J 1 Water, water everywhere A record low winter But not enough this spring? Gibsons officials are worried The weather being very much a topic of interest this winter, I've been looking at the 16 year records from this station to see if any patterns are emerging. Because it's easier to deal with comparative figures in small numbers, I'll revert from millimeters to inches. The three winter months ��� November, December, and January ��� are regularly the wettest of the year, with an average of 22.88 inches ��� from a high in 1966-67 of 28.96 inches to this year's low of 11.37 inches. Only one other winter produced less thah 20 inches, 1969-70 with 16.96 inches. Both 1966 and 1967 were average years for rainfall with 53.57 and 54.73 inches, respectively. The average annual rainfall is 53.48 inches, varying from a high Of 66.58 inches in 1968 to a low of 40.06 inches in 1970. The years with less than average rainfall - 1963, 64, 65, 69, 70, 73 and 76. There were exceptionally wet years in 1968, 71 and 74, all registering over 60 inches. If there is a trend developing (and ten years isn't really long enough for predictions) then 1977 could turn out to be another wet year. ��� Maryanne West. TOTAL PRECIPITATION November-January inches 1961-62 21.73 1952-63 22.18 1963-64 20.07 1964-65...... 21.20 1065-66 22.93 1966-67 28.96 1967-68 23.51 1968-69 ...25.07 1969-70 .>.':' 16.96 1970-71 i 26.67 ' 1971-72 .....: 20.67 1972-73 ...27.35 1973-74 27.92 1974-75 ..' 23.84 1975-76 ...26.31 1976-77 11.37 Gibsons Public Works Supt. Fred Holland warned village aldermen last week that the lack of snowfall this winter may lead to water shortages. Holland, an area resident since 1915, told the council, "I've never seen less snow in the top area than right now." He urged aldermen not to wait for completion of a recently authorized Dayton & Knight engineering study of the village waterworks system before tying in the new village well, at least on a temporary basis. Holland later elaborated on his statements. "I don't want to stick my neck out because you can be wrong," he told the Times. "But you have to prepare yourself. "As far as the snowpack on Mt. Elphie, there's not any," he said. Holland estimated it would take three consecutive years of unusually dry weather to affect the village's deep wells. The process of designing a temporary tie-in between the new well and the water system, letting a contract and completing construction could be done within about two months, he said. Without the new water source, the village probably would have to restrict water use this spring, he said, and upland areas of the village would have supply problems. The Dayton & Knight review of the water system is the first such study in Gibsons since August 1973. A January 24 letter from the firm to council suggested that the system likely will require hydraulic improvements owing to connection of the second well, creating a third pressure zone, and the pending Payne Road industrial park, which will increase demand oh the system. Agris Berzins, a senior engineer at Dayton & Knight responsible for the waterworks study, told The Times the project will take about six to eight weeks and has not yet begun. He said, however, he would not an ticipate any serious water problem in Gibsons even with only one well operating. Other Peninsula communities, most of which rely primarily on surface water for their supply, may also face shortages later this year if the present rainfall pattern continues. Total rainfall at sea level for this pasC November through January, normally the:, wettest months of the year, is the lowest- recorded in the 16 year history of the local; , reporting station. J Only 11.37 inches was recorded here in the last three months. The 16 year average^ for this period is 22.88 inches, with only oner other period (1969-70) dropping below 20f inches. Rainfall November through: January in those years was 16.96 inches. Serving the Sunshine Coost, (Howe Sound to Wilson Creek, Selma Park, Sechelt, Halfmoo LARGEST READERSHIP OF ANY PAPER ON THE SUNSHINE COAST. Volume 14b- No. 11 Wednesday, February 9,1977 Mulligan offers Gibsons a deal Ono re-elected volunteer head Butch Onp has been re-elected chief of the Sechelt Volunteer Fire Department for 1977. Joining him on the executive is Tom Gory who takes over as the new assistant fire chief. Colin -Spencer, Tony Pike and Al Robins have been appointed truck captains, and the first lieutenant in charge of the rescue wagon is Palle Poulsen. Second Lieutenant Ron Sim has responsibility for the fire hall, and this year Ray Burton will handle safety; Training supervisor is Bill Billingsly. By DENNIS FITZGERALD Bernie Mulligan, the Area F representative to the Regional Board, visited the Gibsons Council meeting last week and suggested that if Gibsons could make an attractive offer, the residents in his area might prefer to opt out of the proposed regional recreation plan and join forces with Gibsons. Mulligan and Nancy Douglas, a resident of Area F, visited the February 1 Gibsons council meeting to discuss the idea. "We're asking the village to lay its proposals for recreation clearly on the table so we will know exaqtly what the situation is," Mulligan said. He asked if the proposed Gibsons swimming pool is being considered as a "closed pool for Gibsons (residents) or what?" Oops! km treatment A mt for sale ���tm% The Sunshine Coast Regional Board is interested in buying land iri the Seaside Village subdivision. But the board's inquiry seeking a selling price has gone unanswered. The reason, it was discovered last week, is that the land .can\be sold. The board is interested in four lots in the subdivision as a site for the new. treatment plant for the Sechelt sewer system. Purchase of the property was recommended to the district by consulting engineers Dayton and Knight. According to assessment records, the lots belong to Glenmont Holdings whose prospectus to sell land in the development was lifted last year by the B.C. Inspector of Insurance for alleged irregularities of the Real Estate Act. However, Anne Pressley, regional district administrator, says discussions over the purchase have not been with Glenmount Holdings but with Union Steamships president Stan James. "We wrote in December," she said last week, "and asked him to name his selling price for the land, but he hasn't given us an answer yet." Pressley admitted the regional district