ABC - Arts, Business & Community Updates

Sooke November-December 2010

As published in the print edition of MapleLine Magazine: Nov.3, 2010

With updates to November 22, 2010.

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HOLIDAY SEASON FESTIVE EVENTS - Nov-Dec.2010 >>

THE ARTS The Sooke Community Arts Council (SCAC) will hold their annual members Christmas Art Show at Little Vienna Bakery in December. Fifth annual concerto competition winner violonist Philip Manning performed with the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra in Sooke, Oct.30 [photo by Jack Most / Copyright 2010 MapleLine Magazine]. Free video rental coupons are given by ArtsinSooke.com (AIS) to anyone whose film reviews are selected for online publication. AIS feature artist for November is Carole Cave of Sooke Dance Studio.

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY Video to Go has relocated from Townsend Road to the Evergreen Centre. Livivi Hair is a new hair salon on Townsend Road. The Island Cat Fanciers Society held their annual show at the Sooke Community Hall Oct.30&31. The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce held its AGM on Nov.2, with Randy Welters standing as president for 2011 (and their Awards dinner on Nov.6 - see list of 2010 winners). CRD Environmental Services held a greenbox workshop in Sooke in September; region-wide curbside compost pickup is set to start in 2011 (see pg.22).

In October MapleLine Business Centre led a workshop on email security issues for business, with presenters from Shaw Communications. John Horgan, MLA for Juan de Fuca and Maurine Karagianis, MLA for Esquimalt-Royal Roads held roundtable discussions about BC’s economic future, Oct.20 & Nov.1. Hwy 14 night time road upgrades continued into October, causing frequent traffic delays in and out of Sooke. Champagne Ventures Ltd. is offering downpayment assistance to Sooke homebuyers through a sweat equity program. A new local radio station called Stickleback FM is being organized by the Sooke Community Radio Society which stemmed from a committee of the Sooke Economic Development Commission.

Friday night lounge entertainment is back at Sooke Harbour House this fall. A bus tour to showcase various development projects in Sooke was organized by the District of Sooke for Oct.21. In October optometrists Dr. Louise Morin and Dr. Brian Joslin promoted Eye Health Month in local flyers to Sooke residents. Bees Knees clothing store is shifting from children’s clothes to a boutique for all ages.

Jim Matei of HBM Canada Manufacturing Inc. received a huge thank you card signed by the students at Saseenos Elementary for the reflective flags and LED lights he applied to the crosswalk on Hwy 14 outside that school, this fall.

Many businesses and schools closed early on Monday, November 22 due to excessive snowfall. The District of Sooke cancelled/rescheduled their Council meeting (from Nov.22 to Nov.29) and many organizations cancelled classes and meetings.

POLICE BEAT Sooke RCMP advised the community of two arrests in September, one regarding possession of loaded handguns and the other for possession of child pornography. Calls for service were up this summer, including an increase in vehicle thefts seen in parks. Two Sooke officers took part in the G8 Summit in Toronto during the summer, returning with additional crowd management expertise. Domestic violence concerns are handled by a full-time staff person at the detachment. An injury accident occurred at the pedestrian crosswalk outside Edward Milne Secondary School in September, resulting from bright sunlight obscuring the driver’s view. Tougher BC-wide regulations for driving under the influence of alcohol came into effect Sept.20. www.maplelinemagazine.com/Sookepolicebeat

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