PenderBlog From The Pender Islands Of Canada

October 31, 2007

After the fires – southern California

Filed under: Commentary,Nature watch,Views — vortexman @ 1:33 pm

Photo: Vortexman

Are any snowbirds keeping up with Pender happenings via Jocko’s fabulous blog? It’s a longshot, but if there are any besides me, why not share your snowbirding adventures, locations and tips with other expat-Penderites? I for one arrived in southern California just in time for the horrendous inferno last week. Although there were no fires all that close to where I was in San Clemente (the closest being 10 km away at Camp Pendleton), the air quality remained unhealthful for several days, even at the beach. Things are back to normal now, and if there are any RV’ers who want recommendations on where to go, including fabulous State Park sites right on the beach in southern California, I can advise. Just leave ‘comments’ to this post to communicate.

October 26, 2007

Jocko’s Tortilla Rollup Appetizer

Filed under: Recipes — Jocko @ 3:36 pm

 Jocko’s Tortilla Rollup Appetizer

Note: Quantities are approximate, but makes about 25 slices or enough for about 8 people. A mix of red, green and white tortillas add a festive, Mexican flag coloured touch.

About 3-10″(large) or 5 (small) flour tortillas at room temperature
8 oz. (1 c) cream cheese
2 oz. (1/4 c) sour cream (optional)
1-4 oz. can (about 1/4 c drained) green chile peppers, WELL drained and finely chopped
1/4 c finely chopped black olives (optional)
1/4 c finely chopped green onion
1 c sharp cheddar, colby or monterray jack cheese, shredded
1 clove garlic, pressed (optional)

Mix all ingredients together into a paste. Paste should hold together and not be too soft and definitely not runny.
Spread over each tortilla in a layer not more than 1/4 in thick making sure you get right to the edges.
Gently roll up tortilla starting nearest you, not too tight.
Transfer to a square of plastic wrap and wrap snugly.
Repeat procedure until spread is used up.
Refrigerate for absolute minimum of 2 hours and preferably 8 hours to overnight. Best rolled and chilled the day before.
When thoroughly chilled, unwrap and using a sharp, not serrated, knife cut into 1/2 to 3/4″ thick slices and arrange on a platter either standing up or in a leaning domino arrangement. End slices may be eaten by chef as they will not be perfect enough for the platter.
To serve, provide a small center bowl of salsa and a single spoon. This is finger food, so using spoon, add a little salsa to one side of a slice before popping it in your mouth. Small plates might be useful, but a cocktail napkin would do just as well.

Enjoy!

October 23, 2007

Photo of the week…

Filed under: Photo of the week — Jocko @ 5:42 pm

Photo: Jocko

A scarecrow in Port Washington that could actually scare off crows!

Interesting Islander Profile No. 1

Filed under: Arts and Entertainment,Views — Jocko @ 1:40 pm

If you happen to be strolling around the Driftwood center, drop in and have a chat with Gwen at Gwen’s Fine Art & Native Collectibles next to the realty office. Gwen has an interesting background which led her to start a Native art gallery on Pender.

In her words: “I lived in Las Vegas for eight years before returning to Pender in 2005. During that time I studied Lineage Traditional Tai Chi and Yoga. My teacher was a Chumash Indian from California. Through the practices of Tai Chi and Yoga I became immersed in the Native culture. I became a member of a large inter-tribal Sweat family. We attended sweat lodges three times weekly, along with vision quests on Mount Charleston, listening circles and other native traditions. I was adopted Indian style by an Ojibwa family, and became Candice Esquival’s adopted sister. It was throught Candices’s teaching that I became a jingle dress dancer at Pow Wows and other native gatherings. We also sang “behind the drum” with a Pow Wow drum group. To supplement my income in Las Vegas, I became partners with Running Deer (now 98 years young) and sold jewellery with him at Gun Shows and Native events.”

Gwen missed her family in Canada and returned to Pender to share a love of Native Indian Culture by opening the store.

“Today, all seems quiet and serene which is always what I loved about Pender Island. Mitakuye Oyas’in (all my relations) Thanks.”

Gwen can be reached at 629-6647 or visit www.gwensnativecollectibles.com. Check out her store soon!

October 22, 2007

Time for a change on the roads?