was unaware the land could not be sold but added that Dayton and Knight had recommended three alternate locations for the sewage treatment plant. Pressley said soil tests.have not yet been conducted on all the sites and that the results could affect the final decision on where to build the plant. Senior Insurance Inspector Rudy Lawrence was contacted in Vancouver last week by members of the Seaside Village Property Owners Association when they learned of the negotiations. Lawrence lated told the Times that with the prospectus lifted "there is not way the land can be sold" and "that no exception can be made for a regional district or municipality." Both regional board directors and Sechelt village aldermen have approved the Seaside Village site. Wounded girl released from hospital Sechelt RCMP report that nine-year- old Susan Taylor has been released from St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver and is living with her father on the I^ower Mainland. Susan was shot four times January 16 and her 12-year-old- brother killed. The children's mother, Maud Ethel Taylor, has been charged with murder and attempted murder. She survived an apparent suicide attempt. There is a possibility, police say, that the girl may lose the use of her left arm. In other police news, a Wilson Creek man was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Mary's Hospital in Sechelt last week, the victim of an apparent heart attack, Robert Bruce l.owe, 61, was stricken SOMEWHERE BEHIND the face mask and all that padding is Kelvin White, goaltendcr for the Pee Wee lacrosse team. But unless Sechelt council ugrees to build a lacrosse box In Hackett Park Kelvin and his teammates will have to travel to Vancouver for their games. The story l.s on this week's sports page. Timesphoto wliile working at a Clowholm Falls logging camp. He was flown to Sechelt on a Tyee Airways plane but died enroute. Cattle rustling has appeared on the Sunshine Coast. Sechelt RCMP report that a beef cow belonging to Bill Peters of Madeira Park was stolen and slaughtered January 30. Police later recovered parts of the animals and are questioning suspects in the case. Also in Pender Harbour this week Ray Kraft, the federal fisheries officer, had his 9 ^ foot flbreglass boat stolen from Sakinaw I>ake. After a search of the .shoreline Kraft recovered his vessel but Its smoll outboard motor hud disappeared. ��� In another marine Incident a 20 foot pleasure cruiser owned by Ken White of North Vancouver exploded and burned Jnnuury 31 near Daniel Point. According to police the 'T-Time' was toally destroyed In the accident. Gibsons RCMP say there hns been n recent rash of CB radio thefts from curs In and around the village. They would like to suggest that motorists owning such equipment keep a separate record of the serial numbers to ensure easy identification. ICBC regulations nlso require the transmitters to have additional Insurance against theft uiiIosn thoy are installed ut the time of the car's manufacture. Traffic signs In the Gibsons and Port Mellon ureas liavo bcon heavily vandalized the last few weekends. RCMP estimate It costs Uie Department of Highways $150 In material and labor to replace each (InmuHjjtt sign. Owners of trnllblkcs nre reminded by police that on public roads tiiese vehicles must bo driven by a licenced driver. They are classified ns motorcycles and must bo properly Insured when driven off private property. Secholt RCMP say residents along the rond to tho Sunshine Const Arena luive complained about the bikes travelling along their street. Areas D and E also might be interested in buying into Gibsons' proposed pool and park improvements, Mulligan said. He stressed that he was not representing either of those areas and was simply attempting to gather information. However, Mulligan said, "The people I've spoken to in Area F are very, very keen on working with the village of Gibsons Landing on recreation." Norm Watson, chairman of the Sunshine Coast Recreation Committee, when informed of Mulligan's suggestion by The Times, termed it "a very selfish approach. It's backstabbing of the worst nature as far as I'm concerned." The recreation committee, a creation of the Regional District board, is the prime mover behind the regional recreation funding concept. Watson said Mulligan "apparently has got the opinion that he's the mayor of Area F, but he's got another think coming. Area F is nqt a law unto itself. ~ "He may think all he has to do is take in a petition (for a referendum), and it wjff be approved" by the Regional Board, Watson said. "But it's not that easy." Watson said the Regional Board has expressed support for a regional recreation referendum and he thought it unlikely that the board would approve a referendum such as Mulligan was proposing for Area F. Even if Mulligan were able, to win board approval for and ultimate voter passage of a referendum tying Area F to Gibsons recreation plan, the concept could backfire, Watson said. "What could easily happen to Mr. Mulligan if he were able to take Area F into a deal with Gibsons, say for 2 mills, is that the regional referendum could come around 30 days later and Area F not having the votes to defeat it would have another two mills laid on them," he said. Unincorporated areas would not have the opUon of not participating in a regionally-approved recreation plan; Watson said. The Village of Gibsons does have that option and has exercised it in choosing not to participate in any regional recreation plan or in the nearly completed agreement for joint community use of shcool facilities. During the Gibsons council mceUng last week Alderman Jim Metzler told Mulligan and Douglas that if, for instance, Area F approved a recreation tax of one or two mills, then it would be possible that the swimming pool could be enclosed for year round use. It alaso might be possible to build an adjacent community center, Metzler said. Funds from rental of a community center could be applied toward maintenance costs of the pool, estimated at about $30,000 a year, he said. A fee for use of the pool wlso would help defrey maintenance, costs, he said. Area F is not densely populated relative to Gibsons but a recreation tax would draw substantial revenue from the CanFor mill at Port Mellon. Watson accused Mulligan of wanting to "strip the assets of Port Mellon for the sole benefit of those people in his area." . The Gibsons