre & SVN poised for mobile launch The business documentation serv ices which hundre ds of Maple Line Business Ce ntre customers have enjoyed and appreciated since 2010 in Sooke town center, are being liberated from the brick and m ortar of com merc ial storefront (at the em bargoed Townsend Road location where the no-left-turn setup has done economic damage to most businesses at that corner), to a home-based business and ‘going mobile’. “So many of our customers are already sending in digital files by email, it’s just a matter of us delivering the printed, laminated or spiral bound jobs back out – this happily saves people a trip out,” says owner/operator Mary Brooke. “It will be very convenient for business owner/operators and for people at home with children or for seniors,” Brooke said this week. Payment can be made by phone or by secure mobile payment term inal that accepts Debit, Visa, MasterCard, and Am erican Express when the job is delivered. Pricing and a list of expanded services will be posted online: www.maplelinebusinesscentre.com The last day of MapleLine operations at theTownsend Road storefront will be July 19, and then customers and clients may get the same design, editing and print services by emailing [email protected] or phoning 250-642-7729. Watch for the ‘MapleLine Mobile’ vehicle around town, and some convenient drop-off depots that may soon be set up in a few town center locations. “The new brick and mortar of this decade is customer service, when and where it’s needed,” says Brooke. “People don’t always have the time or transportation access to m ake shopping trips. Now the service comes to them.” The office on Townsend has been shared with Sooke Voice News (SVN), which is also ‘going mobile’. This will be advantageous for news staff to get out to story interviews, photo-ops, and com munity events on a m ore regular basis. Most advertisers already see ad proofs via email and make payments by phone/mail. Layout and printing of SVN will still be done in-house. Door-to-door delivery of SVN Local to selected neighbourhoods may begin later this year, as a complement to the highly popular colour regional online edition at www.sookevoicenews.com . SVN SVN Setting a new trend in your business or industry? Hey, we invite you to tell us about it, for some great news coverage! [email protected] Basketball camp in Sooke The Sooke Basketball Camp is a peer-run basketball training/drop-in program for youth in Sooke (age 13+). Running Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26 at Edward Milne Community School, the camp is open to students, alumni, and coaches of the EMCS Basketball Program who are hosting the event. It’s all part of an effort to build a strong community of basketball players in Sooke! The c ost is $20 for the week of $5/day drop-in. Participants are also welcom e to enter the Trevor Purdy 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on Saturday, July 27 [all day]. Register your team , or m eet people to build a team at the Basketball Cam p. If registered in the c amp: $10. If not regis tered in the camp: $20 per player or $60 per team. Teams are 3 (minimum) to 5 (maximum) players. Competitive/non-competitive. Music , BBQ, Priz es, Trophies. www.s ookeyouth.ca SVN Exploring the Fire Rescue Service At the July 9 District of Sooke Finance and Administration (F&A) committee meeting, the Sooke Fire Rescue Service “had the opportunity to speak on many of the issues currently facing us,” says Sooke Fire Rescue Chief Steve Sorensen. “There are some definite challenges in trying to balance an effective emergency service while carefully managing financial considerations. For this fire department, like many in Canada, the biggest challenge is recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters,” he said. “There is always a need for fully trained suppression firefighters but there are many other jobs and duties that the firefighters provide,” he explained. “Opportunities now exist for new volunteers to join the department that may not want to run into a