Lower Schnauzer’s death leaves family puzzled By Robert Galster News Reporter robert@nsncws.com THERE’S an animal killer loose in Lower Lonsdale. The only question chat remains is . whether the person is doing it inten- tionally or out of sheer ignorance. . . “Somebody's putting something down that the animals are picking up,” said Sue Chalmers who runs a * guest house on East 3rd Street. Chaimers has seen her share of poisoned animals and not just pets. -“Somebody poisoned a squirrel _ and the squirrel was walking around _with its back half paralyzed,” said Chalmers. “Once they're paralyzed it takes about two hours to die. It’s a horri- ble death.” ‘She has seen others since. Although the culprit in the car- nage may be as innocent a product as. fertilizer or slug bait, no one knows for sure. ‘=. Anne Curran lost her dog and suspects it might be the result of deliberate action. 3:° “IF it is somebody deliberately doing this I feel sorry for them .., because there’s a lot of people with animals living in . this neighborhood,” said Curran. NVC councillors ok at Finnish energy system “By Julanda Waskito Contributing Writer . ‘IN the 1990s, Canadians are more aware. of the environ- ‘mental hazards associated with the burning of air-polluting fossil fuels, the loss of salmon spawning zrounds to hydro- ‘electricity dams and the depletion of the ozone layer as “gasoline, wood and wastes are burned. North Vancouver City is trying to lead its residents and the rest of the a Lower Mainland in investing in a more energy efficicnt, non-polluting, environ- mentally-friendly district heating system. Possible solutions involve harnessing the inherent energy of the Burrard Inler through an ocean-source heat pump, nat- ural gas-fired boilers or a geothermal ; pump. . . -.- Couneillors Bob Fearnley and Darrell Mussatto, and project engineer Ray ‘-Fung went to Finland Aug. 3 to 10, to find out whether such an energy sys- tem would be feasible. in the city, particularly in the Lower Lonsdale area. ‘Helsinki (in Finland) claims to have an snergy efficiency rating of 73%,” - Fearnley said, “In Finland, they don’t have gas, oil or hydro-power. This is one of the reasons they had te be efficient. “We are squandering our energy future in Canada,” he added. “We take ;, 80 much for granted.” How does a district heating system work? An area such as Lower Lonsdale would get its energy from a central source — probably an underground room containing a boiler and pump. The system would be able to hear a number of surrounding buildings such as apartments or hotels. Energy would be dis- tributed in the form of hot water carried through insulated pipes, eventually Shotzi, Curran’s Miniature Schnauzer, was poisoned on a Friday. By Monday, she was gone, but not before putting up a hell ofa fight... “She was throwing up and foaming at the mouth so that Wednesday, September 3, 1997 — North Shore News — 3 ANNE Curran (left) and Heather Strobel with Mercedes and Benz. The Miniature Schnauzers were transported to Vancouver in the Mercedes Benz (background) after Curran’s first dog was poisoned. Strobel was adamant though and decided to pay forthe other one herself. As a result, Anne is the happy owner of two Schnauzers. Their names? . Mercedes and Benz, of coun. soned made me think it was poison,” said Curran. A trip to the ver seemed to con- firm the theory. “We were told to give her cottage cheese and bland baby food,” said Curran. However, all turned out to be for naught. “We had her laying oa a blanket on the sofa berween us and all of a sudden her eyes roiled back and J said I think she’s ganc,” recalled Curran. . “So then (husband) Jim gave her mouth-to-mouth and she opened her eyes and lifted her head and then that was it.” The next few days were rough, but eventually the Currans’ memo- ries of Shotzi faded and they decid- ed to get another dog. Although the decision involved making another trip to Lacombe, Alberta, home of their Schnauzer breeder, they weren’t discouraged. In fact, Anne went with ber friend Heather Strobel who drove her Mercedes on the trip. When they arrived and Anne had picked out her Miniature Schnauzer puppy, Strobel suggest- ed she get a second one so it.. wouldn’t be alone. But Anne didn’t think two $500 dogs were within her budget. | Health COUN. Darrelf fAussatto and Coun. Bob Fearnley travelled to Finland last manth to check out a district heating system. North Vancouver City Is looking at new ways to warm buildings. ending up in the form of a radiator inside a room. In addition to cnergy efficiency, there is the potential to