Home Blog Page 138

Tennis culture thrives on courts, at school

Contributed Article
-
0
Tennis culture thrives on courts, at school

By MARGARET FISHER

FOR Salt Spring Tennis Association

It’s been a year of growth and success for junior tennis on Salt Spring Island with our students achieving impressive results under the tutelage of coach Mukul Karthikeyan.

Salt Spring hosted the B.C. 2-stars Boys U16 and U18 event at the indoor courts on April 21 and 22.

Scott Goddard, Nate Kray-Gibson and Gabriel Gordon all competed hard against competition from Vancouver and Victoria, but went down in the first round of tough competition. Scott and Nate recovered well, winning the consolation events in their respective age groups.

These events are key in providing our local players a chance to compete on home turf, saving travel expenses and time. The Salt Spring Tennis Association (SSTA) hopes to increase events for the younger cohort coming up through coach Karthikeyan’s tennis training sessions.

On the heels of this local tournament, the newly created Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) tennis team sent a strong contingent of players to the mid-island tournament held at Brentwood College on April 22. This nascent team claimed third place out of five school teams. Not only did the students play great tennis but they also comported themselves well both on and off the courts. Special thanks to our own Marj Blackwood, Blair Carley and John Lapointe for assisting with coaching during this event.

Individual successes include Fiona Huang, at age 9, being the youngest player ever to represent B.C. at the Junior Nationals; Sidney Bush, 7, competing in the red ball rookie tour events; Tao Prihoda, 9, playing in rising star tourneys; Kray-Gibson and Gordon competing in 2-, 3- and 3.5-star events; Goddard, Filbert Zhang and Jason Fan competing in the selection series and provincials; and Elyse Walsh, Rio Lloyd-Karr, Sacha Miller, Katya Miller, Fionn Byrne and Renee Hayden helping the high school team move toward the island finals.

All these young players have worked hard on their tennis and we congratulate them, their families and their coaches on these outstanding results. The association also thanks the many SSTA members who have donated generously to assist with court and coaching fees.

See saltspringtennis.ca for more information.

Venus Conundrum musical show ready to entertain

Gail Sjuberg
-
0
Venus Conundrum musical show ready to entertain

Feuding Greek and Roman gods and mortals of a midwestern U.S. diner in the early 1960s meet head on in the Good Company Entertainment Group’s latest original musical stage production.

The Venus Conundrum, written and directed by Suzanne Rouger, promises both hilarious comedy and fantastic music, with hits from the late 1950s and early ‘60s performed by the show’s live band.

“The premise is that there’s a conflict between two of the goddesses and one of the goddesses — Venus — sends the other goddess to the early ‘60s to be miserable because it’s ‘uninspired, artistically,’” explained Rouger. “It all takes place with this kind of mythological warfare in this diner in the early ‘60s, and Cupid is involved and arrows go awry.”

She said the action is just plain “silly” and anyone who has watched parts of the rehearsals ends up in stitches.

“It’s almost like [the TV show] Happy Days as a musical,” she mused . . . with the warring and mischievous gods thrown in for good measure.

The cast is a mix of Good Company stalwarts, such as Megan Colgan (playing Venus), Dion Hackett (Vulcan and Val parts) and Sarah Dawn Morris as mortal Frankie Bennett, plus performers from some past shows and some newcomers. Since singing ability is a crucial part of a successful musical, Rouger has recruited some new voices by attending karaoke nights at the Legion and Moby’s Pub.

“We have some female voices that are amazing,” said Karen Arney, the show’s music director, executive producer and co-producer with Rouger.

One of those individuals, Eve Middleton-Meyer (who plays the goddess Kalliope), is even commuting from Vancouver to participate.

For The Venus Conundrum, Salt Spring stage manager extraordinaire MacKenzie Williamson has passed her usual responsibilities to Johane Sinclaire and is one of the cast members (Dr. Naomi Hall) instead.

Joining Arney in the band this time are Jim Shultz on guitar (and also playing Jupiter), Daveo Daviday on drums (also in Cupid/Cooper roles) and Ben Arney (Linus) on bass.

With a smaller band the music is more chorally focused, she said.

Cool dance routines are also part of the show. Rouger’s choreography even includes a couple of tap-dance numbers.

“I’m pretty impressed with them, just because it’s not an easy thing to do — and they’re doing it,” she said about the tap-dancers.

“I don’t think that I’ve seen a choreo session with more smiles than in this thing,” she added. “And they’re really enjoying the swing dancing too.”