pool Will be built with a federal Neighbourhood Improvement Program grant of $300,000 to which the village will add an additional $100,000. Metzler estimated cost of the pool at about $150,000. A soccer and rugby field with dressing rooms at Brothers Memorial Park also will be constructed with the NIP funds, as will certain improvements tp Dougal Park, mch^ing resurfacing thj|*tennis courb- an8 purchasing new playground equipment . The village last week received the first installment on the NIP grant, a check for $15,680 which was earmarked for planning purposes. Council was unable to give Mulligan the specific information he requested concerning the recreational plans, Metzler noted, however, that the grant requires construction to begin by July 9 and that this lends some urgency to completion of a feasibility study for the project. i Mulligan said that the results of such a feasibility study likely would give Area F residents the information they would need in deciding whether to supoirt Gibsons' project* :.���: Metzler also mentioned that the Kensmen's Club, which has been active for several years in attempting to get a pool in Gibsons, offered last year to contribute money toward a swimming pool feasibility study. If that money were still available, he said, it could be used to supplement the NIP funds already received. Clay Carby, Kinsmen's past president and chairman of the swimming pool committee, told The Times "about $3,000" was available in funds collected by Kinsmen for a swimming pool. He said disbursal of the money would have to be approved by a vote of the general membership but it was his opinion members probably wouldfavor giving that money to Gibsons if requested by the village. He said Kinsmen dropped the project after they found that they could not raise sufficient funds to build an enclose pool and that maintenance costs would be prohibitive for a pool used only during summer months. 'Queen of the Islands' temporary run extended Sunshine Coast residents are going to have to put up with the "Queen of the Islands" until at least the middle of February. The ferry was originally put on the Langdale to Horseshoe Bay run last month to take over from the "Queen of Tsawwassen" which Is having its annual refit at the Dease Dry docks in Richmond. Residents have since complained frequently to both B.C. Ferries officials and local politicians that the small capacity of the "Queen of the Islands" is causing long lineups and delays on both sides of Howe Sound. Some customers have missed the boat altogether when the ship has been unable to hold all the waiting vehicles. "The "Queen of Tsawwassen" was due back on Uie Sunshine Coast today (February 9). However, the traffic department of B.C. Ferries now says the vessel will sail the Gulf Islands run for "at least a week" while the "Queen of Sydney" undergoes repairs. Bill Bouchard, "assistant traffic manager for the B.C. Ferries Corporation, asks that "people be patient with us." Bouchard is also a member of the new area ferry committee which has been established to deal with problems and complaints arising from the ferry service. Local members are Bill Edney of Ken's Lucky Dollar, former regional board chairman Frank West, Don Pearsall of the Concerned Citizens, Dick Procter of the Shopper-Press and Dick Blakcman. There will also be a representative from Powell River on the committee. The next meeting is scheduled for March 1 and it is planned to have the B.C. Ferries catering manager present. People with complaints or suggestions about the ferry food are asked to contact a committee member. IT WAS A GREY and misty morning as B.C. Hydro workmen replace an old pole along Highway 101 near Wilson Creek. Hydro crews have been on the Peninsula for over a week clearing .slash ways and performing general maintenance Jobs. Timesphoto Page A-2 The Peninsula Times Wednesday, February 9,1977 The Peninsula7^��^. tiSBBB^ EDITORIALS Don Morberg, Managing Editor "A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right that free men prize." ��� Winston Churchill Rumour so stopper There has been a fair amount of gossip and speculation concerning Gibsons Village Clerk Jack Copland's finances. Some of tt teis spiUed over into the^papers and into public meetings. Most recently, Copland was instructed February 1, by the village council, to complete a financial disclosure report. For his part, Copland says, "I have no worries when it comes to financial disclosure." Good. In that case, a complete report will put the lie to the rumours, and talk can resume around more interesting topics, like sex and the weather. Guest Commentary Police officers need your understanding By S-Sgt. P. H. CHURCH I have been invited by the editor of this newspaper to write an editorial as a departing gesture, on the occasion of my transfer from the Sechelt Detachment. It was nice of him to extend me this courtesy, particularly as he was kind enough not to confine me to any particular area. Accordingly, after giving the matter some thought, I decided that if I was going to leave any message with you, the Sunshine Coast reader, it should be one which might help you better understand those chaps who drive around in the blue and white cars, stopping you in roadblocks and generally making a nuisance of themselves. To do that, there are a few things I should first explain so that you can grasp what it is that motivates these people. Let's look at the typical RCMP recruit applicant, by way of a short character sketch. First of all, he's between the age of 19 and 22 years, from a farm or city somewhere in Canada. Not always, but usually he's a little larger than average in build, and is probably a high school graduate, with possibly one or two years of university under his belt. In all likelihood, he is athletic and probably likes contact sports, such as hockey or football, where he can bash away happily at the other guys. It is very unlikely that he will be a genius, though very likely that he will have a large measure of common sense. He will probably have a sharp sense of humour, leaning to the satirical. His aspirations in joining the force at least at this stage, are simply to be a cop. Now, what chance does he have of reaching his objective in the RCMP? Only fair. In the first place, his chances of successfully completing the application and training period are about one in thirteen. Having survived, he will be given the