Don Bodger

The Marvelous Wonderettes, from left, consist of Missy (Julia Ullrich), Suzy (Alison MacDonald), Betty Jean (Ali Watson) and Cindy Lou (Makayla Moore). (Photo by Don Bodger)

Plenty of heart and lots to love about The Marvelous Wonderettes

Music and story fits for the show opening on Valentine's Day at the Chemainus Theatre

The Marvelous Wonderettes, from left, consist of Missy (Julia Ullrich), Suzy (Alison MacDonald), Betty Jean (Ali Watson) and Cindy Lou (Makayla Moore). (Photo by Don Bodger)
Russell Farm Market & Garden Centre owner France Bournazel says ‘Mud Pies’ are on the menu at the deli. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Russell Farm Market refurbishing for spring opening well underway

Scars from the massive flood being repaired through a "river-ation"

Russell Farm Market & Garden Centre owner France Bournazel says ‘Mud Pies’ are on the menu at the deli. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Lori Wickham of Ladysmith was at the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn for a memorial for her mom. She wound up spending an hour of it inside an elevator. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Woman stuck in elevator at Chemainus hotel for an hour during power outage

Wickham endures initial panic and settles in until help arrives

Lori Wickham of Ladysmith was at the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn for a memorial for her mom. She wound up spending an hour of it inside an elevator. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Mount Sicker Road near Russell Farm Market was passable Saturday morning after heavy rains overnight Friday, but large pools of water remained. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Chemainus experiences 24-hour rainfall record

Just short of 100 mm in period from 4 a.m. Jan. 31 to 4 a.m. Feb. 1, but storm surpasses that

Mount Sicker Road near Russell Farm Market was passable Saturday morning after heavy rains overnight Friday, but large pools of water remained. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Extent of the flood zone along Chemainus Road by the Chemainus River can be seen from this aerial drone viewpoint. (Photo by Shawn Wagar)

Floods, evacuations during state of emergency

All sorts of heroic tales and strife emerge from mammoth rainstorm

Extent of the flood zone along Chemainus Road by the Chemainus River can be seen from this aerial drone viewpoint. (Photo by Shawn Wagar)
Official changeover of the 49th Parallel General Store to the Salish Sea Market, now owned by the Penelakut Tribe, takes place Monday morning. From left are: Josh James, Jim Chisholm and Joan Brown, representing the Penelakut; 49th’s Ron Neubauer, Wayne and Harmina Richmond, North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring and 49th’s Peter Richmond. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Penelakut Tribe assumes ownership of iconic 49th Parallel General Store in Chemainus

Operating what's now known as the Salish Sea Market provides economic opportunities

Official changeover of the 49th Parallel General Store to the Salish Sea Market, now owned by the Penelakut Tribe, takes place Monday morning. From left are: Josh James, Jim Chisholm and Joan Brown, representing the Penelakut; 49th’s Ron Neubauer, Wayne and Harmina Richmond, North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring and 49th’s Peter Richmond. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Police lights outside the Bosch household Tuesday night. (Photo submitted)

Police arrest Baby Bear statue thief in Chemainus

Suspect alleged to be responsible for other crimes in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and Alberta

Police lights outside the Bosch household Tuesday night. (Photo submitted)
Ward Yeager talks to the media about the return of Baby Bear. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Baby Bear statue returned to be reunited with Mama and Papa

Culprit left it near the Henry Road roundabout in Chemainus with a note attached

Ward Yeager talks to the media about the return of Baby Bear. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Baby bear is missing from its spot between Mama and Papa Bear outside the Secret Garden Ice Cream Shoppe. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Baby bear carving stolen from his family in Chemainus

Thief repeatedly kicked it and dislodged it from cement and rebar

Baby bear is missing from its spot between Mama and Papa Bear outside the Secret Garden Ice Cream Shoppe. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Residents and firefighters outside Croft Place Monday morning following a geas leak into the nearby storm basin. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Gas leak prompts mop-up response in Chemainus

Thorough check made of Croft Place before residents and business people return

Residents and firefighters outside Croft Place Monday morning following a geas leak into the nearby storm basin. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Cowichan and Ladysmith SAR members who recently received their Swift Water Operations Certificates. (Photo submitted)

Successful end to search for kayakers along the Chemainus River

Father and son located tired and cold, but otherwise OK

Cowichan and Ladysmith SAR members who recently received their Swift Water Operations Certificates. (Photo submitted)
Anne Silins is on the other side of an attractive display of books. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Warm reception for new Chemainus library on a cool day

Customers in awe of the building's wonderful atmosphere and extensive resources

Anne Silins is on the other side of an attractive display of books. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Design done by Gus Modeste for his village of Penelakut. (Photo submitted)

Death of famed Penelakut artist Modeste mourned

World famous carving talents began at Chemainus Secondary School

Design done by Gus Modeste for his village of Penelakut. (Photo submitted)
Dan Robin with a magazine cover featuring a very young Britney Spears, the cover of the Pictorial real estate section and other newspapers from the end of the 1990s. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Worries of killer robots, metal trees among contents of 20-year-old time capsule

Crofton family, friends reacquaint themselves with items tucked away before Y2K scare

Dan Robin with a magazine cover featuring a very young Britney Spears, the cover of the Pictorial real estate section and other newspapers from the end of the 1990s. (Photo by Don Bodger)
The Vancouver Island Regional Library logo has been affixed to the new building and the Chemainus library is ready for opening next Monday, Jan. 13. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Soft opening for new Chemainus library next Monday, Jan. 13

Public invited to come and check out all the amenities and features of the building

The Vancouver Island Regional Library logo has been affixed to the new building and the Chemainus library is ready for opening next Monday, Jan. 13. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Brooklyn Puska always conducts herself on the ice with the greatest of ease. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Fuller Lake skater puts her skills to the test and passes

Golden moment arrives ahead of schedule for Puska compared to others

Brooklyn Puska always conducts herself on the ice with the greatest of ease. (Photo by Don Bodger)
The new library in downtown Chemainus is rapidly taking shape toward its completed state. (Photo by Don Bodger)

New Chemainus library opens to the public Jan. 13, 2020

Finishing touches being applied to beautiful downtown building

The new library in downtown Chemainus is rapidly taking shape toward its completed state. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Cute doesn’t even begin to describe the three youngest of the Russell children - Kealey, Kazka and Kalyna. (Photo by Don Bodger)

The Russell Troupe finds a comfort zone in Chemainus

Family gathering with two parents and five kids a common scene around town

Cute doesn’t even begin to describe the three youngest of the Russell children - Kealey, Kazka and Kalyna. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Keeping the home fires burning on the picket line at the Chemainus sawmill, from left, are: Dave Karras, Steve Samson, Terry Hill and Kai Muller. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Strike taking a toll on families of WFP workers with Christmas approaching

Donations being sought at the union hall in Duncan to provide assistance

Keeping the home fires burning on the picket line at the Chemainus sawmill, from left, are: Dave Karras, Steve Samson, Terry Hill and Kai Muller. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A couple of Fuller Lake Flyers Junior B teams during the time period. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Flyers hockey program inducted into Sports Wall of Fame

Junior B teams attracted huge crowds in the early days of Fuller Lake Arena

A couple of Fuller Lake Flyers Junior B teams during the time period. (Photo by Don Bodger)