Robbie Burns ~ Thank you!

Thanks to all the hard working passionate folks who put on a fun Robbie Burns night.  The atmosphere was lively, and the food perfectly traditional!

Any photos of the event that you'd like to share, please send to editor@thetisblog.net

Here's a photo of two old friends (since 1964), Lucy & Kathleen, who unknowingly dressed in like fashion, sporting their Stewart Kilts.

Notice regarding the Celebration of Life for Gwen Hunter

I am pleased to coordinate the Celebration of Life for Gwen which will take place at Forbes Hall next Saturday, January 24th at 1:30 knowing that the Thetis Island ‘family’ always pulls together in times of need. 

Help is needed for the following:

Set up: Men to help Ernie with chairs, women to help Lynn with set up.

Clean up: Many hands make light work – in the kitchen, entrance and main hall. 

Food: Please bring along sweet or savory finger foods for the tea, preferably savory as they seem to be the most popular.  Some sandwiches would be appreciated as some family members may not have had lunch.  You can contact me for suggestions or to let me know what you plan to bring.  

Please reply to lynnhunter@telus.net or call 250-246-2176 

Thank you in advance for your help and generous hearts.  May this be a special time of reflecting on how dear Gwen touched our lives and our whole community. 

Lynn Hunter

For Sale: 1998 Plymouth Voyager LE Extended Van

Mechanically sound for the 194,000 km and very clean. Upside, recent brake (rotors and pads) job, timing chain, special spark plugs and water pump replaced on or before maintenance requirements, relatively new battery and tires, maintenance record and bills available. $1650.00
Contact Tom Carson at 250-246-5091 or 250-383-0786 or di-carson@shaw.ca

Gwendolyn Hunter

It with great sadness to announce the passing of my loving wife Gwen Hunter, on January 14th, 2015.  After a short but vigorous fight with cancer she left us peacefully and looked calm and beautiful. 

We are having a celebration of life at the community hall on Saturday the 24th at 1:30pm. Lynn Hunter has graciously offered to tend to the details for the celebration. 

Thank you to all for your continued support from the beginning of this difficult journey. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Red Cross Society.

Don Hunter

St. Margaret's Cemetery Work Day

A work crew is needed to clear out more blackberry plants down in the new area of the cemetery. The work is planned for Tuesday January 27, 9AM weather permitting.  Some willing hearts, pick axes, spades, rubber boots and wheel barrows are all that is required. We have fun too with a campfire lunch included.

Please call Suzanne: 246-9965

Soup's On ~ Wednesday, January 21st

Community Centre/Forbes Hall

11:30 AM until the soup runs out or 1:00 PM, whichever happens first!

Leftover soup can be purchased as "take-out"

MENU

Gingery Beef Soup with Soba Noodles & Bok Choy

Vegetarian Soup Option also

Spring Rolls with Plum Sauce

Assorted Goodies

Pot of Gold Coffee & Tea

Lively chatter, some jokes and a lot of laughter!

There are still a few open dates when we need people to be on the Soup's On Prep Teams.

Interested?

Contact Shirley Burr, Dee Smith or Don Sinclair....the SO SO Committee. 

At 1:00 PM The Bridge Group meets in the Hunter Room

Everyone is welcome!

ThINC Volunteer Opportunity on World Wetlands Day Feb 2, 2015

Wetland Restoration on World Wetlands Day Feb 2nd- Planting Party!

What’s your new year’s resolution?

To get hip?--Come and plant some rose hips!

To give back to the planet?--Restoring wetlands is a great way to go! 

Date: Monday February 2, 2015

Location: Quamichan Wetland, Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve near the town of Duncan

Meeting time: 10:30 am -2:30 pm

Meeting Place: Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve 

Directions: Travel east on Trunk Road. At the roundabout, exit at Maple Bay Road and follow Maple Bay for 4 kms and turn left onto Aitken Road. The Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve is at the end of Aiken Road on the right. Meet at the green house visible from the road.

Equipment will be provided.

Please bring warm clothes, rain gear, snack, water, and gardening gloves (if you have them).

We’ll bring the hot chocolate and coffee!

Come and plant Nootka rose, Red-osier Dogwood and other native plants as we care for the Quamichan Wetlands which were built three years ago at the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve near Duncan to help improve the water quality of Quamichan Lake.

