News and views for attentive, inquisitive readers! ~ 4 pages this issue ONLINE WEB COURTESY edition | TIME TO SUBSCRIBE! www.johnhorganmla.ca News about Sooke & the West Shore of Vancouver Island Friday, January 30, 2015 Sooke,BC BC ann ounces partn ersh ips for K to 12 inno vati on . .... Council was not ‘hounded’ says Transition Sooke [Letter] ..... It’s Co oper’s C ove, so let’s make i t so ! .. .... .... .... .... .... Health insights: Di gital eyestrain can take a toll .... .... .... ... Alzheimer’s affects 72% of women; support in Sooke ....... Sooke Voice News Turkey vulture released SOOKE VOICE NEWS on the beat BC SPCA Wild Arc Paula the pet pigeon at Kelz Bakery. TUVU 14-2226 was rehabilitated at Wild Arc and has been released back to the wild. << An injured immature turkey vulture was brought to BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in October 2014 to be rehabilitated with the goal to release him back into the wild. Even though TUVU 14-2226 (2226th patient at the clinic in 2014) still walks with a limp, after five months of recovery including leg surgery and being fed by hand he has been set free on January 30, to fly once again, says Christina Carrières, RVT Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator, BC SPCA Wild ARC. SVN Only partial vaccine success This 2014/2015 flu season has seen only partial protection against the H3N2 flu virus from this year’s vaccine, as the H3N2 has mutated part-way through this year's flu season, says Island Health. On Vancouver Island there has been a high incidence of flu in 39 seniors care homes (down to eight as of last week), compared to rapid-spread in only one care home last year, says Island Health. Last year's low incidence of flu epidemic in senior care homes "was uncharacteristically low", says Island Health media relations officer Sarah Plank. That was due to the predominant virus being H1N1 which affects middle-age people more than seniors. This year H3N2 is targeting seniors says Plank. Across Canada, there have been 3,589 hospitalizations for flu this season and 236 deaths (as of Jan 24). On Vancouver Island there have been seven deaths with flu as a contributing factor. The height of this year's outbreak was in late December/early January; since Sept 2014 there have been 318 people hospitalized with flu. As of last week, 68 people were in hospital with flu (seven in intensive care). Over the last four flu seasons, the number of paediatric hospitalizations has been relatively stable, says the Public Health Agency of Canada. The best way to not spread flu is to wash your hands frequently, sneeze into your elbow or tissues, and stay home if you're not feeling well, says Island Health. SVN WE B VERSI ON CRD Parks Bank stabilization at Jordan River Construction at Jordan River Regional Park is underway until February 4. Crews will be conducting bank stabilization at The Point to shore up the area, which has been affected by recent super tides and storm surges, said the Capital Regional District (CRD) in a media release on January 29. The work is required to protect the day-use area parking lot. ParkJordan River Regional Park is a 187-hectare ing may be limited during construction. mixed coastal forest park along the Juan de Park visitors are advised to use caution Fuca Strait, open to the public since 2010 (now around the equipment and crews. SVN for day-use only). 7-Day Unlimited Pass Only $20 Sooke Yoga ~ at 6750 West Coast Rd in the Hope Centre www.sookeyoga.com 2 2 3 3 4 Building removal at Whiffin Spit A group of local horseshoe enthusiasts who have approached District of Sooke Council numerous times over more than three years, finally got their wish. At the Jan 26 Council meeting, a 20 metre x 30 metre spot was approved for the construction of eight horseshoe pitches at 2250 Sooke River Road across from Fred Milne ball park. Diagonal parking will be available along Sooke River Road. The Sooke Horseshoe Pitching Association will do construction and maintenance and be responsible for the greens, grounds and other outdoor facilities. Lighting is to be turned off nightly by 10pm. Present for the final favourable verdict for the horseshoe pitch were Ron Dumont (a former Sooke Coun- Drug Mart Sooke Horseshoes coming to Sooke! Vol.5 No.2 ISSN 1925-2722 Regional & national: @SookeVoiceNews Vancouver Island: @IslandLensBC Local: @SookeVoiceLOCAL Tweets also posted live at: www.sookevoicenews.com Insight news published weekly on Fridays (print & online) by Brookeline Publishing House Inc. 8 horseshoe pitches in 1,000 sqft Sooke River Road A bakery-loving pigeon has taken up residence on one of the patio tables outside Kelz Sweet & Savory Bakery Shop on West Coast Road in Sooke town centre. For about two weeks now, the peoplefriendly bird has been enjoying seeds and water in little cups, provided by bakery owners Kelly and Yvonne Busse. >> SVN WE B VERSI ON v1a News about Vancouver Island’s West Shore and beyond, with a focus on wellness, learning and insightful living. Resident pigeonW E B V E R S I O N Lucky horseshoes make it back to at local bakery Elevator access at Shoppers Sooke Voice News The Are you supporting independent media? Sooke Voice News www.sookevoicenews.com Colour print edition $1.75 Sports Field SOOKE VOICE NEWS on the beat >> High School cillor), as well