6 - Sunday, June 7, 1987 - North Shore News THE volc ms Peter Speck Noel Wright Barrett Fisher .Linda Stewart apts UD ot tte Display Advertising 980-0511 Publisher: Classified Advertising 986-6222 Editor-in-Chief Newsroom 985-2131 : Distribution 9861337 Managing Editor Subscriptions 986-1337 Li Marth Shore News, founded in ity News Viewpoint ~ oO uricder Sc tvarhatee (Py SUNDAY + WEONESDAY + FRIDAY ONG id and cistebutes 1139 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 Neath Stores Seton atasilabies Je resgy ett Pattut Free opinion reedom of opinion and freedom of expression in speech and print are the basis of our democratic society, and must be preserved at all costs. Newspapers, radio and television are mediums for news reporting, in-depth analysis and thought-provok- ing opinion, whether on government corruption, police arrests, labor strikes, immigration policies or homosexuality. The topic does not matter, the freedom to express it do¢s. The offices of the North Shore News were recently picketed with protesters who demanded Doug Collins be silenced, be dropped from the newspaper’s pages, so he would not continue to spread ‘hate literature’, ‘fear and misunderstanding’. But Collins is entitled to his opinions, just as the protesters are entitled to theirs, and the letter writers to theirs. The newspaper is a vehicle for al! opinions, within the laws of libel, to be unleashed, exposed and challenged. And challengers are encouraged, wel- comed. The danger lies not in the vocal few who raise the ire or gain the favor of citizens through their heart felt tirades, but in the apathy and bland indifference of those who would rather not get involved, who do not care about the issucs of the day. Doug Collins should be commended for having the guts to stand up and say what he thinks, to put his thoughts into the public arena. We may or may not always agree with what Collins has to say — but that is our right, as it is his to express his opinion. * Entire contents © 1987 North Shore Free Press Lid. All tights reserved. 58,489 (average, Wednesday = Friday & Sunday) oh prasinty a eee SE £8 A TASTE OF POWER...students Vinita Jain (1) of West Van and Fayaz cond from right) of North Van with Ottawa friends. Vinita and Fayaz were chosen by Rotary of Canada to attend last month’s Adventure in Citizenship program in the capital. ‘ Farewell to a friend A PROFOUND SHOCK for his family and many friends and ad- mirers was the sudden death, May 28, of Ralph Stong, founder of the food market chain and revered fa- ther-figure of local Little League Baseball. Coming after a final illness lasting littie more than days, the shock was all the greater because of the happy family celebration only three weeks earlier in honor of his and. Evelyn’s Golden An- niversary — featured May 6 in this column. Seventy-two is no great age these days and to all outward appearances he looked good for many more years. The News had a particularly long and happy client relationship with Ralph and his son-in-law Bill Rossum, general manager of Stong’s, and it developed over the years into genuine friendship. As a successful business entrepreneur, a distinguished sportsman who played a major part in bringing Little League Baseball to Van- couver, and a devoted family man, ares Ralph will be mourned not only by his loved ones, but by a wide community of friends and fellow- citizens whose lives he touched for the better. Our deep sympathy to the Stong family in their sadly abrupt loss. We share their emotions at this grieving time. “PAY" TV: Regardless of the final dollar take, West Van’s giant TV auction Thursday night scored top marks for community spirit and involvement. It was a warming sight in more ways than one. From 6 p.m. onward Shaw Cable’s offices and studio on Pemberton — which are innocent of any air conditioning — swarm- ed with dozens of busy, perspiring volunteers dedicated to doing their individual bit towards achieving the night’s goal. That being to sell to the highest phone-in bidders the $40,000 of brand-new merchandise donated by firms and individuals MAY 3, 1987...Evelyn and Ralph Stong (standing) on their 50th anniver- sary, with daughters Karen (1) and Beverley. to raise funds for West Van’s 75th Anniversary legacy project, a $680,000 bandshell in Ambleside Park, The Kiwanis trucked in a team of seasoned experts in the TV auc- tion game. The resident North Shore talent galaxy included BCTV’s Pamela Martin, CKNW’s Shirley Stocker, CKVU’s Doug Miller, TV and tourism’s Art Jones and artist Daniel Izzard. Plus walking-on parts by such ex- tras as acting Mayor Rod Day,: Alderman Pat Boname, News managing editor Barrett Fisher and . your faithful agent — to mention only a few. The whole show or- chestrated by West Van’s John ,o. que. RICK DIDN'T MAKE IT to North Van...so Acting Mayor 2 journeyed to Coquitlam to present the District's $1,000 municipal che- Noel Wright Pozer and produced on the tube by Shaw’s Leslie Payne. I’ve yet to hear the final figure raised by the four-hour sellathon. But if the audience had half as much fun parting with its money as the cast had trying to extract it, the bottom line should be a happy one. . ota ea Ernie Crist (1) Sunday brunch ® WRAP-UP: Congrats to West Van Ald. Mark Sager (who also graced Thursday's TV auction) on receiv- ing his BA in philosophy from UBC. At 29, Mark is getting into the career-building business seriously — in addition to his po- litical chores he’s doing a French immersion course this summer and then entering law school ... Meanwhile, Capilano MP Mary Collins has received the ‘‘Political Integrity Award of the Year’’ from the Canadian Coalition to Stop Food Irradiation for standing out against the nuclear lobby as chairperson of the food irradiation committee ... And if you’re one of those who don’t need a church to worship in, try West Van Com- munity Day’s outdoor in- ter-denominational service at 3 p.m. this Sunday afternoon — on the lawn outside the Seniors Activ- ity Centre. WRIGHT OR WRONG: As Mark Twain observed, anyone who has a bull by the tail knows five or six things more than someone who hasn’t. MARK SAGER, BA...career- programmed.