Rising ferry fares: facing reality $ 25 (incl. GST) Stacy Cardigan Smith takes an in-depth look at fare caps. SEE PAGE 06 1 Visualizing songs as art Rachel Page is the focus of Elizabeth Nolan’s ArtBeat column. SEE PAGE 15 GULF ISLANDS Wednesday, May 16, 2007 — YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 47TH YEAR – ISSUE 20 SCHOOL DISTRICT Business company snuffed Decision will be fi nalized at next trustees’ meeting BY STACY CARDIGAN SMITH DRIFTWOOD STAFF School District 64 board members accepted a notice of motion last week to close down the SD64 business company after fi ve years of operation. The district will “begin pro- ceedings to transfer the onshore assets of the SD64 business company to the school district . “ and “divest itself of the offshore assets . Upon dives- titure of assets from the busi- ness company, SD64 will cease to own or operate a business company,” read Pender Island trustee Pete Williams from the prepared notice of motion. Onshore assets include the international student program PHOTO BY DERRICK LUNDY and the Cultural Mosaic online A SIGN OF SPRING: Jeannie Villadsen waters some fl owers at Fraser Thimble Farm as island gardeners plan for a summer of colour. course. Offshore assets consist of a 50 per cent stake in Maple- leaf Schools International, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT which operates an elementary school in Poland. The plan to cease operation results from legislation pro- Assault, drugs net six months in jail posed by the Ministry of Edu- cation (MOE) in late March Officers placed Marcano under arrest and calling for tougher standards Crown deems sentence for altercation with Salt Spring seated him uncuffed in the back seat of their for business companies. SD64’s cruiser. When questioned on the scene, Marcano business company already police offi cer as “ridiculously low.” pushed open the car door and struck the arrest- complied with a majority of ing, escaping lawful custody and driving while ing offi cer in the face as he tried to escape. the six legislated amendments, BY SEAN MCINTYRE impaired date back to operation E-PANG, a July Marcano could not be subdued until an offi cer but the board moved to close DRIFTWOOD STAFF 2006 RCMP undercover drug operation targeting on the scene deployed a taser. it based on the following fi nd- A Salt Spring Island man was sentenced to six cocaine traffi ckers in Centennial Park and vari- The melee left Const. Nick Widdershoven ings: months in jail after pleading guilty to four charg- ous licensed premise in Ganges. with a fractured fi bia and dislocated tibia. He • It presently incurs costs es stemming from a drug-fuelled summertime On July 26, 2006, a Moby’s Pub patron led required two surgeries to install a plate and nine from extensive external audits bender that left a Salt Spring RCMP offi cer with a plain-clothed officers looking to purchase bolts in his leg. and comprehensive general broken leg and a shattered spirit. cocaine to the ArtSpring parking lot where Mar- “The incident affected not only his confi dence liability insurance. With his father and girlfriend in the audi- cano, 24, provided them with a gram of cocaine in himself and the way he does his job, but • New reporting timelines ence, a well-dressed and clean-shaven Eugene and contact information for future transactions. ruined the rest of his summer and made him and requirements will increase Marcano sat silently as lawyers took four hours Several days later, police arrested Marcano cancel his vacation,” Crown counsel Barb Penty administrators’ workloads and recounting the case’s circumstances at a sen- after a short car chase along Cranberry Road. told the court. “He has lost sleep playing this audits. tencing hearing in Ganges Provincial Court last Police later determined Marcano had consumed event over and over in his head.” • In particular, the require- week. one gram of cocaine, three ecstasy tablets and Though Widdershoven is now back on his feet, ment that a majority of direc- Charges of aggravated assault, drug traffi ck- several beer earlier that day. JAIL SENTENCE continued on 2 SCHOOL BIZ continued on 2 INSERTS INDEX Health ........................................... 24 • Ganges Village Market -/24'!'%15%34)/.3 Gil Mouat Arts .................................................. 15 Horoscope................................ 38 • Home Hardware ASK!RLENE 26 Years KNOWLEDGE Classifieds ................................ 34 .......................................... 09 • Pharmasave Letters • Thrifty Foods Editorials ................................... 08 Sports ............................................ 31 (250) 537-4900 • Rona Ferry Schedules .................. 31 TV Listings .............................. 