6 - Sunday, January 18, 1987 - North Shore News News Viewpoint THE VOICE OF MONTH AND WEST VANCOUVER Peter Speck Noul Wright Barrett Fisher tunda Stewart Publisher: Editor-in-Chie! 7: Display Advertising 980-0511 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 985-2131 Distribution 9261337 ~~ Managing Editor Subscriptions 986-1337 Advertising Director North Shore News") pe swpente hot a * fod ed . : eee SUNDAY + WEDNESDAY © FHIDAY 1139 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 babe coments 1986) North Shure bree Press Lid All FIGhts tees ed $8,287 vsverriacge Wee Friday A Sats he controversy over the Ancore multiple family housing project proposed for the Upper Levels has more significance for the whole future of West Van than may be immediately apparent. Even opponents of the application concede that the lowrise development) plan’ for three 25-unit) con- dominium clusters is wel} conceived. It keeps to an overall density of 2.5 units per acre. It provides for ample open space. The desiyn is pleasing. Compared to singie family housing, the project would have aominimal impact on the aatural cavironment. And when fully occupied, its total population would probably number, at most, about 200. Opposition by certain individuals and groups. is directed against the need to rezone to 2.5 units per acre a portion of the land presently zoned 1.5 under West Van's 1980 Community Plan. Zero growth crilies also argue that the development would put excessive de- mands on local facilities, including Lions Gate Bridge. In short, no more people! That mindset spells a bleak future for West Yan, which has had virtually zero growth since the 1970s. The result today is a rapidly aging population which threatens an eventual decline of business for local stores and services — West Van's only ‘‘economy”’ apart from Park Royal. Meanwhile, high housing costs, caused partly by restricted development, stop many young adults raised in West Van from making their own homes here. No 16-year-old community plan should be graven in stone. Growth in West Van should certainly be super- vised carefully to maintain standards of excellence. But without such growth the community will eventually LONG GATE HESPT “CWE THOUSAND THREE HASDRD TAY NORTH IANCOWVER. (INOR HOCKEY “OSOCIATION NEWS photo Nell Lucente wither and die. FIREFIGHTERS RATE TOPS in public respect (and rightly so) for the tough, vital work they do on the job. But that’s often only half the story. In addition to their Christmas toy contributions to the happiness of kids in poverty-line families, the community work to which many firefighters dedicate themselves right through the year sometimes gets less publicity than it deserves. One of those many, and typical of them, is Captain Ted Cameron, an 18-year veteran of North Van District Fire Department, who or- ganized a 1912 fire truck for last December's parade of toy dona- tions to the North Van Christmas Bureau. Between Christmases he’s also been instrumental in raising tens of thousands of dollars for other worthy cases — including the burn unit of Vancouver General Hospital, the Children’s Hospital and the Muscular Dystrophy Association — and he's had par- ticular success in winning support from focal businesses, among them, this last Christmas, North Van’s Save-On-Foods. Maybe there’s some deep psychological link between saving lives and making others better to live... eb IN THE DOGHOUSE these days (at any rate, internationally) is junior hockey, after the recent Canada-Russia brawl in Czechoslovakia. So it’s nice to re- cord that the honor of the game was upheld locally last week by four young North Shore players not yet in their teens. Scott Casano, 12, Randy Wolff, 11, Dyian Griffin, 9, and ‘‘J.5.°’ Mar- tin, 8, answered the call of the North Van Minor Hockey Association to raise funds for the children’s ward at Lions Gate Hospital with a skate-a-thon. The four youngsters topped the collec- tion which brought the chiidren’s ward a very welcome cheque for $1,320. od NEVER SHORT of bright ideas, Anna Wyman the North Shore’s internationally- acclaimed high priestess of dance — is featur- ing two interesting new classes under top instructors in her current series of adult and teen ballet courses. Grainne Holman — with London and New York honors as well as stints with Les Ballets Jazz of Toronto and the Alberta Ballet under her leotards is now GRAINNE HOLMAN ... jazzing up ballet. LETTER OF THE DAY avis attacke Dear Editor: Re: Davis Addresses Uranium Fears (North Shore News, Jan. 7). The response of the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources lacks the credence and conviction expected of a policy Statement on a subject as con- troversial as the nuclear future. His categorical refusal to even ‘‘consider’’ nuclear power as an energy option for B.C. may tem- porarily console and even convince the anti-nuclear group, but a ra- tional and analytical mind cannot fail to appreciate and understand that the future of this country and that of the world depends on the HOCKEY’S GOOD GUYS ... (background, I to r) “3.J."" Martin, Scott Casano, Randy Wolff and Dylan Griffin with (centre) children’s ward nurse Sara Elliott. teaching jazz dance, while Collette Lim, formerly of the Goh Ballet Academy, shows tap dance fans how to do it. The classes are available at both the West and North Van locations of Anna’s school which you can call at 926- 6535 for further info. eae WATCH YOUR WALLET more than a few North Shore types can now probably remove it in- visibly from your pocket and pro- duce it on stage out of a top hat following magician Billy Mc- Comb’s Jan. 9 lecture at Hand- sworth. Veteran U.K. TV and night club star McComb is the first European named to the Society of American Magicians’ Hall of Fame. POSTSCRIPTS: Former West Van mayor Derrick Humphreys, enjoy- ing taking life easier for a short while, has become a pillar of the West Van Kiwanis Club ... Rev. John Robertson, bachelor rector of St. Monica’s, Horseshoe Bay, will marry churchwarden Ann Tolcher in September ... And con- grats to News business reporter Michael Becker and Barbara on the ‘‘express delivery’’, Jan. 5, of their second daughter Kiera Molly. ne WRIGHT OR WRONG: The chief deduction most folk make from their income tax is that governm- ent costs vastly too much. development of ‘‘safe nuclear power’’. His second explanation justify- ing the ending of the moratorium on uranium exploration on Feb. 28 is equally unconvincing. Fortunately Jack Davis has no control on any of these factors. Noel Wright @ Sunday brunch ® NEWS photo Mike Wakefield FIRST, YOU SEE IT, then you don’t ... veteran magician Billy McComb shares some secrets with North Shore amateurs of the magic arts. Geologically, B.C. may prove to be the largest uranium producer in the world, if proper advanced technololgies are adopted. With tongue in cheek he appears to be saying to the mining companies that you may carry all the explora- tion you want but when you apply for mining, we shall see! ver nuclear state lent Why is he leading on the mining companies to invest in a venture which has doubtful future? Anybody familiar with the resource industry knows that it takes from three to five years to explore and develop a mine. (Dr.) B. Dutt North Vancouver