W. Van mother says ntersection a threat o children’s safety ;-By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter GAIL Fourie warned West Vancouver municipal engineers a any life-threatening injuries. Two men werc. taken to hospital with bruises and possible muiscle injuries.” | . "But the crash is a reminder to Fourie of blem near. her. home at. the we" *T here is so..much confusion. at that intersection,” she'said. we - Fourie is not the only orie who believes the intersection is unsafe, = Last year, she collected 175 names on a petition of people who agreed the intersec- tion should change from a two-way stop to four-way stop. ; % Area’ residents, ‘teachers from nearby if Park‘elementary and parents of stu- ‘dents signed the petition: ‘ West ‘Vancouver District's Advisory Traffic and - Parking Committee reviewed the request and petition. But the committee turned the request down in January saying a four- way stop.was not warranted. Sunday, September 22. 1996 ~ North Shore News - 2 ae 4 On the net NATIVES use nets to sccop up salmon retuming to North Vancouver's Capilano River. The fishing was good eastier last week. NEWS photo Mike Wakefield the retaining, wail. MELLYRAIE Fourie, nine, holds a petition asking for a four-way stop on busy Mathers and 24th Street. months and the “worst” she has scen yet in three years of living in the area. According to the West Vancouver Police, Tuesday’s crash involved a Jeep dri- ver who was charged with failing to stop at a stop sign. The 40-year-old West Vancouver resi- dent was travelling north on 24th Street when his vehicle broadsided an eastbound Nissan Sentra. The occupants of the Sentra, a -47-year- old driver and his 33-year-old passenger, both from North Vancouver, were taken to hospital. Police said a retaining wall near the intersection received $1,000 worth of damage in the incident. But West Vancouver Police Sgt. Barry ‘Nickerson said that Mathers and 24th is “not considered a high-crash intersection. ~ Fourie has three children’ who attend Irwin Park elementary. She said the marked sidewalk at the intersection is used by many students going to the elementary school. “It is so bad,” she said, “that some chil- dren refuse to cross there in the marked crosswalk.” ; _ Fourie said that it's common to sec a motorist act as though the intersection is a four-way stop. Adding to the contusion is the poor vis- ibility near the intersection, in part due to The committce that turned down the, four-way stop looked at accident — history and traffic volume. ; . ; It noted that Mathers Avenue is a bus route and that there is a four-way Fourie said the crash on Tuesday was at least the second accident in nine stop one block away at 25th Street and Mathers. lon Hotel owner faces “I just let him do it. | Baier .C. Human Rights hearing ALTHOUGH he was acquitted earlier this year of four charges of sexual assault, North Vancouver hotelier Ken Hutchinson, 48, is still on trial. “Daf seven ofa B.C, Hunian Rights Council hearing heard testimony from one of his accusers, a worn, now 30, who was employed at the hotel from jSeptember 1985 to June 1987. Under: cross-examination by Hurtchinson’s Jawyer Larry Page, the woman was asked if she hed said “no” to Hutchinson the first time they Allegedly had sex. She said she recalled saying “no” very softly. She said she whispered “no.” “He (Hutchinson) said, “Don't worry about it babe, I’m shooting blanks.” ” “The woman admitted to having a crush on him, She ‘had worked in the -hotel’s coffee shop part-time. The woman testified that after cach sexual incident (she alleges to six in total) she received more hours of work. was scared. I didn’t want 10 be there.” She resigned her job in 1986, after iwo years at the hotel, due to low self-esteem. “F thought he was nice, kind, a nice looking man, likea father figure to me,” the woman testi- fied. “T wanted him to like me. He was my boss.” During the B.C. Supreme Court trial Hutchinson denied having any sexual relations with the woman. At the time Hutchinson said he could tell she was infatuated with him, but he never took advan- tage of the situation. ‘The human rights hearing centres upon a com plaint by a second accuser and former employee at the hotel, a 33-year-old woman. She worked at the hotel from March 1987 NV hotelier Ken Hutchinson faces hearing. until she took medical leave in July of 1993. The woman managed the front desk at the Avalon, In her complaint she alleges that in May of 1991 she told Hutchinson chat she was preg- nant. : She states that after she told him, he suggested she consider an abortion because she was ruining her career, She claims some of her duties were removed after she revealed her pregnancy. The woman alleges that Hutchinson diserimi- nated against her because. of her sex, contrary to Section & of the Human Rights Act of B.C. The woman alleges that Hutchinson subjected her to sexual harassment, She claims they had sex once in the fall of 1989 and thar he fondled her once at work. Hutchinson denies fondling her, but admits to consensual sex with the woman, He denies harass- ment and discrimination. ; Said the woman’s lawyer Michael Blaxland, “the issue is not consensual sex between employ- er and employee. It’s about a power imbalance between employer and employee.” “Mr. Hutchinson engaged in unwanted sexual activities or comments with his staff,” Blaxland said. The woman is secking damages for hurt feel- ings and humiliation, as well as money for lost wages. The hearing is set to reconvene in Vancouver, Dec. 16 to 20. Hutchinson is expected to call about 15 wit- nesses. ; oager's sojourn studied By Robert Galster Contributing Writer THE closest thing to a political golden boy this side of Gordon Campbell.” is calling itaday. * While Campbell’s lustre tras Jost some of its sheen,’ Mark "Sager has managed to remain’ unspoiled. ; But, at 38, West Vancouver's’ ~ - soon-to-be ¢x-mayor “is hardly: near the end_ of his: illustrious career. Fae His announcement during last. Monday’s: council meeting that he would not seek:a third ‘term as West Vancouver's mayor concludes, at least temporarily, a.” fast-moving, and varied political i career. First elected mayor of West Vancouver in 1990 and again in’ 1993, Sager also spent three . terms as councillor, © 0°". Before that. he was West Vancouver school’ board .chair- man, and before that. a. school |. - " board trustee. art When he was first elected to the school board, he was just 20 years old, : re ’ Derrick Humphreys, a four- term West Vancouver mayor and . one of Sager’s main. political. mentors, recalls encouraging the young would-be politician to, ° seck office, . “He was keen and able and he represented his generation well,” . said Humphreys... Sager’s private life, although: See Plans page 3 index 4 Bright Lights ® Business... @ Crossword. @ Horoscopes...................... AY f@ Mailbox... fa Talking Personats.. @ Travel............. .