Shows run at ArtSpring on Thursdays through Saturdays, May 9 to 11, and May 16 to 18, at 7:30 p.m. Opening night has a special ticket-price offer. Tickets are available through ArtSpring online and at the box office.

The Venus Conundrum will be the last show presented by Good Company Entertainment Group, as principals Rouger and Arney are ready to move on to other creative projects.

Their most recent show was last year’s thematic rock concert Dogs in the Moonlight, with Time Piece and Peter on the Brink two of their other favourites of the past 10 years.

Sailing club hosts one-metre yacht racers

Contributed Article
-
0
Sailing club hosts one-metre yacht racers

By MARTIN HERBERT

Special to the Driftwood

The Salt Spring Island Sailing Club hosted an invitational regatta for wooden international one-metre yachts over the weekend and the event drew entrants from Ontario, Vancouver, Seattle and various points across Vancouver Island.

Seventeen boats competed, including the two Canadian representatives to the next world championship competition in Australia. The emphasis was on having fun while sailing in a fleet of beautiful boats.

Since 2016, many local and West Coast sailors have been turning to hand-made wooden boats, both for their beauty and for their strength. Top racers have started designing their own boats within the class rules, searching for a little extra speed, and the result has been a general improvement of hull and rigging designs. An event like last weekend’s race brings together a group where thoughts and ideas can be exchanged and the level of racing elevated.

The Salt Spring Island Sailing Club Is full of talented people who love the art of sailing and from this pool of knowledge the regatta organizers were able to avail themselves of race officers of exceptional quality. Greg Slakov, Holly Slakov and Nicholas Sladen-Dew ran a very efficient regatta under trying weather and wind conditions and did the sailing club proud. They also kept the fun aspect of the event in a prominent position and they received much praise from the sailors involved. Rosemary Harbrecht and April Faget kept the racers fuelled, delivering lunches to the docks and with a delicious evening meal on the Saturday night.

The seven-strong local contingent all managed to get individual races in the top half of the fleet with Paul Faget and Martin Herbert winning individual races and placing sixth and second overall. Sunday saw very exciting sailing with strong winds rolling over the hills, dropping down on the water in unexpected and unpredictable ways. This kept the sailors on their toes.

Jill Oakes, newcomer to the sport, suffered a broken main sail boom, but unwilling to drop out, splinted it and continued racing. This display of determination was much to the delight of the seasoned veterans of the sport.

Jason Rhodes from Vancouver won the regatta and will be racing for Canada at the next world championship. We wish him well.

The fleet disbanded with promises of having more fun events like this in the future.

Broom drop-off event revived

Gail Sjuberg
-
0
Broom drop-off event revived

Salt Spring’s Native Plant Stewardship Group has just announced that Invasive Plant Drop-off Day has been reinstated for 2024, after earlier advising the public that its members were no longer able to manage the event.

With support from the Salt Spring Garden Club and Transition Salt Spring, the group has committed to one more date — Saturday, May 25 at the Community Gospel Chapel hall on Vesuvius Bay Road — with a possible second date of Sunday June 9. Support from both the public and local government agencies is needed for the June 9 date to proceed, the group said.

For the May 25 event, chippers, trucks and workers will be employed to handle and transport the product to local farms.

“Where we have previously asked for donations, we will now charge a modest fee based on volume, ranging from $5 to $150, from hatch back to dump truck,” the group said in a press release. “As before, we will accept broom, gorse, ivy, holly — the woody invasives that are so imperilling our forests and homes.”

The usual CUT BROOM IN BLOOM signs have been posted around the island, reminding people about the best time to tackle broom. With the plant at its most vulnerable in the pre-seed stage, its invasiveness is curtailed. The Native Plant Stewardship Group advises that broom should be cut at or just below the base of the plant.

Broombusters.org is a useful site for more inspiration and instruction. People can check out bcinvasives.ca as well.

For the safety of personnel and equipment, roots mixed with soil and potentially rocks, are not accepted.

Help is still needed to make the invasive plant drop-off day sustainble for the long term. For more information, suggestions or support, people can contact Deborah@transitionsaltspring.com.

Letters to the Editor, May 1, 2024

Contributed Article
-
0
Letters to the Editor, May 1, 2024

Dragonfly and CRD issues addressed

I’m writing to clarify some issues regarding the Dragonfly housing project, following the April 17 letter to the editor from Fernando and Tami dos Santos.

