Is a rooster a chicken? A local resident recently posted his story on Roberts Creeks Speaks Facebook page. In it he gives a damn good lesson on the importance of legislative law writing clarity and how according to Bylaw 310, which governs Roberts Creek, “Poultry” means domestic birds raised for the consumption of eggs or meat such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pheasants, quail, game birds and ratites” (these include ostrich, rhea, emu, cassowary, and kiwi, as well as the extinct moa and elephant bird). In a visit to our long-term Creeker, an intrepid SCRD bylaw officer (described as a fine fellow) revealed that (according to the resident’s version of the incident) a rooster is not, in fact, a chicken, and the resident would need to dispatch said non-chicken forthwith or face the wrath of the SCRD (in the form of a fine). There were no other contraventions to the keeping of poultry found at the property, just the presence of a rooster. There was some speculation as to the source of the complaint that brought the bylaw officer to the door. Was it a weekend visitor to one of the (not small) number of Airbnbs popping up? Or perhaps a newcomer to rural life, unaware that animals make noise (and smell too), as well as provide us with food? We may never know, but if this goes to court, I don’t see how the SCRD has a chicken leg to stand on.
I spent the day on the beach and forgot the last year and a half even happened. Nice. I also happened to stumble upon a large pack of ukulele players behind the library. Ukuleles that inhabit music stores in a row or tight cluster are known as “a temptation of ukuleles.” Once adopted by a uker, they may appear in: A “plink” (where two or three novices meet), or “a fluency of ukes” (from the German “ein fluency”), but this is now so rare that the slang term “a swine-fluency of ukes” occurs more frequently (from the Oxford Dictionary).
A little black bird has told me that there are big things going on at our little legion. An interior excavation crew has dug through a layer of 1970s carpet and glue to reveal a layer of 1960s carpet glue and under that, the original 219 floor that was part of the fishing cabin bought in 1958 that is our legion today! The sanding continues this week and outside there is much more painting and preening of our beloved venue by a small army of volunteers and donations from all over the Gumboot Nation and beyond. Led by the indomitable Pamela Messner, with the added energies of John and Karen Davis and Kevin Williams, and others, this group of folks are showing us once again that there is a big heart at our little legion. Next weekend, July 1, will be the re-emergence of our “living room,” albeit with outdoor events only. More to come next week.
Got news? Give it to me at [email protected].
