The Flagstone

Denman’s Village Voice

December 2015 Volume 20 Issue 12

$2.00

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To many Denman Islanders, it may feel as if the Denman Island Craft Fair is a permanent fixture. Come rain or shine (or, occasionally, a major snow storm accompanied by power outages and impossible driving conditions), it happens year after year on the first December weekend, bringing the community together and ushering in the holiday season. But 34 years ago, the fair was brand new. One of the two halls that now host it didn’t exist, crafting wasn’t particularly trendy, current Fair co-ordinator Autumn White was a mischievous six-year-old, and the word ‘artisanal’ was not in regular use. Denman fabric artist Asherah Woodburn was a vendor at that first fair, and has sold her wares at every single fair since.

“The Denman Island Christmas Craft Fair began very humbly with about a dozen of us feeling rather lost in the vastness of the old hall, which at that time was a rather dark, cold, barn-like place. I think I began by selling seashell candles, and I was so thrilled when someone actually bought one!” she says. Woodburn arrived on Denman in 1977, so can barely remember what island life was like without the fair. “Although I find it harder now as I get older, it’s harder still for me to imagine not doing the fair – it’s become so much a part of who I am and where I live. “I’ve seen many changes over the years. It’s like the Saturday market. Who would have ever thought they

Photos by Fireweed

Harmony & Beauty Sustain the Christmas Craft Fair By Laura Busheikin

Pottery by Shirley Phillips, Cushions by Asherah, Plate by John Harned

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The Flagstone Address: Box 10, Denman Island, BC, V0R 1T0

email:denmanflagstone@gmail.com Advertising call Danni Crenna

Volunteer Staff

Production - Danni Crenna (250)335-0198 Accounting - Helen Mason (250)335-1603 The Collating Team - Louise Bell, Graham

Brazier, Mikell Callahan, Jean Cockburn, Danni Crenna, Cindy & David Critchley, Noni Fenwick-

Wilson, Sterling Fraser, Karl Goodwin, John Graham, Jane Guest, Harlene Holm, Helen Mason, Jack Mounce, Marjo Van Tooren

The Flagstone is a non-profit newsletter put together entirely by volunteers. Our revenues do not cover our costs. Please consider making a donation - drop in the Flagstone box at Abraxas or mail to the address above. A donation of $12 is only $1 per issue - a bargain! OUR DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS is the Friday before we go to print; generally the 3rd Friday of each month. Check this page or the back page or the Grapevine calendar for that date each month. The Flagstone is printed monthly by the Denman Island Print Shop at a reduced rate, for which we are very grateful. Off - Island Subscriptions: Flagstone issues mailed monthly for one year -

$30.00 Within Canada $40 to US Addresses

OR you can now get on-line subscriptions ( a pdf

mailed to your email address) for free Donations Welcome

Deadline for January's paper is Monday December 14th

NB Unusual day & early Date!!

1 Laura Busheikin Christmas Fair

2 Index

3 Christmas fair Continued

4 Laura Busheikin Islands Trust Notebook

5 Ansa Matthews Ram Sadama

DIRCS Report Solar Energy for the Hall

6 Doug Carrick Laura Busheikin

According to Doug IT Notebook Contd/ Solar Contd

7 Graham Hayman Profile

8 Various Writers Letters

9 Letters Contd

10 Kate Janeway Karl Goodwin

Xmas Hampers Cartoon

11 Lee Andra Jacobs Moonlight Madness

12 Sponsor Don Luckett Arts Denman Page

13 Kel Kelly Denman Fun Raiser

14 John Millen This Place

15 Helen Mason Books Matter Prize

16 Sponsor ReMax Kids' Page

17 Graham Hayman Profile Contd

18 Max Rogers Agriculture Matters

19 Jenny Balke Contd / Pesticide Permits

20 Bill Engleson 200 Words or Less

21 Lori Nawrot Rachelle Chinnery

HDCHCS News Mental Health First Aid

22 Jane Fawkes Contd/ Council of All Beings

23 Robert Newton New Years' Dance

24 Bill Engleson My Entrepreneurial Spirit

25 Veronica Timmons DIVSC Report

26 Jenny Balke Spartina Removal on Denman

27 Contd

28 Patrick Fawkes Bird Notes

29 Laura Pope Contd/ Parks Report

30 Parks Report

31 S Dunnet & R Menard BioEnergy

32 Sponsor Union Bay Credit Union

Community Announcements

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would both become as big as they have?” Asherah, who many of us know also as the school librarian, says she has an “inner compulsion” to make things. “I have a passion for fine materials to work with, especially yarns for my knitting and crocheting. I buy handspun and home-dyed llama, silk, hemp and wool from [other Denman crafters] Sudasi Gardner, Christine O’Neill, and Donna Millen, and handmade beads from Marjo VanTooren. “I also use a lot of recycled material, mostly for sewing. For instance, a patchwork pillow might have a centrepiece cut from an old t-shirt. I don’t use patterns; I just make it up as I go along. When I begin, I just start with one piece of yarn or fabric and see where it goes, so each piece is really unique. “I just do what I like and I guess it all works, because whenever I wear one of my hats to town, I am sure to get lots of nice comments. I always invite them to come to the Denman fair.”

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XMAS FAIR FROM PAGE 1

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Behind what Woodburn cheerfully calls her “creative addiction” is something profound: “The Sufi ideals of ‘love, harmony and beauty’ in all elements of life nourish and sustain me in my own life, and I hope that this desire is somehow reflected in my creative work, and in yours,” she says. The Denman Island Christmas Craft Fair, Dec 5th and 6th, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at the Denman Island Community Hall and the Denman Activity Centre. Delicious lunches at both venues. More info: 250-335-2148 and/or find us on Facebook for a sneak preview. Remind your off-island friends they can walk onto the ferry and take the shuttle-van or walk up the hill.

The Denman Island Christmas Craft Fair

Dec 5th and 6th, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.,

at the Denman Island Community

Hall & Denman Activity Centre.

Delicious lunches at both venues

Photos by Fireweed, Glass plate by John Harned, Earrings by Cheryl Jacobs, Raven by Sudasi Gardner

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Trustee Notebook By Laura Busheikin

Zoning for Marijuana on Denman Although I am tempted to lead into this article with a funny quote from Cheech and Chong, I will resist. Although stoner humour may always be part of our culture, right now on Denman Island it’s time to take a sober look at the regulatory and community issues raised by legalization of medical (and potentially recreational) marijuana. To this end, the Denman Island Local Trust Committee has been discussing options for regulating marijuana growing. Here’s some background information: What do federal laws permit? This is complicated. The current Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) came into force on April 1, 2014, creating a system for federally-licensed production facilities. These are large (from several thousand to 50,000 square feet) fully-enclosed buildings that include security features such as continual visual monitoring of the perimeter of the site, and prevention of any unauthorized access. Small-scale production of medicinal marijuana for personal use or provision to friends and family is not allowed under these regulations. So far, so good, but here’s where it gets complicated: the MMPR replaced something called the Medical Marijuana Access Regulations (MMAR). These were Canada’s first foray into legalizing medical marijuana. Unlike the newer MMPR, the MMAR enabled licenses for small-scale home-based production and sale. The new MMPR was meant to replace the MMAR and put an end to these smaller operations. However, the issue has been clouded by court rulings which have cast doubt on the constitutionality of the new regulations and the repeal of the old provisions. For now, people producing medical marijuana under the MMAR can continue to do so, but no new licenses of this nature are being issued and the exact legal situation remains ambiguous. To notch up the complexity, we have a new federal government which intends to legalize recreational marijuana. What is the Local Trust Committee’s role? The DILTC is a land use authority and thus can control elements of marijuana production through zoning – things like where it is allowed, building size and height, set-backs, parking, lighting, screening, and other practical, measurable considerations. It does not control or enforce Health Canada or Criminal Code rules, or have anything to do with licensing. It does not regulate noise or odour concerns but can design zoning regulations intended to keep these to a minimum. Another addition to the mix is the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Approximately 46 per cent of Denman is in the ALR

and according to ALR rules, marijuana production is considered an agricultural use, and therefore it is permitted. Local zoning can’t over-ride this. What is the current zoning status of marijuana growing operations? Denman Island’s zoning, as defined in the Land Use Bylaw, does not mention marijuana, but since it is a plant, it falls under the definition of horticulture and agriculture, which are currently allowed on all lots on Denman, except for parks. Why do we need zoning regulations for marijuana production? Medical marijuana production, once it moves beyond small-scale, typically involves semi-industrial processes. Experience from other municipalities has shown that this can cause problems. Facilities generally use copious amounts of water and chemicals, and as a result produce large amount of run-off. Another big concern is smell. As well, the DILTC has also heard concerns about night-time lights, fire safety, noise (from ventilation systems) and the visual impact of buildings. Because of these concerns, marijuana production may not be appropriate for all lots and neighbourhoods on Denman. The DILTC, through an amendment to its Land Use Bylaw, can restrict where marijuana production can occur, create guidelines for acceptable scale, and/or enact provisions (set-backs, building size and height, screening, etc.) to minimize impacts. On the flip side, zoning is also a way to enable things. Marijuana production, if practiced in a way that respects the environment and neighbourhood, can have economic and/or medical benefits. Providing clear guidelines will help define a viable path for anyone interested in pursuing this activity. What are other local governments doing? Local governments all over Canada are busy adopting bylaw amendments to address the new federal regulations. Some are banning marijuana production outright; some are allowing it in industrial and agricultural zones, including setbacks and minimum parcel size in the regulations. How can the DILTC deal with the ambiguity created by changing federal regulations? Right now no-one knows what will become of the laws on small-scale medical marijuana growing operations (as per the old MMAR), and no-one knows if the promised outright legalization of pot will occur, let alone what it would look like. At its last meeting (Oct. 27), the DILTC talked about focusing on scale of production rather than type of licensing or intended use. Our rationale was that regardless of whether the licence is MMAR, MMPR or

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DIRCS Report by Ansa Matthews

