6 - Friday, April 16, 1999 — North Shore News FI ROVINCIAL _ flood-preven- tion money is trickling ir to several B.C. jurisdictions, but the North Shore seems to nave come up dry. The government has agreed to spend $4 millies. on 49 projects. B.C. municipalities had asked for approxi- mately $24 million to cover 153 flood-prevention projects. The North Shore is vulnerable. Our steep mountainous terrain is cut by numerous creeks and a couple of major rivers. Thanks to La Nina, the snowpack on local mountains is 65% above normal this year. There’s a lot of water stored above us. The Environment, Lands and Parks minister tells us that the snow- pack, water levels and weather indi- cate that flooding could occur across southern B.C. in May or June. A ranid melt could mean damag- ing flooding. A gradual melt-down with no prolonged warm spells could result in a runoff where rivers are high but below damaging levels. The Provincial | Emergency Program is preparing for potential flooding by increasing the inventory of sandbags to 5.5 million bags and putting mobile sandbag-filling machines in Kamloops, Osoyoos, Abbotsford, Nelson and Prince George. History tells us that flood damage is possible in North and West Vancouver and along the Sea-To-Sky highway. We may expect property damage and disruptions to traffic. Mother Nature may be cruei to us this year. Pray for warm days and cool nights. maiibox Benefits from arts centre will be many Dear Editor: Re: Trevor Lautens’ April 2 column. Your columnist Trevor Lautens argues week after week about how much financial impact the proposed West Vancouver arts centre will have on our local businesses. In three columns, he argued that it wouldn’r bring a $10 million spin-off to the business community. How does he know? Is he an expert? As a business owner myself, I don’t think it matters at this int what the exact economic benefit figure is. Whatever it rings, it’s more than we have now. It’s not hard to figure that if there’:-a play or a concert on at the arts centre, or children and setors taking a painting course, businesses are going to benefit and some life will return to West Van. Mr. Lautens cites 2 Globe & Mail reporter's view of prob- . lems with an arts centre in Mississauga. They’re not all like - that, or no community in Canada would have one, and they almost all do. The McMichael Gallery in Kicinburg, Ontario, began with a donated art collection from a wealthy benefactor, and it is now the showcase of the community. The residents are proud _ Ofit, and it has revitalized businesses and the town. Everything I’ve heard and read about our proposed arts centre leads me to believe it will be a success. We are fortunate to have volunteers working hard for positive community projects and donors who care about West Van. Why doesn’t Mr. Lautens, who’s a West Van resident, give them a helping hand instead of the back of his hand? ' If he cares so much about local business, where is he on what we’re going to lose when the Lions Gate Bridge shuts down for repairs every weeknight at 8 p.m. and every weekend at 10 p.m.? I haven't seen him coming to our defence on that issue. The arts centre will be a real plus for our community. And if its impact is $10 million or $10,000 — thanks very much, but we'll rake it. Dina Zeitier, President Ambleside Business Association North Shore News. founded In 1969 as an independent suburban sewspaper and quaitied under Schedule 111, Parsgraph 121 of the Encise Tax Act, is publisiic cach Wedrasday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press: Ud and distnbuted to every door on the North: MR. HARCOURT ?— it's THE NDP CAUCUS. THEY WANT To CAS, know IF You're a))| ALL DONE WITH \ | THose KNIVES Arts group wants your blind trust CARE to eavesdrop? Here are excerpts from an e-mail exchange last month between Carolanne Reynolds, president of the Ambleside and Dundarave Ratepayers’ Association, and Maggie Pappas, who chairs the West Vancouver Arts Centre Trust (WVACT), which wants to build a $12- $15 million arts centre if West Van provides the land. Know this: The meet- ing thrashed out in this exchange was held last night. Question: On whose terms? Read on. Reynolds begins by thanking Pappas for sending along her 10- page report, but: “We note that no ratepayer group at all is mentioned to be a member, let alone (ADRA), the communi- ty group that represents the residents in the neighborhood in which you hope to site the centre. We trust this is an oversight.” Nort if what follows is a clue. Reynolds writes of Pappas’ response to her earlier message: “I said it would be valuable to have you give us the ‘facts’ in view of the conflicting ‘rumors’ so ADRA’s delibera- tions would be based on the whole ‘truth’,” But, having got ADRA’s agreement for a whole meeting devoted to the arts centre, now “it is a shock you say you do not want to icipate and no one on the (WVACT) board will. ... We do want to go ahead with an information session and would be most disappointed if no one from the WVACT itself would participate!” Pappas’ earlier message is then repro- duced. It begins: “I want you to compicte- iy understand my position, Carolanne. No one frora our board will participate in a ‘debate’.” Reynolds says, “OK, not a debate. A panel is fine.” Pappas argues that citi- zens wanting the arts centre have as much right to public land as the Hollyburn Sailing Club, the seniors’ cen- tre, the soccer associa- tions, SPCA, etc. Reynolds: “A bit defen- sive. Haven’r heard any- one make this com- plaint/comparison.” Pappas: “Our right to proceed on this issue is not up for debate, nor will I or any board member debate it. We will, however, provide information and answer questions.” Reynolds: “You opined that the correct ‘word’ wasn’t getting cut and I offered an opportunity to do just that.” Pappas; “As well, we will not debate sites. The site is for council to decide.” Reynolds: “Then don’t debate. Inform. Surely a berter likelihood of success.” Pe pras: ‘The dedicated people are “sus- pect, and are targets of mean-spirited mud- slinging auc™r °°.” They're not asking for anything “anu y.. Vo * ca sat, lanne, that business people, n ~ul.s of ADRA, are against it.” Reynolds: “As I said above, I did NOT tell you thar ‘business people, members of ADRA, are against it.’ ” Pappas goes on to cite the labours of the WVACT bcerd, including her own sac- rifices of time and nearly $3,000 cash. Reynolds, soothingly: “Everyone appre- ciates the good intentions and tremendous effort ... and truly admire the public spirit- edness of the vision/your goal.” Pappas: “If this kind of community- building represents the machinations of a ‘special interest group,” then we all need to apply Windex to our glasses.” With a site decided, etc., “we will work with the top people in the field to produce an ironclad ousiness plan.” : Reynolds: “Just a minute. Was I mistak- en to think that you already had a business plan?” Pappas: “Both of us being a business owners [sic], Carolanne, we can appreciate that location has everything to do with suc- cess. So, if ADRA wants to be the stan- dard-bearer in this community for calm, rational discussion — nor debate (my emphasis) —- about what this project intends to do for the community ... WVACT will be there.” Pappas continues: “But if we are to become the plywood for the political plat- form of anyone’s election campaign — yours, Andy’s (Danyliu’s), or anyone’s cur- rently sitting on council, we WON'T be there and you can debate it minus the facts and the principals.” ’ And Pappas goes on: “Before you call this meeting, please send me the final agen- da outlining how the meeting will unfold, who will be there, etc. Complete.” Got it? WVACT’s position was: Won't debate the case for an arts centre, Won’t debate site. Won’t let politics intrude. Will cooperate only of there’s an agenda and an audience that it approves -— “com- plete.” Just sit quietly, behave yourself, and let WVACT dump its spiel on you. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must include your name, full address & telephone number. VIA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca 885-2131 (114) Distribution Manager Creative Services Manager SRG-1337 (124) 985-2131 (127) 61,582 (average citeutation, Wednesaay, Friday & Sunday) Andrew McCredie - Sports/Community Editor 9B5-2131 (147) Lite eee eh ee, e wpe rqe ny VU ee VET HT OEE Se reer AAR err hee ee v4 . AAD Ea alge BN wt Pye ee te