The Elphinstone Community Association (ECA) will be hosting an all-candidates meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Frank West Hall, in place of a September public meeting. All are invited to attend. Come with your questions for Area E director and School Board candidates. With upcoming October elections, it’s a good time to focus on issues important to our community. Traditionally, turnout in municipal elections is low, but in fact, this is the level of government that we have the most opportunity for input as we elect our neighbours into positions of leadership.
Clint Budd has been spearheading a community initiative on behalf of the ECA for notice boards to be installed at mailbox locations. He has obtained permission from Canada Post to do this. Notice boards at Gower Point Road and Velvet Road are being well used. Clint and the Association would be delighted to see more of these sprouting around our community! The idea is that someone in the neighbourhood can look after the notice board. He and others from the association are willing to help and even provide the post and other materials required. Please call Clint at 604-886-0723 if you would like to help install one at your own local community mailbox.
The Cedar Grove Book Gnome project is in full swing but donations are still needed for this project by fabulous local carver Darcy Gertz. Contact Vel Anderson at 604-886-7488 if you can donate towards the new book gnome, which will replace the one vandalized some years ago. Donations can also be made at the Sunshine Coast Credit Union (direct funds to the Elphinstone Community Association Gnome Project).
Here’s a handy hotline for conservation concerns including injured wildlife, migratory birds, salmon, reporting fish or wildlife violations or illegal activity like the dumping of trash or shellfish theft. The number has a menu for reaching the necessary provincial official and has the slightly unwieldy title of Conservation Officer Service and Natural Resource Officer Reporting Line. Call 1-877-952-7277 or cell #7277. I’m keeping this number handy, and you might want to as well!
In last week’s column I asked for people’s suggestions of heritage buildings and trees in Elphinstone, and Sharon Danroth wrote that her farm house on Pratt, built in 1915 qualifies. Berries were grown there for the jam factory and in the 1960s, when it was subdivided, the barn became Quality Farm. With original fir floors and tongue and groove kitchen, Sharon says it is a true heritage farmhouse.
Contact me at [email protected] with any Elphinstone news or upcoming events.