ith SOARY SIR, ROBYN ALLAN ISNT ae RE IN OH NO Nee HE SOONER the Northlands golf course and neighborhood proposal ‘goes (o the public hearing stage the better.’ ; North Vancouver about 2s a political ball. -The municipality. has councillors and consultants. In 1989, the district spent $22, 000 on the Simons Consultants report on the issue. In the same year, the | district approved a $10,000 expenditure for a report by Wendt Land Planning to study the golf course. t District face. voters later this year, and the devel- opment proposal has already been bashed ‘developed a preferred plan based on informed input from both the public, - municipal staff, ‘Tee thme Northlands. In 1991, : councillors Yn 1990, a $12,000 report by M. Davis and Associates Consulting addressed Golicorp was contracted to study the Northlands neighborhood and golf course for $226,368. ‘Last year, the district spent about $6,409 on a public questionnaire for resident response on the Northlands plan. The four-year period of vacillation has consumed our tax dollars and much staff time and energy, also at a cost. The district desperately needs a public hearing and a council decision on North- lands’ before the issue is again mired in the swamp of tocal politicking. “LETTER OF THE DAY It you build it, they will come Dear Editor: . __ The plans to upgrade Lonsdale need x: cold dash of reality. The, idea that all we have to do is tidy:up the buildings and put a few benches and flowers out {0 bring high-class merchants and business into the area does not stand up to the experience of other areas. ; : * Almost 30 years ago Vancouver ‘decided to upgrade Granville and make it-into a ‘“‘people’s place.’’ “It-did. not attract business — it flew away from the area. Recently New Westminster has tried the same approach ‘to Col- umbia Street. The merchants agreed to support the ‘‘re-vitaliza- tion’ plans to the tune of $200 a month. The street has not chang- ed. Robson Street, on the other hand, with: no incentives, went “high-scale because the market was there. The market will find its own. The significant difference — be- tween West Vancouver and the ‘villages’? on Marine Drive and Lonsdale is the ‘placement of the Malis, .* Park Royal is almost an. exten- sion of the .“‘villages’?’ but both Capilano and Tilford draw cus- tomers away from Lonsdale and the Quay also does this. In the movie Field of Dreams, he said, ‘If you build it they will come.”’ But that was a story of myth and magic. it has little to do wilh reality, J. Somers West Vancouver , SORRY, SIR — Charles, Diana, Gordon and Judi are off the menu this week. Gur dinner speciai today is toasted Robyn Allan served with mild Sthota sauce. After all, variety is the spice of ~ life when it comes to feasting off fallen celebrities. Preparing temp- ting new dishes to tickle the pal- ates of our hungry public is the culinary challenge constantly fac- ing us media chefs. Ms. Allan is a particularly in- spired recipe: the first female head of ICBC, manager of 4,000 employees, custodian of a budget running into staggering millions of dollars, responsible for smartening up thousands of lousy B.C. drivers, all this by the tender age of 36 — and now that delicious new added flavor. Robyn herself the one-time driver from hell — with a four- year record of 23 penalty points for traffic violations, five ICBC , claims and an MVB warning letter just before starting her present job. “No thanks, waiter. Don’t need . the ketchup with this dish — it’s even tastier than Fergie’s sucked * toes!” Meanwhile, the ICBC boss claims she’s learned from her naughty past and is a reformed character behind the wheel since she took over the CEO’s office. Which leads to one interesting aspect of our appetite for skele- ions in the cupboards of the high, mighty and famous. If the fatter perform efficiently the tasks we entrust to them, why must they always be ‘“‘role models” as well? As working royalty — opening ‘buildings, launching ships, visiting hospitals and earning Britain mil- lions of tourist dollars — don’t Chartes and Diana both have im- peccable records? Are Gordon Wilson and Judi Tyabji any less effective an opposition on the floor cf the Legislature because he’s visited overnight in her apartment? And if — as everyone seems to agree — Robyn Allan does a sound job at ICBC in all the ways °. .that benefit the rest of us, how important, really, is her past (and! publicly repented) bunch of tick-: ets? Ah, you ‘say, but she — like Charles, Di, Gord and Judi -~ must go because she sets “fa bad example.”* - Does that mean we're all so - morally bankrupt that we can’t trust OURSELVES to behave properly unless our celebrities are gods untainted by any human weakness. ; HITHER AND YON : f Nonsense, I humbly suggest. What we love above all else is to. eat our gods one after another, as - soon as their taints show — while’ ~ the media in the kitchen happily: * count their circulations and rat- ings. ‘ So cheer up, Robyn. Your driv- ing record will soon be forgotten 7 leftovers. And with luck,'next ‘ week’s gourmet meal might even be an archbishop running a: hooker ring?” y TAILPIECES: Today,'a long... deserved honor for late longtime» West Van resident Granville” : Mayall who died in 1963. In. Hamilton, Ont., North Van's Brent and Jamie Granville Mayall are attending the posthumous i in- _duction of their father and grand-. father into the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Faine for his: many years devoted to the prom tion of figure skating across 32". Canada ... Easily. Murphy House i needs volunteers to work with distressed women and children with training provided, If you'can help, call Vicki, 987-5386, before’ Feb. 28 ... “And for treasure |... bargains galore.don’t miss Satus day’s (Feb.6) Gigantic Garage Suiz ~ from 9 to noon in the Sherweod : Park School Gym, 4085 Dollar : Rd. WRIGHT OR WRONG: Blessed - are those who have nothing to say and cannot t be persuaded to say it, Distribution: 986-1337 Subscriptions 986-1357 Fax 985-3227 Administration 985-2131 MEMBER Peter Speck. Timothy Renshaw . .Noel Wright: Publisher .... Managing Editor Associate Editor Sales & Marketing Director . Linda Stewart Comptroller Doug Foot North Shore News, founded in 1869 as an © independent suburban newspaper and qualified ¢ under Schedule 111, Paragraph II! of the Excise Tax Act, is published ‘each Wednesday, Friday and - Sunday by North Shore Free: Press Ltd. and~ distributed to every: door on’ the North Shore. Second Class Mail Registration Number 3885. Subscriptions North and West Vancouver, $25 per year.’ Mailing rates .avaiiable. on “requesi. . Submissions are welcome but we cannoi accept ‘responsibility tor unsolicited material including manuscripts and :.pictures: which should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope. Display Advertising 980-0511 Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Classitied Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom * 985-2131 Printed on 10% recycled newsprint - ; hy tg : - a . NEWS Photo Cindy Goodman :. LAST AUN on No. 210.:. Victor McMullen; 20-year. BC ‘Transit driver on the North Shore, ends his final shift greeted by family § ion. coworkers 2 at Phibbs Exchange on retirement day, Thursday, | an 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, SOA DIVISION North Vancouver, B.C. N7M 2H4 Entire contents © 1992 North Shoré Free Press Ltd. All tights reserved. 61,582 taverage circulation, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday)