6 - Wednesday, June 26, 1991 - North Shore News

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Smokers’ sympathy

MOKERS, ALL but banned from

indulging their habit indoors in public

places, have been reduced to a furk- ing minority, hovering in dingy corridors or at the backs of buildings, shamefully puffing away. But now the much maligned, much-taxed group has received a reprieve.

Instead of outlawing weed addicts and then mocking them when they skulk off for a smoke, samebody has _ recognized them for what they are: addicts.

On June 11, the North Vancouver District 44 School Board introduced a new non-smoking program for North Van- couver schools. The program restricts smoking in all school district buildings, on grounds and in vehicles. No reason for hurrahs among smokers, but the program does include provisions for helping smok- ers kick the habit.

Ali smoking employees will be offered a

choice of ‘‘cessation programs,’’ and will be reimbursed for 50% of the cost up to $75. Not a windfall, but at feast it shows compassion rather than derision. And un- derstanding — the recognition that simply banning people from smoking at their desks or in buildings will not automatically “‘eure’’ the die-hard puffers.

Recommendations also include forming committees in each secondary schoo! to help implement smoking restrictions. The policy is now to be partially decided by individual schools which can apply for ex- emption from some parts of the smoking program.

Hopefully schools will have the wisdom to include smokers on the committees to ensure that the committees don’t become morais squads, thereby alienating smokers further and possibly inciting them to more death-defying puffery.

* Getting there

Arts deserve more funding

Dear Editor: What is wrong with the arts in North Vancouver?

Actually, nothing chat a litle financial shot in the arm couldn't fix — but 50 cents per car:'ta is ridiculous. Fifty cents per person on the North Shore including West Vancouver is what was recommended by a subcommittee.

You have to appreciate what 50 cents will buy today. It is some- thing you might give to a skidrow bum when you are not sure whether your modest donation is a down payment for a drink or a

Publisher . Managing Editor Associate Editor Advertising Director Comptroller

Peter Speck Timothy Renshaw Noel Wright

Linda Stewart Doug Foot

down pay:ment on a loaf of bread and you don’t want to feel guilty.

Some countries spend up to $200 per capita for the arts and it shows. People respond by putting flowers on windows and balconies of homes in the countryside, with parades and concerts in the squares and in front of the theatres and museusns. They res- pond by landscaping the boule- vards in front of their homes, keeping them neat and tidy and by planting flowers.

There are annual events where tourists pay up to a thousand dollacs per ticket. There is music.

Display Advertising 980-0511 Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Fax News!oom 985-2131

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art exhibits, theatre performances and festivals of every type and every conceivable variety every- where.

In North Vancouver, we spend $40 per head for public recreation and the results have been nothing short of spectacular. It has shown up in a much healthier population and a brighter outlook on life by many.

{f we spent a quarter of that amount on the arts, the benefits would be even more spectacular. Ernie Crist, Alderman,

District of North Vancouver

986-1337 Gey 986-1337

985-3227 985-2131

North Shore managed

ALL the fun on

this race track

BEST TIME in the preliminary heats was four minutes, 38

1 seconds. The winner in the final eventually clocked in at 15

minutes, 28 seconds. Hot favorites Stormin’ Norman and Eskar stopped halfway to have a love affair and never finished the grueiling 13-inch course.

Thus, last Friday, Burnaby- Hastings Rotary Ctub secured its place in history by staging Canada’s first-ever snail races, a sport only the English could have invented — and, of course, did. Also covered in glory by the event

were two North Van residents.

“The Greatest Slow On Earth’’ drew some 160 snail fans to North Burnaby’s Confederation Com- munity Centre, to be warmed up with dinner and Hungarian Dancers. By 8:45 p.m. and the first Call to Post the excitement rivalled opening night at Exhibiti- on Park.

The regulation snail racetrack is a 30-inch diameter circle on a white cloth, the starting gate a small red circle in the middle. Each table of eight gets one — plus lettuce, water sprayers and a stopwatch. After the first heat the individually color-coded smails rent for $5. I tell you, this is a highly structured sport.

The lettuce is put around the outer perimeter, 13 inches from the gate. In theory the snails, which fast before the race, will head at top speed straight for the lettuce. The English world cham- pion, knowing what was expected of him, did it in just over three minutes.

But many snails don’t give a damn what's expected of them. Some go in circles. Or stop to chat with a pal. Or suddenly curl up in their shells and doze. Start- ing speed is no guide. Just reaching the finish fine is all that matters. So thrills and chills never end.

Masterminding this spectacular Canadian ‘‘first’’ was North Van’s Donna Kerr, RN, the Club's Community Director who lives, breathes and dreams snails. She sees an Olympics future for them. In her spare time she’s ad- ministrator of Seton Villa retire- ment complex.

Second North Van hero of the evening was Meivin Zamis whose snail won him the Grand Prize Cup. *‘f{t was all over so quickly!’” was the modest comment of Canada's first snail-racing cham- pion.

The other big winner will be Burnaby Hospital Paediatric Ward which gets the evening’s proceeds — including snail rentals and a brisk sale of T-shirts and bumper stickers proclaiming ‘‘I’d rather be snailing!’* (the RVYC is said to be

Noel

HITHER AND YON

consulting its fawyers). Slow down and live, says Nurse Donna. Snails can teach you how.

POSTSCRIPTS: Twenty-seven years ago North Van District took over four tiny, cramped, volun- teer-run libraries squeezed into community halls scattered from Capilano to Deep Cove. Today, the fully automated, three-branch District library system — cir- culating over 825,000 books, re- cords, tapes, videos and compact discs annually — ranks on a pop- ulation basis as one of North America’s finest. Good reason for the Library’s thousands of users to salute, on her retirement this weekend, the lady who's orga- nized and directed it all froin the start — Enid Dearing, District’s first and only Chief Librarian since 1964. Her legacy to the community is a proud one ... Tomorrow, Thursday, June 27, Randy Thomas, award-winning journalist and environmentalist just back from Kuwait, shows his film ‘‘Eco-War”’ at 7 p.m. in West Van Senior Secondary — tickets $2 at the door ... And happy birthday today, June 26, to North Van’s Morris Oleksyn.

WRIGHT OR WRONG (from the Sam Goldwyn gem collection): “Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined.”’ (EE

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MEMBER

ET aE VAN

North Shore News, founded in 196S as an Ses vOIRE bw wont a0 EST wercouveR independent suburban newspaper and quahtied pan 5 age inder Scheaule 111, Paragraph Il of ihe Excise north shore’ Ce | Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and . a “ F Sunday by Nosth Shore Free Press L1d. and . A x ): z a * distributed to every door on the North Snore en menos: enteay £ Second Class Mail Registration Number 3985 s a Subscriptions Nortn and West Vancouver. $25 per 1139 Lonsdate Avenue ear. Mailing rates avaiable on request . Shomssions we welcome Out we cannot accect North Vancouver, 8.C. responsibility fot unsohcied maternal inchuding V7M 2H4 manuscripts and pictures which snoutd be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope.

NEWS photo Noe! Wright “THEY'RE OFF!"'... thoroughbred racers (some, anyway) gallop out of the gate in the first championship final of Canada's newest sport. Inset: Snail Mistress-in-Chief Donna Kerr.

SDA OIVISION 61,582 (average crrculation. Wednesday. Friday & Sunday)

Entire contents ‘¢) 1991 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved.