seaside times november 2009 edition

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Welcome to the first issue of the Seaside Times in High Definition. Do you remember the first time you saw a TV show in HD and how clear it looked? So clear you would go up to the picture and touch it because the colours and the sharpness were unbelievable. That’s how I feel about this month’s issue.

I decided to change the way the magazine was printed for that exact reason – I wanted crystal clear pictures, advertisements that make the readers notice and colours that jump off the page. It’s also easier to read on the bright white paper.

In the magazine world, there are two basic types of printing: web offset and sheet fed. Web offset is a large continuous roll of paper. There are two different kinds of Web offset; coldset and heatset.

Coldset, where the ink is allowed to air dry, is typical-ly how newspapers are printed and how the magazine has been printed over the past four years.

The next step up in the printing world is heatset. In this printing process, the ink is dried rapidly by forced-air heating. This improves the clarity, but, in my opin-ion, still doesn’t produce the sharpest image.

Then there is sheet fed; as the name implies, the printer uses sheets of paper versus a large roll. The process is very different – both in the types of paper you are able to use and the way in which the ink is applied. In my opinion, this process results in an end product that gives the reader the clearest images and

colours. Most major magazines you see use this process.

So why switch to this type of printing? When I started to change the magazine in January of this year my vision was to give you a high quality magazine that both you and I could be proud of: a magazine that was read, not just looked at; a magazine that the business community wanted to advertise in because it gets results with extremely competitive rates. So I switched, to give you, the reader, the sharpest, clearest images possible so that we can showcase West Coast Culture at its finest.

I’m constantly asked: “So what’s this magazine about?” In a nutshell, it’s about people, places and things in our community; it’s about people and their stories; people like you. It’s about the places that surround us that make us stop and take notice. It’s about the things that make our West Coast Culture interesting. Enjoy your day and thanks for taking a few minutes to read the crystal clear Seaside Times, a magazine about us.

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A Clear Vision

This Could Be You! To advertise in Seaside Times, contact Tim Flater, Publisher at [email protected]

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by Pene Beavan HortonAs those of us who happily live here know, Sidney-by-the-

Sea is a small tourist town perched on the oceanfront of southern Vancouver Island, with an ever-changing sea view.

If the sun is shining, and it often is, the silky blue water leads your eye to the horizon. It’s restful to the eyes and the mind to walk to the end of Bevan Pier, lean on the wooden railing and then just gaze at the water, the islands and the boats tipping their sails in the sea breeze.

Let it all wash over you; the healing feeling compounded of sun, air, sound and light, until you’ve soaked up all you can of that blessed expanse of sea and sky.

Friendly seagulls perch on the pier railings or fly screech-ing overhead, their white feathers turning silver in the sun. Ungainly looking cormorants balance on pilings by the Fish Market and the odd crow struts its stuff, squawking raucous-ly like the Wicked Witch of the West.

Sidney is a destination…and a starting point for tourists who come to kayak, hike, bike, watch whales, sail, scuba dive, golf and sightsee. We also have 12 bookstores, art galleries, arts and crafts shows, theatre and musical events at the Mary Winspear building, and, in season, a farmers’ market.

A stroll down Beacon Avenue takes you past interesting boutiques, specialty stores and restaurants. Want Greek, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Thai or pub food? It’s all here, plus excellent bakeries and grocery store delis if you just want to find a local park and picnic.

Beacon Avenue stretches from the Pat Bay Highway (that takes you quickly to ferries and the airport), to the Fish Mar-ket, The Pier Hotel, the Cannery and shopping complex and the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre (an aquarium and marine education centre right on the ocean).

Everything you need on vacation is here, including post offices, supermarkets and service stations where you can fill up your tank or get needed repairs for your car.

Sidney is definitely a puttering place…small enough to be friendly so that most people you meet on the street greet you in passing or stop to chat.

It’s a delightful candy store for garden lovers, and it’s also a dog-and-owner place. You’ll notice plenty of prancing dogs

of all shapes, sizes and colours taking their owners for walks.

Although we’re close enough to Victoria for people who want bright lights, nightclubs, heritage buildings, a colourful inner harbour and more shops and restaurants than you will need in one lifetime, we’re far enough away to keep our small-town values. Sidney-by-the-Sea has much to offer visitors and residents, if you remember that we have possibly the worst drivers in the country. So step lively when you step off your boat at one of the local marinas, or drive off the ferry at Swartz Bay. But do come, if only for the joy of experiencing a small seaside town while it is still small and still lovely.

Photo courtesy Robert Beavan White.

Celebrating Sidney-by-the-Sea

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Old world charm with a magical pri-vate storybook setting, this rare and exceptional offering boasts a prime 1.42-acre position with gorgeous ocean views in the desirable Brentwood Bay/Saanichton area at 7796 West Saanich Road. An elegant four bedroom char-acter home sits amidst the peace and serenity of this beautiful property with lush gardens and mature fruit trees.

This painstakingly custom built and extensively updated residence fea-tures hardwood floors, granite counter tops, a charming country-style kitchen, two wood-burning fireplaces, num-erous built-ins, exterior pantry, large basement with workshop and a lovely guest cottage with stunning views. This home is close to Brentwood Bay Village, Saanichton Village and the many amenities of the charming sea-side town of Sidney and has conven-ient proximity to the ferry terminal and

Victoria International Airport.This property is listed at $1.389 million.

Why Choose Sotheby’s?

Our Network

Your home will be exposed to more than eight million buyers every month.

Sotheby’s International Realty Can-ada provides exclusive access to our vast network, consisting of more than 550 offices worldwide, more than 300 offices in the U.S., over 9,000 agents across the globe and over 47 countries. Distinctive homes can attract inter-est from far beyond your local market. Along with an enviable network of local contacts, your Sotheby’s International Realty® Associate has the advantage of a relationship with a national and worldwide community of expert real estate professionals.

Sotheby’s International Realty Can-ada offers unparalleled access to the some of the world’s most discerning buyers. Auction House clients and enthusiasts are digitally linked to real estate offerings via sothebys.com.

Global Exposure

Differentiate yourself in today’s market!Combining the world’s most highly

regarded luxury real estate brand with local market knowledge and signifi-cant marketing expertise, we offer a sales and marketing solution unrivalled within the industry.

A Canadian owned company, Sothe-by’s International Realty Canada has real estate offices across the country in key residential and resort markets. With a strong history of real estate success, we provide our clients with an experienced team of real estate, marketing and financial professionals

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Scott Piercy 250.686.7789 | [email protected] James Leblanc 250.812.7212 | [email protected]

3605 CADBORO BAY ROAD

Victoria, BCLOT 69 CREEKSIDE

Lake Cowichan, BC4620 OCEAN PARK PLACE

Victoria, BC��

www.sothebysrea lt y.caLOCAL EXPERTISE , GLOBAL CONNECTIONS .E&O.E: This information is from sources which we deem reliable, but must be verified by prospective Purchasers and may be subject to change or withdrawal. Independently Owned and Operated.

that are committed to providing you with superior service, marketing expertise and the highest ethical standards to manage your real estate portfolio.

Print MarketingClients may benefit from exclusive corporate rates and

prime placement in local, national and international publica-tions including but not limited to: International Architecture and Design, Robb Report Collections, Preview Magazine, New York Times, Globe and Mail, Reside Magazine.

Digital Marketing

Each property will receive online exposure on sothe-bysrealty.ca and sothebys-realty.com, as well as on a number of other highly trafficked sites including those of luxuryrealestate.com, New York Times Inter-national Herald Tribune and Wall Street Journal.

Network Marketing

In addition to the vari-ous print and digital media opportunities available through our agents, your property may be showcased

in our network of Canadian and international offices. These offices often serve as hosting environments for private and public functions that attract diverse and qualified buyers.

Customized MarketingWe have an experienced in-house team that can create

unique and high-impact marketing materials to comple-ment our sales approach for attracting qualified buyers to your home. Public Relations

Every home has a story to tell. Working closely with a distin-guished public relations firm enables you to gain additional internation-al exposure for your property in some of the world’s most respected publications.