opportunity to do police work, all right. But^within the next five to seven years he will also have ample opportunity to leave field police work for an administrative position in a headquarters posting, or to a specialized section which will, to a varying degree, be divorced from field duties. It's tempting. Steady day shift, weekends and holidays off, quick promotion, pleasant working conditions, few irregular hours and a minimum of decision making or outright danger to life and limb, with the added benefit of the same pay cheque as Uie guy working on the street. The chances for the easy life come and go, but if he stays in the field for six or seven years, the chances are good Uiat he will stay there for the rest of his career. He doesn't stop to analyze it, usually, but he is becoming what is known in the trade as a "street cop" or "detachment man." There are many reasons why he Is motivated to remain In the field. Despite the long, irregular hours and shift work, there are satisfactions which come with the territory. Satisfaction from Uie feeling of a job well done. When he convinces a man not to pull the trigger of a pistol pointed at his own head, or returns a frightened child to his parents. When he Is thanked on the morning after by a drunk driver whom he stopped before lt was too late. Or when he is able to find and convict the culprit of a break and entry or Uicft offence. When he Is able to convince a husband and wife that killing each other Is not the answer to their domestic problems. And when he experiences the back- slapping day to day bantering and good fellowship of the daily detachment routine. There are these and other reasons why he chooses to remain in the field, In places like Secholt and Gibsons. They are not always easy to define but are very real to the man doing the job. This man, of necessity, belongs to a club ��� the same fraternity to which all law enforcement officers belong. He may not stop to consider It, may ln fact belong to service clubs and others, but he is nevertheless a member of Uie policemen's mm0>**0m0*^Km^*imi^******^mm*s*m**^**^m0Si*im^*mm*ma*^**+m0m* The Peninsula^Juned- Published Wednesday* at Scefielt ' on H.< .'�� Sunshine Com. by I lie Peninsula Times for Wcstpres Publication* Ltd. ���( Wh��.., B.C. UoiJIO--.Secl.ell, B.C. V0N..A0 Phone H8.VJ2.ll �� Subscription Rates: (In advance) I ,xal, $7 per year. Heyond .lf-mMes, $8 U.S.A.. SIO. Overseas $11 club. He has to be. He is not a popular person in society and relies on the support and camaraderie of his fellow policemen. He has friends outside his profession, true, but they are few in number and carefully picked. He is despised by one segment of society, treated with amused tolerance by another and respected by yet another. But, but the majority, the policeman is treated with outright apathy. And so is his profession. (Recently, a police-public attitude survey was conducted on the Sunshine Coast. After making allowances for children, the percentage of the population who were interested enough to fill out the form and submit an opinion on the policing of the Peninsula was about 1 per cent. That's apathy). The causes of this are complex, but stem mainly, I think, from a basic lack of understanding by the general public. The much overworked phrase, "I don't want to get involved," which we hear so��ften from people who have witnessed a crime, extends to their overall feeling about the policeman's role in society. "He is paid to protect me, so let him do it the best way he can," seems to be the attitude. They simply don't want to be bothered with the details. There are 21 policemen stationed on the Sechelt Peninsula and, while all have at least several of the characteristics I have described, not too are alike. They are human beings who v.ary in age from early 20s to late 30s, but their average age is about 27. They have different personalities, different mannerisms and different ways of getting the job done. They are frusfrated at times by public apathy and by laws which tie their hand^ and protect the criminal. They are restricted by insufficient numbers and not enough time. Unfortunately, but necessarily, their actions are not well publicized, for publicity may often compromise their investigations. Because of this, their actions are often misunderstood by the very perople they are trying to help. Without exception, they do have one thing in common. Each of these 21 men is doing the best job he can, given the circumstances under which he must work. Each is volunteering large amounts of his off duty time and, if married, is slowly driving his wife to distraction in the process. Each Is a well trained professional and most have a wealth of experience policing in the Province of B.C. Each of these men Is a tax-paying citizen and resident of the Sunshine Coast, with his own interests in this community. His roots may not go deep, but he lives and works here now. You may see him working but you'll also see him playing hockey, or curling, or coaching kids or fishing. He has a stake and too few people seem to realize this. He cares about Uie high cost of living and gasoline. He gripes about the ferry service and the rain. He's a human being who is capable of making the same mistakes you make. He's only different In that he has been hired to keep the peace. No policeman can do that without help and these men are no different. They need your interest, your help, your backing and most of all your understanding. ^iM��fc& Hey, hey hey! Is this where all those beachbrushes come from? Ban on unsafe ships sought Editor, The Times, Sir: Would you kindly run the attached petition in your Letters to the Editor column. Petition: To The Government of Canada; The Government of British Columbia. Whereas recent maritime tragedies have threatened the environment of both Canadian and Untied States coasts and, Whereas many flag-of-convenience ships that do hot comply with maritime standards established by the Canadian Government are allowed to sail in Canadian waters, Therefore, we, the undersigned, urge the government to take immediate action in refusing entry of foreign flag ships that do not meet construction, navigational equipment and crew competence standards established by maritime advanced nations to ensure safety at sea and protection of our environment. Name ........ Address .../... Name Address Name ., Address Return signed copy to: Canadian Merchant Service Guild, 230 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V5Y "1P7. READER'S RIGHT "The whole thing stinks9 Between the lines Sgt. Peter H. Church headed the Sechelt RCMP detachment for two years. He recenUy assumed command of tho Chllliwack city detachment, rising to the position of Staff Sergeant. Editor, The Times, Sir: After reading your article on the "Troubled Seaside VUlage Restarting," I feel that your readers got a one-sided opinion, there is the human side to this "mess" besides the legal and financial difficulties. And a mess it is! AU we wanted was a "low-cost" home to raise our children in or to retire in. In my case I wanted a "low cost", small, three bedroom home close to the school, ���park and work for the children's growing years. What I got instead has been a big "messy", expensive nightmare. Because someone else couldn't pay their bills, I get stuck with a lien for thousands of dollars when the land was just barely cleared. I've received threats direct and indirect with words to the effect of, get out of the Crying Wolfe Editor,' The Times, Sir; Evan Wolfe says we must "work harder, produce more and expect less." He must be talking about another country or another century. Our stores and warehouses are overflowing. Logs and lumber are pUed skyward. Christmas layoffs In the forest industry were caused by overproduction since there were no strikes or shutdowns for bad weather. Is Wolfe serious when he calls for still more production? The economy is in a slump because our paycheques won't let us buy anymore of the stuff in the bulging stores. Will lower pay stimulate us to spend even more than we do now? We are depleting our resources as fast as we can, playing fast and loose with the environment and diminishing prospects of employment for our children in our rush to dispose of our heritage. Is more production going to help any of these problems? Capitalism doesn't pay the workers the full value of what they produce. Periodically it chokes on its surplus production, when those goods can no longer be absorbed by the worker- consumers, who are laid off as demand- slackens. The laid off workers stop producing and the fit of gluttony passes. This is what the financial writers call the business cycle. If I didn't think our finance minister was living in the past, preaching solutions to the economics of scarcity, which applied to conditions a century ago ln the early stages of the Industrial revolution, I would suspect his preachments are nothing mpre than a call for workers to enrich their employers' profits ln tho short term, to the long term detriment of everyone. Richard von Fuchs Courtenay Seaside Village Citizens Group Association or I won't get my house built, to keep my mouth shut or I won't get my house built or if I don't pay the lien PU be taken to court. I was supposed to have been in my home in September 1975 and to date we are still renting. I've lost count of how many times I've heard of "refinancing" and, "we'U be starting reconstruction shortly." HA! FU teU you that almost Vh years is not a short time. You quoted that "we have lost a great deal of money" but it is riot only money that we have lost. I have had to to deal with anything from discrimination of getting mortgage money since finance companies and banks do not accept child support as income although I have to pay income tax on it, to exhaustion of trying to find a way out, to bewttderment as to why such a thing could happen in this day and age, to a lack of faith in the laws with their slow process to get us in our homes, to the upset of hearing the cluldren's confusion about why the bad .guys don't buUd our home, to ,the total feeling of stupidjr of getting {myself into such a mess in the first place. At the time that I signed my life savings away it seemed the best thing for aU concerned and a wise investment. The things I heard about the Village were 75 per cent in favor of getting a good home and with it a feeling of security and stability in our lives, in a town that I hoped to raise the children in. I knew that I was getting a "low-cost" house, but to me it was our castle, a dream come true, our own home! And that was aU we were asking for. Now I'm in a mess that I can't go forward or backward. It may take years to get the house finished at this rate or possibly not at all. Even if it does get built I doubt very much if I'll ever Uve in it because it is nothing but bad memories for us. I have listened to so many false promises that I can't get optimistic about the article in your January 26 Issue. It may be a red herring or It may be the truth. To put lt very mildly and without prejudice, the whole thing "STINKS". Mrs.EdleMcRann Sechelt In 1966 when I was spending a good deal of time hanging around the University of Texas ��� if not much time attending class ��� some friends and I started a little tabloid newspaper. True democrats (smaU "d"), we titled Uie paper's head worker Uie "funnel" as opposed to the traditional "editor." This was intended to emphasize his function wlule symbolicaUy minimizing his authority. In many respects, the editor of a smaU weekly such as this one is as much a funnel as an editor. Columns of copy pass beneath his pencil, but they come to him often as unassigned submissions, simply surfacing and moving on to print as one individual or another feels moved to speak. Unlike the editors of a big daUy, he is particularly dependant on his readers because to a greater degree they are also his staff, working voluntarily or, at the most, for negligible sums relative to their efforts. Club secretaries report on their club meetings**and the goalie sends in the 'hcttk^y score. (ActuaUy, Arena -Mahageir EnuVKos sends in the hockey scores ��� and he does an exceUent job. I'm speaking figuratively here and don't want it to appear that I'm nailing Ernie in what follows.) The sinfulness of the arrangement must bring, a blush to the brow of any journalist of integrity. But it works fairly weU, aU things considered. As we keep reminding ourselves, this isn't Vancouver. And ideaUy we aren't so much "reporting the news" as we are searching out ways of communicating with one another. After aU, There are only 13,000 of us in the neighbourhood. The official "sources" are not so remote as they are in the big city either. They shop at the same grocery and hit the same potholes in the road as the rest of us. So that's a