burning building but still want to contribute to their community,” says Sorensen. This point was emphasized by F&A in that diversity in the volunteers may be part of the solution. Currently the fire department has members that perform non-suppression roles including public education, driver training programs, grief and peer counseling, traffic control and support roles on the fire ground. “I was pleased with the support of the committee in working together to find solutions to these issues,” he said the next day. “It was a good meeting giving the committee, the Fire Chief and some members of the department an opportunity to share views,” said Mayor Wendal Milne. “We want to ensure we work together to create an environment which encourages volunteers to come forward and to remain as volunteers. We have a very professional up-to-date department with the mix of career and volunteer firefighters. I believe working together we can maintain the excellent department we have now. It is important that we maintain a high standard of professionalism at an affordable cost,” Mayor Milne said. SVN WEB EDITION Little Vienna Bakery WEB EDITION Beach Day exhibit at the Sooke Sooke Philharmonic Society Sum mer Region Museum. June 23 to Sept.2. 9-5 Fling!, Sun. July 14. Ed Macgregor Park open daily. www.sookeregionmuseum.com 1pm, concert 2:30pm. Conducted by Norman Nelson. Bring seating. www.sookephil.ca South Shore Gallery. Artworks Sooke He aring Solutions. Seminar by Mary Coakley and Matt Lambert. July to learn about Tinnitus. Tues. July 16. 9:30am23 to Aug.23. Info 250-561-7869 11:30am , at Village Food Markets upstairs meeting room. Register: 250-590-3277 Sooke Fine Arts Show. July 26 Mayor’s Promote Sooke Task Force to Aug.5. SEAPARC Leisure Complex. Wed. July 17 in Council Chambers , 7pm (Purc hasers Preview Thurs. July 25.) District of Sooke Economic Devel$15 show pass or $8/day. Events: opme nt Mayor’s advisory panel. Thurs. July Artz4Kids & Artz4Youth (July 30); Sen- 18. 7 pm, Prestige Hotel boardroom. iors Tea (July 31 & Aug1); Taste of Sooke Communitie s in Bloom beautifica(Aug.1; tickets $12). People’s Choice tion judging around town on Fri. July 19. Busiballots at show. www.sookefinearts.com ness nomination forms at www.sooke.ca Sooke Voice News is brain food. You know, it matters what you read. TINNITUS SEMINAR Tuesday, July 16 9:30am-11:30am at Village Food Markets upstairs 2-4 pm at Ju an de Fuca Parks & Rec, 1767 Isla nd Hwy SVN Get free weekly enews bulletins by email with link to online edit ion. [email protected] Be part of The Mix! Summer jobs right here in Sooke! The Mix 6929 West Coast Rd At the Best Western Prestige Oceanfront Resort LOCAL EMPLOYMENT The Mix is looking for some talented kitchen staff. Please apply in person daily. Contact Val: [email protected] 778-425-2529 WEB EDITION TRAFFIC IN SOOKE More often than not, drivers turn left at the Townsend/Sooke intersection, despite the signage that says NO LEFT TURN. The fine, if you’re caught, is $121. Gas at the Pump in Sooke ~ Summer 2013 Gasoline prices at retail service stations in Sooke were unusually stable in the last six weeks, then jumped on July 11: Jun e1-2 ~ $1.279 | June 3&4 ~ $1.359 June 5-6 ~ $1.319 | June 7-July 10 ~ $1.359 | July 11 ~ $1.449 Sooke VOICE advantage: All display ads include online event postings and Tweets. CLASSIFIEDS Accommodation FOR RENT. Private basem ent suite in Sooke town center. 1bdrm + den, 1bath. 5 appliances. No pets, no smoking. $800/mo. Utilities negotiable. Ideal for single, working person. Available Aug.1. 250-507-2309 4-line ads only $19.95/we ek! [email protected] 250-642-7729 MapleLine Business Centre goes mobile after July 19. Get free ebulletins about ongoing business documentation s ervices: [email protected] . Subm it projects by email, output delivered within Sooke. www.maplelinebusinesscentre.c om Sooke Voice News office ‘goes mobile’ after July 19. Get free enews bulletins: [email protected] . Print edition continues at coffee shops. Full PDF weekly online in cololur: www.sookevoicenews .c om District of Sooke Arts & Beautification Mayor’s advisory panel. Thurs. July 25. 7 pm, Prestige Hotel. All welcome. BC Day long weekend: Aug.3-5 Art in the Park show/sale at Ed Macgregor Park. Sat Aug. 17 & Sun. Aug. 18. www.sookecomm unityarts.com Blood count down in summer Gotta love summer in Sooke! Twice on Wednesday: fire by butt July 22-26 Ages 6-14 FUN | SAFE | EDUCATIO NAL On and off the water 9 am to 3:30 pm | Mon-Fri $250 ~ At Marin er’s Village waterfront ~ For more info o r to register: 778.425.4030 www.sookesailing.com Sharon Thomas, MSc, MA Providing counselling and support services to youth, parents, adults, and seniors , helping you deal with life transitions. Offering insights into addictions and dom estic violence. Local in Sooke. sharonthom [email protected] 250-686-8187 6653 Sooke Rd The July 26-August 5 Sooke Fine Arts Show event lineup includes the Purchaser’s Preview Night ($25 ticketed event, July 25) and Artist Celebration (by invitation, evening of July 27) as well as the general ac tivity events during regular show hours including Artz4Kids and Artz4Youth (July 30), Seniors Tea (July 31 & Aug 1), and the popular Tas te of Sooke c atered soirée (Aug.1 – tickets $12). Regular show hours are 10 am to 7 pm daily (exc ept Sat. July 27 and Mon. Aug 5 – open 10 am to 5 pm those days). Operations depend upon an ‘arm y’ of volunteers . Show pas s $15, one-day pass $8 ($7 seniors). Adm is s ion is free for c hildren under 12. www.s ook efinearts.com SVN For the past several years, Christopher Taber has conducted the outdoor summer Sooke Philharmonic Fling! concert at Ed Macgregor Park, with Maestro Norman Nelson working the sound board under an umbrella situated mid-park. But Nelson will be back in front of the stage for this year ’s free concert on Sunday, July 14, in part to recognize his long-standing success with the symphony, starting in 1998, shortly after he arrived in Sooke – a 15-year stint! This year’s concert also features Marion Newman, Mezzo-Soprano soloist. Other special guests include T’Sou-ke Nation singers and drummers, Sooke Dance Studio, Sooke Pipes & Drums, and Journey Middle School strings. SVN Put on by BC Sailing emergency vehicle in parade, or antique car/ car club 250-642-5422 [email protected] Art show & activities for every taste! Norman Nelson takes baton for 2013 Fling! Sailing Camp for Kids in Sooke WEB EDITION Farm Tour. Sooke Region Food CHI. Sun. Aug. 18. Vis it 10 farm s (from Metc hos in to border of Shirley and Otter Point). Tickets $12 at Sooke Country Market. Fire Truck and Emergency Vehicle Parade / Antique Ve hicle Show & Shine. Family picnic, food concession, inflatable games, kids events. Sat. Aug. 24. John Phillips Memorial Park. Parade starts from SEAPARC arena 10:30 am (ass emble at 10am) along Sooke Rd to Otter Point to the park. Show &Shine 11-5. To enter Check our extensive selection of sterling silver jewelry with semi-precious stones! 25¢ per milk-based drink but we haven't had a cost increase for a few years so this is a way to bump prices by a round number (everything on our menu is divisible by 25¢) while providing a benefit,” says Evans. “The actual cost increase to The Stick in using Organic Milk range between under a dime and over a quarter per cup depending on the size and the drink. I don't know of any other cafes using just organic milk. I'm sure they're around but I don't know of any.” SVN Pupil size gets smaller as we age Peoples, Buffy’s. www.aseaofbloom.com BE SAFE ON & AROUND THE WATER THIS SUMMER Drowning occurrences are up in 2013. So far, 37 people have died in water in BC, compared with 20 this time last year (total 81 in 2012, 61 in 2011). Whether it happens around swimming or boating, alcohol and drugs account for 40%of drowning deaths, according to the BC Coroner’s office. SVN On Wednesday, July 3 there were two small fires handled by Sooke Fire Rescue Service. Both were related to the tossing away of lit cigarettes. WEB EDITION One cigarette butt fell into the Sunriver in the bark mulch next to the Sunriver