Fri December 23, 2011 Comox Valley Record

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ANNIVERSARYANNIVERSARYCOMOX VALLEY RECORDMMerry erry CChristmashristmas

The Comox Strathcona waste management service supports reducing holiday waste as you shop, entertain and clean up after the holiday celebrations. Recycling is one way to reduce holiday waste but the real key to making a dent on the amount of holiday waste is to move beyond recycling to reuse and reduce. When everyone does their part to reduce holiday waste our region can rejoice knowing that all our efforts made a big difference at our local landfills.

For holiday waste reduction tips and resources visit www.cswm.ca/greenholidays.html

Reduce Holiday Waste

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A2 Friday, December 23, 2011 COMOX VALLEY RECORD www.comoxvalleyrecord.com

I think Waldners tone changed because this is a political game. They thought this was a joyous occasion but its turned into a media nightmare.

Dr. Jennifer Grace

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See story, page A3

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Record Staff

You might have noticed a new byline in Wednes-days Comox Valley Record.

Actually, its not a totally new byline for us because Rene Andor worked for us last summer. The difference this time is that weve hired her full-time to replace departed reporter Lindsay Chung, now the edi-tor of our paper in Ladysmith.

Rene worked hard and impressed us last summer, so it was an easy decision to hire her, said Record editor Mark Allan.

Rene grew up on Denman Island and

attended G.P. Vanier Secondary school, graduating in 2002.

After work in offices and a bit of travel, she enrolled in the two-year applied communi-cation program at Camosun College in Victoria. She gradu-ated in April 2011 and worked as a temporary reporter at the Black Press Campbell River Mir-ror since the sum-mer as crime and general assignment reporter.

Now, shes back in the Valley cover-ing the Courtenay, health and educa-tion beats.

Andor back at Record

RENE ANDOR

Dreaming of a wet Christmas?

Erin HaluschakRecord Staff

Irving Berlins White Christmas may not be the top choice for holi-day music for Comox Valley residents this year, as green and wet may be more accurate lyrics to describe the weather on Christmas

Day.Those wishing for

snow on Dec. 25 may have to look to nearby mountains, as Environ-ment Canada is pre-dicting a high of 8C Sun-day with rain.

Although it may seem unseasonably warm, the average high for this time of year is 5.8C, with lows dipping down to 0.7C at night.

Temperatures today are predicted to reach 7C with showers, and reach as warm as 9C Saturday with periods

of rain. The weather outside

may not seem frightful, but Valley residents dont have to look that far behind them

to recall w h e n the area

received a white Christ-mas there was 38 cm of snow on the ground in 2008.

That was also a record-breaking year for lowest tempera-ture, with nighttime lows reaching -8C only three years ago.

Looking ahead into the new year, the

weather is predicted to be warm and wet, with forecast highs above the daily aver-age through Jan. 5.

Early weather pre-dictions in the fall indi-cated the Comox Valley would experience a La Nia phenomenon when sea surface temperatures across the equatorial central and eastern Pacific are below normal, often producing extreme cold outbreaks across West-ern Canada due to the influence it has on the jet stream.

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La Nia not living up to her reputation for truly win-tery weather WEATHERWEATHER

Joe Smith, a Union Bay art-ist who writes a monthly business column in the Record, painted the scene on the front page.

Cover artJOE SMITH

Scott Stanfield Record Staff

St. Josephs president-CEO Jane Murphy says the Comox hospital was espe-cially busy during a 24- to 48-hour period early last week when the Record received several patient complaints.

The Record heard about a lack of beds and an excess of patients.

Finding beds for all our patients has been a chal-lenge, particularly in the last little bit, Murphy said, noting the hospital is maxi-mizing resources and being as efficient as possible to care for patients and to maintain a smooth flow.

The hospital underwent a significant change last year with the introduction of a transitional care unit on the second floor. Tailored for the frail elderly, the unit is intended to better serve

patients returning home or moving into residential care. The change has affect-ed staffing and bed configu-rations, particularly on the third floor.

Prior to the change, St. Joes administration needed to trim its spending by $1.3 million a proportion-ate share of the Vancouver Island Health Authoritys

$45-million shortfall.Comox Valley MLA Don

McRae said the Health Ministry invested $800 mil-lion in health care services last year.

And VIHA got a por-tion, said McRae, noting St. Joes is an independent hospital under contract to VIHA. Indirectly Im sure the monies would have come to the residents of the Comox Valley. But the cost of delivering services and the number of people need-ing services is increasing every year.

St. Joes received an oper-ating budget exceeding $56 million, along with $551,458 in one-time funding for the current fiscal year, VIHA said. Base funding increased by 5.8 per cent, which gives the hospital greater flex-ibility in how it manages its budget.

Both VIHA and SJGH recognize there are increas-

ing demands for services with a growing and agingpopulation, and increas-ing costs associated with delivering services, a VIHAstatement said. Within thatenvironment, we have a responsibility to make bud-getary decisions that reflectour operational prioritiesand where investments willbenefit the largest numberof patients. SJGH as anindependent facility withits own leadership, staff andboard makes its own deci-sions around its operationalpriorities.

Owned and operated by the Catholic Diocese of Vic-toria, St. Josephs is not aVIHA facility, according toVIHA.

While VIHA is the hos-pitals primary funder, it isnot involved in day-to-dayoperations, including staff-ing, budgeting and opera-tional issues.

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www.comoxvalleyrecord.com COMOX VALLEY RECORD Friday, December 23, 2011 A3

St. Joes complaints arose from hectic periodSURGERY DELAYED AGAINSURGERY DELAYED AGAINRecord Staff

It appeared George Harrison was finally going to make it through the operating room door.

The 81-year-old Courtenay resident, who has been waiting two years for abdominal sur-gery, was bumped for the sixth time after being scheduled for an appointment Wednesday at St. Joes. He is to see a surgeon Jan. 9.

He was turned away at the operating door door last week because no beds were avail-able.

He has three hernias, which are not causing his abdominal pain, according to Harrisons doctor. The exact problem is not known. An exploratory scope will determine if any-thing can be done surgically.

Harrison won the Environmental Initiative Award at the 2010 Community Awards, recognized for a bottle drive campaign that has raised $87,000 in 14 years for charity.

JANE MURPHY

Campbell River doctors alleging coercion attempt

Kristen DouglasBlack Press

CAMPBELL RIVER Campbell River doctors say the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) tried to coerce them into signing off on the new hos-pital project, but VIHA has changed its mind.

On Monday, North Island MLA Claire Trevena issued a release saying the doctors were being pressured into supporting a new hospital without the full assurance it would meet the needs of the community.

Trevena went so far as to say VIHA CEO Howard Waldner demanded the physicians agree to the pro-posed hospital by the begin-ning of this week or the project would be scuttled entirely.

Waldner was scheduled to attend a meeting with the Campbell River hospi-tal medical staff on Tues-day night but cancelled 24 hours before the meeting.

There was a meeting called by VIHA executive to discuss an agreement to the two North Island hospitals project, said Dr. Roy Minaar, who chaired Tuesdays meeting. But we had a telephone conference with Mr. Waldner yesterday and he felt it was no longer necessary.

Minaar said Waldner told him VIHA really need-ed only a letter of support from the Comox Valley phy-sicians, as media reports in the Comox Valley sur-faced that some politicians wanted to revisit the single, regional hospital model, and that the Treasury Board would proceed with-out a letter from Campbell River.

Waldner told the Mirror this week that VIHA did receive a letter of support from doctors in the Comox Valley and that there was absolutely no compulsion on the Campbell River phy-sicians to do the same.

However, Waldner did say the Province may look more favourably on VIHAs business case, a compre-hensive document outlin-ing the project, and grant VIHA the capital funding it requires to build the new facilities, if it had support from Campbell River.

Personally if I was thinking of funding a capi-tal project and the folks up there did not support it, I might think twice about it,

Waldner said.Dr. Chuck Mahoney said

he found it curious how Waldner seemed to change his mind so quickly.

I was quite surprised listening to Mr. Waldners telephone call last night, said Mahoney, who noted

that the group of local doc-tors who met with Waldner earlier in the month came back with the impression they would have to support the project or risk having things fall apart. And then last night, he says, Its OK; we dont need your sup-port.

Mahoney said even if the doctors were still required to send a letter of support, he wouldnt as he is con-cerned Campbell River will be left out if VIHA goes ahead with a one hospi-

tal on two sites plan which was outlined in the busi-ness case.

I think I would vote against accepting a pro-posal with this governance model tied to it, Mahoney said. Well always be a minority group in a single

medical staff.Dr. Jennifer Grace, a site

chief at the hospital, said Campbell River would like-ly lose its trauma services under that type of model.

I think Comox has a lot to gain because its getting a bigger and better hospi-tal, Grace said. I think Waldners tone changed because this is a political game. They thought this was a joyous occasion but its turned into a media nightmare.

Weve been given an

ultimatum to agree to onehospital on two sites. Ifwe said no and the wholemodel collapsed it wouldbe an unfortunate circum-stance.

Mayor Walter Jakeway said the very fact Waldnerpulled out of the meetingwith Campbell River medi-cal staff says a lot.

His very decision that he didnt have to come heretoday shows hes totallymisread the situation,Jakeway said. My concernis that as soon as they getthe funding theyll (VIHA)stop listening becausetheyre not really even lis-tening right now. I thinkwe have to cut them off atthe pass.

Jakeway told the medi-cal staff hes confident theprovince will accept VIHAsbusiness case and providefunding for the hospitals.

I cant believe the Lib-eral government is justgoing to ignore it, Jakewaysaid. It would be politicalsuicide for them to not dothis. This is a swing riding itll happen.

More, page 5.

Ultimatum given for one hospital on two sites, accuse some physicians

CLAIRE TREVENA

I think Waldners tone changed because this is a political game. They thought this was a joyous occasion but its turned into a media nightmare.

Dr. Jennifer Grace

GEORGE HARRISON

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Kristen DouglasBlack Press

CAMPBELL RIVER Doctors worry ser-vices at the Campbell River hospital will slow-ly disappear if the Van-couver Island Health Authority (VIHA) goes ahead with a plan for two new hospitals.

Doctors are particu-larly concerned with the wording in a letter penned by Dr. Grant Hollett, VIHAs direc-tor of planning and community engage-ment. Holletts letter was sent to Campbell River doctors as a draft example of what VIHA was asking the doctors to sign, in support of the hospital project.

One problem with this letter was the one-hospital model on two sites, said Dr. Roy Minaar, who chaired a Campbell River hospi-tal medical staff meet-ing Tuesday night. I dont really know what that means, its open to interpretation. But I believe acute care services will all go to one site and it wont be Campbell River.

Holletts letter revealed VIHA plans to have the physicians in Campbell River and the doctors in the Comox Valley working together as one cohe-sive unit.

This project pro-vides us with an excellent opportunity to create a new medi-cal staff collaborative model between both communities that will maximize the quality and access of our ser-vices, reads the letter.

