Comox Valley News Blog

August 2008 - Comox Valley Guide Newsletter

2008-08-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

August 2008

Hello Comox Valley Guide Subscribers!

This is our very first Comox Valley Guide newsletter! At some point in the future we hope to start sending out our newsletters on a regular monthly basis.

Since we first launched the site approximately 2 years ago, things have sure come a long way. This first newsletter is rather short and sweet to announce the two most recent additions to the site.

Free Classified Ads
After much thought, we have decided to add a Free Classified Ad services for anyone to post their items for sale, garage sales, employment opportunities, etc. All ads will have an expiry period of 60 days, and are 100% free providing that they are related to the Comox Valley. Post your ads today to help this free service grow!
(http://www.comoxvalleyguide.com/classifieds/)

Comox Valley Forum
We have noticed in the past that there are really no online, general purpose, forums in the Comox Valley, so we have taken it apon ourselves to set one up. Currently there is not much action, but with a little time we are hoping that site users and community members will use this forum to discuss anything of interest!
(http://www.comoxvalleyguide.com/forum/)

Over the past several months we have also received a number of emails from site visitors asking for more restaurant reviews, but when it comes down to it, we leave it to our site users to review and rate local establishments. If you have eaten out recently and have something to say, either good or bad, write a review for others to see! We’ll post it on our site so everyone knows what to expect!
(http://www.comoxvalleyguide.com/rating/)

Well, that’s it for our first newsletter. We hope to have more of them in the future to announce site updates, local events, and anything else we feel will be relevant and of interest to our users. If you have any comments or questions please let us know! You can reply to this email or contact us direct from the site! (http://www.comoxvalleyguide.com/contact/)

Free Comox Valley Classifieds

2008-08-08T22:03:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce the addition of FREE classified ads available to everyone in the Comox Valley!

If you are looking to sell something, post an upcoming even or announcement, or searching for a new job, feel free to post in our classifieds for some free exposure!

If you find that the category you are looking for has not yet been created, please contact us to let us know and we will happily add it for you!

Happy Selling!

Nautical Days 2008 Photos

2008-08-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

As always Comox Nautical Days was a great success and fun for the whole family! The weather was ideal and the entertainment and parade were great! Here is a small selection of photos from the parade!

Have you ever been to a parade without fire trucks?

The pipe band made their usual appearance.

Arrr, look out for the pirates from Quality Foods!

A newcomer to the parades - A monster truck from Saratoga Speedway!

Nautical Days 2008

2008-08-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

The August long weekend is finally here! We have posted the 2008 Nautical Days Schedule of Events!

Have a fun and safe weekend everyone!!

Movie by the Sea

2008-07-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you saw “E.T. The Extraterrestrial”? Well, if its been a while, and you are looking for something to do this Thursday, sponsored by the Comox Business in Action, there will be a showing down at Marina Park. Pack up the kids, a blanket, and a snack and head on down.

The show starts at 9:30 at Marina Park on July 31. Admission is by donation to the Comox Valley hospice Society

Comox Valley Watering Restrictions

2008-07-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

Is that lawn of yours drying up? You may want to think twice before setting up that sprinkler of yours.

All users supplied by the Comox Valley Water System including the City of Courtenay and Town of Comox will have strictly enforced sprinkler restrictions in place until Sept 30. (The regulations are actually in place year round, but strict enforcement runs between June 01 and Sept 30.

Sprinkling is permitted before 7:00 am and after 7:00 pm on even days or odd days where the last digit in your address is even or odd respectively.

Hand watering of your lawn is permitted at any time.

Gold Rush at the Courtenay Library

2008-07-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

The Courtenay Library is presenting "Summer Reading Club: Gold Rush Fever" this Thursday July 17th.

This is a free program for kids ages 5 & up and they are welcome to dress up like a miner & discover what it was like to live during the Gold Rush.

Visit us on the 17th between 10:30 and 11:30 am. There will be stories, games, & panning for gold. Preregistration is required, however the program is free. For more information call 250.334.3369 or stop by the Courtenay Library on 6th St.

Market Days Coming Soon - July 18 2008

2008-07-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

The 38^th Annual Downtown Courtenay Market Day is quickly approaching! From 9:00 am till 9:00 PM 5^th Street will be closed and business will be selling their wares street side, along with great food and entertainment for the whole family.