Filed under: Commentary,Sustainable Living,Views — Jocko @ 2:16 pm

Submitted by Barry Mathias

The Pender Islands have experienced a large population increase over the past few years with a coinciding increase in road traffic. With all means of getting around out there, be it walking or jogging shoes, bicycles, scooters, cars, pick up trucks, large trucks, heavy equipment trailers and commercial vehicles, there is a growing need to rethink the way we use our roads. Factor in the predicted ongoing increase in the price of gas and diesel fuel, most of us will be trying to reduce the use of our vehicles. There will be more walkers, cyclists, and scooters on the road adding to the potential for accidents.

A move in the right direction would be towards some kind of community transportation, but with our current population, buses would probably be uneconomical. We could, however, try out “Car Stops”.

Car Stops are clearly identifiable places throughout an island, where people can wait, if they wish, to get a lift. The stops would have a Car Stop sign, and a legal disclaimer that would indemnify drivers. The result would be a reduction in single occupancy vehicles, an easing of parking problems at shopping centers, the ferry terminal and halls, safer roads and a possible increase in community spirit. We can do this without huge expenditure. We can do it if we have the will.

October 21, 2007

Jack’s Rolling Store

Filed under: Services,Sustainable Living — Jocko @ 1:15 pm

I was going through some old family photos and came across this. My Grandmother and friends standing by the mobile grocery truck. In rural Saskatchewan back at the turn of the last century, this was a practical and convenient way to serve residents needs. Could this concept be adapted to the islands and reduce individual trips to the store?

October 20, 2007

Helpful hints…

Filed under: Recipes — Jocko @ 1:00 pm

  photo: Jocko

This is such a brilliant solution to a little problem in my kitchen that I thought I’d share it with the rest of you loyal PenderBlog readers and participants (although we could use a few more of them, come on, you know you want to say something, let it out!). What is that great hint you have?

Hint no. 1 The Salt Solution

To keep your wooden cutting board clean and fresh, if necessary scrape first with a large butcher knife or Asian cleaver (be careful!) to get any built up stuff off (you know what I mean), and then routinely, ie. maybe every day or so, wipe it down with a bit of table salt. This will help remove and prevent future buildup of that stuff, maybe sterilize the surface, and season your chopped food all in one step! I also sprinkle some salt on my kitchen cloth at night and roll it up damp and it stays amazingly sweet and fresh. I guess the bacteria don’t like the salt – J.

October 16, 2007

All those not in favour…

Filed under: Governance and Legal,Views — Jocko @ 6:55 pm

The Balance On Pender group, Michael Doyle, Randy Lynch (629-9981), Victor Jones and Ellie Ross, are encouraging North Pender residents to petition the provincial Minister of Community Services, Honourable Ida Chong <CS.Minister@gov.bc.ca> and Saanich North and the Islands MLA Murray Coell <Murray.Coell.MLA@leg.bc.ca> without delay if they want to use a last opportunity to prevent the proposed Official Community Plan (OCP) by-law with Sensitive Ecosystem Development Permit Areas (SEDPAs) from getting final approval. They contend the SEDPAs received almost no focused public scrutiny and that if approved, could negatively affect the values of some properties by restricting what landowners can and cannot do with their land including where to build, which may not be on the preferred building site. They predict that further litigation over the matter could end up costing tax payers more money and cite the recent failed lawsuit of the North Pender Islands Trust trustees to prevent short term vacation rentals (STVRs) as an example. They would like the section on SEDPAs be removed from the bylaw by the Minister and be dealt with separately to fully address public concerns over implementation and cost issues as well as potential litigation from poorly defined guidelines and errors on the available maps. One or more of the following actions are urged by the group:

1. Submit a personal letter to Honourable Ida Chong, Minister of Community Services, 218-2186 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, B.C. V8R 1G3 or to Murray Coell, MLA, Saanich North and the Islands, Suite F, 2412 Beacon Ave., Sidney, B.C. V8L 1X4

2. Sign a petition and drop it off in the “Balance on Pender” folder in the Community Box at Pender Island Realty

3. Email them at <info@penderocp.com> stating “I, (your name and N. Pender property address), a resident of North Pender Island, ask Minister Chong to remove the Sensitive Ecosystem DPA designations from the proposed OCP for separate public review.”

4. Fax petitions to 250.629.2086

For more information visit: http://www.penderocp.com/

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