Editor's note: In our Have Your Say column published Aug. 8, an anonymous writer questioned the morals of Erik Eriksson. Writers are welcome to criticize someone's ideas but, please, do not speculate about someone's character. Our apology to Mr. Eriksson.
In just its third year, the Comox Valley Kidney Walk raised $8,509. Awesome! Top fundraisers were Colleen Howard and Sylvia Nekolaichuk — each were awarded a one-month pass to VI Fitness and Robbie F. Thompson who was awarded six one-week passes to share with his team! Well done and thank you, VI Fitness! A great big shout out to our extraordinary volunteers, silent auction donors, sponsors, staff at the Lewis Centre, the City of Courtenay and the Town of Comox.
Some businesses "get it." A lot of businesses don't — customer service, that is. on a recent Thursday, a group of friends dropped by a local pub for some food and fun after helping our friend with her move. A few things worth mentioning re the service we received (or didn't receive) — the length of time to get our drink order was too long, the length of time it took to clean up a broken glass and beer from the floor was way too long, the length of time it took to be able to order food was too long. It was obvious that they were short staffed — but that's no reason not to get an apology or acknowledgement for the delay from our server. Thank you to the server from the restaurant who chipped in to help and who did apologize and was courteous to the guests at our table. There are restaurants and pubs in the Comox Valley where you can go and be guaranteed great service — I think next time that's where I'll go!
The Beachwood Café on Cliffe Avenue is under new ownership. I ate there this past Saturday and was pleased with my breakfast. The eggs were a proper shade of yellow, the potatoes freshly made, and the coffee was good. New owner Julie Isvik says she wants to expand her menu to accommodate her customers who have dietary restrictions. Gluten-free alternatives are already available. The hours of operation are seven days a week from 7 to 3.
Saturday morning I am watering my flowers and trees — and wondering why the first, in a line of small ornamental cedars was dying — well, wonder no more — proud as punch, along comes a women walking a type of bulldog (beautiful dog) and she stops in front of my poor little dying cedar … the dog lifts his leg ... and I said, well, no wonder that tree is dying! Don't let your dog pee on that tree. She told me that the dog was not going do that. Now let's stop right here. I am a mystery buff ... looks to me like there's something afoot. Let's look at the clues — woman stops dog in front of (you got it) poor little dying ornamental cedar), dog stops and lifts his leg to the cedar. Did he pee or not ... couldn't tell ... I call 'em clues. Walking away, she didn't seem to grasp the fact that letting her dog pee on my shrub was wrong. I did tell her she had no class AND what is worse is she demonstrated that she has no respect for other peoples' property. I am not sure if it was arrogance or ignorance. Oh, yeah, poor little cedar is dead.
Beef to the rude driver of a roofing truck! I was disgusted with what I witnessed the other morning. What makes you think you can park your truck at a gas station pump leave it there and walk across the road to get coffee? Then when the gas station attendant asks you to move your truck so other can gas up, you charge at her yelling and screaming disgusting profanity! That poor lady was just doing her job that morning and did not deserve to be treated that way. You should be embarrassed with the way you represented your company and know that I will not be calling that company for any roofing jobs and I will definitely be spreading the word of what I witnessed that morning as I am sure many others will be, too! To the lady of the Shell gas station, thank you for always doing such an amazing job every day!
Just a few days ago I wrote to an editor of a car publication that I would not renew my yearly subscription because of sexual jokes. Fortunately, they promised me that it would not happen again. Now I am facing an article about “provocative ads initiated by Vancouver Science World.” Fortunately, the ads were rejected by the Pattison Group. Some of the ads are so risqué that they have been banned from bus shelters. Rob Tarry of Rethink Communications is quoted as follows: “We knew we were playing with dynamite.” On the end of his reply he said “while being careful not to offend anyone.” Is this the way our tax dollars are spent through a publicly funded exhibit such as Science World? My question is, if I do not respond to this outrageous misuse of public funds what will I financially assist the next time. This is not a matter of innocence and “unintended consequences,” as we understand in the following quote from Brian Tisdall, president and CEO of the museum. “We’re sometimes on that picket fence between bland and outrageous, we felt we could do this without being too far out there,” ending “it was the responsible thing to do.” “Responsible” … 'playing with dynamite,” an extraordinary combination I would think, in the meantime “being careful not to offend anyone.”
Make your past your present. This is the slogan of the Alberni Pacific Railway. As expected our grandson Luke also became an enthusiastic passenger as his brothers did in previous years. This time there was a prelude to this event, connected to the railway station is to be found a hundred year old Buick-McLaughlin automobile and yes … in excellent running order; as well trucks and other interesting mobiles were on display, like a cement three-wheeler turning 360 degrees. After we arrived from the train ride and were greeted and instructed by James the tour guide and offered delicious cold water we marched towards the Mclean Mill National site. We listened to his funny and most entertaining explanations regarding the sundry historical buildings on this venue and I expected an invitation to follow of walking to the small theatre for some excellent entertainment as offered before. To my surprise and disappointment this was not happening due to reducing the overall cost of this excellent event. The thought came to my mind that it would be wonderful if this missing part in the chain of entertainment could be filled through volunteer entertainers in the future. Personally, I would be happy to fill this gap with some hours of musical entertainment with songs of the days now long gone. Maybe the old machinery might even be perked up when they recognize the tunes of their times.
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Do you have somebody to praise or something you have to get off your chest? Have your say by submitting to editor@comoxvalleyrecord.com. Please focus on people's ideas rather than speculating about their character. You can also get a written submission to 765 McPhee Ave., Courtenay, B.C. V9N 2Z7 or fax to 250-338-5568. If you wish to talk to the editor, phone Mark Allan at 250-338-7816, 2309.