Wi IF there’s a local streetcar named desire, you'd surely find North Vancouver's Henry Ewert at its controls. The retired Handsworth secondary school English teacher is an irrepressible suectear cheerleader. Ewert’s been shaking the pon-poms on the issue since his life began, which stretches back deep into the 20th cen- tury. He was, after all, born within hailing distance of Vancouver’s 13th and Main streetcar barn. The beasts are in his blood. He’s already produced two books on she subject: Victoria’s Streetcar Era and The Story of the B.C. Electric Railway Company. Last week, Ewert finished another streetcar labour of love. This one’s the second in a series of works commis- sioned by the North Vancouver Museum and Archives. It’s a history of the North Vancouver streetcar system. Notional working title: The Perfect Little Trolley System. It’s set for release in May. Not surprising then to find Mr. Ewert leading the sideline cheers over recent talk of a focal streetcar revival. Lead revivalist this time around is North Vancouver City’s rookie mayor Barb Sharp, who, as chronicled in a Feb. 27 News story, backs the return of a streetcar line up Lonsdale Avenue. Plying that line would be streetcar No. 153, the lone survivor of the original ‘Lonsdale line that used to run from the waterfront up to Windsor Road. Views not doctor's Dear. Editor: As a resident of West Vancouver and a physician at Lion's Gate Hospital, regan . ing the March 5 “mailbox” letter under. headline “Upset over groups demands,” I wish to disclaim any part of its writing or point of view. Dr. Michael H. Davidson West Vancouver LANCOME PARIS The fully restored 153 is currendly collecting dust beneath Fen Burdett Stadium in Mahon Park. It’s been doing same since 1991. Things, as you can see, nove real slow on the old streetcar front. The Lonsdale route was one of three clectric streetcar lines that used to run as fac west as the Capilano River and as far cast as Lynn Valley’s Dempsey Road. The 10-mile system criss- crossed the North Shore from 1906 to 1947. And while it died a quiet death, giving way to the 20th centu- ry's obsessive romance with the internal combustion engine, its elimination has proved to be shortsighted. Dedicated rapid rail transit has made a wholesale come- back on the urban transporta- tion front. SkyTrain is but an elaborate and expensive mod- ern version of the old street- car system. Rut aside from the electric streetcar’s practicality and low enviconmental impact, it pro- vides significant elements of character and colour. If you don’t believe me, talk to Mr. Ewert. Discussing streetcars with him is akin to grabbing hold of an overhead high-voltage streetcar line. Character and colour, meanwhile, are elements cur- rently in short supply on Lonsdale. PROFESS VIE-TAX PREPAR INCOME a Seniors discount Sharp's streetcar revival call coincides with the city’s Lonsdale Avenue study. City fathers are secking input on how to get more commer- cial/community fifebloud coursing the length of its main artery. Mayor Sharp is not the original streetcar revivalist. Nor is her council the first to ponder the relaunch of street- car No, 153. Way back in 1983, for example, the press was reporting city plans to put No. 153 back on track, and this paper has promoted a Lonsdale streetcar since the 1970s. The idea makes sense on a host of fronts. Apart from its transporta- tion appeal, a brightly coloured vintage streetcar running up and down the wide street swath that is Lonsdale could be seen far and wide. Just as it was back in its heyday, the streetcar would be as attractive to tourists and the curious from afar as it would be close up. It would likewise be a charming way to draw visitors up Lonsdale. Most who arrive now via the SeaBus wander the terminal and Lonsdale Quay area but have nothing to lure them north to explore the rest of the city. As Ald. Gary Payne said in a March 11, 1983, Vancouver Sun story on the proposed relaunch of No. 153: “A ride on an antique tram would be an unforgettable experience and would guarantee the revitalization of Lower Lonsdale. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when.” But when remains the question. installation of a streetcar line from the waterfront to at least 13th Street would be far LONAL ARATION Pick up & Delivery available Cail: 888-2292 COMBINED 26 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE L Alhew Maquillee Make-up Studio | Lanc6éme inutes you to discover ihe fest Makeup techniques and the newest collection from Fred Farrugia Fromm March th ta Maren 19th 2000 Mare on appointment today with one Of cut professional makeup artists, who wil be in store througnout the event Park Royct Pnone. 925-141) Local 3073 r Sharp on ri from complicated. The street is already wide enough to accommodate 4 streetcar line, and traffic from 13th Street souch would be inconvenienced minimally, if at all, by the addition of strectear service. The cost of such an undertaking would be signiti- cant. According to a 1991 consultant's report, installa- tion ofa 3 km track from the Quay to }4th Suect would cost upwards of $32 million. Annual operating costs would run to approximately $100,000. But it's hard to put a price on community spit and character. And it would be an invaluable tourist attraction. Mayor Sharp's resurrec- tion of the streetcar plan has already won support in neighbouring North Vancouver District. Coun. Ernie Crist present- ed a motion Monday night to district council backing Sharp’s initiative. It also called for integrating the streetcar service into the focal transportation system by extending it to other North pata Wuntictly bebhad Windsor Meals) eure & CLoTHUsS TOG! Sunday, March 12. 2000 - North Shore News - 7 nt streetcar track Shore areas and coordinating it with other rapid transit links. As Crist points out, cur- rent North Shore transporta- tion plans as promoted by the Greater Vancouver Regional District and TransLink focus on buses and are “fundamen- tally flawed” because “thev fail to rake into consideranon chat buses have to share already congested roads with more and imore cars, which, in turn, contributes to more congestion and delays.” The rest of district council apparently concurs. It agreed on Monday night to have its Transportation Planning Advisory Committee look at the streetcar issue. Crist and Sharp are on the right track. But it's going to take more than the good inten- tions of a few focal politicians to keep the streetcar plan from being rolled onto another siding to gather dust and rust for another two decades. It needs some wholesale community support. —trenshawGnsnews.cont I sees, Ol, Lube & Filter fully warranty pAesndinh 21 pt. Safety check, 15 minutes - FAST! Includes up to 5 lites of 10w30 Quakerstale | 4362 Marine Drive 980-9713 pMor-Set 8:00amn-6:0Opm, Sun 3:00arn-5:00pm Expires Mar. 22/2000 draperies & blinds Serving the Lower Mainland for over 28 years , Pt werw.ildrapesandblinds.com 9 Custom Rods, Upholstery oF Bedspreads "(Ask about or Senior Discount) reese For Free Estimate call! 922-4975 or 987-2966 Drapery Labuur $14.95 per panel lined. Low Low Paices +2 cute 4 u & clothes too yeull feel at howe with your children. Crystal McRae and Charlene Shaver ave lighted to have expanded their business from children’s haivcuts to wow include Clothes tool The good news iy their new location is just three blocks Aowm the street. The 1290 square foot shop features interesting and unique children's clihing and accessories vi ing in price from $10, as well as a Saulous fine of children’s shoes. they've even thought about our West Const dimate uith a fantastic fine of waterproc? vainwear. Just welking in you feel imunedintely at home. the were colors they have chosen for the walls, ond the open design using glass ro divide the shop, allows mons and dads to watch their children receive a quality hair cut while browsing trough clothing lines like Dews Par Dew of vontveal ona Guatbocts of Australia. Gust to some a Few). Check cut their exciting new aay Tne Cakewalk anviving for fall. ‘Wis store bubbles with activity. You con always hear Charlere and Crystal chatting away with their little cleats while giving ome of thei fantastic cuts and other statt is always on hand to help with customers fashion needs, A comfortable new location for a great cat ond a seart new look. Truly a greet concept For litle clients. New L \785 Bellewe Ave, West Vancouver Salon: 126-4345 » Clothes: 126-4365"