The North Salt Spring Waterworks District (NSSWD) moratorium on new connections means that Dragonfly must rely on groundwater, which is owned and regulated by the province. In addition, since Dragonfly is a strata ownership model, provincial legislation requires the strata corporation or an existing water purveyor to establish a professionally managed water utility. NSSWD declined to establish such a utility and I requested CRD staff to examine the feasibility of CRD playing this role.

CRD staff prepared a report for the CRD Board, which approved the establishment of a CRD water utility subject to conditions that would be required for any proponent in these circumstances, such as:

• providing a housing agreement ensuring affordability of the strata units;

• providing a satisfactory design of the water treatment plant.

At this time, neither of these conditions has been met. CRD was also working to secure approvals for either establishing a CRD utility within, or alternatively removing the property from, the NSSWD service area.

The Dragonfly proponents deserve our thanks for their efforts and hopefully another group will take up their offer to transfer the property to continue this much-needed affordable housing project. As demonstrated by the Croftonbrook project, an affordable rental approach would not only simplify the water supply issue but would also be eligible for government grant funding.

Gary Holman, SSI CRD Director

_______________________________________________________________

Remembering Rita

Rita Dods left this earth a while back for a well-earned rest and it occurred to me that half a century ago everyone on the island knew her, but now very few did. That is a shame because so many people who have kept the community alive tend to disappear quietly and unnoticed.

When my dad went into the ground the priest referred to him as a “hands-on Christian.” Rita would qualify for the same description. She was not a “me” person. It was always about others.

I first met her when she ran The Reef, or The Chip Shop, as it was commonly known. As a rule, daughter Loretta was at one of the tables working on her colouring book under her mother’s watchful eye. In John Grain’s Mod and Lavender book he describes the atmosphere around town in the 1960s. Young people had several places to go for food, foolishness and social interaction, something sadly lacking today. (John’s dad was my English teacher and encouraged me. Thanks, Mr. Grain.)

At Rita’s we were welcomed, relaxed and gently steered in the right direction. She was our second mom and always told our parents how wonderful we all were, the only time I can recall her telling a bald-faced lie. Mrs. Dods was NOT a push-over, however. If someone got out of line he would hear about it loud and clear. No crap would be tolerated. I remember when Tex was shooting off his mouth and driving everyone in the place nuts, Mrs. Dods came thundering out of the kitchen and yelled across the room, “Peter! That’s enough! Be quiet!” Peace was restored. This balance is what made her “real.” Hard working to support her family but still with time to do for others, she was a valued asset in the community, never seeking attention or praise for what she did.

One night when I was working for the highways department plowing snow, in out of the crappy weather came Rita with a plate of sandwiches for us. This was not anything out of the ordinary, just something she did.

I feel it would be an error on my part to just let her go without letting the newer residents know about the loss of someone who made a difference when the island was not what it has become. I won’t say goodbye, Rita. We’ll see you in a while. We know where to find you.

MIKE STACEY, Salt Spring

_______________________________________________________________

Solutions start with us

In a time when plastics are threatening every aspect of our existence, it is encouraging to see two local businesses — The Salt Jar and the Laundromat — working hard to reverse that trend.

Thank you, Driftwood, for bringing it to our attention with your April 24 articles. We now have options to adding yet another container to that never-ending pile of plastics destined for recycling, or for the ocean, landfills, whale bodies, human embryos, etc.

So next time you’re out and about, load up a bag with some containers and come on down to the back of The Root Hub on Beddis Road to check out the Salt Jar. Who knows, you might just go home with some feta cheese in glass, flour, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, shampoo, body lotion, laundry strips, etc. Take it from me, body lotion in a jar or reused plastic container means you get to use every bit; my Nana would be pleased. Should you forget your containers, stop in anyway, you’ll be glad you did.

See thesaltjar.ca for more details and opening hours.

Yes, we can wait for someone else to solve the problem, but we already know that’s not going to happen. The solution starts with us.

Michelle Grant,Salt Spring

Editorial: Broom effort needs backing

Driftwood Staff
-
0
Editorial: Broom effort needs backing

Volunteerism will once again save the day on Salt Spring Island. 

At the last minute, and with what seems another tremendous effort, the Native Plant Stewardship Group (NPSG) has stepped up to again sponsor at least one invasive plant drop-off day, accepting broom, gorse, ivy and holly. Once more, as they have since 2010, the signs will go up to remind us all to “cut broom in bloom” and do our part to reduce the presence of the plant-choking, fire-hazard-raising yellow-flowering Scotch broom.  

