A6 - Sunday, December 18, 1983 - North Shore News EE editorial pag c Re Credibility gap Local government must be constantly sub- ject to critical scrutiny. But opposition to its actions must be informed, reasoned and representative of the broad public interest. West Van’s latest pressure group has yet to measure up. The self-styled ‘‘Combined Ratepayers’’ committee surfaced at Monday’s council meeting to obstruct the signing of a 30-year Crown foreshore lease with the province. The lease, which council has been seeking since 1974, places land up to 1,000 ft. seaward from the highwater mark under municipal ad- ministration. The initial rental is $1 per year plus 50% of the revenue from foreshore sub- leases. West Van retains the other 50% and finally gains adminstrative control of its own shoreline. Council members, who approved the agreement unanimously, described it as ‘‘a landmark decision’’ and ‘‘finest thing we've ever received from the provincial govern- ment.”’ intervening from the public gallery, the new group’s spokesman announced (to council’s evident astonishment) that the group would ask the Lands Minister to hold back the lease, pending public discussion, because of ‘‘con- siderable concern among _ ratepayers’’. However, Mr. Tom Reid offered no suppor- ting evidence of such concern and it also emerged that his committee had been formed only the previous day. Conceivably, of course, they may be on to something that has escaped most of their fellow citizens. But if they are — and claim to speak for the latter — they must first close their own yawning credibility gap. Bennett-ese In his horror story ‘‘1984’’ George Orwell described Newspeak, the language invented by the all-powerful state to make people’s think- ing conform to its own. The latest contribu- tion comes from Premier Bill Bennett. Refus- ing point-blank to release results of $550,000 worth of government opinion polls paid for by the public, Mr. Bennett declared last week: **‘They’re not secret, they're confidential.”’ Big Brother English spoken here! 1908 VESTS OF FETITH AcE WERT VarECERVvER sunday ©. news north shore news 1139 Lonsdale Ave... North Vancouver, 8B C VIM 27H4 Display Advertising Classitied Advertising Nowsroom 980-0511 986-6222 065-2131 966. 1337 960-7081 Circulation Subscriptions Publisher Pete: Spec Editor-in-Chiet Noel Wrgtt Associate Publisher Advertising Director Robert Graham Torn branes Personne! 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G THIS PAPER IS RECYCLABLE GREY POWER (with staying power) is much in the news this month - starting with spry centenarian Thomas Templeton (see picture, page A8) who celebrates his se- cond 100th birthday party in a week this afternoon at the North Van home of nephew R.D. Hutchinson, when former Burrard Shipyard col- leagues will present him with a plaque. Yesterday it was the turn of West Van resident Elias Ray, feted on his 100th birth- day at a party in the Inter- national Plaza attended by family members from as far away as Portland and Ber- muda. Born in Lebanon, Elias arrived in Canada in 1906. For many years a tailor in Vancouver, he now keeps hale and hearty gardening at his home in the 2100 block Argyle — where he's often out digging by 6 a.m. And old soldiers, of course, never die. From Lynn Valley patriarch Walter Draycott, now nine months into his 101st year, comes a delightful personalized Christmas card with pictures showing him in school at age six (1889), in Boer War army uniform (1902) and in World War One khaki (1915). Plus a reminder that he built his home in the Lynn Valley forest 70 years ago. Finally, the youngsters — Edgar and Ingrid Arnet of West Van, a mere 84 and 8&2 respectively — who were honored by 100 family and friends last Sunday at their 50th wedding anniversary party in the Canyon Gardens. A well-known commercial fisherman, Edgar owned four fishing vessels during his 50 years at sea, one of them (At- sunday brunch by Noel Wright tu) presently operated by son George of North Van, while another (Cape Beale) now belongs to Gordon Gibson Sr. With Norwegian-born In- grid he built the Sentinel Hill home where they still live in 1939. You’ve a long way to go yet, all you kids who got your first OAP cheque this year ... sa 6 P.C.s_ will gratefully remember Frank Dorchester, who passed away 12 days ago, as the party’s top B.C. fund-raiser. Others knew “GREY POWER youngsters’’ — Edgar and Ingrid Amet celebrate 50 years of marriage. He helped launch West Van Tennis Club, coached West Van youth hockey, officiated at local swim meets and fought for funds to help the community’s amateur athletes. First and foremost, Frank was a community man. Both as a West Van pioneer and a_ dedicated Tory, he gave of himself generously. He'll be missed by all whose lives — and for- tunes — he enriched ... Frank better as part of West Van's history — from his teenage years onward in the 1920s at the family home at 29th