make some money. Helsinki Energy, a company of more than 1,800 staff, had net sales of $611 million in 1996, Fung said. The 500,000 people in Helsinki are primarily serviced by the district heat- ing system, he added. The system garnered the 1990 United Nations Environmental Prize in recognition of its environmentally-friendly energy policy. Helsinki customers pay for heat based on a fixed charge, reflecting the size of the customer’s demand, plus an energy charge for the actual amount used. In his report, Fung also said that district heating, especially in smaller towns, is seen as a means of achieving energy self-sufficiency. One of the biggest problems with starting up such a system is capital investment, Fearnley said. Profits usually come after a few years, once cus- tomer demand is quite high. “It’s something we need to look at for the long term,” Fearnley said. The district energy system may be a difficult sell since most British Columbians are snug as a bug knowing there is no energy shortage in a province fully stocked with timber, natural gas and hydro-electricity. Council, though, will pursue the possibility and is inviting Michael Wiggin from Natural Resources Canada to conduct an informal workshop on community energy systems this fall. res From paget PetSmart and Toys R Us, staged the protest at the intersection of Taylor Way and Marine Drive during Tuesday morning’s rush hour. The stores ;are scheduled to be built on the sites currently ‘occupied by the Park Roya! golf centre, bowling, “Janes and cinemas. ** Approximately a dozen protesters carried ignis cncoursging people to “say NO to big box stores,” The group also handed out leaflets and urged residents to write to the mayor and coun- cil. CHC leader, Jim Barnum, told celevision cameras that the group’s goal is to, “stop these SN stores from coming in and find a better way to use that land.” Laurel Burrowes came out to protest with the group. “If you think traffic is bad now can you imagine what it will be like when they put in the mega stores? | (also) don’t want to hurt the small store owners.” Most of the morning commuters echoed -he sentiment. . One woman said she commutes from Bowen Island and said she would prefer not to have the big-box stores. “I think it would really destroy what you've got here,” Said Art Phillips, Director of Planning with Larco Enterprises Inc., (the company owning Park Royal), who was on hand to watch — the action. “It’s interesting to note that our traffic consultants (Bunt and Associates) have done a detailed analysis on traffic volumes and every- thing that these individuals are protesting, unfortunately, is not based on fact.” He said that his studies indicate there will only be an additional 15 trucks per week travel- ing to the area. West Vancouver District council is planning on hearing public concerns at a meeting at West Vancouver Secondary School later this month. The session is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 29. CEO says From page 4 HEABC rouzinely approves new contracts and assesses the changing job descriptions wi many public sec- tor executives, © “We're looking at it (the Schamborzki application) now ‘to determine wheth category,” said HEABC’s Maser. He added a recommendation will - be ready within a couple of weeks. Although HSA’s Stewart pegs Schamborzki’s future raise ‘at 3.2%, bringing her income to $159,949, Schamborzki said no salary negotia- . tions have taken place and doesn’t know where the figure came: from. She adds that her. duties have changed significantly since the sign- - ing of her present contract in January 1996. ; “The kinds of responsibilities had then and the ones I have now are a litte different,” said Schamborzki. “1 know the responsibilities haven’t decreased.” ; She said the scope of her position warrants the pay she receives, partic- ularly when considering she receives no overtime in spite of the fact she typically works 10-hour days and = sometimes attends evening meetings. “On the other hand I would sus- pect if I was not having this contract renewed and another _ person assumed the position I would say it 7 would cost a lot more,” said Schamborzki. Ministry of Health spokesman Michelle Stewart said budget deci- sions typically rese with the individual boards provided they stay within governiment-mandated guidelines, “If the board truly fecl this was appropriate or is the best way to spend its dollars, the ministry has to live with that ... provided they don’t take away from patient care,” said Stewart. 4 mA ast er it.is in. the right - poyeiPeentiny Sancta