as Rich Hobday, Gord Butts and others who have long-sought what could be a positive recreational amenity for Sooke. The motion was approved with little fanfare, other than a few comments about how John Phillips Memorial Park might have still been a better location, and too bad it took so long. SVN WE B VERSI ON Data Privacy Since 2008, January 28 has been Data Privacy Day in BC each year. The BC government reminds people to protect their privacy online by 'clicking carefully' and ensuring that any apps are not accessing any unnecessary personal data. The reported number of identity theft and fraud incidents has grown 50% since 2010 in BC, with over 2,500 incidents reported to police in 2013. "Think before you click" is the new mantra. It's more important than ever to protect your personal privacy online. 9 tips 1. Check your apps - Smartphone apps can potentially access your contacts, location, email and other information on your device. Only download apps from a trusted source and ensure you know what you are giving the app permission to do when you install it. 2. Think before you click - Be careful when clicking on unfamiliar links embedded in websites or text, especially when they come from unknown companies. Hackers can create templates that look like a bank or other official websites to make it easier for them to access your computer and online accounts. 3. Think twice about email attachments, even from people you know - Attachments may contain software that could potentially harm your computer's performance, steal your personal information and send viruses to other people. 4. Be cautious about revealing information on social networks - It's easy to end up with personal information in your social media profiles. Remember to regularly review and update your privacy settings. For example, including email addresses and phone numbers can sometimes be enough for hackers to figure out your password. 5. Do not respond to emails requesting personal information - Legitimate individuals and companies will not ask you to provide or verify sensitive information through a non-secure means such as email. If you have reason to believe that your financial institution needs personal information from you, phone the company using the number in your records, not the one the email may provide. 6. Make strong passwords - When creating new passwords, use a mix of upper and lowercase letters and numbers. Make sure you change your most-important passwords, like for web-banking, every six months. 7. Secure your wireless connection - Make sure to protect your home wireless network with a password. When connecting to public Wi-Fi, be cautious about what information you access. It's easy for hackers to use programs to snoop and observe open Wi-Fi data. 8. Upgrade your security - Personal firewalls and security software withanti-virus, antispam, and spyware detection features are a must-have for those who engage in online financial transactions. Make sure the computer you are using has the latest security patches. Secure websites start with "https" instead of "http" and have a key or closed In the Prestige padlock in the status bar that appears in Oceanfront Resort, 6929 the lower right-hand corner of the screen. West Coast Rd, Sooke 9. Protect your phone with a password - Smartphones can hold as much or even more personal information than your W IN TE R laptop or desktop computer. Add a pass3-course menu word to smartphones or mobile devices for protection. SVN WE B VERSI ON During the week of Feb 9, work will occur on behalf of Fisheries & Oceans Canada to remove two small buildings adjacent to the lighthouse at the end of Whiffin Spit Park. The trail will remain open to the public. Trail users are asked to use caution on the trail and move well off to the side when vehicles are passing through, says the District of Sooke. SVN WE B VERSI ON $29 From now until Valentine’s weekend Tasty selection of Appetizers, Entrees and Desserts 778-425-0888 Map grid: District of Sooke WE B VERSI ON www.sookevoicenews.com WE B VERSI ON Page 2 of 4 ::: Copy deadline: 5 pm Mon. Ad deadline: 5 pm Wed. Breaking news at: www.sookevoicenews.com EDITORIAL SVN editorials aim to explore broader issues of concern to the local community, economy and society as a whole. Friday, January 30, 2015 ::: SOOKE VOICE NEWS We’ve been known to put in print what others are reluctant to say out loud. When the law does overkill WE B VERSI ON The legal system is of course intended to define society’s boundaries. When a new threshold of tolerance for misbehaviour (deviance from the norm or beyond accepted standards) is reached, the ‘first out of the gate’ punishment is to ‘send a message’. Oftentimes, that first message is a tough one by the courts, to make the point. This week a BC woman was sentenced to six months in jail for leaving six dogs in a car without enough air. The dogs died. Then she tried to cover it all up by lying about the whereabouts of the deceased pets that were eventually found in a waterway. These were people’s beloved pets that she was caring for as a paid service. She clearly was far out of bounds with her actions, both legally and morally. Was six months in jail the right sentence? Would a remedial behaviour program about social and moral responsibility not www.randallgarrison.ndp.ca have been