© open lines ¢ THROUGH VARIOUS exploits, writing has carried me onto the pages of publications from the largest interna- tionals to the most modes? efforts: Time, Maclean’s, The Star Weekly, The Giobe and Mail, scores of trade journals and several leading daily newspapers. It was Charles Lynch, Southam News and The Vancouver Province who brought me to the west coast in 1970. We’ve done a few books, mostly about ships. My radio work is better known and a more effec- tive way to impact upon society, but writing has always been far more satisfying. Oscar Wilde once said that the difference between a writer and a reporter is that a writer is unread and a reporter is unreadable. As we launch this new column in the North Shore News, a conscientious effort will be made to defy the ec- centric writer, in pursuit of well- written reportage. with the little station boarded up. Behind it, visions of Frank Baker come into view. It is dif- ficult to count how many happy occasions and important family events were recorded at The Attic, usually listening to Lance Harrison and his Dixieland group. One of my first news assign- ments in Vancouver was at Frank Baker's tower floor meeting room. I can’t remember the group, but the guest speaker was David Mooney, then the development hotshot at Marathon Realty, the successor to Calgary’s Rod Sykes. Memory wanders to the last days of the Attic, when Frank knew his [ t is difficult to count how many happy occasions and important family events were recorded at the Attic, usually listening to Lance Harrison and his Dixieland band.”’ Few of the esteemed publica- tions that have featured my work have enjoyed the market penetra- tion achieved by the North Shore News, its publisher and staff. In the time-honored colioquial tradi- tion that besets community news- -papers, it is fondly known as ‘‘the local rag.’’ It is not only well read, it is digested by its constituency. It is a pleasure, therefore, to climb aboard. nant My office looks down on a dismal sight: the eastern corner of Taylor Way and Marine Drive at the entrance to West Vancouver. Royal Pontiac is now vacated. We'll miss the clever reader boards that on hundreds of occasions brought a smile to a dreary rush hour, Oasis Car Wash toils away, unchanged in 15 years. Across Marine Drive, | remember buying gas at John Bar- ton’s Esso Station. One day, John advised that Imperial Oil had decided to close that station and sell the lot. It happened with breathtaking speed. One day the station was open for business as usual, The next, a backhoe was on the site digging up the huge under- ground gasoline storage tanks. That seems like a decade ago. The lot has been empty ever since, North Shore Auto Buyers Are Reall Spending $112,000,000 on New Cars i in 1988 hat’s an incredible 18% or $20 million over 1986. Approximately 6, 700 o: cars were purchased by North Shore business was in trouble. He pumped a great deal of borrowed money into handsome renovations, too late to achieve the rescue. Debt led to bankruptcy of a man who is a legend in Vancouver folklore. Baker’s building was the focal point of another embarrassment. Robert Ingram, brother of my friend and well-known tax advisor David Ingram, put together a limited partnership that ultimately sunk into a labyrinth of fraud allegations. David had par- ticipated, helping his brother pro- mote the venture, but it was Robert’s deal and Robert’s disaster. The unknown Robert slinked off into oblivion and the well-known David suffered all the abuse. Other owners subsequently ren- ovated the building, but if perma- nent For Lease signs are any in- dication, it has been less than a triumph. What a joy it would be to hear once again Frank belting out “The Saints,’’ with Lance, Frank and Gavin adding the real music. And now we learn that Frank Baker is fighting a determined bat- tle with cancer. He and Dorothy have built a good restaurant trade at their Cambie Street establish- ment, but old North Shore friends are the most welcome of guests. residents at an average of $16,970 per automobile. The only note of historic tran- quility is the Park Royal Hotel. Frank Bernard and Frank Baker were partners in that distinguished little venture and it is in great hands today, under the manage- ment of Mario Corsi. ear A great deal of controversy has lately focused on this busy in- tersection. Many are fighting the imposition of two apartment highrises on the southeast corner. Arguments range from protecting the view to traffic congestion. When | expressed concern about my office view, North Shore bon vivant Ed Keate recalled a time when highrise towers were propos- ed for the federal fisheries proper- ty at Cauifeild along Marine Drive. When some of his neighbors com- plained that the view would be lost, Keate smartly advised them about the merits of the view to be gained. wee At funch recently with Stu Hodgson, chairman of BC Transit, and Paul Clough, president of lia- perial Parking Ltd., Hodgson recalled his days as Northwest Ter- ritories Commissioner, the de facto One-man government of the Cana- dian arctic. “In the north, the difference be- tween a connoisseur and a wino, is that the connoisseur takes the bot- tle out of the bag,”’ he said. It was Clough’s turn for humor a few weeks earlier, when he was invited to attend Oktoberfest at the Louis Stervinou’s British Colum- bia Club. Advising his caller that he was up to his ears in tense labor Negotiations, Clough said: ‘‘Of course I’m going, I’ll be parking your car.” wee As we take our exit for this week, reflect upon these profound words by Winston Churchill: ‘‘The problem with America is that their toilet paper is too thin and their newspapers too fat.” (Listen to BANNERLINE, with Gary Bannerman, weekday morn- ings at 7:15 on STAR-FM 105.) “A Place To Go When You're Pregnant And Need Support: i GIRTHRIGHT | cou 967-7315 « Free Pregnancy Test > § 729 onside ~—sim Vancouver Cail N Horth vancouver 687-7223 The best way for advertisers to reach all of this huge potential new car market each week is by using the North Shore News. Sources: Statistics Canada, Communications Management Inc. 9 - Sunday, October 22, 1989 - ROSALIND C. FERRY MCSP MCPA is pleased to announce her association with D. PAIGE LARSON B.Sc.(PT), BPE MCPA at DEEP COVE PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC aé ae. N Rosalind Paige 4313 Gallant Avenue North Vancouver, V7G 2C1 By Doctor's referral: 929-8444 Fri., Oct. 20 12-6 p.m./Sat., Oct. 21 10am-6pm Sunday, Oct. 22 1tam-Spm Extra Police Traffic Law Enforcement At Intersections October 23 to November 3, 1989 YOUR LOCAL POLICE J4 BCA Ministry of Solicitor General Tratte: Sitety Deectorate y On A Roll To Advertise Call: Display Advertising Garry Crossley 980-0511 Classifieds Andrea Hadley 986-6222 THE VOICE OF NONTH AND WEST VANCOUVER Ate ’ we North Shore News