The project, which still needs approval from the B.C. govern-ment, calls for a new hospital in Campbell River, located on the current hospital site, and a new hospital in the Comox Valley. The cost of the project is estimated at $550 mil-lion.

Campbell River doc-tors, however, have become skeptical of VIHAs plans because of what they say has been a lack of informa-tion.

A major concern is that, as we all know, it seems the hospital that Campbell River will end up with will be smaller and will certainly not be able to offer all the services that the facili-

ty in Courtenay/Comox will, said Dr. Duncan Douglas in a letter to local medical staff. I doubt the average per-son in Campbell River is aware of this and the public outcry and back-lash once this becomes a reality is something we do not want to be a part of and certainly never want to be seen as being in any way responsible for, which will be exactly what will happen if we sign off on this question.

Dr. Aref Tabarsi, a pathologist at Camp-bell River Hospital, said he disagrees with the two-hospital, one-staff model because it leaves physicians vul-nerable.

When we are the staff of both hospitals, we have no choice but to go where the employ-er (VIHA) deems we are needed, Tabarsi

wrote in a letter to the medical staff. In addi-tion, with the written North Island hospital project/plan that says very clearly all the specialty (regional) services including 24/7 trauma level III would be located at Comox Valley hospital, where do you think the direc-

tion of staff movement is going to be? It is quite obvious that is going to be south to Comox Valley.

It seems after six

years of hard work, VIHA has never devi-ated from its original agenda of taking all the specialty services out of Campbell River, Tabarsi said. I simply would like to know why VIHA is pushing for one medical staff, so hard, to a degree that if not realized the

new two hospital plan for North Island would fall through. If that is the case, I person-ally prefer status quo. I simply do not wish to pay more taxes to replace our current functioning hospital with a brand new old age home care.

VIHAs concept paper for the new hospitals says Campbell River hospital can expect an increase of 30 to 35 beds, for a total of 90 to 95 and that all cur-rently provided servic-es will continue at the new hospital.

Coun. Claire Moglove, who sits on the Comox Strathco-na Regional Hospital Board, said she has been reassured that Campbell River will not lose any of its cur-rent services.

Ive seen diagrams of services at the two

hospitals and I dont have the same feeling that were being led down the garden path, Moglove said.

Dr. John Penhall told the group of medical staff it should wait and see what VIHAs plans are before hitting the panic button.

We cant be con-spiracy theorists, Pen-hall said. I dont think theyre out to get us. This needs to be taken up at a political level.

Mayor Walter Jake-way said city council will fight for a new hospital that fits the communitys needs and will take the battle to the provincial govern-ment.

I think you should leave it up to us, its the only way to turn it

around and theyll lis-ten, Jakeway told the medical staff. Well go over (VIHA CEO) How-ards (Waldner) head. The doctors dont need to fight the battle, well pick it up. Well go after Victoria.

In the end, Dr. Joe Krysl made a motion for Campbell River medical staff to write an open letter to the minister of health and Waldner asking for new infrastructure

for the North Island,with two new hospitalsappropriate to eachcommunitys needs, and expressing thatthe model put forwardby VIHA is not appro-priate and further thatthe planning process todate has been fraughtwith lack of commu-nication, transparencyand inclusiveness.

The motion passed unanimously. Jakewaysaid council would alsosign the letter.

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Holiday Schedule:Tues-Sat ...... 11am-7pmDec 24 ....... 11am-5pmDec 31 ........ 11am-5pm

We will be closed January 1st-5th

Please PRE-ORDER for Christmas Eve and New Years Eve

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FOR THE LAST MINUTE SHOPPER......

Merlot 750 ml ............................................$1195 + dep.$204BELOW Govt Liquor Store Price

Cabernet Sauvignon 750 ml ......$1350 + dep.

Chardonnay 750 ml .............................$1105 + dep.

Sauvignon Blanc 750 ml .................$1225 + dep.74BELOW Govt Liquor Store Price

NOT AVAILABLEat Government Liquor Store

$194BELOW Govt Liquor Store Price

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One hospital on two sites model getting criticizedCampbell River medical community frets about losing services

MAYOR WALTER JAKEWAY is among a number of people in Campbell River who are concerned about what shape their new hospital might take. PHOTO BY KRISTEN DOUGLAS

With the written North Island hospital project/plan that says very clearly all the specialty (regional) ser-vices including 24/7 trauma level III would be located at Comox Valley hos-pital, where do you think the direction of staff movement is going to be?

Dr. Aref Tabarsi

Rene AndorRecord Staff

The top of Ryan Road hill could soon have another new busi-ness pop up, but this one wouldnt be a box store.

Muriel and Steve McKay, owners of Mar-iana Phoenix Group, bought a chunk of prop-erty on Lerwick Road, between Mission Road and Waters Place, next to Home Depot.

They sent their development proposal to Courtenay City staff, which includes three buildings housing a four-lane PetroCan gas bar and convenience store in one; a seven-bay car wash with oil change centre in the second; and a restau-rant and two retail store spaces in the third.

City staff are expect-ed to send the devel-opment proposal back to council for readings sometime in the early new year, and Muriel McKay said shes eager to get the project mov-ing.

As soon as we get

the go ahead from the City for the develop-ment permit we will be applying for our build-ing permit so we can start construction as soon as possible, said McKay. Were hope-ful that thatll happen early in the new year because we do want to be open by summer.

Although the proj-ect is not small in size McKay calls it a mom and pop operation. The restaurant and retail spaces would be leased out, but she and her husband would run the gas bar and convenience store, and the car wash and oil change station.

