Maybe even Doug

can be

taught

environmental

DEAR DOUG COLLINS:

1 understand from your Wed-
nesday column that we = en-
vironmentalists are giving you the
shivers.

I know you don’t read our arti-
cles anymore — they ‘‘bore you”’
— but perhaps a_ well-meaning
friend will paraphrase this one for
you as I can’t resist refuting a few
of your arguments.

First: perhaps people don’t have
to be told what to think, as you
suggest, but if that’s the case
you'd be out of a job just as sure-
ly as would 1, so perhaps we'd
better let that one lie.

Second, and most important,
the vast majority of environmen-
talists are not the talon-drawn ter-
rors and curmudgeonly carpers
you so yraphically describe —
even me, despite the fact that in
your eyes I am doubly ‘‘ugsome’’,
being both an environmentalist
and a feminist.

As an example of my generosity
of spirit, 1 restrain myself at this
time to simply pointing out to you
— gently and without rancor, of
course — that you, a fellow jour-
nalist and North Shore News col-
league, misspelled my name in
your column,

I refer not to the ‘Trendy’ —- |
applaud all efforts at wit in this
too-often sombre world -— but to
the ‘tc’? in ‘Whittaker’? that {
took the liberty of removing be-
fore the paper went to press.

And since you raise the question
of whether or not environmen-
talists are a rather pushy, impolite
bunch, I must in turn ask of you:
was it truly kind of you to refer to
me as a ‘‘Miss’? when you must
know that I’m an avowed ‘‘Ms."’?

But to the business at hand. Are
those of my ilk really a pain to be
around? Some, usually those of
your ilk, would say ‘‘yes.”’

Sometimes we are. You know
how people can be when they
jump on a bandwagon, whatever
that bandwagon might be — Ca-
nadian immigration laws, en-
vironmentalism, homosexuality

Peggy
Trendell-Whittaker

ECOINFO

and the Gay Games — you know.

But by and large, we're not
such a bad lot. Take me, for ex-
ample. ! think I'm swell.

1 took all my friends’ hazardous
wastes to the drop-off weekend
and I pick up recyclables that
have been littered in the street to
take home to my own blue box. !
pack my pals the most marvellous
picnic lunches so as to avoid the
perilous fast-food packaging
plight, and I try to be my charm-
ing best to readers who phone in
with a multitude of environmental.
questions.

Wouldn’t you just love to have
me for a neighbor? While you're
pondering that, here’s a further
enticement: Ill do my best to
avoid that most objectionable of
sins, self-righteousness, and re-
main my cheery self even in the
face of obstinate-minded adversi-
ty.
That said, it is with the utmost
of enthusiasm that I encourage
you to give us environmentalists
another chance. They say you
can’t teach an old dog new tricks,
bur I don’t believe it of you,
Doug — show us what a:: open-
minded sort you are, after all.

And yes, I will see you at the
Christmas party.

Yours, Trendy.

new
tricks

Well, some people might think
Doug Collins is for the birds and
some might think I'm for the
birds, but the following event is
really for the birds.

On Sunday, Nov. 25 at 2 p.m.
the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre
is holding a family event on the
birds of North Vancouver.

You'll be able to find out what
they like to cat and where they
can be seen and kids will have the
opportunity to build a birdhouse
to take home with them.

And all those legions of people
who take part in the annual Bird
Count, and any who are interested
in joining the team, should con-
tact the Lynn Canyon Ecology
Centre at 987-5922.

You'll be sent instructions and a
bird checklist for the count, which
takes place on Dec. 6. If you
participated in last’ year’s count,
preregistration is not necessary,

The information from your bird
count, compiled with that of other
observers, gives scientists a better
idea of bird populations across
North America.

oe

Remember this is Power Smart
month and a good time tw take
stock of ways to cut down on
your home's energy consumption.

Some quick tips are as follows:

elf you've only got a few
clothes to dry, hang thern in the
shower instead of putting them in
the dryer, When drying louds of
laundry, don't set the timer for
longer than necessary — a half
hour usually does the job.

«Cut down on your use of
electrical gadgets. Do you really
need an electric toothbrush, carv-
ing knife, pepper grinder, etc.?

* Unthaw frozen foods in your
refrigerator, to help lower the
fridge temperature non-electrical-
ly.

For information on corporate
and household Power Smart pro-
grams, call 293-7777.

Send your Ecolnfo tips and
questions to North Shore News,
1139 Lonsdaie Ave., North Van-
couver, V7M 2H4.

Better Business Bureau can help

From page 20

of defence when dealing with
problem contractors. A registered
letter explaining your concerns to
the contractor, with future actions
if the problem is not rectified,
may also help.

Poor workmanship and = un-
satisfactory business practices can
be reported by registering a com-
plaint with the Better Business
Bureau. If legal action is neces-
sary, you may be able to settle the
problem in small claims court

LEASE EXPIRING

LIQUIDATION

Starts Saturday, Nov. 24/90
up to 10% OFF ENTIRE STOCK

BIANCA, COMO, ESPRIT, LOUBEN, MAGNOLIA,
IZOD, REGINA PORTER ... AND MORE!

ACCESSORIES 30% to 50% OFF

We honor outstanding credit notes till Dec. 31/90

VV. BOUTIQUE

without the expense of retaining a
lawyer.

For a copy of ‘‘How to Hire a
Cortractor’’, or a complete list of
CMHC publications, programs or
videos dealing with renovations,
contact your local CMHC office.

Friday, November 23, 1990 - North Shore News - 24

Wildcats battle Highlanders

IN A Nov. 21 News story
chronicling the B.C. single **A‘
high school football semi-finals at
B.C. Place Stadium last weekend.
the name of the Burnaby Central
team that appeared in the story
was wrong.

Rurnaby Central's ream is called

THIS WEEK
YOU ASKED
THE GST

CONSUMER

the Wildcats.

The Wildcats will face the West
Vancouver Highlanders at B.C.
Place, Wednesday. Nov. 28 at
4:30 p.m. at B.C. Place in a game
to decide the provincial single
“A™ football title.

INFORMATION

OFFICE.

Q: I’m thinking of buying a new car in 1991.
How will the proposed GST affect prices?

A: The outgoing Federal Sales Tax (FST) is
now part of the price of new cars. So, while
they will be fully taxed at 7% in 1991,
the expected effect of replacing the FST
with the GST on the average $22,000
mid-size car is a reduction of around $850.

Q: My son has figured out it will cost $500 in
lumber to build a dock at our cottage if he
bought it now. How much will that lumber
cost with the proposed GST?

A: You can expect to pay about $512 for
that same amount of lumber for personal
use based solely on the changeover from

the FST to the GST.

Q: I know the proposed GST won't apply to city
bus fares but I take the commuter train to work
Will I have to pay GST?

A: No. Daily commuter trains are considered
a municipal transit service, so fares are

exempt from GST.

We're here to answer your questions about how the
GST will affect prices. Call us toll-free Monday
to Friday 9am-9pm. Ask for your free copy of the
“Consumer's Guide to the GST and Prices’

The answer is to call
your GST Consumer Iriformation Office.

1-800-668-2122
Hearing Impaired 1-800-465-7735

he |

Canada

Government of Canada

Gouvernement du Canada

ace

1447 Marine Dr., West Van 922-9822
Mon-Sat. 10am-6pm Sundays 12-Spm