Coming up Next we have Blackberry Wood for New Years Eve at the Community Hall, December 31st. This show is co-hosted by Concerts Denman & DIRCS, DJ Eliazar will entertaining the preshow. Tickets are $20 at Abraxas & The General Store. We are trying to make this an All-Ages event with a Beer Garden, pursuant to approval by the RCMP. Thank you muchly to those who donated their money, time and energy to make a great Halloween on Denman! The Cabaret & Fundraiser was a success, raising over $1,400 towards the new Sound System. A Big Thankyou to our Sponsers: Baynes Sound Insurance, Abraxas Books, The General Store. The Cast: Kieran, Travis, Loraine, Carla, Laurie, Mike, Erik, Roxanne, Ansa, Maxine, Marlee, Conrad, Cee, Ricia, Julie. Lighing & Sound: Chris, Volunteer DJ's: Eliazar & Dylan, Volunteer Bartenders, Door Staff, and Valis Security Team… there was a lot of you, sorry if we missed your names, Thank you for your time and effort. All Hallows Eve went off with a Bang! Thanks to the Fire Department! A Big Thank you to our Donators: we managed to cover costs with a $30 surplus. Seniors & Museum Society: for baking and donating over 25 pies which were consumed by children, parents, firemen and ferry workers alike. To all the Volunteers: Suzette who coordinated, Tim, Keelan, Wendy, Ellen, Sheila, Judith, Terry and Jude, who setup, teared down, served pie, and created a fun safe place for children to play. Next year we would love to do a Haunted House but we need help, so if you like Scaring kids & Halloween then look out for next year. DIRCS Next Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday March 7th 2016, 7pm, Back Hall. If you wish to vote at the next AGM make sure you have completed your membership registration 3 months ahead of time. That is by December 7th, 2015. You can find membership forms at Abraxas Books, or you can sign up at the December GM, Monday December 7th, 7pm, Back Hall.

Don Johnson 250-338-8822 www.ableandreadyseptic.ca ableandreadyseptic@shaw.ca

Van Isle Vet will not be visiting Denman in December . They will be back to their regular

schedule in January

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We need to reduce consumption and find more sustainable ways of generating the energy we use if we are to survive as a species. Solar energy production has quickly become one of the simplest and least expensive alternatives to the use of fossil fuels and expensive and environmentally damaging projects such as building dams. A number of communities in the Gulf Islands area have already made significant progress in this direction: Pender Island has installed 39 panels on the roof of their recycling center; Gabriola Island has a solar energy co-operative; the city of Colwood is providing incentives for residents to install solar; Lasqueti Island is generating all of the power for their community school. We want to help move Denman Island forward into this new era by “solarizing” our wonderful Community Hall. This will consist of mounting 30 or more solar panels on the south-facing roof of the Hall, producing a total of 8 kilowatts of electricity for an average of 3 hours per day (i.e., up to 24 kWh per day). The system will use “net

Solar Project for the Community Hall Submitted by Ram Sadama

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According to Doug By Doug Carrick

TIME FOR A REST Like so many other Canadians I was elated with the election results and even more so when Justin Trudeau introduced his new cabinet. Fifteen men and fifteen women! We have finally reached the year 2015. The days of enlightenment are here. And the high quality of his choices - excellent representatives of the Canadian mix! We are certainly on the right track. This month I just couldn’t come up with anything worth saying - or perhaps the motivation is now lacking - so I thought that this was a good time to have a rest. I would like to thank Reina and the First Edition staff for a wonderful publication open to all points of view. Likewise, I would like to thank Danni and the Flagstone staff. Small independent publications are so important in presenting alternative ideas - in contrast to the corporate-controlled mainline media. I would also like to thank the many people who let me know that my articles were appreciated. Of course, most people on Hornby and Denman are progressive anyway, so it was like “preaching to the converted”. So for now, it’s back to growing dahlias, splitting wood, and pruning the trees.

metering” to feed electricity back to the grid. BC Hydro will reimburse the Hall for any electricity that is produced at a rate significantly higher than the going cost of a kilowatt, which will be used to offset the overall cost of operating the Hall. This system is entirely “passive” – there are no batteries, chargers, inverters, etc., making it low-maintenance. It is not intended to provide emergency backup power for the Hall. DIRCS has expressed support for the project. Denman Works is providing assistance in making grant applications to augment the funds raised by the community. The Alternative Energy Group that is organizing this project currently consists of the following residents: Denise MacKean, Shaun White, Ram Sudama, Satya Bellerose and Wendy Boothroyd. Donations to the project are gratefully accepted. Cheques can be made out to D.I.R.C.S. A receipt will be issued for amounts over $10. Here are some samples of costs for materials:

mid clamp $ 4.50 (need 44) end clamp $ 6.75 (need 32) rail splice kit $ 18.00 (need 10) rail (10 ft) $ 36.75 (need 10) rail (13 ft.) $ 48.00 (need 10) 260 W solar panels $ 263.25 (need 30) You may leave cheques at Abraxas under “Solar Panels” or send them to: “S. Bellerose, 6090 East Rd., Denman Island V0R 1T0”. Please include your name, address, e-mail and phone number. Please contact Ram Sudama (2255) or Denise MacKean (1608) with any questions.

IT NOTEBOOK FROM PAGE 4 At its last meeting (Oct. 27), the DILTC talked about focusing on scale of production rather than type of licensing or intended use. Our rationale was that regardless of whether the licence is MMAR, MMPR or some kind of yet-to-be-created new option, it is generally the size of the operation that creates the impacts. If the DILTC adopts new regulations, how will that affect any current production facilities on Denman? If new regulations come into place, current facilities would become “legal non-conforming,” as defined by the provisions of the Local Government Act, which means that (subject to certain conditions) they would be allowed at the current scale and intensity, but if the use is discontinued for six months, this use will no longer be permitted on the property. This is a way of honouring the fact that the activity taking place was lawful when initiated. What next? At about the time you’re reading this, the DILTC will be considering a staff report outlining options for creating a bylaw amendment to limit marijuana production based on the scale of operation (by number of plants) and zoning. I can’t predict what direction we will decide to move towards, but I encourage you to watch your Grapevine for a meeting report by Trustee Critchley. As the discussion moves towards a decision, we will schedule and advertise opportunities for public input. You are welcome to attend our meetings, email us, or, for a more informal conversation, give one of us a call. (lbusheikin@islandstrust.bc.ca / 250-218-3216; dcritchley@islandstrust.bc.ca / 250-250-3244); for the DILTC as a whole deltc@islandstrust.bc.ca)

SOLAR ENERGY FROM PAGE 5

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This page sponsored by Union Bay Credit Union

Profile of the Month –Howard Stewart By Graham Hayman

Born in Powell River, I was schooled on the Lower Mainland, mainly the North Shore. My mother died when I was very young but I spent happy summers and holidays with relatives living around the Strait of Georgia. My father’s from Comox, and my mother from southeast Vancouver. I was the youngest of four: two much older brothers, and a sister. Mary-Jane MacKay is also from the North Shore but we met at SFU. We knew each other for eight years before we got married and had two lovely boys. I started at SFU in History and French, in the late 60s, but switched to Geography because of my interest in environmental issues. It was a miracle I finished my undergrad degree by 1975 because I was obsessed with bicycling, riding around most of North America and Europe. Since then, my professional interest has been the relations between humans and the rest of nature. My work has taken me to about 75 countries, a third in Africa. I lived in Sierra Leone in the 70s, and with MJ and the boys in Nigeria, then Rwanda in the 80s. Then many shorter assignments elsewhere in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and the former Soviet bloc. In Sierra Leone I worked on a World Bank-financed “integrated agricultural development project,” mostly surveying rice swamps and upland farms to define what each small famer “owned” though there were no real boundaries because people don’t own land there, just negotiated access annually. I saw the problems I had read about plus thousands of others. Through the 1980s across Africa, planners tried to apply similar “green revolution” technology – fertilizer, hybrid seed, better irrigation, and pesticides. In the Punjab, it had been relatively easily. Now, experts from Washington would oversee its “replication” across Africa. Economists love “replication” because it appears to save money, by not localizing anything except stringent controls. For example the Bank couldn’t give credit unless the farmers “owned land,” so they established artificial ownership. I was disillusioned by such experiences. Eventually I would teach people to monitor what they do. These days, I evaluate their programs mostly on the basis of their monitoring, which is sometimes good and sometimes not. I did an MSc in Toronto, researching forest ecology in Central America, then worked for CIDA in the 1980s. We left Rwanda in 88, when CIDA made me their environmental person for Latin America and Francophone Africa. Then we moved back to BC and I started consulting,

some for CIDA and a little for the World Bank (which I still don’t like much) but mostly for UN agencies. I have worked with many wonderful partners. Quang who took me around Vietnam on his motorcycle visiting ancient veterans who’d become calm, awe-inspiring intellectuals, poets, and authors fed up with corruption in the ruling Party. Saule, the granddaughter of the “poet laureate” of Kazakhstan: intelligent and very wise for her years, working on the environment in the UN’s Kazakhstan office. The gaudy, frigid new capital, Astana, is a bizarre place, full of casinos after the Americans created an exchange programme with Nevada, because both places faced the toxic consequences of nuclear testing. Working with Hum Gurung in isolated Nepali villages where all the local officials had armed guards after the local Maoists had taken a few heads. I went for a swim in the Karnali River after the locals said they swam “all the time.” With no experience in rivers, I decided to swim across. The monsoon water was warm but high, and very swift. By the middle, I knew I wasn’t going to get across. Underwater, I heard boulders rumbling along the bottom of the stream. I got out a few miles downstream, just before the whirlpools. It’s the closest I came to dying on assignment. Hum had already written me off. The places and people were great but the jet lag was awful. I made sure I was home at least nine months a year. But the 13 weeks away were spread over half a dozen or more trips. Except for Latin America, all were

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Submissions Policy Views expressed in the Flagstone may not represent those of the Flagstone team. We reserve the right to refuse to publish potentially libelous material and profanity. Please write with respect for your fellow citizens. The purpose of the Flagstone is community- building. If your piece is not deemed a contribution to community- building it may not be published. We require your full name and phone number (phone number will not be printed unless requested).

also needs to have some fun. He is respectful, considerate and helpful and a great role model for Sam who absolutely adores him. What can I say, he's a fine young man. The cost for the year including the accommodation is $337CN. It is a 3 year program. So if anyone would like to contribute to Enock's education please call me, I would be very grateful. Jude Kirk 250 335 0546 Why doesn't the ‘invisible hand’ pick all the apples? Graham Brazier Capitalism doesn’t always work very well. This, of course, isn’t really news. But, it’s a thought that troubles me from time to time – most often, I’ve noticed, in October and November when many fruit trees on Denman Island, and I suspect elsewhere in this part of the world, produce an abundance of fruit; much of which remains on the branches long after the leaves have fallen and scattered. Year after year, the ‘invisible hand’ - the one imagined in 1776 by Adam Smith, ’the father or capitalism' - fails to pick this fruit and guide it to market before it falls and rots in the grasses of the orchard floor. A demand for apples, of course, exists; but apparently it exists too far away for capitalism to bother with. There’s simply not sufficient energy, in terms of material rewards, to activate the ‘invisible hand’ to deliver that fruit to a place where it would be valued. Supply and demand exist but they are not brought together. And yet, I always thought that was supposed to be the genius of capitalism - making sure that supply got delivered to where it was in demand.

