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HAVE YOUR SAY: Comox Valley not the idyllic paradise they expected

After living in downtown Vancouver for most of our lives, my wife and I decided it was time to move to a quieter and more peaceful surround.

After living in the downtown area of Vancouver for most of our lives, my wife and I decided it was time to move to a quieter and more peaceful surround to raise our daughter. Stunning natural beauty and friendly people had us thinking we made the right choice and mostly we still do. The second year here we moved to Fifth Street to an area of mostly single-family dwellings and friendly neighbors and also that year caught a man breaking into our daughter's bedroom. Later that year, we discovered our dogwood tree we had planted had been nearly ripped down by someone in the middle of the night. The next year, a car drove over it after having torn up our front yard. We no longer put pumpkins out front to welcome the trick or treaters as they usually end up smashed on our driveway or the street. Likewise with hanging baskets, as they suffer the same fate. We quickly stopped hanging Christmas lights as well for the same reason. This year, we thought we would give the lights another try and after spending quite a bit of time and money, I must admit they looked great. That was five days ago. This morning, we found them ripped off the trees and dragged out to the street. As I told the investigating police officer, we have experienced more vandalism in the relatively short time we've been here than all the time living in Vancouver. Maybe we didn't make the right decision after all.

On behalf of the staff of the John Howard Society in Courtenay, many thanks to General Paint manager Stella for the donation of paint, and to Allan and Brad for the helpful advice given about refurbishing our office meeting room. We and our clients definitely will benefit from cheerful and more up-to-date walls as part of our meeting room makeover!

The Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society would like to thank the Whistle Stop Pub and owner Barry Van Dusen for hosting a well-organized golf tournament at Sunnydale golf course this fall with proceeds going to the CVTRS. The Whistle Stop Pub donated $4,550. In addition to this the RBC Foundation donated $1,000 and the Vancouver Island InsuranCentres donated $150. The two vehicles donated were not won as there were no hole-in-ones but it was close! Our fall sessions are winding down and we will start up again Jan. 18. The CVTRS has been operating for 26 years in the Comox Valley with thousands of riders and volunteers walking through the doors. There is no doubt that it is the generosity of this valley and Campbell River that keeps it going! We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very prosperous and healthy new year.

Discovery Marine Safaris Ltd of Campbell River generously supplied the Hornby Island Natural History Exhibit with a four-hour marine adventure package for two people. People in the community had the opportunity to donate to natural history and have a chance to win this great getaway. Support was terrific and we raised significant funds to help maintain our beautiful exhibit housed in the Hornby School. Thank you, Heike and Discovery Marine Safaris!