Emily Vance

Emily Vance, feeling like an alchemist as she prepares to anneal the sterling silver ring shape with a torch. (Francois Lavigne photo)

Making jewelry by hand: DIY ring-making at Parksville’s Metal Art Studio

Valerie Harty offers jewelry-making classes, drop-in sessions in the MAC’s MakerSpace

Emily Vance, feeling like an alchemist as she prepares to anneal the sterling silver ring shape with a torch. (Francois Lavigne photo)
Kelly Corbett’s paintings are inspired by the nature she sees while adventuring outdoors. (Emily Vance photo)

‘Bringing the outside in:’ Vancouver Island artist finding new landscapes to paint

Nanoose Bay’s Kelly Corbett and her work bringing adventures to life

Kelly Corbett’s paintings are inspired by the nature she sees while adventuring outdoors. (Emily Vance photo)
Ray Gourlay’s backyard along Morningstar Creek after heavy rainfall raised rivers and creeks in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area. (Ray Gourlay photo)

Flood risk recedes in Parksville Qualicum Beach

Heavy rains cause region to be on flood watch

Ray Gourlay’s backyard along Morningstar Creek after heavy rainfall raised rivers and creeks in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area. (Ray Gourlay photo)
Unsecured dogs and driving don’t mix, say Oceanside RCMP. (Black Press file photo)

The ‘ultimate distraction’: RCMP warn drivers against unsecured pets in vehicles

Cops, ICBC offer tips after pooch killed in Coombs mishap

Unsecured dogs and driving don’t mix, say Oceanside RCMP. (Black Press file photo)
A selection of Kat Cearns’s work is on display at Creekmore’s Coffee in Coombs. (Emily Vance photo)

‘Nothing else feeds my soul like that’: Vancouver Island artist

Coombs artist Kat Cearns paints whimsical, colourful ‘animals doing people things’

A selection of Kat Cearns’s work is on display at Creekmore’s Coffee in Coombs. (Emily Vance photo)
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the area of Parksville Qualicum Beach, calling for 60 millimetres of rain by Saturday Feb. 1. (News file photo)

Rainfall warning issued for mid-Island’s east coast

Environment Canada says 60 milimeters of rain expected by Saturday

Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the area of Parksville Qualicum Beach, calling for 60 millimetres of rain by Saturday Feb. 1. (News file photo)
A head-on collision at the Coombs Junction killed a dog and sent one woman to hospital on Monday, Jan. 27. (News file photo)

Head-on collision on Vancouver Island results in dead dog, woman in hospital

RCMP say no one else injured in Coombs crash

A head-on collision at the Coombs Junction killed a dog and sent one woman to hospital on Monday, Jan. 27. (News file photo)
The first group of Canadians that went over to fight the country’s 2019-2020 wildfires were from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and various federal parks. (Courtesy of Kevin Cochrane)

Vancouver Islander returns from Down Under with tales of “fire all over the landscape’

Kevin Cochrane of the Coastal Fire Centre spent 38 days Down Under helping crews in Australia

The first group of Canadians that went over to fight the country’s 2019-2020 wildfires were from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and various federal parks. (Courtesy of Kevin Cochrane)
Oceanside RCMP say they were able to return thousands of dollars of stolen goods to a business in Parksville after apprehending a suspect immediately after a theft occurred, thanks to a remotely monitored surveillance camera. (NEWS file photo)

Remote surveillance helps RCMP nab suspect immediately in Island break-in

Stolen items returned after Parksville business owner takes quick action

Oceanside RCMP say they were able to return thousands of dollars of stolen goods to a business in Parksville after apprehending a suspect immediately after a theft occurred, thanks to a remotely monitored surveillance camera. (NEWS file photo)
Charges are pending against a Port Alberni man after Central Vancouver Island Traffic Services pulled the driver over going 130 km/h in a 60 km/h zone of Nanoose Bay on Jan. 19. (News file photo)

Vancouver Island man arrested after police seize suspected illicit drugs in Nanoose Bay

Car impounded after Port Alberni driver clocked travelling at more than twice the posted speed limit

Charges are pending against a Port Alberni man after Central Vancouver Island Traffic Services pulled the driver over going 130 km/h in a 60 km/h zone of Nanoose Bay on Jan. 19. (News file photo)
The completed treehouse on Mayne Island built by a handful of Parksville businesses as part of a Children’s Wish initiative for eleven-year old Kai Hennessey. (Courtesy of Kevin Hennessey)

‘Epic sky palace’: B.C. businesses help create dream treehouse for boy recovering from cancer

‘It was kind of a bright shining beacon at the end of a horrible, dark tunnel’