lot of what publishing a "community" newspaper is aU about. It's not simply smaller than a daily; it's a different organism altogether. It's quite often just people talking to each other. As a consequence, like casual By Dennis Fitzgerald conversation, it's relatively dotted with opinions, inconsequential information ��� and sometimes misinformation. That's one of the tricks to this game: keeping people on the up and up. If the goalie (not Ernie, remember) lies about the hockey scores, he's soon enough shown up for Uie scoundrel he is and it's straightaway to the penalty box for him. On the other hand, when it comes to less certain matters���such as politics and real estate ��� one of our neighbours may manage to escape blame for culpable error with Uie excuse that he was simply being "optimistic." We've noticed a few such optimists in our midst, and we funnels do the best job we can in seeing that they're caught up. But sometimes, to put it bluntly, we get taken for a ride. And as often as not, we have to walk back. The quickest solution to this problem is for you to yeU your head off (or at least write a letter) if you see someone trying to put one over on the rest of us. We're aU in this together, you know.' R^rt^itig'^Uus, T siisspect my purposeful vagueness may encourage you to question every item you've lately read in this paper. That's fine; there's too many people who never question anything they read.) Weather report Weather January 29 - February 4 Lo Hi Prec. mm January 29 -2 4 nU January 30 -2 4 2.5 January 31 1 7 5.3 February 1 5 7 nU February2 1 6 nU February3 -1 7 0.3 February 4 2 9 0.8 Rainfall January 29-February 4,1977 ��� 8.9 mm. January 29-February.4,1976 ��� 2.0 mm. February 1-4,1977 ���1.1 mm. February 1-4, 1976 - nil. 1977 to February 4 - 89.4 mm. 1976 to February 4 ��� 170.4 mm. ���4fiw#-* ���������������< ' \,lt,-'i_',. "ONCE A HARVARD MAN. ALWAYS i\ HARVARD MAN." utdiMikp, t'-iiMtjtaiW' Pr,r^'y.'"'iimM0^^' ������ 'P^:^0^fPr ,,:-4s*^��K?i**>ii' .ellfWi HERE'S LOOKING at you. A participant in the Vancouver Aquarium's current winter exhibit, "Beneath the Waters of Paradise," examines one of Uie many visitors to the show, and vice versa. The display runs until February 27 and also features a variety of lush tropical plants and the music of FIJu, Tahiti and Hawaii ��� small comfort, perhaps for Sunshine Coast residents whose neighbors all seem to be winging off to the real thing. The Peninsula Times Page A-3 Wednesday, February 9,1977 Corner BY GUY SYMONDS Moss is just aoout uie nardiest vegetable growth on this earth. It grows on ttie frozen tundras, in tropical forests and just about everywhere in between. Some mosses like dry conditions, some like wet conditions, some like an acid soil and some flourish in soil that is alkaline. So the handling of it presents quite a chaUenge. To the home gardener Uie appearance of moss in his lawn is quite a worry ��� or should be, because it generally indicates a basic situation that must be corrected or it wiU go from bad to worse. The most important thing to remember as a first principle is that usually moss will not appear in a lawn unless the general growing conditions are unfavorable to grass. This year's very mtid, dry winter, which almost inevitably wiU be followed by a wet speU, creates good growing conditions for moss, particularly on the light, generaUy poor type of sott typical in this area. So since moss is a symptom of a basic condition, Uie problem is simple. Eliminate ' the particular conditions that favour its growth and by so doing increase those favourable to grass. The first step is to look at the level of fertility of the soil. In the absence of a soU analysis the physical appearance of the plant growth will tell its own story. If the turf is thin with the coarser weeds predominate and the vegetation of poor colour, obviously Uie problem is one of replenishing a poor soil. Getting back to basics, it's a matter of supplying humus in ttie form of peat moss or fine composted material supplemented by either organic or chemical fertilizer. There is, however, another element that complicates the situation. Grasses generally like a slightly acid soil. But to get th�� full benefit of fertilizers the use of lime is an important factor. The answer appears to be, as is the case so often in gardening, don't do anything too drastic all at once. If lime is used it should be applied several weeks before the use of the fertilizers. A complete commercial fertilizer ��� that is, one of approximately equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash as shown by the description on the container ��� may be applied in the early spring at the rate of two to three pounds per 100 square feet. This must be watered weU or you wiU have a burned lawn, except where the fertilizer used is a natural organic derivative. Every month after this first application a good nitrogenous fertilizer such as blood, nitrate of soda or suphate of ammonia should be applied at about the same rate until August. The next element , to consider is drainage. Correction of a^t^ori^t is either too wet or too dry is pretty obvious action. In this part of the world it is generaUy too much water, although in some places where ttie hardpan is quite close to the surface and the topsoU is light and sandy, Uie water disappears quickly and runs off the top of the table of hardpan underlying. Some mosses flourish in shade and here again the gardener has no problem, only a decision. Move whatever is giving the shade or at least do^some pretty .heavy pruning to let in the sunantTbreeze. The other factor affecting moss growth is aeration. Besides light and water, plants must have air available to the root system. So at least once a year aerate your lawn either with a special tool that can be purchased at a garden store or by sinking a digging fork into the lawn. The extent to which this is done depends on the determination and physical condition of the gardener. Just bear in mind that the roots must have air to thrive. Moss can be killed by chemicals of course, but Uiis is only dealing with the symptom. Cure depends on getting back to basics. The bottom line is the same as the first line ��� moss will not appear in a lawn unless conditions are unfavorable to grass, grass. '���'���S.V' '::. ���- WHAT IS IT? It's something which may be very important to you later this year if you live in Gibsons. It's all you