McKay said shes optimistic that the proposal will go ahead because the land is already zoned for this use, and she sees a

lack of these kind of services in the imme-diate area.

As for being around the corner from Cost-cos gas pumps, McKay said the gas wars wont last forever.

With gas wars, theyre usually not long-term, theyre usu-ally short term scenari-os, said McKay.

The artist rendering depicts a very modern looking development, and McKay said the car wash in particular will be modern in its operations.

Theres some excit-ing technology out there that we can use to make the car wash operation really green, said McKay, explaining that a water recovery and collection system would be implemented, which would recycle

much of the water the car wash would use.

That could probably save us 80, 90 per cent of our water consump-tion, she said. And, not just the water, but also the taxing of the sewer system, so this is

a great savings all the way around.

The McKays are no strangers to this kind of business. They moved to Union Bay about two and a half years ago to be closer to their kids and grandkids,

but owned a number of similar businesses in Alberta over 15 years.

Muriel McKay said she and her husband are thinking long-term with their new busi-ness venture.

Were looking at a

long-term investmentin the community, saidMcKay. Were not herefor just a few years, youknow weve moved hereto make this our homeand this is a long-termproject for us.

[email protected]

WANTED

The Comox Valley RCMP are investigating a large number of thefts from vehicles that were reported in the Caledon Crescent area, just off of Veterans Memorial Parkway, in Courtenay. In all instances the vehicles that were entered were found to be unlocked. The public are reminded to lock your vehicle in order to lockout crime.If you have any information as to who committed this crime, you are asked to contact the Comox Valley RCMP @ 250-338-1321 or Crime Stoppers @ 1-800-222 TIPS (8477). You may also view recent wanted persons and crimes on our website at www.comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca.

Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $2000 for any information leading to an arrest.

CRIME OF THE WEEK

Remember that your information is anonymous and

no effort will be made to identify the caller.

BrockCARRIEREDOB:19801202Wanted:Breach ofProbation

AdamBISENBERGERROSSNERDOB:19920226Wanted:Breachof Undertaking

CamilleFARRELLDOB:19851120Wanted:FailtoComply

KarenHEISEDOB:19711116Wanted:PossessStolenProperty

RCMPFile#201115795RCMPFile#201113913 RCMPFile#201110599p y

RCMPFile#20117256

DavidVANDAMBATESDOB:19850821Wanted:TheftUnderRCMPFile#20116634

KevinLAKISDOB:19640822Wanted:BreachofProbationRCMPFile#201111996

NicholasLONGDOB:19840411Wanted:AssaultRCMPFile#201114859

JaredSIMPERDOB:19830905Wanted:AssaultRCMPFile#201113454

KevinJUPPDOB:19710625Wanted:PossessControlledSubstanceRCMPFile#20107551

NinaYAREMCHUKDOB:19720430Wanted:Theft under$5000RCMPFile#201110488

www.comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca1-800-222-TIPS

APPREHENDED APPREHENDED APPREHENDED

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APPREHENDED

FERRIES SCHEDULEwww.bcferries.com

(Downstairs in Petro-Canada building at Denman Ferry)

Open 7 Days Week10 am - 6 pm

250-335-1198Fax 250-335-1198

FRESH SEAFOOD ... all kinds ... all the time

Seasons Greetings!Seasons Greetings!LIVE CRABLIVE CRAB$8/lb$8/lb

Schedules are subject to change without notice.Schedule provided by the Comox Valley Record

Leaves NanaimoE ective December 15, 2011 - January 2, 2012

Leaves Vancouver

Departure Bay, NANAIMO - Horseshoe Bay, VANCOUVER

6:308:309:30*10:3011:40

12:301:50 *2:00

3:004:00

5:006:00*7:008:00

9:00

6:307:30*8:309:30

10:3011:40*

12:00

12:301:50

2:00 3:00

4:00*5:006:00

7:009:00

* Daily Except Sun & Dec 25 & Jan 1; Daily Except Sat & Dec 25 & Jan 1

S h d l bj t t h ith t ti

Leaves Little River Leaves Westview6:30 am* 10:10 am

3:15 pm7:15 pm

8:10 am* 12:00 pm

5:15 pm8:45 pm

Duke Point, NANAIMO - Tsawwassen, VANCOUVER

Little River, COMOX - Westview, POWELL RIVERE ective Starting December 16, 2011

5:15 am*7:45 am*10:15 am12:45 pm

3:15 pm5:45 pm8:15 pm

10:45 pm

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELYDuke Point Terminal CLOSED inde nitely for Repairs

All Ferry Tra c Heading for Tsawwassen leaves from DEPARTURE BAYShuttle bus service has been set up between Departure Bay & Duke Point

5:15 am*7:45 am*10:15 am12:45 pm

3:15 pm5:45 pm8:15 pm

10:45 pm

Leaves Nanaimo Leaves DEPARTURE BAY

Dec 26-28 & Jan 2 only; Dec 27 only; Dec 22, 24, &29-30 only; Dec 26-28 only; * Dec 23 only; Jan 2 only

* Daily Except Dec 25 & Jan 1

WINNING NUMBERSWed., December 21, 2011

6/4912 16 19 34 41 47

Bonus: 20BC/4901 18 27 28 32 39

Bonus: 13EXTRA

01 10 66 81 IN THE EVENT OF DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THIS AND THE OFFICIAL WINNING NUMBERS LIST, THE LATTER SHALL PREVAIL.


THIS ARTIST RENDERING is what the empty lot on Lerwick Road next to Home Depot could look like this summer. The locals behind the proposal, Muriel and Steve McKay, hope to hear Courtenay City staffs recommendations early in the new year.

