Wednesday. January 6. 1999 — North Shore News - 3 | ‘ ! i t ~*~» i | | A { NEWS photo Paul McGrath Out with the old, into the blue THE onlookers outnumbered the participants (above) at the seventh annual ice Hole Swim on New Year’s Day at Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver, but that didn’t deter the brave souls from plunging into the chilly waters. At right, Eileen Cavanaugh beats a hasty retreat back to the beach following her dip in Burrard Inlet. SSing gre ceries perturb NV woman Passenger says mystery cabby left her hungry Robert Galster News Reporter robert@usnews.com DEBRA Lockshin claims she was robbed by a taxi driver last month, But the North Vancouver woman, who has suffered from a chronic pain disorder since a debili- tating car accident: more than Dwo years ago, is having trouble remeimn- bering which taxi company is respon- sible. She alleges a cab driver who drove her home refused to help unload her groceries because he didn’t have time, When Lockshin got out of the cab with only one of the eight bags she claims to have had with her, the cabby took off with the bulk of ber groceries still in the car. “Initially | thought it was North Shore (Taxi) because they're more predominant,” said Lockshin, However, since then she bas changed her mind twice. At first, she became convinced Sunshine Cabs were the culprits because a friend thought he saw her get into one. But NEWS photo Grad Ledwidge she is not sure, “I was puking because J was sick. It was che first time I wasn't paying DEBRA Lockshin clutches a single Safeway bag near her North Vancouver home. She claims a cab driver made off with the rest of her groceries last month. attention, ! just jumped in the cab,” said Lockshin. Lockshin had been doing some grocery shopping, at the Lonsdale Avenue Safeway on Dee. 12 when she began to feel ill. She suspects she was having a bad re tion to prescribed pain killers. She asked a Safeway employee to call her a cab, but because it was a Saturday evening none were available for more than an hour. Lockshin said she decided to wait in a nearby Lonsdale Avenue cafe. She said she contacted both of the North Shore’s taxi companies, but neither have any record of picking her up. “ft would love to help her our,” said Sunshine Cabs general manager Sam Monfared. “I do hand it to her it might have happened! and if it did happen, I'll be happy to give ner twice the money (she claims to have lost). All I need is some proof.” Monfared’s courierpart at North Shore Taxi was like- wise dumbfounded by Lockshin's claim. “We investigated everything we could and we didn’t trace it... in any case because of the Christmas season or whatever we gave her S50 anyway in case it did happen,” said North Shore Taxi general manager Subag Singh. “Ir’s not like anything Pve seen happen (betore).” Lockshin became frustrated with her lack of progress in finding a culprit and finally reported the incident to the North Vancouver RCMP. “(The) police suggest it should have been reported at the time (bur) U didn’t even think of it,” said Leckshin. Meanwhile North Vancouver RCMP spokesman Const. Heidi Hoffman said a short investigation resulted from Lockshin’s complaint, but it has already been con- eluded. “There is no evidence to support her claim,” said Hoffman. Ex-IMP passes away Robert Gatster vee ; er News Reporter robert@nsnews.com THE North Shore lost one of its most prominent for- mer Members of Parliament last week. Ronald Huntington, who served asthe Capilano-Howe | Sound Progressive Conservative MP for three terms stretching from 197-4 to 1984, died on Dee. 28. He served as the Minister of Industry and Small Business in the short-lived yovern- ment of Joe Clack in 1979, Huntington, 77, is alo a former chairman of Ports Canada and com: modore of the West Vancouver Yacht Club. During the Second World War, Huntington was a Lt. Conimander in the Canadian Navy. North Shoie News publisher Peter Speck remembered the former MP tondly. “He has been a very good friend to the North Shore News and me personally,” said Speck recalling an instance when the politician helped the newspaper obtain adequate amounts of newsprint during a time of shortage. However, more than just a business acquaintance, Speck recalled the man's role a3. a guiding light. “He would listen to my flights of fancy ... and bring me back to the ground with a gentle thump,” said Speck, Huntington is survived by wite Miriam, siblings Robert and Kay, chiidhood friend and sister-in-law Margaret Parkinson, children Ron and Vicki, grandchildren Clint and Jessica as well as tive great-grandchildren. “There was a connection between him and the grandchildren that was just second-to-none,” recalled son Ron of his father. “He phoned them every day. They'll miss thar.” A memorial service in Huntington’s memory will be held this Friday, Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. at the West Vancouver United Church. In licu of flow- ers, donations may be sent to the Salvation Army or Heart and Stroke Foundation. Hikers rescued near Grouse Robert Galsier News Reporter robert@asnews.com A father-and-son outing narrowly avoided a tragic ending last Sunday when the duo was stranded in the wilderness near Grouse Mountain. FORMER North Shore Member of Parliament Ron Huntington died on Dec. 28. The 49-year-old man and his 12-year-old son were lost in the network of service roads south of the ski hill at approximately 4:30 p.m. The father used a celi phone to call North Vancouver RCMP who in turn alerted the North Shore Rescue Team. The duo’s rescue was complicated by the man’s inability to convey his location to the rescue team members. The team was joined in the search by members of the Grouse Safety Patrol. The pair were located several hours later once rescue crews established voice contact. They were cold burt not injured. The two were found to be poorly equipped for their ven- ture and had no flashlight, map, compass, matches, extra clothes or prop- er foonvear — all crucial equipment for any winter outing. ——————— PtP