Ping Pong on Thursdays at Forbes Hall

Reminder: Come join us at Forbes Hall for the excellent exercise that is table tennis. Thursday nights from 7:00 pm till we tire or 9:00 pm, whichever comes first… 

Mary & Matt

Robbie Burns Day Organizing Group

We are having an organizing meeting for Robbie Burns Day (January).

Friday 9am Forbes Hall - Boardroom

For more information please contact: David Reay or Georgina Maule

Community Wood Chipping Day in November

Community wood chipping day is coming sometime in the first half of November. Woody the industrial woodchipper and his Dad are on holiday, so exact timing will be set once they're back. This is made possible by the community grant from Island Health.

If you are looking for an alternative to having a burn pile, chipping can be a great choice. Fir and deciduous branches make great mulch and eventually soil. Cedar makes great trails. Even if you don't have a use for wood chips, there are other people or groups on the island who do.

Depending on what level of interest there is, we will likely organize for smaller quantities (less than a pickup truck) to be accumulated at the garbage yard the week before, and larger quantities to be chipped at your property, provided it is organized for easy access and processing. You will have the option to keep the chips or have them removed.

Assistance with the hauling and chipping process at each property will be appreciated. People will need to sign up ahead of time so the route can be optimized. Woody and his roving entourage will be significant in size, and we may need traffic control if work is happening at the edge of the driveway / road.

A call for volunteer support will also come once the date is set.

Info which will be needed from participants:

1. What type of material do you have? Size, species etc.

2. What quantity?

3. What is the address / location?

4. How easy is the access for 50' long pickup / trailer setup?

5. Do you want the chips, or want them removed?

6. Contact info

If you are starting to build a pile in anticipation of this event, a few tips to expedite the chipping process:

- Clean branches and small logs only (up to 8" or so diameter) no construction material

- Think about easy access for Woody and team and where will the chips exit Woody.

- Separate species if you have different plans for the chips.

- Stack branches butt end first so they can go directly into Woody butt first.

If you want to participate, please respond to jimolo46@gmail.com with your answers to all of the six questions above. This message will be resent once the date is set.

Thanks

Jim Moloney

jimolo46@gmail.com

Trick or...Bat Trivia? Celebrate Bats during Halloween

October 5, 2023

As Halloween approaches, images of scary bats become commonplace. This is the perfect time of year to counter bat myths and do something to help bats, by taking part in International Bat Week (October 24-31).  Bat Week is all about appreciating these amazing animals and their benefits, which in Canada centers around eating insects, and in other parts of the globe they additionally pollinate flowers, and spread seeds and nutrients.  

This Bat Week, consider teaching your kids, grandkids, or friends about the wonderful lives of bats.  How about preparing bat trivia questions for them? Take them to your local library and sign out bat books or dress up like a bat.

Contact your local nature centre, museum, or public park offices to see if they are offering any bat talks. Or if you want to get proactive, organize a bat event or party!  You can find more information on bats at www.bcbats.ca or at www.batweek.org. 

“In BC, there are at least 15 species of bats and they are all major predators of insects including moths, beetles, mosquitoes and flies,” says Welsh, Thetis Island Coordinator for the BC Community Bat Program. “A single bat can eat up to its body weight in insects each night. Eating all of these insects helps protect our food crops and forests from insect pests, saving farmers and forest managers billions of dollars each year.” No matter where you live, it is almost certain that there are bats living near you.

 “Providing safe and healthy habitat for bats is critical, as over half the species in this province are considered at risk. Since the fungus that causes White-nose Syndrome (WNS) was detected in Grand Forks last year, bat conservation is more important than ever.  We expect to see impacts in BC in the near future,” says Welsh.   WNS is a fatal fungal disease that has killed millions of bats.  It does not affect people or pets. 

“To help us with WNS surveillance, report dead bats or sightings of winter bat activity to our website,” says Welsh, who also cautions to never touch a live or dead bat.    BC residents can help bats by following Bat Friendly Community guidelines, including protecting bat habitat, planting a bat-friendly garden, preventing bats from drowning in pools or rain barrels, keeping cats indoors or in catios, and much more.  

Bat Week marks the time of year when bats disappear from our neighbourhoods, until the return of warmer weather in spring. As insect-eaters, our BC bats must leave their summer roost sites and migrate or hibernate to survive the winter. This absence means that this is the time of year to do home renovations that you have delayed due to bat presence. You can clean out and repair a bat box, or do bat-friendly exclusion work, without disturbing or injuring bats.