Another development proposed for Ryan Road hilltop

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LEGION ADDS SEVEN The Comox branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has initiated seven new members. In plainclothes (left to right): Paul Planidin, Dennis Stairs, Pam Waterfield, Bev Golem, Howard Bull, Ray Brown and Darin Acom. At far left is Sgt. at Arms Zack Donavan, at rear is Dave Parkin (membership and youth) and at far right is president Gerry Maillet.

Time is running out to fill Sallyann kettles


Valley residents still have time to dig into their pockets and give to the Salvation Armys Christmas Kettle cam-paign.

The kettles come in Saturday at 2 p.m. and Comox Valley Salvation Army community min-istries director Brent Hobden says he expects funds raised from the campaign to be on par with last year.

I would think that well come very close to what we raised last year, Hobden said Wednesday, adding that this years goal is $100,000.

Were about $20,000 short, but this typically is when a good portion of that comes in, so were pretty confident were going to meet our target.

The Salvation Army has been active in the Comox Valley since 1964 and the Christ-mas Kettle Campaign is their main fundrais-ing event for the year.

Funds generated through the Christmas Campaign help sup-port their work in the community, not only at Christmas, but year round.

Christmas Hampers are one of the things the Christmas Kettle campaign contributes to.

In 2010, the Comox Valley Salvation Army distributed 768 Christ-mas hampers. This is in addition to the regular assistance given each and every day through their Community and Family Services office.

Hobden said this year the last of the hampers went out Thursday, and he expects the final dis-tribution to be about the same as last year, (750 to 800).

However, he noted an increase in families and a decrease in singles applying for Christmas

Hampers, which he said is interesting.

It does appear as though weve got more families that are com-ing in that are work-ing but theyre just not able to make ends meet, which I guess is a very clear sign of the times, he explained.

A Christmas hamper provides three complete meals for Christmas day, plus some snacks, and each person under the age of 18 receives a gift.

Although the ham-pers have gone out and the kettles will soon come in, the Comox Val-ley Community Church at 1580 Fitzgerald Ave. will be open for dona-tion dropoffs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thurs-day and Friday next week. Or, donations can be mailed to PO Box 3433, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 5N5.

Weve very thank-ful to the people in the Valley for the way theyve stepped up to the Christmas program this year, said Hobden.

[email protected]

Salvation Army collecting money until Saturday at 2


Garf Baxandall wants the City of Cour-tenay to take action on Mission Hill business-es water and sewer issues.

Baxandall owns the Ford dealership at 4901 Island Highway and he said a num-ber of property owners, who pay big business taxes to the City, need City water and sewer services extended to meet their needs.

Currently, nine busi-nesses get their water from the Sandwick Waterworks District and five have their own septic fields because the Citys services dont go that far up the hill, according to Baxandall.

He appeared on behalf of these busi-nesses including Comox Valley Dodge, Eldorado Upholstery and Courtenay Motor-sports at Mondays City council meeting.

Theres the water issue and then theres the sewer, and the water is really impor-tant, Baxandall told council.

The City of Courte-nay has issued a stop to any building permits on properties on top of Mission Hill in the

Sandwick Waterworks District. The reason given was not enough water pressure for fire-fighting standards.

Baxandall said he was informed that the City had set aside $400,000 to $500,000 to hook the area up to the Citys water sys-tem sometime in 2012. He said he wanted to make sure this hap-pens, so went to coun-cil to make sure they knew the need is great for the businesses.

Weve got a couple

little projects we want-ed to do, and the uphol-stery shop here next door, Eldorado, want-ed to add onto their building they were refused, said Baxan-dall. Chryslers going to build a new building they could do noth-ing right now if they wanted to start on this new building.

Baxandall also said the water problems are causing an extra expense for his dealer-ship on a daily basis. It offers courtesy car

washes to its custom-ers, and he said the water quality is so bad that calcium deposits are left on the cars if they arent shammied promptly.

Its probably costing us twice as much, said Baxandall. It takes twice as long, so we have to have twice the people doing it, and its very, very expensive.

Meanwhile, Baxan-dall said the five busi-nesses not connected to the City sewer system must pay to have their

septic tanks pumped.They have to bear

the cost of having itpumped and hauledaway at $5,000 to$6,000 a year, Bax-andall wrote in hisrequest. We would liketo know when we willbe hooked up to theCourtenay sewer sys-tem.

Mayor Larry Jan-gula asked City staffto look into the matterand said he hoped torevisit the issue earlyin the new year.

[email protected]

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Mission Hill businesses want action

CODY & COMPANY won the top prize in the annual Walk the Windows contest in down-town Courtenay.

Walkers select best windows

With planning begin-ning nearly a year in advance, the creators behind Cody & Com-panys festive window display were rewarded for their work, as the winners of this years Walk the Windows dis-play.

The contest is part of the Downtown Courte-nay Business Improve-ment Associations annual Christmas cel-

ebrations. The second place

winner is Zocalo Caf and Gallery, and Ura-nus Gifts took the third place spot.

Close runners-up were Hot Chocolates & Cakebread Bakery and Beyond the Kitchen Door.

Other notable win-dows include those at Runges Deli, Wagz for Dogs, Atlas Caf, FD Interiors, Square 1 Travel, Winds of Change and Shar-Ons.

DCBIAPrograms for youth

Courtenay Recre-ation has programs for kids and teens during the Christmas break.

Winter Break Dayc-amp for 5.5 to 11 years is a great place to be active, make arts and crafts and have fun. Daycamps take place Dec. 28 to 30. Inquire about daily options for camp.

