Narrators fi Layne Christensen News Reporter layne@usnews.com NARRATORS with the provincially-funded audiobooks service are not going down with- out a fight. The service employs 12 narrators who record books to cassette for use by the blind. The narrators are currently without a contract while thev await word on future funding for the program. The program is funded solely through the Library Services Branch of the gov ernment of B.C. Last year’s budget cut the total for narra- tors’ reading fees by nearly Local Easier activities planned IT’S Easter, and for many North Shore children that means it’s time to get crackin’ and find those eggs! ‘Local Easter activities include: April 10 to April 13: Easter animals abound at Maplewood Farm, 405 Seymour River Pi., North van. The hen eggs are burst- ing with cute little yellow chicks and the Easter Bunny will be leaving a multitude of baby New Zealand White bunnies this weekend for visi- tors to view. Saturday, April 13: The Dundarave Eggstravaganza takes place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Children are welcome to visit the West Vancouver neighborhood's shops collcct- ing eggs and entering to win one of 25 bunnies. Saturday, April 11: There'll be an Easter Ege Hunt at Heywood Park, at Hamilton and Marine Drive in North Vancouver for children ages two to. nine years at 10:30 am. sharp (while supplies last). Clowns, a treasure hunt, entertainment, lantern) mak- ing and a visit by the Easter Bunny are a few of the “egestra” special activities the North Vancouver Host Lions Ciub has planned. Sunday, April 12: The West Vancouver Lions Club pre- sents Easter Egg Hunts at ! p.m. at John Lawson Park for one- to five-year-olds and another for six- to 12-year- olds... Festivities begin ar 12:30 p.m. : Sunday, April 12: Yer anoth- - er Easter Egg Hunt is set for “12 p.m. at Nirkstone Park in North Vancouver. Sunday, April 12: If you want ro go further afield’ for your hunt, the Kilby Historic Store and Farm in. Harrison Mills, B.C. is holding its first annual Easter Ege Hunt. An fd scramble will take piace at I p.m. for children aged five and -under, after which chil- dren aged six to 14. will explore “the site searching for clues that will lead to a prize. For more information call 796-9576. — Deana Lancaster half, frem S88.000 to $45,000. Fearing further cuts te the rogram, narrators went pub- i¢ with their concerns in January, issuing an appeal to program users to write to Victoria in support of the pro- gram. But that action has rufiled ghi to save audic Program that creates book cassettes threatened by cuts feathers in Victoria, said narra- tor Pat Barlow, a North Vancouver resident. “We have been naughty boys and girls to stir ail this up,” said Barlow, who has fed Lorus watches mo the fight to halt budget curs. Barlow has written several letters to the minister in charge, first Michael Faraworth and then Jenny Kwan, who replaced Friday, April 10, 1998 — North Shore News — 13 Farnworth as Minister of Municipal Affairs with the cabinet shuffle in February. Last Friday the narrators requested a meeting with Kwan but have vet to receive 2 response. “They (the — ministry) expect us to fade into the sun- sei” said Barlow Tuesday. Eaton’s stores are closed Good Friday "Eaton's pays the equnuynt of the GST. Exciudes Cosmetics and Fragranons, Bath & Body, shoes by Cain Kien, GANY, Nine West, Erun Angioin, Easy Spat and Via Uipgs, Calin Kean & DANY handbags, Estate je-adory, Watches by Swatch, Guog, Wes Sant Lizent & Caivn Kon, stile and cearanos-pited Prestige Watches, sae- and Geuranoa-pnood Fire Juwolayy jewelery by DuNouvedu, Memare Pits, Darnond Essence and tne Royal Canadian Mint, Rocks marchardse, Women's Droyrer Fashions (conasting of sportswear, dani fashions and bridge clossas 369/1 18654), Women's Couds dauowexs, Cungowed and robes, DKNY hodoy, Man's Ou..grer Fashions (roresting & sportsvasy, GEO, TECIES Clothing. stwis, t85, undereoar and aocassones) Juckey & Cain Klan apparet & undawoa, Hugo Boss underauo, Chidren's Tornmy Hiigar and Catin Kien appara, Sungoss Hut, Mort Stance pens, saspaced Home Imerandsriconseing of furiure, aed fugs, hume eiactionics and mar apgkances, vacuums, nome Comfort applences, Raph Lauren/Foio bedding 8 tows, Lie Carvone bering & tovacts, Chansma bedding & towels, Royal Valvet towsis), sae and carance-piood snd Gactncs and personal care appiances, Panasonc GAO Ts, BOs, Maytag appkanors, pre-tooued video & aus tapas, ODs and fin, grating cards, Baane Babeas, Exton Bacaty Dols. Laique, xsrey Cassic Colnction, Swarovsk, Und. Nap, Fine Bone China Eaton Git Cestéicates, Eaton Restaurants, concessions 4 sisviogs. _ Sewpap ormayir Bae pros Beckaks Factry Ott ord Gopraren Corwes. "i Easter nis rel Moncky Ape 13%. DOKS “Bur we're darned if we're going to do that.” Barlow said the call for support is not just a case of narrators looking out for their jobs. There are approximately 3,600 program users in B.C., who borrow audiobooks through the library system.