NORTH Shore residents were treated to a dazzling display of lightning iast Friday night. These bolts were caught in action near Grand Boulevard, facing Mount Seymour. The sun should return today and provide temperatures in the high 20s. NV City looks into SPCA Keith Lowe Contributing Writer NORTH Vancouver City staff are investigat- ing complaints made against the North Varicouver SPCA. Following “due process” on Monday, council referred complaints made by the Animal Rights Coalition (ARC) to staff for a report. Although four of the five councillors present said they had no reason to feel dissatis- fied with the level of care pro- vided by the SPCA, it was decided to wait for a report, before making a decision on renewing the contract in January 2001. The ARC made several “fairly serious accusations” against the SPCA, according to Coun. Bill Bell. ARC advo- cates terminating the SPCA’s contract to handle animal con- trol and replace it with a municipally-run “no-kill” ani- See Kill page & More sailings for SeaBus under consideration Police seek N From page 1 of our cars.” North Vancouver District Coun. Ernie Crist went further, calling the addi- tional fares “the dumbest thing you have done. “Those are the people who support you, the ridership. What did you do? You stabbed them in the back.” Responding to Crist’s question about putting the tax to a referendum, Dobel! conceded that “the question of a plebiscite is a very legitimate one.” North Vanceuver Mayor Barbara Sharp, however, focused on the positive effects for the environment. “ff we just forge ahead and whine about a little money here and there and not make some tough choices, that’s fine but people have got to understand the consequences,” she said. “IF you don’t pay the cost, then God spare your chil- dren down the road.” obell explained the aims of the plan, which were: to increase transit ridership, decrease traffic congestion, and reduce air pollution and the impact of green- house gasses. In response to a question from West Vancouver Coun. Jean Ferguson, he stated that the plan is expected to decrease commuting time by - : é NEWS photo Cindy Goostman MARIA Cusano (left) and Bonnie McLaughlin plan to be part of a new pro-life club at Capilano College. | NEWS photo Terry Peters West Van escapee appeals senience Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter adangelo@nsnews.com ‘A West Vancouver man in a maximum security -jail in New York state is appealing a ruling by an American parole com- mission. Allen Richardson, 50, is an American who escaped from a United States jail in 1971. The law caught up to him in Canada in 1998. Richardson turned himself in to New York state authorities last month. Richardson, whose real name is Christopher Samuel Perlstein, was sentenced in 1971 to up to four years in jail for selling $20 worth of LSD to undercover police. Last week, a New York state parole commission fol- lowed 1971 incarceration guidelines that make Richardson eligible for parole on Masch 24, 2001. See Richardson page & Silent vigils on abortion-issue agenda Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter adangela@nsnews.com MARIA Cusano wants to raise awareness about the pro-life move- ment. The North Vancouver resident has started a pro-life club that she plans to launch at Capilano College in September. Cusano, a Capilano College business stu- dent, says 10 people have already joined the club. Members plan to take part in monthly activities that include silent vigils. club mem- bers will also set up a display and hand out information to students on campus. Cusano said a goal of the club is to make students aware of the alternatives to aburtion before faced with decisions. er that they can reason and make their own moral decision as to what is right and wrong,” said Cusano, 21. “TI think men and women may choose to have their pre-born child killed because they don’t see the alternati she said. Alexandra Hansen, Capilano College's Students’ Union women’s liaison representa- tive, said that the student union has adopted the declaration of students rights which states that all students have a right to safe, reliable birth control and family planning information. Students have a right to control their own bod- ies. The student rights declaration also includes the right to free speech. “That doesn’t mean that we'd stifle any debate on campus about it (anti-abortion) or any groups that would like to be anti-abortion groups,” said Hansen. She said all types of clubs on campus are permitted, Hansen said in the light of the Dr. Garson Romalis stabbing, “it’s kind of scary for anyone who bolds the opinion that women have a right to control their own bodies.” Romalis is a Vancouver abortion provider, “The biggest part of the pro-choice movement is that it is the right to choice. If you do get pregnant, you have the absolute right to chose whether or pot you want to have your child,” she said. Hansen said women can follow their beliefs and be pro- choice. Hansen coordinates activities at the Capilano College Women’s Centre which is pro-choice. Women’s Centre members took part in the recent Vancouver pro-choice protest afier Romalis’ stabbing. Cusano said that what happened to Romalis was “completely wrong.” “Whether it is a life in the womb, a child who is unborn, a senior or elderly or any per- son, no life should be taken,” she said. Cusano said she is aware of possible opposi- tion w the pro-life club on campus. “This topic should be discussed and people should hear both sides of the story, then they can come to their own conclusion about if the child in the womb is absolutely alive,” said Cusane. She said abortion is about intentionally killing an innocent human being and is morally wrong. She said the freedom of choice stops when it interferes with the rights of others, including unborn children. rth Van four per cent. Several councillors also asked questions about more SeaBus fer- ries. While options for higher frequency are being considered, the $15 million capital cost of new vessels and the rela- tively low ridership (33% occupancy) make it hard to justify additional sailings. North Shore highlights of the plan for this year include: improving service berveen downtown Vancouver and the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal on routes 250 and 257; doubling midday ser buses across the Second Narrows Bridge; and doubling midday service and early evening service on buses across the Lio! Gate Bridge into downtown Vancouv taxi cab robbers A taxi driver was robbed yesterday in a residential area near Grouse Mountain. According to the North Vancouver RCMP, two young men took a North Shore Taxi cab near Montana’s nightclub in the 100-block of West Ist Street shortly before 3 a.m. Near Sonora and Clifiridge in the Canyon Heights area, police say one of the young men pretended to have a knife and made the cab driver hand over money. Police believe the robbers live in the area. The robbers are Caucasian, about 19 years old with medium builds. One robber was described as being 1.68 m (5°6”), “round face” and was wearing a “ladies gardening style hat. The other robber was 1.78 m (5’10”). He wore a red rain- coat. Anyone with information is asked to call 985-1311.