So here’s what troubles me. Capitalism is a human construct. It is not the air we breathe or the water we drink. Nor is it like gravity. We created it. We should be its master. It should do what we want it to do. So why doesn’t it? Perhaps it began as an experiment in a lab: the hypothesis being; “if all of us were free to act in our own self-interest the material well-being of society as a whole would be maximized.” Maybe it needed more testing before it was released from the lab. For now, a couple of centuries into the experiment, we know that the hypothesis is false and we also know that the vigour of capitalism can’t be contained. It is out of the bottle and it’s spreading. Sure, governments tinker with it. They’re fond of such things as tax incentives and subsidies and all manner of monetary and fiscal policies. But, in the end, these measures have simply insured that the ‘invisible hand’ is able to move gas and oil, diamonds, electronics and a host of luxury items from producer to consumer with flawless efficiency while hungry people and rotting fruit continue to exist. And topography and park designation and international boundaries merely serve to slow capitalism’s spread. Unable to deal with an abundance of fruit on Denman Island capitalism turns its attention to logging on steep mountain slopes or open pit mining in parks or burning forests in South America. Capitalism is out of the bottle, it won’t rest and it knows no end. Nothing is out of its reach. On a finite planet this is bad news.

LETTERS

A Christmas Idea In the neighbourhood where I stay in Ghana with other volunteers there is a teenager called Enock. I have known Enock and his brother, Sam, for 4 years. They join us for dinner and stay after hours to do their homework. That is because there is little food at home, and they don't have electricity. They also don't have running water. They live with their mother and 2 sisters. Their father was a hard working trotro driver, (a crowded van which is the common form of transport), who often worked overtime, which may have been the reason for his death in a traffic accident 8 years ago. Enock's mother, Monica, for some time sold water to the women who sold it on the streets, but lost that income when the freezer she had to cool the water which was at a friend's house, broke down and she didn't have the money to get it fixed. Last winter I was able to give Monica some money that was donated by a Denman Islander to start up a small business selling cooked food on the street, a common way women are able to earn a bit. The reason for this letter is that Enock has applied to the Accra Academy Senior High School for 2016. As it is a distance from his home he has to board. He is determined to get a university education, his sights are set on engineering. He is a very studious, sometimes I remind him that he

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When disease spreads as freely as capitalism we get alarmed, we tend to gather together at universities and in science labs and commit enormous amounts of energy and money to developing a treatment and a cure for its effects. Is anyone seeking a cure for capitalism? The New Era Ding dong, the wicked warlock is dead! No more mean spirited dictatorial racist policies. No more of his unapologetic contempt for democracy that treated the electorate as ignorant Walmart commodities and ignored, even discriminated, against the needs of anyone but a manipulated Reform Party base that voted for bigotry, divisiveness, senseless fears, and hatreds. Citizens of conscience were heard. Yet despite his meanness 31.9% still voted Reform. On his lead, 4.7% voted for the anti-muslim misogynous P. Q.. Admittedly, adding immigrants to the labour pool puts downward pressure on “Old-Stock” Canadians' salaries. But better to fear free trade agreements that actually lead to an overall loss of jobs, and which provide inflated profits for businesses while raising prices for we, the consumers, by exporting our supply of food necessities. Suicidal loyalists in the PMO willingly threw themselves under Harper's bus. Elevated on corpses, the wheels spun. The bus stalled. Commentators claim we were ready for change. Nonsense! The disenfranchised electorate hated what Harper stood for. Unfortunately, this translated into skewed strategic voting, and bad policies that resulted in the NDP being sucked in to the “balanced budget at all cost” Tory message, 9

LETTERS FROM PAGE 8 which triggered their demise. The political elite told us how to choose. Pollsters and media, using experts to explain what's supposedly obvious and how we're to react, helped distract the electorate. With the News making the news, they were complicit. Unexposed issues continue to fester. The muzzling of scientists, pursued with religious fervour, had as much to do with a denial of God's take on evolution as it did with climate change. Travelling Canadians, immersing themselves in cultures, carry a sense of justice and honest, even diplomatic behaviour. Does this translate into how immigrants see Canada, as thankfully free of prejudicial adversarial relationships? Floods of immigrants -exploited and exploiters- bring their hopes, traditions, and traditional antagonisms. As the voting patterns showed, historical grievances were kindled into hatred. Economically and ethnically, despite the evasions and lies we cannot be unified until politicians speak truths of what's best, not worst. Under Harper's reign all but Reform Party views were ignored. The mediocre John Duncan was turfed from his $250,000 per year cabinet post. His loyalty reward is a paltry $133,000 per year taxpayer funded gold plated pension, for life. Greed around the trough explains the willingness around the aforementioned mangled wheels. Had the NDP and Liberals cooperated,

the electorate could have wiped the corrupt Tories out. Instead, in beating up on their ostensible friends, 99 seats went to those predators. Fundamental, not cosmetic change, is needed. Start with proportional representation. Get the Greens back in the game. Form policies based on science, not religion. Rather than bribe select bases with policies based on stereotypes, recognize the needs of all. Excoriate discrimination. Don't sweep awkward issues under the carpet. With a decade in opposition Liberal policies should be ready to go. No need for more study. Stop branding, even fawning over the Trudeau name. Substance over style; put up or shut up. Are you principled enough, Mr. Trudeau? We await a promised future. Hersh Chernovsky A Syrian Family for Denman? Dear Denman Island Community ..... Surely the tragedy of the times we live in is calling us to some kind of action. So this is an invitation to this loving community to offer a home to a family from the Middle East area to try to restore their lives once again. If you are interested in discussing this .... Please for now contact Doreen Hynd at 250 335 2202 with your name and 'phone #

Seniors Drop in Continues Our seniors drop in program continues to run on Tuesday afternoons until Dec 15th. Make sure you stop by the Multi-Purpose room at the Community School for a cup of tea or a game of cards in the next few weeks! Our last special event is scheduled for Tues Dec 8th. We will play the movie “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, starting at 3:00pm in the Library. Looking forward to seeing you there!

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Letters

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About Christmas Hampers Submitted by Kate Janeway for Denman Community Programs At this time of year, the Denman Island Community Education Society (DICES) turns its attention to the Food Bank and Christmas Hampers Programs. The Christmas hampers are made up of several boxes filled to overflowing with fresh produce, turkeys, hams or vegetarian entrees, treats, and basic groceries to last the festive season. The hampers are fully organized and funded by the generosity of Denman Islanders by way of donations and volunteer efforts. It is a rewarding way to contribute to an effort that is truly needed and valued by many in this community. We simply could not do it without our community coming forward to help! How to help with Hampers There are several ways for community members to contribute – please call the Community Programs office at 335-2058 to offer your time on “hamper day” for packing or wrapping gifts. We also need at least 6 volunteers to deliver the hampers. We gratefully accept donations for these hampers at the Community Programs office; you can donate non-perishable food items, specialty items, treats, Christmas decorations and gifts for children and adults. Since we need to plan well ahead, cash, cheque donations, food items and gifts should be dropped off at the school by December 11th. This year, hampers will be packed and delivered on Saturday, December 19th at the Community School. Thank you, Denman Islanders, for all your generosity, support and continued commitment to the Christmas Hamper program How to receive a Christmas Hamper Community members who wish to receive a hamper should fill in an application form by Friday, December 11th at the latest. The forms are available in the Community School foyer, in the CAP Site, and at the General Store. We ask for some personal details so we can be sure the content of each hamper is appropriate for the recipients. We do try to accommodate various dietary needs, but please be aware this is a program based on donations and volunteers and we may not be able to meet all dietary requests. All hamper requests will remain confidential. Applicants can also call 335-2058 or e-mail the forms to our staff at denman@uniserve.com. The deadline for requests and applications is December 11th.

Cartoon by Karl Goodwin

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As we like to say on the Fruit and Nut farm, LET THE MADNESS BEGIN! Madness of the moonlight persuasion will descend upon Denman's Downtown on Friday December 18 from 5-9 p.m.. This year the roster of participants is fuller than ever. The "usual suspects" including Abraxas Books, Anabiosis Imports, Denman Craft Shop, The Arts Centre, Baynes Sound Insurance, The Hardware Store newly dubbed Denman Hardware Emporium, Re/Max's Christmas party and The Earth Club Factory and Bistro will be joined by Daryl and crew at The General Store, Pemberton Holmes Ltd., Sylvie Schroeder for Royal Lepage in her new locale, and the Kitchen Store adjacent to the Duck's crossing Cafe. This evening is intended for the whole family to come out and play. The Art Centre will host collage making and create pages for the 2015 Moonlight Madness book. This year's theme: resilience and buoyancy in the face of global Madness! What are you doing for your spirit and the joy of those around you? What we're doing in that regard is setting up an evening of fun and frolic in many forms from one downtown door to the next. Follow the path of luminaria light, come join us in Madness. Submitted By Lee Andra Jacobs

“Olde Tyme” Christmas Party

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Be sure to mark Sunday, December 13th on your calendar. That’s the date of this year’s “Olde Tyme” Christmas Party at the Denman Community Hall, starting at 5:00 pm. This unique historical event, started by Diana and Mike Comeau more than 20 years ago, brings together many community members in the spirit of friendship and sharing. Watch, and listen for, Santa and his Elf to arrive at about 7:00. Families with young children might want to consider arriving after 6:00, as we know how excited little people can get restless in anticipation. The basics – turkey, dressing, potatoes, peas and carrots, and beverages – are provided. We request that you bring a salad or dessert to share. Also to help reduce the amount of trash created, please bring your own plate, cup and cutlery. Your help is needed. This event would not happen, were it not for the volunteers (about 60) who work the morning of, during the party, and the morning after, not to mention those involved in the preparation the week before. Shifts on Sunday are approximately 1 to 1 ½ hours long. Look for the sign-up sheet at the General Store. Last year we served a record 335 meals. Let’s see if we can break that record.

