6 - Friday, October 5, 1990 - North Shore News INSIGHTS NEWS VIEWPOINT The right course HE only way to clear the air over the contentious Cypress Ridge golf course proposal is to put the issue to public referendum at the November municipal elections. West Vancouver Mayor Don Lanskail has thus far been opposed to holding a golf course referendum, arguing that ref- erendums are rarely used, and that if West Vancouver had held referendums over every contentious issue some of tie municipality’s most worthwhile projects would never have come to fruition. But the golf course proposal has raised concerns and issues far more serious than those raised over any recent West Van- couver project, with the exception perhaps of the 320 Taylor Way development, which was eventually taken to referendum. The golf course has been debated in numerous public arenas, and both sides have had ample opportunity to air their views and vent their vitriol. In the recent issue of the district’s West Vancouver Report, the municipality delivered a convincing sales pitch for de- veloping a golf course on the 350-acre Hollyburn Ridge site. Golf course benefits listed included economic spinoffs and the creation of 2 27-hole golf course at no cost to West Vancouverites. But opposition to the proposal, ground- ed in medern environmental awareness and a concern for the sacrifice of any wilderness. continues to grow. Both sides have compelling arguments. But it should now be left up to West Van- couverites to make the final decision on the fate of the Cypress Ridge property. And a referendum is the only democratic way to make that decision. LETTER OF THE DAY Inmate responds to B&E story Dear Editor: I just read a letter in your paper concerning B&Es (breaking and entering). I would like to say that I feel sorry for this person and others who have been victims of B&Es. 1 am currently in jail myself for B&E and possession of stclen property. I am not proud of this. It is just the opposite. In fact, I cannot look anyone in the eyes because I feel like scum. If there was some sort of restitution I could pay, | would be more than happy to do so. [ would also like to say that I once Publisher Associate Editor welcome Peter Speck Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw Noel Wright Advertising Director . Linda Stewart North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban Newspaper and qualified under Schedule 113, Paragraph Il of the Excise Tax Act, ts published each Wednesday. Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Lid. and distribuled to every door on the North Shore. Second Class Mail Registration Number 3885 Subscriptions North and West Vancouver. $25 per year Mailing tates available on request Submissions are bul we cannot accept responsibility for approached members of the Van- couver Police about showing peo- ple how to try to prevent B&Es. | was told to forget it, and was laughed at. Eighty-five to 90 per cent of B&Es are done by people who have a drug dependency (cocaine or heroin) like myseif. Men who have this problem are put in jail and dried out, but there is no treatment. The result is that when they get out, it’s not long before they are back on drugs and then the merry-go-round starts again. if the problems with drugs were dealt with there would be less ‘north shore SUNDAY « WEONESDAY + FRIDAY 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 59,170 (average, Wednesday Friday & Sunday) unsolicited matenal including manuscripts and pictures ' which Should be accompamed by a stamped, addressed envelope SCA DIVISION Display Advertising Classified Advertising Newsroom Distribution Subscriptions crime. The news is witness to that. There are murders, thefts, bank robberies, and many more crimes as a result of drugs. I seriously think the powers to be want these things to happen. If they didn’t, the drug scene would be controlled, if nothing else. I could telf you things about the police that would make your stomach turn. If I could go public about this, I would. It’s time people stopped being victims, not only from criminals but from cer- tain police. Name withheld Vancouver 980-0511 986-6222 985-2131 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 MEMBER North Shore owned and managed Entire contents © 1990 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. Civic vote fever hits WV and NVD early INTERMISSION TIME, so let's tidy up the local files a little while awaiting the next star act by Brian Mutroney, Senator Allan MacEachen and Bili Vander Zalm. “ELECTIONITIS,” like flu, ar- rives with the fall and in some places the $990 epidemic is start- ing earty. For the first time, every council and school board seat is up for grabs Nov. 17. This time, moreover, we'll be stuck with our choices for the next THREE years. In two cases the spotlight will be on contenders for the mayor’s chair — especially in North Van District where three veteran, high-polling aldermen -—- Joan Gadsby, Murray Dykeman and Craig Clark — could wind up in a photo-finish. A month age, when former mayor Derrick Humphreys an- nounced he wouldn't compete, personable young Mark Sager — three-term alderman and former school board chairman —- seemed set to become West Van’s new mayor by acclamation. But now, a 350-signature ‘‘draft’’ for four- term Ald. Alex Brokenshire, who'll be declaring his intentions shortly, may have him raining on Mark’s parade after all. Mean- while, retiring MLA Angus Ree is also still pondering whether to run. In North Van City, indestructi- ble 13-year Mayor Jack Loucks is going for a final term with no challengers so far, despite hints of a possible bid by left-wing Ald. John Braithwaite. Also quiet as yet is the North Van aldermanic scene. City incumbents face only a single outside contender to date, District (with three vacancies) only a couple. That again is in sharp contrast to West Van, where already a former school board chairman, ‘two former aldermen and two high-profile community leaders will be jostling at least four in- cumbents for a maximum of two empty council seats. More on all of them soon. Like flu, civic electionitis keeps coming back — don’t put the Anacin bot- tle awny yer! ean IF FRIENDSHIP is a dinner for two costing $250, the Socreds in general and West Van's MLA, Environment Minister John Reynolds, in particular still have plenty of pals on the North Shore. Tuesday evening 879 of them filled one of the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre’s cav- ernous halls to feast off butter let- tuce salad, filet of beef and ap- ple-blueberry strudel, washed JOHN REYNOLOS... friends to dinner a few Noel Wright HITHER AND YON down with B.C. wines, at a fund- raiser for Reynolds — the party’s banner-bearer in the new West Vancouver-Capilano riding. Emceed by West Van's Ron Wood, the head table included three other North Shore Socred candidates — Rodney Glynn- Morris (West Van-Garibaldi), retiring Mayor Mazilyn Baker (Lonsdale), Energy Minister Jack Davis (North Van-Seymour) — and West Van Mayor Don Lan- skail. Below the salt one counted most of the local establishment. Had a bomb gone off, the North Shore today would be missing at least half of its employers, profes- sionals and politicians. Mimic Bob Robertson enter- tained with amusing vocal carica- tures of Vander Zalm and other celebrities (spoiled only by a tasteless parody of the Queen). And the cash take was boosted by a‘‘fun’’ auction, with $50-$2,000 items going for up to five times their reserve price. That was the week’s GOOD news, Bill, from the North Shore’s movers and shakers — happily putting their money where their mouth is! eee SIGN-OFF: North Van watch- maker Jim Black (987-5652) — who’s researching the local history of his trade — would welcome any information on a watch - maker-jeweler called Hood who had a business on Lower Lonsdale around 1914-18 ... If you'd like to be involved in a committee plan- ning next year’s 60th anniversary celebration of the West Van Band, please call Patti Ktuckner (921- 8204) ... And many happy returns of today, Oct.5,to West Van birth- dav girl Cheri Ree. eee WRIGHT OR WRONG: It’s a sil- ly goose that comes to listen to a fox’s sermon. ALEX BROKENSHIRE... on Mark's parade? raining