8 — Wednesday, December 3, 1997 — North Shore News aid in icing hockey team Dear Editor: This year for the first time a girls’ hockey team has been formed on the North Shore. This came about through the efforts and help of sever- al community volunteers, female players, parents, a team sponsor, the councils of the City and District of North Vancouver and the North Shore News. Last year, about this time the North Vancouver Female Ice Hockey Association was formed. If getting a few inter- ested parents and female players together around a kitchen table is called “formed,” then I guess that was us! Greg Neal and J approached the North Vancouver Recreation Commission staff —- Doug Worbets and Trish Holme — and with their encouragement and with the help of the owe North Vancouver councils who allowed them to find and subsidize ice time for the girls, we started a learn to play and exposure to the game for girls at the Cap West club, . We had somewhat of a slow start and our hour of ice often had only cight to 10 players. A community boost was needed and through Andrew McCredie of the News, a Dear Editor: Tt isa simple fact that over time trees grow. What were once small trees on 3 residen- tial lot, often become large, unmanageable trees that inter- fere with the right of home- owners to enjoy their proper- ty. Many North Vancouver District, residents will be shocked and angry to discover thar a new bylaw just: passed by council will grant protec- tive status to trees on private property with a trunk diame- ter greater than 40 cm. Want to top of remove a “protect- ed” tree on your property? Well, vou will have to apply for a permit and receive per- mission from a district inspec- tor, Removal of such a tree will only be allowed for a “good reason,” (ic. only if the tree is dangerous). If sidewalks. driveways, _ swimming pools, or house foundations are affected, you north shore news MAIL Box will have to be satisticd with pruning the tree’s roots. Maybe you would like to maintain your view or add more sunlight fo vour yard. If thar is the case, you will only be permitted to remove a few branches, but not the tree. Should you wish to appeal, you will have no option but te appear before council. Here are some more facts thar district. homeowners should be aware oft @ In the span of three years, the protective tree standard has been lowered from 105 em, to 75 em, and now to 40cm in diameter — just a lit- te larger than your average dinner plate; @ Trees on 82% of aif district land, including cnvironmen- tally sensitive private land, are already fully protected by a 10 em diameter standard; @ The initial public consulta- tion process suggested that there would not be majority support for any standard less than 60 cm on private proper- tv; M By giving the new bylaw first, second, third reading and passage all in one evening, council served notice that public input on the bylaw wasi’t wanted. In conclusion, large trees on private property offer many challenges and mainte- nance costs to homeowners. Moreover, even large trees deemed “safe” can become a significant hazard to people and property during high winds. For these reasons, homeowners should not have their hands tied by overly stringent bylaws that regulate not only removal, but trim- ming of trees, thereby pre- venting residents from making decisions on what is best f their property. Brian Platts North Vancouver Brian_Platts@bc.sympati® ¢o.ca Jog ‘ Humor wantet Dear Editor: In recent years, there hi been a paucity of humor em nating from any of the cu rent columnists, It was refreshing an entertaining to read t Halloween bit in Othe Voices. More of this type’ writing would be most we come. : M. Nelson | West Vancouver commitment to an article was made. We were fortunate in having Martin Millerchip attend _ one of our Sunday practices and write an excellent article about girls’ hockey. Soon after that article appeared our numbers went up-dramatically. Our ice often had 30 to 35 players! : Now this year North Vancouver has an adult team and a girls’ team of 13- to 17-year-olds. The girls” team has three fine female coaches with high level hockey experience — now ifonly a goalie would appear we will be on our way to a great season. If other communities’ experience can be used as a guide, next year we will probably have wo adult teams, two teams of 13-17 year olds and if we are fortunate a team of 9-13 year olds too. _ OF course this will be dependent on getting more ice ume. ° I was intrigued by the recent picture ia the News of the young ladies cheering on the new Junior B team — per- haps some of them would like ro be on the other side of the rink boards and have someone cheer them on as they play Canada’s favorite sport. We still have a couple of spots open (hopefully the elu- -sive goalie will be onc of the ones to appear.) Thanks again to the North Shore News — Martin’s article helped us get launched for this year and put a team Anto the Lower Mainland Girls’ League. 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