6 - Sunday, April 7, 1985 - North Shore News Editorial Page L. Solomon needed ow much of gevernment’s time and facilities are individuals and groups entitled to demand in pursuing special interests? That is the question inherent in West Van Mayor Derrick Humphreys’ attack fast weck on “about a dozen’? members of a Socal business association whose complaints, he claimed, had cost the municipslity (i.e., the taxpayers) thousands of dollars over recent years. The mayor cited repeated requests for extensive and detailed information on specific municipal programs that had already - been well publicized, and even a court . challenge (subsequently withdrawn before being heard) on an issue unconnected with the merchants’ direct interesis -- all involving expensive work by municipal staff. The association argues that probing such subjects as potential tax increases and park- ing. shortages in commercial areas is a legitimate duty to its members. Sut where is the line to be drawn in terms of cost to the public? The taxpayers’ basic right to know what their elected representatives are doing re- mains paramount. But at what point does the persistent and time-consuming exercise of that right by a tiny minority begin to infringe - on the right of the majority to have its tax dollars allocated ‘to city hail spent in the most efficient and constructive manner? The question affects all levels of gov- ‘ emment, though especially the municipal * Jevel because. of its accessibility. The ultimate ‘ answer calls for the wisdom of a Solomon -~ “and Selomons are. few ‘and far between in public life today. Never on Sunday rities of the West German army’s Monday-tc-Friday work. week are pointing out that major wars have pe usually begun with a surprise invasion Saiur- “day or Sunday. But the chief of the armed ' forces isn’t worried about most of his half million warriors taking the weekend off. “I'l already know on Thursday evening if there’s ’. going to be a war on the weekend,’’ he says. That should give him plenty of time to negotiate . a new labor contract! © Display Advertising 980-0531 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 985-2131 Circulation 986-1337 Subscriptions 985-2131 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, B.C. v7M 2H4 Publisher Peter Speck Operations Manager Berni Hilliard Circutation Director Bill McGown Editor-in-Chief Noel Wright Production Director Chris Jonnsor North’shore - .. ne news MUNDAY « WEDNEDDAY « RIDA Marketing Director Robert Graham Advertising Director - Sales Dave Jerneson Advertising Director + Administration Mike Goodsell Classified Manager Val Stephenson Photography Manager Terty Peters North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspapel and quatiled under Schedule ib, Part il!, Paragraph Il of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday. Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Ltd. and distributed ta every door on the North Shore. Second Class Mait Registration Number 3885 Entire contents ‘¢ 1985 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. Subscuptions, North and West Vancouver, $25 per year Mailing rates avarlable on request No responsibility accepted for unsolicited matenal including manusenpt!s and pictures which should be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. Member of the B.C. Press Council . 55,770 (average, Wednesday Friday & Sunday) sx & THIS PAPER IS RECYCLABLE INCE MARCH 31 things are never going to be quite the same at the military veterans’ watering hole on 15th St. West in North Van. That was the day Don McKay — former RCAF pilot and credit union execu- tive, band leader, vintage car buff and booster extraor- dinaire for every good cause that came his way — finally vetired after 17 years service as secretary-manager of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 118. The story of his 70 years to date reads like a do-it- yourself book on happiness through achievement, with a lot of fun thrown in. Born in Winnipeg, he joined the RCAF Reserve as an aero- engine mechanic at 19, graduating seven years later as a pilot and obtaining his commission. He served vatil 1945, mixing his Flying Of- ficer duties with his two private passions, conducting his own orchestra: and rebuilding cars. After his discharge he Med for the next 23 years to Kelowna, to become matiag- er of the Kelowna Credit Union, secretzry-manager of, the Kelowna Legion ard unofficial one-man tourist bureau for the Okanagan resort. Finally making it to the coast, and after a brief stint as secretary-manager of the Kerrisdale Legion branch, he took over at North Van in 1968 — and that’s where Don’s lifelong flair for music and showbiz really paid off. Within three to four years — “packing 'em in’’ by in- troducing bands, dancing and other live entertainment several nights a week — he transformed a_ limping branch in danger of not meeting its mortgage into a going concern with money in the bank and some 1,200 members. Today the mor- tgage is almost paid off and the branch ranks as one of the most successful in Canada. He made it fun, too, all DON’T WAIT UNTIL HE’S BACK... & 4 sof. }.. 