Free: Recliner Chair

Old and recovered.  Recliner part needs some work but quite fixable. 

Phone 250 246 2178 or email ckasting@telus.net

Need a Ride to Nanaimo ~ July 1st

Lift wanted to Nanaimo 1st July. For two adults would be appreciated, anytime during day.

Phone 250 246 3184 many thanks.

Steve Bird

Ocean LearnFest ~ Starts Monday, July 4

One week to go until Ocean LearnFest 2016! Here's what's happening on Monday July 4. Everyone is welcome!

9:15 to 12:15:  ABCs of Marine Ecology (Now open to everyone)

7:30 pm at Forbes Hall. Free film and discussion. Mission Blue: The Life of Sylvia Earle.

Ocean LearnFest is brought to you by the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy with financial support from the Thetis Island Community Fund. For a full schedule of events for the week, or to preregister, go to our website www.thetisislandnatureconservancy.org and click on Current Projects/Ocean LearnFest 2016 or phone 250-246-9126.

FAC Update & Notes

FAC Update and notes from a meeting with BC Ferries on June 3rd, 2016

Present for Route 20 FAC: Sharon Cross (Co-Chair), Sue French, Ken Hunter, Steve Frankel, Art Hunter, Mark Brown (Penelakut Councillor), Keith Rush (Co-Chair). Present for BC Ferries: Monique Turgeon, Superintendent, South Region Terminal Operations, Lewis MacKay, Marine Superintendent, Mark Collins, VP Strategic Planning and Community Engagement, Darin Guenette, Manager Public Affairs. 

1. Dangerous Goods (Cargo) (DG):

Penelakut will be requiring a DG run on occasion to service a new 5-plex that has just been built and will use propane for heating. Thursday May 26th was the first time that Penelakut has needed DG in a very long while, and it caused quite a disruption to the day’s schedule. Lewis MacKay and Monique Turgeon will explore different options, including: reviewing the day of the week and the time of day; the frequency to each Island; the summer versus the rest of the year schedule; the effectiveness of the 48 hour reservation notice, and whether that could be incorporated into an ESPOKES submission; along with developing specific guidelines for DG runs.

2. Route 20 Additional Savings:

On April 1st, 2016 Route 20 received a 5% reduction in ferry fares. This was recognition by BC Ferries for "our community developed" schedule that "provides savings" to the company in excess of the $80,000 per year mandated by the Provincial Government in 2013/2014. The FAC has asked for clarification from BC Ferries on how the 5% was calculated and how they addressed the saving achieved during their Fiscal Year 2015 (April 1st, 2014 to March 31st, 2015) and Fiscal Year 2016. Mark Collins has committed to providing the details on this issue.

3. Chemainus/Thetis Terminal Upgrades: Preliminary estimates from BC Ferries is that Life Extension work on the Chemainus terminal will start in the late summer or early fall of this year, 2016. It will include work on the trestle, replacing the ramp abutments, new asphalt for the trestle ramp and other work to provide another 12 years of service for the terminal. Once this work is complete a similar amount of life extension work will be carried out on the Thetis terminal with the addition of work on the wing walls. No berth closures are anticipated; however there may be some sailing cancellations. Sailing cancellations are likely to be late Saturday evening and early Sunday mornings. Preliminary dates for this work are February through May of 2017.

4. Road Safety/Congestion at the Thetis Terminal:

We discussed our communities concerns regarding pedestrian and vehicle safety issues at the Thetis Island terminal area. BC Ferries was quick to say that that they would be willing to participate. Since then they have attended a meeting with TIRRA’s road safety group led by Graeme Shelford and attended by MoTI’s Andy Newall. Please see the minutes of TIRRA’s General Meeting of June 23rd for more detail.

5. Large Group Travel/Under Age Travel: Lewis MacKay gave us a brief rundown on the procedures for large groups (camps) travelling on the ferry. Pre-arrangement with Long Harbour, and 2 weeks advance notice is preferred. BC Ferries will attempt them away from school runs and busy commuter runs. We had a wide ranging discussion on children under 12 travelling alone on the ferry. In particular how BC Ferries deals with children who attend extra-curricular activities and do not ride on the designated school runs. We discussed ways that young travellers could receive orientation and a tour of the ship so as to feel more comfortable in these situations.

6. Operations Report:

Lewis MacKay On time performance remains high on our route. We have two new to BC Ferries Masters on our route. Lewis asked that we have patience with them for the first while as they hone their docking skills.

Questions or comments please feel free to call or email any of your ferry advisory members.

Keith Rush Co-Chair, Route 20 FAC

Fairyslipper Forest Update

Only 4 more days to meet our June 30 deadline to raise the $40,000 in matching funds for Fairyslipper Forest. Through the generosity of islanders and others we've already raised $26,000, and we still need to raise $14,000 by June 30.  This will get us to the halfway mark in our campaign, an exciting milestone for all of us. A huge thank you to all of you who have already supported this community initiative!