can see above ground of the village's new well. Gibsons public works superintendent has recommended that-plans begin now to tie the well into the city's water system, or face possible shortages this spring. Garden Club elects officers for 1977 From the pulpit By PASTOR GERRY FOSTER In the opening chapter of the book of Romans in the New Testament we read these words: "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futUe and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools." This is a brief but very accurate description of our current culture. We are Uving in a post-Christian era and the above statement gives us some indication what has happened. The "Uiey" is not merely someone who lived i ,900 years ago, it is the- man of 1977, ypu and me. It says "they knew God." Yes* early in this century people did know God and although everyone was not a Christian there was in our country a Christian consensus. But tilings have changed drasticaUy. To paraphrase the words of one great thinker of our day, "Our country and our culture are going down the drain". And so instead of honouring God and giving thanks to Him, people's thinking became "futile." Oh, we say this is the enlightened generation where there has been much scientific and technological advance, but on the other hand, a strong humanistic philosophy has developed, and this is "foolishness." Another statement in this same chapter of scripture says, "They worshipped and served created things rather than the creator." Also the "supression of truth" is mentioned. Modern man, like any other generation, is confronted with ttie external world and man himself, i.e. his own uniqueness. This speaks to us of a personal-infinite God. But 20th century man has tried to bury this and refused to believe what is clearly seen. Does it matter that you have turned away from God? Yes, very much so, as we will see next week. The Sechelt Garden Club has elected a new slate of officers for 1977. They are: Jack MacLeod, president; Henry Brown, vice-president; Lou Wilson, secretary and directors Eric Huskins, Vivian Reeves, BiU Cormack and Nancy Read. MoUy Almond wiU direct the social committee, Sue Chanier will write the buUetin and Helen Pierce wtil co-ordinate membership. The show manager is Eric Wilson, the librarian is Mary Benyon and Jack MacLeod wiU look after publicity. The Garden Club believes 1976 was one of their more successful years as membership increased and the quaUty and quantity of exhibits was high. Last year the club also purchased two plaques to commemorate Janet Allan and Frank Reid, the founders of the Garden Club. A Junior Garden section of the club has also been started with several students Winning awards. At the March 2 meeting of the club BiU Brandner of Burnaby wiU speak' on "Pruning, How and When." SOUND CONSTRUCTION ���(-. Carpenter ��� Contractor ���k interior finishing ��� house framing * concrete form work Gary Wallinder il Box 920 Gibsons 886-2316 'ivKsr? Cedar Shanty Art & Craft Supplies���Hand-Crafted Gifts is Relocated Downstairs���Whitaker House Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Monday NOW REGISTERING FOR CRAFT CLASSES ��� BEGINNING MID FEB. MACRAAAE��� Beginners & Advanced Adults ��� Evenings 7: 30-9:30 p.m. 6 lessons: $25.00 Children 9 yrs. & up��� Saturdays 9:30-11:30a.m. 6 lessons: $18.00 RUG HOOKING��� Evenings, 7:30-9:30 NEEDLEWORK��� Evenings 7:30-9:30 QUILTING��� Evenings 7:30-9:30 For further Information call at Cedar Shanty, 885-3414, or evenings, 885-9322 *\u,:��� J.VV, J5$��^^ '���>( .': V;::\5" ' : . ' ' * ���-*���'��W K. BUTLER REALTY LTD. 1538 Gower Point Rd. Ph. 886-2000 L Avoid the last minute rush and receive personalized service. A FREE wal let type folder for your Certificate of Insurance & Registration Form to early customers. DISCOUNT FOR SAFE DRIVERS ���:^jj^0*S^ It's hen! The Silverline Kodiak 17 T The ideal mooching and strip-casting boat. available only at COHO MARINA RESORT Madeira Park 883-2248 This is Roger's fingerprint This is Roger. He is in Grade 4 at school. No other child in his class is the same. No other child anywhere is exactly the same. Everyone knows that no two fingerprints are the same You can't tell by looking at him, but Roger has reading disabilities that require special reading methods. Other children in Grade 4 at his school have special needs too. Joanne is partially deaf. Bob is slow to grasp math. Tony is a new Canadian who is just learning to speak English. May has emotional problems caused by a troubled home environment. Barbara reads at a Grade 9 level, although she is in Grade 4. Her classmates show the usual range from Grade 2 to Grade 8 reading ability. Dan comes to school hungry every morning from a poverty-stricken home. Faye has an eye co-ordination problem. John has a mathematical mind. Garry learns very slowly. Roger and Joanne and Bob and Tony and May and Barbara and Dan and Faye and John and Garry are not peculiar. They are just examples of ihe differences normally found among children. It's normal for children (like fingerprints) to be different. Does It make sense to use the same curriculum and the same test for educating all these children? Is this what the Ministry of Education Is planning? The B.C. Teachers' Federation favors an education system that challenges children to learn reading and writing and other skills to the best of each child's ability. . . . but it rejects the idea of a single core curriculum that ignores differences in . children. A single core curriculum also neglects many important life skills. Because such a curriculum is designed to fit the mythical average child, it fits almost no one. Reading courses are as basic a need as shoes but no one would insist on the same ill-fitting average-sized shoe for every child in B.C. The B.C. Teachers' Federation supports testing that helps to diagnose children's needs and to find ways of helping them learn, but it rejects province-wide tests that ignore differences and make a mockery of individualized learning. To prescribe that every child must reach a set standard regardless of mental and physical gifts or impairments, is a gross violation of children's rights. Such a strategy is comparable to setting the high jump bar at four feel and insisting that all children jump it, knowing full well tliat some will never make it while others will surpass five or even six feet. Curriculum should be developed locally. Tests