It doesn’t really roll off the tongue, but it does help get things done in this little community of ours. The B.C. Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program grant for Unique Heritage Infrastructure has put some oomph behind the maintenance and upkeep of two of our local treasures. The new paint job at the library makes the wonderful shingle work “pop” (hats off to Izora Goodwin and Anna Bethune!) and the siding removal at the hall is mostly complete, with the Typar paper nearly a wrap, thanks to Bryan Rossiter and his fabulous team! Shout out to Rashmi Singh from Curry in the Creek for supplying the hard-working hall crew with her delicious butter chicken lunch!
Beth Hawthorn Ceramics is the current show at the Gumboot Café, her grouping of usable art pieces adorning crates on the walls. With reasonable prices on the bottom of each one, it’s as easy as taking your fav to the cash and giving it a new forever home on the spot.
The second weekend into the summer series at the #219 has Grant Olsen on Friday (9th) and Sofa Kings Saturday evening (10th), both shows listed as 4-8 p.m., $5 for members and 10 bucks for guests of members. Cheap as chips is what they say down under. Rolling into town from Vangroovy (Vancouver is not the Big Smoke btw, that’s Sydney) next week, it’s Buddy and the Scarecrow. Having personally been on a couple of stages with two of these folks, I can vouch for their buckets of talent in entertaining a crowd. Be there Saturday the 17th, git yer tix at rclegionevents.com while they still got ’em.
Not the news I like to share, but some of the concepts our home is known for – inclusiveness, family life, peaceful enjoyment – seem to be challenged by a few at the very heart of our waterfront.
There are disturbing stories of uncomfortable interactions at the entrance to Roberts Creek beach. Tales of racism, violence, uncontrolled dogs, of children not feeling safe and trash strewn about this most central of community spaces, speak of the mental health and addiction issues no locale is immune from. I personally know some of those who enjoy the “living room” and know them to be respectful of the space, but there seem to be others there that don’t understand that this is a place for all, and if they disturb the peace and balance of our home they will no longer be welcome.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has kept us from our public square and created a vacuum that seems to have been filled by a few who don’t understand what community is. Hopefully those who need help can find it and rejoin life among those fortunate enough to live here.
When contacted by SCRD director Andreas Tize, Sgt. Don Newman of the RCMP had this to say on the subject: “Our supplemental summer policing patrols began this weekend and one of our areas of focus will be RC Pier. However, these extra patrols only encompass a couple days a week. What we need is the public to call in with complaints as they happen so we can respond and identify the problem parties and make attempts to reduce these incidents.”
Let’s talk: [email protected].
