18 - Sunday, December 26, 1193 - North Shore News {T'S FUNNY how we celebrate a statutory holiday that hardly anyone knows the meaning of. | am referring to Boxing Day. Does anybody know why it is a holiday? In trying to trace the origins of Boxing Day, 1 found the references were rather vague. According to one source Boxing Day tas always been the day after Christmas, while another source says it was originally the first week- day after Christmas. One source cliims that it originated from a time when people boxed up all their Christmas leftovers and gave it to the poor people — hence the What types of things do you plan to do on Boxing Day? name “‘boxing’’ day, Another source claims that the name derived from the boxed Christmas presents piven by householders to their servants and to service workers such as trash collectors and letter carriers, thanking them for their work. But one thing is known: it is definitely part of Canada's British heritage. All sources agree thal it scarted in England. Meanwhile, here in Canada, mod- ern-day Boxing Day is synonymous with post-Christmas retail sales. We all have our own ways of celebrating, so Task... INQUIRING REPORTER Bruce Stewart North Vancouver That’s a good question. Pll. probably, take my dogs down to Ambleside for a walk. Peter Harker Squamish I'll definitely go for a walk, for sure. I’ll go for a walk with my two girls to try to wear off some of the calories that I’ve taken in. Amy Hachfeid West Vancouver 1 will stay at home. I’m not going near the stores. I'm criginally from Ger- many and so to me it’s the second day of celebrating Christmas. Mike Norbury West Vancouver I'm retired, and so my Well, I don’t plan to wife and I will sit at cook. We are going to home and ialk. We’ve sdinner with my sister in been married for 45 years Horseshoe Bay. and we still keep on talking. Pat Johnsen West Vancouver No one put But said Horwood, ‘‘There § Averaging only applies to !and WEST VANCOUVER refute gun | allegations From page 1 “the Canadians were “down there looking’ for trouble and got it” seemed to prevail throughout the” trial. “; Campbell said the Canadian ‘teens, who had consumed alcohol, made the mistake after the death of:. misleading the investigating - Police about who started the fight. ~" Pat’s friend and fellow Seycove :secondary ‘grad Kingsiey Davis testified that he started the fight by throwing the first punch after - the accused youth did not produce .a requested cigarette. : ‘Kingsley was charged with assault in connection with the in- cident: He pleaded guilty to the charge and was jailed three days, fined $300 and received 362 days’ probatica,. : , Campbell said a neighbor living near the 2600-block .of Utter Street residential area witnessed ‘the fight from her home. .She said the Bellingham youths alleged that the Canadians had pretended to have a gun. The “statement furthered the defence’s contention that the youth was in fear of his life when he stabbed » Pat. The prosecutor did not return the Canadians to the stand to refute. the gun allegation, said Campbell. Campbell said the youth’s mother at the trial said her son was sorry about what happened. . Campbell described her son as athletic and outgoing. She said he was close to his family. Councils break for the holidays “THE NEXT council meetings for West Vancouver District Council, North Vancouver District Council and North Vancouver City Coun- a will be held on Monday, Jan. 16. The next North Vancouver Schvol Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 11. _. The next scheduled West Van- couver School Board meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 17. District Council plans to ease the pain of assessment increases and municipal tax hikes in the coming year. In supporting a motion made by Coun. Ron Wood on Dec. 20, council agreed to advise the provincial inspector of municipalities that the district may consider averaging or phasing in tax adjustments for . WEST VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL by Maureen Curtis municipality is not obligated to use averaging, but must give notice that it may do so by Jan. 1, While B.C. Assessment Authority assessment rolis for always seems to be some pocket of problem that requires: atten- tion.”” When certain areas of the municipality show an unusual increase in property value (and assessment) due to. market forces, the result can be a significant increase in taxes for residents of that area. The use of averaging results in a tax rate being imposed on the average assessed value of land in _values, the portion of property — assessment that has experienced the most. drastic increases in West Vancouver in recent years. Phasing allows tax rates to be imposed: on the ‘value of: im-_ provements plus an adjusted - land value that takes into con- sideration the difference between the value of an individual prop- © erty and the value of. all land in. that class, This narrows the gap between 1994, According to a recent report from West Vancouver director of finance, George Horwood,. the 1994 are not yet available, Hor- wood expects assessment. in- creases to be more uniform than those experienced in recent years. 1994 Dog Licences nder the Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw, dog owners are required to purchase an annual dog licence for dogs over four months. Fines do apply to dogs found not wearing a current dog licence in the City of North Vancouver. If you have purchased a 1993 Dog Licence from the City of North Vancouver you will receive a 1994 Dog Licence statement early in January, 1994. If you did not purchase a 1993 Licence or, for some other reason did not receive a statement by January 31, 1994, please contact the Treasury Department at the city hall, 141 West 14th street, North Vancouver; Phone 983-7316. Dog Licences may also be purchased at the S.P.C.A. Shelter, 299 Mansfield Place, North Vancouver in person only. For New Registered Dog Owners proof must be supplied for spayed and neutered dogs. $14.00 $59.00 Spayed or Neutered Dogs Un~Spayed or Un—Neutered Dogs _improvements. in the average change in property taxes and the change that would normally occur for an individual . piece of property. the current and two preceding years, plus the assessed value of the current year. Advance Payment Of Taxes he City of North Vancouver has adopted a bylaw which makes it possible for property owners to - pay their property taxes in advance under the following conditions: Advance payments may be made only between January 4th and January 31st, 1994 inclusive. A minimum payment of $25.00 is required, Interest will be allowed from the date payment is received to July Sth, 1994 inclusive. Non-taxable interest will be applied to the current year. The rate of interest applied will be 0.5% (per annum). For further information, please contact the City of North Vancouver Tax Department. Telephone 983-7316, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday to Friday. S.E. Durnford Director of Finance