north shore news MAIL BOX Ski traiis encroach on park Beware promoters of valley skateboard bow! Dear Editor: I recently attended a pub- lie information mecting regarding the proposed build- ing of 2 skate board bowl, bas- ketball court and rollerblade court) next to = Karen Magnussen Arena. This also happens to be next to where | live. I say “recently” because we did not find out about it until late last year, practically when the ground was going to be broken. The project was attached to a referendum last year and supposedly advertised. The information campaign worked so well that not one of the hundreds of residents who will be affected saw it. Basically it involves mov- ing the disastrous lacrosse box site on Ross Road next to our homes and hoping we would- n't notice. From my understanding, Ross Road residents wept with relief when the thing was shut down as it housed any- thing but lacrosse. It was more a site for fate night drinking, graffiti, the hurling of garbage and abuse. As soon as we knew about it, residents mobilized to try to stop it. - What astonishes me is that the district sports council, the unelected band of volunteers who’ picked our neighbor- hood, . acted surprised when we didn’t want it. . Everyone from the RCMP to the rollerbladers themselves say that if they build such a facility ir should be covered and locked, so only supervised activities can take place, like a skating rink. Even then there would be a considerable noise problem. Good God, what did these people expect us to say? In January over a hundred residents took the trouble to go to a council meeting to Voice their opposition. Council listened, nodded and took notes. We thought that might be the end of it. Apparently not. Wanting even more information, dis- trict. council held another information meeting at Lynn Valley Community Centre. This too was very well attend- ed. They now propose to move the skateboard. facility down to Kirkstone Park but still saddle us with the open- air rollerblading arena. As you'd expect, the vast majority spoke against it, for reasons ranging from noise, vandalism, drinking, and gen- eral misery visited on those who live nearby. In short, the same problems thar caused the Ross Road lacrosse box to be shut down. This is not to mention the large number of trees in the park that would have to be cut down to build this thing. They did throw in one conso- lation: a concrete ‘noise wall’ to be built between it and our homes. Ef this isn’t a tacit admission of the fact that this place will generate serious noise problems, I don’t know | Change spell-checker Dear Editor: '} enjoy the freedom of reading your paper and some of the very open-minded writ- ing in it, even though decply buried in advertising! I applaud your stand on the freedom of speech issue — keep up the good work, we shall prevail. 1 deplore the American spell-checker you are using. Quality This is Canada and we spell neighbour, labour, candour PERLEASE! There is little enough of our sovercignty left, without you succumbing to that ‘southern elephant!’ implore you to switch to a Canadian English spell- checker, and get all your writ- ers to use it. Roger Smith rogerxry@pop.uniserve.com what is. T wasn’t surprised thar 3 few individuals were in favor of it. A distinct voting pattern emerged. The further people lived away from the site, the more they were in favor of it. As I see it, district council has nwo choices. Listen to a few unelected volunteers whose power has gone to their heads, or listen to hun- dreds of residents who pay the taxes voted them into office. This council likes to talk about increased democracy. It should be interesting to sce if they mean it. My warning to resident; is this: you must scan every page of every issue of the North Shore News to make sure people like this haven't plasc- ed tiny notices that they plan to inflict some harebrained idea on your neighborhood. If you oppose these things they immediately brand you as a youth hater. If the sports council wants to show real leadership ir. this area they should lead by example. Use their consider- able influence to have this stuff built next to their homes. Then come back in two years and tell us what we're missing. David Jenneson in: our 81-4 Right for Your Home Cod” Collection pants & shorts on page 18 will be late - Fainchecks will be available at the store. in our B1-1A Super Saturday flyer, Save the GST & PST Ladies’ clearance priced fash- ions already reduced offer on frort cover ends Sun., Mar., 1 Beaumask Powerteam vacuum on page 3 wil not be available for this promotion. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. repairs mae | by factory trained 985-6237 or 831-7499 technician. Great Lunch Dates 1405 Pemberton Ave., North Vancouver Your personal life is as important as your professional life! Dear Editor: Re: Protester Cypress ski plans, North Shore News. Your article requires a slight correction to do justie< to all those many, who over the last 30 years, have fought for the Cypress Provincial Park's magnificent old growth ftor- est, much of it yellow cedar (cypress), that once reigned in the Cypress Bowl. The article states (refering to my wrongful arrest in 1986): “At the time Beltz was leading approximately 350 snowshoers and hikers in a ski-in protest against the user- pay policies of the company.” In fact, it was 300 skiers skiing in. Eighteen years earti- er, in 1968, there was a hike- in of 150 hikers to protest the first onslaught on Cypress Park’s old growth by vast clear-cut logging in the bowl, under the guise of 2 downhill ski development. The 1986 protest was against Cypress Bow! Recreations’ (CBR) interfer- ence with the public's right to pass througi: the park's cross- country ski arca, stipulated in knocks fan. 23 SAVING YO MONEY SINCE, 1969 COLONY APPLIANCES = FEATURING © ROPER © JENNAIR © pars * FRIGIDAIRE ¢ PANASONIC © SUB ZERO * GOLDSTAR * DCS © VENMAR * AND MANY OTHER QUALITY BRANDS. © COMPACT & FULL SIZE © BUILT-IN & FREE STANDING © GAS & ELECTRIC © MOST ITEMS IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY OR PICK UP CHECK US OUT preservation of Sunday, March 1, 1998 — North Shore News — 9 the CBR permit, not CBR’s user pay policies. [t is important tor the pub- lic to remember that, under the original 1984 permit to CBR, the cross-country area controlled by CBR was entire- ly to the south of the centre of the power linc. The “controlled area” was granted “for the sole purpose (with the exception of the user pay ski runs) of ensuring the safe and orderly use there- of by all) persons without charge” (Sec. 3.02)... “(CBR was) nut (fo) unreasonably impede any person from pass- ing frecly.” (See.3.05) In the 1986 confrontation, the parks’ minister did not enforce the public’s right of access, but settled the dispute mostly in favor of CBR. He provided a public route to Hollyburn Peak and back country aroand the controlled area. Before doing this, how- ever, he increased CBR’s con- tolled area by one third to the north of the power line toward Hollyburn Peak, and (of questionable legality) abrogated all right of public passage through the CBR controlled area of the park. Effectively, this then took away for seven months of the year, public access to and use of, the unique Hollyburn Platcau area with its glades, meadows, lakes and old growth forest, enjoyed since the turn of the century. Now, it seems the govern- ment, despite its pro-environ- mental stance, is going to fur- ther take away enjoyment of the five summer months left to the public, by extensive despoliation of the old growth forest feft for a doubling of the cross-country trails sys- tem! John E. Beitz North Vancouver Dr. Bert Lee is pleased tp anmeunce the opening of the Seymour Denial Centre Parkgate Village Shopping Ceatre 200-3650 Mt. Seymour Parkway (above the Bonk of Mental 924-8289 [Al Agpuintmests 8arn-Spm Tess. te Sa. warreon Seo Dur Yoliew Page Ad General & Spacialty Deatisty | /AYLORMOTIVE COLLISION SPECIALISTS B.C.A.A. - A.B.A. APPROVED CENTRE e ua yar 40th \ ALL MAKE COLLUSION REPAIRS | “LIFETIME GUARANTEE” Alternative wensportution ervanged ‘community is is vited to ttend. ‘Special. noon-hour presentation, by. Ivan’ aye fashion historian, 12:30 » 2. Pm, Capilanio College - ' “THE MARY CATHERINE PATERSON LECTURE. "Shame & Blame: Obstacles to Recovery. from: ; "Sexual Abuse by Heal rofessionals”* Dr. Susan Penfold, Departmeni, of Psychiatry UBC Codar building, soom 148, 7:30 p.m. A schedule ‘of the day's events is avai abi at “community centres, public libraries, and on ‘campus at the reception desk in the Birch building. a For mors information, call 984-4953... we Cx = Capilano . | C™ “Colleges Where Opportgnities Begi HUGE SELECTION v LOW WAREHOUSE PRICES ia HOME FURNISHINGS § 1 1075 Roosevelt Crescent North Vancouver (2 blocks behind Avaion Hotel) Mon - Thurs 9-6, Fri 9-9 Saturday 9-6, Sun 12-4 Introductions For Professionals through Lunch Dates. AS seen on BCTV News. Please calt for more information : Capilano College Great Lunch Dates 730-4664