Horse sense

I am a 13-year-old girl who loves riding her horse, but these days it seems impossible because people won’t slow down. Especially commercial vehicles. Horses are most afraid of these vehicles because they are bigger and louder. Those pulling a trailer scare horses just as much as a dump truck if not worse.

If you see a horse freaking out on the side of the road, please just slow down and keep driving. This is the best way to deal with that kind of situation, to keep horse and rider safe.

To old and new members of Sooke, please keep in mind that this is horse country. So, just a friendly reminder that we need to slow down every time we see a horse on the side of the road. Horses can spook out of natural instinct and we need to be aware of that. Horse lovers or not. This could cause serious damage to horse and/or rider (not to mention yourselves). We need to be aware of these situations before they happen and be a little more proactive.

Loranda A. Bath

Sooke

Beavis and Butthead

Yesterday, Nov. 18, I saw B.C. Hydro working across the road. Mindful of problems in the past I made sure my gate was unlocked, and closed, in case they needed access to my property. I live on a protected salmon stream, and at this of year while they run, I keep my dog on leash or by the house mindful of how a dog can run amuck in salmon streams. That’s the smart thing to do, right?

Imagine my surpise a few hours later, when my dog alerted me from our fenced yard that someone was down below. Here they were, Beavis and Butthead, with their dog loose on my property, smoking a cigarette, on what is MY private property. When I yelled down to see what they thought they were doing they said they were ‘just checking out the salmon.’ I informed them twice that they were on private property and asked them to leave, which after their dog ran amuk through the salmon bed and they butted out a cig by my wooden bridge, they did.

I guess a closed gate with a beware of dog sign and other postings is not enough to deter people from wandering on private property. So sorry friends and neighbours, sorry B.C. Hydro and other agents who need access to my land. From now on my gate is locked, to keep out the lookie loo’s and their dogs.  Not only will it protect my bridge from fire, but the salmon from dogs, and from possible law suits from idiots who wander too close to my bridge edge. I shudder to think if the proposed pathways go ahead for myself and other landowners. Someday, maybe you’ll find Beavis and Butthead in your back yard. What then will we have the power to do?

N. Bennett

Otter Point

Saddened by theft

The Sooke & District Minor Hockey Association held its annual Female Face Off Tournament over the Remembrance Day long weekend and, as always, had a fantastic turn out. Everyone had five days of fun and friendly competition.

Unfortunately, one small incident cast a dark cloud over our memorable weekend whereas fundraising money earned in excess of $1,200 by the Sooke Female Midget and Bantam Hockey Teams was stolen.

This money represented three long 12-hour days of cooking well over 200 Ham n’ Eggers and dozens upon dozens of baskets of French fries for tournament goers. The managers of both teams donated their time cooking while the girls of both teams took turns contributing towards the efforts.

Fundraising is a big part of how these girls are able to participate in various tournaments throughout the Island. This money was to be used towards future tournament fees for both teams to ensure feasibility for all players, as some of whom would not be able to participate without fundraising.

It is very disheartening to think that someone would take this money knowing that a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into earning it.

If anyone knows anything about this lost money, please contact the RCMP.

I realize there is a slim chance of finding it, but I would like to believe there are at least one or two good souls still out there willing to show our young people that the right choice can still make a difference.

Tammy Fox

Manager

Sooke Female Midget C

Flash point

Great performers for the Emperor’s New Clothes production. Talented, funny and enjoying their work.

Persons catching the action on digital cameras are a real pain in the butt. We know you love the performers but let the viewers behind you enjoy the production without the interference of replays flashing in their faces. Take your pictures at a dress rehersal, not the performance night.

Congratulations performers.

Bernice Gehring

Sooke

Speed limits

This letter is to inform the community about the speed limit in and around Sooke. I have lived in this community for the past 20 years, during which time there have been many changes and these is a new one that some people may not be aware of.

The speed limit on Otter Point Road has been changed from 50 km/h to 30 km/h. It depends which direction you are heading. If you are heading into Sooke on Otter Point Road, just past Mulligan’s restaurant, you will notice on your right a sign which reads “30 km ahead” and about 100 yards ahead there is another reminder of the 30/km speed limit. This is the speed limit all the way into the centre of Sooke.

On the other hand, if you are heading to Otter Point from the centre of Sooke, the 30km/h sign changes to 50 km/h once you pass the tire shop.

Please pay attention to these signs as there have been many accidents around this corner, and as a reminder the police are there to ensure that the rules of the road are followed at all times.

Please, also slow down when you enter school zones, with the winter months the days are now shorter and darker, so please drive safe.