(Left to right) Scott Piercy and James LeBlanc, Sotheby’s.

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An interest in quilting brought a group of newcomers together six years ago. The group, called “The Sidney Sew‘n Sews,” meets monthly and has created and donated many traditional-style quilts to hospitalized children, as well as encouraging each other to “paint” with fabric.

This past spring, when challenged by one member to create a quilt using Ted Harrison’s paintings for inspiration in order to raise funds for the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, the group worked together to create the stunning wall hanging shown above.

This tribute to Harrison’s iconic work has received his enthusiastic approval and he has signed his name to the quilt, increasing its worth considerably.

On Sunday, November 15th, enjoy Tea With Ted in the lobby of the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney between 1 and 4 p.m. The winning ticket for this brightly coloured “Harri-son-inspired” wall hanging will be drawn at 3:30 p.m. Ted Harrison plans to join everyone for tea and will sign copies of his biography by Kathryn Gibson.

The quilt is currently on display at the CACSP Arts Cen-tre in Tulista Park, Sidney. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at Tulista Park, Legacy Gallery on Yates, Crown Publications on Superior Street and Ted Harrison Gallery in Oak Bay, or at Fabric Traders, Muffet and Lou-isa and Holmes Realty in Sidney, as well as the Hospital Foundation office.

Quilting Harrison Style

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The holiday season is drawing near and for many with pocketbooks lightened by a year of financial woes, this can be a trying time. It doesn’t have to be though – with a bit of creativity you can turn a challenging time into a memorable event.

Spending a little time on the gifting program can lessen the meltdown fac-tor on your credit cards. The first step is to think about those on your gift list. What are their interests? What comes out in the dreams or fantasy tales spun by a youngster? Perhaps the harried parent has unique needs. What does the senior with too much time on their hands really need?

The next task is to make a realistic assessment of your skills. You will be sur-prised at all that you have to offer when you take off the blinders. Think of all the crafts you’ve done over the years, then expand your thinking to include crafts that you have always wanted to do. The computer offers a rich smorgasbord of possibilities for creative gifts. The kitchen and the garden have also always offered a cornucopia of gift giving ideas.

Basic woodworking skills and tools are all you need to make children’s boats, trains, trucks and dollhouses. More advanced woodworkers can tackle furniture, rocking horses and even wagons. Make sure that the toys are sturdy and have no parts that a child can choke on, and be sure to finish the project with a non-toxic finish.

With a computer the opportunities are endless. You could create a calendar with pictures of family members, pets, his-torical events, holiday highlights or favourite locations. Add birthdates to make the calendar even more useful.

Perhaps you can create a short booklet with words and pictures. One year my grandson could not stop talking

about front-end loaders. During our holiday that summer I took a series of pictures of my wife on or near several front-end loaders. I then wrote a story called Grand-mère and the

Excavator which was a big hit.

Another favourite and cherished gift is a photo album or scrapbook. A well done book will be a lifetime treasure. You could also create a family recipe book.

There are always treats such as home-made smoked fish, dried fruit, jams or cookies that are much appreciated. Add a personalized label and the recipient will think of you each time they taste your gift.

With each of these gifts you are giv-ing a part of yourself. I find that when I’m making a gift for someone I think about them. During the creative process there is time to consider why I care about them.

Creating a gift may seem old fashioned or too time consuming in today’s frenetic world. However, family treasures and rich

memories don’t come stamped “Made in China.”

Pictured: Sandy’s granddaughter, Larika McElroy, with a hand-crafted doll bed.

Gifts From the Heartby Sandy McElroy

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2008 ranked as one of the worst years for salmon returns on British Col-umbia’s central coast and the “silent fall” I experienced there last year, while not surprising given the lack of fish, was disturbing nonetheless.

The silence along the river was almost deafening. No bears, or even birds, appeared along the banks. The reason soon became obvious: not a single sal-mon was to be seen in the glacial-fed water. Not a single salmon carcass lay on the ground, not in the estuary or the forest. There was no sign of predation and no sign of decomposition.

The usual sounds of fall in this coast-al rainforest valley were agonizingly muted. The thrashing of salmon swim-ming upstream, the splashing of griz-

zlies pouncing on fish in the shallows, the cacophony of multiple bird species scavenging the bears’ leftovers – all were virtually nonexistent. Not a whiff of the fetid odor of dead and decaying salmon I have come to associate with this time of year was evident and the unnatural quiet sent a chill up my spine.

While it appears salmon returns, pink runs in particular, on the central coast are much improved in 2009, grizzly bear sightings have remained inconsistent.

The ability of grizzlies to get their quotas for salmon is really a matter of competition and the odds are stacked against the bears. As fishermen, humans engage in what ecologists call “exploitative competition,” capturing salmon en route to spawning grounds

before they reach waiting carnivores.

In a recent opinion piece for the Times Colonist, Raincoast biologists Chris Dari-mont and Misty MacDuffee stated that “referenced against past and current declines in salmon runs, we suspect coastal grizzlies receive a fraction of the salmon they used to, which ultimately manifests in population declines. Not by ‘die-offs’ as some have speculated, but through repeated years of low birth rates. Grizzlies are omnivorous and can persist even without salmon, but they have far fewer offspring.”

Fisheries managers have always assumed that salmon exist exclusively for human consumption. Consequent-ly, runs are only protected from harvest when they are overfished or endan-

The Grizzly Bear Necessities

by Chris Genovali Executive Director,

Raincoast Conservation Foundation

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gered. But how does status quo fisheries management serve the terrestrial ecosystems that salmon nourish? Not well.

As Darimont and MacDuffee explain: “Put yourself in the paws of bears. Imagine if your big annual paycheque was reduced by four-fifths, then imagine the effect on the coast-

al food web econ-omy. The nutrient subsidy used by the forest from the salmon carcasses is also greatly dimin-ished.

“As such, ‘pro-tected areas’ that host highly exploited salmon runs are not real-ly protected if a major ecological process is being compromised.

“Of course, it’s not just fishing nets that rob bears

of this yearly bonanza. Fish farms, climate change, habitat loss, fresh water withdrawals and changing ocean condi-tions all influence salmon abundance.”

So how much salmon do the bears really need? Raincoast

scientists are directly addressing this question. In hair collected from (harm-free) fur snagging stations, DNA and iso-topes are used to track bear numbers, estimate how much salmon coast-al grizzlies are eating and explain the relationship between the amount of salmon and the number of bears. Like CSI sleuths, Raincoast is also assess-ing hormone levels in the hair to provide information about potential stress, reproductive activity and protein deprivation bears might show in response to poor salmon returns. From this knowledge emerges an informed basis for action.

Did You Know?

The presence of salmon determines the size, fecundity and population density of coastal grizzly bears.

Reproductive success for female grizzlies is directly related to their body mass in the fall.ir body mass in the fall.

photo courtesy Chris Darimont

photo courtesy Tim Irvinphoto courtesy Tim Irvin

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In the afternoon on October 2nd, 1921, B.C. Memorial Avenue was formally dedicated. The ceremony was held near the entrance to Mount Douglas Park on Shelbourne Street, where 7,000 people arrived to hear speeches by B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor Walter Nichol and Premier John Oliver.

Following the end of the First World War in 1918, Can-ada began erecting statues and cenotaphs to honour the memory of its war dead. During this time, there also emerged a popular movement with the belief that it was more useful to the greater com-munity to build “practical” memorials like hospitals, schools, halls, and libraries instead. Out of this arose proposals for a “Road of Remembrance,”or a “Memorial Avenue,” to serve as a living tribute to fallen soldiers.

Shelbourne Street became the first Road of Remembrance in Canada, according to Gordon Fulton of the Manitoba Historical Society. Similar projects were also created in the U.S. and Britain and con-sisted of a long road double-lined with tall, stately trees of a single variety.

A tree-lined avenue conveyed two symbolic meanings: first, it was a replication of the country roads of France where so many soldiers died and secondly, a living memor-ial represented the message of life over death.

