Greetings Creekers!
One of the rituals of fall in the Creek is stopping at the bridge to check out the salmon spawning in the creek. It’s hard to know what the numbers are and what they mean but we all know about the effect of climate change and forestry activities on our salmon runs. Back in the mid ‘80s I lived in that little cabin you can see from the bridge, right by the side of the creek and I clearly remember that one year there were more salmon than water. The creek was alive with flapping fish and it was a noisy backdrop for a couple of weeks. Well, that hasn’t happened for years but I did receive some encouraging news from Streamkeepers. This year, numbers are the highest in the six years this organization has been counting and so far surpasses last year’s total by over 3,000. If you want to know more about all this, you can check it out sunshinecoaststreamkeepers.com and if you go to their Facebook page, you can see pictures and videos. Streamkeepers is also the place to go if you want to find out about the relationship between forests and water and the effect of logging practices and land development.
On that note, many of you will know that the property at 3094 Lower Rd is for sale. It is a 4+ acre parcel that includes the riparian between Lower Road bridge and the confluence of Roberts Creek and Clack Creek. The property has been owned by the same family for decades and they would like to see this unique area protected and the property remain intact. Current zoning allows for an eight-lot subdivision. Streamkeepers is reaching out to the community to explore networking with other environmental organisations, land trusts and donors for ideas on achieving the goal of preserving this wildlife corridor. Your ideas and experience are welcome.
I just realised that I am writing for the Nov. 29 issue of the paper and that means next week it will be December! Yikes! No wonder there are craft fairs popping up like mushrooms. I am waiting for numbers to support this, but last week’s Hall Craft Fair looked like a huge success to me. There certainly were a lot of shoppers and I hope all the vendors did well.
So, now, I will embrace the Christmas background music instead of blocking it and get into the spirit. For me that means planning get-togethers and cooking and baking all sorts of things I shouldn’t eat. It also means decorating and the fight of the lights. The fight of the lights means convincing my spouse we should put them up and then a long, tense period of untangling the ones I put away last year. Then we sit back and admire the twinklyness. It’s just another ritual.
Speaking of rituals there is the one where families take their children and sit them on a red stranger’s knee for a photograph. Pictures with Santa!
This Sunday, Dec. 1, it’s Santa in the Creek at the Hall. You can dress up your children take them and yes, even your pet, for a photo with Santa. From 1 to 1:15 p.m. is a quiet time set aside for children with sensory sensitivity; 1:15 to 3 p.m. bring the family and 3:30 to 4 p.m., you can bring your pet hedgehog. Regular pets too of course but I think a hedgehog would be pretty hilarious. It’s all by donation and there will be cider and hot chocolate.
Planning for the Annual Hall Christmas Dinner is already under way. Everyone is welcome to this fabulous feast and in a couple of weeks, I will give you more details. In the meantime, there is the volunteer schedule to fill. People are needed to cook turkeys in their home oven, cook at the hall, do dishes, set up and clean up. Go to volunteersignup.org/BQL3T. Many hands make light work! Donations of turkeys, food and gift cards are still needed. Get in touch with Diana at [email protected].
The xwesam- RCCA is still looking for a part time bookkeeper. If you are interested contact Karen Spicer, [email protected].
If you want to see a rocking blues band head to the legion tonight to see Poppa Greg. Tomorrow night it’s another local band, The Burning World, with lots of familiar names from the music community. Ross Powell, Martin Brown, Regan Haydu, Stuart Young, Mike West, Heather Dore, Patrice Pollack and Bill Barclay will be performing original songs from their upcoming album as well as selections from their first album. Expect a wide range of music to listen and dance to. Show at 9 p.m.
That’s it. Have a great weekend. Only a few more columns to go for me so write to me, [email protected], if you are interested in taking over.