Rasheeda Haverty

Sooke

Staying safe

In response to a letter which appeared in the Sooke News Mirror, Nov. 19, titled “Please pull over”, I would like to add the following.

I couldn’t agree with you more. People who drive way below the posted speed limit can and do cause a lot of frustration and impatience when trying to reach a destination on time. But, there is a bigger problem out there that should be addressed. What about the driver that wants to go 30km above the posted speed limit? This is not only extremely dangerous but really ignorant.They pull up right behind you, thinking you will go faster, I assume.

Maybe not everyone is that familiar with Sooke Road and would like to stay on the safe side by travelling the speed limit. I’m not sure how everyone else feels about that situation, but it just makes me all the more determined to stay within the speed limit. Maybe a few radar traps might help.

R. Jaster

Sooke

Cowardly acts

 A one day school suspension for the cowardly bullying act of beating on a red head doesn’t send much of a message to the thugs and their families.

Start with a week, or a month, publish their names and if they are not charged with assault tell them how incredibly lucky they are.

Randy Welters

Sooke

Misinformed?

I am responding to the November 12 letter from Mr. Lund, where he claims false and misleading statements have been made about the TFL petition. The matters I am stating, are on record. The TFL petition simply asked for zoning bylaw changes to restrict forestry, TFL lands to one dwelling on 300 acres.

Residents who signed the petition witnessed that it was later publicly held up to demonstrate initial public support for down zoning of rural lands, to remove strata rights and to severely restrict family subdivision.

Many in Shirley and Jordan River who signed the TFL petition did not lend their signatures to these much broader aims and some have asserted their signatures were misused. They are removing, or redacting their signatures from the TFL petition.

The contention that the TFL petition was no more than a wishful “grocery list” and could therefore be included in the public record for the other zoning bylaws, is further obfuscation.

Many signatories of the petition were surprised, outraged and offended that their names on the TFL petition appeared in the public record in other bylaws, beyond the bylaw that affected the forestry or TFL lands.

They affirm they would not have stood up to “wishfully” support the removal of property rights from friends, neighbours and definitely not to have these rights removed from their own land. They strongly support the grandfathering of their property rights.

Residents are growing weary of having to engage in prolonged discussions that hinge on how fully one can appreciate the exquisite finery of the Emperor’s new clothes.

Cleo Gardener

Shirley

Canada is a big country and it has a lot for everyone.

Following the histories of the whole continent, I have seen that Canada puts a lot of emphasis on every occasion. For instance, the Remembrance Day.

I was amazed to see that almost every business was closed to mark this event, which is so awesome.

 This is a good guideline to every nation in the world as I suggest that the whole world was affected during the World wars and they should follow the steps of Canada for the respect of their fallen heroes.

Also the Royal Canadian Legion deserves to be praised and supported all the time to makes it continue for the present and future generations.

 Joram Gitonga 

Kenya

I’m writing to encourage commuters to consider taking the bus to work and leave their cars at home, or, at least (like me) at the Park & Rides.

 I’ve heard all the excuses: 

“But it’s so inconvenient!”…hardly.

There’s nine buses leaving from Sooke every weekday morning before 8 a.m... the same number returning from Victoria between 3:30 and 6 p.m. Surely, one of these matches your workday!

“It too expensive!”…really?!  I have my employer automatically deduct $29 bi-weekly from my paycheque for a ProPass.  Monthly bus passes are about $12 more per month (about $78). Can you honestly tell me you can insure, gas-up, maintain and park your vehicle for less than this?  Get serious.  Also, even if you don’t travel to Victoria every day, the passes pay for themselves after about 12 days.

“It takes too long!”… I hop on the bus in Sooke at about 7:15 (ok, it’s actually 7:13) or at the Park & Ride at EMCS five minutes later, and arrive in front of the Bay Centre around 8:15… I bet you can’t do too much better than that, especially if you have to walk from your parking lot.

“Too crowded”… or “I may have to stand”… yes, I guess this is a remote possibility, especially if you board the bus later on its route.  In my case, I board downtown Sooke and downtown Victoria (Douglas and Fort) when returning. I always get a window seat in both directions, and you quickly learn to “tune out” the conversations. I even catch Z’s on most trips.

Is taking the bus always easy and convenient? Of course not.  Occasionally, a bus will breakdown, either before it arrives or enroute, or is late or crowded, but these occurrences are rare and can happen on any means of transportation.

 Some of the buses in both directions are, at best, only about three-quarters full.  In fact, the bus I take in the morning (a double-decker) rarely has more than about 20 people on board.  I, for one, don’t want to lose this service… so please give “taking the bus” a thought or two. You will reduce your greenhouse footprint and your stress level.

 Richard Stafford


Sooke