more effective for the long term for a person who seemed otherwise wellintegrated into society? Also this week on the penal front, Opposition safety critics say they will be looking at the Harper government’s proposed new legislation to crack down “on the worst of the worst”, as Justice Minister Peter MacKay was quoted as saying when the plan was first outlined. The Harper government’s approach is for very little leniancy on those who have committed serious crimes -- ‘lock ‘em up for life’ is the general approach. Randall Garrison, MP (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca) who is the Official Opposition Public Safety Critic with a post-secondary teaching background in criminal justice, essentially said that locking criminals up and metaphorically ‘throwing away the key’ falls far short of the work the penal system should be doing. “This is a government that emphasizes punishment,” Garrison was quoted as saying in Ottawa this week, calling the approach ‘wrong headed’. Studies show that perpetrators of the most serious crimes (murder and sexual assault, especially on children) are not good candidates for rehabilitation. But there are others in jail who might stand a chance of being restored to some sort of life after their sentence is served, hence the name of the department being ‘Correctional Service Canada’. Liberal public safety critic Wayne Easter, MP (Mapleque) had a similar view: “Its been proven time and time again that penalties alone are not the answer,” he was quoted by The Canadian Press. Is Canadian society ready for a productive debate about taking a fresh look at how the legal system treats people who wander from and err beyond what society finds tolerable or acceptable? Can some new approaches be found that better serve the victims, the perpetrators, the penal system and the process of law? WE B VERSI ON WE B VERSI ON BC NEWS Stilwell moves up A variety of fishing and wildlife applications will be available online only, effective Monday, February 2, 2015 says BC Forests, Lands and Natural Resources. The latest permits to move online include: Angling guide, game guide outfitters and transporters' licences; export permits; transportation permits for endangered species, rainbow trout and farmed sturgeon; scientific fish collection permits; fur trade and trapping licences; and various permits specifically required under the Wildlife Act, including permits for possessing dead wildlife or wildlife parts; capturing, possessing or importing live wildlife; rehabilitating injured wildlife; and operating a vehicle in an area closed under the Act. www.frontcounterbc.gov.bc.ca SVN Michelle Stilwell will be sworn in as BC Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation on February 2, 2015. Don McRae has asked to be relieved of his cabinet duties to support a family member through health challenges. He will continue to serve as MLA for Comox Valley. "I fully support Don McRae's difficult and courageous decision to step away from the additional responsibilities of executive council at a time when he needs to focus on his family and his constituents," said Premier Christy Clark. "Michelle Stilwell has excelled at everything she has done, including as our caucus chair. She will continue to provide a strong voice from Vancouver Island in cabinet," said Clark in a news release. As well, the Premier made the following changes to Parliamentary Secretaries: * MLA Darryl Plecas, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors to the Minister of Health * MLA Mike Morris, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations SVN Innovation for K-12 A new partnership and strategy will ensure BC teachers have greater latitude, support and encouragement to try new, innovative teaching practices, Education Minister Peter Fassbender announced January 29 at the BC Focus on Learning forum at the Wosk Center for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. The K-12 Innovation Strategy is designed to help and encourage teachers as they develop successful approaches that move personalized learning from concept to everyday practice. The heart of the strategy is the K-12 Innovation Partnership, which will be a community of practice focussed on bridging the theory and practice of personalized learning. The partnership will be composed of identified schools from throughout BC that are interested in developing new approaches. Each school in the partnership will be teamed with a post-secondary institution that will provide research support, capture qualitative and quantitative change, and help measure and evaluate results. The partnership will also proactively communicate actions and outcomes to encourage the adoption of successful approaches across the K-12 sector. The next step is to establish the governance structure, including a working group WE B VERSI ON Upcoming Public Meetings Committee of the Whole Monday, February 2 at 7:00 pm Schedule subject to change. Call 250-642-1634 to confirm meetings. Agendas: www.sooke.ca Mailing: PO Box851,Sooke, BC, Canada V9Z 1H8 Phone: 250-642-7729 Fax: 250-642-7785 | Text: 250-217-5821 Email:[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Web: www.sookevoicenews.com Twitter: @SookeVoiceNews (regional / national); @SookeVoiceLOCAL (Sooke local); @IslandLensBC (Vancouver