26 — Sunday, January 11, 1998 — North Shore News

New yeara

time to smi

at memories

SO we've another New Year on the doorstep, fresh-faced, smooth- talking, giving us the same old pitch about how this one will be different, this one will be everything we could want in a brand new year.

Those who have been enemies will overnight expe- rience an about-face, those who have misjudged us will bring their apologies and humbly ask forgiveness.

H.

That’s onc of the draw- backs of growing old. You've had that. You've been there. You are not going to fall for that stuff ever again. Still and all, it’s hard to let go of another chance to get it all right, don’t you know.

And the thing is, whether we approve or not of what has happened to the holidays over the years, we must applaud the part that can’t be commercialized. That part is the real spirit, when it’s not the presents, it’s not the booze, it’s being togeth- er again, however briefly.

And, sentimental though it may be, we love to have that chance to renew, even for a little while, to remem- ber past times together and smile at Our memories.

For myself, especially this year, when Pve been in fact insensible of the world for several months, it’s been a lovely thing to have conn tions restored — iocal ones, with people and places revis- ited, and then, surprisingly, with my long-ago friends in Japan.

I haven’t been in their country for years, now. I used to go annually to arrange for regular shipments of used tires for my hus- band’s retread shop.

Japanese people like new merchandise and will have

leanor

vintage years

no truck with anything sec- ond-hand so there were piles of discards for me to buy.

Yet after all this time, the young man who was in those days Jearning how to be a successful tire salesman, and who is now in that work for his company, has again, after all these years, sent me three beautiful calendars, at which the Japanese excel. The print is always very bald and the illustration for each month is always splendid.

Gardens are their special- ty, along with beautiful women in kimonos. This time there was also one dene in the old style, showing pig- tailed men and rick-shaws and ladies with bound fect.

Then, to make it all per- fect, I had a call from California, which has become the home of a young woman I met ina shop in Osaka, home also to Mr. Yoshimi of the calendars. She came to America and married in California some years azo but we had not met in the interim, and [ was really ;.icasee to hear her voice, unchanged, and to know she has adapted very neatly to fife in the U.S.A.

So it’s lovely, as I say, to make connections, and for me this is the time of vear when it is most likely to hap- pen. And that’s why I think that these holidays just past, though they are quite a long way from what they were designed for, still give us a chance to bring people together in a tender and unselfish way. Ler’s hope it keeps happening. It’s our strength.

north shore news

i SENIORS

Sweet charity

LIONS Gate Hospital Foundation director of development Sheila Grant accepts a cheque from Jean Coul, second-

term president of Royal Canadian Legion's West Vancouver Branch 60. The leg!

ion made donations totalling $20,000

to three charities recently. Monies were raised through branch activities and volunteer work.

Seniors’ benefits discussed

PROPOSED changes to the Canadian retirement system are the topic of a public meeting Saturday.

The Jan. 17 meeting is 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Silver Harbour Centre, 144 E. 22nd St., North Van. Another meeting is planned for Sunday, Feb. 1, 1:30 p.m. at West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre, 695 21st St.

Recent changes to the universal Old Age Security program have contused and upset many older people, and pressured

some seniors into making investment deci- sious that are not in their best interests, said Mary Segal of Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society, which has organized the avo mect- ings.

“Most of these changes are still in the discussion stage, and most of the informa ton provided by the federal government is confusing,” said Segal.

The proposed change i: legislation would replace the present universal Old Age Security program, the seniors’ age- related income tax credit, the retirement income-tax credit and the Guaranteed

Income Supplement with a system based on combined family income rather than individual income.

Changes would result in a lower level of income for married seniors, said Segal.

Scheduled to speak at the information sessions are tax lawyer Tom Bodez, retire- ment planner Peter Brow and Konstantin Bernaschek, an advocate with the Canadian Association of Retired Persons. The meet- ings are to be chaired by Roger Clarke, vice-president of finance with BC Rail.

For more information, call 985-3852.

— Layne Christensen

Family springs for bus trip

THE West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre recently received a free bus trip to Harrison Hot Springs.

The free bus trip was donated by West Vancouver resident Scotty Grubb and

The Grubbs won the trip at the charity fundraiser Celebration of — Spring Fashions, which was in. sup- port of the Orca Bay Grizzlies Foundation and Family Services af Greater Vancouver. Straiths, a men's and women’s clothing store

located in Hotel Vancouver, hosted the fundraiser.

Forty West Vancouver seniors took advantage of the free trip to Harrison Hort Springs on Monday, Dee. 8, where they enjoved lunch, strolled the shops and took a dip in the springs.

Stephen Woag Pharmacist

CAPSULE COMMENTS

This is always a good time of the year to discuss our ideal weight. Here’s a simple formula to see what you should weigh. For men: 100 tbs for the first 5 feet then add 6 Ibs for each extra inch of height. For women: 100 tbs for the firse 5 feet then add 5 Ibs per inch.

family.

(FREE INFORMATION SESSION | ON MACULAR DEGENERATION

Learn about the leading cause of vision loss in people over 55:

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OLD AGE SECURITY?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES BEING MADE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

PUBLIC MEETING

Topic: Changes to the Federal Pension Plan Saturday, January 17th at SILVER HARBOR CENTRE 1:30 to 3:30 pm and Sunday, February Ist at THE WEST VAN. SENIORS’ CENTRE 1:30 to 3:30 pm You will hear from a tax lawyer, a financial planner, and an advocate for seniors. REFRESHMENTS - TIME FOR QUESTIONS INFORMATION

Sponsored by the LIONSVIEW SENIORS PLANNING SOCIETY For more information or a tide ,call 85-3852

Our job as pharmacies is to provide you wiih information as well as your medication. t's a job we take seriously. If you are looking for a pharmacy to feel good abour, give us a try!

Time and Place:

Thursday 22 Jan. 1998 10 am - 12 pm

Presentation By:

Dr. Patrick Ma wsoracs(c) Retinal Specialist

Free Parking Free Delivery for Pharmacy St. Stephen’s Anglican Church Prescriptions 885 - 22nd Street

West Vancouver, B.C.

A CNIB Representative will also be available

DAVIES PHARMACY 1401 St. Georges

985-8771

For more information, please cail The Aroga Group

(604) 986-7999