and Mathers. He commuted daily on the old West Van ferry to King George High and later UBC, married Jean Wilson at St. Francis-in-the-Wood and raised Gillian, Frank and Ted with her in West Van after his war service with the forces. WINTER is a magical time. It is a season full of wonderment and great beauty. Children delight in the diamond-like sparkles of frost crystals bejewel- ing the snow on a wintery morning. Who has not paused to ad mire glistening icicles hang ing from caves” like iy fingers? A skiff of snow on the ground makes tracking animals a call to adventure And what about snow Meas have you seen them?” You can discover these things and many more by visiting some of your Lower Mainland Provincial Parks over the Christmas season, December 16 to January } Here are a few suggestion HIKING. The lower trails of Mt Scymour offer some ex cellent hiking (cg Baden Powell trail) The Falls train Gsolden Ears Provincial Pack. near Maptic Ridge, makes an lL ower excellent family Quang This 14 hour round (rip follows a small civer to a senes of cascading talls may catch a A lucky hither glimpse of a dipper Cultus take Provinctal Park near Chilliwack features the Tcapot Hall trait for some spectacular views of the Columbia Valley and By AL GLASS Cultus Lake (2.3 hour return hike) BALD EAGLES: There are several ‘‘gathering’’ places for Bald Eagles on the Lower Mainland, including Har- rison Bay on Harrison Lake, STOCKING FILLERS: Last chance tonight to see the Caro! Ships — if you live on the West Van waterfront or have hospitable friends there: enjoy them towards 8:30 p.m. off Ambleside, sailing to Dundarave-Caulfeild and returning sometime after 9 p.m. The choir ts Our Lady of Sorrows School, Van- couver Woman-of-the- Year Dr. Marlene Hunter near Kilby Store Museum provincial park. As many as several hundred cagies gather in the area at one time. Bring your own binoculars. SKIING: Three Mainland Provincial Parks feature both nordic and alpine skiing -~ Mt Seymour, Cypress and Man ning. Each one has something to offer trom the novice to the expert CAMPING: Have you cver tried winter camping? With Lower SNOW CRYSTALS, star and plates - some of the many beautiful things to be discovered in winter. (see last Sunday’s Brunch) wants to emphasize that Jamie Reid, named among the numerous people with whom she shared her ac- colade, is not one of her employees. Miss Reid works for the Canadian Society of Clinical Hypnosis Eiko Kroon, meet Shirley Brown, Howe Sound school trustee candidate in last month's elections. Former City alder- man Kroon lost by a whisker to Rod Clark after a judicial recount. Shirley Brown ac- tually tied with her opponent, Don Wilson, at 621 votes apiece. Three days later re- turning officer Bill Bloxham settled the matter by drawing one of their two names from a ballot box. It was Wilson’s ... The financial woes of the Pay-TV networks don’t af- flict their North Shore car- rier. Shaw Cable, reports v-p Ken Fowler, has already reached break-even point with Pay-TV now installed in 12 per cent (6,000) of the North Shore’s households, compared to the national average of 10.5 per cent ... A welcome card to the North Shore’s newest art centre, Evelyn Bayer’s Cherry Hill Gallery at 1516 Marine, West Van. Opened last week, it will concentrate on displays by younger Canadian painters and sculptors ... Top marks to Max Schmid and Axel Wiegreffe, managers of Gleneagies Caterers Ltd., for their excellent menu and **feeding of the 300°’ at last weekend’s North Shore News Christmas party for staff and guests ... Give holdiay blood tomorrow (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Tuesday (2 to 8 p.m.) at the Lions Gate Hospital blood donor clinics ... ese @ WRIGHT OR WRONG: On the Twelfth Day of Christmas my true love said to me: ‘‘Let’s eat out — ! simply can’t face partridge and pears for dinner again!’ Winter wonders are at hand the right equipment and preparation, winter camping can be quite enjoyable. Some people even enjoy snow cam- ping - in a snow cave! This is something only the expert should try. SNOWSHOEING: For those who can't ski, yet want to en- joy the beauty of a winter trail, there's snowshocing. If you don’t own snowshoes you can rent them from various shops. Mt. Seymour, Cypress and Manning Pro vincial Parks are popular for this activity. PHOTOGRAPHY: What do you want to photograph’? Wiidlife? Scenery? Provin cial parks have it all. Take your camera snowshoeing or skiing, or just go for a stroll TOBOGGANING: When there is sufficent snow both Mt. Seymour and Cypress have toboggan runs - lots of fun! Should you require more information, picase write to B.C. Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division, 1610 In dian River Drive, North Van- couver, B.C. V7QG IL3 A brochure on the Lower Mainland Provincial Parks is available free of charge. (Al Grass is a naturalist with the Provincial Parks Branch on the North Shore.)