If you are looking for a fun time out shopping with the whole family, want to save a few bucks and grab a great bargain, or just join in a tradition that has been part of 5^th St for nearly 4 decades, be sure to head downtown next Friday, July 18^th!

Vancouver Island Music Fest 2008

2008-07-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend the Comox Valley Exhibition grounds will be home to 3 days of music from around the world. It’s that time again for Music Fest. Dozens of artists from around the globe will perform on 6 stages offering a great weekend for all concert goers.

Tickets are on sale now at the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay, or at the gate. Rates for the event are as follows:

Adult Weekend Pass: $139
Youth Pass (13-18): $65
Seniors (65+): $100
Kids 7-12 yrs - $7
Kids under 7 - FREE
Adult Pass Friday $75.00
Adult Sat or Sunday $80.00
Youth Fri $35.00
Youth Sat or Sunday $45.00
Senior Fri $55.00
Senior Sat or Sun $60.00

Days passes for kids at the gate only
GST will be applied at 5%

For More Information visit our Music Fest page here at Comox Valley Guide.

Sunday Sounds at the Filberg

2008-07-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

Sunday evenings are a great time this summer for live music, but if it just isn't enough for you, you can also take in live, free concerts, at the Filberg Lodge on Sunday afternoons!

Running until August 31, 2008, each Sunday, bring your chairs, blankets and a snack and enjoy seaside music in Comox. The free concerts kicked off near the end of June and the remaining schedule for the summer is as follows

July 13 - Cure All Dance Band
July 20 - Doug Anderson Trio
July 27 - Jenn forsland Group
Aug 10 - Velvet Swing
Aug 17 - Ralph Barratt Band
Aug 24 - Fiddlejam
Aug 31 - Jazztet

Simms Summer Concert Series

2008-07-06T21:16:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for some free summer fun and entertainment for the whole family then the Simms Summer Concert Series is for you.

At the Simms Millennium Park, free concerts will be held every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. until Sunday, September 7 with the exception of July 13 (Musicfest) and August 3 ( Filberg Festival). A variety of performers and music styles to suit all tastes will featured. Bring your chairs or a blanket and settle down on the grass. There is plenty of room for everyone!

Here's a photo from today's concert (July 06, 2008) Legends of Blues.

Here is the complete summer scheduel line up!

June 22 - Georgia Straight Big Band
June 29 - Canada Jam, Battle of the Bands
July 6 - Blues Legends
July 13 - No concert
July 20 - Songs of the Valley
July 27 - TBA
August 3 - No concert
August 10 - FiddleJam
August 17 - Jazz in Parts
August 24 - Comox Valley Song Circle
August 31 - TBA
September 7 - Time Well Wasted

Canada Day in the Comox Valley

2008-07-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

Canada Day, 2008, was a complete success with amazing weather and a wonder parade as usual. here is a small selection of Photos from Tuesday July 1st 2008! Enjoy!

It wouldnt be a Parade without the Pipe Band!

Yee Ha!

Can't forget about the Shriners!

An old steam engine

A nice big crowd on their way down to the park.

For a run down of this years schedule, to get an idea of what to expect next year, see our Canada Day Page! This page will be updated as soon as next years schedule is made available!

For the Kids - Hands on Farm

2008-06-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

Looking for some fun with the kids? The Comox Recreation Hands on Farm Petting Zoom at the Filberg Park is in full swing for the summer!

Running 10:00 - 4:00 from now until August 19th, the Hands on Farm is a great place to take the kids for some family fun. The farm features a donkey, goats, guinea pigs, rabbits, a lamb, chickens, and a calf.

Admission Rates are $1 for children under 5, and $2 for those 6 and over. Family rates are available at $5, and family summer passes are $30.

For more information you can call 250-339-FARM, or visit their website at members.shaw.ca/HandsonFarm

Happy Canada Day 2008!

2008-06-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

You know its summer when the Canada Day Parade kicks off on July 1^st. This year we are extremely fortunate to have hot and sunny skies in the forecast - a pleasant change from the usual rain we seem to get on parade day.

Be sure to pack your sun block, water, and a hat, because it is supposed to be a hot one - in fact, the entire 4 day long weekend is looking pretty good! The weather network is forecasting 28 degrees on Saturday, 26 on Sunday and Monday, and cooling slightly to 25 for Tuesday. The remainder of the week looks great at 22.

The sunshine will be welcomed as the festivities kick underway with the parade set to start at 10:30. The complete schedule, as printed in today's Comox Valley Record can be found by Visiting our Canada Day Events page.