The completed treehouse on Mayne Island built by a handful of Parksville businesses as part of a Children’s Wish initiative for eleven-year old Kai Hennessey. (Courtesy of Kevin Hennessey)
Brandon Ford, Ryan Smythe, Ritchie Rae and Kyle Meston stand behind Kai in his newly-built treehouse on Mayne Island. (Courtesy of Kevin Hennessey)

‘Epic sky palace’: Island businesses help create dream treehouse for boy recovering from cancer

‘It was kind of a bright shining beacon at the end of a horrible, dark tunnel’

Brandon Ford, Ryan Smythe, Ritchie Rae and Kyle Meston stand behind Kai in his newly-built treehouse on Mayne Island. (Courtesy of Kevin Hennessey)
In Eric Pinto’s Qualicum Beach home, the walls are lined with historic skateboards, many of them full setups of era-accurate components. Pictured behind Pinto is a collection of Alva Skates boards. (Emily Vance photo)

Vancouver Island home to one of Canada’s largest private skateboard collections

Eric Pinto owns hundreds of boards, spanning multiple decades

In Eric Pinto’s Qualicum Beach home, the walls are lined with historic skateboards, many of them full setups of era-accurate components. Pictured behind Pinto is a collection of Alva Skates boards. (Emily Vance photo)
Family-run corner store in Parksville closes after 42 years

Family-run corner store in Parksville closes after 42 years

This weekend marked the last day for Shopper’s Grocery Mart on Alberni Highway

Family-run corner store in Parksville closes after 42 years
These Parksville students raised $185 for charity by shovelling sideways during their snow day on Wednesday, Jan. 15. From left: Josh Spencer, Kai Carleton, Hayden Sjogren, Mya Spencer and Layne Taylor. Not pictured: Isla Carleton. (Courtesy of Graeme Carleton)

Vancouver Island kids shovel for charity

Group of Parksville youngsters will donate the $185 raised digging out the neighbourhood

These Parksville students raised $185 for charity by shovelling sideways during their snow day on Wednesday, Jan. 15. From left: Josh Spencer, Kai Carleton, Hayden Sjogren, Mya Spencer and Layne Taylor. Not pictured: Isla Carleton. (Courtesy of Graeme Carleton)
The French Creek Base of the Coast Guard was called in to the Beachcomber Marina in Nanoose Bay on Sunday, Jan. 12 for a severe windstorm. Crews returned on Monday to help clean up the damage done to the marina and boats. (Emily Vance photo)

‘It was mayhem’: Storm causes huge damage at Vancouver Island marina

Boat crashes ashore, 150 feet of breakwater crumbles at the Beachcomber Marina in Nanoose Bay

The French Creek Base of the Coast Guard was called in to the Beachcomber Marina in Nanoose Bay on Sunday, Jan. 12 for a severe windstorm. Crews returned on Monday to help clean up the damage done to the marina and boats. (Emily Vance photo)
B.C. Hydro crews worked throughout the night in Parksville Qualicum Beach to restore power to 12,000 customers. (Courtesy B.C. Hydro)

Power restored to 12,000 homes and businesses across Parksville Qualicum Beach

Wind, snow sweeps the mid-Island, multiple trees down on power lines

B.C. Hydro crews worked throughout the night in Parksville Qualicum Beach to restore power to 12,000 customers. (Courtesy B.C. Hydro)
From left: Regional District of Nanaimo chairman Ian Thorpe, Mayor of Parksville and RDN board member Ed Mayne, and director of RDN Area E (Nanoose Bay) Bob Rogers at the commissioning of the Englishman River Water Services treatment plant on Jan. 9. (Emily Vance photo)

$41.7-million Englishman River water treatment plant opens in Parksville

Facility can filter up to 16 million litres of water per day for Parksville and Nanoose Bay

From left: Regional District of Nanaimo chairman Ian Thorpe, Mayor of Parksville and RDN board member Ed Mayne, and director of RDN Area E (Nanoose Bay) Bob Rogers at the commissioning of the Englishman River Water Services treatment plant on Jan. 9. (Emily Vance photo)
Three Coombs structure fires in three weeks unusual, but unconnected

Three Coombs structure fires in three weeks unusual, but unconnected

‘It’s not like there’s an arsonist running around,’ says fire chief

Three Coombs structure fires in three weeks unusual, but unconnected
Jesse Recalma is a member of the Qualicum First Nation involved in preserving and revitalizing traditional languages. (Emily Vance photo)
Jesse Recalma is a member of the Qualicum First Nation involved in preserving and revitalizing traditional languages. (Emily Vance photo)