should be made locally. To ensure that children's individuality continues to be respected: ��� Attend local curriculum meetlnc].;. (Contort youi local school (or limes ) ��� Write lo the Ministry ol l.duc.llon, Parliament Uulldliuis, Victoria, ��� Write to the B.C. Teacher..' I'luleraUon. ��� Call or write your Mli\ nnd school ImsteeM. Published by The British Columbia Teachers' Federation, 105-2235 Burrard Street. Vancouver, B.C. V6J 3H9 Christmas in Hawaii is not for the traditional Page A-4 The Peninsula Times Wednesday, February 9,1977 By MARY TINKLEY If you are a traditionalist who likes to spend Christmas in the��'God Bless you one and all" style ot Tiny Tim, or if you like to spend Christmas morning trudging through*'the snow like Good King Wen- ceslas, returning home to warm yourself by a blazing yule tog while you sip a hot buttered rum, thenxton't go to Hawaii for Christmas ��� wait itfrtil January! There, despite thfc fact that Christmas Seniors carpet By ROBERT FOXALL Final tally in the recent carpet bowling match was Sechelt 18, Roberts Creek 17, a very narrow win. A return match will have been played before this is printed as Sechelt will have journeyed to Roberts Creek February 7. The Welcome Beach team visited our Br. 69 January 31,-bringing some 15 players from the Redrooffs area. Altogether three carpets were in play and the roof was almost lifted off the walls with cheers for good shots and groans at narrow misses. Of course, there was the usual recess to partake of tea and goodies and a lot of visiting with old and new friends. About 50 people voted it a very successful and happy gathering. Sechelt will pay a return call to Welcome Beach February 21. The score for the afternoon was Sechelt 39, Welcome Beach 49. We hope to reverse the figures next time. Our Executive met February 1 and after hearing committee reports decided to change the monthly executive meeting from the morning of the first Tuesday of the month to 4 p.m. of the first Monday of each month. Many of the executive bowl on Mondays and this will save making two trips on successive days. Dave Hayward reported that both bus trips planned for the near future were sold out, i.e. the trip to Seton Villa February 8 and to Reno March 19. Dave also advised that a luncheon would be served on Fourth Thursday, February 24, starting at 12 noon. Phone Secretary Joyce Kolibus or Social Committee Chairperson Helen Erickson. You'll never do better at $1. Afterward there will be some films and games. We have quite a few new games on hand so there will be a good choice. Margaret Humm of Ways and Means, while unable to be present sent a report that the Spring Tea and Bazaar would be held April 23 on Our Hall. So get busy all you handicrafters, gardeners and needlewomen working on your specialty. Carpet bowling on Mondays and dancing Wednesdays continue as usual. music is played in tall the stores and restaurants, the houses are decorated with Christmas lights and the biggest Santa Claus you can imagine presides over the Ala Moana shopping centre, it is still impossible to get into the Christmas spirit or even to realize it is Christmas. After all, how can you feel Christmassy when the temperature is 85, a soft Kona wind is swaying the palm trees and the golden beaches and tumbling surf are constantly luring you into the water? More than three millibn visitors (2% million of them from Canada and the U.S.) arrived in Hawaii during 1976. In December there was a 21.5 increase over the previous December and quite a number of them obviously found their way to the Waikiki beaches which were uncomfortably crowded. Between (Christmas and New Year, 24,000 visitors arrived from Japan, most of them on conducted tours and looking extremely prosperous. I was- particularly impressed with their handsome and intricate watches and their expensive photographic equipment. It was surprising to find that Hawaii, like Canada, is bi-lingual, with English as their first language and the second language, surprisingly, not Hawaiian but Japanese. Hawaii must surely be one of the most cosmopolitan places in the world, for there were people there of every race and every colour ��� from the whitest blonde, through yellows, coffee colour, to the dark brown of the East Indian and the near-black of the Negro. One of the most impressive places I visited was the state capitol, with its fascinating symbolic architecture. The volcanic theme is expressed in the cone- shaped legislative chambers and in the general architectural design of the building. The centre court is open to sun and rain, with th^ side of the building curving in to form the throat of a volcano. I was able to visit the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Executive offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor, which are all panelled in Koa, a beautiful native hardwood. The forty stately pillars which surrounded the building symbolize the palm trees, so much a part of Hawaiian life. The nearby Iolani Palace, America's only royal residence, is closed for major reconstruction, but it should certainly be worth a visit when it reopens next year. Thanks to the excellent bus service on Oahu, it is possible to go anywhere on the island for 25 cents. In fact, you can board a bus at the Ala Moana and travel all the way around the island (a four-hour trip) in either directions for 25 cents. If you don't mind being extravagant and spending 50 cents on the trip, you can break your journey at Sunset beach or one of the other fine beaches at the northern end of the island, where you can watch some spec tacular surf Tiding while you eat a picnic lunch. I would certainly recommend any visitor to Oahu to invest $1.10 in a small yellow book which lists many places of interest you might otherwise overlook and which tells you "How to get there on the bus." My companions on my trip were Tip and Jessie Corson of Vancouver, but time with were Don Ross of Redrooffs and Richard and Lillian Birk of Southwood Road. The Birks were spending Christmas with their son Dennis and his wife Jane who sailed to Hawaii in their Tahiti ketch "Takuli" more than a year ago. Dennis and Jane are both working in Honolulu, bi|t in May they plan to leave for an 18 month tour of the South Pacific before among the Halfmooners we spent some returning to Canada. Fitness is something you can jump .(^3 up and down about pamtciPamanm pamtcipamoni Tf>�� C*n��a