“44 — Fiiday, December 12, 1997 ~ North Shore News J INQUIRING REPORTER THIS year, I saw my first Christmas advertisement on television the Sundzy before Halloween. It’s not day- light savings time that affects our circadian rhythms, it’s the retail business controlling our seasonal awareness. Orange foil-wrapped Halloween chocolates are dis- counted in supermarkets Nov. 1 at 15 cents for 100 g next to the same “Christmas” chocolates in red and green at $1.19 for 100 g. The elevator musak that . numbs our senses, reducing our resistance to everlasting += _ sales, becomes Christmas carols sometime around the muddle of November. (Time it right and the ones set to a disco-beat won’t repeat more than twice while we are in the store.) Frost-bitten samaritans have been shaking bells in our faces for weeks. There are no excuses, folks, yet only 15% of you are prepared. You’d better watch out you're not in my parking spot come Dec. 24. "| ingniring reporter Horseshoe Bay Dundarave/Ambleside British Properties Norgate/Pemberton Heights Capilano/Delbrook Highlands Lower Lonsdale Central and Upper Lonsdale Lynn Vailey Blueridge/Deep Cove = sracrercsers 15% NO 84% 55% 66% 55% 69% 49% 716% 53% 64% 63% 8% 1% 18% 18% 23% 16% 17% 22% 12% DON’T OTHER KNOW ANSWER Cheryl Andrews North Vancouver I've done most of it. You don’t find what you want at a good price if you leave it to the last minute. Tie you have to deal with the chaos in the stores and a lack of parking. ers Don Davis North Vancouver No. Like most husbands on December 24 I will be madly running up and down the aisles shopping for my wife. In fact, ] meet with my friends for coffee and we all go and do the same thing. Tatiana Maloff North Vancouver Not really. I don’t celebrate I Christmas now the children have left home. We used..to have both but now we just celebrate the Russian § Christmas (13 days later): Besides, I get to shop at all the sales for presents. ‘DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE INQUIRING REPORTER? E-mail your comments or question ideas to: miller@nsnews.com _ Secure your apartment THE North Vancouver RCMP provide the fo!- lowing ideas to help prevent apartment break-ins and rob- beries. Each step taken to ensure the security of your apartment building and suite will reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Choosing an Apartment Here are a few features to check: @ are all entrances key con- trolled? Bis che building and parking lor well lit at night? § do the suites have deadbolt locks and door viewers? B® does the manager seem conscientious and reliabic? @ do you feel comfortable when alone in parking arcas? Wi if renting, will the manager allow you to rekev the locks? Apartmesr security Treat the entire apartment complex as your responsibili- ty. It’s your home. @ use M.Smith, not Mary Smith on intercom board and mail box; B don’t leave notes on your door or on the buzzer panel. Burglars can read too; & report all suspicious activity to your manager or the police; B don’t hold the door open for strangers, or buzz them in if they ring your apartment. Have them ring the manager; @ instruct your children on the correct procedure for admitting people to the build- ing; report any burned out lights; be insistent that they are replaced promptly. Apartment doors @ have your locks rekeyed when moving in. Keys may still be in the hands of previ- ous tenants or their friends. Check with manager if rent- ing; @ don’t rely on door chains. They can be forced; B install a door viewer; @ lock your doors even when going to the laundry room or picking up your mail; @ instruct your children not to admit strangers and not to indicate to a stranger that they are home alone. Windows @ secure sliding windows as with patio doors; @ wooden windows in older buildings can be secured by pinning with nails or secured by various available locks; B® consult your local police crime prevention officer with your particular window secu- rity problems or concerns. Patio doors This is a burglar’s pre- ferred point of entry’ on all floors, but particuisrly on the first and second floors. @ use a lock on the inside track. These are inexpensive and available at a locksmith or hardware store; @ many sliding glass patio doors can easily be iifted right out of the frame. If this is the case, use a shim in the upper track to prevent the moving side door from being lifted out; @ keep your patio well lit; @ keep shrubbery and oiher items trom providing conceal- ment for a burglar. Storage lockers ® do not store valuables in lockers. They are usually easy to break into, and susceptible to thefts; @ do not store valuables in lockers. They are usually easy to break into, and susceptible to thefts; @ women should avoid enter- ing locker areas alone; @ report all suspicious activi- ties around the storage areas to your manager or the police. Join Neighbourhood or Block Watch. These programs were originated to organize community support in crime prevention. Call 985-1311. BACCARAT 1637 Lonsdale Ave. e 1730 Marine Dr. North Yancouver West Vancourtr PHOTOS WITH SANTA BEGINNING SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22ND They'll be treasured forever. Beautiful photos of your kids’ magical visit with Santa Claus. Sponsored in part by Japan Camera, for every five dollar Santa Photo Package purchased, two dollars will go to help our own North Shore Neighborhood House and The Children’s Wish Foundation. So come to CapMall. And make your Christmas memories last a lifetime. 93S MARINE # CAPILANO MALL Making Your Holiday Dreams Come True ORIVE NORTH VANZOUVER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL 980-8561