Wednesday, May 1, 1991 ~ North Shore News ~ 7 Wrong decision to cut ferries | Set safety example Dear Editor: } have juse read your news brief on the decision by B.C. Ferries to eliminate the summer schedule of hourly sailings between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo this summer and to rely iustead on increased use by ferry travellers of the Mid-Island Express. I write to ex- press my concern at this decision. For some years the hourly summer schedule has been barely udequate ty handle all the taffic between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo, and on most weekends, between the end of June and the beginning of September, there are long lineups of cars and trucks waiting to board the ferries. In- deed already this year we have seen lineups. Over the Easter weekend, when the ferries were running hourly, there were a large number of overheight vehicles which arrived at the Horseshoe Bay terminal in the early hours of the morning on Good Friday and still did not get on to the first ferry of the day. Now 3.C. Ferries is proposing to reduce By 50% a service which is already inadequate but which is after sl supposed ta be an exten- sion of the Trans-Canada High- way. There can be no question that this reduction in service will cause serious traffic problems as travell- ers using Horseshoe Bay are faced with lengthy waits and as the fa- miliar summer lineups stretch even further eastward alcng the Upper Levels Highway till the road itself becomes more an extension of the B.C. Ferry parking lot rather than a highway. To avoid this, travellers from Vancouver or the North Shore to Nanaimo or to the northern two- thirds of Vancouver Island will now face the prospect of having to drive 23 miles south in order to take the Mid-Island Express ferry fo travel 50 miles north. This so- called ‘texpress’’ route takes something over two hours as op- posed to the one hour and 35 minutes journey between Horse- shoe Bay and Nanaimo. Add to this the additional driv- ing time, not to mention the prob- lems of the frequent traffic hold- ups cuused by the Massey Tunnel and what was once a_ pleasant journey has the potential to become a nightmare. Finally for those residents of Horseshoe Bay, already troubled by an excess of ferry parking in their neighborhood, I fear that this projected cut in summer ser- vice will encourage, rather than discourage, would-be ferry travel- lers parking their cars in the im- mediate vicinity of the ferries wherever they can find a space. G.E. Roberts West Vancouver Gov’t afraid to deal with problem Dear Editor: I am convinced that that bunch in Ottawa knows what must be done to rectify the appalling im- migration-refugee mess that this country is in, but they simply do not have the cojones to do any- thing. They five in terror of the leftist single issue pressure groups that have governed Canada since Plucky Pierre, the former Emperor of all the Canadas, came to power. In March they showed the first sign of common sense by con- templating a small fee for groups sponsoring refugees,‘but unfortu- nately Brave Brian caved in under the predictable money where their huge mouths are. Why should the overloaded Ca- nadian taxpayer shell out so our leftists can tell each other what great humanitarians they are? It is obvious that none of the leaders of the three Socialist par- ties, Chretien, Mulroney or Shirley Carr, has the intention or the guts te solve this problem, so © perhaps it is time for the Reform - Party after all. Regards to Brother Collins. M.E. Blanchard West Vancouver Woman thanks West Van care centre Dear Editor: I wonder how many peopie on the North Shore realize what treasures we have in the nursing home facilities that serve this community? Until we need such institutional care and have contact with the people who staff these facilities, perhaps we are unaware of the tremendous service they provide 24 hours a day, seven days a ‘Semi homelike . environment week. I wouid like to take this cppor- tunity to thank publicly the staff of the West Vancouver Care cen- tre, who looked after my mother for over four years. They are con- cerned, cheerful and wonderful people who provide a_ caring, for those living a sometimes sad, sometimes tedious existence. I cominend them’ and express ‘Annual Sale! 3 days only | Thursday, May 2 Friday, May 3 Saturday, May 4 9:30-5:30 | 9:30-5:36 9:00-5:00 Village Edgemont Jewellers 2 5 a all jewellery (We specialize in loose diamonds and coloured stones} After 35 years we're changing our name from Gould and McCue Jewellers to Edgemont Village Jewellers. Watch for our new sign. Edgemont Village Jewellers 3102 Edgemont Bivd, North Van. 985-1500 (formerly Gould and McCue Jewellers) my sincere gratitude to them all. J.A. Howden West Vancouver WNED for the children Dear Editor: i wonder whether adults stop to think they are setting a very bad example for the pre-schoot children in their care by cross- ing mid-block with them in the easy, after an accident has oc- curred, to recognize the unsale act (crossing mid-block) or un- safe condition (heavy traffic in a business area) which cause accidents.”’ busy Highlands Village on The mandate of the Nosth Edgemont Boulevard — or Shore Safety Council is to look elsewhere. It happens all too ahead to recognize causes of often. accidents and take steps to Prevent them. Until little children are able to meet with the council's Elmer the Safety Elephant in school, please help by word and example to keep them safe. Barbara D. Foreman North Shore Safety Council ¥ chiidren accept this prac- tice as approved behavior, whose heart is going to be broken when a car or truck runs them down? According to a_ previous provincial coroner, Gtenn McDonald, ‘*20-20 hindsight is $30 «Silk. | eg. Fig, Capensia, Yucca A on Naturot Trunk expires May 31/91 una 1184 Merine Dr., B.Van. ) (tind Stl Gu) ) "985-9859 DRAPERIES BY S. LAURSEN CUSTOM DRAPERIES AND VALANCES Labour $7.50 per panel unlined, $8.50 lined CUSTOM BEDSPREADS AND COVERS Low, low prices on biinds and tracks For FREE Estimates Call 987-2966 Serving the North Shore for 19 years