We hope everyone has a great time this Canada Day! Leave us a comment on what you like most about this early summer holiday!

Tips to Save Gas

2008-06-19T12:46:00.001-07:00

Take the upcoming increase at the pumps with the 2.4 cent/liter carbon tax, and the always constant rise in crude oil prices, and combine this with the seasonal increase caused by summers increase in demand, and you get an all time high for filling your gas tank this season.

With this drain on our wallets, I decided to go out and gather some tips on saving fuel. It literally pays to follow these tips as you'll conserver your gas and your money - not to mention a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Avoid warming up your engine. 30 seconds is plenty of time for most cars.
Don't Idol. One minute of idling is approximately how much fuel it takes to start your car.
Avoid the drive through. Park and walk in to order your burger and fries.
Unless your vehicle manufacturer requires you use high octane gas, don't. Use the lowest octane rated fuel recommended by the manufacturer. You should be able to find this information in your owners manual, or in many cases on a sticker inside your gas door.
Ensure your gas cap is good and tight. Its estimated that 147 million gallons of gas escape into the atmosphere each year as a result of loose or missing gas caps
Gas up your car in the early morning or late evening. The colder it is outside the better. As gas cools it becomes denser and gas pumps measure based on volume, so while the difference may be quite small, you will get more gas for your dollar on those cool days.
Roll up your windows! At higher speeds the drag caused from open windows can reduce your fuel efficiency by 10 percent, potentially burning less fuel and making it cheaper to run your air conditioning than opening your windows.
Keep your tires inflated to the appropriate level. Under inflated tires not only wear down more quickly, but they also lower your gas mileage. Lower inflated tires increase the friction and give more resistance to the engine. Driving on under inflated tires may reduce your mileage by as much as 15%
Keep your engine tuned. Repairing an out of tune engine can save you between 4 and 30% depending on the problem. A misfiring spark plug is one of the biggest offenders.
Plan your trip so that you will either take the shortest route possible, or the quickest. Plan your route so that you will avoid long idling periods in busy traffic. Sometimes the shortest distance is not always the best.
Accelerate and brake smoothly. Fast stops and starts burn more fuel.
If you have cruise control, use it. Maintaining a steady speed burns less fuel.
Take your time. The difference in fuel consumption between traveling 110 km/h and 120 km/h will mail a noticeable difference in your tank. Driving from Courtenay to Nanaimo at 110 will take only about 5 minutes longer than driving 120, and could save you a couple dollars.
Drive in the highest gear possible. Lower RPM's mean better fuel economy - of course you also don't want to lug your engine, keep the revs at the optimal level for your vehicle.
Remove excess weight from your car. The heavier the car, the worse your mileage. Have a mini-van? Remove the third row of seats if you don't use them. Get rid of any unnecessary junk.
Walk or take your bike. If your just heading down the street, why drive? Walking is not only free, its good for you too!

Fathers Day Kite Fly

2008-06-18T17:46:00.000-07:00

The 22^nd Annual father's day kite fly was a success on Sunday. The annual tradition packed the parking lots and streets and brought hundreds of people to Goose Spit. The weather was perfect the winds were up, and they skies were colorful with a huge variety of kites big and small.

Courtenay Burning Ban

2008-06-17T10:56:00.001-07:00

If you have a pile of debris that you plan on burning, you better strike the match soon as all backyard burning, including camp fires, is about to be banned in Courtenay.

Monday night, a recommendations made by fire chief Don Bardonnex, was agreed on by city councilors to strengthen an existing burning bylaw, and to end the fires indefinitely.

The major reason for the change is cleaner air, as the smoke from backyard fires, especially on very calm days, can actually build to hazardous levels.

These days backyard burning is completely unnecessary. For a few years now the City of Courtenay has offered free curb side pickup of yard waste, which is then composted and recycled. Find out when they are picking up in your area and place your yard waste in compostable bags or cans clearly labeled as yard waste. Its better for the environment, and its better for your lungs.

Islanders and the Terasen Gas Increase

2008-06-16T07:45:00.000-07:00

Terasen Gas is working for a rate increase to be in place by July 1 - the request is currently before the British Columbia Utilities Commission. The increase would result in an average annual cost to customers of about $150.

If approved, the upcoming 11% gas price hike will not impact us islanders. Vancouver Island and the sunshine coast are covered by a different regulatory agreement than the rest of the province. As we island folk recently saw a 3.5% increase in rates back in March, there is no scheduled increase in our gas rates.