Submitted by Gloria Micnin

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Arts Denman/Coast Realty

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Many people in the Comox Valley know Tina Filippino as the song leader of the Letz Sing Community Choir. Living her belief that absolutely everybody can sing, Tina has been teaching hundreds of people, many of whom have never sung before, how to find and celebrate their voice. Her three choruses presently comprise over one hundred and fifty singers. One of Tina’s secrets is that she is also an excellent songwriter, with themes ranging from songs of inspiration and hope to the mundane challenges of surviving life with kids. Kel Kelly is most known for his political and community activism, but is now shifting his focus to a lifelong love of music. His repertoire of original songs runs the range from being caught in the crossfire of insurrection in Assam, to tucking his grandchildren to sleep at night. “The songs just keep on coming”, he says. “I’m loving this shift to music”. “This show is going to be a pile of fun”, says Kelly. “Tina and I have been really enjoying putting our voices and hearts together for this. We’ll be singing mostly our own

songs, and asking the audience to help us out a bit.” All proceeds from the show will go to the Lani Alton Society. Lani, now in her twenties, has been living with cerebral palsy since birth. Sadly, government funding for people in Lani’s situation does not extend to some very important service needs, including chiropractic care, massage therapy, physiotherapy and counselling. The Concert for Lani takes begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 11th, in the Denman Island Back Hall. Admission is by donation. For more information contact Kathy Reider 335-0559

Denman Concert Fun-raiser Submitted by Kel Kelly

The Denman Store

(your community store for over 100 years)

December events: Craft Faire Weekend - Carols on the porch - A Blackberry Lane Children's Centre Fundraiser Sat. Dec 5 - 1 pm to 5 pm Blue Moon Winery Special Tastings featuring Denman ingredients 1 - 4 pm A very special guest appearance by Keir who will be handing out free samples of Roz's Denman Kimchi Sun Dec 6 Noon - 4pm Brian from Shelter Point Distillery will be entertaining with stories and free vodka samples Moonlight Madness -Friday Dec 18th We will be open until 9 pm. Grumpy's granddaughter Monique will be hosting a wine tasting from 4 pm - 8 pm. December 24: We will handing out Magenta's holiday baking while supplies last. Elfish delightful fun loving staff. Grinch boss who thinks Santa's primary language is North Polish.

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Bruce Jolliffe

Director

Baynes Sound – Denman/Hornby Islands (Area ‘A’)

bjolliffe@comoxvalleyrd.ca

Tel: 250-335-1275

This Place By John Millen

Railways on Denman Island Railway Grades have come up for discussion again as Denman Conservancy considers possible locations for public trails on its Settlement Lands property. The Squamish Logging Company’s rail line from Village (Denman) Point on Lone Pine Farm reached inland to Pickles Road running about half a mile across the Settlement Lands (SL). It crossed Northwest Road just south of the three-way stop – there is a photo of the crossing in the Museum – and continued via Lake Road to climb southeastward into the new Denman Island Provincial Park. Leaving the Park it crossed Chickadee Road into the SL. Keeping parts of the former rail lines open as public trails preserves some of the heritage of the Island. Railway logging was viable for a short time on Denman between horse logging with skid roads and the coming of trucks big enough for logging. In the late 1920s until the depression years of the 1930s the inland timber stands of the island could best be harvested and hauled to water by steam trains. The old rail grade is evident in some locations on the SL but is obliterated in part by the construction of Central Road. When I asked Wes Piercy where the railway was located as it reached Pickles Road he said he thought it was pretty much where Central Road is now. There is a readily recognizable section of rail grade just south of Pickles Road in the first part of the horse trail from Pickles Road to Central Park. The railway continued southeastward reaching Denman Road somewhere near the Old School. Locating abandoned railway routes is challenging. The rail system of logging required temporary use of spur lines into timber stands leaving many fragments of rail grade away from the main line. Low, wet areas, ravines and streams were crossed by timber cribs and trestles which have subsequently rotted away. And, not least, many sections of the grades have been built over by more recent logging roads. The Railway Grade Marsh line is an interesting case. In the 1990s, hiking the trail along that Henry Bay Logging Company line, the regular pattern of the ties was quite apparent. The

trail leaves Northwest Road just south of the junction with Danes Road. The present trail closely follows the old rail grade but its character is much altered by the logging activity that took place around year 2000. As the trail climbs the gentle grade to Eagle Marsh it passes through two hand-excavated cuttings. After skirting the south margin of Eagle Marsh the trail crosses a lumpy area of wet ground and with a short distinct climb reaches a third cutting from which it heads south across high, dry land to reach an old Weldwood logging road. This is not the same route that the trail took in the early 1990s. At that time, after passing Eagle Marsh and before reaching the third cutting the trail headed east through wet forest to reach a different branch of the Weldwood logging road system. This discrepancy puzzled me until Laura Pope explained that formerly a timber trestle bridged the lumpy wet area, raising the grade up to the elevation of the third cutting. When the collapsing trestle became a hazard, especially for horses, the alternate route had been found. Subsequent logging activity has revealed the original grade, and dispensed with the remains of the trestle.

The Garden Club is having a gift exchange

and pot luck at 1:30 Wednesday 16

December. This is a very jolly group of

experienced gardeners so you will be

welcome to join if you are new to Denman or

new to gardening or both. Bring a wrapped

garden-related gift and $10 for a year's

membership or $3 for a drop in. We also have

a raffle with great garden prizes and tickets

are 3 for 5 dollars. Free coffee, tea and treats.

Meet at the United Church Hall.

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Books Matter Prize (Submitted by Helen Mason for Denman Island Readers & Writers

Festival Committee)

At the 2015 Denman Island Readers & Writers Festival, visiting author Aislinn Hunter generously used her Festival honorarium to sponsor a poetry contest for the best poem on the subject of the planet, environment, earth or animals in peril. This month we are featuring the poem of runner-up Cornelia Hoogland from Hornby Island. Servant And now it’s night on the last ferry crossing the Lambert Channel. Rounding Mt. Geoffrey, a translucent moon spreads over the ocean like hair. Two strands of cloud cross the moon. They’re the tight bands that gird the servant’s heart in Sleeping Beauty; the end of the tale where he’s driving the coach and horses to his master’s house: the princess having awakened after 100 years. The ravenous household frying up sausage. It’s a mysterious, minor note of urgency that extends the tale’s horizon beyond back to normal. The servant solitary; in recovery; a sober man with sore joints. Silent under the weight of driving back the way he came, the return trip, the 100 years –

or maybe it’s about now, us, our recent past – with its sorry changes. Rising temperature. Oil spills. Oceans clogged with plastic, etc. Maybe the man, hands gripping his harness, is dying to shoulder our SUVs off the freeway we’re speeding on and on and on. Wake us up.

In the ditch at the side of the road by the old-fashioned carriage, the horses quiver, flies on their muzzles and withers, while high above the restless moon climbs the horizon, the mountain, peels its lemon light, steals into a starless sky – and the sea pulls back, pulls back, taking its water with it. Grimm’s fairy tales continue to find a west coast home in Cornelia Hoogland’s six books of poetry. The most recent, “Woods Wolf Girl”, was one of five finalists for the Relit 2011 National Poetry Award. “Sea Level” was shortlisted for the CBC Nonfiction Literary Awards. “Gravelly Bay”, another chapbook, was written on Denman Island, during many waits for the ferry to take her home to Hornby Island. See www.corneliahoogland.net

We’re inviting the community to get involved in community education and recreation in 2016. Submit your ideas to DICES Community Programs this month!

Call 335-2058 or e-mail denman@uniserve.com

Book an Event Armchair Travelling

Plan a Meeting

Program Ideas Courses & Workshops

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PROFILE FROM PAGE 7

many hours east or west. Probably the strangest places for me were the former Soviet republics of Central Asia. The people were great but they seemed baffled by their sudden independence, after a lifetime under Soviet wraps. Mary-Jane came with me sometimes, and enjoyed it, but she’ll never forgive me for Lagos. And maybe she resents that I didn’t work in many small island countries. They don’t interest me much. Rwanda in the 80s was a lovely place to live before the meltdown. You could smell it coming, though, Rwanda and Burundi had been in crisis for decades. Denman was our Canadian home when we worked in Africa. We spent summers in our little house on Chrisman Road. It burnt down in 1989, so we just did a couple of months of “luxury camping” every year after that, with a kitchen, a couple of porches, electricity, phone, running water, etc. Moving to full-time life on Denman was a gradual

process after 2007, when Janey tore down the bat-infested shack and started building our current house, with much help from friends, while I was in New York. She slowly stopped teaching while I did a PhD at UBC, commuting from Denman for teaching and research. After all those years in other people’s countries, I wanted a look at our own history. So I did my dissertation on humans and nature on the Strait of Georgia, 1850s – 1980s. Maybe I’m writing a book about it, or one based on my letters home from all the other places. Our oldest son, Alec, now makes navigation instruments for sailors, in Maui. He is a devoted windsurfer and surfer. His wife Elaine Ryan is a singer, also from BC. Alec’s brother Hamish works in London with a foundation that lobbies the finance industry to speed up disinvestment from fossil fuels. His wife Una Knox is a BC born artist.

