What's Up In Nanaimo's South End

Another Hidden Hero….?

SECA Blog — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:41:05 +0000

Again, some amazing folks just took it upon themselves to decorate Gino’s tree for Christmas, and to leave it the gift of a new framed picture. Hmm….

Do you have an inkling who that might have been? There’s another jar of prized ginger pear chutney for the correct answer (see post below for directions.)

I know! I know! But it’s for me to know and you to find out…:)

For you parents with kids

SECA Blog — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:15:04 +0000

Hi Everyone,

I’m a VIU student (Graphic Design) & home owner living in south Nanaimo. I’m researching ways to get people using active transportation (walk, ride bikes, anything but drive). I actually need to get stats from as many people as possible to gather info about how and when we use our cars and when we choose active transportation.

I’ve created a survey to find out how kids get to school in Nanaimo. I’m trying to put together stats to see to what extent active transportation (walk, bike) is used by Nanaimo families. The link is posted on my blog.
http://gabourydesign.wordpress.com/blog/

Can you help me?

One thing in my research so far that has surprised me. Apparently, parents will let children use active transportation to go to school and to go to community parks and other services only when they perceive a neighborhood to be safe. Organizations such as Block Parents function across the world, certainly in other provinces. I tried to find a link to Block Parents in Nanaimo and there is none.

Our Block Parents status in BC is listed as “Inactive.” Does anyone know why? Has there ever been a functioning Block Parents organization in Nanaimo? Isn’t that something that would help keep streets feeling safe so we could feel good about letting our kids, play, walk or ride bikes in our neighborhoods?

Thanks,
Terry Gaboury

Who is this Hidden Hero?

SECA Blog — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:03:30 +0000

The South End is the kind of neighbourhood where folks naturally help out. Often without fanfare, without recognition.

And yup, this is one of them.

Now we’re going to have a little contest here. The person who can correctly guess the identity of this hidden hero will win a jar of the highly coveted ginger pear chutney made this fall by Madilynn Rotar (from R-U Computing) and me.

Just post your answer in the comments below (click “comments” and up pops the box). When we get the right answer, we’ll post it. If no one gueses correctly, well, then, it will remain one of life’s sweet mysteries…:)

I will give you ONE hint and that’s it. Given all the talk about art bin garbage dumpers, this hero has access to industrial bin and helps out by taking extra garbage along with him/her, as needed. As small an action as it may seem, s/he has made a BIG difference!

Barbara Densmore

Community Garden Update

SECA Blog — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:42:11 +0000

Hello friends of the North and South Community Gardens!

The sun is out today and, for a moment, we can think of Spring! We are looking forward to our first full growing year, with the majority of the heavy-lifting work done, we’re gearing up for an excellent year. Some site improvements will be underway the next couple of months, completion of the drip irrigation system (thank you to Kirk of Island Smart Irrigation Systems for donating the labour and know-how), building of a lean-to shelter in the North Site (thanks to the VIU carpentry department), signage, lighting improvements and various others.

We are now starting our campaign to fill all the community beds for March 1, 2012 – Feb 28, 2013. Plots are available to all community members at $30 per year. See attached agreement and info form, please complete and mail to the YPN at the address below. If you have an existing plot, please note whether or not you’d like to keep the same plot# on the form.

Also if anyone needs some fresh-air or has been longing to help out, we are having a Volunteer Day Saturday Jan 28th 10am at the South End Garden (corner of Needham and Irwin Streets). Please email Andre at andre.sullivan [at] integralwealth.com if you’re planning to attend or have any questions about what to bring.

As always, if you have any questions about the gardens, please email me at gardens [at] ypnanaimo.com

Take care,

Jenn

South End Library Report

SECA Blog — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:59:15 +0000

On a Sunday afternoon about 2 months ago, I returned home to find this: the bookshelf stacked FULL of books, every row double up. There must have been a good hundred of them! Sure, that has happened before, but this time, it was really different: they were mostly recent and popular books..the kind of books that lead most readers to say: “oh wow!” when they find them on the bookshelf.

So let me pause here and say “thank you Kelli from Victoria Road” for your generous generous donation. You really kicked us up a notch here…:) If you managed to pick up one of those books, you know…that’s all I will say.

Now, newer/popular books are something we ALL love, but they tend to disappear and not come back. My first thought was: “oh no…someone could come and take ALL of these away and sell them somewhere. Then we’d ALL lose.” It took me 40 minutes to move most of them from the bookshelf.

And I’ve been putting them out in dribs and drabs since then.