In Victoria, an early prototype was created on Vining Street and dedicated on April 20th, 1917 to commemorate the second anniversary of the Battle of Ypres. Fourteen maple saplings were planted near Victoria High School in memory of the students and teachers killed in the war.

In 1918, a similar plan was proposed for Shelbourne Street, then just a quiet country road. Original plans had the entire roadway lined with double rows of trees from the top of Mount Douglas Park to Bay Street.

There was room for 1,500 trees and each would display a small brass plate inscribed with the name of a B.C. soldier killed in the Boer War or the First World War and a second plate with the name of the visiting dignitary who planted the tree. Sections of the Memorial Avenue would be allo-cated to different B.C. municipalities so trees bearing the names of the war dead from that community would be grouped together.

Trees were planted 30 feet apart, alternating London Plane trees with Mountain Ash trees. The London Plane was chosen because of its majestic size and longevity. The faster-growing Mountain Ash were removed as the slower-grow-ing Planes matured.

With the passing of time, the initial burst of enthusiasm for the project waned. In 1928, the BC Colonist reported that the project was near completion however, the memorial was

never fully developed as planned: a tree and name plate for every war casualty from B.C., signs at all cross streets and archways at each end of Shelbourne Street.

Only a few name plates were attached and over the years, even these disappeared. Shelbourne Street grew into a busy thoroughfare and as the surrounding farmlands were con-verted into residential subdivisions and shopping plazas

began to pop up, the street lost its rural ambiance.

In 1961, B.C. Memorial Avenue was re-dedicated to include soldiers killed in the Second World

War and Korean War but eight years later, some of the London Plane trees were “temporarily” removed to allow road widening to accom-modate a new shopping centre at McKenzie

Avenue. As further development stretched along Shelbourne Street and the road was

expanded from two lanes to four, a huge swath of the boulevard of trees simply disappeared.

Yet, 88 years ago, when the first tree was planted on B.C.’s Road of Remembrance, it had great significance. With the proposed re-development plans for the Shel-bourne Corridor, there is an opportunity for a revival of Canada’s first Road of Remembrance.

B.C. Memorial Avenue – Have We Forgotten?by Carole Pearson

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I had the most amazing experience at We Day 2009, held September 29 in Van-couver. This great confer-ence focuses on children of all ages helping free other children from all kinds of terrible circumstances.

There were speeches from many people who want to encourage us kids to take a stand and make a difference.

One of the most inspir-ing speakers was Spencer West (pictured at right with Sarah Stratton). He has no legs, but he hasn’t let that stop him; he goes out and helps others instead! He told us the most incredible story that truly inspired me. Spencer was in Africa in his wheel chair in a very remote location meeting everyone and shaking hands while trying to push

himself up a steep hill. He said it was very difficult and he was getting tired when he felt a push on the back of his wheelchair. When he looked behind him he saw a small boy, helping him up the hill, then another and another joined in until there were six little boys.

It’s amazing how a small action can lead to many helping.

Another speaker, Mia Farrow, put pictures in my mind that I will never be able to forget: the faces of war and torment, small children dying of lack of nutrition, wounds and disease. It’s horrible what goes on while we are sitting at home play-ing on our computers. Think about your games, how real they can get; now imagine that in your house, really hap-pening here and now. Bombs and gunshots

and you in the middle of it all. It’s hard to believe that we have it so easy, and when I thought about it I felt like screaming because it’s so unfair. Thankfully, Sarah McLachlan started to perform Angel.

We Day 2009 Focuses on Amazing Kidsby Sarah Stratton

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After her last song, Gordon Campbell came out to give a speech encouraging youth of all ages to help however they can. The cast of Degrassi then came onstage and their speech made me realize how many people really do need our help.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to the crowd, answering questions and giving wise advice. He was actually very funny! Others spoke about their experiences and what they want and do for the world including Robin Wiszowaty and Michel Chikwanine (pictured below with Sarah Stratton).

Michel’s past was horrible; he was taken as a child sol-dier at the age of five. He went through things nobody should ever have to experience.

His speech was amazing and incredibly inspirational and he made me realize that you never really know how much strength you can find in your spirit until there is no other

choice but to stand for what is right and good. Michel was able to escape his captors and he ran for three days and nights until he found help.

As the day came to a close, Canine performed and Jane Goodall spoke about doing great things with very few resources. Jacob Hoggard from Hedly spoke and then Jason Mraz ended the day with a great performance.

After the conference, I got to meet several of the speakers and performers including Louise Kent, Spencer West, Michel Chikwanine and Craig and Marc Kielburger. I felt very hon-oured to be part of this day and will never forget it.

Now it’s my turn to help! I have lots of ideas and will let you know what I come up with. Thank you to Helijet for sponsoring my flight to Vancouver.

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Beacon Cat Hospital Dr. Ellen Guttormson

The only strictly feline hospital serving the Saanich Peninsula

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Purrrrrfect Care

There have been multiple well researched and documented studies in the past few years which suggest that pet ownership results in a variety of health benefits, and, as far as pets are concerned, cats often top the list of those pets that provide the most benefits.

One study from the University of

Minnesota suggests that cat owners are less likely to die from a heart attack or stroke, and they did not find the same results amongst dog owners.

Documented studies suggest the following benefits: reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, lower blood pressure, higher survival rates from

by Dr. Ellen Guttormson, Beacon Cat Hospital

heart attacks, significantly lower use of general practitioner services, reduced risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis in chil-dren and better physical and psycho-logical well-being for seniors.

A quote from the Delta Society states: “At a time in which our society is looking for treatment alternatives to Western medi-cine, research is consistently demonstrating that pets can have a profound impact on people’s physical and emotional health.”

A study of 500 cat owners in the U.K., aged over 55 years, provides the fol-lowing statistics: 82 percent found their cat helped them overcome feelings of stress, 62 percent said that cat owner-ship helped overcome feelings of lone-liness and 75 percent sometimes pre-ferred to share their feelings with their cat rather than a partner or friend.

A similar study of 100 people aged 20 to 40 years showed interesting results when comparing their cats to their partners: almost 50 percent enjoyed a better night’s sleep with their cat on the bed than they did with their partner in bed, 60 percent said they could put up with their cat’s bad breath but not their partner’s, and 55 per-cent would tolerate their cat taking most of the bed covers at night but not their partner doing the same! I found this set of results to be particularly enlightening and wonder if I should perform the same sur-vey in my veterinary hospital?

A final survey of younger cat owners, under the age of 13, showed these results: 80 percent said their cat helped them get on better with family and friends, 81 percent said they would rather chat to their cat about their feelings than to their parents or friends and 87 percent regard their cat as a friend. Both cats and dogs have been found to help children with emotional difficulties and autism.

Over the years, in my own veterinary practice, I’ve certainly been privileged to have clients share many stories of their lives and the personal benefits that they have derived from the close bond with their cats. I have also been told on many occasions of the family cat who just seems to know when a family member is sad, ill or even dying. These cats will often be the unwavering companion, providing com-fort when so badly needed and decreas-ing stress levels for all family members.

Cats: Good For Your Health

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It was a cold, blustery November day and the bright lights of the coffee shop beckoned Kate. Her walk on the beach left her chilled and she knew only a cappuccino would revive her. The place was packed however, and the only spot was at a table by the door. She would have to share, though she was not really in the mood for chat. Still, the small woman sitting there, her hair styled with a froth of short curls that made her look like an aging Shirley Temple type, her eyes fixed on the door, looked harmless enough. The last thing she wanted was to have to make small talk with a smartly turned out rich woman bragging about her doctor husband and her successful offspring. Kate ordered her coffee, approached the table and asked:

“Hi, is this seat taken?”

“Well, no, not actually,” replied the woman. She was slow to remove her jacket that was placed over the back of the empty chair.

“You weren’t expecting anyone, were you?” asked Kate.

“Well, yes, my husband.”

“Oh, sorry. But it’s so crowded in the café – there’s nowhere else to sit.”

“That’s okay. I’m Susie, by the way.”

“I’m Kate.” She watched Susie play with her salad and mess about with her muffin, taking small sips of her latté in between, as if to make the moment last as long as possible.