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Agriculture Matters By Max Rogers

This and That I don’t hunt myself but I applaud people who do, especially hunters of deer and especially on Denman. The deer population is terribly high and this leads to a lot of parasitic infections and a tough time for all the deer to find enough food. If we had natural predators, the number of deer would be held in check but there are no natural predators on Denman except humans. That said, I am hoping hunters will take seriously the need to hunt humanely. A very good and kind man recently spoke to me of finding buckshot in nearly every deer he has taken for years now. Shotguns are not particularly effective in hunting deer and many deer are injured every year and left to suffer. The animals carry the buckshot in their muscles sometimes for years. This really will not do. My friend uses a cross bow to hunt deer because it is much more effective in making a clean kill than a shotgun. He recommended the Excalibur crossbow and I hope Denman’s hunters will think about this and switch to crossbows. On a different tack, I keep sheep but I think the next morsel of information will help anyone who has a hoofed animal. I offer my sheep a box of salt and a box of kelp meal. They sheep can take as much of either mineral supplement as they like. Sometimes the ewes ignore the kelp meal and at other times, such as late in pregnancy, they gorge on it. My sheep have very good hooves. A farmer friend recently said he had never seen lambs on the Coast with perfect feet before. The wet conditions around here are very hard on hooves. I was helping another friend with his sheep and one of his ewes had terrible feet. The hooves were falling off mostly and he was considering culling her because her feet were in such bad condition. I asked him to try giving her kelp meal and he gave it to all his sheep. A few months later, I was helping him again and the ewe now has nearly perfect feet! He was so impressed that he started giving kelp meal to his horses. It may be worth a try to see if other animals like it. Maybe we should consider braving this maritime horror and eating kelp ourselves… Last summer was very hot but I was still surprised to get a smattering of the second crop of both Desert King and Brown Turkey figs. I was much more than surprised to get tree-ripened persimmons. They were delightful. So sweet and exotic and then I found my husband had promised the tree to a girlfriend of ours. He thought it

hadn’t produced fruit in five years and was a dud. Persimmons take about 6 to 8 years to start to bear fruit. Let us overlook the morally questionable decision to give away a dud tree… So, I needed a persimmon for our friend and went to Peter Janes who explained that my persimmon was a Nikita’s Gift, a hybrid of American and Oriental persimmons. The American genetics make the tree hardy and the oriental genetics make the fruit sweet. Nikita’s is self fertile and seedless so I bought one for our friend and another one for us. I am considering growing it in my little polytunnel to get earlier fruit. A persimmon tree would be an excellent gift for any gardener because the little trees are very pretty and the leaves turn golden, orange, pink in the autumn and it would be worth having just for the colour show. Have a look at Peter and Magdalena’s Tree Eater Nursery web site. I just did and may have to get myself another sour cherry tree. These cherries are quite rare and make the best cherry pies and jams. I also like eating them fresh or frozen. The best thing is, my husband does not care to eat them. I am also buying a crab apple from Shonna Janeway for my new flower garden. Crab apples have beautiful blooms and their fruit is pretty in the winter if left on the tree for the birds. Shonna has an interesting medium sized apple tree that has magenta blooms, red cylinder-shaped apples and the flesh of the apples is red inside. I wanted that tree but it is on too large a root stock for a small garden. The apples are very sweet and spicy tasting and would be great included in a cider or apple wine for a pink tint. Shonna has many heritage apple trees for sale and December is a good time to plant trees if you can protect them from the deer. Speaking of cool trees, if you don’t have a quince tree, this is a good time of the year to plant one. They are a hardy tree and have beautiful yellow fruit that makes exquisite jelly, jam, membrillo and are an excellent addition to apple sauce. This year, I made some quince chutney based on a recipe for cranberry pickled pears. The chutney is very good served with cold meat. Siggy and Rudy gave me a huge boxful of golden quince as an early Christmas present and I should have enough quince preserves of all kinds to last a few years. If you ever get a chance to visit Siggy and Rudy Froehlich you will see an amazing garden. Their little

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Submitted by Sara French

AG MATTERS FROM PAGE 18

quince tree bears so heavily the tree is a mass of gold with a couple of green leaves visible in the dense fruit. Rudy taught me a trick of his Mother’s. She used to put a few quince in a bowl in each room of the house to perfume the air. I kept some on my bedside table to perfume my dreams. There is not a lot going on in the garden now but beware the frost getting to your winter crops. Protect the garden by adding another layer of mulch and stand ready to cover up even hardy crops with old tarps held down by rocks if the temperature dips near -10 Celsius. Remember too that you cannot pick vegetables when they are frozen. They will shatter and turn to mush but if you let them thaw in the garden, they will be fine. So on a nice mild day lay in a supply of carrots, leeks and kale to see you through the freezing weather that is sure to come. If a gardener plans things right, and I usually make mistakes, they should have something fresh to eat in the garden, the cold frame and the polytunnel up to and past the time the first spring crops are ready to eat.

Enjoy having December off because bright and early in the New Year, it is time to prune fruit trees. Happy Holidays, Io Saturnalia, and enjoy the Winter Solstice.

ALERT Pesticide Permit Application for Denman & Hornby Shoreline

Submitted by Jenny Balke

A 3 year permit to allow the use of pesticide on Denman and Hornby shores is being applied for by the BC Ministry of Environment. The purpose of the permit is to allow the Ministry to use the non-selective herbicide Imazapyr to remove an invasive marine grass (Spartina densiflora) if it is deemed necessary. The pesticide application 15460-07/PUP-MOE-16-19 can be viewed at: www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/Plants/publications/PMPs/PUP_8

04_0004_2013-2015_Amendment.pdf

Denman islanders have been very successfully digging and removing this plant from Denman and Hornby shores. The last of the mature plants was removed in the spring of 2015. Removal of any regenerating sprouts is continuing. These young sprouts are very easily removed manually. This pesticide permit that is to run from 2016-2019, will give the authority to use the pesticide “pending the outcome of current mechanical efforts”. Of note, the permit application does not define what method will be used to evaluate the success of mechanical efforts, nor does it state a timeframe for the evaluation. The declining number of regenerating plants on Denman shores already indicates considerable success for manual treatment, and it is expected that some persisting seeds may sprout for several seasons. Also, results of

preliminary work in the USA suggest that digging removal of this species of marine grass is more successful than pesticide treatment. Input from the public is important and effective. Please register your thoughts on the use of this pesticide on the islands’ shores before Dec 2nd. Contact: Stuart Craig 1582 Lawrence Avenue, Penticton BC V2A 3C1 Tel/Fax 250-492-6193 Email smconsulting@shaw.ca &/or BC Ministry of Environment Integrated Pest Management Program 10470 152nd St Surrey BC V3R 0Y3 Tel 1-800-663-7867 ask for 604-582-5200

Haircuts By Riane $25 in your home Seniors' Discount

250-650-6079

SAVE THE DATE FOR A TAROT JOURNEY On Jan 23, A Tarot Journey brings together a diversely talented cast of artists who explore the archetypes of the major arcana of the Tarot deck. As the title of the show suggests, the audience is taken on a path through the cards- a journey that has fascinated artists and mystics throughout history. The audience is represented by the Fool on stage, and the overall experience is slightly surreal- a whirling interpretation of the Wheel of Fortune by dancer Cathy Stoyko elevates the spirit, while Roxanne Cowles- MacPhail takes a light look that death lives amongst us all. Throughout the performance, Esther Purves-Smith’s Fool brings comic relief, weaving her surprised innocence through each interaction. 8 pm, Jan 23 at the Denman Community Hall. Watch for more upcoming details.

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We mus

envision ‘roses’ for the future.

“Drawing on my fine command of the English

language, I said nothing.” Robert Benchley

“Bite your tongue” is a time-honored axiom that appeals to me. It’s one of those salty sayings that you can really sink your teeth into. As I awkwardly made the journey into adulthood, I was occasionally admonished by my mother, to “bite my tongue.” Both my parents, though generally predisposed to be kind, were somewhat brusque beings. In time, I refined many of their touchingly acerbic qualities. I developed my own trait, an uncomfortable capacity for cutting riposte. As some on Denman may attest, my mouth moves much faster than either my judgement or my brain.

In 200 words or less By Bill Engleson

A short while ago I had the occasion to discuss Dora Drinkwater Library decorum with a droopy eyed, half-awake neighborhood pooch. I have always had a good way with dogs. Though said pooch was a stranger, I made a reasonable assumption that my observations on doggy etiquette would be well received. Alas, the hound’s human, on hearing my off-the-cuff lecture on the mores of Denman, challenged my motives by asking, “Are you being sarcastic?” It was humiliating. I had been called out for being a smart-ass with a dog. Like a few other Denmanians, I may have to learn to let sleeping mongrels lie.

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It is a busy time for our organization as we prepare to host a Seniors Idea Exchange event in Courtenay on December 10th. The culmination of several months of planning with the Ministry of Health, this event is meant to test a community toolkit developed by the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers for Seniors Committee to address social isolation for seniors. One of three events being held in Canada, this was a flattering opportunity for us as we were approached by the Ministry based on what they had heard about us as ‘a creative organization with a lot of heart’. Well, thank you! What do we get from this other than a chance for our community to sit at the table with among others, the Minister of Health and Seniors Advocate? We get an opportunity to raise awareness and dig into an important issue with a group of Comox Valley decision makers and to (hopefully) motivate them to work for real change for seniors in our communities. Home Support Review by the Seniors Advocate Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie is conducting a review of home support services in our province. Part of this is a survey that has been sent to all home support clients and their families. The other part is a review of how health authorities and home support contractors deliver the services. As one of those contractors we are looking forward to hearing the results of this review. We see many opportunities to improve this service to make it better suited to the needs of seniors.

Seniors Lunch on December 10th

Seniors are welcome to join us for a festive holiday lunch from 12:30 to 2:30pm on Thursday, December 10th at the Activity Centre. Magdalena Anna and our dedicated volunteers will be serving up a warm lunch and good conversation. The lunch is $6 per person. Many thanks to our partners in this project – the Denman Seniors & Museum Society who donate the space, BC Gaming for assistance in paying for the Coordinator, and the many volunteers who contribute their energy and goodwill. For more information please contact Pat Young at (250) 335-2704.

