7 52 pages: “ SUNDAY December 17. 1995 44 [in not going to tell them that their cltild is dead because they were stupid. FF — Vancouver emergency Surgeon Dr. Bruce Campana discusses drinking drivers: See page 3. @ Christmas calendar.48 M@ Classifieds @ Crossword.................. @ N. Shore Alert. & Talking Personals...45 @ TV Listings fashion @ Head-first into the holidays: 17 & Boomers at risk for skin disease: 13 festive focus @ Multimedia mother lode at Wiz Zone: 28 MIDLAND WALWYN BLUE CHIP THINKING™ Tax Advantaged Monthly Income call 925-9210 West Vancouver Office Offies, Editorial.995-213 AES NEWS photo Mike Wakefield LINDA SCOTT and her seeing-eye dog Ellie have been looking for a new home for five years, but available low-cost housing on the North Shore has proven to be elusive. Weather Monday: Periods af rain High 10 C, low 6 C. Housing hope fading for dog, woman Trapped in rental market squeeze FINDING RENTAL accommoda- tion in the tight North Shore mar- ket is starting to wear down Linda Scott. By fan Noble News Reporter The usually upbeat 42-year-old said she has begun te lose hope after a tive-vear search to find a new heme for her and her guide dog Ethie “Hts just getting to bother me.” she sitid from ter basement apartment in Lynn Valles “Evenswhere P tum there is noth ng” Scott fas enlisted Che aids of North Vancouser Mayor Murray Dykeman and North Vancouver-Seyinour Liberal MLA Dan Jarvis in her search, but they haven't been able to help. Dykemian tried to get Scott into munici- pal-owned housing in Lynn Valley and Leynnmour, but the units are occupied. Scot said she’s run the gamut of hous- ing help in the Lower Mainland, including Lions Housing, B.C. Housing, and the Canadian Navonal institute for the Blind. “Pye done all the low-rental housing ouuits.” she sant “Absolutely nothing. They keep telling me nobods moves out of them.” See Home page 3 Crossing guard chop chills PARENTS WHO fear that the loss of crossing guards will threaten their children's safety ure set to plead the rase for municipal funding at North Vancouver District Hall tomorrow. By lan Noble News Reporter Diane Boisselle. a parent of a Lynn Valley Elementary student and the chairman of the schuol's safety committee, said shel be at the hall. Many Lynn Valley students must cross Mountain Highway. The intersection is now patrolled by a crossing guard. but if School Distnet 440 plans pan out. the guard won't be there tn February. Boissellc wants the guards. who have been pinched ina budget squeeze. to stay on the job. “Pthink is horrendous.” she said. “1 think you'se putting the children in jeopardy. | don't EVERY DOOR $120,000 needed to keep guards on the job for school year think parents should let this go by without acknowledging it ina very strong way.” The cash-strapped North Vancouver school board initially chopped the guards at the end of the 1994-95 fiscal year. But they were then given a stay in June until December of 1995 In November, with no other safety system in place, superintendent of schools Robin Brayne gave the guards a final extension to the end of January. Meanwhile. a committee headed by Keith Denley, assistant to the superintendent: of schools, hits been working en finding alterna + sources of funding for the crossing guard ser view One idea to pass the hat at the municipal level, a notion popular with Boisselle, Boisselle said cutting the crossing guards was not one of the school board's best decisions, but she under- stands the board's finances are in’ desperate shape. If the school board can’t afford the crossing guatd tab about $16,000 for the month of January -- the municipality should definitely pay up, she said. “TL feel that the adults in’ the community should be advocates for children’s safety.” she said. “Phey should let council know this is real- iy mpertantin the community.” CUPE Local 389 president: Mike Hocevar sud the guards whe patrol 12 intersections in North Vancouver District are the lowest paid stall in the school district at $12.84 per hour. Hocevar sud trustees should have eft vacant several adininistrative positions this term, which woul! have ensured continued funding for crossing guards, The union estates that keep- tag guards for the rest of the school sear would vost $420,000 of a S9S-anition budget.