About Southern Gulf Islands, BC

September 25, 2009.

Live music tonight, at Treehouse in Ganges Village: Dominique Fraissard (urban folk singer from Vancouver). Tomorrow, Saturday, catch Planet Music (original urban jazz), and Sunday offers Billie Woods (Samba, Bossa Nova, and More). As long as the weather holds, let's keep pretending it's still summer. Enjoy!

Catch the superb photography exhibition currently at ArtSpring's Gallery. Called Photosynthesis, it showcases 24 photographers in one venue. Runs till October 4th, daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Don't forget to drop into the latest art gallery on Salt Spring...at 135 McPhillips Avenue, this co-op is already creating a buzz. Check it out!

Catch Valdy's Radio Hour on the new local community radio station (107.9 FM, or: www.cfsi-fm.com). Wednesdays, at 20:00.

If you're up and listening, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., on Mondays, catch "Potpourri with Li". A mix of musings and music, that I offer, along with my producer (Mark Voyce, who is the co-owner of Bocados Bistro). It's "live", so glitches show...fun, though!

Catch the Marc Atkinson Trio at ArtSpring, on October 1st., at 8 p.m. Call the ticket centre for more info/ticket info -- 250-537-2102.

Mark your calendars and be at the book launch, held at Lions Hall, on Sunday, Sept. 27, between 2 and 4 p.m. The author will be there to sign books. It's the story of Salt Spring's black pioneers. Titled: Every Goodbye Ain't Gone: A Photo Narrative of Black Heritage on Salt Spring Island, by Evelyn C. White, with photos by Joanne Bealy.

Tomorrow, catch Six Mixed (tripod Dance Collective), at ArtSpring, at 8 p.m. Enjoy this innovative dance group.

Salt Spring Zen Circle is offering its nonresidential fall retreat at The Gatehouse, Oct. 2 to 4. It starts Friday, at 7 p.m. and ends on Sunday at 3 p.m. Participants may attend for shorter periods, if they cannot be there for the entire retreat. To register, and for further information, call Rowan at: 250-537-2831.

Tonight, don't miss the 9 writers, reading their early childhood experiences, at Lions Hall, at 7 p.m. This is in aid of Raffi's Child Honouring Centre, which is being created on Salt Spring, and Raffi will be present, too. An evening to enjoy.

Have you checked out the evening classes? Something there to interest you?

Are you tuning in to the local radio station, to see what's going on in our community?

Are you exercising your peripheral vision, so that your creative spirit can flex its wings?

Enjoy this September rhythm, with its whispers of summer to delight our days....

September 17, 2009.

Fall Fair is this weekend! Saturday (19th) and Sunday (20th) -- each day is quite different in flavour, and worth going to both, if you have the time. I always feel that the true rural heart of the Island is on display, here...so many exhibits, displays, the sheep dog trials, the equestrian events, the ""4-H" style presentation of the farm animals, the children's pet parade, the terrific home baked pies on sale as a fundraiser for the Womens Institute, barbecue, rides...it's all here! At the Farmer's Institute, on Rainbow Road, with parking on roadsides, or, park in Ganges Village and catch the bus from the Chamber/Tourist info office, to the fair grounds...a repeating round trip. Enjoy!

Moby's showcases the blues, every Thursday night...great talent! Starts on the 24th.

Live music continues at Treehouse...tonight is Mike Alviano, tomorrow is Simone and the Soul Intentions, and Saturday is the award winning Alan Moberg. Sunday, catch Lane 31.

Sugar and Gold, Tales of the Underground Railway, is at ArtSpring, on the 28th, starting at 7 p.m. Call the box office for more info/ticket information (250-537-2102).

Don't miss the photography exhibiton (Photosynthesis) at the ArtSpring Galllery!!!!!! (On till October 4th).

Six Mixed (triPOD Dance Collective) showcases at ArtSpring on the 26th, starting at 8 p.m. Don't miss this!

At the Fall Fair? Purchase your tickets for the upcoming Folk Club season...catch them at their booth.

There's a literary benefit for the Centre for Child Honouring, on Friday, Sept. 25th, at Lions Hall, starting at 7 p.m., with doors open at 6:30. Admission is by donation. Nine Salt Spring authors will speak on a single subject -- childhood. Readers for the event are: Brian Brett, Raffi Cavoukian, Shirley Graham, Peter Levitt, Kathy Page, Linda Kavelin Popov, Murray Reiss, Nadine Shelley, and George Sipos. Mark your calendars, and I look forward to seeing you there, too.

The talented Amy Melious is showcasing her interpretation of the Island, with her photos on exhibit, for the month of September, at the Roasting Company, on McPhillips. The show is called "Salt Sprinng Real And Imagined". Catch this!

Listen to Valdy's show on the new community radio station: Valdy's Radio Hour/l'Heure de Valdy, Wednesdays, 107.9 on the fm dial, or, streamed live on http://www.cfsi-fm.com (20:00 is the time!).

Tune into the radio station, either on the web or on the fm dial...eventually, they will allow call in shows, etc., but, at the moment, it's a station in growth mode.

On Mondays, 7 to 9 a.m., I have a show (tentatively titled: Potpourri with Li), and my producer is Mark Voyce (co-owner of Bocados Bistro, with his wife Linda). My show isn't about real estate...it's musings and music. Last Monday was our first show, it's all live, and, as you can imagine, we were nervous/forgot to put one of the mics on, etc. This Monday may be more "together". Your ideas for future shows -- always welcome!

Salt Spring Toastmasters Club's annual Humourous Speech Contest is at 6 p.m., on Monday the 21st, at Harbour House Hotel. It's open to the public, and is a fun event. Interested in joining Toastmasters? Their meetings are on Mondays, at 7 p.m., at the Harbour House Hotel.

