To the rowdy, obnoxious drunken group of young men and women who wandered down Menzies from from Fifth Street on Saturday night — grow up. It's time to think of someone else besides yourselves. Also, your trashing the traffic markers and pushing over the one-way-only sign in the new construction zone, was dangerous for night drivers, and just stupid and pure vandalism. To the young man who stole the lit traffic warning post and was running with it down Menzies towards First Street, I hope you're never hurt in a traffic accident because someone stupid had removed the warning lights. At least your friend, who yelled after you, "Stop, Kipper, I don't give a bleep what you're doing, it's wrong!" gave me hope that someone in your group has the courage to speak up when something is so not OK — and did I mention stupid?
Our family would like to thank the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society for helping us host a wonderful riding birthday party. You made two young boys with autism very happy and helped a little sister feel included. It was the first birthday party my son has participated in. He has been to lots of them but never participated. To the three volunteers who worked the party, a huge thank you for your patience and happy faces. The party was a success and I hope more families use this opportunity to ride and celebrate their children's parties.
When it snows (would rather say if), the snow-plowing company for CVRD had better plow the roads properly and sooner than later. One of the main roads (Headquarters) only is plowed three-quarters on either side, so cars are forced to almost travel down the middle. We would also like to see the side roads plowed at the same time as the main, so people can go to work. We usually are sitting with no plowed roads for some time. Makes for dangerous driving if roads are not plowed properly. I, for one, would like to see the roads salted. Here, you can wash the car off right away. It takes away the ice from the roads and would make travelling somewhat better. And, drivers, slow down when there is snow. You make it dangerous for other people; not just yourselves!
This is a response to the letter about slowing down on First Street. I lived on First Street in Courtenay last year and one of the main reasons for moving was because of the speeders. After numerous calls to the RCMP and the City of Courtenay, we finally got some speed traps and had the speed calculator installed for a week. This has not done anything. The speed calculator did show that there was an average speed of more than 60 km/h and the RCMP are now monitoring at the Puntledge Park parking lot. This is the problem. The speeders are more near the Rod and Gun Road area. This is where they need to have their speed traps. Furthermore, the City of Courtenay needs to look into placing a series of four-way stops and speed humps to slow these people down. As I see it, there should be a speed hump at the bottom of Menzies hill and another at the intersection of First and Woods, followed by four-way stops at the intersection of Willemar and First, (seeing as it is the intersection children can use to get safely to school) and another four-way stop at First and Rod and Gun. There also needs to be a controlled pedestrian crosswalk, (like the one near Thrifty Foods downtown where the sidewalk ends in front of 2079 First St. because the sidewalk ends there. Until this happens children are at risk of getting hurt or worse, killed. We personally lost two pets on this stretch of road and others have, too. What is it going to take for these measures to come to be? I would hate to have to see a kid in the obituary section because of some reckless driver.
With the ongoing discussion on the expensive local four-government model, perhaps it time to review the role of regional districts. It seems that the CVRD is a very expensive way to manage local services that could easily be provided by the three other capable local government administrations in Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland. The Strathcona Regional District delivers services to a number of small communities and islands such as Quadra and Cortez and would seem better suited to provide similar services to Hornby and Denman. One regional district for the North Island seems more sensible and much more cost-effective. Federal boundaries have changed — why not municipal and regional district boundaries? Of course, the voters should decide, by referendum in the fall of 2014.
While many Comox Valley environmentalists are questioning coal mines and oiI tankers, how many are concerned about people pollution in our own backyard? The CVRD consultant estimates that 25 per cent of septics are failing. The Province has abandoned their responsibility and the CVRD has ignored this problem. Shellfish growers should question the monitoring of all strata septic systems that discharge into the ocean.
A soccer bag full of gratitude to all the Courtenay Superstore customers who donated to the Comox Valley Millennium Girls U13 soccer team during its "bagging" fundraiser Nov 30. The team would also like to thank Brad and all the cashiers who cheerfully provided their support. Not only did the team raise funds for travel to tournaments, Millennium was able to contribute approximately $500 to the President's Choice Children's Charity in the process. It was a fabulous experience for our girls. Thanks everyone!
What is going on in this province? There's no money for nurses, no money for schools, no money for the elderly or the homeless or disabled, yet BC Ferries is allowed to do whatever they want with rates and service. BC Hydro is skyrocketing fares and an oil pipeline is being pushed through the most pristine wilderness in the world. I lived on the west coast of Vancouver Island when two tankers collided off Jordan River in the '60s. The mess was unreal, and they weren't even oil tankers What happened to, if you were a large logging company you didn't get a tree farm licence unless you also had sawmills — all these cutbacks these government morons are doing is what is crippling the economy. There used to be an old saying to make money you have to spend money — let's get back to cost-of-living clauses and unions allowed to strike for equal pay. No more raw log exports. The province ran a lot better years ago. All that is happening now is the rich are getting richer and the rest of us are being forced into modern-day slavery.
In 1968 a few people in Parksville came together; they were concerned about people who were in need of help. Life is that way; some do very well while others have a hard time to keep bread on the table and pay the bills. I have been there and it was not easy at times and how blessed I felt when help was offered. As an immigrant in 1971, we entered the Christmas season with me losing my job. Our three children were too young to understand our situation, however, two members of our congregation fully understood. They saw no traces of any preparations in our home for the coming holidays. No tree, no lights and no presents were encircling the missing Christmas tree. But here again, some caring people came together and provided us with the best Christmas we ever experienced. A tree with lights and two large boxes filled with food were found outside our front door. It was so overwhelming; our hearts were filled with thankfulness. In 1968, three years prior to our situation, SOS was established and offered similar “good karma projects,” which lasted 45 years and it is now a familiar icon in the community. May we take this example to heart and reach out to those who are in need. It will only be a small reflection of what Christ did for us, but He will be very thankful if we take care of His children in need. I know this from my own experience, through others, His care and love came through.