“HUH, THAT was a body blow. THE VINTAGE YEARS _ - For-us-old folks to read © -in the weekend Sun newspa- per. that ‘‘North Vancouver City ‘crime rate rivais-Van- couver,;” was bad news. All this‘time we’ve. thought that living in this more neighborly place, this . “Jess complicated place, that we could rejoice ina simpler and safer lifestyle... Not that we’ve been - careless’ about ordinary THE FOLLOWING. isa selection of: volunteer opportunities avail- able* through North Shore Com- munity Services: ; o help plan and run a smalt peakers’ bureau. Duties. will .in- | jude.’ ‘developing. and © scheduling peaking .erigagements with’ inter- ice. ‘groups,schools- and inessés.’ Orietitation . will. be UA ‘LIBRARY. COORDINATOR s required at a non-profit society to. organize: and develop a cata- . logue system. for books and_ref- rence.-material. Knowledge: ‘of ' IBM Word: for. Windows (Word Perfect 5.5) is essential. “.-&* PROMOTER is needed to contact: :schools, help organize - events. and train’ helpers. Public precautions, but we surely felt smug when stories in the same paper described vicious aberrations in the big dan- gerous city across from us. It’s very sobering, especially when our Mayor Loucks himself is shocked. “I didn’t realize it was as bad as you pointed out,’’ he says. Well, I didn’t either, though in my old age I’ve given up the evening walks that were so much pleasure to me in the ’60s and early 70s when we first moved to the city from the Highlands area. ; I was working as my hus- band’s operating clerk, daytimes, so every evening after dinner I’d waik up to the top of Grand Boulevard. and back and acquaint myself with the area by - taking a different route each’ time. It’s been a long time since’ I did any such nocturnal - roaming — I'can’t say just | -when I gave it up, but cer- * tainly it’s been a year or two | - Since I felt safe alone on speaking and an-interest in exer- cise ‘are requested. Training and orientation will be provided. ‘RECREATION volunteers are _ Tequested to work with children aged nine through 13 during their noon-hour. programs. Volunteers “will be required to participate ina varicty of recreational ‘activities. Training and orientation will -be provided.” A CURRENT EVENTS group leader is needed once a week in a seniors’ lodge to research newspa- per articles’ and lead a current events discussion group. Training and orientation will be provided. IF You. are: interested’ in vol- unteering, © call..985-7138. North Shore Community’ Services is a member agency’ of. the United: Way. l Gentlemen: We can make Christmas Shopping ( ‘for that ° ‘Special Loved-one” a pleasure. Putt Beer Presents: A spectal mens “evening ‘Wednesday Dec.. 8ri-6: 00.83 0 “Refreshments- Lingerie Fashion Show and Gift Wrapping (2 shows) @&o . Park Royal North Unit 791 925-0048 . (Gifts will be held rill Xmas if needed) lalallala laa aanc— lane laa cri evening hikes. But that was because the whole world seemed to be growing morc threatening after dark. When I think now of how I went about in New York, of all places, in the Expo year, 1939! I’d visit my friends in Greenwich Village, then get on the subway at two o’clock in the morning to ride back to the university area bordering on Harlem where J lived. _.Last time I was in that town I wouldn’t go beyond the front entrance of my hotel once evening fell. 1 hate being nervous and suspicious of passers-by, so for me the best course is to fill the daylight hours with adventures and leave the night shadows to the - fearless. ‘Jt means you miss some things you’d like to attend, some people you'd like to hear and be with, but I’ve resigned myself to reading about it next day or pump- ing the younger or less timorous of my acquain- tance. Knowing there are a lot of old ladies like myself, the RCMP sent one of their own to Neighbourhood House to review the best ways to avoid becoming a victim, ~ He acknowledged that — there is more real fear of . crime amongst us seniors — than in any other group. Well why not, eh? Sunday, December 5, 1993 - North Shore News - 47 44 We weren't brought up to be inhospitable. It was the stranger-at-the-gate thing, for us. 99 We don’t run as fast as we used to, for one. For another, we’re not very sophisticated about possible enemies. The guy who knocks on the door needing a telephone because his car has broken down can certainly use ours — ‘‘Why you poor thing, come in it’s right down the hall here,”” So he bops you on the head and ransacks the place. We weren’t brought up to be inhospitable. It.was the stranger-at-the-gate thing, for us. Constable Boland had some advice, of course. But | first, he wanted to allay the general fear of sexual assault. He said plainly that rape of elderly women is a non-starter when it comes to the need to practise some self-defence. Your purse may be snatched or your . jewelry grabbed — very. painful, that, but let’s face it, our spavined old bodies are no longer an item for ravishers, Whew! That’s a relief. So it’s mostly a matter of common sense, though you also have to learn to.lay -. °- aside some of the stuff you were brought up on (like ~ ‘not offering succour in ex- change for a sob story). Let him go next door, where there’s a man with muscles, ; Really! Some of the things he said! . I mean you surely . wouldn’t go out at night-and shortcut through some dark. “Jane, would you? And you’d put your bus fare and the price of your ticket in your pocket, of course; you wouldn’t carry your purse, wouid you? Well, if you do, it’s dumb. And if some smoothie tries to chat you up on the: bus, you don’t go giving _ him your name and address. _ and phone number, do you? -- Mind you, about the | purse, the constable.did say. that it can come in handy -. fora good clout on-the ear, -but what if the handle“ aS breaks? ‘Better you carry your ~ .brolly, rain or shine — you can do some serious and: Jasting damage with the pointy end. Bear it in mind. ° ; Need a pine-up? Bring' em in. All at no extra charge. One & two year programs available. Starting at $149 for downhill, $105 for cross countrys $239 for snowboard. Adult rates available. For more info, call us. Park Royal South West Vancouver 922-0757)