“Do you come here a lot?” asked Kate, making small talk.

“Yes, practically every day. Except on the weekends – it’s too busy then. This is our favourite table. Peter always sits there, just where you’re sitting.”

Kate shivered, feeling the cold November wind steal in from the door of the café. The waiter brought her cappuccino and she sipped the hot liquid gratefully, wrapping cold fin-gers around the cup.

“It’s our anniversary today.”

“That’s nice. Got any special plans?”

Kate felt someone push past her chair, bumping her shoulder. Didn’t anyone ever say “excuse me” anymore? She looked around to glare at the culprit but there was no one near the table. How odd.

“We were going to take a trip but he got sick.”

“That’s too bad.” Kate shivered again. Maybe she was coming down with something. She slipped her coat over her shoulders, feeling the soft down on her arms rise up in goose bumps.

“He was never sick before. I almost thought I should stay home today. I cried my eyes out,” she confessed, staring at Kate. “You feel it don’t you?”

“What?”

“It’s Peter.”

“Pardon?”

“I always feel he’s here, even though he’s been dead three years to the day.”

Kate’s coffee cup smashed to the floor.

“He doesn’t like you. I can always tell,” said Susie matter-of-factly, wiping the crumbs from the corners of her mouth. Kate staggered to her feet, knocking over the chair.

White-faced, refusing the offers of another cappuccino from one of the wait staff, she rushed towards the door, let-ting in a swirl of cold wind as she left the café. Susie righted the chair and carefully placed her jacket over the back.

Any resemblance in the preceding story to persons living or deceased is entirely coincidental. Linda Langwith is the author of the mystery suspense novel The Golden Crusader. For more info visit www.lindalangwith.com.

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Not a day goes by without cus-tomers complaining about uninvited “guests” at their feeders. The diners are either those who prefer to eat bird food (e.g. squirrels and rats) or those who have a fondness for eating birds and/or bird’s eggs (e.g. cats and rac-coons).

For some people, the unwanted visitor list even includes birds, such as star-lings and crows, who love to eat suet. This month’s column will examine how to keep squirrels and rats away and in another issue I will address other types of callers. While it’s impossible to keep all rodents at bay, it is hoped that the fol-lowing suggestions may help to foil some (or at least amuse you in the process):

• Squirrels’ excellent jump-ing skills make feeder placement critical. They should be at least two metres above ground and three metres from any launching pad (e.g., roof, fence or overhanging branch). A “tight rope” (e.g. a taut clothesline or strong wire) stretched between

stationary objects can thwart some. Even better, stringing empty pop-bottles, short lengths of garden hose, plastic hair curlers, 35-mm film canis-ters or even old vinyl LPs on the line makes it all the more difficult to cross.

• If you hang your feeder from a tree

limb or some kind of hanging device, a dome baffle, either a commercially available one or a homemade one made out of a plastic bucket, a metal bowl or a hubcap may prevent an “aerial attack.” Similarly, if you mount your feeder on a post and the varmint

How to Protect Your Feeders From Furry Feastersby Jennifer Hill

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is able to shimmy up it, try rigging a col-lar baffle, again one either commercially available or one made out of stovepipe, a PVC pipe or a few plastic milk jugs to pre-vent a “ground manoeuvre.”

• Consider investing in a squirrel-proof feeder; I have found the type that has a

mechanism to close off the feed ports when the squirrel steps onto one of the perch-es to be the best. One brand in particular, made by a com-pany in Quebec, Brome Bird Care, is in my opinion the best, hands down.

• Finally, some people add cayenne pepper to their feed as squirrels do not like its taste, however I do not rec-ommend this practice as the pepper can burn if it gets into your eyes (and/or the eyes of the birds); nor do I recom-

mend using any type of lubricant (e.g. pet-roleum jelly, vegetable shortening or motor grease) as not only can it harm the birds, it typically just washes off in the rain.

All of the above methods will also keep rats away from your feeders, after all, rats are really nothing more than squirrels without a cute, bushy tail.

Since rats have the same tastes as squir-rels, it’s critical that seed and/or spent shells do not fall to the ground for if they find piles of soggy seed they only have to look up and find the nice dry stuff – and lickety-split they will somehow find a way up in the feeder. As mentioned last month, the use of hulled sunflower seeds virtually eliminates the droppage problem.

Of course, a final option is to give in and set up a squirrel feeding station; there you can offer cheap nutritious food (e.g. dried corn and dry dog food) far away from your bird feeders so that the “furry bandits” are lured away from the more expensive stuff.

A final thought – we should be grateful that we do not live in areas where black bears have a penchant for raiding feeders. Squirrels may be a nuisance but they’re fun to watch!

�� 21

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�� 22

“Then why are you in Holland?” is the puzzled response to our declaration that “No, we don’t have family, nor do we have friends, in Holland.” The Dutch just don’t understand why my hus-band and I are spending four months cruising the rivers and canals of the Netherlands. But then, neither can we. We were supposed to be in France!

Our adventure began with the TV cooking show Rick Stein’s French Odyssey. There was Rick, cruising on a barge on the Canal du Midi, extolling the virtues of French wine and regional cooking. The scenery was stunning – a barge silently gliding along a beautifully calm canal, grassy banks lined with plane trees and water dappled by the sun’s rays stream-ing through the leaves – an inspiration for artists, poets and foodies alike.

How romantic and idyllic was that, and really, there was absolutely noth-ing to stop us from following in his foot-steps, we said to each other. Our inter-net research led us to blogs of other couples who spend either months or years cruising the rivers and canals of Europe. We got a sense of what it’s like

to cruise long term on a boat (small and cramped) and what the costs asso-ciated with living in France were (the exchange rate is going to kill you). But, our enthusiasm remained undaunted and we started seriously planning the trip and looking for a boat.

It didn’t take long (if you don’t count the number of nights Phil was on the computer until 3 a.m.) to discover that: a) the best boat to buy is a Dutch steel cruiser; and b) the best place to buy a Dutch steel cruiser was in Holland. Not a stretch, grant you, but that’s essentially how we ended up spending the sum-mer in Holland: two retired Canadians who have never driven a cruiser much less owned one were now embarked on the adventure of a life time.

Our hunt for a boat began on the way from the airport to our hotel which was very near a boat broker – Jachtmake-laardij in Dutch. In this new age of online commerce, “buyer beware” needs an addendum – “buyer beware of pictures on internet sales sites.” The first boat

was disgusting – so different from the pictures on the internet – we almost cried. If this was an example of what our budget could afford, we might as well go home now, we thought.

Many miles in our rented car and sev-eral boat yards later, we found our little gem. Calypso was love at first sight (for me at least – but let’s not go there).

Ten metres long, 3.3 metres wide and eight tons of solid steel – our new home on the water. It needed a few adjustments to make it perfect – the shore power connection we installed immediately and a shower will be put in over the winter while we are back in Nanaimo.

But before one casts off, one should really know how to drive a boat. Know-ing how to dock and/or avoid solid and moving objects is also helpful. We hired a British ex-submariner to teach us the basics and we soon set off on our own. Nothing like a little real-time practice to get the juices flowing!

Our first encounter with a lock’s closed gate was a little scary. We were

(Mis)adventures in Holland – Part Iby Sharlene Coss

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stuck in forward and the gate wasn’t about to give way – the proverbial immovable object was absolutely going to win any battle with Calypso – but luckily, we found reverse at the last minute and gunned it. I suspect my heart rate may be permanently altered but we lived to cruise another day.

Enjoying the beautiful scenery and stunning little vil-lages isn’t dependent upon mas-terly marine skills. The bucolic land-scapes were lush and green and windmills of all types and sizes dot the countryside as well as the towns and

cities. Mooring between two windmills – named De Zelden-rust and De Hoop – in the heart of Dokkum was serene. As we had each purchased a bike, we cycled to other villages, sat in the square with our coffee and biscuit and “people watched” – our favourite pastime. Life on the water is good!

Next month: more (mis)adventures and getting to know Holland.

