Wednesday. February 13, 1991 - North Shore News - 3 mas x NEWS photo Cindy Goodman FREELANCE BROADCASTER and parenting consultant Kathy Lynn spoke to local parents recently at Ross Road Elementary School about dealing with kids’ fears. She focused on the Persian Gulf War and how to address children’s concerns on their level. Lynn has also developed a workshop on children’s fear called Mommy i'm Scared. North Shore parents get advice on how to calm kids’ fears of war A GROUP of North Shore parents recently received advice from a parenting consultant on how to handle fears created in their children by the ongoing war against Iraq. Parents belonging to the Lynn Valley Family of Schools group heard Kathy Lynn, freelance broadcaster and parenting consul- tant with Parenting Today, speak at Ross Road Elementary School. Lynia has developed a workshop on children’s fears in general. She calls it Mommy I'm Scared. Said Lynn, ‘Currently I'm focusing on the war, but the ma- terial is applicable to other fears. For example kids on the North Shore were particularly scared about earthquakes a vear ago. **Many things can frighten kids — the dark, barking dogs ....°° By Michael Becker News Reporter she said. Lynn offers six general points of concern for parents to con- sider: *Clarify issues. ‘Make clear what they’re feeling about the issue in their own minds. And what you really need is to get some time to step back and be clear on where you are on the issue. As parents it’s okay not to have instant an- swers for kids.” eKeep communication open. ‘Listen to kids and be clear about what their fears are. Then reassure them that we will be there to look after them.”’ ®Warch for pseudo-sophistica- tion. ‘Particularly with television, kids are very aware of many more things. They may pick up lan- guage but not the meaning. If the child is throwing these phrases around, ask, ‘Well, what does that mean?* "” Protect your children. “TV is very compelling. It comes at you at its own pace. TV forces itself on you whether you are ready or not. Put it on in another room or watch TV news after the kids aze in bed. “Until children are seven or nine (years old), war is just a story. Kids begin to empathize by eight or nine. Before that, young children see death as temporary.”” eMaintain routine. ‘Routine is just essential for kids. It gives kids a sense of stability and breeds se- curity.”” ®Do something about it *‘March, pray, draw a picture, study about it.” Bobbi Slinger, one of the parents who organized the meeting at Ross Road Elementary School, said the gathering was one of an ongoing series of meetings being held in North Vancouver to bring parents together with guest speakers addressing a broad range of issues, including strategies on raising children’s self-esteem. For more information about the Lynn Valley parent meetings call Slinger at 988-3397. Millionaire’s charity promise up in air Taxman seizes West Vancouver company records A RICH West Vancouver realtor who announced over a year ago that he was going to give away $110 million worth of luxury apartments to support the underprivileged is remaining tight-lipped about why he hasn‘t followed thraugh on his promise. Repeated calls from the News to Hollyburn Properties Ltd. president Stephen Sander were not returned to press time Tuesday. Said Valerie Mezes. executive assistant for Sander’s charity, Consciousness [International Foundation (CIF). **At this poiat Mr. Sander wants to be his own spokesman.” And = Sander’s lawyer, Doug By Michael Becker News Reporter Scarlett. also refused comment on the issue. Meanwhile Ina McMillan, Rev- enue Canada taxation division spokesman. confirmed \tonday that Revenue Canada hes seized Hollyburn Properties records. Budget Beaters ...... 51 @ Business . . B Classified Ads @ Doug Collins. . § Editorial Page . . index @ Bob Hunter @ Inquiring Reporter ... 8 Lifestyles... . @ Mailbox... . wee Hi North Shore Now... . But McMillan said she was not authorized to confirm if Hollyburn Properties was under Revenue Canada investigation. “It’s not a case where any charges have been ltaid.”* McMillan said. A search warrant for Hollyburn Properties’ records was issued in B.C. Supreme Court pursuant to Section 231.3 of the Income Tax Act. But the Income Tax Act section covering such search warrants was declared ultra vires (beyond fegal authority) by a decision of the Federal Court of Appeal in BTV Listings @ What's Going On Bi Inquisitive Cook .... STEPHEN SANDER... Revenue Canada ‘wants its pound of flesh."” See Revenue page § Weather Wednesday. continuing rain. windy. Highs 11. Thursday and Friday. periods of rain. Lows £. Council votes in 9% pay increase WEST VANCOUVER may boast the highest average income in the country, bu its mayor and aldermen were quick to note Monday night that their municipal paycheques do not reflect that distinction as they voted themselves about a nine per cent pay raise. By Maureen Curtis Contributing Writer The increase raises the mayor’s salary from $41,164 to $45,000. An alderman’s incomes jumps from $13,721 to $15,000. “It is one of the most difficult tasks to set what remuneration we should give ourselves,"’ said Mayor Mark Sager. Sager said that during the debate over the indemnity issue. council members considered cais- ing their pay by as little as four per cent and to as much as the amount received by North Van- couver District Council last year (mayor: $54,000; aldermen: $18,000). “We thought that some increase was appropriate, but we're not trying to catch up with other municipalities,”” said Sager. Burnaby has already decided to pay its mayor $64,830, while Sur- rey’s mayor will earn $65.138 in 1991. In North Vancouver City, an alderman receives $12,482 annual- ly. The city's mayor will be paid $41,605 in 1991. West Vancouver Aid. Pat Boname said that serving on council requires a lot of time. She said she dedicates three to four nights per week to the task. “That does not take into ac- count the kind of expertise we have on council,” she said. But Jim MacCarthy of the Brit- ish Properties and Homeowners Association questioned the amount of the increase, par- ticularly in the wake of pay in- creases in higher levels of gov- ernment which he described as “talmost obscene.”” “t also question the timing, as council has not set its budget yet and we are facing a tough year,”’ said MacCarthy. Sager said counci! pay scales must be set before the budget is finalized. He added that the four per cent increase considered by council was deemed to be unfair to future councils. Ald. Diana Hutchinson said that she had served on a former counci!) when the indemnity was “way behind.”’ “| thought it was unfair when we handle big budgets and have a lot of responsibility. I didn’t run for office because of the money, but I believe we should be paid - equitably,** said Hutchinson. Sager said that West Vancouver District Council has respon- sibilities that exceed many other councils. The municipality has its own police deparrment. parks and recreation department and transit system. Former West Vancouver alder- man Carol Ann Reynolds. who was in the gallery on Monday, said she spent 30 to 40 hours per week on council business when she was in office. She said that coun- «il was not paid enough. ‘Anyone who knows what you do will compliment you on your restraint.”’ said Reynolds. A third of the council’s pay- ment is to be paid as an allowance for expenses incurred while carry- ing out the duties of office.