It looks like islanders will have at least one more weekend indoors: rain’s in the forecast for Victoria Day long weekend with predicted highs of 16 and 18 C.
Though restrictions are expected to ease next week, the province, Bowen Island Municipality and BC Ferries are still advising against non-essential travel this weekend. BIM’s COVID rangers will be in the cove educating about physical distancing for the weekend. Snug Cove dock remains closed and BIM’s asked local accommodation providers to not rent to non-essential visitors.
Looking over the past week:
The food bank has food available 24/7 once more: non-perishable foods are in bags in the United Church vestibule but food bank volunteers are asking users to take entire bags, not individual items. The ordering system for perishable, frozen and non-perishable goods is still available.
Yes, the point of Dorman Point is now part of Crippen Park, no we can’t visit it just yet: Metro Vancouver Regional Parks bought the property but are still working on how to make it accessible.
“We’re working on a management plan to create safe public access to the site,” Mike Redpath, Director of Regional Parks for Metro Vancouver told the Undercurrent. “We decided to secure it right now, the former owner had some structures on the site that need to be cleaned up.”
While there’s no deadline as to when the point will be publicly accessible, Redpath said Regional Parks is committed to having public access and hope to be working on construction of the trail later in the summer.
Summer events and sports are deciding how to proceed: While Canada Day and Bowfest will be online celebrations, Dock Dance and the Logger Sports Show are cancelled.
SloPitch has cancelled its season, though a post in the Facebook group says that there’s the potential for ‘play at your own risk’ pick-up games.
What’s your talent? The Legion is hosting a virtual talent show for cash prizes. Every Wednesday between now and June 10, the Legion will tape islanders’ five-minute routines, or islanders can send short videos in with a bio by 9 p.m. Wednesday. Videos are posted Thursdays. No group entries, unless people are part of the same bubble. Contact Lynne Hartle for more information : rcl150info@gmail.com.
Municipal news
Those late paying their property taxes will get a bit of a break: people who pay after July 2 but before Aug. 31 will pay a 2 per cent penalty rather than the usual 5 per cent penalty. Council voted in the change as a response to the economic effects of COVID. After Aug. 31 an 8 per cent penalty applies.
BIM’s new director of engineering says Snug Cove Sewer System is at capacity. What does this mean and where do we go from here? Contractor Urban Systems is assessing the system and BIM’s options.
Bowen’s Business navigators are up and running. Community Economic Development Committee chair and vice-chair, Rod Marsh and Vaune Kolber, are helping Bowen businesses access relief programs.
See the Emergency Operations Centre update for May 15 here.
The Mayor’s update for May 15
This week’s essential or front line worker of the week: Jenny Lee of Bowen Pet Supply
A couple of weeks ago we announced that an anonymous donor came forward with a proposition to recognize some of Bowen’s front-line and essential service workers. The idea is that people nominate those who are in the public sphere, continuing to do their jobs to keep our society functioning during the pandemic. These can be paid workers or volunteers.
Once a week for a total of five weeks (we’re on week three now) we’re drawing at random someone who works in the public sphere. This person will receive $100 to recognize their service to the community and society. (This money is coming from the donor, not the Undercurrent!)
So far, we’ve received 82 nominations, but it’s not too late! There are two more weeks of this, so please send in your nominees to editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com. Though we can’t recognize everyone with $100, I’ll do my best to publish as many notes that accompany the nominations as possible. The work you’re all doing is important and valued.
As the anonymous donor puts it, “We see what you’re doing for us and we want to thank you.”
This week’s recognized person is Jenny Lee of Bowen Pet Supply. Thank you for what you do Jenny!
For a smile:
Bob Turner released his latest film this week, "Shore Explore."
"Our local school principal approached me in early April about recording a snorkel swim he wanted to do to promote outdoor learning to his students during COVID," writes Bob in the description. "So I joined Scott and his twin brother Brad for what turned out to be a very memorable and light hearted shoreline explore. The sun was bright, the water clear, and there was lots of life about."
This week's Ron Woodall cartoon:
The (edited) editorial
If you haven't seen this week's special edition of the Undercurrent, there should be one waiting for you in your Bowen mailbox (thank you postal workers!) See it online here.
The Community Foundation’s Resiliency Fund funded the island-wide distribution of the May 14 edition to share local COVID information and is funding another in June. If there’s information you’d like to see included in the next COVID edition, please do let me know. Our thanks to the Community Foundation for making this initiative possible.
The island is in a holding pattern this week as we wait for the long weekend to pass and phase two of the province’s reopening strategy to start. While this week looks quite similar to the many before it, next week could be entirely different. I’ll be revamping our online “what’s open and what’s closed” story as businesses announce how they’ll move forward. Send an email to editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com if you have updates.
Times are uncertain––we wait to see what happens when restrictions lighten, how businesses manage the new reality, if we’ll get to see our friends this summer––but right now I feel a bit like I do when I’m coming out of a bad cold. Like I never quite realized how awful I felt until I was feeling just a little better.
— Bronwyn Beairsto, Editor