Taxi Fares and Carbon Tax

2008-06-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Effective July 12 Taxi fares in the Comox Valley (and the rest of BC) will increase 3.5 percent due to the rising cost of fuel. The increase is to help out struggling operators manage with the significant increases on fuel over the past few months.

If you frequently take taxis be prepared for the small increase in fares. With the upcoming carbon tax driving up fuel prices another 2.4 cents higher, one has to wonder, where does it all end? Get your bicycles tuned up, and your running shoes laced - motorized transportation is quickly becoming the way of the super rich.

10 Digit Dialing Coming Soon!

2008-06-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Its been around in the lower main land for some time now, and very soon, 10 digit telephone dialing will be integrated into the rest of the province.

With the high demand on phone numbers, the current 250 & 604 area codes are just not enough, and the integration of a new 778 area code will begin as of September of this year, just a few short months away.

For now both the traditional 7 digit, as well as new, 10 digit dialing will work. As of June 23rd, callers dialing 7 digit numbers will hear a recorded message reminding them to switch to 10 digit dialing, and as of Sept 12th of this year, 10 digit dialing will be required.

Now is the time to switch all of your pre-programmed numbers over. Just think of all the extra calories you will burn dialing those extra three digits every time you make a call!

Avoid Shellfish - Red Tide is Here

2008-06-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

The warning is out - Don't eat Shellfish. That is, if it is harvested from Areas 14 or 16, (Oyster River south to Parksville, and the opposite side of the straight). The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) warned of red tide, and beaches are closed as of Wednesday (June 11, 2008) for the harvest of bivalve mollusks which include clams, oysters, mussels, geoducks, scallops, and cockles.

Consuming affected shellfish can result in symptoms within half an hour including numbness or tingling of the lips and tounge later spreading to the fingers and toes. This can also lead to the loss of muscular coordination and paralysis and trouble breathing. In some cases, it can lead to death within 12 hours of consumption.

According to the DFO, as printed in the Comox Valley Echo, "...at the first sign of symptoms vomiting should be induced, a laxative should be taken, and water with baking powder or baking soda should be consumed. Medical attention should be sought as soon as possible. Cooking does not destroy the paralytic shellfish toxin."

Comox Valley Shellfish Festival

2008-05-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

The 2nd Annual Comox Valley Shellfish Festival will take place next month on June 14-15, 2008 at Comox Marina Park.

If you love seafood, then this is one event you wont want to miss. Festival participants include the Union Street Grill, Martine's Bistro, the BlackFin, and more!

Detailed information can be found at the official website, www.comoxvalleyshellfishfestival.ca.

Comox Valley Parks - Section Added

2008-05-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

With the summer quickly approaching kids and adults alike will be spending much more time at local parks.

The Comox Valley has numerous parks offering a wide variety of services ranking from sports facilities for Tennis, Basketball, Soccer and Baseball, to picnic areas, playgrounds, hiking trails, and more.

To help visitors discover the parks available in the Comox Valley, we have added a new "Comox Valley Parks" section to our site. This section will be expanded on and is still underway, but much information is already posted for both Courtenay and Comox Parks.

If you have any suggestions or comments, care to write some content or send some photos for various local parks, we will gladly review and post anything appropriate.

Stay Out of the River

2008-05-23T11:44:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again and BC Hydro is warning those about to head out into the Puntledge River in the next week, to give it a second thought.

Warm weather has increased snow melt and seen the Comox Lake reservoir rise by as much as 30 cm a day, and now puts the lake near overflowing. This is most likely going to result in Hydro releasing some pressure which will result in higher river levels.

With more warm weather in the forecast this weekend, now is not the time to go tubing. It is recommended that only the most experienced river users with complete control over their vessels should be in the river during the higher flows.

Palace Theatre: Days are Numbered

2008-04-04T12:38:00.001-07:00

We've known for some time now that the Palace Theatre is not going to be saved. The fire damage the palace endured from back in July of last year was just far to severe for salvation to be financial worth while, and now, after the better part of a year, the building will be taken down.

Crews have been working on the asbestos removal, and the city of Courtenay has received an application this week for a street closure on April 13. So far the application has not been approved, but it is looking like the 69 year old theatre may be gone in just over a week.

The Palace Theatre built back in 1939 by EW Bickle opened its doors in 1940. It is one of the last remaining art deco style theatres in North America