Crackerjack Kids for three- to five-year-olds has plenty of action and art projects as well. There are also cooking classes, chocolate mak-ing, hip-hop lessons, and sports programs for kids up to 12.

Call us at 250-338-5371 or 250-338-1000 for details on all these great programs, or check out the Winter Recreation Reporter or the City of Courtenay website www.courte-nay.ca (click on the Rec-reation Reporter Link). Register early to avoid disappointment.

Courtenay Recreation

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:Drop letter off at 765 McPhee Ave.

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The smallest gift shop in Comox is the tiny gem at dEsterre House in Comox.

What the public doesnt know: You can come to this sunlit Seniors Centre with gorgeous views, par-take of lunch or snacks, and be delighted by the variety of unusual gifts at very reasonable prices.

Crafty and arty Comox seniors made these original pieces with loving care and skill: quality gifts for hands, heads, feet and fingers; hand polished jewelry in abundance.

There are kids stools, knits, crochets and cuddleables. Love-ly pieces of ceramics came from the Comox Seniors Centres kiln. There are very interest-ing wrought iron pieces for table and garden, some with unusual stones.

Light up your life with charming night-lights and 24-karat gold-plated stained glass light-catchers. Consider dressed clothespeg bookmarks; crocheted boxes for secret letters from your honey.

The office, lunch-room and gift store at 1801 Beaufort Ave. in Comox are open week-days from 10 a.m. to

1 p.m. For 54 activi-ties weekly and special events, pick up a news-

letter or visit www.comoxseniors.ca.

dEsterre House

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and Best Wishes for 2012!

Thank you for your support over the past year.

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VANIER SECONDARY STUDENTS donated a lot of baking to the food bank.

When entering the room of the G.P. Vanier Grade 11 and 12 foods classes, marvellous aro-mas, tastes and sights will meet the sens-es.

These are the scents of homemade baking that is to be donated to the food bank hampers this December.

The students of these classes have been gen-erous with their time and effort. They made 12 different varieties of cookies and 14 dozen of each.

This is the second year in a row the Home Ec teachers have done this with their stu-dents.

On top of the home-made goods, each teacher in Vanier has

also gathered up food in their B Block classes for a total of 60 food hampers.

Each basket also includes d o n a -tions of

lovely homemade soaps from Hornby Island Soaps. G.P. Vanier gives a big pat on the back to all of the teach-ers and students who have given up their time and effort to sup-port the food bank and community this holi-day season.

G.P. Vanier Secondary School

Whats cooking? Food bank items

G.P. VANIERG.P. VANIER

Animals require homesFor just a bit of pocket change,

you can change the life of a home-less animal.

The BC SPCA has coin boxes in approximately 30 businesses around the community to collect money to help homeless and neglected ani-mals in our local community.

The SPCA is a non-profit society that relies almost entirely on dona-tions to provide our services for ani-mals, says Tricia DeBruyne, Comox Valley branch manager. Even a handful of pocket change like a loonie or two can really add up and goes a long way towards meet-ing the health and welfare needs of animals in our care.

A huge thank you is due to all of the businesses who display the

Comox Valley SPCA coin boxes, and of course to all of their customers who generously make donations.

The communitys financial sup-port ensures that the BCSPCA can continue to prevent animal cruelty, promote animal welfare and pro-vide care and protection to injured, homeless and abused animals.

In 2010, the coin box program raised $1,936.93, and this year it is proving to be even better. Customers at London Drugs at the Driftwood Mall in Courtenay have been espe-cially generous, with those boxes collecting over $700 so far.

If you would like to display an SPCA coin box at your place of busi-ness, e-mail [email protected] or call 250-339-7722. BC SPCA

THE MARK R. ISFELD Interact Club raised $117.18 with a recent bake sale to raise funds for the Comox Valley Family Services Associations annual Healthy Families Christmas party. The sale was initiated by Grade 8 student Michelle Ko.

Gift shop at dEsterre House

A community pro-gram raised more than $9,000 to support the purchase of exercise equipment for the PARC (Physical Acti-vation and Recreation Centre).

PARC is at the Views (formerly called the extended care unit) at St. Josephs General Hospital. The commu-nity program Mobilize for the PARC started when Joanie Chestnut, a registered massage therapist at Somatic-sPlus who cares for a resident at the Views, heard about the need for recreational and activation therapy equipment for the new facility.

She was encouraged by the concept that community therapists could partner with the St. Josephs Hos-pital Foundation to help raise the needed money. Chestnut formed a team of sev-eral other professionals who shared her vision.

They include Dan Belcher of Courtenay Physiotherapy, Dr. Liza Grant of Tenth Street Chiropractic, Sean Murphy of Valley Healing Therapeutic Massage, Peter Day of Guthrie Acupuncture, Dr. Rick Houlgrave of Houlgrave Chiroprac-tic and occupational therapist Gerlinde Park. Therapists in this town came togeth-er to support a really important local proj-ect that will enhance many peoples lives for years to come; it was very heartening for me to see individuals and clinics representing dif-

ferent disciplines pull together and make this work, says Chestnut.

Lynn Dashkewytch of the St. Josephs Hos-pital Foundation was a fabulous supporter and provided all sorts of

ideas and guidance. We need to collaborate like this in communities to build ties and sup-port each other. The residents who live at the Views have com-plex care needs and a

wide variety of activity levels. The goal is to enhance and maintain the residents current levels of mobility, activ-ity and mental well-ness with attention to safety.

