About Southern Gulf Islands, BC

October 29, 2009.

Tonight, at ArtSpring Gallery, catch Raffi's new CD release celebration. Called "Communion", it has the terrific sing along/anthem "Sustainability". Doors open at 6:30, there are light refreshments, and the "opening" starts at 7 p.m. See you there!

The contemporary dance show, Light & Metal, plays ArtSpring on Nov. 5th. Call ArtSpring ticket office (250-537-2102), for more details! This is one not to be missed!

A framing experience needed? Pegasus Gallery Framing, at 111 Robinson Road, is at your service! Conservation, appraisals, storage, gallery, supplies, shipping...and picture framing are their Art Services.

Monday, November 9th, enjoy Connie Kaldor, with opening act of K.C. Kelly & Sandi Profitt. Presented by Salt Spring Folk Club, at Fulford Hall, doors open at 6:15 and show starts at 7 p.m. Soups, Suppers & Sweets by Fiddlehead Catering. Tickets at Acoustic Planet, Salt Spring Books, Stuff & Nonsense. Wave, if you see me!

Music & Munch, on Nov. 4th, will continue the tradition of dedicating November's program to observing Remembrance Day, through music and poetry. Music for the free event begins at 12:10 p.m. Tickets for the optional lunch following are available at the door, before the start of the program. It's at All Saints by the Sea, of course!

November 7th finds Paxton Bachman at Moby's from 8 to 11 p.m. Mark your calendars. Tonight, though, at Moby's, catch Blues from 8 to 11 p.m. November 1st, it's Jazz, from 7 to 10 p.m.

Salt Spring Centre of Yoga, on Monday, Nov 2nd, will showcase David Hickey's performance of a crystal bowl and planet gong concert. Show time is 7:30 p.m., and tickets are at the door.

Salt Spring Community Theatre presents a comedy, Having Hope At Home, with opening night on Friday, November 6th, at Mahon Hall, show at 8 p.m. It runs Nov. 7, 13, 14, at 8 p.m., and there's a matinee on Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. Enjoy!

Lots of Hallowe'en events (for kids of all ages!). Finish up in Ganges, for the fireworks display!

Clinton Fearon plays ArtSpring on Nov. 6th, with show starting at 8 p.m. Known as a living legend of roots reggae music, this should chase away any impending winter blues!

And yes, you can catch the community radio station via streaming audio at: www.cfsi-fm.com (if you can get the signal, where you live, it's at 107.9, on your fm dial).

Remember to welcome the Olympic Torch to Salt Spring, on the 31st -- celebrate in Centennial Park at 1 p.m., with entertainment at 2 p.m. and at 3:20, the Torch arrives on Island.

Did somebody say this was the "off season". Hmmmm.....

Hard to believe that it's almost Hallowe'en!

On Salt Spring, the great volunteer firefighters put on a fireworks display, down by the Coast Guard dock, and it's well attended!

In earlier years, there used to be a smaller version down at Fulford Harbour, too. I remember meeting some buyers, who were driving off the ferry with a van load of their furnishings, to move into their new home. Their new property was way up at the top of Dukes Road, and that particular Hallowe'en there was dense fog. One could hardly see five feet in front of the car.

They slowly followed me, along Fulford-Ganges Road, and it was "pea soup" plus night (they caught the last ferry to the Island). Just as we slowly went around the corner and over the bridge, across Fulford Creek, the fireworks went off. One couldn't see the people at ground level, but there was an opening in the fog higher up, so the bursting pinwheels could be seen emerging from the gloom.

By the time we crawled to the property (fog so thick that they couldn't move their things in, so had to spend night at motel), they were totally enthralled with Salt Spring...thought the fireworks were especially for them! They are still owners, here, and still at the same place. Nice!

This coming Monday, between 7 and 9 a.m., it's the Monday Morning Radio Show with Li and Mark. We've had some great guests, and learned a lot.

Finally, it's possible to phone in...mmmm...that's going to make it much more impromptu! Mark and I didn't realize that the phones were now live, this past Monday show, so when lights started to flash, we couldn't figure it out at first...someone was phoning in, though, to say they had figured out where I was standing, and so the first contest is over. The prize this time was dinner for two, at a romantic restaurant.

If you can't catch the show on 107.9 fm, then try the streaming audio at www.cfsi-fm.com -- this next week, the mystery guest understands the charm and the power of radio, so I expect to learn lots! Would like to be a guest? Give me a call!

Yesterday we had sun, rain, hail, wind, mild, cold...all in one day. Definitely marching to winter! Still lots of events happening around the Island, though. The Market in the Park officially ends this weekend. The Tuesday market ended last week. Craft fairs are gearing up for the Christmas Season. Theatre and music offerings at ArtSpring, evening courses at night school, live music at various restaurants on weekends, and it's also fun, at this time of year, to do day trips to Victoria or to mid-Vancouver Island, or to Vancouver, or to check out another Gulf Island..

Always very special, though, to come home to Salt Spring!

www.liread.com

October 23, 2009.

Tomorrow is the International Day of Climate Action. Salt Spring is joining this event. Over 3000 actions will take place in over 158 countries. It will be the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. A Climate Change Rally is planned for 3 p.m. at the Gulf Islands Secondary School gym. If able, people are being urged to join the Critical Mass Bike Ride, starting from Fulford and from Vesuvius, to and around Ganges, then out to the GISS gym. Join the ride at any point! En route to the school, watch for the markers that will show the new shoreline, with the rising sea levels. Raffi will be present, and will close the school program with his new work, Sustainability, from his new CD: Communion. Another event is an all day workshop, sponsored by the Gulf Islands Alliance, called "Rebuilding Resilient Island Communities in Time of Transition". Many more events taking place...check the Driftwood for more details. Be there! It is up to us.