Emergency Fund fundraising

Our annual Christmas Basket raffles are underway with the Denman Baskets making their first appearance at the Christmas Craft Faire. There will be ticket sales again at Moonlight Madness on December 18th where we are also doing the draw. Home Assist services provide help to islanders to remain living independently in their own homes by offering support with tasks of daily living and personal care. The Home Assist Emergency Fund helps to provide this care free of charge to community members

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who may need some extra help during an illness or injury. Thank you for the many generous contributions from local businesses and artists! Please call Nettie for more information at (250) 335-0585. Calling all island parents and youth Thank you to those that have taken the time to provide feedback about our services. We’ve had a great response and so far Meredith has spoken with 49 youth and parents across the two islands. It is not too late to contact her if you’d like to contribute your thoughts. She can be reached at (250) 898-0247. The following service providers will be on Denman in December please call to arrange an appointment: Adult mental health clinician – Jayme Wyton (250) 331-8524 Comox Valley Transition Society counsellor – (250) 897-0511 Foot care nurse – Sheila Cameron (250) 897-2153 Contact information for HDCHCS

For general inquiries (250) 335-2885 Home Support, Home Assist Services or the Equipment Loan Cupboard (250) 898-0243 Children, Youth & Family Services (250) 898-0247 Youth Outreach (250) 218-6521

News from the Hornby and Denman Community Health Care Society By Lori Nawrot

Mental Health First Aid: A Summary Submitted by Rachel Chinnery

We now have a total of 85 people from both islands trained in the Mental Health First Aid protocol after having completed the last MHFA class in November. Our objective was to have 100 people trained, so we came very close to reaching our goal. The impetus for this project began in 2009 when members of the Hornby and Denman Community Health Networks realized the community needed resource awareness and an understanding of how to recognize when a mental health issue was escalating. A proposal was made to the HDCHCS to have two islanders trained as instructors in the Mental Health Commission of Canada's MHFA protocol. In November 2013 this training was completed and over the past two years the course was offered on five occasions, free of charge, to Hornby and Denman residents. The classes were taught by two volunteer instructors, George McFaul and Rachelle Chinnery. In Canada, this program is being taught in high schools, universities, hospitals, prisons, community centres, workplaces, and police precincts. As a result of

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Bird Notes By Patrick Fawkes

this and other mental health programs, mental health awareness is on the rise. The main purpose of the program is to educate the general population about mental health, mental illness, mental disorders, as well as how to recognize the signs and symptoms of someone in distress. The program does not train people to be counsellors or health professionals; it does train regular people to do what we can to help someone in a declining state of mental health. When a person can no longer function in their ordinary life and is losing the ability to participate in regular life activities, friends and family can contribute by supporting the person in choices to help himself or herself. One important aspect of the protocol is knowing when support can be given and when the situation has escalated beyond the scope of family or community capacity. A clear

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FROM PG 21

distinction is also made between mental health issues and criminality. In a situation where there may be harm to self or harm to others, a 911 call is what this protocol recommends. Also, it is extremely important to remember that those suffering from mental health issues are disproportionately the victims of violence rather than the perpetrators of violence. The Hornby and Denman Community Health Society would like to thank all the community funders who made this training possible: Hornby Island Educational Society, Hornby Island Economic Enhancement Corporation, Heron Rocks Friendship Society, DenmanWorks! and Island Health. For current information, you can find articles and essays on-line at: Minding the Gulf: Mental Health Awareness on Hornby and Denman Islands.

Council of all Beings. By Jane Fawkes

By Jane Fawkes.

In the 1980s Joanna Macy, John Seed and Arne Naess created a workshop to help people move beyond a feeling of despair and alienation from the living Earth. “Council of all Beings” has been held before on Denman and this will happen again in the Back Hall at Solstice - Monday December 21st. Time to be decided later. For more explanation, I can’t do better than quote from Joanna Macy herself with a few additions. “The future seems ever more fragile. With wars igniting around the globe, terrorist attacks, the forests falling, the hungry and homeless on the streets, the thousands of refugees, the poisons in our food, water, air and breast milk, and the extinction of whole species and cultures, it grows harder to take hope in our common journey. We are tempted to shut down, narrowing our sites to our own and our family’s short term survival. In the face of all the bad news, the challenge of creating a sustainable civilisation can seem absurdly unrealistic. Yet it is germinating now, that sustainable society on which the future depends. Its seeds are sprouting in countless actions in defence of life, and in fresh perceptions of our mutual belonging in the living body of the Earth - bold, new perceptions deriving both from science and spirituality. Although it doesn’t feature in the day’s headlines or the evening news, a silent revolution is occurring, bringing unparalleled changes in the ways we see and think and relate. I imagine that future generations will look back to this period and call it the time of the “Great Turning.” It is the epochal shift from a self-destructive industrial growth society to a life-sustaining society.

The Council of all Beings aims to help each of us play our role in this Great Turning. Its value lies not in dispensing any ideological diagnoses or prescriptions so much as in awakening our will. Its interactive practices uncover our deepest motivations to take part in the healing of our world. They take these yearnings and help us find in them the courage, commitment and community we need to change our lives and move into action for the healing of the world. These methods not only draw from understandings offered by new science and those reclaimed from ancient spiritual teachings, they make these concepts experiential, vivid and practicable”. Preparations have already begun, but it is not too late to join in with the planning. You can also Google Joanna Macy or Council of all Beings for more information. Lee Andra Jacobs 250 335 1802 is the contact person if you have gifts to offer or would like to help in any way.

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Fresh Denman Island Produce and Herbs Now Arriving!!!!! Look for: Gluten Free Chocolate Cheesecake and Chocolate Cake Dairy/Lactose/Egg Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

patter that had, only seconds earlier, been darting through my head like startled bats. “Is that today’s paper?” she demanded, indicating the latest edition of the Daily Free Press clenched in my hand. “Yes ma’am,” I chirped and passed it to her. “Thank you. I suppose you’ll be expecting recompense?” Flabbergasted that we might be on the same page, I yanked out the receipt book from my paper bag. “Bruce was a terrible disappointment to us. Before I pay you, I want you to come in and tell us about yourself.” She guided me in by the elbow, insisted I take off my shoes and told me to sit on an ancient chair opposite her. Once planted, she said, “Speak, boy!” The room was bursting with dark wooden furniture. A formidable fragrance clung to the air like pulp mill haze. “Don’t worry about Wilf,” she said, gazing over to an empty rocking chair opposite. “He’s not much for talking, are you dear one?” Instantly more ill at ease than I expected, I blurted out my name, where I lived, that my old man worked at the mill, that my mother wanted me home right away and that I could always come back if she couldn’t pay me today. Solemnly, she declared, “You seem trustworthy. Time will tell, though.” She handed me the exact amount due, accepted her receipt and, somewhat perplexed, I left. Over the next 4 years, the span of my newspaper delivery career, Grace Gladstone and the ever invisible, always silent Wilfred Gladstone, were, hands down, my favourite customers and the best Christmas tippers.

At the age of eleven, I commenced my first entrepreneurial adventure. Six afternoons a week, Monday through Saturday, with barely any reprieve, I delivered the Daily Free Press to more than 60 homes in the neighbourhood. Though the deliveries were neither too time-consuming nor arduous, collecting from my news-ravenous clientele occasionally proved a challenge. This ordeal was compounded by the criminal proclivities of my predecessor, Bruce Ticklesworth, who had the route for a few months prior to my investiture. In a rather unorthodox effort at customer relations, Bruce had broken into the home of one of his elderly regulars, Mrs. Grace Gladstone, ransacked it and, reportedly, made off a boodle of spare cash she had hidden in her silverware drawer. My area manager, Skate Morgan, who’d been somewhat of a notorious hockey player in his much skinnier youth, warned me that Mrs. Gladstone might prove temperamental. On the first Saturday in April, my day of fiscal reckoning with her arrived. All of my customers had paid up through the week except for her and the hinky Harper family who had absconded mid-month from their rental accommodation. Mrs. Gladstone lived in a tiny, blue stucco house on Wall Street. Spring flowers lined the long sidewalk that led to her porch. I rattled her doorknocker and, after a protracted amount of time, the door inched open. “Can I help you, young man?” she enquired. “I…” and then I totally failed to expel any of the garbled

My Entrepreneurial Spirit By Bill Engleson

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Denman Island Visitor Services Committee

From: Veronica Timmons

The DI Visitor Services Committee (DIVSC) is a committee of Denman WORKS! Board members include Lyndsey Jennings (DW! Rep), Veronica Timmons (Chair), Heidi Schnepf, Suzette Cullen, Sheldon Rempel, Pat Jones and Selwyn Jones. Since forming in late 2014, it has accomplished several of its goals to improve services to our visitors. The 2012 Visitor Survey showed that 72% of our visitors come under the category VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives). The remainder come to our many events and for business. To promote our events we produced a colourful DI Events brochure showcasing our fairs, festivals, tours, shows, presentations, and exhibitions. Two thousand copies were printed and half of them were placed in Tourism Information Centres from Nanaimo to Campbell River. Our events are also listed on the HelloBC Events site. A major project was the annual Hornby-Denman Tourism brochure. This year the committee took on the task of updating the Denman map to include more trails and a list of the events. Thirty-five thousand copies were printed and widely distributed. Ongoing projects include the design and development of a Visitor Information Website (the rfp went out in

October to find a designer-developer to work with the committee. Three of the bidders had expertise in a particular project area so we contracted with them to make up a team to work together on the project. Note: We are calling on Denman photographers to submit photos for our new website that portray the people and the place that make our community so special. We have a series of great prizes to offer! Check denmanworks.wordpress.com for more info. Next year there will be two Visitor Information boards put up in the Village. A glass-enclosed wooden case will house the DI Tourist Map with a covered rack beneath it for island business brochures. These boards will be especially useful to visitors who arrive after the stores and restaurants close.

In addition to projects, Board members have attended Comox Valley Tourism workshops and Tourism Information sessions through Tourism Vancouver Island. The Committee welcomes feedback and input from islanders. Contact Veronica Timmons (Chair) vtimmons@telus.net.

The Denman Store

(your community store for over 100 years)

Thank you everyone for another wonderful year. We really appreciate your support. Best wishes for a very Happy Healthy 2016 from Pepper, Mila, Sadie, Rusty, Wally, Norton, Penny, Barry, Mandy, Mica, Elizabeth (Magenta the Dark Angel of Chocolate), Jen, Angel, Sherry, Deb, Catherine, Sybil, Vicky, Wayne, Michele, Polonius, Margaret and Grumpy.

Holiday hours: Dec. 24 and 31 Store is open from 8 am - 4pm. The Post Office is open from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. We will handing out Magenta's holiday baking on December 24th while supplies last. The Store and Post Office will be closed on December 25 and January 1. December 26: The Store is open from Noon - 4pm and the Post Office will be closed. Mike Lindsay Denman Art Wall Artist of the Month: Arlene Verenka

Holiday Spirited minded and customer friendly staff. Grinch boss who thinks that what bad knitters and Christmas trees have in common is that they drop their needles.

