Les Leyne ~ BC Ferries Article

To view the Times Colonist article by Les Leyne, click here.

Keith Rush 

FAC

Stephen Hume Article ~ BC Ferries Cutbacks

Click here to view article.

Keith Rush

FAC

Route 20 FAC Update And Fact Sheet

The support and endorsement for the Route 20 Community Option Schedule has been great despite the snow and power outages.

A big thanks to all the tele-campaign volunteers, you were instrumental in ensuring the message was relayed, and all interested parties had an opportunity to weigh in their support or concerns.

We are still accepting endorsements. Click here to e-mail us.

Click here to view the Route 20 Fact Sheet. 

Thanks,

Art Hunter

FAC Chemainus-Thetis-Penelakut

250-533-9327

hunter@imembers.ca

Library Closure

The library will be closed from the 15  to the 23 of March.  The library will soon be in some disarray as I will be boxing books and placing them in the hall for storage. There are over 3,000 items in the library.  That is a lot of boxing! 

Your local librarian

Celine

Supper's On ~ Saturday, March 1st

A casual Saturday Supper brought to you by the Soup's On crew.

Forbes Hall 5:30-7:00PM

Menu:

Slow-braised BBQ Ribs

Vegetarian Option: Pasta al Forno with Butternut Squash

Baked Potatoes with all the fixin’s

Coleslaw

Focaccia Bread

Chocolate Brownie Sundaes

Hot & Cold Beverages

$12 each (children 9 & under $8 each)

$3 from every ticket sold goes to support TICA

Please reserve by Wednesday 6PM prior to the Supper.

Although, there will always be room for a few last minute walk-ins. 

Vegetarian option is only available only by reservation.  Let us know if you'll need the vegetarian option when you make your reservation.

Reservations call: 250-246-4079

or e-mail ann@lawrenspring.net

or Sign Up on the sheet provided at Soup's On.

For more information go to Supper’s On

BC Ferry Coalition Needs You ~

The BC Ferry Coalition is very concerned about the proposed service cuts and excessive fares levied by BC Ferries at the direction of the provincial government.  These cuts and increases are impacting families, the cost of goods and services, seniors, commuters, youth sports teams, tourism, property values, and businesses in ferry-dependent communities. While the proposed service cuts on the Lower Sunshine Coast are not severe, the adverse impacts from the significant cuts to other communities are rippling down the coast. 

We need provincial government to understand that investing in an affordable, convenient, and reliable ferry system benefits families and businesses in ferry impacted communities and it’s good for the bottom line of the province.  The proposed service cuts and fare increases will actually cost the Province more than they will save!

The BC Ferry Coalition is working hard to prevent these changes. Along with the BC Coastal-Mainland Alliance, we are organizing a mass rally to “Save Our Marine Highways” for the Legislature lawn in Victoria on March 11th from 11:30-1:30 pm.  We are taking it to the people who made these bad decisions; the provincial government.  A variety of speakers and musicians will be on hand to advocate and entertain.  Media from around the province and nation will share our message with the rest of Canada.  On March 15th local rallies in Gibsons, Sechelt and Madeira Park will allow those who can’t make it to Victoria to also have their voices heard.

The BC Ferry Coalition needs your support.  We need people to promote and attend the rallies, assist us in our efforts, and make financial contributions.  Money is needed to pay for the cost of the rallies (advertising, equipment rental, supplies) and to continue the fight in the coming months.  Please make cheques out to the “BC Ferry Coalition” c/o 8580 Redrooffs Road, Halfmoon Bay, B.C., V0N 1Y1. More information about the BC Ferry Coalition and on how to get involved can be found on our website.  Please join us.

Sincerely,

BC Ferry Coalition

Email: mail@bcferrycoalition.com

Website: www.bcferrycoalition.com

Sue French
FAC Member

Ham Radio Course

Are you interested in getting your ham radio license ? Here is your chance ! 

CVARS will conduct a basic ham training course March 13 -15 2014 in Duncan. The course is free but requires registration to determine numbers of students. To register or for more information, please contact Tim Mitchell Tel: 250-746-4532 or email ve7tes@cvars.com 

If you are planning to go, please register early, otherwise the course might get cancelled.

Several people on Thetis have taken this course in the past. If you have any questions, they'll be happy to talk to you ! 

Veronica, Claire, Petra, Mary, Maureen, Simone, Tegan, Graeme, Matt, Wayne, Gerhard, Peter.

Fire Dept. ~ Telephone Wires

The snow load on trees over the past few days affected several power lines, but has also affected some telephone lines.  The telephone line is the bottom wire between hydro poles, and sometimes small trees bend over and stretch the telephone line below the required minimum 17' 5" (5.3 metres) clearance above public roads, streets, lanes and alleys.  

The Fire Dept. spoke with the Telus Repair Technician today and were told that Telus Repair is extremely busy on Vancouver Island with the same problems and will not be on Thetis until Tuesday morning.  He asks that you call Telus today if you have a telephone line down or lower than the regulation clearance.  They will compile a list and get to everyone on Tuesday if they know ahead of time where the problems are.

And a reminder:  the Fire Dept. requires a minimum of 15' overhead clearance on your driveway for the fire trucks or Rescue vehicle year round. Please keep your driveway cleared of overhead branches and obstacles to a width of 12 feet and a height of 15 feet.

Thetis Island Fire Dept.

Ferry Protest

I am planning to go, if anyone wants to join me contact me.

250-246-4504

Lynda Poirier

Fact Sheet for Route 20 Community Schedule

Click here to view comparison of schedules.

Arthur Hunter

FAC

Dulcie on a Wintery Day

Gloria Taylor

~click here to view more of Gloria's photos ~

Comment: And THANKS to Ralf Kempe/Capernwray for clearing the dock for emergencies!

AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Training

Fire Captain Tom Milliken is back on-island and willing to put on two more seminars about the new AED (automated external defibrillator) now permanently installed at the community centre.  This short seminar will show you exactly what to do when somebody at Forbes Hall suffers a sudden cardiac arrest.  Ask any of the people who have already attended this informative workshop and they will tell you that even if you already know all about CPR and AEDs, you will be very happy you took the hour to learn something new.  And it's fun.  

We will be running the last two seminars if there are enough people interested.  Please email chief11@telus.netif you wish to attend on SUNDAY, MARCH 2 at 1 p.m., or THURSDAY, MARCH 6 at 7 p.m.  Or leave a message at the firehall:  246-4834.  BOTH SEMINARS TAKE PLACE AT THE FIREHALL on Mission Road, NOT at the community centre.  We welcome all ages.   If you ever use Forbes Hall, you should know how to use the Public AED.

Thetis Island Fire Dept.