In partnership with the BC Government, and funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Forest Enhancement Society of BC, Habitat Stewardship Program, and the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy, the BC Community Bat Program provides information and promotes local stewardship and citizen science. You can report winter bat sightings, find out more about the BC Community Bat Program, Bat Week activities, and options for helping local bat populations, at www.bcbats.ca,  Rob Welsh rmwelsh@telus.net 250-246-1547

Photos:  

1. Bat box time for maintenance: Fall is the perfect time to check that your bat box is well-attached, water-tight and clean, ready to offer a safe roosting site for bats in spring. Photo: Habitat Acquisition Trust 

 

2. Bats in a bat box: Bat boxes can provide a secure roost site for bats if properly installed and maintained. Consider putting up more than one box in varying degrees of shade to provide nursing bats with different temperature options. Photo: Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project

 

3. Learn about bats by attending bat talks.  Photo by Osoyoos Desert Centre

 

Bats in BC are migrating to their winter roosts or flying south depending on the species.  This single bat will continue its journey at night.  Please leave it alone.  Report bat sightings after November 1^st to www.bcbats.ca.  Photo by Anna Skurikhina.

New to the Library Collection

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett. Fiction. Prequel to Pillars of the Earth. The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michelle Richardson Fiction The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin. WWII. Fiction Miss Scarlet and the Duke dvd. Masterpiece bbc. Crazy Rich Asians. Dvd Oppenheimer dvd A Man Called Ovid. Dvd Whew! And more! Soup’s On would be a great time to check out your lovely island library. Celine

We’re Back!!! Soup’s On: Today - Wednesday, October 4th at Forbes Hall

11:30 am until 1:00 pm (earlier if we run out!)

Gather at Forbes Hall for a very Thetis Island lunch!

Menu:

Cannellini Bean, Lentil & Cabbage Soup (vegetarian)

Assorted Goodies

Teas & Coffee

Suggested donation of $7 for soup, bread, treats and teas & coffee.

Everyone is welcome to join us, seniors, seniors who don’t think they’re seniors, workers, families, and everyone who just wants a mid-day meal!

Menu remainders for take-out when available.

The Soup’s On Team

Seeking Ride to Nanaimo on Fri, 6 Oct

Hello, I'm seeking a ride to Nanaimo on Fri, 6 Oct morning. My destination is Departure Bay, but I'm not aiming for any particular ferry timing. Happy to help pay for gas. I will only have a hiking backpack as luggage.

If you're able to help out, let me know by getting in touch.

Sahir

advani.sahir@gmail.com or 778-223-6647.

Thanks!

Attempted Break-in on Anchored Boat

Sometime between 5pm-12am there was a break-in on a sailboat (the white and blue Linda Gail II) anchored as you enter Telegraph before you get to Thetis Island.

They attempted to steal what looks like nothing inside the boat, but the wind generator was screwed almost lose. Nothing was stolen, but I’m guessing something, or someone scared them off or they didn’t have tools to take it off.

Please keep an eye out and if you see any suspicious activity, please contact Jasmine @ 250-619-1310 or Ben at 778-268-4401

Free Scooter

Giving away a scooter. It doesn’t want to start as was left out in the snow. It is electric, but has brand new batteries. Back tire is flat, but was running. It is a.EVT 4000e

Jesse MacLeod

macleod1@hotmail.com

Scones from Blue Cottage available Saturday, October 7th

BLUE COTTAGE BREADS will be baking FRESH SCONES just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend!

Available Saturday October 7th at 10 AM – 4 varieties to choose from:

PUMPKIN SPICE SCONES with maple glaze

APPLE CINNAMON SCONES with vanilla glaze

AGED CHEDDAR AND CHIVE SCONES with a hint of cayenne

SMOKED GOUDA SCONES with fresh rosemary

$3 each

Baked fresh Saturday morning and ready at 10 AM until they run out. Limited quantities.

There will be baskets full available to help yourself or preorder to make sure you get what you want –

text 250-714-9876 or email higginsgroup@shaw.ca with varieties and quantity before Friday at noon and I will reserve a bag with your name on it.

Pick up from the RED CUPBOARD at the end of HOLLYBERRY LANE from 10 AM SATURDAY October 7th. Self serve honor system – payment by cash or e-transfer to higginsgroup@shaw.ca

Cheers and thanks,

Tracy

From the Keeper of the Gate at the Yard

Thank You Thetis Island for making my last job such a memorable one. Your support, helping hands, enlightening conversations, kind words and all the treats has made this adventure most gratifying.

Thank You for allowing " Me To Be Me", 

Louise

Survey: Home Care Services for Seniors

In their work towards accessing health care and support for Thetis Islanders, the Forbes Hall Health Services Group is working with Island Health and other agencies towards providing community care services for island seniors. These services are provided to help our seniors stay in their own homes with the support needed to ensure a healthy and safe situation.

This brief survey investigates the challenges many seniors face in staying in their own homes, whether it be for safety or health reasons.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey. If a Thetis Islander you know may need assistance with the completion of this survey, please reach out to them.

No personal data, including emails, will be collected from this survey, it is simply the first step in the process.

https://forms.gle/vpF6dzj7GJPCPKpSA

Print copies will also be available for pick up at Soup’s On. Upon completion, please send to TICA / Health Care Services Group.

Forbes Hall Health Service Group / TICA