BREAKERS – timely tidbits and follow-ups to previously published stories:
- Readers question Mayor’s rationale for lack of Town beautification
- TOSH Music on Sunday is streaming ahead online
- Celebrate National Tree Day September 23
- Become a licensed radio operator Sep 26 – Dec 19 online
Readers question Mayor’s rationale for lack of Town beautification
Feedback from readers about our story Town beautification kicks into gear — at the end of August? (Sep 3, 2020) questions the Mayor’s statements about why Qualicum Beach was looking so unkempt this summer. While we are pleased to see that a few hanging baskets have been placed on upper Second Avenue West in QB’s retail core since our story was published, other concerns have been brought to our attention.
In our previous story, we had reported that Patrick Simpson of What’s Cooking was told by the Town and also by the Mayor that summer students are hired by the parks department for this purpose and that COVID-19 apparently prevented the Town from hiring any students.
“Administrator [Heather] Svensen and Mayor [Brian] Wiese also said that bedding plants and shrubs for hanging baskets and planters were unavailable for purchase during the pandemic,” according to Patrick Simpson.
A reader contacted us to say, “I don’t know why Mayor Wiese said that bedding plants and shrubs for hanging baskets and planters were unavailable for purchase during the pandemic.” The reader expressed surprise because she recalled that the Town had placed a notice in the Qualicum Beach Gardening Club’s July 2020 newsletter, excerpted here, giving away bedding plants.
To add further confusion to the rationale for why the Town wasn’t looking very spiffy this summer, an observant reader alerted us to the startling news that at least 25 large street planters full of shrubs and flowering plants are clustered in the Qualicum Beach parks department yard on Jones Avenue near Rupert Road. We checked and can confirm that there are 25 large, fully planted street planters “decorating” the Town’s utility yard, apparently still being watered. Why were these large street planters kept hidden away, when they could have graced the streets of our entire Village core, benefitting QB’s retail, tourism and small businesses? Were they pulled off the street? Planted, but never installed? Just forgotten?
on Jones Avenue near Rupert Road.
TOSH Music on Sunday is streaming ahead online
The Music on Sunday program at The Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH) will be hosted via virtual livestreams this season, and will include performances from across the province, with musicians broadcasting from Nelson, Hornby Island, Vancouver and Victoria. Program and tickets available here.
Celebrate National Tree Day September 23
Become a licensed ham radio operator Sep 26 – Dec 19 online
Have you ever thought of becoming a federally licensed (ham) radio operator? Bounce your signals off the moon, track satellites, make friends around the world, or talk to the Space Station! Enhance your personal and community preparedness. Perfect for outdoor activities: back-packing, boating, RVing… Online insruction (Zoom) and tutors will help you develop the skills needed to obtain your licence. Check out the Mid-Island Radio Association website for details.