The chair of the Comox Valley Regional District’s (CVRD) electoral area services committee wants to take a second look at the proposed ban of beach fires at Goose Spit, in order to better understand how to improve management of potentially harmful emissions from that source, as well as to consider other things that could work to improve air quality in the Comox Valley.

“The beach fire program implemented by the CVRD a year ago has made great strides in improving the experience of enjoying Goose Spit,” said Jim Gillis. “In the past the beach used to be littered with burned driftwood. People burned all kinds of material that produced extremely harmful emissions, and they burned in unsafe areas close to the bluffs. The CVRD’s program of providing fire rings, selling appropriate wood, monitoring and enforcement on the site by a park steward, and general public education, has gone a long way to making the situation better, and I want to see if there is a way to further improve it, and to look at other things within the CVRD’s control that can have a positive effect on our air quality.”

A year-long air quality monitoring project by the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) and the University of Victoria showed that while the air quality in the Comox Valley isn’t bad, there are areas of concern in terms of particulate matter generated by fires, and at certain times, Goose Spit is one of them. The CVRD will be asking the area’s medical health officer to attend a future electoral area services committee to discuss air quality and the effects wood burning can have.

“There has been a great deal of public comment on the recommendation to ban fires at Goose Spit, and CVRD staff have been monitoring that comment,” said Gillis. “I, and my colleagues on the board, want to look further at some of the very helpful suggestions on how we can balance enjoyment of our region without compromising our health. We will need to look at how we can perhaps further enhance the beach fire program, as well as look at things like a wood stove exchange programs and outdoor burning in the electoral areas.”

The committee will consider the earlier recommendation to ban the beach fires, and possible alternatives, at its meeting on February 15.

The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) board of directors has elected Greg Phelps as its chair. Edwin Grieve was acclaimed as vice-chair. They will serve in these positions for the next year.

This will be the first term as chair for Phelps, who was elected at the inaugural board meeting today. The chair, along with the other eight directors, oversees the activities and services that the regional district delivers to its nearly 60,000 residents and, by contract, the various services provided to the Strathcona Regional District just to the north of the CVRD.

“I am pleased to be given the opportunity to lead this group through 2010 which I believe will be a productive year,” said Phelps, who has been a board director since 2008. “We will be working on the final year of developing the regional growth strategy, addressing region-wide issues around homelessness and overseeing the process of some significant developments. I can stand on my record as a team player which it is imperative the chair be, and I am always willing to listen and to learn.”

Directors serve for a three-year term, and the directors elect the chair and vice-chair position each year. Municipal mayors and councillors appoint directors from their areas to sit on the CVRD board, and the elected representatives from the electoral areas make up the other CVRD board members. Phelps is also the mayor of the City of Courtenay and vice chair Grieve represents Puntledge-Black Creek (Area ‘C’) as director.

The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.

The flooding in Courtenay has subsided, and there is no immediate risk for further floods. The following is an excerpt from the City of Courtenay website:

All roads closed on November 16, 2009 by flooding are now open.

Flows in the Puntledge, Courtenay, Tsolum and Browns River have dropped significantly since yesterday, and we are not anticipating any significant flooding at this time.

BC Hydro continues to manage flows into the Puntledge River at the Comox Dam.

River levels are being monitored both by the City and BC Hydro, and updates will be provided on this website and through local media.

The Comox Valley Emergency Program Coordinator is contacting the Provincial Emergency Program to determine if Disaster Financial Assistance will be available.

If you are thinking about crossing either the 5th street or 17th street bridge today, think again. Flooding has forced the closure of both bridges. Many other bridges such as the condensory are also shut down.

Massive flooding has forced emergency officials to close the bridges and several streets as flood waters rise. BC Hydro is also expected to be forced to release large amounts of water from the dam which will not help the situation.

As of 9:30 this morning the Dyke Road (into Comox) was still open, but it is expected that it will not remain so for much longer.

Word is schools are also closing early, so it is advised to just stay home and avoid the heavy congestion as people try to figure out how to cross the river!

Remembrance Day services taking place in the Comox Valley this year are as follows:

Who: Royal Canadian Legion Branch #128
Where: 2770 Dunsmuir Ave, Cumberland
Services: 10:30 am

Who: Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #160
Where: 1825 Comox Ave
Services: 10:30 am

Who: Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #17
Where: 367 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay
Breakfast: 9:00 am
Services: 10:35 am

Who: Union Bay Historical Society
Where: At the Cairn, Old school Yard, Union Bay
Services: 10:45 am

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD)’s sports centre will deliver a spirited activity night on October 31.

At the Fright Night Spooktacular, participants can skate, swim, and watch a movie for one fee of $5 including skate rentals and popcorn. The event is costume-optional and is open to area residents of all ages with particular appeal to tweens and early teens.

