By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter

MONDAY ’S snowfall marked the first time in 10 years that West Vancouver buses did not venture into the British Propertizs.

West Vancouver Transit geseral manager Tony Lorage said heavy snowlal! usually catis- es transit to shorten its route in the British Properties, but road conditions were too per- ilous on Monday to do that.

“We have had our fair share of problems,” said Lorage.

Snowfall accumulations varied around the Lower Mainiand and on the North Shore.

Environment Canada does not provide snowfall statistics for the North Shore, but measurements taken at the North Shore News revealed 14 cm (almost six inches) of snow on the ground Monday morr:ng.

The West Vancouver Transit manager said the last bus into the Properties on Monday was stopped at a stop sign when it was hit by no less than five vehicles unable to stop ona hill.

Lorage said no one was injured.

The British Properties bus route was closed at 7 a.m. To press time, it had been closed for at least three hours.

West Vancouver Transit also shortened its routes in the Caulfeild area and on Queens Avenue during the heavy snowfall, but the Horseshoe Bay route was operating ar its usual stops.

West Vancouver Police received only 22 calls from 5 p.m. Sunday to § a.m. Monday. Sgt. Barry Nickerson said the calls to police were not a high number for a snowy night.

Nickerson said West Vancouver Police responded to only two motor vehicle accidents overnight on Monday.

In North Vancouver, the RCMP had 4x4s and chain-equipped cruisers out early during the snowfall.

Staff Sgt. Brian Hoven said police respond- ed to six motor vehicle accidents during the night. :

Calls to police numbered 65, slightly high- er than a usual night shift.

’ “Ef think people were heeding the weather reports and staying in,” said’ Hoven.

Bus drivers in North Vancouver found the worst spor was the Upper Mountain Highway area near Hoskins and Dempsey streets in Lynn Valley.

At least one bus slid sideways on a route in

the area early Monday morning, prompting B.C. Transit to stop buses from going into the

area.

The snow covered routes near the top of Mounrain Highway were opened at 8:30 a.m. B.C. Transit spokesman Trace Acres said the SeaBus was the most reliable form of transit

during the heavy snowtall.

“The North Shore generally doesn’t iook too bad compared to other areas of the Lower

Mainland,” said Acres.

What’

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Wednesday, December 25, 1996 - North Shore News — 3

White blanket brings traffic blues

WEWS photo Brad Ledwidge

MONDAY’'S subzero heat got to postman Greg Chudyk, who said he'd wear pants when it got cold. The thick-biooded driver weighed down his truck with a few bags of salt at a West Vancouver Petro Canada.

Petro Canada employee ple were coming in for snow

fa

WITH visions of sugarplums dancing in the heads of North

Shere tykes and the spectre of Tickle-Me Elmo haunting over- wro:ght parents, we asked North Shore kids what their favorite part of Christmas is. Santa has his work cut out for him: toys topped most lists. Ten-year-old Shane said “Opening presents! I. § get up Christmas morning and open them right away.” However, F seven-year-old Kieran has rules he has to follow: “1 can’t wake

my mom up on Christmas Day. But we car wake my dad up at any time.” Eight-year-old Stephanie also has to contain her ¢

ment until her folks get up. “When they finally wake up then we can open our presents.” Fourteen-year-old Mike was definite about the coolest parts of Christmas: “Snow, Dinner. Presents.” But not everyone listed gifts as the only thing they enjoy about the festive season. Jocl, 10, likes not having to go to school: “I drowse in bed and play.” Sev Kaitlynn, whe wants a Pet Doctor Barbie from Santa, says she most likes dinner at grandma’s, And eight-year-old Deai says “It's Jesus” birthday. I like helping make the creche at church. But we didn’t put Jesus in because it isn't Christmas yet.” Abtin, 15, said, “Everyone becomes caring at Christmas. It's a better kind of enviorn- mene.” Whatever your pleasure this Christmas, hope it’s a very happy one.

inguiring

7: i i

‘Kaitlynn’

reporter

By lan Noble News Reporter

COLD, snow and slushy roads did not keep aii the mail from being delivered an the North Shore Monday.

It didn’t even stop mailman Greg Chudyk from wearing shorts.

“Pil wear pants when it starts to get cold,” said the bare-Eneed mailman, who was loading salt into the back of the mail truck for weight.

“I'm not trying to do this to get biager Christmas gifis, as some people have accused me of,” Chudyk laughed.

“They are just comfortable.”

The key, he said while at the Petro Canada at 22nd and Marine in West Vancouver, is to keep moving. He reasons that people wearing long pants travel- ling through snow get their pants wet. Skin, noted the friendly fellow, dries quickly. Meanwhile, fools in long pants throughout the white North Shore were digging cars out, tobogganing and snow- boarding on slick city strects, and enjoving a break from rain.

For North Vancouver resident Gary Teeple, who was watching his eight-year-old daughter dig out his car, the snow evoked memories of Timmins, Ontario, a mining town in the north of the chilly province. Teeple used his snow experience to avoid the tire-spinning trials that plague Lower Mainland residents.

“We Ontarians know how to drive in the snow,” Teeple said. Lower Mainlanders, he added, are not used to it. However, judging by the low number of accidents Monday, local residents must be improv- ing their driving, or more people from Ontano are moving in.

In West Vancouver, where the preferred pose was leaning on a shovel, a Guy Thomas was out with his children. He was posted as a guard at 23rd and Kings, making sure Kings was clear before his chil- dren pelted down 23rd on crazy carpets and toboggans.

“We rarely get to do this in Vancouver, bur when it’s there you sure get out and enjoy it,” he said. Two blocks up the street, kids were snowboarding down Kings. Also in West Vancouver, a woman was leaning toward the purchase of snow tires and planned to take mass transit, which was having problems of its own Monday. ;

Petro Canada employees had dug the grateful woman's car out of the ice and snow.

“My tires are a little old,” she acknowledged. “I’m hoping it’s going to rain.”

The woman wouldn't give her name.

“I don’ want to read about myself in the North Shore News, thank you,” she said, before rolling

up her window and gingerly driving awav through the snow. Shahram Bahmani said business was slower than normal, but lots of peo- es, salt, de-icers for locks, scrappers and coffee.

Most people the News talked to welcomed the white stuff. Said Teeple: “Snow is optimistic. Clear, bright and cheery. Rain is the opposite of thar.”

“[ love the snow,” said Teeple’s daughter Emma, taking a break from her duties.

However, she agreed she fele ripped off because the day was a holiday from school anyway.

i Collins.

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