A brief look at what made the news in Sooke in years past.
December 16, 1969
SPCA Takes Over
The condition of the sheep and cattle on the Gordon’s Beach farm, the estate of the late H.O. Rogerson, has been the subject of discussion for a considerable time. Investigations were carried on during the summer months by the SPCA. At that time there was a reasonable amount of feed and these tough Highland Sheep and Highland Cattle were able to forage for themselves. Certainly conditions were far from ideal, but there was nothing on which the SPCA could act.
Over the months the manager of the SPCA, David Beeching, has kept a careful check on conditions, with the assistance of a veterinarian and and experienced cattleman. Food has been getting scarce, which has led to increased wandering of the stock.
December 15, 1979
Christmas Shopping in Sooke
The following is a small sample of what is available and where, and prices are approximate.
For the festive occasion, a dress, lapel, or hairdo could be adorned with a silk flower, priced at $1 to $6, from He & She Style Shop. Also in stock are cordless curling irons at $26.50 and glimmering Disco Eye Powders at $4.50.
Linda’s Toys & Crafts offers many playthings for children and some very interesting ideas for the “grown up” child in the family as well, such as models of the 1914 Prince Henry Vauxhall and the 1920 Rolls Royce Fire Engine, at $7.50 each. For the bar, a “Laffun Head” gives you a surprise by laughing, rolling its eyes and wagging its tongue when its tie is pulled. It costs $34.
Although the selection of glazed fruit is now diminished, local food stores are offering some very competitive buys. K&R Your Food Store has Christmas mixed nuts for $1.39 a pound and filberts for 99 cents a pound. At Village Food Markets, you’ll find Christmas candy at $1.39 and $1.59 per pound.
Cedar Grove Bakery, in addition to festive gingerbread men and mince tarts, have beautifully-decorated fruitcakes at $4.99.
December 20, 1989
Victory for Wildlife
Chalk up one for the wildlife that inhabit the Sooke River estuary.
The decision of the CRD directors, on the recommendation of Sooke Director Bob Clark, to rescind a bylaw to rezone the Sooke flats for 100 RVs each summer is as much a victory for the wildlife and for our environment as much as an indictment of bureaucratic bungling that raised doubts in the minds of CRD lawyers as to whether or not CRD bureaucrats followed the proper procedures in informing residents of the proposed rezoning.
December 22, 1999
Experts say nothing to fear about Y2K bug but fear itself
Human panic, not computers, seem to be the real Y2K story as less than two weeks separate one epoch from another.
“The biggest problem won’t’ be the computers, it’ll be people’s hysteria,” local Capital Computers manager Ivan Bjornholt said.
Bjornholt said although he anticipates some minor computer glitches, they will be worked out.
However, he fears people’s reaction to the threat of Y2K bug will create problems.
December 16, 2009
Solar kudos for T’Sou-ke Nation
A recent trend of cool, sunny weather was still in effect last Tuesday as honour was bestowed upon the local First Nation. Sharing the recognition was the energy outfit that helped T’Sou-ke become considered for the award granted by the Canadian Solar Industries Association.
The local partnership had to have been a prime candidate for the award considering it had created what’s been described as the largest such solar installation in the province.
