10 ~ Sunday. January 10, 1999 - North Shore News Victe Dear Editor: Re: The Tin God in Victoria.” At the Dee. 20° North Vancouver Distriee council meeting, council had anticipated that it weld approve che 1999 provisional budget which would have incurred a 2.9% tay increase tor dis trict property owners, Untortunately, the previous Friday, the Tin Ged in Victoria announced, by way ofa letter which was signed by Jenny Kwan, additional reductions in “grants” to communities with more that 5,000 residents. This and other “downloading” changes that were described in the letter will decrease the provincial “transfer pay- memts” to the district by $1,300,000 in 1999 and will potentially raise the prop- erty taxes by a further 3.3% to 6.2%. There are mechanisms for council to Nnorih shere 2 nevis MALL Box diminish this apact, but they imeude the vadesinble opuens of decreasing, “ser vices” and debt tinancing, The provingial spin doctors are readily able to justitv this change, but the bor tom fines that Victoria has failed ta pro vide fiscally responsible government to this provinee, and is attempting to make itself appear more favourable by shitting your attention to the municipalities. The Tin’ God would dike vou to beheve that these “grants” are “charitable donations” to municipalities that can be withdrawn at any time without conse quence, rather than the “transfer pay- ments” which they truly are. The NDP party fails to uaderstand that the reason they got into power was because of dissatisfaction with the Social Credit party aud not because of any love ria’s Tin God has no heart Mihir with the NDP. they vot back inte power because the first event at deast tem porarily destroved the two party svstem inthis province. Asa result of the Dee. 20 meeting, district council will ask for an emergency UBCAL meeting to) discuss this latest provincial downloading. Hopetully this will result: ins newspaper ads that will encourage the public to directly or indi rectly contact the Vin God. T encourage all Laxpayers ta send yer sons greetings to the Tin God, since Pam doubttul thar the EBCM, without being supported directly by the public, will not succeed in sending a message to this apparently impenetrable provincial gov- ermment. Gary Hawthorn North Vancouver Volunteer schoo! work rewarding Dear Editor: an appreciative audience for Not everyone gets a second chanse. Busy pursuing mv nursing career when my chil- dren were young, | otissed the opportunity to participate in their schooling. T was always envious of the mothers whe had time to vol- unteer, and felt 1 was missing out. Well, lucky for me, P got young readers. Bobby will move on to high school next year, but 7] still have ove more years with Linsey at Upper Lynn. Atter that, | think Pil carry on helping out in the library — voluntecring has become a way of lite for me now. The nicest thing about my experience has been the — te Argyle school, and [ feel good about the contibution Fam making lo my community. I want to thank all the teachers and students at Upper Lynn for welcoming me inte their school these past years. I also want ta wish the best of luck to all the Upper Eynn Grade 7 students who will go year, Pve Pave “of voc Pie Exciting drama programs for kids and teens “offered e North. Shore january’ 13 until-March 13°" '.- formation, please: call 877-06 CRIME & Leo Knight: every Wednesday on page seven in your North Shore News. PALAISTRY ASTROLOGY NEW AGE opportunity to get to know all enjoved growing and learning PAST LIVES the wonderful students and along with you. teachers. Delji Dimock The rewards of volunteer- North Vancouver ing at your local school are far reaching, and I highly recom- mend it co other grandparents out there. I have benefitred tremen- dously from this” experience. Since’ my retirement last year Pve been able to spend even more time helping out at the ny chance a few decades later, when omy grandchildren, Bobby and Linsey started at Upper Lynn school. It was like a dream come truce. I have found this volunteer experience to be extremely rew. arding. Hve learned so much in the past seven years. My experience has included ev rything from chaperoning on field tips and helping out at track meets, to teaching knitting and serving as a ‘pm: tps : ‘Tam prt iis 5 Mailbox policy LETTERS to the editor must be legible, brief and include your name, full address and telephone number. Due to space constraints the News cannot publish all fetcers. Send a Photo of your Baby for our V0 O00 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK De Meth Shores (9796 B Freedom 30 pives you a: the time in the world on your first 30 calls every nionth. The Baby Aibum will be featured in the Sunday January 31st Barby, Alwm issue of the North Shore News. Complete the coupon and You talk as long as you like - or nor at all. For only S 292 send or drop it off with o clear black & white cr colour baby There's na hurry ere v. photo with your paymen of $32.05 to P re’ The North Shore News, FOR MORE INFO 1998 Baby Album Cail 986-6222 1139 Lonefole Ave. V7L2H4 or Fax 985-3227 30 cents a minute. Actual Size NAME s30""°- ADDRESS___ ciy ee 1295 Marine Dr. PHONE (H} North Vancouver TAC RELATIONSHIP TO CHILD Tel.s (604) 984-7017 OBIL Fax.: BABY’S NAME Fax.: (604) 984-4581 BOYo GIRLo DATE OF BIRTH /__/__ FIRST AND LAST NAMES OF PARENTS. CHEQUE 0 ViSKo MASTERCARD o CARD# SIGNATURE s you up to 1000 minutes each month. edom 30 also giv of free weekend calliz And additional airtime GF you need it) is only 144A-1199 Lynn Valley Rd. North Vancouver Tel.: (604) 990-4017 (604) 990-5252 Your Baby's Name here Mom: & Dad Last Name Here Month 00/98 EXPIRY —_ B informed: Calling pian ana £4! 6 Nokia 252 phone based on ‘12emonth contract. New customers ory OAC. Free aitime apples to tocal calls onty. Monthly service fee, long distance charges and taxes exira. Annual system access fee of $48 applies. Cancellation fes apples. Limited time offer. Dendline- Monday Jon. 25, 1999 Photos will be retumed by mail.