Join the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Cowichan Land Trust, Quamichan Watershed Stewardship Society, Somenos Marsh Society, Habitat Acquisition Trust and other wetland enthusiasts on the shores of Quamichan Wetlands on World Wetlands Day for a Day or restoration and revival. We will break into rotating groups along the shores of the six newly created wetlands to

- conduct water quality testing

- capture and identify invertebrates

- Plant native plants along the banks of the wetland

- Remove invasive plantsWhy?

- Testing water temperature, oxygen levels, turbidity and pH help us determine wetland health

- Determining what type of invertebrates are present is an indicator of water quality and ecosystems health

- Planting native plants increases the habitat value for insects and animals, provides shoreline stability and increases water quality

- Invasive plants threaten ecosystems by out competing the native plants upon which native fauna rely upon.

Did you know that wetlands are the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems? Globally it has been estimated that wetlands hold more than 40% of all the worlds’ species.

Quamichan wetlands provide habitat for amphibians, insects and migratory birds. These wetlands reduce the amount of nutrients and sediment entering the lake, break down suspended solids, absorb chemicals and neutralize harmful bacteria so that the plants and animals of the lake can flourish.

Guest Speaker: Meg Loop, Cowichan Land Trust, Project Coordinator.

Meg works full time on stream stewardship, native pollinator habitat improvement, ecological restoration, and marine education at the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre. Meg graduated from the University of Victoria with a double major in Anthropology and Environmental Studies, and has a deep fascination for plants, especially ones she can eat!

For more information call 250-746-0227 or email info@cowichanlandtrust.ca

Ann Eriksson for ThINC 

SOAS Soiree Thanks ~

On behalf of School Orchards Africa I would like to thank everyone for their generous support on Jan.10.The event raised $1,200.00 which will plant and water about 100 fruit trees. Special thanks to Virginia for a lovely dinner, to Will for lighting up the stage, Nan for coffee, Gary for his piano,and to all those who so generously loaned us chairs. Our community is making a huge difference in the lives of 2,000 children!

THANK YOU !

Maureen and Wayne

-----

“School Orchards Africa” wish to extend our warmest thanks to all those who attended the Musical Soiree last Saturday evening.  

Thanks to your generous support we raised just about $1,100 and almost every penny of that money goes directly to planting fruit trees and providing  water cisterns for more schools in Tanzania.  

We could not have done this without the very generous help of Virginia Lamb who provided a memorable and delicious meal.  Ever supportive, Denis and Colleen of Domaine Jasmin Vineyard & Winery brought wine glasses and helping hands. Special thanks again to the ever gracious and generous Nan for providing coffee plus the loan of a coffee maker.  We are also most grateful to those who lent chairs for the occasion...about 50 people, big & small, attended and we were all able to enjoy our meal sitting down.  

Your support means the world to us....and to the kids in Tanzania.

Thank you from the SOAS Directors

Wanted : a Good Home

Male, neutered, all black, very friendly, 2 year old cat available to a good Thetian home.

'Ceder' sustained a fractured hock joint in early December which I set using orthopaedic wire. He is making excellent progress whilst being housed at the Salt Spring SPCA.

He will be ready for adoption at the beginning of February and is expected to regain full, unimpeded use of his leg again.

Dr Martin E. Randle

Islands Trust News Release ~ September Trust Council Program Announcement

Click here to view the News Release regarding the proposed 2105-2016 Islands Trust Budget.

Jas Chonk

Exec/TAS Secretary

Islands Trust

250-405-5164

jchonk@islandstrust.bc.ca

Thetis Island Marina Dinner Special

Friday, January 16 ~ 5 to 7 pm

Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy & Coleslaw….$10.95 

Ask about our Vegetarian Option

Also offering a great selection of Appetizers and Desserts

Families & groups welcome

Reservations recommended

Please call us at 250 246 3464

FAC ~ December 2014 Stats

Here are the December 2014 ferry traffic graphs and stats.

Route 20 was up .68% for the month (I think it was our relatives who came over for a family party on the 27th...they brought 7 vehicles on to the ferry!). It was not enough to off-set the YTD loss of -.94%.  Passengers were down again -2.35% for the month which puts the YTD loss at -3.20% or over 5000 passengers compared to this time last year.

To view the commentary by Brian Hollingshead click here.

Regards

Keith Rush RPF Route 20 FAC

keithrush17@gmail.com

Ph: 250-416-0013

Cell: 250-732-2766