To achieve this, an area of the Views is being renovated to gain space to allow the 125 residents to remain active and to enjoy a variety of fun, com-munity-building recre-

ational activities. The donations to raise the funds to furnish this exercise area came from the therapist community and some patients of participat-ing clinics that wanted

to support Mobilize forthe PARC. Chestnut and the team thankthe community thera-pists and patients whowere moved to donate.

Mobilize for the PARC

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Local community really mobilizes for the PARC

Limited tickets are still available for the Evergreen Seniors New Years Eve dance.

Special events vol-unteers are providing food and the Amigos are providing the music. It all adds up to a very pleasant way to say goodbye to 2011 and hello to 2012 on Dec. 31 from 8 to 12:30 p.m. at the Rotary Hall in the Florence Filberg Centre.

Tickets cost $29. For more information, phone 250-338-1000 or visit www.evergreense-niorsclub.org.

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[email protected]

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At this crucial time of year for fami-lies, Comox Valley Family Services (CVFSA) sponsors a Christmas theme event for the Healthy Families Program, sending invita-tions to parents and children (up to five years) who are attending programs.

This well-attended gala event was held Dec. 15 at the Native Sons Hall. Over 150 parents and friends, children, community guests, volunteers and agency staff enjoyed an exquisite turkey dinner with all the trim-mings, organized and prepared by volun-teers from the Living Hope Church.

Santa arrived with gifts for all the women and children enrolled in the Healthy Fami-lies Program.

Comox Valley Family Services

SANTA CLAUS ARRIVED recently with gifts for all the women and children in the Healthy Families Program.

Families celebrate

TANYA HARMON AND Terry Nielsen are returning to a small town in Kenya on Boxing Day.

Rotarians earn Air MilesBy Boxing Day, three members of

the Rotary Club of Strathcona Sun-rise will be off to India and Africa to carry out the Rotarian motto Service Above Self.

Tanya Harmon and Terry Nielsen are returning to a small town in Kenya on Boxing Day. Peg Carswell returns to Assam in northeast India on Christmas Eve. They will be gone for several months after investing many months into fundraising.

The main Kenya project is the construction of 50 protected springs, bringing clean water to 20,000 Kenyans at a cost of $51,000.

The funds were raised by both Rotary clubs in Campbell River, together with the Strathcona Sun-rise and Cumberland Centennial clubs. Nineteen other Vancouver Island Rotary clubs contributed sig-nificantly.

The other African projects range from fish farms to education. Non-

Rotary partners are Comox Valley Road Runners, who have supplied $600 to develop impoverished Kenyan runners.

Local optometrist Dr. Elaine Kerr provided 24 pairs of reading glass-es. Eatmore Sprouts & Greens pro-vided $400 towards the purchase of bicycles.

You can follow the Kenya proj-ects progress on CanadatoKenya.blogspot.com.

In India, Rotarian Peg Carswell will continue the work she has long been doing with farmers and tea growers, to help promote traditional and more sustainable farming prac-tices.

All three Rotarians travel at their own cost and volunteer their time and energy to complete the projects.

To learn more about local Rotary, you can visit rotarystrathconasun-rise.org. Rotary Club

of Strathcona Sunrise

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HELPING HAMPER HANDS Volunteers gathered Wednesday morning at the Comox Centre Mall to help distribute the Christmas Hampers throughout the Comox Valley as part of Coast Realty Groups annual campaign. PHOTOS BY ERIN HALUSCHAK

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The Celtic Knitters recently held their annual Christmas event, where they pre-sented a years worth of Boomer Caps and Issy Dolls to Boomers Legacy founder Mau-reen Eykelenboom.

The Celtic Knit-ters, who have met weekly for five years to knit the Issy Dolls and Boomer Caps, are part of a large commu-nity effort which has resulted in over well over 300,000 Caps and Dolls being shipped to Afghanistan, Romania, Uganda, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and other parts of Africa, to name a few.

Caps and dolls are knit by volunteers across Canada and the U.S., and shipped to the Boomer Cap Com-mittee in Comox.

Full-time local volunteer knitters Elizabeth Ens and Crystal Liebigt have knit up to five caps per day for the duration of the project!

The Boomer Caps project was started in 2006 by friends of Eykelenboom, upon hearing the news that her son, Cpl. Andrew (Boomer) Eykelenboom, had been killed in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber. They wanted to help the children in Afghanistan the way Andrew did, and in doing so, honour him and all the other fallen soldiers.

The caps are distributed by Canadian soldiers wherever they are deployed, to babies and children who have very little, and for whom a

warm toque could save a life.

Caps have also been given to charitable agencies for delivery to disaster areas through-out the world, including over 240,000 caps and Issy Dolls to ICROSS (International Canadi-ans for the Relief of Starvation and Suffer-ing).

Children from the local school district have also been instru-mental in the suc-cess of the Boomer Caps project, packing and boxing the Caps throughout the year. Last week, 3,000 Boom-er Caps were packed by 25 Grade 6 students in Ms. Andersons and Mrs. Kellys class at Queneesh Elementary in Courtenay.

Boomers Legacy is a non-profit orga-

nization dedicated to raising funds for the Boomers Trust Fund, a fund that is accessible for all deployed Cana-dian soldiers, wherever they are deployed, so that they can provide humanitarian assis-tance on the ground.

You can find out more and download a Boomer Caps pattern at www.boomerslegacy.ca.

Boomers Legacy

WHATS YOURNew Years Resolution

Look to the HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE coming to you this January.FEATURING: Yoga, How to Live, Healthy Eating Habits, Weight Training, and much more.