“We wanted to give local youth a way to celebrate Halloween in a fun, event styled environment,” says Jennifer Dickins, manager of recreation programs for the CVRD. “Parents can feel confident knowing this event will be a unique, safe environment for their kids.”

Fright Night starts with a skate at 7:45 p.m., where skaters will enjoy today’s top 40 hits, and then the activity moves to the pool at 9:00 p.m. for the “flick and float”. The movie – an animated family fantasy – will be shown at 9:15 p.m.

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), along with the SPCA in the Comox Valley, is once again reminding animal owners to use extra caution this Halloween when fireworks and other noisemakers are going off.

“The sights and sounds of fireworks and other noisemakers are very frightening to animals and often cause them to run away to find a place to hide,” said Tricia DeBruyne, manager of the Comox Valley SPCA. “Keeping your pets indoors around Halloween will help stop this from happening.”

The CVRD administers the animal control bylaw for the electoral areas of Baynes Sound, Lazo North, and Puntledge-Black Creek (areas A, B and C). As well, the regional district supplies dog licenses to residents in those areas.

Making sure your dog is licensed makes helps them be more easily returned to you if they do run away.

“It’s very likely there will be fireworks beginning this weekend and going through to Halloween night, and those of us with animals need to take necessary precautions to keep them safe,” said Fred Bates, CVRD board chair.

It’s not just dogs that are afraid of the fireworks’ noise and lights. Horses and cats also react very negatively in those situations, so all animals should be contained during times of fireworks use.

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is a partnership of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing nearly 60,000 residents with 85 services — from parks to full-service sports facilities to a solid waste system that serves both the CVRD and the Strathcona Regional District

The following was sent to Comox Valley Guide from Surgenor Brewing…

Friday is our Shamrock Place Block Party from 3 – 7 pm.

• We (Surgenor Brewing) is providing customers with tours of the brewhouse and serving Chilli and Beer samples.
• Coast Realty is serving Bar-B-Que corn on the cob
• Aquatech is serving Smoked Salmon
• Grant Floors is serving Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• The Grooming place is having Anna the lama walking around and they will be having some dogs doing tricks as well….

The weather will be wonderfully warm so come out and have a visit…we look forward to seeing you.

Saturday, October 17, 2009
10:00am – 4:00pm
Cumberland Cultural Centre, Museum and Grounds
(On Dunsmuir Ave in Cumberland)

A free day long community celebration with harvest activities, guided hiking, biking & heritage tours, kids crafts & games, plant and book sales, community booths, local merchant specials, films, delicious fall food and the much anticipated 2nd Annual Cumberland Pie of the Year Contest!

Enjoy indoor and outdoor activities at the Cumberland Culture Centre and the Cumberland Museum and Visitor Centre. Pick up your Halloween pumpkin (with proceeds to the Cumberland Community School Society) or hang out and carve one with your friends and neighbours.

Head downtown for an Oktoberfest pint at a local pub or take a self guided heritage tour and stop in at the local shops and cafes and enjoy all the Village as to offer.

The Cumberland Harvest Fair is presented by the Cumberland Chamber of Commerce and CIA in partnership with their friends at: Sitka Silviculture Ltd, Cumberland Community Schools Society, Our Big Earth, Cumberland Museum, Cumberland Pathfinders, World Community and many others!

Stay tuned for a detailed day long schedule of craft activities and games, tours, films, pie contest and more!

The following is a press release  from the Comox Valley Regional District:

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) has recognized one local business and two homeowners for creating water wise landscapes and for their commitment to reducing water consumption.

Entries were received in a competition that encouraged local homeowners to let us know that they have chosen to be water wise while maintaining a beautiful property. We also wanted to hear from businesses or institutions that have taken a lead in water wise landscaping practices, rain water harvesting, and shower/toilet efficiency.

Water-conscious design, use of native plant material, landscape condition and maintenance, environmental awareness, and the all-important “WOW” factor were elements considered when evaluating the submissions.

“We want people to be environmentally responsible – composting, using mulch and rain barrels and planning landscapes that are water wise,” said Michael Zbarsky, engineering analyst CVRD and one of the program evaluators. “We were very pleased with the quality of the entries.”

Each winner was awarded a gift certificate for a water wise prize and a book titled “Water Wise Gardening” by Ian Cooke. Everyone who participated in the contest has shown that heavy watering simply isn’t necessary for a beautiful, lush property. Properties recognized for their efforts are featured online at www.comoxvalleyrd.ca.

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is a partnership of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing nearly 60,000 residents with 85 services — from parks to full-service sports facilities to a solid waste system that serves both the CVRD and the Strathcona Regional District.