This got me thinking about how the library is working for the neighbourhood. I can only talk for me, so here goes…

Some of the very best books I have read this year have come from that bookshelf. In particular, I would like to thank the people who generously donated Sarah’s Key (the best book I have read in years), A Widow for One Year (got me back into John Irving), Water for Elephants (even better than the movie), and the hilarious An Irish Country Doctor will be in the shelf next time I stock it up. You could have easily taken them to a second-hand bookstore, given them to your friends, or just kept them forever. Instead, you brought them here, and added much joy to my life. I am grateful.

But I also want to confess that at times I have been a bit of a hoarder…seeing a book title I like, and putting it into my reading pile where it has sat for months and months…after all, unlike a normal library, there is no time limit on these books, and you don’t even need to return them…!

So here’s my New Year’s resolution to you. As your librarian (and a mostly inept one at that!!!), I will continue to focus on keeping the library stocked with books that allow me to hear the occasional “Oh Wow!” (I love that sound!). And the books I have been meaning to read…but just haven’t….are going back into circulation after I finish writing this.

So if you’ve been dying to read Tropic of Cancer or Woman: an Intimate Geography, hustle on down to the South End Library…they will be waiting for you…and hopefully, if they are gone already, they will come back…:)

Here’s to a terrific 2012.

Barbara

BTW, If you have any comments of suggestions, just make them here (I am also co-editor of this blog). Or leave me a note in the library.

Balmoral Break-in

SECA Blog — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:53:32 +0000

Man arrested after break-in at Balmoral

Compiled By Daily News

Published: Thursday, January 12, 2012

Click title to go to article.

Art Bins Under Attack!

SECA Blog — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:45:33 +0000

The steady proliferation of brightly coloured art bins throughout our neighborhood has been a joy to behold. Currently there are upward of 30 bins spread throughout the neighborhood and beyond. The bins have brought some much needed color and vibrancy to the neighborhood as well as making a huge difference to what was once a chronic litter problem in the south end. Recently a number of “art bin minders” , (those of us who host the bins and regularly empty the trash) have been troubled by the tendency of some residents to misuse the bins for regular household garbage, cat litter and other unwanted trash. One or two have even removed their bins from circulation, and others are considering doing likewise. This is an Art Bin rallying call! Stand firm oh trusty Art Bin Minders…We shall overcome! Look no further than the founding mother of the Art Bin movement, Maggie Wooterlot, who having had her bin stolen, (art theft!), sniffed back a quick tear, vented a summary curse at the injustice of the world, then painted up another can and there it stands, a symbol of south end fortitude and resilience! Over the years there have been instances of bins being battered, kicked around, dented and abused, but what have we done?….we’ve gathered them up, brought them to the Miners Picnic where they have been lovingly restored by Barbara, Harold et al, then returned to their rightful posts in the neighborhood.

The bin that I look after on the corner of Needham and Haliburton was, for a while, being used by someone to dispose of cat litter. I left a note by the bin, introducing myself, politely explaining the purpose of the bin and asking that the person refrain from disposing of their cat litter in this way. It seems to have worked and with the odd exception, the bin is now functioning as intended. Perhaps we could attach a similar note adjacent to all the cans in the neighborhood? Perhaps a hand delivered note to neighborhood residents educating and informing them about the project? Let’s talk about it at our next meeting and come up with a plan of action cheers all, Douglas

PS. Three times in a row someone has placed their domestic garbage bag in my art bin at 746 Haliburton. I removed my bin. If the guilty party is reading this posting, these bins are not for your garbage, but for street litter. Please show a little consideration and cease doing this. Larry

Jan 12, a note from Blog co-editor Barbara.

Flora Green, who normally sits beside Tong’s in the 700 block of Haliburton has wandered. She’s up in the Arbutus Books parking lot with Eyeleen.

I am not sure if she has a same-sex crush on her and rolled up on her own or if she got taken for a joy-ride.

If you are in the vicinity and have the room in your vehicle, perhaps you could tell her that the party is over and take her home to her spot at Tangs?

January SECA Meeting

SECA Blog — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:38:13 +0000

This months SECA meeting will be held Wednesday January 4 at 7:00 PM, Princess Royal School, corner Fahrquar and Irwin.

Roberta Martell, the new Executive Director at Nanaimo Family Life Association is coming to share some of her experiences as former ED of the Fernwood Community Association in Victoria and the kind of social / commercial projects that they developed there.

Best of Street Art 2011

SECA Blog — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:23:55 +0000

So, all you creative South Enders. Here’s a link to a blog full of fresh ideas for using art to add colour and character to a neighbourhood. Lots of wonderful ideas worth filching….:)

The site is aptly named StreetArtUtopia. Ts’wonderful.