Island) Publisher, Editor, Writer, Layout, & Ad Sales: Mary P. Brooke, B.Sc., C ert PR Publishing Assistant: Jennifer Brooke. Delivery Support: Les Haddad. Contributors: Bob Hudson, Dr Louise Morin, Anne Scott, Laurie Szadkowski, Mike Winter. Contributions welcome from the comm unity. W ebserver Management: Les Oberg. Printing: MapleLine Business Centre. Deliveries: Bulk drop to various coffee shops, hotels, banks, communityareas; to some residential addresses,some Readership: Base of 3,500 print & online; includes print delivery direct to selected businesses weekly. Retail:Colourprint edition $1.75 at Shoppers Drug Mart (Sooke). Online: Print/PDF digital colour version at www.sookevoicenews.com PDF subscription: $28+GST for 18 weeks by email. Print subscription weekends. weekly by 1st class postal mail: $35+GST for 20 issues in greyscale, or 12 in colour. National Library Registration: ISSN 1925-2722 Twitter: @SookeVoiceNews Fish & wildlife online The Sooke Voice News Published by Brookeline Publishing House Inc., Sooke, BC, Canada COPY & SCAN PRINT & LAMINATE Send digital files to [email protected] 250-642-7729 www.maplelinebusinesscentre.com Letters published in Sooke Voice News do not necessarily represent the opinion of the publisher, editor or staff. The publisher reserves the right to decline any article, ad or contribution. Current edition (PDF), archives, breaking news: www.sookevoicenews.com LETTERS W E B V E R S I O NWrite to: [email protected] BC Family Day Monday Feb 9 of representative organizations for superintendents, principals and vice-principals, and teachers. The working group will establish the partnership criteria and work with school districts and post-secondary institutions to identify participating schools between now and April 2015. On an ongoing basis, the working group will manage the supports, provide expert direction, and identify future policy changes. "In schools across BC, there are many teachers who've already started to move personalized learning from concept to everyday practice,” says Fassbender. "I want to thank BC's teachers for their constructive and cooperative approach. They have been phenomenal partners in helping the K-12 sector redesign the curriculum and exploring other improvements in areas like graduation and student assessment. "We're now ready for the next step on this journey, which is to support and encourage more teachers and more schools to develop approaches that work better for students. On behalf of educators across the system, these innovation schools will help us find out what works and what doesn't. This will be disciplined innovation. With greater latitude and freedom, comes greater scrutiny and responsibility to communicate how things are going," he said. www.bcedplan.ca SVN Council was not ‘hounded’ I'm writing in response to Errol Anderson's letter of Jan. 23. In no way was council "hounded", as he states, by Transition Sooke into holding the oil tanker plebiscite. We respectfully and with due process presented the idea to the District, as is the right of any citizen or organization. The council of the day then freely voted to take a question to the polls. Much credit is due the many Sooke residents who wrote letters, signed petitions, spoke up in council chambers and planted "no more tankers" signs on their front yards. And thanks once more to Councillors Haldane and Pearson, who (in 2014) respectively moved and seconded the motion that gave Sooke voters a historic chance to stand up and be counted on one of the defining issues of our times. I'd also like to applaud the new council for last Monday's six-to-one (Councillor Reay opposed) vote in favour of a fresh resolution that "renews and restates" the District's opposition to the expansion of oil tanker traffic through coastal BC waters. It's an essential next step in honouring and respecting the will of the two-thirds majority that made its opinion known at the ballot box. ~ Jeff Bateman, President, Transition Sooke WE B VERSI ON Still questioning climate change? As I work in my studio with the TV on, the news out of the USA is of states of disaster with a series of storms coming in succession back east. Here in Sooke I read that a couple of councillors are questioning our vote re opposition to increased oil tankers in the Straits, another hints not to worry, the public opinion was non-binding. After the warmest summer since records have been kept, melting poles and worldwide weather abnormalities, I cannot believe that some are still questioning climate change, are comparing it to job creation opportunities or fiscal affordability that we pay attention at all. No, as voters we were not uninformed. ~ Barry Whiting, Sooke Pay attention to young and old It is unfortunate that soccer has 430 participants and the horseshoe group has four, yet we are willing to give the soccer parking lot away to accommodate those with the political clout. When will we care enough about the young families and their youth? All the attention is on seniors’ needs because they have the time and ability to lobby council and to complain. Let’s not forget about the rest of the community when making decisions, as young people will only be overlooked for so long. It’s time for people to speak up for the kids. ~ Herb Haldane, Sooke WE B VERSI ON More Letters on Page 3 WE B VERSI