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SPECIALTY PUBLICATION PLEASE CALL YOUR ADVERTISING REPRESENTIVE

250.338.5811

Now available in an easy to readdownloadable & printable format

www.comoxvalleyrecord.com

The COMOX VALLEY RECORD o cewill be closed for the Christmas Season

Friday, December 23and Monday, December 26

MerryChristmas

Wishing All of You a Very Merry Christmas765 McPhee Avenue, Courtenaywww.comoxvalleyrecord.com


Investors praised for charityThe Investors Group in Courte-

nay was honoured recently by the Alzheimer Society of BC for out-standing support of its annual fund-raiser, the Investors Group Walk for Memories.

The walk, which alternates annu-ally between the Comox Valley and Campbell River, will be held Jan. 29 at the Campbell River Common.

Registration begins at noon and thewalk begins at 1.

Monies raised will help families in our communities who are livingwith Alzheimers disease and willalso help bring us one step closerto a cure.

For more information, go to www.walkformemories.com or call 1-800-667-3742.

THE CELTIC KNITTERS, run by Joy Jorgensen, present Maureen Eykelenboom with knitted Boomer Caps and Issy Dolls.

Knitters back Boomers Legacy

All ChristmasDecor

Gifts & Accessoriesfor Living

319 Fifth Street Courtenay250-338-8404

EntireStore

10-50%off(some exceptions)

Please no Exchanges orcredits on this day - thanks

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All 2012 Calendars

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Cornell TradingLinens

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Monday, December 26thCourtenay Location only 9:30-5:30

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Sorry, No Exchanges or Returns on Boxing Day


Small dcor details add upTerri PerrinSpecial to the Record

This time of year, when the days are short and the nights are long, the sparkle and glow of holiday deco-rations play an important role in lifting our spirits.

But for some people, an over abundance of holiday dcor may be too much of a good thing. The winter solstice Dec. 22 this year marks the most Yin or dark time of winter.

By adding Christ-mas lights, a tree, and a ton of bright red and green decorations, we are intuitively trying to change the ambi-ence of our homes by adding Yang, or bright energy.

The practice of feng shui centres on creating Yin/Yang balance. One of the ways we can do this is by introducing the five natu-ral elements of earth, wood, fire, water and metal in harmony. Each of these ele-ments is represented by a different shape and colour.

The Christmas tree, for example, is a pyramid shape, which represents the fire element. The lights and red decorations we hang on it also represent fire. Whether real or artificial, the green tree itself repre-sents the wood element

and when you add wood to fire you get more fire!

So, if Christmastime at your home (or office) sparks more arguments than group hugs, you may need to tone down that fire with a little water!

One way we can add water is to incorporate glass decorations and mir-rors into our holiday decor. Using white, gold or silver

can incorporate the metal element. The earth element can be introduced with yel-low, gold, and brown.

Changing things up from the traditional red and green can be refreshing, sophisticated and calming. Who knew that the flam-ing red tablecloth might be what makes some people so grumpy?

Another way to work towards family harmony is to put away some of your everyday knick-knacks before you bring out your holiday decorations.

When you simply add items to a room that is already full of decorative

accent pieces, you get clut-ter, which can create chaos.

Fire + clutter + spiked eggnog is a holiday recipe for disaster!

Also be sure that you are only displaying Christmas ornaments that you truly love. If any ornaments have bad memories for you, they act as a beacon of bad tid-ings and no joy.

That said, I dont want people to think they cant pull out all the stops when it comes to celebrating the Christmas season! concludes Perrin. The Christmas tree may represent fire, but it is also a symbol of hope and abundance.

Christmas decora-tions are great every-where except the bedroom because our bedrooms should be a place of rest, rejuvenation and romance. So go ahead, deck the halls with boughs of holly and have a merry Christmas!

Terri Perrin of the Fine Art of Intention Feng Shui is a professional feng shui consultant and author based in the Comox Val-ley. She will be the keynote speaker at the Comox Val-ley Home-Based Business Associations meeting Jan. 5 at the Westerly Hotel.

For details, visit www.faoifengshui.com or call 250-218-4952.

When you simply add items to a room that is already full of decorative accent pieces, you get clutter, which can create chaos. Fire+clutter+spiked eggnog is a holiday recipe for disaster!

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Impending family visits result in dread every year

Dear counsellor,Well, it is that time

again. Every year as the holiday

season approaches, I really start to struggle. My energy and motivation drops off, I get headaches, stomach cramps and become fairly irritable.

I recognize that it is probably about the inevi-table visits with some of our extended family and all of the criticism that comes with these visits. It feels like they are always questioning my parenting, the choices I make and the things I do. Each year it is the same.

As the time approaches I worry more and more about it and I just have these images in my head of them looking at me with scorn that leaves me feeling physi-cally sick. It feels awful and it leaves me in knots every year even though it is never as bad as I think it is going to be.

I am not sure what to do but I want to stop working myself into a lather each year and to find a different way to deal with it. Any thoughts?

The situation you describe is one that many

people experience at this time of the year. It also sounds as if the lead up to these visits is often more difficult and painful for you than the visits themselves.

This is also a common experience for people as they anticipate activities or interactions that they have had a negative experience with in the past.

One definition of anxiety and worry says that anxi-ety is caused by an over-estimation of danger and an underestimation of our ability to cope. It suggests that worry tricks us into anticipating that things are going to be much worse than they really are and that it tricks us into think-ing that we do not have the strength or ability to deal effectively with the situa-tions we are going to face.

You say that the interac-tions are often not as bad as you think they are going to

be. This would be an exam-ple of your worry tricking you into anticipating things as worse than they end up being.

Documents

Fri December 23, 2011 Comox Valley Record