A6 - Sunday, April I, 1984 - North Shore News EE edito Parents’ choice orth Shore school boards continue to stonewall the efforts of the Indepen- dent School Society to lease one of their several empty school buildings. They argue that the new private school, due to open in September, will cause a further drop in public school enrolments, leading to further cuts by Victoria in their school district budgets. ‘A better explanation of the trustees’ dog-in-the-manger tactics may be that the moment of truth has arrived and they don’t want to face it. Every recent survey indicates that a significant percentage of parents are dissatisfied with the education the public schools presently provide for their tax dollars. But not many can afford private school fees PLUS mandatory taxes for public schools they don’t wish to use. Consequently, the present tax system makes public schools into a virtual monopoly which all but the well-to-do must either like or lump. The answer to this undemocratic situation, which effectively denies most parents freedom of choice, is the voucher system adopted by some American states and, in a modified form, by Ontario. In return for school taxes parents receive from the gov- ernment an annual voucher for the standard value of educational services. They can present it at the school of their choice -- public or independent — which then claims the money from the government. In addition to choice, the voucher system also raises standards by forcing all schools to compete on education quality alone. In truly democratic societies it may well be the wave of the future — a prospect that trustees now blocking the new North Shore private school might do well to ponder. Missed trick ven Revenue Canada’s Mafia can learn from Hong Kong’s tax collectors who recently culled names from con- cert ads to crack down on_ performers suspected of evasion. Among the names to which they sent a threatening notice via the concert organizers was one Johann Sebastian Bach! 1008 WORT OF COTY newb WER! yarscOUvER sunday cca Otaplay Advertising yoo 0511 news Classified Advortisi.., 986 6222 north shore’... Bean Bb 2131 news Circulation pB6 1337 Subscripthunos p60 7081 1139 Lonadalc Avo . North Vancouveo, o vs nt 2144 , Publlehor fete oye + Apsociate Publloho: Edltor in Chiteot Advortlotiny Otro tue Hdcotoernt Cae eabveres . Nive Woot rr Personnel Directo: Clasosifiod Manayo. «i culation Ottoc tos toe Patan Vial Seterg abrere sce oe Phir KA on Production Otrector Photoy:agthy Manayo- Byes berber see or ey Pete Noth Ghore Newa oon. er ery Derg eet dey Sawpagea arn) postend der on tomate Oo Va Vos yyy get te bemcame Vine Act poeataterteerd cane tf Wee deermedary arnt scrdany te Mee “stwore Fae Meena ud mat odntetest oe ey ba on te fae mo . Second (tans Mau Hoqgastiation Nooibe t60 inte contents 1004 North Shore Free Prees itd All rights rose: ved peatocee ctpatiser en Maret a at Wee wae on 1 © tp ibaat le oe Hopes tas Crp eben, POT On Ch i. ee wet Fen trey ackitennad overtone Member of the BC e Ga OVAtO AN a TOO 8 6 age Wet ra Moen ~ oy SR. THIS PAPER 1S neCYCliaABic Proao Counctl * UTTY B.C. — the home of bathrub and cockroach racing, bellyflop tournaments, snowgolf, bullchip tossing and skidoo skiing down the Thompson River — has its wackiest contest of 1984 (to date, anyhow) in just four weeks time, right here in North Van. Brace yourselves, red- blooded British Columbians, for the second Video Players Tournament of Champions, 12 noon, Saturday, April 28, until whenever it ends at Pat Riccardi’s Right-on- Submarine and Amusements arcade, 225 Lonsdale. The ‘‘whenever’’ is important. At the first tourney in March 1982 the current world champion, Alex Hunter, played the game machines continuously against nine other com- petitors from Saturday midday until shortly before dawn the following Tuesday -- a total of 64 hours, 33 minutes, which earned him his paragraph of fame in the Guinness Book of World Records. This time he’s back to defend his ttle against a field expected to number at least 10 sponsored challengers by the time the big day arrives. With nearly a month still to go, and a $300 entry fee, four are already firmly lined up sponsor by the Avalon Hotel, “Whispers Cabaret, Fast Eddie's and (Georgia Straight nd if the ante J sounds tke big money, it's in a very good cause winner gets a $1,000 (Pat or better, The trophy and The entire balance is shooung for $2,000 boosted by prize ROLF HARRIS sure-fire cure draws throughout the cvent) wilh be donated to the Naticty €lubs international forts children’s fund There ll be pizzazz galore a