ON West Coast Lifestyle LETTERS Write to: [email protected] LOCAL NEWS ON TWITTER: @SookeVoiceLOCAL Sooke, BC LOCAL NEWS COMMUNITY SUPPORT Well done Sooke!!! You responded to the call and made Christmas a wonderful time for the 416 families who were registered with the Sooke Christmas Bureau in December 2014! Hampers were distributed in Sooke District which includes East Sooke, Otter Point, Shirley and Port Renfrew. CFAX Santa’s Anonymous once again filled toy orders as well as assisting with food hampers. This year, donations of non-perishable foods (valued at approximately $80,000) exceeded 2013. Sincere thanks to everyone especially the firefighters (East Sooke, Sooke, Otter Point, Port Renfrew), schools, grocery stores, drug stores, many sponsored events and CFAX Santa’s Anonymous. The quality of these items donated went a long way to supplement the bulk items purchased by the Christmas Bureau. Special thanks to the many businesses and organizations for their successful fundraising efforts. Cash donations ‘burst the thermometers’ totalling $27,700! Special thanks to everyone who displayed a donation box. There were at least 12 initiatives from various groups and also a very welcome grant from the District of Sooke in the amount of $7,000 all of which made possible the purchase of extra non-perishable items, including turkeys, hams and produce. The call went out for volunteers and you responded immediately – receivers during the week, food sorters on Friday, hamper packers on Saturday and then even more volunteers on Sunday for distribution, in unprecedented numbers which also included Sooke Lions, Sooke District Lioness and Harbourside Lions. Thank you one and all, many hands made light work! This year we had the Public Relations assistance of Sooke News Mirror, Sooke Voice News, SEAPARC, EMCS, CFAX, CTV, CHEK TV, Shaw Cable, and the Coffee News who advertised all of the events and requests for volunteers. Their participation was invaluable! It must be noted that any leftover cash and food will be donated to the Sooke Food Bank. Last but not least to Sharon Johnson, Chair and Mike Thomas, Co-Chair and their dedicated Committee... heartfelt thanks of the community for a job well done! Wishing everyone a very happy new year!! ~ Anne Scott, Sooke Christmas Bureau WE B VERSI ON Sustainability input open to survey Public February 15, 2015 New to Sooke? New mom? Bride to be? 250-642-2268 www.crd.bc.ca/sustainability It’s Cooper’s, so let’s make it so! The official renaming of Cooper's Cove to in fact be Cooper's Cove (as it is called locally) is an idea that was brought forward to District of Sooke Council by historian Elida Peers, at their Regular Council meeting on January 26, 2015. Council approved the change. The Ge ogra phic Names Boa rd o f Canada website lists the local water body as Cooper Cove (without the apostrophe or the ‘s’). The cove is located at the northeast end of the Sooke Basin. SVN Elida Peers holds Order of BC Order of BC website Sooke historian Elida Peers is modest about the fact that she has the distinction of having won the Order of BC in 1993. One of her most recent high-profile achievements was assembling and displaying the Water Flowline exhibit at the Charters River Salmon Interpretive Centre in summer 2014. Back in 1993, this is what was said about Elida in support of receiving the Order of BC award, which is BC’s highest honour, presented each year to several nominees by the Lieutenant Governor Nominations for 2015 open to March 6: Elida Peers received www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca Order of BC in 1993 of BC: WE B VERSI ON Elida Peers has been the creative sparkfor community projects which have made Sooke a more interesting, more colourful and historically-aware place to live or visit. A lifetime resident of the community, she helped establish the Sooke Regional Museum and became its first curator. A small art exhibition she started in the museum grew over the years to become a major juried art show. Last year, there were over 2,000 entries from which 345 were selected for exhibition. Elida Peers has also been involved in placing heritage street signs throughout the community to help people find and understand points of interest and in working with the community school to organize heritage tours. The Sooke Festival Society, of which she was a founder and co-chair, organized the 1990 Bicentennial celebration to commemorate the landing of Spanish explorer Emmanuel Quimper on Vancouver Island. This colourful re-enactment attracted 20,000 visitors including Spain’s tall ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano. Although Elida Peers has retired from her position as curator of the museum, she remains active in the community. Her fertile imagination and awesome energy continues to keep her in the forefront of worthwhile community projects. SVN Daily news updates - LOCAL: www.sookevoicenews.com/SOOKE-LOCALbreakingnews.htm Digital eyestrain can take a toll Info News Updates Services Kitchen scraps, composting, garbage pickup [email protected] www.KitchenScrapsSooke.ca Ask a Doctor of Optometry on Facebook HEALTH INSIGHTS Most of us use computers, mobile phones, high definition TVs, and various other digital devices that expose our eyes to bright light, varying types of light, and varying