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Of all the seasons of the year, I guess I’ve always loved fall best…particularly when the sun shines and the days are warm. Though a little brisk at times, the warmth of summer lingers on.

Driving down West Saanich Road, as Kim and I do almost every day from our home in Brentwood, we keep the top down and watch the colours change as autumn comes into full bloom.

Pendray farm is beauti-fully manicured and the steely grey field sprinklers are

almost works of art, as water sprays brilliant white against the vibrant green. Pumpkins for sale along the road are bold orange, grape vines are turning gold and the sky and Pat Bay never looked so blue at the height of summer.

Continuing along Mills Road, past the airport (with one eye on the road and one checking to see if any of the old warplanes I admire are out of their hangers and of course, always wondering what Mr. Ramsay and Co. are building),

I am constantly reminded why I love so much of what we have here on the Peninsula.

I realize, standing at the Dutch door of our store on Bea-con Avenue, greeting and being greeted so warmly by our many friends, acquaintances and customers as they walk by, how proud I am to have become part of this wonderful community. I am saddened only by the thought that one very welcome and familiar face is missing, that of my father, who passed away in August.

Yet fall in the clothing business is always exciting. Now the colours and the textures really come into their own, and every day the boxes arrive. Even after all these years, it’s still like Christmas for me every time I open one. This season we have a new line, one that Kim and I found on a road trip through Carmel last year; Claudio Campione. It’s been in the store for just a couple of weeks and we’re almost sold out! We’re frantically burning up the phone lines to Germany to get more, and will have at least one more shipment before Christmas – thank goodness Kim speaks a little German; it’s coming in handy! We’re really excited about the line, and if you’re in the neighbourhood, please pop by and have a look at Campione’s great shirts, sweaters and jackets.

Also come and see the new Fender shirt line, designed by Christopher Wicks of English Laundry – I have a feeling it will be a popular gift for guitar players this Christmas!

Reflecting on Life, Weather, Shirts and Sweaters

by David Bremner

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As the days begin to shorten and the inevitable fall rain moves in, Can-adians tend to move inside and hiber-nate until spring. And, when we hiber-nate, we spend more time in front of the television and the computer and less time outside exercising.

We all know that exercise is good for us, but with cold and flu season on the horizon there is more reason that ever to boost your fitness level this fall. A 2009 study by scientists at the University of Otavo in New Zealand concluded that increasing your fitness level – even by a small amount – improves your immun-ity and helps you stay healthy.

Fortunately we have dozens of opportunities on the Peninsula to get fit without taking a chunk out of the monthly budget. Try adding 20 min-utes of extra exercise, three times a week, and see what happens to you and your family. Head to the play-ground, a local walking trail or hop on your bike – make it fun and you will reap the benefits.

Adding a bit of extra exercise to your week doesn’t have to mean big changes to your routine. Stop off on your way home, leave a bit early to get groceries or gather some friends for a weekend walk – the trick is to make the exercise PART of your routine, regardless of the weather. This is the West Coast after all, so a little rain shouldn’t get in the way of your routine. Keep your raincoat handy and a small flashlight or reflective clothing ready for those

early evenings and find some fun, free fitness near you.

If you have smaller children, try combining a trip to the playground with a short walk tagged on the end. Playgrounds at the Panorama Leisure Centre, Tulista Park and Centennial Park all have nearby trails ideal for a quick jaunt before heading home. Make it fun and neither you or the kids will know you are exercising.

For an educational experience at the same time, stop by the Sidney library then spend 20 minutes on the equip-ment circuit at the Community Wellness Park – ideal for all ages and abilities. Make stopping at Reay Creek Park in Sidney a regular activity. The park has a 20-minute long walking trail and a chance to watch our local fish habitat as the seasons

change. For a host of one-off activities, check the CRD website (www.crd.bc.ca/parks) for guided walks and nature events at nearby parks.

Got a bike? The Peninsula has great roads and trails for cycling but did you know we also have a free ride park? Drop the kids while you shop for gro-ceries, or better yet, hop on your bike and try out the trails with them. If BMX-style trails aren’t your thing, the Pen-insula has tons of great cycling routes including the Lochside Trail or the new paved bicycle path that runs along the Mills Road side of the airport.

Like to hike? Gather a few friends or a couple of families and make a mor-ning of it. Hiking trails in Horth Hill Regional Park and John Dean Prov-incial Park provide lots of options for leisurely jaunts or calorie-burning, high intensity exercise. Walking, hik-ing and biking options on the Saanich Peninsula are almost endless. When

you run out of ideas, pick up a copy of the free Saanich Peninsula Walking Guide at the Panorama Leisure Centre or a copy of the North Saanich 2009 Guide to Parks, Trails and Beach Accesses is available for $2 from the muni-cipal office in North Saanich.

It doesn’t have to be com-plicated or expensive to add a

little extra exercise to your week-ly routine – just look around your

neighbourhood to find easy ways to increase your activity, have fun, get fit and stay healthy this winter.

Boost Your Immunity With Free Fitness This Fall!by Cathy Hanan

�� 30

While the treasures at the Tivoli Gallery have never truly been lost, they are yours to find at this unique store at 2475 Beacon Avenue in Sidney. There are so many wondrous delights tucked into various nooks and crannies, you just know when you leave that you’ve missed spotting some “must have” and another visit is a “must do!”

Owner Inga Michel and staff members Penny and Janat are keen to supply the background on whatever catches your eye. They’ll be pleased to tell you that much of the jewelry, cloth-ing, accessories, home décor and artwork is exclusive to Tivoli Gal-lery and is produced by local and Canadian artists.

“We represent some of the best artists in Canada,” Inga advised proudly. “We have vases by Vancouver glass-blower Robert Held, hand-painted silk scarves by Salt Spring artist Elaine Pot-ter and wood and silver carvings by First Nations artists Jacob Lewis and the Seaweed brothers, among others. ‘Mussels

and More’ in Campbell River provide us with pottery dishes the shape of seashells and we have hand-crafted pewter

bowls from Delia Pewter of Newfoundland.”

There are also fair trade imports from around the world, many selected by Inga

on her holiday and business travels.

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Inga immigrated by ship to Can-ada as a child with her family. Now a long-time Canadian citizen, she has retained a touch of Europe by naming her store after the magnificent Tivoli Gardens in her homeland.

The Tivoli Gallery has been in business at the same location in Sid-

ney for 24 years.

With the encouragement of her hus-band, Karl Michel, Inga opened the store on

August 1st, 1985, albeit with scant resources.

“We started with nothing, literally nothing,” Inga rem-inisced. “We bought wooden crates for a dollar each from Chinatown and piled them up to use as display stands. We still have some of those crates today.”

Among the artwork displayed are some fanciful-look-ing birds with the sign “Original Watercolors” hanging in their midst. Called “Inga Birds,” they are created by their namesake, an artist herself.

She estimates that, over the years, approximately 3,000 of the colourful birds have been sold world-wide and now roost as far away as South Africa, the Galapagos Islands and the Orkney Islands in Scotland.

“They are birds of the imagination,” Inga said. “They come from my head. One woman tried to copy them and was irate when she couldn’t find ‘Inga Birds’ in her Encyclo-pedia Britannica. It’s amazing what people tell you.”

In an auspicious pairing of talents, Inga’s creations are framed, complete with silk and suede mattes, by Karl, a master framer.

Treasure Hunt at Sidney’s Tivoli Galleryby Arlene Antonik

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“I used to have the biggest framing shop in town at Marina Court,” he sighed, “but now I have the smallest at my home studio out back – even the mice complain.”

Nonetheless, framing orders, including those from his wife, continue to provide him with a large amount of work. In fact, they first met when Inga took one of her paintings to Karl’s shop to be framed!

Christmas is coming. Explore the Tivoli Gallery and discov-er unique, local gifts to put under your tree this year.

(From left to right: Karl, Janat, Inga and Penny)

�� 32

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Sponsored by: Bowlin One Hour Photo, Focus Tax and Accounting, Sidney Shutterbugs

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Sponsored by: Thrifty Foods of Sidney

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Best viewed from Port Sidney to Tulista Park.