festive breakfast for the comtestants Co build thet cndurance for the marathon ~~ limousine motorcade te Kight on Subinarine n made btn we tb an db Cheerleaders sticmmets bathoons comferer tralttiona vou nate 16 And when its all er an] thre Cebctlbontal chee prescetation to the Naniety © hub trcprcsctitatlive acd oa Litnowsine ote take wharv deft cof the wianer witty fae cetee peated oad bits Crergotey becotnae tor bred Speita withl have cla ed Maustlhy Is ¢ va vee ABBA SD vee cuter abiiicart conde aolf sunday brunch by Noel Wright a Smith CHARLES CHESTNUT (1), GRAHAM CORRIGAN chums of the salmon Harris, opened Thursday to a packed house at the In- ternational Plaza where he performs twice nightly through April 7 Well known and well loved here one oft his favorite ports of call on his worldwide circuit + he gets better all the ume If you're suffering from spring blues, an evening with Rolf mext week os a sure fire $12 SO Cure A BIC, THANK med | le the Nabance family of West 4th Street, North Van. trom Sharon Drew who heads this month’ s CC aneer Pound campaign oan North Van A couple oof weeks ago she reports a iocally distributed advertising flyer that prints a few Comumunity Cidbits on ies fromt Cover got the prtierne humber of her campaign fo wrong by yust one digit As a oresaull the Nahanecs’ Phone was clipgireg ott thre hook all weekend. Did they get mad and slam down the receiver? No, sir! Those caring, understanding native Indian neighbors fielded every call patiently and politely, and redirected it to Sharon I] don’t know whether the Nahanees go to church, but they sure know all about Christian) charity 7 2 6 1001h BIR DMDAY jest, for Lottenham, Ont 9 will be held the weekend of July O88 Ralph Hatton) iceve of this happy sounding little village = 20 north oof Loronte, miles Invites all old and others who've chjyoved visiting there (raise you hands the fun tilled reunion Pottenharmites please’) te thiee day Write details at festivities him tor full PO) Bos yo, Ont | Oo, Two Tottenham Prayer of the Trees You who pass by and would raise » hand against as, heed well our prayer before you harm us. We are the fuel for your fires on cold nights, the friendly shade protecting you from the flerce sun and our fruits are refreshmeats to quench your thirst and cheer you as you journey on We are the rafters oo your roofs the bodles of your boals, the seats of your stoves, the wood of your cradles and the shelhs of your coffins. We are the saviours of your soll from toss by rain and wind and to your soil we give richness and life for the benefit of all men. We are the flower of beauty bread You who pass by. listen to of kindness and the our prayer and harm us not An old Perssan praver vue eo Campbell of West Vancouver rial pag ¢ SCRATCHPAD: A _= smart salute, please, for three North Shore cops who’ve won Insurance Corporation of B.C. awards for their ‘significant contributions’’ to traffic safety through their work with school groups. To be honored April 11 and 13 at award cere- monies in Vancouver are Cst. ‘Randy Herman and Cst. Allison Lrons of the North Van RCMP, and Cst. Dave Marskell of the West Van Police Department ... Busy, busy neighbor is John Humphries, the former West Van alderman. As if he hadn't enough to do fighting to get that new private school ltaunched by September, the partner in Granville West Financial Services is also now chair- man and chief exec. officer of the 20,000-strong Life Underwriters Association of Canada Happiest con- DAVE MARSKELL safety earns honor JOHN HUMPHRIES many hats servationist oun these parts last month was Dr. Chartes Chestnut. Seymout chairman of the River Salmonid Pohancement Proyect, whose rcaning and cilities gota with oa incubation fa $7 OOO boost cheque from the PishAmertoa Poundation presented by Graham C or rigan Up oto her cars in preparations for the 24th birthday party of St Anthonys School Wort Van. on May 26 is celebra (hom Committee chairperson June ( offins who invites all former students and teachers te gomn on the festivities wall 922 OO11 for ban quct tehkets and info on the Thamcrous other events Local art hovers shoubd tac themsctives to Klee Wayek OO Keith Koad West Van at BO pom this Phar sdaay (Aprift SN) says Janctle Dobinsen of the West Van C Omnunicy Arts © ovum al Shes coordinating the 40 piece Lower Mainland Kegional bahtbttson Chere the Larwes in the HB ¢ heal Mainland so cites At mooth wn Pentti ten bestival of And in closing a deep green congratulations card ote North Vans Ronatd Bar Maon whose ticket in fast week s 6 49) Lote bronughy hints a vcermol $192 149 BO