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material. BC Parks and the Centre for Shellfish Research assisted with the removal of Spartina material from the Boyle Point Park shoreline. Initially, Spartina plants from Denman were sent to the Pigeon Lake landfill, as was done with material from the Vancouver Island side of Baynes Sound. But after that first fall, Spartina vegetative material from Denman was composted here as an experiment. The compost material seems to breaking down fairly quickly. Finally, the last massive section of huge Spartina plants, along the south Lacon Road beaches, was dug out in one week using a tiny backhoe, assisted by many islanders. In the spring of 2015, the last mature plant of Spartina densiflora was removed from Denman’s shoreline. The few plants found on Hornby were also removed and no other Spartina species has been found on Denman and Hornby, although Spartina patens is on Tree Island and in Courtenay. S. patens is quite a different plant. The next few fall/winter seasons will involve the “weeding of the salt marshes”….checking for small Spartina seedlings and removing them. These seedlings regenerate from the many years of deposited seeds. They are easily pulled by hand, especially if a small pick is used to loosen the beach so that all those little tillers come out smoothly. Careful attention should be paid to not losing any tillers. The manual digging of S. densiflora has been very successful on Denman. Where extensive areas of Spartina were removed, the native salt marsh plants, particularly American glasswort and seashore saltgrass are coming back prolifically. Soon Denman’s salt marshes will be fully restored from this initial Spartina incursion. . Many many thanks to everyone who has assisted the Spartina program!

Weeding Denman’s Salt Marshes By Jenny Balke

Spartina densiflora also known as “Dense-flowered cordgrass” arrived from South America and established on the Baynes Sound shoreline probably in the late 1990’s. The seeds and plant fragments of this invasive marine grass gradually travelled north and landed in bays and estuaries from California north to BC. Where, soon this tall, elegant and very productive grass grew and took over entire salt marshes and mud flats, excluding the native flora and fauna. The seeds of Spartina densiflora often get anchorage among the stems of existing foreshore plants but soon overgrow them, reaching a height of almost 2 m. This species of Spartina is a bunch-grass, reproducing both by seeds and by spiky side-growths like bulbs, called ‘tillers’. A single plant can grow to over a metre in width, enlarging around the outside. S. densiflora grows high in the intertidal zone, near the shoreline. On Denman’s west side entire areas of shoreline were lined by these huge plants, altering the whole foreshore ecosystem. This vibrant growth of several Spartina species spelled trouble for salt-marshes all along the Pacific shoreline. Coastal marshes and mudflats normally so active and important for birds, invertebrates, fish and mammals soon became dense waving masses of tall, introduced marine grass and very little else. Needless to say, the clam and oyster industries were negatively affected in some areas. So, agencies and organizations in the USA began programs to restore the earlier salt marshes. In 2010 the BC government signed an international agreement with the Pacific-coastal states of the USA to participate in the complete removal of invasive Spartina species from the Pacific shoreline. Thus fisheries staff in Canada began looking for Spartina. They were kept busy with other Spartina species in the lower mainland for a while, but then they noticed Baynes Sound! In the initial years, chemical treatment of the “infestation” of Spartina densiflora on Denman was insisted on. But later, after the Denman public’s reaction to using the herbicide “Imazapyr” was registered, a manual removal program for Spartina began on Denman’s shores. Nearly all the Denman sites were dug by hand and many islanders got great muscles participating. A volunteer “Spartina Day” was also very successful. The one-time use of trucks on our beaches allowed the prompt removal of well over 20,000 kg of Spartina plant

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international leaders in using

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Spartina Day

Pics & Map

the Spartina Tillers - so important to not lose if pulling/digging out

Guesthouse Bistro @ Earth Club Factory would like to thank everybody for all the support over the past sixteen years of business. We have a great bunch of staff with lots of talents and enjoy working to make your day enjoyable. Earth Club Factory has the solar panels sales, new gift ideas for Christmas, teas, coffee, bulk foods for sale. The Bistro is now open 7am to 5pm daily, we stay open later on the performance days. We are serving the Eggs Benny on the weekend and on show nights we are serving dinners, drinks and desserts. Season's greetings and live, love. laugh and travel.

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Concert Ad

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Bird Notes by Patrick Fawkes On a rare sunny, cold afternoon in early November, Joan Scruton and I went to the north end of Denman to count waterbirds as part of the monthly counts made by many observers around the B.C. coast. Walking along the beach of Henry Bay on my way to Longbeak Point I heard the characteristic squeaky ek-ek-ek calls of female Harlequin Ducks perched on a large rock near the high-tide line. The ten females were dark brown, with light patches on their heads. Two males stood in their striking breeding plumage (which they wear from October till next June): grey blue backs, lighter heads, chestnut coloured sides and white markings on their heads. According to Cornell University’s Birds of North America, the common name Harlequin and Latin names histrionicus histrionicus “derive from traditional Italian comedy or pantomime actors who appeared in costumes of multicoloured triangular patches and displayed histrionics (tricks).” A Common Loon called from across calm water in the bay. By the time I reached the south tip of Longbeak Point Joan was already counting birds. A strong easterly wind had stirred up a choppy sea making it difficult to distinguish birds as they bobbed up and down. Joan was able to identify and count several species, including Red-necked Grebes, Buffleheads and Goldeneye. I, with my older scope (bought, used, twenty years ago) was content to observe the “jizz” of the birds – this is a term sometimes used by birders to note the bird’s “General Impression and Shape” (GIS), such as size, colour, shape and behaviour, without being able to see their definitive markings that identify the species. After about half an hour Joan had scanned the water on the east side of the Point, so we moved northwards along the beach to count birds between the Point and Tree Island. The tide was rising and starting to cover the exposed areas of sand along the “land bridge” to Tree Island. Gulls and ducks were loafing on the beach a few hundred meters further on. We tried to count numbers but the birds were too close together to distinguish individuals from our vantage point; we would count them later when they had flown off and spread out on the water. Walking through the part of the beach where the gulls and Mallard had been standing, we noticed the familiar small white piles of regurgitated crushed shells, which I assumed were produced by gulls. We also saw

collections of broken bluish shells mostly higher up the beach. One of the white piles felt quite glutinous when I

picked it up to put into a doggie-bag for further examination. I also scooped up some of the larger bluish shells; these samples are on my desk as I write. My assumption that gulls had produced the white piles was confirmed when I found two small barnacles beside one pile; I know that gulls usually hang out at low tide on the large areas of barnacles on the sand bars leading towards Tree Island. But what bird was responsible for the bluish broken shell collections, which Mike Morrell said were probably varnish clam shells? Many of these shells were at least an inch (25 mm.) across, although most were smaller. I also found several small, fairly smooth stones amongst the ground-up shells. How could such large shell pieces be regurgitated without harming the bird’s esophagus, and why hadn’t the bird waited for the gizzard to do its job? Birds don’t have teeth to chew on food before swallowing like most mammals; instead birds swallow food whole and use the gizzard to grind and digest the tough food. Seed eating birds, and many ducks have well developed gizzards, and often eat grit or small stones with their food to aid the grinding process. The gizzard has a lining of leathery or sandpaper-like material surrounded by strong muscular walls which contract in alternating directions to grind the food. I checked Cornell University’s “Birds of North America”, which is claimed to be the most thorough and up-to-date reference work on birds, to find which bird species grind and regurgitate shells. There was no mention of this behaviour for Mallard, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Harlequin Ducks or Scoters although bivalves are a major part of a Scoter’s diet. The cause of these collections of crushed bluish shells remains a mystery (to me). There was lots of bird activity between the north end of the Point and Tree Island. We set up our scopes for some serious counting. Protected from the easterly wind by the “land bridge”, the water was calmer here and the birds were close enough for easy identification. A mixed flock of 150 Surf Scoters with 230 Mallard were spread out on the water and a long line of 350 Greater Scaup were illuminated by the waning sun. I can’t distinguish between the Lesser and Greater Scaup unless they are in the same flock, which would be unlikely. The Lesser is only two inches (50 mm.) smaller in

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length than the Greater; head shape is more pointy in the Lesser and, when seen in bright light, the sheen on the back of the head is purplish in the Lesser versus greenish in the Greater! We listed Greater, which are the more common species here. Small groups of Common Goldeneye totalling 12 birds and several groups of Buffleheads up to a total of 45, mingled on the water between the Point and Tree Island; and 57 Red-breasted Mergansers were spread out closer to Tree Island. A long, compact line of White-winged Scoters were hurriedly swimming together in one direction. “I’ll count white-wings”, I said, and Joan chose Surf Scoters to count. We were silent for a while as we each concentrated on the counting. Starting at one end of the line of White-wings, I counted single birds to begin, to get an idea what 10 birds looked like, then counted in groups of 10 up to 100, and to remind myself which hundred I had counted, I raised one finger on the hand holding the scope; then I started the next hundred, and so on . . to a total of 220 birds. When there are more than a thousand birds I count in hundreds to speed up the process before birds begin to fly off. All these birds were joined by three large California sea lions which appeared to be feeding; great

heads emerged, then a burp or bark, and they rolled back under water – must have been feeding on the same fish as the scoters. I am often asked why I count birds every month, and whether I have noticed any change in populations or species present. Good questions. I like being outdoors (funny expression!), looking and listening to what is happening in the world, or just to sniff the fresh air. It might sound trite to say I like being out in nature; it’s calming, restorative, invigorating and often exciting. In answer to the second question: doing the monthly count I am joining many hundreds of observers along the coast in a long-term project to provide data for scientists to analyse and report on any changes or trends in population and species. The most recent analysis was done for the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound for the first twelve years (1999 – 2011) of B.C. Coastal Waterbird Surveys. The results were published in a 35-page paper in an ornithological journal, obviously too long and detailed to summarize here, but of the 57 species studied, 3 had increased in population, 22 had decreased (some alarmingly), and for the remainder no significant trend was detected.

