Islands Trust News Release

 Islands Trust Council Approves 2015-2016 Budget.

http://www.islandstrust.bc.ca/media/307070/2015-2016-approved-Budget.pdf

TIVFD Needs a Vacuum Cleaner

The Fire Dept. is looking for a good used vacuum cleaner for the Drill Room carpet.

Must be a "canister" type and not an upright model. We don't have the time to fix an old broken one (we already have one of those) so if you are trading up to a newer vacuum, consider letting us have your current canister.

Thanks! TIVFD

Yoga Cancelled

YOGA CANCELLED

Once again Thursday yoga is cancelled – March 12th 9:30-10:45; one instructor is away to play and the other is just returning from an extended vacation and adventure.  So next week Dawn with be teaching Tuesday’s yoga class, and Sonya will be back with all kinds of new inspiration and stories for Thursday’s class.  

Beginners and newbies are always welcome, we match our class to who is there and what they would like to focus on, or we gently guide you through poses and breath work to ground, stretch and strengthen our mind, body and spirit.

Come on out for some spring inspiration, we would love to see you.

Warmly, Dawn and Sonya

ThINC ~ Will Land Conservation Raise Your Property Taxes?

This question has been asked in relation to the Lower Burchell Hill Nature Reserve Project. To answer this question ThINC has applied the protocol that the Islands Trust Fund has used in relation to conservation covenants to a hypothetical acquisition. The answer is yes, but you won’t notice it, the increase is microscopic. Here’s why.

A hypothetical property on Thetis Island, let’s call it Property A, with an assessed value of $540,000, is sold to a conservation organization for a nature reserve and as a result, becomes property tax exempt. What happens to the $3,656.69 tax previously paid on Property A? Taxation income to taxing authorities is not reduced by tax exemption programs; the ‘loss’ is shifted to other properties throughout the appropriate taxing authorities (i.e., across the Province, the Regional District, the Islands Trust Area, or Thetis Island.) Here’s an example of the math for 2014 taxes for Property A (based on real numbers from a real tax notice for a developed residential property. An undeveloped property will be less.). 

The provincial school tax for Property A in 2014 was $1,248.26. There were 1,954,952 other taxable properties (folios) in the province in 2014, and as the tax shift for provincial taxes such as for schools from Property A would be distributed across the entire province, the increase for each folio would be $1248.26 /1,954,952 folios which equals $0.001 per folio, virtually 0.

Similarly, the Thetis Islands Trust Area Levy on Property A of $420.51 would be distributed across the other 22,470 folios in the Islands Trust Area for an increase per folio of $0.02. 

The following chart shows the hypothetical estimated tax shift for all the tax categories listed on Property A’s 2014 tax notice. The chart shows that the creation of a nature reserve on Property A will increase other Thetis Island property owner’s property taxes by less than a loonie.

Any questions or comments about this analysis can be directed to Ann Eriksson at 250-246-8176. Thanks for your interest.

Thetis Island Marina ~ Staff Wanted

Warning... Kids Don't Hear Smoke Alarms

This video link is important to watch by parents, grandparents, and anyone who has a child sleeping over.  It will shock you.

We know you check your smoke alarms to make sure they work, but will the children hear them?

http://youtu.be/7XKedodF2pk

TIVFD

Join the Blue Dot Movement

It is not too late to let Peter and Ken know that you would like them to support the Blue Dot Declaration at The Trust Council this Wednesday!

Take action now to join the rising tide of people across the country who want our right to a healthy environment legally recognized at all levels of government and ultimately enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (See attached backgrounder).

This right includes:

breathing clean air, drinking clean water, consuming safe food

accessing nature

knowing about pollutants released into the local environment, and

participating in government decisions that will affect the environment.

History shows that the greatest changes start with simple acts of local leadership.

A delegation from across the Islands Trust Area is submitting a proposal at the Islands Trust Council meeting on Gabriola on March 11, 2015 asking Trust Council to:

1.   Declare that every resident in the Trust Area has the right to live in a healthy environment;

2.   Call on the Province of British Columbia to enact a provincial environmental bill of rights to fulfill the right of every resident to live in a healthy environment; and

3.   Direct staff to review the implications of integrating the right to a healthy environment into the 2015-2018 Strategic Plan 

What can you do?

1.    Join the campaign at www.bluedot.ca/join-us/

2.    Ask your Islands Trust Local Trustees to support a proposed declaration at the next Trust Council meeting March 11, 2015. 

Peter Luckham  pluckham@islandstrust.bc.ca

Ken Hunter  khunter@islandstrust.bc.ca

View briefing notes here.

Thank you for your support,

Suzanne Sarioglu

Soup's On ~ Wednesday, March 11th

$5.00

From 11:30 AM to when the soup runs out or 1:00 PM whichever happens first! Take-out for sale - if there is extra soup.

Menu:

Carrot Potato Soup

Struan Bread

Dessert Goodies

Pot of Gold Coffee and Tea 

"Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious."

The Bridge Group meets at 1:00 PM in the Hunter Room. Everyone is welcome. You do not have to be an expert player!

Thetis Island Marina & Pub Dinner Specials

Dinner Specials served from 5-7 pm

Friday, March 13 ~ Bring the family for burger night!

Burgers come with fries and are served on a toasted Kaiser bun topped with lettuce, tomato, sweet onions and pickles.

Beef $10.95/ Grilled Chicken $11.95/ Salmon $12.95/ Veggie $10.95

Add:  Cheddar or Mushrooms $1.00/ Bacon $1.50

Tuesday, March 17 ~ St. Patricks Day Special

Irish stew with soda bread $11.95

Friday, March 20  BBQ Ribs

Barbecue pork ribs with fries and coleslaw  $12.95 

Friday, March 27   Fish Friday

Fish n Chips…beer battered cod served with fries, coleslaw, tartar and lemon

1 pc $8.95  2 pc $10.95

Fish Tacos…2 flour tortillas with beer battered cod, cabbage, red onion and

our own zesty white sauce  $9.95

.....

A Selection of appetizers and desserts also available on Friday nights  

Families and Groups Welcome

Reservations Recommended

Call us at 250-246-3464

Dinner Club ~ Sunday March 15th

The Dinner Club at Forbes Hall

Sunday, March 15th

Seating at 5:30 PM - Fee at the door $18

All adults are most welcome!

Please make your reservation by 5:00 PM Wed March 11

donella123@aol.com or Drop Box Note to Dee - 16-2

MENU

Spinach, Fennel and Mint Salad

Slow Roasted Pork     Herb Ricotta Gnocchi

Asian Braised Cabbage

Chocolate Cranberry Bread Pudding

Pot of Gold Decaf Coffee

Tea and Punch

"Refreshments Available"

20ft Travel Trailer for Sale

2011 Jayco Jayflight 19RD

Like new, only used during home renovations.  Excellent extra living quarters or guest house as the queen bed and extra bunk are located in the front with a lovely sitting area located in the back (Dinette and Gaucho Couch), enjoy windows all sides .  A full bath and full kitchen (double sink, 3 burner stove with oven and full size fridge with freezer) taking up the middle, excellent storage through out.  Outdoor shower, bbq and awning.  Much enjoyment to be had for your island property or camping adventures. 

Only $16,500.  New, these models are $26,000. 

Pictures available upon request, only serious enquires for viewing. 

Please contact Alisha or Chris Rennie 250-416-0395 to leave a message or email cisco01@telus.net

Dinghy Found ~

Our boat has been found.

Thanks,

Wally Collishaw