The sacred festival of Samhain (Sow'en) marked the start of Winter, and the beginning of the New Year in the old Celtic calendar. It was considered a liminal time in which the world of the living and the realm of the deceased overlapped. This was a time for the remembrance of those who passed on to an unknown place. Candles were set in the window to welcome the beloved ancestors and to light up the path of the recently departed so that they may be blessed as they set out on their new journey.

There was always an element of fear and trepidation about this night – the eve before Samhain – and also one of expectancy. Not only were certain kinds of divination practiced, but also questions were asked of the ancestors and wisdom sought from their descendants. And, it was also a 'mischief night' when young people disguised themselves, played pranks or engaged in light-hearted jokes involving the community.

The modern custom of trick-or-treating is based upon these old traditions, where those in costume went from door-to-door begging for food and drink. At inhospitable houses, for example, the gate might be removed from its hinges.

The mystery and mayhem often associated with this night is not aided by the commercialism of modern Halloween which tends to emphasize ghoulish fascination with goblins and ghosts not to mention spooks and spectres rather than the communal commemoration of their ancestors.

For those who prefer the scary sights and sounds of haunted houses and their mysterious ephemeral inhabitants, James Bay resident and local historian, John Adams highlights one haunted home worth checking out (as reported in the Times Colonist , October 31, 2010.

THE BENT MAST

The Bent Mast (512 Simcoe St.) is a pub-style restaurant in James Bay. The structure started as a house in the 1880s for the Chandler family, but over the years saw many other uses and occupants. The place has been home to so many reports of ghosts, one former employee who was familiar with paranormal phenomena suggested it might even be a portal between our earthly sphere and the underworld.

Among the most frequently reported ghosts are a middle-aged man sitting by the front window, the upper torso of a woman hovering near the women's washroom and several children on the staircase. One spectral boy in particular is said to play hide-and-seek upstairs, and may be the same one who has reportedly talked with patrons on the front-yard patio and has the ability to take control of their cellular phones.

Residents of James Bay have also reported that there are several ghosts who are known to inhabit the Gatsby Mansion Hotel at 309 Belleville Street. Apparently they appear rather regularly which is probably why it takes a certain kind of person who is willing to work the graveyard shift doing maintenance work in the more remote areas of the property.

After a break of six months, MyJamesBay, is now back in business.

Actually, the break had more to do with recovering from a boodle of broken bones after a bad fall.

Now that everything has healed … there's oodles of time to keep up with everything that's happening in this little bit of paradise called James Bay.

So, without further ado… let's got on with the shooo! (an old Ed Sullivan Show saying…which probably dates the author…but then what the heck)!

Okay, so James Bay doesn’t have a super-sized cinema…but it does have a fun flick or two plus some unforgettable nummies to enjoy with your noir/naughty night out!

Wednesday, February 10, 6:00– 9:00 pm: A sinfully delicious menu inspired by the film"Chocolat" (which will be shown during this unforgettable entertainment event at The Superior Cafe, 106 Superior Superior Street). Reservations: 250.380.9515

Wednesday, February 24, 2:30 pm: Movie & Beef Stroganoff Supper – "An Affair to Remember" at James Bay New Horizons Activity Center, 234 Menzies Street. ($5.50 per person plus $35 annual membership fee). For more information contact: programsjb.nh@shawbiz.ca or tel: 250.386.3035.

Wednesday, February 24, 6:00-9:00 pm: Great meal followed by the David Lynch film, "Blue Velvet". Come dressed in the style of the film; prizes awarded for the best-dressed film buff; movie starts at 7:15 pm at The Superior Cafe, 106 Superior Superior Street). Reservations: 250.380.9515

Friday Movie Nights – hosted by VLSCS at James Bay New Horizons Activities Centre, 234 Menzies Street. For more information contact: programsjb.nh@shawbiz.ca or tel: 250.386.3035

The Royal BC Museum, a well-known tourist destination in the City and a prominent landmark in the neighborhood of James will be undergoing a multi-million dollar makeover.

Built in 1967, the museum has hosted more than 30 million visitors. Over the next year, the museum will undergo a six million dollar upgrade of its electrical systems to improve the temperature and humidity levels. These systems are critical to preserving the museum’s significant collections which focus on the human and natural history of British Columbia and temporary exhibits from other countries and cultures.

The Museum, located at 675 Belleville Street, will be open daily from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. It is expected that the construction project will be completed by March 2011 with mininimal impact on operations of the museum during the next 12 months.

Victoria motorists, including those living in the James Bay neighborhood got a gas break yesterday — below $1.00 a litre. 

Our local gas station located at 308 Menzies Street (t: 250.383.3612) posted 97.9 cents a litre for regular gas, a drop of 4.9 cents than the previous day.

Of course if you want to keep an eye of fares for fuel, you should probably check out Victoria Gas Prices. Aren’t you lucky you don’t live in Labrador City, Newfoundland & Labrador where the price at the pump reached $1.203/litre this week. Of course ex-patriots from Alberta who’ve flocked to Victoria to escape the rigors of the cold climate in winter, dearly miss the lowest gas prices in the country now — 88.9 cents a litre in Edmonton and Lloydminster!

It seems that crude il prices are likely to grow slowly and steadily as the global economy improves. The current recession has however reduced demand for gas, while we are experiencing a surplus in refining capacity. Inventories of wholesale gas appear to be strong suggesting that we may see some price stability at least over the spring period which should lift the spirit of drivers sorely in need of some upbeat news!

Now if you’re like Maxine, the mad maven in illustration above, you might want contact our City Councillor – Pam Madoff (City Hall Tel: 250.361.0221 or Home Tel: 250.384.6971) or the City Engineering Department (Tel: 250.361.0400) to request that they fill in the potholes and pave the streets properly so that we may enjoy a quality of life befitting those who live in the city’s oldest neighborhood. Remember, paradise is but a phone call away!