Two other volunteer groups — Transition Salt Spring and the Salt Spring Garden Club — have made the efforts possible.

The NPSG figured out more than 20 years ago that while islanders could easily be convinced of the value in taking care of broom on their properties — with a little education on this and other noxious species — what we really needed was a little guidance, a little leadership, and a deadline. And as the effort grew from its original Salt Spring Island Conservancy roots to its current team-up with Transition Salt Spring and local firefighters, there were more than 10 tons brought in for on-site chipping last year, on (or in) nearly 200 vehicles, coming from every corner of the island. 

Islanders can be counted upon to do the right thing for an ecological cause. But how long can we expect NPSG and their partners to continue filling the leadership void on broom removal? 

Even a casual accounting of broom on Salt Spring would characterize last year’s tonnage as just a fraction of what needs to be removed to contain its spread. The huge problem that’s blossomed across the island has been addressed so far with a mix of ambition, hope and hard work that’s deserving of every ounce of praise we can offer. But as we lead into what federal officials repeatedly warn will be among the most challenging fire seasons in history, we cannot help but wonder whether these words will be met with action from provincial or local governments.  

This year, the broom drop-off has necessarily shifted its funding model from pay-what-you-can to a pay-per-load requirement. We would suggest that a government investment in fire prevention — staff, facilities and funding for broom collection and disposal — might be more cost-efficient than responding to a broom-fed blaze. 

Oliver, Lucarelli to serve on Salt Spring fire board 

Robb Magley
-
0
Oliver, Lucarelli to serve on Salt Spring fire board 

The first of two local elections this week has ended, with incumbent Rob Oliver and newcomer Dennis Lucarelli receiving the most votes for a three-year term on the board of trustees for the Salt Spring Island Fire Protection District (SSIFPD).  

Voting results were announced during the district’s annual general meeting Monday, April 29. Of a total 1,815 ballots completed, Oliver received 1,423; Lucarelli 1,356, and Jenny McClean 529, according to returning officer Anthony Kennedy, who added that 45 ballots were spoiled.   

A high number of ballots were cast, a participation noted even as mail-in ballots were coming in earlier weeks; those ballots needed to be received by April 25, while in-person voting took place April 24 and 27.  

The next election results for the island — for two trustee positions on the North Salt Spring Waterworks District board — will be available after that body’s annual general meeting Thursday, May 2, which begins at 6 p.m. at Community Gospel Chapel and through a Microsoft Teams link. Eligible voters may still cast ballots for that election in-person at the Community Gospel Chapel between 2 and 6 p.m. on that day. 

Draft changes to Policy Statement going public

Robb Magley
-
0
Draft changes to Policy Statement going public

The Islands Trust has signalled it will soon be discussing its first meaningful update to its Policy Statement in 30 years — using an informal meeting structure it authorized for itself only last month. 

The Trust’s Executive Committee (EC) have directed staff to arrange the first-ever Islands Trust Council “Committee of the Whole” (COW) meeting in May, where they plan to receive the new draft of the Policy Statement — and “discuss the process by which it will be considered,” according to a resolution passed Wednesday, April 17, after which the EC will hold a special meeting “for consideration of next steps.” 

And if it sounds a little like they won’t be deciding anything, that’s by design, according to trustees; the new COW meeting structure was approved by Trust Council in March in part to avoid an expectation of action. 

As the name suggests, the COW includes all trustees in its membership; it’s designed to allow a less formal structure for discussing complex issues — think budgets, policy development or advocacy — without being constrained by rigid meeting procedures.  

Decision-making is strictly off-limits at COW meetings, according to staff and trustees, who believe rolling out the first discussions of the Policy Statement in such a meeting will help alleviate any concerns that the proposed changes to that document will be approved without public feedback.  

And observers shouldn’t expect trustees to stake out positions quickly either, according to EC chair and Thetis Island trustee Peter Luckham. 

“There are some trustees that are not going to want to formulate an opinion before they’ve heard from their community,” said Luckham. “They may love [the revisions], but they are going to want to hear from their communities before they weigh in too much.” 

Luckham said he felt perhaps the goal should be for trustees to leave the COW meeting with enough understanding of the amendments to be able to represent and discuss them back in their Local Trust Areas. 

“So that indeed, when trustees do go out to their communities, they’re able to have that conversation in a good way,” said Luckham. 