One lovely boost to the campaign has come from Margaret Hantiuk, a Victoria artist and long time visitor to Thetis who has donated two of her Thetis Island- inspired watercolors to help with the purchase of Fairyslipper Forest. Both were painted while she was camping at Hunter's campground. We are selling them for her suggested price of $275 each. Both of these beautiful paintings can be viewed on the home page of our website www.thetisislandnatureconservancy.org. They will also be on display at Forbes Hall the week of Ocean LearnFest July 4-8 during the four free evening sessions (Mon-Thurs) starting at 7:30 p.m.. Thank you, Margaret!

To contact us about the Fairyslipper Forest matching campaign, make a donation to help us meet our deadline, or the paintings please email us at ThINC@thetisisland.net.

Flea Market ~ July 1st

July 1st at Forbes Hall in the tennis court Thetis Island Community Association Flea Market. Starting at 10 and closing up around 2. Many tables with a wide assortment of great bargain basement prices. So bring your truck, wheelbarrows or hay wagons and load up on some great STUFF!

Call Gloria if you have any questions. 250-246-3091.

Summer Soiree & Auction ~ August 4, 5 & 6

Summer Soiree & Auction Thursday, Friday & Saturday, August 4, 5 & 6th 

Tickets for the Summer Soiree & Auction Dinner are still available but selling fast! To buy yours, contact Ellen Rush or Don Sinclair. Tickets $30, Kids 5 – 12, $15 and Under 5 Free

Dinner will be served in the tennis court under the big blue summer sky. Menu created by Ann Dickie and skilfully prepared by a team of volunteers. Guitar and vocals by Bob Pickell.

The 2016 Art Auction is a two day event beginning, Thursday, August 4th and ending Friday August 5th at Forbes Hall. Hours are: 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, no ticket required, it’s free!

Opening night Wine & Nibbles Thursday from 5 - 7

Art donations accepted at Forbes Hall on Tuesday August 2nd or Wednesday, August 3rd from 2 PM to 5 PM To make it even easier, you can drop your art on Mon and Fridays at 10 AM (using the office and Library). By appointment contact Dee Smith or Donna Stadt

All proceeds benefit the Thetis Island Community Fund and the Community Association and all islanders!

Ellen Rush & Don Sinclair Co-Chairs 2016 Summer Soiree & Art Auction

Thetis Island Marina & Pub

Our Kitchen is now OPEN 11:30am to 8:00pm every day, serving burgers, fish & chips, appies and much more. Enjoy the fresh air and amazing view on the sundeck while enjoying a yummy meal and refreshing beverage. Lots of room inside as well. Families and groups welcome. Reservations for large groups is recommended and appreciated.

Please call us at 250-246-3464.

Happy summer!

Quilt Show ~ Sunday, June 26th

We have a group of Island Quilters with us this weekend and they will be putting on a Quilt Show tonight at 8:30pm in the Capernwray Harbour Lecture Hall. We invite you to join in and see the colourful, creative quilts they have to show us.

Rachel Sing

Fire Extinguisher Clinic ~ Sunday, June 26th

Extinguisher Clinic...can you handle yours? Free inspection. Live fire training.

This Sunday only at the Firehall on Mission Road. 2PM

Extinguishers for sale. Reflective Lot Number signs. Wildfire Sprinkler Protection Kits. Campfire appliance demo. General information.

TIVFD

Ocean LearnFest Reminder

Registration extension and new opportunities for adults

To ensure that folks who are interested have time to finalize their plans, ThINC has decided to extend the registration deadline for day time sessions to Friday, July 1.

AND the Monday morning 'Kids Only' session with Andy Lamb and Peter Luckham is now open to folks over the age of 13

Andy and Peter will be diving and pulling up species from the sub-tidal zone. If you are curious about local marine creatures, come to the community dock at 9am to check them out and learn about their lives in the Salish Sea! (If you'd like to participate in the art project that day, payment and preregistration is required to help cover the cost of materials). You are also welcome to join the Orienteering session on Friday morning and the funky art project if you are so inclined! Of course that means you'd have to decide between that or the Joy Of Bird Song walk with ornithologist James Clowater....

PLUS Don't forget about the four FREE evening sessions at the hall

Click here to view a detailed schedule on our website, and there are posters, well, everywhere!  To register: Phone: 250-246-9126 Email: ThINC@thetisisland.net

DeLong-Spencer BBQ

Alana DeLong and Rob Spencer are having a BBQ and you are all invited!

As many of you know, Alana is seeking the nomination to run as the BC Liberal candidate for our riding in the next provincial election. Come to the BBQ and sign her nomination papers or tell her about issues you would like to see the government pursue in our riding.

There will be beef and vegetarian burgers, salads, and beverages for both adults and the younger set. So come enjoy our view, good food, good company, and good conversation

Sunday July 3rd starting at 4pm. We are located at 220 Pilkey Point Road!

Please RSVP to spincat007@gmail.com or call 250-436-0337