As of this morning, Heather Deeth has been the Interim Executive Director of Hollyhock for 19 days. Cortes Currents caught up with her on Sunday to talk about the changes in her life, as well as what’s happening in one of the most dynamic retreat centres on the West Coast.
Continue reading Heather Deeth: Hollyhock’s new Interim Executive Director
Part 2 of a 2 part interview, click here for part 1.
Her singing career appeared to be a thing of the past, when Kim Paulley came to Cortes Island in 1992. The release of ‘Straight From The Heart’ had been promising, but she turned to Classical music. While there had been ‘fantastic’ moments between 1985-90, there was also the toil of auditions (and sometimes not getting the part). Her career was on hold when a friend recommended the retreats at Hollyhock, where George Sirk was a naturalist guide.
Continue reading Kim Paulley (part 2): George Sirk, Cortes Island and the rebirth of her career
Recording and initial transcript by Bill Weaver, but very much a collaboration in which Darshan Stevens photography and Cortes Currents all participated.
On the evening of Friday August 20, 2023, in the Cortes Co-Op Courtyard, 155 people arrived with their folding chairs to attend a 25th Anniversary Celebration for Marnie’s Books. First Marnie gave a history of her book selling, and the origins of the Courtyard. Then Shaena Lambert, Rex Weyler, Priya Huffman, Norm Gibbons, Ruth Ozeki, and Erin Robinsong read from their writings. For two hours these wonderful presenters held this large crowd spellbound. This event was co-Sponsored by the Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society.
The following transcript begins with an introduction by Melanie Boyle, from the Cortes Island Museum.
Continue reading 25th Anniversary Celebration of Marnie’s Books
This started out as a story about the incredible blueberry harvest in the midst of this year’s drought.
One of the seniors picking at Sunnybrae Farm gave Cortes Currents the tip, which Mike Manson subsequently confirmed.
“We are seeing what we think might be the biggest crop ever. In terms of pounds per bush, and the fruit is ripening differently. It’s ripening in a more condensed manner, which is good for picking. The big crop is probably due to favourable conditions for pollination in the spring. Whether or not that had anything to do with dry weather, I’m not sure. Maybe the bees were glad it wasn’t raining and cold and wet, but certainly pollination was key, without that you don’t get a crop. For whatever reason, conditions were favourable for bees to be flying and doing their job,” he said.
“We’ve never seen a dry year start so early. This year, the dryness started mid May. I remember May 13th was 30 degrees Celsius. I think the early heat this year has affected the way the fruit has ripened. I haven’t seen it ripen in this fashion before.”
However, there are three blueberry farms on Cortes island and, as I was soon to learn, they are in different micro-climates.
Continue reading This year’s blueberry harvest on Cortes Island
The Cortes Community Housing Society has just released a film about the design work they have completed, with the help of Iredale Architecture, on the Rainbow Ridge project.
“ We’re very lucky to have Bill Weaver, the film maker on our board of directors. Bill is actually our vice president and one of the things he’s so gifted at is capturing film and photos. One of the things he’s been trying to do since the beginning of the project is really record the process that the housing society has gone through,” said Sandra Wood, Executive Director of the Housing Society.
Continue reading Cortes Housing Society Film: ‘Behind the Design’