types of strain due to the size of what we’re viewing. Local Sooke opt omet rist Dr Louise Morin recommends paying attention to digital eye health. She refers readers to this information based on an article by the Mayo Clinic: • Take eye breaks. Throughout the day, give your eyes a break by focusing on something other than your computer screen. Every 20 minutes, take your eyes off the computer and look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Try to take a break every 15 to 30 minutes for one to three minutes. Switch to phone calls or filing. Stand up and move around at least once every hour or so. If possible, lean back and close your eyes for a few moments. • Blink often to refresh your eyes. Many people blink less than usual when working at a computer; dry eyes can result from prolonged computer use. Blinking produces tears that moisten and refresh your eyes. Make a conscious effort to blink more often. • Consider artificial teardrops. Over-the-counter artificial tears can help prevent and relieve dry eyes that result from prolonged computer sessions. Your doctor can suggest which drops might be best. Lubricating drops that don’t contain preservatives can be used as often as needed. If drops contain preservatives, limit use to 4x/day. Eyedrops with a redness remover may worsen dry eye symptoms. • Improve work space air quality. Some changes that may help prevent dry eyes include using a humidifier, lowering the thermostat and avoiding smoke. • Practice relaxation. Ease mus- Dr. Joslin, Dr. Morin & Associates: Doctors of Optometry Providing comprehensive eye health and optical services to the growing community of Sooke for over 20 years. #5-6726 West Coast Rd Phone: 250-642-4311 Email:[email protected] www.sookeoptometrists.ca Mon-Fri 9 to 5 [Thurs to 7pm] Saturdays ~ 8:30am to 3pm cle tension with relaxation exercises. With your elbows on your desk and palms facing up, let your weight fall forward and your head fall into your hands, with your hands over your eyes and fingers extended toward your forehead. Close your eyes and take a deep breath through your nose; hold four seconds, then exhale. Continue deep breathing for 15 to 30 seconds. Do this several times a day. • Massage your eyelids and muscles over your brow, temple and upper cheek 1 or 2x/day -- with your bare hands and fingers or using a warm towel over closed eyes. Gently massage your upper eyelid against your brow bone for about 10 seconds. Follow by massaging your lower eyelid against the lower bone for about 10 seconds. This can stimulate your tear glands, to help prevent dry eyes. Massaging the muscles around your eye also helps relax those muscles, to reduce some eyestrain. • Get appropriate eyewear. If you wear glasses or contacts, make sure the correction is right for computer work and/ or tiny screens. Most lenses are fitted for reading print and may not be optimal for computers or mobile device screens. Glasses or contacts designed specifically for computer work (or mobile device use) may be a worthwhile investment. SVN WE B VERSI ON Pink totes generate many benefits Sooke Disposal Ltd will be offering pink 32 gal kitchen scraps totes to their new and existing customers. The monthly fee is $7.95 for Sooke Disposal to pick up the kitchen scraps using one of their lift trucks. Pink will differentiate their totes from others at the curbside, and will also be a way to support both the Canadian Cancer Society and the Sooke Food Bank. Sooke Disposal owner-operator Mike Winter emphasizes that the cost of using the pink totes would be $7.95 per month either way, due to the cost of using a truck lift to raise the totes to empty them into the truck and transporting separately to Hartland Landfill. Mike and his brother Ken will be donating to both the Canadian Cancer Society and the Sooke Food Bank from kitchen scrap pickup revenues. More details by Mike Winter of Sooke Disposal are online at: www.kitchenscrapssooke.ca WE B VERSI ON A Sea of Bloom What better place to find Valentine’s treasures? Council votes to protest oil tanker traffic The Nov.2014 referendum question about opposing an increase in oil tanker traffic that received a YES vote result was moved to the next step by District of Sooke Council on Jan.26. They voted to re-issue the letter that was sent from Mayor and council in 2012, along with a statement of the vote results. They will further take the motion to other associations (AVICC, UBCM, and FCM) to show Sooke's opposition to any increase in oil tanker traffic off BC coastal waters. Transition Sooke president Jeff Bateman addressed Council on January 26 to effectively restate the case for supporting the referendum results. SVN WE B VERSI ON @FoodScrapsSOOKE www.sookevoicenews.com ::: Page 3 of 4 www.aseaofbloom.com SOOKE VOICE NEWS ::: Friday, January 30, 2015 Giftware Jewelry Plants Flowers Open Mon-Sat 2052 Otter Point Rd 250-642-3952 MORE EVENTS: www.sookevoicenews.com/Sooke-area-events.htm Page 4 of 4 ::: www.sookevoicenews.com WHAT’S GOING ON Market & Swap Sat Jan 31 by Sooke Fall Fair at Sooke Community Hall, 10 to 2. Tables $10: 250-474-5771 Kitchen Scraps info day SatJan 31 at Sooke Home Hardware. Learn about processing food scraps in your own back yard. Compost Education Centre rep on hand from 10 am to 4 pm. Also displays, and green cones on sale. Questioning Education in the 21st Century. Panel discussion. UVic Faculty of Education. Sun Feb 1. 