Do you have someone to thank, or a peeve to get off your chest? Send it to BandB@comoxvalleyrecord.com

Record staff reserve the right to edit all submissions, and discard Beefs deemed to be libelous or mean-spirited. We will not publish beefs (complaints) about private businesses or charities (those associated with published news articles notwithstanding). Please keep submissions within 150 words. Although the post will be anonymous, include a contact name and phone number, because there鈥檚 a draw every week for a meal for two from Dairy Queen. This week鈥檚 winner is VERNA LEMKY.

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A NOTE TO TEH CITY: Please put the fourth lane in on Lerwick in front of Mark R. Isfeld School. The road narrows down from two lanes to one going to Comox and it causes a huge bottleneck especially after 3 p.m. when school gets out and the base changes shifts. Traffic is regularly backed up 80 cars from Idiens to Malahat going to Comox. The entire road is four lanes except for this stretch and waiting for a developer to pay for it is not going to happen, so get on with it.

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A BEEF TO CITY planners. Citizens and business owners are forced to get parcels at the Home Hardware/Central Builders location at the foot of 6th St. but there is no left-hand advance turn signal to turn left (southbound) down the hill to said location. Last week it was five light changes for me to get a left-hand turn as there were four cars in front of me and because of the bad alignment (poor vision) of this intersection, only one car per signal can turn. Its a simple left-hand advance turn signal only needed during busiest hours. How difficult can that be?

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I WOULD LIKE TO offer a much-needed lesson in etiquette and manners to some customers in the Comox Valley. When you are visiting a business; making jokes or comments of a sexual, racial, bigoted or offensive nature to the staff or other customers is completely inappropriate and unacceptable. And even worse; when politely asked to stop, you become angry and call us disgusting names or talk loudly to other customers about our lack of 鈥渟ense of humour.鈥� Just because we are there to provide services and products to you, it does not automatically make us helpless targets for your tasteless and gross comments. The customer is not always right! Show respect and courtesy and manners to everyone.

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TO THE PERSON WHO decided they needed my plastic white step-stool more than I did, with my name on it (Dawn) in permanent marker. Taking it from my shopping cart parked up on pathway in front of my car outside of Rexall, Comox Mall, Sunday. Jan, 26, about 2 p.m. I was proceeding to get more supplies for my job, from the trunk of my car, cart hidden by trunk lid. I鈥檓 sure you鈥檒l be happy to know how suprised I was when I went to go to the cart and found it gone, 鈥済ood move on your part in under a minute, from when I walked away from the cart, you must be a pro!鈥� I really hope you are enjoying your newly acquired used stool, with my name on it.

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DEAR SERVER: 鈥渕inimum wage鈥� means the 鈥渓east鈥� wage. The 鈥渟mallest鈥� wage. If you are not being paid the wage that the BC government has set for food service, $13.85/hour, you could report your employer, or you could look for employment elsewhere. Or do both! Is the hourly $13.85 a living wage? Absolutely not. All of us need to be pushing the businesses and government to recognize the need for a Living Wage. As the parent of a teenaged server and of a cook, both working in the same restaurant, I saw the major discrepancies in take home pay. I am happy to tip my server, based on great service and attitude. In my opinion, the server does not deserve more than the cooks and dishwashers, who also play an important role in my dining experience.

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A VERY HONEST selfless individual gave us the hugest smile. We had done our very occasional shopping at Walmart on Jan. 27. When we arrived home, we found that we had left one of our bags in the shopping cart. We called Walmart and someone had turned it in to customer service for us. We were parked a long way from the entrance to the store and the good Samaritan got some exercise. My husband especially (since he was the one that left it in the cart) thanks you very very sincerely.

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WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE we live in; especially blessed are those that drive along the Dyke Road with the ever-changing scenery, diving eagles, herons, wonderful whitecaps, other birds galore, beautiful mountains and glacier but, Oh, that ugly Nickel Bros deserted building is still there after way more than a year of residency. Maybe we should sell lottery tickets and launch it and wherever it beaches the lucky ticket holder can take it home. What a way to spoil a wonderful scenic drive. Surely there is a statute of limitations? Or maybe someone wants to take it home for a chicken coop? I鈥檇 be happy to throw in a few hundred bucks so Comox/Courtenay can buy the piece of land and turn in into another viewing park like the one just down the road.

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MANY HUGE BOUQUETSto the delightful family we sat next to at the Atlas Cafe on Jan. 28! It started with the Atlas generously donating a gift certificate to a fundraiser auction for the Kalmo Refugee Support Group. Lucky us, we had the winning bid and were excited for a delicious dinner 鈥� the Atlas never disappoints! That fortunate night, a lovely family with three young children were seated next to us. What a delightful add-on the children brought to our conversations and yummy food! We loved the kids鈥� energy, creativity and smarts, and admired the parents鈥� patience and thoughtful interactions. After they left, the server informed us that the family had secretly paid for our amazing meal. What a wonderful unexpected random act of kindness 鈥� generous, thoughtful and so appreciated! We hope to run into you again at the Atlas so we can say thank you in person!

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BEEF TO THE SERVER who expects me to pay an 18 per cent gratuity for having a meal at the restaurant. Next time would you please add the name of the establishment you work at so that I may know not where to go because, as you say, 鈥淚鈥檓 not willing to do it.鈥� If I was your employer, I鈥檇 fire you! Also look up the definition of the word gratuity.

BEEF TO MUSICFEST organizers who expect grants from the City of Courtenay and the CVRD, which is from us the taxpayers. Get a grip! Just do as our politicians say and do and just add the price of 鈥渁 cup of coffee鈥� a day to the event. Toxic relations with the CVEX? Suck it up and get over it. Or perhaps just go back to the table and fix it.

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MY HAT鈥橲 OFF to the driver of a white Ford 1500 last week in front of the Courtenay library. We needed a battery boost. He came over and showed me a card saying he had aphasia and couldn鈥檛 speak. I know how hard it is when you鈥檙e silenced by an illness. Throat cancer did a number on me a few years ago. That gentleman didn鈥檛 let a disability slow him down. He felt like helping out a stranger and powered through. It made my day and was one more reason to stop and put some gratitude in my attitude.

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A BIG THANK YOU to everyone that came to my rescue on Saturday night (Jan. 25) at the Cumberland OAPA hall. The whist players, the Cumberland ambulance crew and the ER doctor and staff at our hospital, you were all great. Also a thanks for the phone calls and card. Thank you to Randy and Gayle for staying with me at the hospital.