LTER Kneip holds two of the many chunks of ar scattered around the family home after light- Wg struck a nearby tree. The shortened tree stands phind Kneip. ast ferry roject n display .C. Ferries has issued m invitation to the blic to check out rogress on the contro- ersial fast ferries. On Saturday, from 11 a.m. ) 3 p.m, the doors at the e-storey assembly facility at ier 94 east of Lonsdale Quay ill be open. Inside the facility, ne first of three catamarans for ¢ Horseshoe — Bay-to- fanaimo route is taking shape. Said Tom Ward, B.C. erries senior vice-president of ngineering and construction: qInterest in our fast-ferry pro- ct is growing rapidly, We vant to open up our facility low that the first jerry is ughly 50% complete so peo- le can see how this remark- Sble ship is coming together.” The $222-million fast-ferry roject has been billed as a sav- r for the beleaguered B.C. ipping industry. The NDP overnment and B.C. Ferries Rope that foreign orders will meep the fast ferries churning @ft the assembly line after three f the ferries are built for B.C. series. Some marine engineers loubt orders will be received. e project has thus far run 12 million over budget. The 122-metre vessels der construction will carry #250 vehicles and 1,000 passen- Weecrs. They are expected ta cut sO minutes off che current 95- Minute crossing time between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo. Construction is being dertaken by a number of .C. shipyards, creating more han 350 jobs. The assembly facility is meeocated at 303 East Esplanade North Vancouver. Call 681- 373 tor more information. — Ian Noble From page 1 Lynn Valley. Isolated pockets were stil awaiting the restera- tion of power fo press time Thursday, According to David fenes, a meteorologist ar the Pacific Weather Centre, the storm was caused by the clash af a cold air mass meeting moist warm air in an already warm and humid setang. “It’s very unuseal to see a lightning storm develop that rapidly and produce that many lightning strikes,” said Jones, One Upper Lonsdale resi- dent had a run-in with one of those strikes ane was fortunate 10 escape injury. However, a 120-foor cedar tree in his backvard was net so lucky. John Kneip, 63, said he was in his basement when the lightning struck. “All of a sudden there was a termbie explosion, dike a bomb,” said Kneip. “It was a split second and the tree was xone.” Ic wasn’t actually gone. Most of it remained, only it was a litde shorter. The light- ning had blown out a 40-foat secuon of the trunk, scattering pieces of it around his proper- ty. The top section of the tree neatly slipped down into the severed trunk and managed ta stay upright lodged into the NEWS photo Mike Wakefleid 33 g 7 cone ofto ie Salat pine safe bet flaws mf foam car ft scott gested jtna coves, putas and pos covets Whe Fasatins hast a a Entrance in tear lane MIRE PIDLUBE DRIVE-THRU O1L CHANGE PROFESSIONALS No appointment necessary ‘Most cars g pick t u ; plus taxes & envire ev : Inctudes 21 polnt safety Inspection any COOLING :SYSTEM,SERVICE ams Save $8 on radiator tush & fill . ] erpees Aug 2097 LONSDALE & 13TH oad 4050! ip 8:00am - 6:00pm 0 ARTS FESTIVAL "37° presents Lf "Ancient Culture/Modern Land" ArtBeat Catherine Chiu, Chinese brush art Exhibit at Carlson Wagonlit, 1471 Bellevue Avenue, August 8-17 ArtSpeaks Lecture, "Collecting Asian and Chinese Art’ Sheng Zheng, Director, Art Beatus Gallery, Vancouver, Ferry Building, Thursday, August [4 at noon Watch for your program in The North Shore News Friday, Aug. 8 CYPRESS BOUL Lifestyles va, trees frayed remains, “It's.a piece of art, it really 18." said Kneip of the oddity. Trenically, he spent thou: sands of dollars and: countless hours protecting the tree when he first moved tits his house in the *70s. “Thar’s why T bought the house because of the tree — it provides shade,” sad Kneip. Batit’s not all bad news for Kneip. As a general contractor specializing in insurance claim projects, he could end up get- ung his own contract. “L probably shouldn't say this, but I wonder if the same tree gets hit pwice.” said Kacip as he walked back into his house. A BC forest: service map shows the storm. produced more than 50 jightning strikes on the North Shore alone, but none caused any fires. 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