NIMBY neighbors, Russian orphans, fires and pesticides – Lake Cowichan Gazette

Welcome to Flashback Lake. Journalist Sarah Simpson has combed through old newspapers with the help of Kaatza Station Museum and Archives so we can jog your memory, give you that nostalgic feeling, or just a chuckle, as we let’s take a look at what was making headlines this week. Cowichan Lake in years past.

This week around the Lake Cowichan region…

10 years ago

“The public meeting covers familiar ground,” editor Tamu Miles said on June 6, 2012 cover story. Cowichan Lake Gazette.

What was so familiar? Seems to be a bit of NIMBYism.

At a public meeting on May 28 that year, “residents and local business owners, there were approximately 34 people in attendance, again expressed concern about derelict buildings and properties – commercial and residential – city revitalization plans and the need for beach access in Lake Cowichan.

“‘It seemed like everyone who was talking, it was about their neighbor’s lawn, their neighbor’s house and that message was coming out really loud,’ Day says. There is, however, a fine line with enforcement. Day believes that there must be room, to some extent, for live and let live within the community. However, since this is an issue that so many people care deeply about, he says “maybe it’s time to tighten the screws and take a step back and take another look.”

Day and Forrest said they suggested that those frustrated with neighbors who don’t keep up with home or property maintenance consider that some of those people might not be able to keep up for a variety of reasons. . These include age, disability, finances, etc. They also said, again, there is a need for residents and business owners to speak with landlords who they believe are not keeping up with the maintenance of their properties or buildings.

In other news of the day, it appears the community is supporting the Cowichan School District’s controversial “remedial budget.”

“’We are well aware that Victoria may choose to appoint a ministry administrator to pursue the cuts. However, we believe there are many opportunities to reach an agreement with Victoria and we are prepared to sit down with the Department of Education to pursue this goal,” the district said. “We hope the provincial government will recognize that our restoration budget is a measured response to the grim learning conditions created by underfunding.”

25 years ago

Baby Eli flew from Russia to his new home with his mother Brenda Johnson in Mesachie Lake this week 25 years ago. The 22-month-old was adopted from a Russian orphanage.

It was the article on the front page of the New LakeEdition of June 4, 1997.

“It’s easy to be overjoyed for this beautiful little boy – who only knew the inside of a Russian orphanage a week ago, who had only been out twice in his short life, who never had never felt rain on his face – and who had never known the taste of animal crackers.

“Watching baby Eli, freely, run through the tiny house in Mesachie Lake – run to his mother with his arms outstretched – throw himself on her for a hug – then a kiss – then a tickle game, it’s hard to believe that they were only mother and son for a week.

In other news of the day, “Witnesses to vandalism pursue and detain suspect until police arrive.”

Ouch!

‘When witnesses heard windows banging they ran outside to see two suspects whom they chased onto the catwalk near the duck pond while a third witness called the police. The witnesses asked that their names be withheld. Lake Cowichan RCMP arrived at the scene and charged a youth. The second person fled – the suspects separated.

“Shop owners are increasingly angry in the area over the vandalism, and many of them are no longer silent bystanders and, if so, will take action to catch the culprits.”

40 years ago

The Lake News of June 2, 1982 contained the story of a fire at a factory in Beaver Lake.

“A fire at the Beaver Lake R&R plant on Saturday May 25 spun out of control over approximately one and a half acres of wood piled in the plant yard at approximately 5:30 p.m. and damaged a small amount of brush standing nearby. There’s no indication yet of what caused the fire, but Sid Sykes of the BC Forest Service said Tuesday he believes it could have started in the woodpiles themselves.

According to firefighters, it took about four hours to extinguish the fire.

“Also in today’s news, the Council for the Village of Lake Cowichan will be filing three protests regarding a pesticide permit issued to the Canadian Pacific Railway for spraying along its tracks. The decision was taken at the May 25 council meeting after the mayor and aldermen listened to a presentation on the subject by Ald. Don Gordon. Gordon chronicled a long list of calls he had made seeking information about the spraying CP Rail would be carrying out in that area. Once he found the permit, he discovered it was posted on private property, in apparent violation of orders from the Pesticides Control Branch, he said. After researching information on the chemical in question, he said, he found that it can stay where it was sprayed for up to two years.

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