1:303:30pm, Rm 105 Harry Hickman Building. Info: 250-721-6000. Sooke Voice News ~ ad deadline for the Feb.6 edition. Wed. Feb.4. 5pm. Book 3 ads for 10% discount. 250642-7729 [email protected] SD62 Semester 1 Provincial Exams. Feb. 2 to 5. EMCS. Grades 10 to 12. emcs.sd62.bc.ca @SookeVoiceLOCAL Check your insurance policies and make records of your possessions. Friday, January 30, 2015 ::: SOOKE VOICE NEWS Free event postings courtesy as space permits. PRIORITY TO ADVERTISERS Twitter: #26weeks #emergencypreparedness Week 14 www.prepareyourself.ca Follow Follow us us on on Twitter: Twitter: @jdfemerg @jdfemerg Semester 2 starts at EMCS. Fri.Feb.6. Grades 9 to 12. emcs.sd62.bc.ca A Taste of BC. Sat. Feb.7. Fundraiser by Sooke Harbourside Lions. 7-9:30pm at EMCS. Family Day in BC. Mon. Feb.9. Statutory holiday. Awareness Film Night. Wed.Feb.11. DamNation ~ damming of rivers. 7pm, EMCS, 6218 Sooe Rd. By donation. www.awarenessfilmnight.ca Sooke Midget A Raffle. Draw date: Fri. Feb.13. Prizes are tickets to Canucks games. Juan de Fuca NDP 7th Annual Valentine’s Fundraiser. Sat. Feb.14. Olympic View Golf Course. Dinner 7pm. $100 pp. [email protected] Sooke Region Tourism Association (SRTA) AGM. Wed. Feb.18. 7 to 9 pm at Sooke Harbour House. Everyone interested in Tourism is welcome. Tri-District Pro-D. Fri. Feb.20. Non-instructional day; allschools in Sooke & Greater Victoria area. Peoples Drug Mart Sooke ~ 25th Anniversary. Fri. Feb.20 & Sat Feb.21. Prizes, contests. WE B VERSI ON Reading: 15 minutes a day Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative that was started by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999. It’s been held annually on January 27 since then, to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacyrelated activities as a family. Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development. Even just 15 minutes a day can improve a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well. A Play and Learn literacy event was held at Sooke Community Hall on January 28. Also part of the awareness for literacy in Sooke is a free puppet show at SEAPARC on Friday, January 30 at 4pm (also a button maker and snacks), organized by the Sooke Region Literacy Project (SRLP) and the Sooke Library. Books for Breakfast is a 2014-2015 monthly Sooke Region Literacy reading activity at 10am for children ages 2 to 4, at the Sooke Family Resource Society (CASA building) and Shirley Hall. The next Books for Breakfast at the CASA building will be held February 19. The SRLP o utrea ch c oordi na to r is Books for Breakfast will be held at CASA on Feb 19, Stephanie Croft. [email protected] WE B VERSI ON Mar 19, Apr 30 & May 28. Alzheimer’s affects 72% of women January has been Alzheimer Awareness Month, to help raise awareness all year long about that specific type of dementia. In BC there are about 70,000 individuals living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, says BC Health. Nearly 10,000 of those are under the age of 65. Alzheimer's affects the families and friends of people who have Alzheimer’s as the disease robs those with the illness of their memories and independence. This year, the Alzheimer Society of Canada's nationwide campaign for Alzheimer Awareness Month is 'The 72%,' which represents the number of Canadian women affected by the disease. Grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives and friends represent the majority of those affected. Women also often step into the role of caregiver for those stricken with Alzheimer's, which can double the magnitude of this disease on women. "I would encourage all British Columbians to learn more about this disease, as well as the resources available to those impacted by Alzheimer's,” said BC Health Minister Terry Lake last week. Early detection and supports can greatly improve the quality of life for those affected. The Alzheimer Society of BC has resources such as the First Link program, an early intervention service, which connects families to support groups and education, as well as other community and health-care services. In 2014, the Province provided $4 million to support this program, bringing the total provincial and Provincial Health Services Authority contribution to First Link to approximately $10.7 million since 2007. www.alzheimerbc.org "I commend the work of the Alzheimer Society of BC in educating British Columbians and supporting people with Alzheimer's, as well as our world-class researchers who are dedicated to finding a cure.” said Lake who also recognizes the caregivers and those who “courageously cope with the disease”. SVN Journey Hockey Submitted by Grade 7 JMS students Ireland Greenhough and Jayme Vivian This is the 2nd year for the Journey Middle School (JMS) Hockey Academy. It’s a great way to improve your skills and get some exercise. You learn so much and meet lots of fun hockey players. Our coach Mr. Elm is very nice and a great coach. As si st ant coaches come from EMCS to give us tips on how to get into hockey and develop skills. We go to the Sooke rink every Monday and W ednesday for about an hour and 25 minutes. Our favorite things about hockey academy are all the fun drills, coaches and players; it’s an amazing chance to work with them. If you’re thinking about joining hockey academy you should definitely join!! We have had Mr. Elm as a school teacher and hockey coach for two years and we look forward tp a 3rd year . It’s a great chance to meet new people and make new friends. Drop off-pay by the bag: Household goods, kitchen scraps, wood, construction materials, tires & batteries, old paint, yard waste, electronics. 