Doubts raised about family’s dire straits AN APPARENTLY. destitute family begging for money earlier this week. near Marine Drive non-Christmas cheer. from ‘at least one North Van- couver resident. By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter .The resident had recognized the “panhandlers from a recent televi- sion news story. Said North Vancouver's Rudy | Spotzl, ‘Are you guys ripping | people off again?: They did. the i same scam in Alberta.’ . The woman and two of her - three young children were at the corner of .Marine Drive and Pemberton Avenuc at approxi- mately 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday “wher the News caught up with them... The woman was holding a smail ‘“ cardboard «sign. that read, need help.” . The woman: was_taiking to.a well-dressed .man who had _ given her a’ business card and indicated ‘that he sincerely wished her hus- “band to contact him for a job. in’ North ~ Vancouver got an earful of. “We : NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge AN ALLEGEDLY hard-luck family packs up to leave after panhandling Tuesday near Marine Drive and Pemberton Avenue. Within 10 minutes, the: woman had collected at least $40 in mostly $10 bills from passing cars slowing down at a nearby traffic light. At least two other people walked up to her and. gave ‘her . money, The woman declined to say why she. was asking. for: money in North Vancouver despite claiming that she lived in Chilliwack. ‘LIONS GATE: Hospital emergency ward nurse Jackie Askew will “be working Christmas Eve and Christmas Dey this year. %) Santa on Christmas Eve? . CALL US: 983-2208 “Social services don't. help us. We are having problems with social services. I don’t want to talk to you,” said the woman, She didnot respond to. the News’ offer to help her secure assistance through the social ser- vices ministry or a local agency. The woman claimed the media had previously twisted her situa- tion. Friday, December 24, 1993 - North Shore News - 3 Panhandling family works N. Shore streets “You guys did a real number on us already. It's not up to me. It would be up to my husband if he wanted to talk to you,’’ said the woman. She was referring to a BCTV news story that portrayed her and her. husband as bogus hard-luck cases who hid moved from Alberta to the Vancouver area to beg for money. The television news story featured one man in Vancouver who gave the family $200 along with a job offer to the husband. According to the news story, the husband did not respond to the job offer. / The fatnily lived in a motel despite indicating to good Samar- itans that they were, homeless, according to the news report. Meanwhile, the woman said her husband required a full-time job. She said he did “anything” as far as an occupation went. The woman's husband drove up to pick up his family. He parked a grey compact car without a muffler or back bumper in the North Shere Credit Union’s parking lot an Marine Drive. The husband said. he needed help ‘‘in lots of ways.” He responded to. Spotzl’s ac- cusation saying, ‘Yeah, | guess so i No time for play 1 jobs this Christmas | ‘AFTER 28 years with the West: Vancouver Police Depart- ment, one But no such luck, Willock, 58, will be working a regular 12-hour shift on Christmas Day, along with the rest of his charges on A-platoon, from 7am. to7 p.m. “That’s a good question,” teplied Willock,, when asked why he, must work on Christmas Day after all this time with the police department. ;But, he said, because he is the sergeant-in- -charge for A-platoon, he is required to work on a day most people will have off. ' Because his two sons are grown up, he said he does not mind having to spend Christmas Day in uniform. . “The supervisors of eack ‘shift try to take turns. Someone might ‘have Christmas off and someone ‘else might have New Year’s off. “I really don’t mind having to : work, after having done it for so -long. I’ve worked a lot of Christmas Days before. 1 did mind when my kids were younger,’’ said Willock, who will also be working on Christmas Eve. - ‘He plans to celebrate his Christmas with his wife when he completes his shift. What do you leave for Emily Bamford North Vancouver Every single year my family in both houses usually leaves milk, mince tarts and celery or carrots for the reindeer. It’s become really special, and ’'m slad we do this. Candice Gerrard West Vancouver Last year we left him a piece of gum and some milk and cookies. * couver Police, Eileen MacVichie North Vancouver I'm awfully stingy with Santa Claus ‘because I don’t believe in nim, but 1 do give lots away in the “name of Jesus. Christmas Day for Jesus, would think Sgt. Bob -Willock would have “enough seniority to take Christmas Day off. By Surj Rattan News Reporter. — As for what Christmas Day is like to ‘work for the West. Van- Willock’ said the calls received are fairly predictable at this time of year. ‘“We basically hope to have a slow day. It’s usually a pretty emotional time of year. We tend to get. involved in domestic disputes,”’ said Willock. As for the members of A-pla- toon, Willock said they are plan. ning to have a special lunch at the police station on Christmas Day. : 39 Home & Garden .......45 M Insights: .............. 6 Kids’ Stuff ............32 i Trevor Lautens ........ 4 offers of assistance go unanswered you say so.”’ The couple loaded a sleeping youngster, approximately two years old, into the car, while one of the older children, approxi- mately five years old, said, “They're taking our picture, mom.” The couple didn’t respond when asked why they brought their children out on the cold street to beg for money. When one of the children in the car subsequently said, ‘‘Dad?,’’ the man responded with, “shut your mouth.’’ He subsquently sped out of the parking lot. Spotzl said he people who were angry at panhandlers. “This is a reason why some people don't feel like giving money to anybody any. more. They really hurt other people,’ said Spotzl. The woman said she was from the United States and her husband was born in Canada. A. provincial social services ministry spokesman could not comment on the case. knew | several the The North Vancouver RCMP had ‘no knowledge of the situation on Tuesday. | ay “The boys will probably cook. something up,’’ said Willock. He can also take some comfort’ in knowing’ this will, be :the ‘iast Christmas Day he will have to work, Next year Willock. will have Christmas Day off. He will