10 - Sunday, May 30, 1999 — North Shore News Dear Editor: Re: Second fast ferry ready for launch, May 19 News. With half a page in your newspaper, it again was haop- laced about the second com- ing, whilst we are still waiting for the first! “The fast ferry just got faster ... Originally scheduled to be in service in 1996, the first... nor. ched until fast June (1996). “Ir began undergoing sea trials fate fast year.” “They've ironed out the kinks,” said B.C. Ferrics spokeswoman, Again according to the news report “the first. ship will be pressed into service ... as early (sic) as next month and as late as mid-July.” Anyone with any kind of knowledge of ships and ship- building will know thet a period of sea trials now approaching a nine-month period accentuates that there must be serious problems with the vessel. Should shipbuilders on a worldwide scale operate with- in the same principles of dates of delivery and sea trial sched- _utes, there would not be any ‘shipyards feft, except those that were government-con- trolled and operated as is the case with CFI, or whatever they choose to catl them- selves, A B.C. Ferries spokes- woman is shown in your arti- Maitbox policy cle depicting what the second PacitiCat’s tover will look like in six months. The brochure she is hold- ing in her hand maybe depicts the fover of the first ferry (yer to be delivered), however, it wouldn't surprise me a bit that the other background will sdll resemble the foyer of the second PacifiCart in six months! It has been much bally- hooed that the MacitiCats are supposed to cut approximate: ly 30 minutes off the sailing time berween Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo, however, in a May 21 Vancouver Sun article on the same subject: states, “Initially, however, the ships (PacifiCats) will be operated on the same turnaround schedule as the slawer C-class ferries on the route.” Go figure!: $70) million per vessel to $450 million in toral, and without any doubt still counting, fof three ves- sels. The mind. Maybe, when ail three ves- sels are completed, forget the second coming, we can col- lectively charter the vessels to the NDP and their support- ers, Which I have a suspicion might have problems filling one, and send them off into the sunset and basically write off our losses once and for all. E.F. Myhrstad Lions Bay sum bagwles the gy LETTERS to the editor must be legible (preferably typewrit- ten), brief and include your name, full address and telephone number. Due to space constraints the North Shore News can- not publish all letters. Published letters may be edited for brevity, clarity, accuracy, legality and taste. Submissions can be faxed to 985-2164 but still must be signed and fully addressed. . 5 north shore news MAIL ROX B.C.’s fast ferry story W. Van seawall is for everyone keeps getting worse Dear Editor: Pm writing tis letter with 3 feeling of complete disgust. Hiding discrimination behind an opinion doesn’t change what it is. [I'm not surprised thar the North Shore News would print a letter like this. Mrs. Sean Allan’s letter in the May 21 mailbox section is not on the same devel of Doug Collins bur it has potential. Suggesting that — baby strollers are vehicles and “should be banned or regulat- ed by a special licence fee” is plainly and simply a discrimi- Natory statement. Strollers are net sports equipment. They enable par- ents and children to get our and enjoy the world around them just like all of the equip ment available to the elderly and disabled. Would Mrs, Allan suggest we ban walkers and) wheel- chairs from the seawall and sidewalks? I guess blind peo- ple with canes should. be banned as well, Those canes can leave an awtul sting. I image the person who clipped Mr. Allan’s ankle didn’t do it on purpose and probably felt terrible. My wife and | have walked the seawall many times with and without our two small children in strollers and have had no problems except the odd group that walks three or four abreast and joggers weav- ing in and out of the walkers. But this is what the seawall is all about. Why can’t we all just get along? Strollers are not an option for parents that want to get out for a walk with their young children. Limagine Mrs. Allan thinks mothers should be breastfeed- ing in washrooms too. I won- The North Shore Health Region invites you der what she would say te: my retired father who used to go on many long walks with his two grandchildren in a double stroller before our daughter was old enough to do it on her own. Dirck Sillery North Vancouver — dsillery@hotmail.com Dear Editor: Re: Mr. and Mrs. Allan's May 21 letter to the editor about double-strollers on the West Vancouver seawall. It is unfortunate that you may have a very short memo- ry of what itis like to be a new parent oor grandparent. Perhaps you have never expe- rienced the joys of parent- hood yourscives. Any new parent or grand- parent can tell vou the won- derful feeling of being able to stroll down our West Vancouver seawall with their. precious child for all triendly faces to admire. This is one of the reasons we have all chosen to live in one of the most beauntul cities in the world. We want our children to be stimulated with the environ- ment around us, to hear the pounding ocean, to watch the fishing boats and cruise ships sail by, to gaze at the beautitul sunsets, to chase the seagulls hovering over the fish, and to hopefully catch a glimpse of a seal playing in the water. As you did say in your let- ter to the editor, the scawall is for all to enjoy. This includes babies too. It is unfortunate that Mr. Allan was accidentally hit by a stroller. It is unfortunate that there are careless drivers on our roads that potentially harm or kill innocent people. Does this mean that we must ban cars all together? You are suggesting that we to attend the official opening of the West Community Health Centre by the Minister of Health, the Honourable Penny Priddy. ban strollers on the seawall. It may be a better idea to tell people that they are hurting others, as the whole incident may have occurred without this mother knowing. Telling someone to be more careful may be all it takes to make our seawall a safer place for you to stroll. The seawall already has chough “don't” signs painted omit. Betore we start stirring the vellow paint again, maybe we should think of ways to get along with cach other better. The Askew Family West Vancouver jamés_askew@bc.sympati- co.ca Dear Editor: Re: Mr and Mrs. Allan’s May 21 letter to the editor. it is unfortunate vour hus- band has been struck a couple of times by a baby stroller on Watch fer the feature in the the seawall, but your motion to ban buggies altogerher goes a little too far. As someone who frequents the scawall and who has ocea- sionally pushed a stroller along it, | have never been clipped by a buggy or felt thar they should be banished fram the seawall. What would be Wheelchairs? Scooters? Perhaps we should place a minimum speed limit and force those slowpokes to get out of way of those of us try- ing to get a little exercise out of our walk, Please lighten up Mr. and Mrs. Allan, this is a beautiful walk that should be shared by all. . It is a shame that you have tarnished the reputation of many other seawall users by your selfishness. Mr. and Mrs. P Knapp North Vancouver next? Jeno 13th issue cf the Nosth Shore News. ‘Dr Csilla Gyovai DENTIST ANNOUNCES N * Every second Tuesday and every other Saturday is off ** Open 1 monday per month. Firs? work day of the week Noon + 8pm. New patients are welcome , 13798 Mount Seymour Parkway (vars) 929-7499 JAYLORMIOTIVE 8.C.A.A., AA, 1.C.B.C, Approved SPRING SPECIALS relia ) a Lupe, Gi. & Farer Check battery, test antifreeze, check tires & brakes, visual inspection 8, Supen Luss All above with written B.C.A.A., inspection «amv, Tuesday, June 1, 1999 . £ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm : ; : 4 West CHC, #990 - 22nd Street. 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