MOVING RIGHT ALONG!

CEDRICK'S  Ceiling

Morning Coffee Break at the Pavilion started up again soon after Christmas. Many more residents are coming now and it is a great time to meet your neighbors. Though it begins at 10:00 a.m., there is always time to just drop in and say hello, too.  And stay if you can!

Ursel, Jim, Charles, Gerry, Tony, Agnes and Christine

Charles, Gerry, Tony solve the worlds problems!

Fran bottom right

Maureen, Jim Charles, Tony and Judy

With a nice long break, we held a New Year's celebration in the Pavilion. There was SO much good food there!.  A wonderful way to ring in the New Year with neighbors.  Many attended and we had a lot of newcomers that dared!  We do try to include the newest people... but they have to come in order for current residents to meet them!  Next time there is an organized do, please come so we can make you feel at home in your new Community!!

 A 50-50 draw was made too.  The Residents Association Social Committee sell tickets for the draw and whatever is collected by donation ( for use in future events given by the Chemainus Residents Association and supported by Management) is halved with a winner of the draw.  Sorry, I forgot who got it this time!! I do remember a huge cheer though, so the crowd approved!

The way it works is that you find a table, sit down and meet your neighbors.  Then, when eating is done, you move around the room to greet other friends and enjoy a talk together!

Here Gavin, Sharon, Brian and another Brian share a fun moment as Elaine enjoys the conversation! Jim is in the background regaling his table with some joke or other!












Last month I mentioned new workers.  I got a nice shot of two of them as they took out tools for the day: meet Haley and Rob!

They are a real asset around the place and do their work efficiently and cheerfully.  Do take the time to give them a high 5 or thumbs up when you meet them.  You do NOT have to talk to them at all 
( that is actively discouraged by the Park, as they have work to do!) but  a cheerful acknowledgment of their efforts are appreciated....a smile is good too. I've tried over the years to be respectful of the workers work time, yet still let them know my appreciation for their efforts on my behalf.

Another reminder to new folk and old: feeding the wildlife here is also actively discouraged because of attraction of racoons and rats in particular, but also deer and bear.  If you read the regulations you signed in order to participate in this Community you will find the clause about feeding wildlife.  I encourage everyone to live within the limits of our residency for the good of the Community.  Attracting pests to your property affects your neighbor too!  The ducks did fine without food for years...Nature supplies plenty. Leaving seeds and bread muddy up the pond AND attract pests AND are BAD for the birds!. 
A suggestion here : If you have children coming in and would like to feed the ducks upon occasion,  use frozen peas, carrots, corn. Throw them one at a time and try not to leave any for the rats and mice!

From Catalyst Way walkway

Looking back toward the Mill

On another front.  Charles and I actively look at new businesses, having been in business for years.  We encourage newcomers to support local business and have a cheerful word for any who enter the world of business.  While on a walk in Crofton ( the walk is such a nice one!) we discovered 2 new to us businesses.
One is a laundromat in the back of a 2nd hand store!  It is clean and the drums hold those very large items that need cleaning.  It is located on Joan St right down from CEDRICK'S.

Let me tell you about CEDRICK'S. The photo at the top of the page is from the interior of this wonderful Coffee Shop.
 I'm a little picky about where I go for a special coffee and though I was aware there was a coffee shop on Joan St. we usually went to another further down to see the water. But in the Winter months there is something about a cozy fire and soft music and coffee and fresh scones, muffins and cinnamon buns that are even more attractive than the water! 

While enjoying a muffin and coffee I could watch a fire dance and fling out warmth to those of us who had just had a chilly walk and were looking for exactly the ambiance that CEDERICK'S offers! There were several ticks in favor of this place, small as it is: For one, the music was soft, not loud and jangling.  For another, although limited on space no one was rude and pushy. Everyone was served, but no one went away with just a grunt and a cup in hand

 Nettie, the barista,was warm as the fire..chatting to locals and non locals alike in a charming Dutch accent.
 While there was a lull Nettie told us the story of this particular place.... I am quoting from the owner/operator here: 

"The Mission: CEDERICK is a Jester of wide vision and imagination. He has created a unique resource for people of the Cowichan Valley to gather, share conversation and enjoy a delicious cup of tea or coffee. He invites people who visit the Coffee House to assist him in supporting KIDS INTERNATIONAL- a very worthwhile Vancouver Island charity.
 The story of Adrianne and Rick
  Fourteen years ago, Adrianne Dartnall and Rick Lennert lost their only child, the beautiful twenty one year old Danielle, who was killed by a drunk driver near their home in Nanaimo.  In their profound loss and terrible grief, they decided to do with their lives what Danielle was planning to do with hers:  educate children.  Since that time, Adrianne and Rick have devoted three to four months of every year to work on behalf of children and families living in extreme poverty.

In 2008 Adrianne and Rick formed Kids International Development Society ( K.I.D.S.) and received Canadian charitable status.  Adrianne is an educator/social service administrator and Rick is a carpenter.. Together with the generous donations of others, K.I.D.S. has built clinics, schools, provided clean drinking water systems and is committed to enhancing the well-being of local communities.  They fund a children's shelter for girls who have been at risk, orphaned, or on the streets....they support a women's weaving cooperative, provide bicycles for children and solar lights for them to study by. Some children cycle many miles a day to get to a school to learn.
In isolated communities both in rural Cambodia and on the Tonle Sap Lake, they support health care etc.

The Coffee House Project
  While friends and family have supported this work through generous donations each year, we are certain that Cedrick's Coffee House in Crofton will provide them with substantial funding for many years to come. This is truly a place where a cup of coffee will contribute to changing a child's life."

Charles enjoys coffee

All the profit made from this coffee house in Crofton are used to support K.I.D.S. International Development Society.

 We met Rick and told him we were going to pass this information to this Community.  He is the Jester...he was glad! Do find your way to CEDERICK'S and enjoy the flavor.....

Tea corner

For anyone who is interested:  the Pavilion as it stands now will be torn down to accommodate a new building in generally the same area, but larger..2, 500 to 3,000 sq feet.  It will house an office, kitchen, washrooms and sun deck.  Target date for the tear down is in March, but of course that is always depending on whatever else is happening and needs attention I would imagine!  But those are the plans.  Plans will be finalized by the end of February.

Phase 5 is almost done, but the number of large trucks preclude me from trying to get photos at this stage.  But I promise I'll get them as soon as possible...

Everyone have a great month!

Cheers, 

Leslie