BIRD NOTES FROM PAGE 28

Denman Park Committee 2015/16 Winter Update By Laura Pope

Denman Island Provincial Park: There is positive news and negative news for our largest park. On the negative front, sadly, someone or some ones have been vandalizing the Provincial Park signs placed at the entrances to various areas. These signs were placed at the request of the D.I. Parks Committee as a guide to park users. They are intended to help park users firstly, to know they are in the park, and secondly, to indicate the use criteria for that area. The north end of Denman Park is primarily multi-use, while the south end (including Boyle Pt. and the protected area) is primarily hiking only. The types of use for these two distinct areas was established by public consultation and based on the types of trails and overlap of land use: it was not arbitrary, nor was it the decision of the Parks Committee. Several signs at both the south end and the north end have been pushed over with vehicles, some have been pulled out and thrown in the bushes and have had anti-government graffiti written on them. The second act of a sadly petty nature is the continued removal of flagging tape used by the parks and trails volunteers to mark trails that are to be re-habilitated, marked for work bees, or are to have clearing

done. The parks and trails committee volunteers work exceptionally hard to maintain and rehab, and in some cases construct the many trails in the provincial and CVRD parks so that hikers, bikers and equestrians continue to have a safe experience in the park. Islanders are working for Islanders, and the people of the province in the most egalitarian spirit possible. It is very discouraging to have certain individuals undermining this work, especially as they must also be using the very trails they are vandalizing! It is estimated that 60% of all physical work done in parks across Canada is done by volunteers; on Denman Island, it is more like 98%. Vandalism in Provincial Parks is an offense under the Provincial Parks Act and should a person be caught there is a first offense fine of $288.00. This is just to point out that there could be legal consequences if caught; this is not the direction we want to go. I would like to think that those people who have been vandalizing the park will decide on their own that they are better people than that, and they will have a serious second thought before creating more work for their fellow islanders.

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PARKS REPORT FROM PAGE 29 I would like to ask all park users and the public in general to please be vigilant, and if you see anyone vandalizing the park to call Crimestoppers if you wish to remain anonymous; call Derek Moore or myself if you are comfortable reporting personally. On the hugely positive side the provincial park is attracting many happy users as we all become more familiar with the area it encompasses and the various trails we can all access. It is so great to see all ages being able to hike, ride their horses, and bike the various areas and to be out enjoying the natural beauty of Denman. Many Islanders have asked for maps of the trails within the park and we are nearing the posting of the first official map. The map will show only those trails that are actually within the boundaries of the park, as accessed from the location of he sign posted, which will be at the north end of the provincial park. It is important to note that some entrances to the park cross private property and this means that you must have permission to use that access. No access or trails will be shown on this map that crosses any private property. CVRD Parks: The Cross Island Trail is now about a year old, and continues to be a hit with both new and familiar users. The Trails Committee (Chaired by Alan Danks) monitors the CIT to make sure it stays in good shape and to do any minor maintenance as required. The CIT did not get the grant needed to continue the East Road section for the coming year, and the graffiti hill section remains a conundrum for all concerned. CVRD is committed to continuing the trail and will look for funding to continue the construction. This break in the action may give the Parks and Trail Committees and the CVRD some time to finalize specific routes for the trail so that when the funding returns we will be ready to proceed. The current CIT continues to attract mostly local users. It has proven to be a boon for locals from Fillongley and Swan Rd. area up to Pickles Rd. who now have a safe way to access mailboxes, the recycle center, the beach, the church, and areas beyond in the provincial park while walking, biking and riding on a trail safely removed from the traffic. Residents from all areas of the Island are using and enjoying this section of the trail. The Trails Committee, Parks Committee, CVRD and the DCA, and last but not least DIRA, all combined efforts to achieve this fabulous, lasting benefit for the island and we are looking forward to the next phase when funding comes available. Morning Beach Park took a few knocks last winter as high tides and storms lashed the beach, causing a slump in the lower section of trail. CVRD has engaged a Professional Arborist who is doing some tree pruning and topping on the

steep slopes (approved by the Islands Trust), spiral pruning, plus removal of a few large, top-heavy firs at the top of the bank. We have agreed with the CVRD that in high wind or heavy rain events the stairs will be closed to the public as a safety measure. This has become a very popular beach access, but we ask that for your own safety you respect the closures. We had a series of meetings with CVRD to work out the protocols for continued use of Morning Beach (which included the tree removals and periodic closures) and we continue to monitor it on a regular basis to keep this lovely little park open for the public. The other CVRD Parks – Maple Park and Stanehill Park – are little gems affording a lovely nature experience in miniature. Graham Lake Swim Dock and Bill Mee Park are also part of the CVRD parks on Denman; more information is available from DIRA Chair, Frank Frketich. I want to thank the many islanders who contacted me with information about our current Beaver population. I can report that there is no current provincial trapping license for Beavers on Denman, that there are Beaver in every large wetland area and Lake on Denman, and that there is at least one lodge currently active. There were also reports of Beavers in smaller streams and wetlands on private property as well. I feel this is good news as Beavers are a huge benefit to maintaining our lakes and wetlands, plus many species of wildlife and birds. As we are officially a committee of DIRA, members may consider this my report to them. As always, you are welcome to attend a Parks meeting: First Wednesday of the month at the Firehall at 10:00. Decembers meeting will have CVRDs Brian Allert attending. Submitted by the chair Laura Pope 250-335-1203; Derek Moore (Von Donop Area Provincial Parks Manager) 250-337-2410

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Bio-Energy Healing: Getting into the Flow! By Shari Dunnet & Richard Menard Certified Bio-Energy Healing Practitioners

Being in the flow is a joyful and health-rich place to be. We experience mental clarity, feel connected to our intuition and we feel physically vibrant, resilient and strong. In the flow, connections happen spontaneously linking us to people, places and events in what can seem at times like a truly magical way. Life is flowing and we are flowing with it. Life is happening! When we’re out of the flow we can feel stuck, unconnected, and unsupported. It can seem like we’re working hard but basically going nowhere… or close to it. However, it doesn’t have to stay like that. Stuck energy can manifest in many ways – it can create physical problems, pain and symptoms and it can also make us feel like our life is just not happening. With getting our energy flowing, we can experience tremendous relief and feel life flowing for us again in no time. When our energy becomes blocked it can have physical and emotional effects – stress, anxiety, back pain, low energy and much more. Stuck energy can be likened to a traffic jam where everything gets backed up and comes to halt. In addition to all kinds of health problems that can manifest, we can also end up feeling stuck, as though our life is on hold. If you think of that traffic jam and the vehicles starting to move at the front of the line, we can still be sitting at a stand-still for some time until our lane begins to flow. Bio-Energy Healing is highly effective of re-establishing the energy flow. What is Bio-energy? It is the natural energy that flows through us – and when it’s not flowing it can lead to low energy, depression, anxiety, stress, aches and pains, and many other ailments and conditions. The practice of Bio-Energy Healing is to unblock the “traffic jams” and stagnation so that our energy can flow freely and the body’s natural abilities to heal itself can be restored and revitalized. Communication between the body’s many systems is re-established and so is our state of wellbeing. Bio-Energy Healing is highly beneficial for body, mind and spirit! For December we are continuing our Fall/Winter Tune-up Special! Receive your first session for $50 (savings of $25) for new and returning clients. To your health and well-being – and to being in the flow! Gift certificates available. Shari & Richard are certified Level 3 practitioners. Bio-Energy Healing is a safe, non-invasive and remarkably effective health system that uses a series of techniques to release congestion, stagnation and blocks in energy flow re-establishing the free flow of energy – and health and wellbeing on all levels. For more information: call 335-1877 or visit:

www.lightbodyhealingworks.com

Denman Sings for Children, Syria and for Denman Bono of U2 fame once said that "Music can change the world because it can change people". Here on Denman we are very lucky to have SO many talented singers on this island and we are also fortunate that many of them are lending their voices to help others out. During the Craft Faire weekend Bethany Ireland has organized a group of talented singers to sing carols on the Porch of the General Store. They will be singing on Saturday December 5 and Sunday December 6. They will be taking donations for the Blackberry Lane Children's Centre. During Moonlight Madness the Denman Island United Church Choir under the direction of Carol Ralston will be singing Christmas carols from 5 pm until it gets too cold. They will be taking donations for the Syrian refugees as well as the Denman Island Food Bank (food bank donations can be cash or a non-perishable item). If you are downtown while these musical events are on please take some time out, relax and listen to Denman singing for the world.

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Community Events Listings Sponsored by Union Bay Credit Union

Wednesday Dec 2nd. Deadline for public input re Pesticide application for Islands' foreshores (page 19)

Saturday Dec 5th and Sunday Dec 6th @10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Community Hall and Denman Activity Centre, Christmas Craft Fair, (pages 1 & 3) Sat. Dec 5 - 1 pm to 5 pm Blue Moon Winery Special Tastings featuring Denman ingredients 1 - 4 pm free samples of Roz's Denman Kimchi Sun Dec 6 Noon - 4pm Brian from Shelter Point Distillery will be entertaining with stories and free vodka samples Craft Faire Weekend -Denman General Store - Carols on the porch - A Blackberry Lane Children's Centre Fundraiser Monday December 7th @ 7pm, Back Hall. DIRCS

Thursday, December 10th from 12:30 to 2:30pm at the Activity Centre. Seniors holiday lunch (page 21) Friday, December 11th Deadline for Christmas hamper gifts & requests (page 10) Friday, December 11th, at 7 p.m., Back Hall. Concert for Lani (page 13) Sunday, December 13th starting at 5:00 pm, Denman Community Hall,

“Olde Tyme” Christmas Party (page 11) Wednesday 16 December. at 1:30, United Church, The Garden Club is having a gift exchange and pot luck (page 14) Friday December 18 from 5-9 p.m Downtown Denman, Moonlight Madness (page 11) Monday December 21st. ” in the Back Hall “Council of all Beings” at Solstice - Time to be decided later.(page 22) Thursday December 24: DGS will be handing out Magenta's holiday baking while supplies last. Dec. 24 and 31 Store is open from 8 am - 4pm. The Post Office is open from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. The Store and Post Office will be closed on December 25 & January 1 December 26: The Store is open from Noon - 4pm and the Post Office will be closed. Thursday December 31st. at the Community Hall, Blackberry Wood for New Years Eve (pages 5 & 23) Saturday, Jan 23 @ 8 pm at the Denman Community Hall. Tarot Journey (page 19)

NB January

Flagstone

Deadline

is Monday

December 14th

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