Reminder: Pioneer Pacific Open House ~ August 23rd

Pioneer Pacific Camp invites you to join us for an open house Sunday, August 23 from 12:30 to 4:30.

Come and see what all the activity was about this winter with tours of our new dining hall!

Light refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon and an assortment of our summer land and water activities will be open to enjoy!

Cost: FREE!!!

Directions: Follow North Cove Road to Pioneer Road and proceed down to parking area.

Please RSVP: 250-246-9613

Thanks,

Andrea Gall

Swap Meet

If you would like to be a part of the TICA Swap Meet on September 5th call and reserve your table before they are all gone?! Contact Gloria at 250-246-3091 or quackf@telus.net. 

Chemainus Terminal Upgrade

There are a few rumours floating around (no pun intended) regarding some possible work to the Chemainus dock structure.

I have had some preliminary conversations with BC Ferries about this project. Below is the current state of the project.

The trestle at the Chemainus dock is at the end of its useful life and needs to be completely rebuilt. The pontoons will also be replaced.

The work will likely happen between January 2017 and March 2017. The Chemainus terminal will be closed for several weeks.

The project team is currently looking at different options for providing service to Thetis and Penelakut (such as using Crofton as our terminal, and/or water taxi service for footsies, along with tug and barge service for vehicles). Our local FAC will be meeting with ferries at the end of September for a more detailed briefing once the project team completes its early analysis work.

At that time ferries will have a communication plan for meeting with the communities to ensure our needs are met as best as possible.

Ultimately, the goal is to have a work plan, including alternate service, determined and communicated to the community at least six months prior to any closure period begins.

The bottom line today is that is too early to speculate as to what the final details will look like. I will provide all those details following our late  September meeting.

If you do wish to contact me, please feel free to do so...

Keith

Keith Rush Route 20 FAC

keithrush17@gmail.com

Ph: 250-416-0013

Cell: 250-732-2766 

jollity FARM

Open Wednesdays & Saturdays 9:30AM - 1:30PM

Brighten up an entranceway with new fall planters!

Mixture of ornamental peppers, fall annuals, herbs and perennials

$22/each

*More fall plants coming soon. Please drop by this Saturday to take a look at the list of available fall plants and place an order.

What's Fresh this Saturday?

Handmade, sourdough bread

Heirloom tomatoes

French Breakfast Radish

Squash

...other assorted veggies 

Homegrown & Handmade by Tracy

Rhubarb Apple Chutney

Parsley Kale Pesto

Tai Chi Lessons

The Taoist Tai Chi Society is offering an eight week 'Introduction to Tai Chi' class at Forbes Hall starting on Monday September 21st. Registration will be at 10am; class from 10.30 to Noon.
The cost is $35 per month.
Tai Chi is a gentle exercise that works every system in your body, improves balance, flexibility and state of mind. Do your self a favour and join me on the 21st!
Carol Sowerby: 250 246 4042

Boat Trailer Wanted ~

Wanted-small boat trailer in good condition for small boat.  We have a 14' metal Lund that needs to be towed to the boat launch once in awhile. Please call Dave or Jeannine. 246-3876

Lizard Lake Fire ~ Community Bulletin

Please click here to view a full update on this fire.

Lizard Lake Fire Continues ~ Smoke Makes Its Way to Thetis

Ministry of Environment and Island Health have once again issued a smoky skies advisory. Although specific communities are listed in the advisory, please note that this applies to every community and every area throughout the region and beyond that is experiencing smoky skies!

Forest fire near Port Renfrew remains active and smoke is being transported into the Cowichan valley area.  Current PM concentrations at monitoring stations in the Cowichan Valley are high. Smoke modelling indicates the potential for some clearing during today but impacts are likely to reoccur this evening.

Please follow appropriate health precautions and reduce outside activities, especially those requiring physical exertion. 

We will keep you informed as new information becomes available.

Thank you to all who reported the heavy smoke smell this morning. We dodged the ash fallout (unlike Duncan) but with the cloud cover and wind direction we are getting the heavy forest-burning smoke here intermittently.

If you see an outdoor column of smoke here on Thetis, don't wait! Report it to 911 immediately.

TIVFD

Fire Penalties Under Review ~

Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Mike Morris has been tasked with reviewing the penalties for starting fires or breaking campfire bans.

The current (Provincial) fines include $115 for failing to report a fire, $173 for dropping, releasing or mishandling a burning substance such as a cigarette, and $345 for violating a campfire ban. 

Morris said he plans to introduce penalties that will be "at least" double or triple those figures.

"If somebody is disobeying a campfire ban, which is done on a daily basis ... we need something to deter people from doing that, because you never know which campfire is going to cause that massive multimillion-dollar forest fire. 

"We have to realize of course that men and women put their lives at risk to fight these fires."

The province has suggested that drivers who are caught flicking their cigarette butts out the window could also have their cars impounded.

"That's really hard to prove, but more and more authorities will be relying on social media as an investigative aid to help them out. If we can do that two or three times, it'll get their attention."

Morris also said he will review the Wildfire Act to make sure it can be interpreted to incorporate modern issues, including drone regulations.  CBC

TIVFD

Whale Watching

While Fisheries & Oceans Canada advise a 100 metere clearance, this is obviously not always adhered to.  This photo clearly shows the nearness of the whale watching boat to the small pod of Orcas off Pilkey Point, along with obvious wake, showing that the boat had its engine fully engaged and moving forward. 

Please contact Fisheries & Oceans whenever you see this abuse.  

Photo taked August 16th, by Dave Steen

Comment ~ Chris Kelsey ~ August 17th 2015

While it is certainly possible that the whale watching boat was too close, photographs can be deceiving, especially when using telephoto lenses. Typically, whale watching companies are pretty good. The flotilla following the killer whales last weekend at the south end, however, did seem to be very close, and it would be best if we all just got our binoculars out and left them alone altogether.

Truck for Sale ~ SOLD!

The perfect Island truck - Chevrolet S-10, extended cab, box 6 ft. (can easily take 10ft. boards), V-6, 3 l, approx. 290000km. I used this truck for 16 years, had it serviced regularly and kept it under a roof. The truck has a minor electrical short so that when parked for more than 1/2 day the battery needs to be disconnected (or a "kill-switch" could be installed). Otherwise runs well. Last service was done in May 2015.

Asking $300.

Zdenek 250 246 9103

Cedar Beach Pizza ~ closed until August 25th

Thanks,

Andy & Virginia