Signed up for an evening class? The program is available -- check the Driftwood, online, for days/times/courses. Always wanted to learn Spanish? Here's your chance!

Lots to do, and to see...yes, it's early Fall, one day summer/one day a foretaste of "winter" (rain/cloud), but still beautiful......

September 12, 2009.

Mark your calendars! Photosynthesis 2009, showcasing 24 photographers in one show, from September 15 to Oct 4, daily 10 to 5, at ArtSpring. Opening receptions on Sept. 14, 5 to 8 p.m. Check out the website at: www.saltspringphotographers.ca Don't miss this...such talent!

The wonderful Fall Fair is Sept. 19 and 20, this year, at the Farmer's Institute. Bus makes the round trip, from outside the Tourist Centre, in "downtown Ganges". Park your car, and catch the bus! Each day offers something different, so it's great to take in the two day festivities/presentations. If you've never been before, you have a treat in store!

Grand opening of Salt Spring's newest art gallery! It's a cooperative venture, and the artists welcome you on September 17th, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 135 McPhillips Avenue. Welcome to the new arrival!

Tonight, at ArtSpring, you can catch Sid & Arvid with the Geezers Radio Cafe...they are taping their radio show for the new community station ( www.cfsi-fm.com). Or, catch it at 107.9 on the fm dial, if you are in a reception area. It's an interactive show, and it will go out on the station's airwaves. Be part of it!

The 13th season of the Folk Club is upon us...season tickets on sale at their Fall Fair booth.

At 8 p.m. at Lion's Hall, this evening, the book launch of Mother Tongue Press' latest poetry series is another place to "be".

September is a lovely month, mellow and inspiring, at the same time. Lots to do and to see...catch it all!

www.liread.com

School is "in", so make sure you pay attention to crosswalks, to speed limits in school zones, and especially to the "flashing yellow" crosswalk at corner of Rainbow and Lower Ganges Roads. The Outer Island students walk to and from the senior and the middle schools, to get to the "school boat" -- early morning and in mid-afternoon, be especially attentive, as often, they're not!

I know it's controversial to be speaking about a traffic light for Salt Spring, but I think it's an essential, and before someone is hurt in an accident with a car! The flashing yellow light idea, at the crosswalk at Rainbow and Lower Ganges Road, is not very visible.

To a driver, they are too far to the sides of the road, and drivers are generally "programmed" to expect a flashing light above the middle of the road, not way to the sides, and I see people drive right through, oblivious to the flasher (which doesn't show up well in daylight, anyway).

I can see, too, that Rainbow and Lower Ganges Roads are really a busy connector point. Long lineups impatiently waiting to turn left from Rainbow: a "real islander" heading into Ganges from Vesuvius direction knows to stop ahead of Rainbow when someone is crossing the "yellow flasher" crosswalk, so cars can turn left onto Lower Ganges from Rainbow. Tourists, however, may not know this "unwritten rule", and they block the Rainbow exit.

Also, people coming from the Fulford direction, don't always notice the flashing lights, as they are not easily viewed by oncoming traffic, and someone wanting to turn left onto Rainbow is also obscuring the through traffic vista of a pedestrian starting into the cross walk, from the Rainbow side. It's an accident waiting to happen, and before someone is killed, I think this is the one place that a traffic light would definitely help.

By breaking the traffic throughway, at this point, it may also alleviate other blockages, when ferries are in, the long line of traffic into/through Ganges, etc. Worth a try! I know some people are all for doing the circles, to break the rhythm, but this may or may not be easily done (is there the space for same, at this corner?).

With students using the crosswalk, people walking to Thrifty's and other businesses that use the parking lot on Rainbow, for employee parking, and cars coming down Rainbow from schools and from businesses....it's a serious problem, and I think it's way overdue to be looked into/to consider a traffic light. It's not the end of the world to have a light, and does reflect the increased traffic on Salt Spring Island.

My thoughts! And, yours? Always welcome!

This is the Labour Day Holiday Weekend, and it's a holiday in both Canada and in the U.S. I always think of it as the last burst of "real" summer.

Students are back to school, the day after the Monday holiday, and that always seems to signal the beginning of a new year, too. My psyche is on a September to August cycle, clearly!

Lots to do and see on Salt Spring, though, on this holiday weekend!

The Saturday Market in the Park continues, ArtCraft is still showcasing Gulf Island artistic works, the Gallery at ArtSpring is still presenting works, the Summer Shows are still in evidence at the various Ganges Village galleries, and the Studio Tour map guides you to artists studio spaces all over the Island!

Live music continues at the Treehouse, in Ganges Village, with the eclectic and energetic Sunyata playing this evening!

Al Fresco dining pleasures can still be caught -- Calvin's Bistro, Harbour House Hotel, Bocados Bistro, Moby's, Seaside Kitchen, Auntie Pesto's, Piccolo's, Marketplace Cafe, Rock Salt Cafe...coffee/tea light meals outdoors? Try: Cafe Talia, Rendezvous Cafe, Jana's Bakeshop, TJ Beans...lots to enjoy and to savour as we slowly enter early Fall.

If you can't hear the new local radio station (107.9 on your fm dial), then you can find it via streaming audio on their website: www.cfsi-fm.com (Check it out!).

Picnic at Ruckle Park or at Mt. Maxwell or at Burgoyne Bay park! Some last minute swimming in St. Mary Lake, Cusheon Lake, Stowell Lake, Weston Lake, or the ocean at Cranberry Outlet (Bader's) Beach or at Vesuvius Beach.

Whatever it is that sums up summer for you, get out there and enjoy it, this holiday weekend!