Seven long, painful years, and still they wait for answers. They wait for closure.

The family of Rhody Lake is bringing up painful memories this week in the hopes of triggering someone’s recollections around the disappearance of the 80-year-old Sechelt woman who went missing on Nov. 27, 2005.

The family is resigned to the fact that Lake is gone because they have not seen her all these seven years, but you can imagine their anguish with not knowing why or what happened to her.

Lake, who was an avid walker and hiker and known to walk into town from her Sandy Hook home for church gatherings and get togethers with friends, simply vanished that fateful Sunday afternoon seven years ago.

A massive search was conducted, but there was no trace of her. The only clue is the last reported sighting of her talking to an older man at the entrance of Porpoise Bay Provincial Park. Lake’s family is hoping someone will come forward.

Someone has to know what happened. Please, if that someone is out there, look deep into your heart and provide this family with the closure that they so desperately need.

Heroes around us

Mother Nature hit the East Coast of the United States in late October with a furious punch as Hurricane Sandy swept up and down, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.

Thousands were without power for weeks, homes destroyed, lives in shambles. Enter five ordinary guys from the Sunshine Coast who brought some peace of mind and help to storm-weary residents.

Our hats are off this week to Karl Nicholas, Ben Bailey, Colin MacLeod, Dustin Seabrook and Allan Rae from Midway Power Line Services Ltd. in Sechelt who travelled to New York with three bucket trucks. Within 74 hours, they were on scene in New York ready to get to work.

They didn’t have to go, but when the call came out, these guys stepped up and volunteered. It shows the kind of compassion that many of us have for others who are in need. They received gifts from grateful citizens, hugs and well wishes. These men went above and beyond the regular call of duty.

What a wonderful thing they did.

And speaking of going above and beyond, we’re also sending thanks to Chad Gibson, Ryan Kunce and Karen Apolzer who received Vital Link BC awards from the BC Ambulance Service for using CPR to save the lives of three fellow Sunshine Coasters.

BCAS attends between 2,400 and 2,800 cardiac arrest calls each year. Only 12 per cent of British Columbians who suffer cardiac arrest survive. We can change those numbers by learning basic CPR. All of us have the potential to save a life. Be a hero, learn CPR.