sales office and was noticed by someone walking by (about 8:00 am), says Sooke Fire Rescue Chief Steve Sorensen. The second call was in the back yard of a house on Otter Point Road in the afternoon where a grass fire was spreading rapidly towards the house. “Quick work by fire crews prevented any damage to buildings," Sorensen said. SVN RCMP M usical Ride. Sat Aug.17 & Sun. Aug.18, Saanich Fairgrounds. Tickets$10 ($2 kids) at Sooke RCMP, Shoppers, 250-642-3952 | Drawing blood at the July 3 & 4 Canadian Blood Services donation clinic in Sooke produced 70 donations (29 on the first day, 41 the next). One blood donation equals just under half a litre of blood. WEB EDITION Thursdays usually have a higher turnout in Sooke (Wednesday was only recently added to the program), but clinics in all locations are apparently slower in summer as people are often away on vacation. Clinics in Sooke are held at Holy Trinity Church on Murray Rd. The next one is set for August 28 & 29. SVN Organic milk now at The Stick Organic Milk was the big announcement at the StickFest6, a celebration last Sunday at The Stick coffee house for succeeding six years to date as a small business in Sooke. “We are just solidifying our goal of going GMO free and as organic as practical. Organic milk is WAY more expensive than regular but it isn't the only cost in making a latte,” said Stick owner David Evans. He explained that the biggest two costs in a latte are labour and milk, then the coffee, then the cup/lid/sleeve/sugar/cream and somewhere down the list is utilities, rent, profit. “Organic milk means we'll need to bump our prices by Free event postings are a courtesy as space permits (priority to advertisers). 6726 West Coast Rd ~ 250-642-6833 EVENTS & ACTIVIT IES Register: 250-590-3277 Friday, July 12, 2013 ::: SOOKE VOICE NEWS Did you know we have premium grade Matcha Green Tea at LVB? WHAT’S GOING ON SUMMER EXHIBITS www.sookevoicenews.com/Sooke-area-events.htm Café & Marketplace Page 4 of 4 ::: In colour online: www.sookevoicenews.com Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Open 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day The Best Pies in Sooke! 2036 Shields Road ~ 250-642-3314 Hot dogs & burgers with Horgan As we age, the pupil size of the eye becomes smaller. The lightadapted eye of a 20-year-old receives six times more light than that of an 80-year-old. In darkadapted conditions, the 20-yearold eye receives about 16 times more light. The advantage of more things being in focus for the ageing eye usually outweighs the disadvantage of losing more light. SVN We’re at 6726 West Coast Rd. Dr. Louise Be sure your Morin & Dr. summer eyewear Brian Joslin, provides & Associates Information & the UV appointments protection that you need! Optometry exams: OPTOMETRISTS 250-642-4311 Eyecare & Eyewear Mon Tues We d Fri ~ 9 to 5 Thurs ~ 9 to 7 | Sat ~ 8:30 to 3 The Juan de Fuca NDP will host their annual family BBQ and dessert auction on Sunday, August 25 (12:30 to 2:30pm) at the Sooke River Campground (Sooke Flats on Phillips Rd). There'll be good food, games and fun to enjoy the afternoon with John Horgan! Everyone welcome! $10 per family. Info at [email protected] . SVN Upcoming Public Meetings 2013 Mayor’s “Promote Sooke” Task Force in Council Chambers Wednesday, July 17 at 7:00 pm 2225 Otter Pt Rd, Sooke, BC Mayor ’s PublicAdvisoryPanels The public is invited to attend the Mayor’s Public Advisory Panel meetings at the Prestige Resort Meeting Room: Economic Development Steve Grundy, Chair 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm Arts and Beautification Brenda Parkinson, Chair 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm Community Health and Social Issues - Nicky Logins, Chair 2nd Wednesday of each month 7:00 pm This schedule is subject to change. Please call 250-642-1634 to confirm meetings. Council meeting agendas may be viewed at www.sooke.ca WHAT’S NEW AT THE DISTRICT: CHECK IT OUT! at www.sooke.ca Always be ready for emergencies. It starts with a plan. And is your Grab ‘N Go bag all set?