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Hot Coff ee compliments of Fresh Cup Roastery Café

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

Friday, January 1st, 2010

* For more information call the Peninsula Celebrations Society at 250-656-4365 *

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My computer and I are the best of friends today, but it wasn’t always that way: back in the early ’90s when we first met, we had a love-hate relationship!

Unlike today’s generation who are computer-savvy prac-tically from birth, my generation was forced into the modern world of technology later in life and much more painfully. Consequently, we’re still learning.

I do have a cell phone, but I admit I don’t tweet, twitter, text or blog which, in today’s world, makes me a dinosaur. I am, however, on Facebook and have become somewhat addicted!

Connecting in this way all started a few years ago when a friend in England sug-gested I sign up for Friends Re-United, a English website which reconnects you with old school, college or workplace friends.

Two years ago, my daughter signed me up for Facebook and, as a Baby Boomer Plus, I’ve certainly learned a lot. I now thoroughly enjoy catching up with friends and relatives around the world, learning about their daily thoughts and activities and enjoying their photographs.

Some younger people prefer that their parents not be on Facebook as it enables the parents to learn things they would not otherwise know. My generation, however, simply worries about the safety and privacy issues involved.

But this entry into the modern technology of the 21st cen-tury has also presented me with another far greater problem – I need to learn a whole new language!

Did you know, for example, that there are more than 1,000 text messaging abbreviations in use today? Plus there are the hundreds of emoticons devised by the user-net community. A bracket, colon, semi-colon and period no longer mean what they once did; today they convey emotions such as humour or anger.

For instance, adding the letter D to a colon means you are open-mouthed with delight! Or you can wink by placing a semi-colon in front of a bracket ;)

If you are feeling very unhappy, you can express your feel-ings with >:-(

If you are actually crying (heaven forbid), you can announce this emotion with :-(.

I’m now more than ever convinced that I don’t want to text because text language has a life unto itself. I wonder if the younger generation will ever learn how to spell real words 4COL (translation “For Crying out Loud”)! I realize you have to be brief when texting and abbreviation and speed is the way to go today. It’s also a good work-out for your thumbs! But, I still prefer the old-fashioned way of writing and spelling. Young

people insist they do know how to spell, they just use the abbreviated forms for speed – hopefully not when driving.

So, I have finally decided that if you can’t beat them, then you just have to join them. Here are a few of my personal favourite abbreviations – if I ever decide to joint the masses.

RUT (Are you there?)

LTNS (Long Time No See)

LOL (Laughing Out Loud)

LTD (Living the dream)

BCOS (Because)

NOYB (None of your business)

BGWM (Be gentle withme) – I will definitely needthis one.

DNC (I don’t understand!) – Undoubtedly this will also get a great deal of use by me.

I’ll sign off now BCOS it’s getting complicated. So TTFN (ta ta for now). Now, that was one abbreviation I actually remember from years ago…back in the day when we actual-ly wrote letters to one another with real words and then sent them by snail mail! Oh Happy Days!

Baby Boomers in a Modern Worldby Valerie Green

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“We are a reference library of olfactorial experience. Hard wired to the trigem-inal brain stem what we see, smell, taste, feel, ultimately imagine engenders emotion before intellect. When eating and drinking we are at our most primitive and vulnerable state. Sips is a dialogue ani-mated metaphor to the col-ours, sounds, movement and archetype of indigenous food and drink.” ~ Brian Storen

Pow! Like the impact of a 2x4 in a chocolate box, Brian Storen, “mascot” and som-melier at Spinnakers’ Sips Bistro in James Bay, breathes fire into the restaurant world. He can read your mind and merge the experiences; first kiss, running in rain, your best cry and worst night-mare and parlay them into

your most lustful encounter with food and wine, giving you a visceral feast for all senses.

With degrees in both litera-ture and journalism and armed with a vocabulary that would have Webster himself curled in the fetal position, Brian animates one of the most sensuous styles of eating while bringing to light what is fast becoming one of the most popular trends in food.

What is Brian describing? Charcuterie – cheese and wine – all presented “as they come” for tasting and sharing. While cheese and wine are common vernacular, you may not be familiar with charcuterie. As elegant as it sounds, it simply means cured, dried, patee’d or similarly prepared meats.

Good charcuterie is not your pedestrian coldcut plate from

Peasant Buffet Rebornby Jennifer Bowles

�� 37

��

Annual Dinner, Dance & Auction

Friday, November 13th at the

Mary Winspear Centre

Dress in your best black or white duds and enjoy theglittering lights, great food, fun people and the

swinging sounds of the Commodores Big Band –so you can Dance Dance Dance!

Presented by:

Cocktails, appetizers, silent auction, live auction preview – 6 p.m.

Dinner 7:15 p.m.

Live auction items to be auctioned off throughout the

evening until 9 p.m. by Bruce Williams of ‘A’ Channel

Tickets: $75 each or book a table for 8 and enter to win

limousine service to and from Starry Night for your group

For more information and tickets call 250-656-3616

or email [email protected] by:

the local grocer with parsley garnish and slippery ham-wrapped cheddar sticks, oh no. This is supremely thin slices of sopressata dry salami, duck prosciutto and a shingle of smoked Sooke trout, paired with hunks of horseradish monterey jack, blossom’s blue cheese and wasabi verdelait cheese and a glass of Venturi Schulze’ wine to kiss your lips and sink back with friends on your couch and simply… love it. Serve any of these with crispy baguette licked with grainy mustard and danced upon by a dollop of rhubarb compote.

If you want to partake at home then go for it, but certainly one of your first experiences should be at Sips. It is where one truly connects and learns with food; without question it’s worth the trip. If you’re lucky enough to speak with Mr. Storen, an alumni of Sooke Harbour House and Barefoot Bistro in Whistler (not to mention voted Sommelier of the Year by En Route magazine in 2005), you can experience how he translates your wine notes into poetry that will have you begging for him to read you a bedtime story.

Try this one on for size: “like a large-bottomed nude is how it finishes in the mouth” or another: “slipping into a goose-berry lined bed and the trembling embrace of a post-pubes-cent fig tree” or “the slap of a baby dragon’s tail.” I could not make these up!

Charcuterie at Sips is like Disneyland for the senses. The myriad combinations of meat and cheese are as endless as the hours you will want to spend relishing this amazing experience.

Choux Choux’s on Fort Street, Charelli’s on Foul Bay Road and Ottavio’s on Oak Bay Avenue all have excellent selections of charcuterie, cheeses, exquisite preserves, crackers and so much more so you can bring this experience home. They are also all exceptionally helpful when describing their wares and they will always let you sample first. Anyone can prepare an impressive plate with morsels of varying tastes and textures, a glass of beautiful wine and a cozy fireplace…incredible.

Wines to Pair by Brian

• Tugwell Creek, Sooke 2006 Meadery – old fireweed honey, medieval wine

• Orofino, Cawston B.C. 2008 Sauvignon Blanc – wet cat in tall grass, honeysuckle

• Kettle Valley, Naramata 2006 Malbec – leathery bovine sweat-crushed carnations

• Venturi Schulze, Cobble Hill 2006 No.3 Red – prepubescent fig tree

• Garry Oaks, Salt Spring 2007 Zetta – dark cherry, currant

• Muse Winery, Sidney B.C. 2008 Poetic Justice Ortega – sun shower moistened hot stone

Sips is located at 425 Simcoe Street. Phone 250-590-3519 for more information.

Questions or comments? Email Jennifer Bowles at [email protected]!

�� 38 ��

Are you a mature worker, (50+) who is out of work or changing careers and not receiving Unemployment Insur-ance and have not been on Unemploy-ment Insurance for the past three years or maternity leave for the past five years? If so, the Victoria Gray Skills pro-gram may be right for you.

I was 58 when I decided to find an employment program after losing writing clients in the recession, and when I phoned Spectrum Employ-ment Services they suggested Gray Skills. At my first Gray Skills appoint-ment, I met a courteous 60-year-old man named Tim Power, the employ-ment counsellor. He gave me psycho-logical tests to determine my skills and abilities including the Myer-Briggs and Personality Dimensions.

Tim said the goal of Gray Skills is to help people find not just a job but work they like. He noted another program he was involved with had a 97-percent job placement rate and was hoping to achieve the same goal with Gray Skills.

I looked Tim Power up on the Inter-net and found he has his own consult-ing company and an online college and was the past director of Community Services for the John Howard Society. He’s also a published poet and author.

The next week I went to a Gray Skills workshop on accessing the hidden job market. My middle-aged classmates and I laughed our way through the next two hours as we shared work histories and goals.

Tim told us that 80 percent of jobs are

not advertised. He suggested we ask potential employers for informational interviews – then they’d already know us when jobs become available.

Reading for the workshop included

quotations like “When you know where you’re going you’re halfway there,” and “Whether you think you can or you can’t you’re right.”

Tim also gave us instructions on contacting employers and a list of job search websites.

Some of these (e.g. www.charityvil-lage.com and www.jobboom.com) I’d never heard of and they are very useful.

The next Gray Skills Workshop was on healthy aging. There we learned how wellness includes the spiritual, physical, financial, intellectual, emotional and social aspects of life. We discussed exer-cise, nutrition and even sex.

The next workshop was on network-ing, which means telling everyone you know that you are looking for work. I experienced this in action when a class-mate gave me a copy of the Seaside Times and suggested I write for them.

Another workshop was on assertive communications. Tim explained this is the communication style that works best in a healthy workplace and our personal lives. It includes: standing up for your personal rights; express-ing your thoughts, feeling and beliefs; being direct and honest; not violating the rights of others and not allowing your rights to be violated.

Now I’ve finished the workshops and I’m job hunting from home but Tim answers questions for me by e-mail. He has a new assistant, Michael Stephen, who gives me invaluable advice over the phone.

An important part of Gray Skills was that it got me out into the working world, but the best thing is that it’s fun, in the way work is fun, when we have a job that’s right for us. Gray Skills (www.grayskills.ca) is located at the CARE office at 120 - 4243 Glanford Ave., Victoria, B.C., V8Z 4B9. For information call 250-361-2687.

Margaret Boyes is a Victoria copy-writer. She writes articles, fundraising letters, sales letters, direct mail pack-ages, e-mails, web pages and other com-munications. Margaret can be reached at 250-370-1573, [email protected] and www.cariboucommunications.ca.

Gray Skills are Great Skills For Canadian Businessby Margaret Boyes

1933 Keating X Road

Central Saanich

250-544-6464•

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250-655-6454

Two Locations:

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A Distinct PlaceWith Distinct Businessesand a Distinct Lifestyle

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WHY ADVERTISE WITH US?High Quality • In-House Design at No Additional Charge

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Summertime Sippers Page 18

through the and selected locations!

Largest monthly magazine on the Peninsula – readership of 25,000!

For further information, contact Tim Flater at 250-686-1144 or [email protected]

�� 40

Where there’s a room for every guest!

Fully updated & modernized • Family owned and operated for over 40 yearsBeautiful waterfront location on the Saanich Peninsula • Pet and child friendly

Daily, weekly and monthly rates • Long-term parking available

Th e Cedarwood Inn and Suites – Your Home away from Home9522 Lochside Drive, Sidney, British Columbia

250-656-5551 • 877-656-5551 • www.thecedarwood.ca

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Welcome to the second edition of “Smell The Coffee.” I love coffee and what it means to our social culture here on the West Coast and won’t pull any punches on anything that I write about…I hope you enjoy the monthly column here in the Seaside Times.

On a recent sunny day I sailed into Nanaimo harbour, docked and walked around the downtown area for a couple of hours, soaking up the sun-

shine and seeing what was new. Before I hopped back on board I grabbed an Americano at a place right down near the wharf and cast off.

After leaving the harbour, I put up the sails and lay back to enjoy my cup of joe in the sun-shine when things started to go horribly wrong…nothing with the boat, not to worry, it was the first sip of my coffee! It was

ABSOLUTELY wretched tasting, so much so that a second sip wasn’t an option.

Now, I don’t know if any of you’ve ever had such an experience but as an accomplished barista I pride myself on making good coffee buying choices all the time. I guess I was so distracted by the beautiful day that I let my guard down and wasn’t thinking.

Since then I’ve vowed to never let sunshine, people watching or anything else get in the way of me enjoying a truly fresh cup.

So often taste can bring you back in time and the jolt of this stale tasting cup threw me back well over 10 years – thankfully it didn’t throw me over-board! I clearly remember one of my first experiences that prompted me to start seeking the “True Meaning of Fresh Coffee.” For those that may not know, the boating community is really good at sharing information over the radio and I remember the time I heard a conversation about a small coffee roasting company on Thetis Island called “Pot of Gold.”

I came into Telegraph Harbour, docked and found that the place was within walking distance. There I met a very personable couple who’d been selling freshly roasted coffee to boat-ers for years so I bought a pound to take back on the boat with me. Over the next few days I thoroughly enjoyed the coffee – the taste was amazing and it was then that I realized that most of the coffee that I had been paying a pre-mium price for up until then was not

The True Meaning of Fresh Coffee

by Steve Sheppard

�� 41

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2443 Beacon Avenue, Sidney250-656-6161

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��premium at all, in fact it was the opposite!

From then on I’ve sought to buy my coffee from the people who roast in the small towns I visit. I’ve found that there’s a com-mon thread among them all; they’re passionate about fresh-ness. Some of them are somewhat evangelistic about their cof-fees but most of them are quite humble about what they do.

I highly recommend you try some of the following micro-roasting companies on or around Vancouver Island: Pot of Gold (Thetis Island), Moziro (Shawnigan Lake), Fresh Cup Roastery Café (Saanich Peninsula), Drumroaster (Cobble Hill), Discovery Coffee (Victoria), Café Fantastico (Victoria), Fern-wood Roasting Co. (Victoria), Rhodes Café (Mount Washing-ton), Karma Coffee, (mid-Vancouver Island), Misty Mountain (North Vancouver Island), Aroma Coffee (Quadra Island), Mir-age Coffee (Victoria), Cha Cha Java (Parksville), 2% Jazz (Vic-toria) and Hornby Island Coffee (Hornby Island).

It’s important to support the small roasters on Vancouver Island because they’re the ones putting the passion into your coffee. A fresh cup of coffee is one of life’s last simple pleasures and it pains me to see people pay good money for stale coffee. So be wary when a place or person says “Freshly Brewed” because that has no bearing on when it was roast-ed and if it was stale before the water hit the grinds…you might be in for one of those moments I mentioned earlier. As they say: “Life is too short to drink stale coffee.”

If you’ve got questions or ideas for Steve Sheppard, email him c/o [email protected].

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Aries march 21 - april 19Personal or

r e l a t i o n s h i p matters reach a

point of decision. Its time to conclude

worn-out situations and move forward. The

effect of Saturn is like a ticking clock. It will make a

square aspect to Pluto which can be very final. In a sense, time runs out. Polish your armour and be more reserved until you know everyone’s intentions. Others make demands. Don’t push beyond your comfort zone. Searches are fruitful.Taurus april 20 - may 20You start the month with the full moon in your sign. Emotionally you will be more intense than usual. Others may see you as touchy, so guard your words carefully. A strong-willed person can be a catalyst for change – ready or not. Take care of health and work issues. There is likely to be a connection to the past. You could end up in different environments or locations. There will be closure.Gemini may 21 - june 20It’s time to take a serious look at your future security. Don’t risk anything you can’t afford to lose. There are restrictive aspects from Saturn and Pluto. It indicates that certain matters or deals have come to term. Time is your friend right now – work with it and you will come out OK. Avoid any get-rich-quick schemes. You will have good luck in work or career. Get necessary check- ups or tests.Cancer june 21 - july 22You need to take charge of important matters in a personal way. Your status, home or family my be affected as well. You can gain through love, relationships or marriage. Make decisions about home, property or locations for yourself or others. Let things evolve to a natural conclusion and it will be easier to deal with. Get all your ducks in a row if there are papers or documents involved. Sign carefully.Leo july 23 - august 22Your mind is set on a path you want your life to take. There will be a feeling of moving from one level to another. A sense of comfort and solidarity will put you at ease. Detach from pres- sures or duties that can be passed to others – it’s time. Events involving relatives or local community will get more of your attention. Forced circumstance causes you to act independently. It’s OK.

