30 - Sunday, January 6, 1991 - North Shore News BUSINESS BRIEFS» CHARITY PARTIES A NORTH Vancouver brother and sister team made Christmas a little happier for several children and adults in 1990 as they manag- ed to raise toys, food and cash for the needy. Dana DeWest and Michelle DeWest Leone are the operators of California Party Productions, a company that arranges parties aimed at raising money and meate- rial items for charities. In December, the pair arranged a Christmas party at Madisons Nightspot in Vancouver and managed to raise toys, food items and $200 which was donated to charity. ‘We're not making any money ourselves. We donate everything to charity,’’ said DeWest. His sister added that the two of them, who have regular jobs, will go to the club where a party is to be heid four weeks in advance to hana out flyers. “It makes me feel good. I have a geod time when I’m doing it,” said DeWest, who added that California Productions generally arranges a party every six weeks. His sister added that the two are currently looking for a facility in North Vancouver to arrange a party for teenagers BUSINESS COURSE CAPILANO COLLEGE is oifer- ing a new course aimed at improv- ing business writing skills. Communications 152 is a course that teaches students to write reports, proposals, briefs, business letters and memos quickly and ef- fectively and to edit the work so that it communicates the message. The class, which begins Jan. 9 and continues for 14 weeks, is held each Wednesdey evening from 6:30 to 9:30. For more in- formation, contact Crawford Killian or Ramon Kubieck at 986-1911, local 2585. TOURISM LOBBY INTENSIVE LOBBYING by Tourism Vancouver and the Van- couver Hotel Association, is final- ly paying off with newly an- nounced modifications to the ad- ministration of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Tourism Vancouver recently announced. The organizations have been pressing the federal government for more than six months to effect changes which would minimize the impact of the tax on non-resident visitors and convention delegates. **We recognized some time ago that the imposition of the GST could adversely affect our com- petitive position with other travel destinations and prepared. a well researched position paper which tecommended changes to reduce the inconvenience and excess cost to non-resident tourists,** said Tourism Vancouver executive director Tom Walker. “Since then, we have met with both the federal revenue minister and minister of finance and made presentations to the Standing Senate Committee on Finance and Banking. Our position was that MICHELLE DeWEST Leone and Vancouver raise donations for Party Productions company. damage to the industry would create a major loss of tourism revenue and that this was hardly in the best interests of Canada’s overall economy.”” FEDERAL FUNDING A BURNABY-based company will use funding from the Western Diversification Fund to make its plan to promote locally produced hair care products more manage- NEWS photo Neli Lucente brother Dana DeWest of North charity through their California able. Advance Group Professional Hair Products Ltd., will receive a $70,000 repayable loan to build up inventory and market a line of high-quality hair care products. The total cost of the project is estimated at $175,000.- After a successful Lower Mainland launch, the Advance Group is ready to expand in western Canada and the western United States. *OUR fi eoo. RATE -80% | GOVERNMENT [10.88% 10.60%)10.40%| 1.25%11.00%)11.00% cai DAVID BLAIR .: 682-1751 We offer a NO-FEE RRSP or 500 - 1066 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3X1 “AI rales ate sudject 10 change without notice, eal °F’state By ROBERT AND ANN 985-8231 VAN OEVEREN REALTORS IMPROVEMENT CAN BE COSTLY You can make a million mistakes trying to sell your own home. And one of them is mak- ing the wrong improvements. Many times, an expensive addi- tion or repair can be the kind ef thing that will cost you far more than you get back. True, the house should pre- sent a favarable appearance — mowed lawn, trimmed shrubs, and no obvious indications of neglect, but it’s rare when a large financial undertaking will bring more than its cost in the final selling price. There is always the financial risk of miscalculation too. Home repair costs frequently end up a lot higher than originally anticipated. You may end up with a faster sale and less inconvenience if you lower the selling price an equivalent amount. Instead of guessing as to how much, if any, repair work to undertake, see a real estate pro- fessional. He/she can tell you what to do to make your home more salable. And what not to so you won't lose money. ee eee If there is anything we can do to help you in the field of real estate, please phone us at Royal LePage, 985-823] or 925-9486. THE DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE wishes to thank Everyone who helped in the successful launch of our CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS NEW YEAR’S DAY CENTENNIAL PENGUIN PLUNGE Mt. Seymour Lions The Penguin Plunge Committee The Deep Cove Yacht Club Recreation Commission The Vancouver Waterski Club Robin Wilson & Associates Marcia Garries & Associates Avalon Hotel Bank of Hong Kong Bank of Montreal Bank of Nova Scotia Canada Safeway Cheers Restaurant Cypress Bow! Ski Area Dudley Kill & Sons First Entertainment Corporation Forster's Restaurants Ltd. Grouse Mountain Resorts Jack Lonsdale’s. Pub Loop’s Restaurant Maplewood Farms North Shore News North Van RecCentres Reed Stenhouse Seymour Ski Country Suntech Optics Inc. Sussex Group-S R C Realty Corp. Vancouver Milk Board Yic’s Restaurant Wu wae { a 4 eng yat “nal gs He whe +o mo eat