17 www.gilmouat.com What’s On................................. 23 ",/ *"/ email: [email protected] website: www.gulfislands.net 10% off Tuesdays GANGES SSI MIDDLE SCHOOL (some restrictions apply) VILLAGE MARKET CAR WASH FUNDRAISER Friday May 18 from 10am - 4pm Closer to the Community Saturday May 19 from 10am - 4pm Locally owned and operated OPEN DAILY 8am - 9pm 2 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2007 | GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD CALL GAIL, SEAN OR STACY IF YOU NEWSBEAT SEE NEWS HAPPENING - 250-537-9933 77%347).$$ POLICE NEWS , 7"" Ê ° #USTOM&LOORING 3PECIALIZINGINCUSTOM7IDE0LANK Sexual assault suspect still at large #LEAR$OUGLAS&IR a warrant for the suspect s"RANDNAMEmOORINGAVAILABLE Victim awoke in Further investigation by ling alone at night. s/VER(ARDWOOD3OFTWOODSPECIESINSTOCK remained “in the system” the RCMP substantiated the “I recommend women abandoned shed and is “anticipated shortly,” assault claim. be aware of their safety £nääÈÈÇÓÓÇx said Willis. The incident allegedly and avoid engaging in risky xÊÊ£ä£nÊV >`Ê*>ÀÊ,>`]Ê-`iÞ]Ê BY SEAN MCINTYRE Based on the ongoing occurred after the victim behaviour,” he added. DRIFTWOOD STAFF RCMP investigation, Wil- spent the previous evening Willis said a brief press Salt Spring RCMP are lis said the suspect has fl ed drinking with a group of release on the incident was unable to release the name the island and is no longer a friends on a nearby beach. issued at the time, but none +POJTMPDBM*OWFTUNFOU of a 28-year-old man sus- threat to island residents. The investigation has was received by the Drift- "EWJTPSZ4FSWJDFIBT pected of sexually assaulting Little is known about the revealed the two individuals wood. BOFNQIBTJTPOUIF a Salt Spring Island woman suspect except his age and were acquainted before the A citizen’s question about IJHIFTURVBMJUZ in the Ganges Village core that he lived on the island incident. a rumoured assault at the more than six weeks ago. for several months. “It appears they met up site (with the rumour sug- QSPGFTTJPOBMBEWJDF “This is the process,” said The 21-year-old victim on the beach,” Willis said. gesting the victim was a BOETFSWJDFBMPOHXJUI Sgt. Danny Willis of the Salt reported the incident on Salt Spring RCMP could minor) brought the matter JOUFHSBUFEXFBMUI Spring Island RCMP detach- March 31, 2007 after waking not provide a detailed to light last week. NBOBHFNFOU ment Tuesday. up in an abandoned shed on account of circumstances Willis confi rmed the vic- Police have confirmed Hereford Avenue. leading to the alleged sexual tim’s age was in fact 21. the suspect’s identity, but Police cordoned off a assault or a physical descrip- Willis credited the delay 1SPUFDUJOH are not legally permitted to dilapidated building across tion of the suspect. in obtaining a warrant to a release the detailed infor- the street from the United The RCMP advises young procedural problem. BOEHSPXJOH mation about the suspect Church meadow for the women to remain con- People with any relevant ZPVSXFBMUI until charges are formally entire day while investiga- scious of their surround- information are asked to call laid. tors looked over the crime ings at all times and exer- the Salt Spring RCMP at 537- As of Tuesday afternoon, scene. cise caution when travel- 5555. JAIL SENTENCE continued from 1 .FFU+POJ(BOEFSUPO Low-level drug dealer made effort to change ,°ÊÊ>`iÀÌÊ Ê * minor nerve damage in his foot and dealer,” who has made every effort to hour in chambers before emerging ÛiÃÌiÌÊ`ÛÃÀÊ>`Ê>V>Ê*>iÀ lower leg will likely never be repaired, rebuild his life in the nine months fol- with a verdict. xÎÇ£Èx{ÊÊÊÊÊ court heard. lowing the incident. Citing a need to denounce unlaw- +ÕiÃÌöÊÊÊi>Ê°>`iÀÌJL«V`°V According to records presented in ful actions under any and all circum- ÜÜÜ°}>`iÀÌ°V Áʺ "Ê­L>ÀÊÀÕ`iÊÃÞL®»ÊÃÊ>ÊÀi}ÃÌiÀi`ÊÌÀ>`i>ÀÊvÊ >ÊvÊÌÀi>]ÊÕÃi`ÊÕ`iÀÊViVi°Êº iÃLÌÌÊ ÕÀûÊ>`ʺ "Ê court, Marcano has since registered to stances, Hubbard ordered Marcano iÃLÌÌÊ ÕÀÃÊ`Û>ViÊ*À}À>»Ê>ÀiÊÀi}ÃÌiÀi`ÊÌÀ>`i>ÀÃÊvÊ "Ê iÃLÌÌÊ ÕÀÃÊ À«À>ÌÊÌi`]ÊÕÃi`ÊÕ`iÀÊViVi° “Violence against the police complete his high school diploma and spend six months in jail for assaulting refrained from alcohol and drug use. a police offi cer. must be severely denounced “Essentially this incident has turned He sentenced Marcano to concur- around a life lost at the time. Eugene Mar- rent sentences of three months for traf- Honda’s 2 hp, cano has done everything he can to elimi- fi cking, three months for escaping law- and deterred.” nate his problem and advance his life,” ful custody and 14 days for impaired tiller-throttle, Hemphill told the court. “The accused driving. 4-stroke outboard JUSTICE MIKE HUBBARD became a victim of his own product.” “Police in the community have a Provincial court judge Hemphill requested the judge con- very diffi cult job and violence against (In-stock only) sider a conditional sentence in lieu of the police must be severely denounced jail time. Marcano’s advanced state of and deterred,” said Hubbard. Penty demanded a four-year jail intoxication, combined with a “twist- Penty deemed the sentence “com- term in order “to send a message” that ed and mistrustful view of authority,” pletely inappropriate” and “ridiculous- this behaviour cannot be tolerated.