An update to the Policy Statement — to revise the guiding document to address issues such as the climate crisis, growing housing needs and the Trust’s commitment to reconciliation with local First Nations — has been in planning since at least 2019. In 2021, trustees hit pause on the process after an agenda posted in advance of a meeting included a proposed draft — prompting backlash and a petition over concerns the Islands Trust was moving forward without sufficient public input.  

The new COW meetings aren’t exempt from open meetings requirements, so public notices are still expected — and that means the draft revisions to the Policy Statement will again be published, likely several days before the meeting takes place. But trustees said they felt this time, islanders will feel heard before the process advances. 

“Committee of the Whole is where the ideas and thoughts are articulated,” said Luckham. “The role of the Executive Committee is to ‘have its ears on,’ and listen really closely.”

Child PFD loaner stations ready for season

Contributed Article
-
0
Child PFD loaner stations ready for season

Submitted by RCMSAR25 

With the arrival of warmer weather and the anticipation of summer activities, the local Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR25) announced the annual preparation of the Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Loaner Stations for the “Kids Don’t Float” Program.  

This essential service, aimed at protecting our community’s youngest members, is now operational and welcoming families and visiting guests across Salt Spring and Galiano islands — designed to mitigate drowning risks by offering complimentary access to life-saving PFDs for infants, children and youth aged six months to 16 years.  

“As we welcome the summer season, we’re reminded of the importance of water safety,” said Andrew Ross-Collins, RCMSAR25’s station leader. “Our annual setup of the PFD Loaner Stations reaffirms our commitment to the wellbeing of our children.” 

The PFDs are strategically situated for boaters, kayakers, paddlers and swimmers at five busy locations around the islands: on Salt Spring Island at Centennial Dock, Kanaka Dock, Salt Spring Marina, Fulford Dock and Fernwood Dock, and on Galiano at the Montague Harbour Marine Park Dock. Thanks to the efforts of RCMSAR25 volunteers, a variety of PFD sizes are available and well-maintained, ensuring families have safe aquatic adventures during the spring and summer months. 

Upon the day’s end, PFDs can be returned to any loaner station, maintaining a cycle of safety for the community’s next water-bound adventure. 

“These stations are a resource for all families, ensuring that a day at the water is both enjoyable and safe,” said Ross-Collins. “We encourage anyone who finds themselves in need to take advantage of this lifesaving service.” 

For more details on the “Kids Don’t Float” Program or to locate the nearest PFD loaner station, visit www.rcmsar25.com.

Ending single-use plastic through the Laundromat

Contributed Article
-
0
Ending single-use plastic through the Laundromat

BY Marcia Jansen

Driftwood contributor

It’s a much-needed service for everyone without access to a washing machine — but Salt Spring’s Laundromat is so much more.  

It’s a social enterprise, founded by the Wagon Wheel Housing Society, to help eliminate single-use plastic containers with its soap exchange program. And the good news is, you don’t have to do your laundry at the Laundromat to benefit from this program.   

The Laundromat on Fulford-Ganges Road opened its doors in the summer of 2021 after the former laundromat on Salt Spring closed five years earlier. The Wagon Wheel Housing Society has been fundraising since 2016 to be able to open this new laundry facility.  

“It is an essential service for this island,” said Cherie Geauvreau, chair of the Wagon Wheel Society. “Many people have no secure housing or live in tiny houses, boats and vans; tourists come to visit on boats or camp in Ruckle Park and water is scarce. We also see homeowners whose wells have dried up.”   

Residents and tourists can wash and dry clothes and bedding; the fees for laundry ($5 for small, $10 for medium and $15 for large loads) include eco-friendly laundry detergent. There is also a wheelchair-accessible shower people can use for five, 10 or 15 minutes — for $5, $10 or $15.   

All the front-loading washing machines are high efficiency and water-saving. Dryer balls shorten drying time. And there is a wide range of soap products available for sale.  

“The soap exchange is an idea from Adina Hildebrandt, who donated to start it up,” Geauvreau said. “It fits perfectly the vision of the Wagon Wheel Society: promoting social and environmental welfare for all islanders.”     

And you don’t have to do your laundry at the Laundromat to benefit from the soap exchange. 

“Bring your own bottle or buy a Mason jar,” said co-manager Sophia Johnson. “When you bring your container back, we take off $1 for refills.”  

All products are biodegradable, animal cruelty-free, septic tank safe and made in Canada, including enzyme odour digestor, hand and body soap, bathroom and all-purpose cleaner, liquid and powder laundry and dish detergents, shampoo, conditioner and lotion.

The Laundromat is open Sunday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

1...137138139...609Page 138 of 609