The streets are busier, the weather is better. People from elsewhere are enjoying what we get to enjoy year-round, or at least those of us who don't scamper south in the winter.
Some random thoughts after yet another fantastic Canada Day weekend in Parksville Qualicum Beach:
• Call them whiners, or complainers or the glass-half-empty set. Or perhaps realists, if you agree with their views.
Still, after some great days in paradise, watching our e-mail inbox being populated with grumpy comments is a little disappointing.
We will publish the letters, but sometimes we just don't get it. And, unfortunately, it's the naysayers who seem more motivated to write and complain than the vast majority who enjoy themselves.
The Canada Day music was this or that. The signage of a certain local business is inappropriate. Motorcycles are too loud and no one in authority is doing anything about it.
Not to dismiss some of these legitimate concerns, but c'mon, really? Talk about First World problems.
• We have presented enough about Parksville's goose cull. It's time for the public to chime in, and they do, starting with some letters to the editor in today's paper and in the papers to come. All respectful opinions are welcome, as usual, but to those expressing shock over this, we have little empathy.
This has been a front-burner issue for many years at city council. Mayor Marc Lefebvre has never hidden his disdain for what the birds are doing to the estuary and Community Park. City council has listened to numerous presentations and engaged in many hours of debate on this issue. Council members decided months ago to go the cull route.
Forgive the shameless self-promotion, but for those who are expressing shock over the cull: don't miss an edition of your local newspaper.
• Your Member of Parliament, Gord Johns, wants to hear from you about federal government issues. And he'll provide the coffee. Go to his office (1209 East Island Highway, Parksville) this Wednesday from
10-11:30 a.m. to express your opinions.
— Editorial by John Harding