Cowichan Auto Repair is offering a free workshop on March 4 to teach women the basics of how to keep their vehicles in good repair.
Owner Elly Ruge said the workshop will be just the first in a series that Cowichan Auto Repair plans to offer to the public, with many of the rest intended for both men and women.
Ruge said the workshop on March 4, which begins at 2 p.m., will be hosted by car specialist Natasha Smith and herself.
“It’s a fact that a well-maintained vehicle will save on repairs down the road,” she said. “We’ll be instructing the women at the workshop to change their oil regularly, keep their tires balanced and the air filters checked, among other things. At this time of year, it’s also important to keep your vehicle clean to keep the road salt off.”
Ruge said the workshop has room for approximately 30 women, and 15 have signed up so far.
To sign up, call Cowichan Auto Repair, located at 3050 Allenby Rd., at 1-778-422-3100.
Averill Creek earns silver for pinot noir
Cowichan Valley’s Averill Creek Vineyard has shown its wines can compete with the best in the world.
The family-run, 40-acre estate winery’s 2014 Somenos pinot noir has recently received a silver medal at the 2017 Global Noir Masters competition in London, England.
Averill Creek had received bronze in the same competition in 2012.
Vintner Andy Johnston, driven by a lifelong love of wine, and having gained work experience at wineries in Tuscany (Villa Delia), Australia (McGuigan Wines), France (Chateau de Terride), and New Zealand (Trinity Hill, Escarpment), founded Averill Creek in 2001.
Mobile Bike Shop sets up Valley franchise
A Velofix Mobile Bike Shop franchise has opened in the Cowichan Valley.
The mobile-bike repair business, which comes to the customers rather than having them bring their bikes into a shop, now has a service that will operate through the mid-Island region, from Mill Bay to the Comox Valley.
It’s the second Velofix franchise that has opened on the Island, with the other in Victoria, and is one of almost 90 franchises that are now open across North America.
Franchise owner John Rodgers said that, as well as bike repairs, Velofix now also deals with direct sales of bikes.
“I was constantly travelling around North America at my old job and I was getting tired of it, so I’m happy to finally have a job that keeps me on the Island,” he said.
Robert.Barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com