The Salt Spring Rotary Club is presenting their annual Hallowe'en Casino & Spooktacular Bash, featuring Uncle Jim's Big Blues Band, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., at Farmer's Institute, on October 30th. Costume prizes, and late evening snack table. Tickets in advance only. Mark your calenders!

Note, too, that Moby's will present Rock: Paxton Bachman, on Nov. 7 (8 to 11 p.m.). This Sunday, the 25th, Moby's offers Jazz, 7 to 10 p.m.

Catch Susan Aglukark, at ArtSpring, on October 31st, show starting at 8 p.m. Call ArtSpring's ticket office (250-537-2102).

Don't forget to be in the Village, too, for the spectacular fireworks display, on Hallowe'en night -- starting at 8 p.m., at the Coast Guard Dock. This annual Hallowe'en tradition has been made possible, this year, by the community's continued support of the fire fighters" corn booth, at the annual Fall Fair. Country Grocer is donating the hot dogs and hot chocolate!

Hallowe'en is a day when we admire the creativity of the grocery store employees around town, those in banks and the credit union, and also the wait staff at restaurants...they always get into the fun of the day, with alarmingly creative costuming! Who does their makeup, anyway?

Yes, it's the "off season", but lots to do/to enjoy.

October 19, 2009.

Monday morning radio show again, today.

I do this every Monday, between 7 and 9 p.m., with Mark Voyce (co-owner of Bocados Bistro).

It's a mix of music, community updates, interviews with Salt Spring Islanders -- to date, have had Tim Cahill talk about emergency preparedness, and the importance of setting up neighbourhood groups. We also had David Young, a very well known designer/his company is international, come in and talk about his kinetic installation at a U.S. Mall. Bruno Gonzalez, who runs Rendezvous Cafe, with Brigitte, popped by to speak about the importance of "teroir" in French wine-making, and the differences between the North American and the French approach to same. Maureen Moore, who is the on-island representative for Raffi's Child Honouring Centre project also came by, and introduced the recent fundraiser/nine writers speaking about childhood experiences event. Lisa Sliwowska also came by, and spoke about her Open Door interior design company, and her thoughts on making a space a "home". Today, it was Garth Hendren, who is also the CRD representative on Salt Spring (an elected position), and he spoke about his interest in textiles and his collection of same. He's agreed to come back, as we wanted to explore the path leading off from this, about the mingling of art and economics. More later!

This is community radio, and it is live. If you can catch it locally, it's at 107.9 on the fm dial. If not, try the website (www.cfsi-fm.com) and streaming audio.

Every Monday, it's the "Potpourri with Li" two hour show, and Mark Voyce is my producer.

No, it's not about real estate...we all have day jobs, and most of us love them/are passionate about same (I know I am!), but I really want to introduce the exceptional Islanders I've been lucky to meet, over the years, so that all Salt Spring knows them, too!

If you'd like to be included, please just email or phone me. I know it's early, but it's fun, and you get to choose some music, too! (I know, I know...I'm stuck in that 70s time tunnel).

www.liread.com

liread33@gmail.com

October 16, 2009.

If you haven't popped by the Salt Spring Roasting Company, do so soon -- enjoy a latte there, and ponder the exquisite drawings showcased on the walls. Charles Breth is a sculptor, and this is a rare exhibition of his drawings. The presentation continues till end of October.

This Monday, the 19th, there's a live multi-media show about the life of Galileo, and the music of his time. Meet Dava Sobel, author of "Galileo's Daughter". At ArtSpring, starting at 8 p.m. Call for ticket info: 250-537-2102.

This Sunday, the 18th, catch Jazz/Swing, with Quint Essentials, at Moby's (7 to 10 p.m.).

Leon Bibb and Lisa Maxx reunite with a concert at ArtSpring, on Oct. 22nd -- mark your calenders, and don't miss this one! Starts at 8 p.m. -- ticket info at 250-537-2102.

Always wanted to learn to knit? And, to do something "good" for the world? Here's your chance! Salty Yarners, a knitting group on the Island, involved in the Dorcas Project, are giving classes, starting at 2:30 p.m., on the third Monday of each month (held at Stitches). Registration is free if knitters purchase yarn at Stitches. Call Alice, for more information on both the classes and the Dorcas Project: 250-538-0211.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is the Dance at Fulford Hall, with Georgia Strait Big Band and Swing Shift Band...yes, it's the Battle of the Bands! Starts at 8 p.m. Tickets at ArtSpring and at Acoustic Planet. Enjoy!

On October 25th, there's a book launch on Galiano Island...catch the ferry, enjoy, and still make it back to Salt Spring that evening...it's a great day trip idea. It starts at 3 p.m., at Galiano's South Hall. A Thousand Dreams, Vancouver's Downtown East Side and the Fight for its Future, is a mix of history, journalism, political analysis, and first-person accounts.

Starting tonight, at 5 p.m., with a catered opening reception for a week long black culture-related art exhibit, at ArtSpring, and running through this weekend with other events (2 p.m. to 6 p.m., on the 17th, there's a documentary, at ArtSpring, about the history of blacks in B.C.). The All Souls Rising presentations end with the Leon Bibb/Lisa Maxx concert, on the 22nd. Pick up today's Driftwood weekender, for a cover story on All Souls Rising.

Don't forget to keep your fm dial at 107.9, and catch the gems of your community radio. No signal where you live? Streaming audio, at www.cfsi-fm.com will keep you in the mix! Monday mornings, 7 to 9 a.m. is my slot, along with Mark Voyce.

Yes, it's Fall, and yes, it's raining, but there's lots to do and to see and to participate in. Enjoy!