Cost of auto theft soars on N. Shore ICBC sees 51% increase in payouts between ’90 and 91 THE COST of auto-related theft continues to climb fast on the North Shore as thieves wheel away an increasing number of vehicles. According to ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) statistics, the North Shore experi- enced a 51% hike in the number of theft-of-auto claims naid out between 1990 and 1991. ICBC lists 501 North Shore auto theft claims for 1990. Last year 758 auto theft claims were made locally. The insurance corporation paid out $1.6 million to cover North Shore auto thefts in 1990, ICBC paid about $2.4 million for auto theft claims on the North Shore in 1991 — a 45% increase. Claims involving thefts from automobiles also shot up. In 1990, ICBC statistics for the North Shore show 2,314 theft- from-auto claims. The number increased 21% in 1991 with 2,807 claims filed. ICBC paid out just over $1 mil- lion for theft-from-auto claims on the North Shore in 1990. That dollar figure increased to just over $1.5 million last year ~— a 50% increase. By Michael Becker News Reporter To combat auto crime, the local police and ICBC are promoting a Lock It Or Lose It campaign this week. Police maintain that auto- related theft is a crime of oppor- tunity. To reduce the chance of becoming a victim, the police ad- vise drivers to: *close windows and lock doors when a car is left unattended; ¢ don’t leave valuables in the car; if you do, keep them out of view; epark in well-lit areas when possible or areas where there are a lot of pedestrians; @ install an auto burglar alarm; *® engrave your licence number on stereo items; ® install a locking gas cap; *do not leave any kinds of keys in your vehicle. Last year iCBC paid over $24 million for theft-from-auto claitus and $42 million in theft of auro claims. New golf driving range | set for August opening | i WITH AT least three golfing facilities in various stages of planning and development on the North Shore, local golfers may have a new driving range to whack little white balls on as early as August. North Shore golfers have been without a driving range since the Lions Gate Golf Cen- tre, operated for nine years at the Squamish Band’s Capilano Reserve, was closed in August 1991. In September, the Squamish Band and Japanese investors announced plans to open new golf driving ranges at the Capilano and Seymour reserves in the fall. The plan has changed. Said Squamish Band Chief Philip Joe, ‘‘The one on Capilano Reserve, we got out- bid for housing. Housing is looking at it for a subdivision.»> Joe said the band is now planning to build a driving fange on 2a site in the band’s Seymour reserve. Meanwhile, the Burrard Band has already started work on a driving range capable of accommodating 80 golfers at a time. The driving range wili be located at the foot of Apex Avenue south of the Seymour Parkway. Said Burrard Band Chief Leonard George, ‘“‘It’s been cleared out, and it will be levelled and seeded soon. We started on it a couple of weeks ago. We'd like to open by August.”’ George anticipates that the driving range will create about six permanent jobs for band members once it is open for business. The most ambitious golfing development for the North Shore returns for consideration since been By Michael Becker News Reporter by North Vancouver District Council members later this month. The latest version of the Northlands golf course and neighborhood planning study incorporates an 18-hole, par- 71 public golf course, a driving range, a putting area and a club house. The golf course covers about 150 acres. The new Northiands concept as envisioned by a_ review committee and consultants now includes 750 housing units, seniors’ housing, a community centre and a library, two elementary schools and several playing fields. The Northlands area is bounded by Mount Seymour Parkway to the south, a new road called Northlands Drive to the west, Mount Seymour Road to the east and an ex- tended Hyannis Drive to the north, Don Davis, first vice-presi- dent of the 2,100-member North Shore Public Golf Course Society, has been lob- bying for the development of a golf course at Northlands for years. Davis is disappointed the course wasn’t in place last year as a centennial project for North Vancouver District. “We could have had as much as $2 million in provin- cial and federal funding for the centennial preject,’* he said. Kids for Kids NEWS phots Cindy Goodman FISHING FOR rights was the theme of Lynn Valley and Lynnmour students’ booth set up for a provincial rights forum cailed Kids For kids which was held ‘ast Friday at Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver. Kathieen Arnott, 12, attaches to various fishing rods an environment-friendly gift along with a card displaying child's rights such as education, and a clean and safe en- vironment. The Vancouver branch of the United Nations sponsared the event, which included plays, musical performances and movies. The event drew more than 700 students from the “Lower Mainiand and as far away as Grand Forks. From page 1 This is a stop-gap measure,"’ said Stephenson. ‘‘The first year of the elementary band and strings pro- gram is the most important because it gets the student hook- ed.”’ Brian Follett, another BSPA member, said the association has mailed out 6,000 letters to North Vancouver parents warning them about the imminent loss of the elementary music program. Follett said the group has received 1,000 responses and that 70 volunteers have joined the association. ‘*We're quite anxious to get some degree of flexibility and time from the school board,"’ said Follett. ‘“‘We’re working under a very tight deadline to tell parents that this program is at risk. We have to do something.”’ He said the association has received the NVSB’s support in principle for a temporary parent- funded music program for the 1992-93 school year. But North Vancouver parent Barb Schaff, who has a daughter in the band and strings program at Westview Elementary school, said she is opposed to any kind of user fees for the music program. In a letter to Robert Rankin, District 44’s coordinator of visual and performing arts, Schaff wrote that her daughter's band teacher encouraged Grade 4 students at GRADE 7 Canyon Heights Elementary school student Christian Richardson says he would miss the band and str- ings program if it were cut by the District 44 school board. the school to join the band pro- gram. “Why is my little girl coming home and pointing out to me the picture of the instrument she wishes to play next year for a Program that has been cut?’’ ask- ed Schaff. “Could it be that the parents are also opposed to the idea of user fees to save the band pro- gram? Is this why the Parents’ Band and Strings Association has had to take out a full-page ad in the North Shore News to solicit funds? *” She added that a user-fee pro- gram will result in some children being able to participate in band while the children of the parents who cannot afford the user-fee cost will be left out. But District Richard Waiton denied charge. ‘If a user-pay program cannot be constructed in such a way where funds are availabie for those who cannot afford it then the board’s not prepared to en- dorse it. “That was made very clear to the band and strings people when we first talked to them. This goes back to the time when I was teaching. I always felt very un- comfortable asking for money for field trips,’’ said Walton. As he prepared to rehearse for a Monday night band concert, 13- year-old Canyon Heights Elemen- tary school student Christian Richardson, who has been playing the trumpet in the band and str- ings program for the past 3% years, said he hopes the program can be saved. 44 chairman the “I think it’s not a very good idea to cancel the music program. A lot of people like band. It’s (playing in band) better than go- ing to the mall or joining gangs,”’ said Richardson.