10 - North Shore News -— Wednesday, April 5, 2000 MAIL Bo McCreary survey supporied Dear Editor: It dismayed me to read the tiny tidbit Mr. (Trevor) Lautens decided to include at the end of his March 24 Garden of Biases column with regards to the McCreary Society Survey. He took one question dealing with sex of course and suggested the whole survey should be reject- e Participation in this survey is voluntary, Mr. Lautens, and the questions are not hidden from the parents. A copy of the survey would be available for parents in the office of their school. Educated public health nurses conduct the survey and the results would provide highlights for our province as a whole. This survey is not just about “sex.” Ir also covers family background, emotional health, violence, substance use and sexual behavior. In January, f attended the “Safe Schools” night at Windsor secondary school. As a parent of younger kids, I was saddened to hear that racism and bullying were major problems at Windsor and many other high schools. The MeCreary Society Survey can only help us tind out what is really going on with teenagers today. Any infurmation would help us deal with their prob- lems and tears a little better. To take one question out of the survey (No. 76) and sux: gest we reject “this snoopery”, as Mr. Lautens calls it, just isn“t fair. This survey is used to invove the health of adoles- cents today. Thousands of stu- dents in Greater Vancouver have already taken it with no ill effects. As the MeCreary Society Survey is completely voluntary, why not ler each parent decide whether they want their child to complete it. Inpat from parents, and other interested parties will be sought at the April 11 Education and = Programs Standing Commictce meeting to be held in the Leo Marshall Curriculum Centre, 810 West 21st Street, North Vancouver at 7:30 p.m. Wendy Moricy Chairman Seymour Heights school North Vancouver WATERAMAIN CLEAWING-IGNSDALE TO GROUSEWOODS AREA being stirred up. This is harmless and water clarity should Watermains in the Lonsdale to Grousewoods areas will be cleaned, affecting water supply from: Lonsdale West to Norwood including Cafder Ave; north of West Rockland. to . upper Delbrook, Skyline and : Grousewoods between April 6th and May 26th, 2000. The cleaning is part of an ongoing maintenance program - to ensure dependable wal ter service. Residents may notice some discolouration of water due to sediment Bright, brick-red new. growth. Great for hedging. $07 | One-gallon pot FREE 5 Lawn Seminar Saturday, April 8th North Van Branch 10am to noon. Professional tips from Julio of Dawson Seed. retum to norma! quite quickly. During the cleaning process, specific blocks will be without water from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some areas experiencing more than one interruption. Advance notice will be delivered in each watermain clean- ing area the day prior to cleaning. Please cail 999-3830 with any questions or concerns. working together for a better community / Lavatera : Quick growing - - shrub with masses of- flowers thru “urnmerl Grows’ over 4 feet tall. Pink, white, etc. $797 One-gallon pot i i “ Spiraea Magic Carpet Golden yellow leaves w/ touches of red. I-gal. Geraniums $2.49 each. 5 for... $ 12 Fourinch pot Fully stocked with Hanging Basket - , plants including the newest varieties! Spring Heathers Masses of bloom now! All the colours. $6.99 each. 3 for... $1998 One-gallon pot Pottery Shipment just arrived? Big supply of new and unique “THE NORTH SHORE'S FINEST SELECTION NORTH VANCOUVER: SEWRSTHABCOUYE styles. Outstanding vatues. Healih care criticism unfair Dear Editor: Why is Hana Mercer paid by you to write a so-called “fair comment” column where there is no “fairness” as expressed in her Maren 17 column of invective against our health-care system? We have Medicare because millions of us suffered through a “market system” and our children and ourselves were denied care if we could not pay for it up front. Try taking your little child suffering from life-threatening pneumonia (no penicillin then) to the hospital only to be told she could not be admitted without a cash payment. ‘Try coping with thousands of dollars in doctor's bills. Or try waiting for four hours on wooden benches in the out- patient clinic to see a doctor because you're poor. I did. We Canadians fought long and hard for universal, accessi- ble, portable and comprehensive health care. The only reason for the present problems is the slashing of $12 billion in transfer payments by the federal government to the provinces — a deliberate move to cause cuts in health care so people like Ralph Klein can use it as an excuse to turn back the clock to the “good old dzys of private care” when profit was the motive and death the result. . Betty Griffin West Vancouver Tax load is too | much for families Dear Editor: It makes no sense to me. North Vancouver City is propos- ing a 3.9% tax increase for this year and Coun. Barbara Perrault hopes’ to shift this cost to city residents and local industries leaving smnall businesses exempt. If I and my- family had more disposable i income we may frequent those very businesses in need but we can’t. Every time we turn around there is an increase — telephone, cable, hydro, water — not to mention the proposed $75- vehicle: levy on top of auto insurance. . I for one have to have a car for work, I couldn’t do. my job 7 without it. These continuous financial increases worry me. I'm faced with buying the very minimum for groceries, dress my children solely in hand-me-downs and shop for necessities in the discount department stores... > bes We rely on family for child care, rarely eat out, always . think.twice before placing:our school-age daughterin activi- ° ties (swimming/skating)-and live a.tight financial lite. We are'reguiar middle-class people who li within, our - means and have a very happy life. But'let’s face it, wé féel that’: we are.kept. back by government and ‘see'nd relief i in ‘sight: -.Cindy.Goodman~- ETE ESSE ~ North Vancouver fa 2411 Mt. Seymour Parkway, North Vancouver : To register your attendance at the ceremony, please" call '987-play (7529). : The North Shore Sport Aveards is 2. “celebration of sport achievement at all levels; community, high school, provincial, and international and . includes categories for coaching and officiating. It is designed to recognize _ the outstanding achievements of North Shore athletes. For more information please call Bernie Dufly at the Grant Conrell Tennis Centre, 983-6480; or e-mail - to duffyb@noribvanrec.com