4 sunday brunch by Noel Wright ies HAVING FUN GETTING iT DONE «. Bon MeKsy’s lifelong secret. the way along. But then, as those who attended the roast they gave him a year ago know, having fun ac- complishing things seems to have been Don’s secret for five decades ... teen e ECONOMIC RECOVERY — why are we waiting for it? Why don’t we do something about it ourselves? That’s the message from motiva- tional specialist Neil Gedin, consultant to some of Canada’s biggest firms, who’s bringing it in person to North Van business peo- ple and the general pubic Apri! 23 at the Centennial! Theatre. His three-hour seminar, - sponsored by the North Van Chamber of Commerce and the News, is called ‘‘Come Alive in '85’’. It covers such traditional business areas as selling, advertising, ‘team’ C Van's Bert Davies and Jamie Disher. marketing, stress and time management, brainstorming and telephone handling. Bu: the emphasis throughout is on doing it yourself. ‘‘There’s only one economy that any of us has a real ability to control,” says Godin, ‘‘and that’s our own. Let's take control of what we can contro! and create Our own prosperity — rather than waiting for world inarkets, government, labor, big business to do it for us. If you and 1 really want an economic recovery, right now, let’s start without *em!’” Makes sense today, and for $15 (call 987-4488 for tickets) how can you lose? . e*eeoea HITHER AND YON: Rob- bed of his Easter Egg was Capilano Mall manager Bob Kright. City council’s go- ahead for the planned mall photos submitted Rick Hansen at his send-off dinner with (1 and cr) West expansion, virtally promised for last Monday, foundered on a minor snag in the agreement, putting the ap- proval ritual back to Square One. Next try this Tucs- day.... Six months to go, but they've already named the head of this year’s United Way campaign — wish lots of luck on the job to North Van's Bob Alexander, presi- dent and CEO of Microtel «. Oh to be in Grades 10-12 again! Last Monday saw Hillside French teacher Hilary Matts depart with 10 students for a two-week tour of the south ef France, stay- ing with French families and winding up with a visit to Paris .... Meanwhile, back home today after two weeks in Russia and the U.K., is the West Van Secondary gang of 32 chaperoned by socials teachers Barry Lin- dahl and Shirley Morteil .... Door-to-door canvassers to collect donations for this month’s Cancert Campaign are still urgently needed in North Van. If you can spare just a couple of - hours, North Van campaign chair- man Sharon Drew would love to hear from you at 985-8585 .... Still in the Good Cause Dept., don’t wait 18 months until Rick Hanson finishes his 25,000-mile ‘‘Man In Mo- tion’? world tour in a wheelchair to raise money for the Paraplegic Founda- tion — phone in your pledge to 687-5200 where they'll also give you the address for mailing. your donation Sad to note the. premature oa rie i toe SHARON DREW ... Cancer Fund lady with a problem. death last month of novelist Don Fraser, 38, who served for a short period as editor of the North Shore News {then North Shore Shopper) in our early days. A foun- ding editor of the Pulp Press publishing house, his works “Class Warfare’ and ‘‘The Voice of Emma_ Sachs’’ earned him comparisons ’ .with the late Malcolm Lowry .- Congrats to North Yan’s Margaret Collins who's been named to the fall Honor Roll of Lethbridge (Alta.) Community College .... And on the reunion trail there’s an invitation to all former students, teachers and staff of Saskatoon's. Caswell Public School to attend its 75th anniversary party May 17-19 — write the Caswell School Anniversary Com- mittee, 204-30th St. West, Saskatoon, Sask., S7L. ON9 if you qualify. eee ae WRIGHT OR WRONG: Nostalgia is longing for a place you wouldn't move back to. Have a very happy Easter, anyway, wherever you are!