2049 Idlemore Rd in Sooke NEXT TO ARDENS SELF STORAGE Mon, Wed-Sat 8:30-5 | Sun 10-4 Free Scrap Metal Drop-Off Info: 250-642-5297 “We were very pleased with the turnout for our Future Journey Dragon evening on January 15,” says Journey Middle School Principal Laurie Szadkowski. “Approximately 275 parents and Grade 5 students attended and we received a very positive response.” There was a presentation in the gym and then parents and students toured the school. Most Grade 6 teachers were on hand to be introduced and answer questions. “On hand to spread the good word about all the amazing opportunities at Journey were our school counsellor, Art teacher, Concert Band conductor and Hockey coach,” says Szadkowski. Journey Middle School has students in Grades 6 to 8, and is the feeder school for the Edward Milne Community School where Grades 9 to 12 are offered. SVN WE B VERSI ON New and returning Hockey Academy students can register online beginning January 30 at http://academies.sd62.bc.ca Alzheimer’s support in Sooke Nearly three-quarters of Canadians living with Alzheimer's disease are women. It's an eye-opening statistic, but it's not news to the many Sooke families whose lives have been altered by the dementia journey. "Women represent 72% of Canadians living with Alzheimer’s disease," says Meriel Randerson, the Alzheimer Society of BC's Support & Education Coordinator for Sooke and Greater Victoria. "They could be your mothers, wives, sisters, grandmothers or friends." The Society's annual AlzheimerAwareness Month campaign in January adopted the theme The 72% to help inform women age 40+ about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and about brain health and how the programs and services of the non-profit Alzheimer Society of BC can help. More women than men are living with Alzheimer’s disease because they live longer and age is a significant risk factor, Randerson says. The risk of dementia doubles every five years after age 65. Women also account for 70% of family caregivers. "The disease takes a tremendous toll on these women who eventually provide round-the-clock care. The burden is especially high for women raising families and holding down jobs," she said. Though women are disproportionately affected, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias affect everyone. 10 warning signs for Alzheimer's disease or other dementias More than 70,000 people in BC face de1. Memory loss that affects day-to-day abilities. Forgetting things mentia. The 72% Awareness Month camoften or struggling to retain new information. paign was held in January but local fami2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Forgetting how to do some lies living with dementia can receive asthing you’ve been doing your whole life, such as preparing a meal or sistance year-round fromRanderson. She getting dressed. can be contacted at 250-382-2052 or 3. Problems with language. Forgetting words or substituting words [email protected] . SVN that don’t fit the context. 4. Disorientation in time and space. Not knowing what day of the week it is or getting lost in a familiar place. 5. Impaired judgment. Not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing light clothing on a cold day. Be part of Sooke Minor Fastball’s 6. Problems with abstract thinking. Having difficulty balancing a rich heritage! 2015 Season! chequebook, for example, or not understanding what numbers are Kids 5-8 Learn To Play and how they are used. Ages 9-18 in organized league play 7. Misplacing things. Putting things in strange places, like a dress in REGISTER in the SEAPARC lobby: the refrigerator or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. Sat Feb 7 [10 to 12 noon] 8. Changes in mood and behaviour. Exhibiting severe mood swings Sun Feb 22 [1:30 to 3:30pm] from being easy-going to quick-tempered. Mon Mar 9 [4 to 6pm] 9. Changes in personality. Behaving out of character, such as Wed Mar 25 [6 to 8pm] becoming confused, suspicious, or fearful. 10. Loss of initiative. Losing interest in friends, family and favourite Get the forms ahead of time at www.sookefastball.com and activities. bring payment by cheques. Information by The Alzheimer Society of BC WE B VERSI ON Spay-neuter blitz The Victoria Cat Rescue Corps will hold their annual ‘spay/neuter blitz’ starting Monday, Feb16 for a limited time. Victoria Cat Rescue Corps will pay the full cost of spay/ neuter procedures for cats belonging to low-income pet owners. Stray and feral cats welcome too. Info: 250 656-1100 or www.victoriacatrescue.com SVN WE B VERSI ON Bring in this coupon for $8 off on your next oil change! Friendly service! Drop-In Service! 872 Langford Parkway 250-590-5678 Open daily ~ in Langford Mon-Sat 8-6 & Sun 10-5 Like us on Facebook! VicGreatCanadianOilChange THIS COUPON EXPIRES: February 28, 2015 WE B VERSI ON WE B VERSI ON Sooke Voice News ~ January 2015
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