Virgo august 23 - september 22Powerful emotions affect your love life. You need to evaluate present relationships to see if they fit into your future plans. You make announcements one way or the other. What you

need has changed. Social connections are important at this time. Attend special events or gatherings. This can fill any gaps for now. Your view of life is opening up. You will see what you have missed. Enjoy yourself.

Libra september 23 - october 22With the planed Saturn in your sign it’s time to get serious. Your personal brakes are on in one form or another. There is a need for more security in the financial area. There are opportunities for this. Choose those with solid backing or foundation. Real estate is a good choice. Enter into private arrangements it works better for you. A change or break can be like a new life for you. Take it.

Scorpio october 23 - november 21It’s time to change your mind or tactics even if you said you never would. A wise person is willing to move in positive directions. You can still get what you want. It’s like taking a different road to the same town. You will be able to promote yourself well with the sun in your sign. Influential contacts from the past can re-enter your life in positive ways. Joint plans bring success.

Sagittarius november 22 - december 21The full moon will shine on health and work issues for yourself or those you care for. Keep appointments and follow up on tests or treatments. On a lighter note, you can make plans for a holiday or have company from out of town. You can attain further financial power or control by aligning with those in positions of power. Your intuition is strong and can guide you toward your goals successfully.

Capricorn december 22 - january 19You may feel like you are in a movie as others look at you differently. You emanate powerful energy that is making you more attractive now. You can thank Pluto in your sign for that. The full moon highlights your love and romance cycle, heating up relationships – old or new. Your status is likely to change. This can affect personal plans or career future. Deal with patterns or habits – yours or others.

Aquarius january 20 - february 18Your popularity is on the rise. Others view you in a more positive light and pave the way for you to seek advancement in your target direction. Call in any favours now. Promotions should go well. Demonstrate your abilities or the results of your work. Take care with secrets that could interfere with your plans. Take things to their destined conclusion. Follow a tried and true path. Make order out of chaos or confusion.

Pisces february 19 - march 20

Put in added physical activity or overtime if it is needed to get the job done. You may have to cover for others or take their place. It will be worth it in the long run. Your intuition will guide you to opportunity and the right contacts – even if they are connected to your past. They will be happy to help. Guard your personal or financial information from jealous competition. Avoid their questions.

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Lasting acts of kindness are often left unnoticed or unmentioned.

Gary Green, a dear friend of mine, retired from the Victoria Police Department a few years ago, and he now enjoys the “other side“ of life. He rides his motor-cycle everywhere. He is trying to stop road rage one smile at a time, to hear him tell it. Can you believe it? Smiling at people in traffic? Oh sure, Gary rode a motorcycle when he was a police officer but geesh who the heck was happy to see him then?

Today you can see him driv-ing down the highway or along the streets of Victoria and the area with his two red and white border collies, Reba and Scarlet, in his sidecar. The dogs are secured in place with proper harnesses, and wear “doggles” to protect their eyes. They are a wonderful sight to behold!

People pulling up alongside them at traffic lights, stop signs or along the highway all of a sudden start to smile.

After a walk and run with the dogs Gary always stops at the local Tim Horton’s for coffee and a donut (some habits are just too hard to break). The trio no sooner gets parked than people are taking pictures and talking to the “biker girls,” who sit calmly in the side-

car soaking up all the attention while Gary drinks his coffee and quietly sits at the window watching the joy he and his dogs are bringing to people.

I might add that when they stop, if there’s not enough shade for the girls, Gary has a very nice white umbrella to shade the “ladies.”

The reason for my story is this: You never know what effect an act of kind-ness can have.

A friend of mine was taking her elderly stepfather shopping at a local store. All of a sudden, the stepfather stopped and turned and said to her

“look at that!” as he pointed out Gary going by on the motorcycle with his “girls” in the sidecar.

My friend watched at the store window to see Gary stop and park. She approached him and asked if he’d mind driving by the store very slowly so her stepfather could get a really good look.

A few minutes later, Gary and the girls cruised slowly by. Gary smiled and waved and the dogs looked right at the old man in the door-way who was waving, smil-ing and laughing like a small boy at a parade. He was thrilled he was able to be so close and see such a wonderful thing. It made his day!

My friend and her step-father finished up their shopping and, as the step-father sat and waited for

her to pay for their purchases, he fell asleep…forever; hopefully dreaming of the two dogs and their wonderful owner who took the time to do an act of kindness. It was the last such act my friend’s stepfather would ever know, and one my friend is forever grateful for.

I am very blessed to have a great friend like Gary and a great true story to share.

A Random Act of Kindnessby Peni Fitzpatrick

#150 - 805 Cloverdale Ave., Victoria • 250-384-8124 • [email protected]

• Born and raised on the Island, Rick Shumka served as a fi refi ghter for 32 years and is now serving you as a realtor on the Saanich Peninsula and in Victoria

• Selling your home is an important decision and Rick’s goal is to make the transition as smooth and worry-free as possible

Rick ShumkaRealtor, Victoria, BC

For current property listings visit rickshumka.com

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Sidney to Victoria25 km (20 min.)

Seaside Times Advertiser Index

�� 46 ��

��#��7��Looking for a friendly place to have a coffee in Saanichton? How about trying Spelt’s Coffee Shop? You might not have been to Spelt’s lately (a fix-ture in Saanichton for 38 years), so let us remind you!

The family-run Spelt’s is so much more than a clean and convenient Shell gas station and fully stocked convenience store; there is also a great coffee shop on the south side of the building with friendly staff (and some second and third generation Spelts) ready to serve you with whatever you hunger for. They hap-pily pour “Direct Fair Trade” coffee that directly helps the coffee pickers and their families. It’s roasted right here in Saanichton!

Looking for good old-fashioned big fresh donuts? Well, we have them at Spelt’s and they’re baked fresh daily. But Spelt’s Coffee Shop is more than coffee and donuts, they also have great food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Did we mention the big muffins, creamy soft ice cream and pie? So why don’t you come on

in and see what everyone is talking about and what’s new since you were here last – you’ll be glad you did!

at the corner of

Wallace Drive & East Saanich Rd.

Exceedingly Evil

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Remembrance Day has always been important to my family, being the children and grandchildren of veterans of both the First and Second World Wars. However, since the death of my grandpa almost two years ago, Remembrance Day has taken on new significance for me; a special day for honouring the wonderful grandfather I lost.

My grandpa never missed a Remembrance Day parade, marching with great dignity and looking incredibly dashing in his uniform. He was so proud when his grandson Drew, an RCMP officer, marched with him one year.

He was a man who loved his family very much. One Christmas, he gave my mom and her three sisters a framed poem titled “A Father’s Love.” He wasn’t a very demonstrative man, finding it hard to share his feelings, but he’d been carrying the poem about unconditional love in his wallet for many years and finally figured out a way to share its sentiment with his daughters.

My grandpa was a great man who touched many lives, and there was a large turnout at his funeral, held at the Gib-sons Legion, Branch 109. There were many veterans at the service, all turned out in their finest; in uniform to honour the man who had been one of them. At the front of the legion was a small display; a picture of my grandpa, one of his ever-present golf caps and a small wreath. At the end of the service, the veterans lined the centre aisle and, one at a time, approached the front. Each of them stood for a moment, saluted my grandfather’s picture, then removed a poppy from their lapel, placing it on the wreath.

So, this Remembrance Day I’ll be remembering my grandpa and the special ceremony at his service that touched me so deeply. The veterans honoured my grandfather the way we should honour all veterans; men and women who died to pro-tect our country, our rights and our way of life. Lest we forget.

Lest I Forget

Editor-in-Chief

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seaside times november 2009 edition

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