The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 22, 1998 - B1 TERRACE STANDARD Co! MMUN [TY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR INSIDE COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 CHARLYNN TOEWS | Pebble policy HERE IS no clear policy on the is- sue of putting pebbles on the slide at the library park among the parent-users. It’s true: as a newish parent, I watched to see whether yes, it’s okay for my rug rat to put peb- bles on the slide, or no, it’s naughty. For example, the other day I had allowed my youngster to put, not throw, pebbles on the slide. Moments later, when he had moved on to bury his robot, a little girl about his age put peb- bles on the slide. Her mother jumped up from the bench we were sharing and said, ‘‘No, no. That’s naughty. We don’t put pebbles on the - slide.’ I was mortificd to imagine what a hor- rible mother she must think I am. “Okay,”’ I thought to myself, ‘“‘The policy is No pebbles.”’ But then the very same day on the way home when we had to stop in the park again f saw a young mother organizing a pro-pebble game with three toddlers. Everybody would put peb- bles on the slide then everybody would slide down through them. “Now I am perplexed,” I thought to myself. ‘Here is a parent positively promoting pebble- putting.’ Secondly, is it all right when we hog a swing for an hour? It is the whole question of sharing and taking tutus. Now, some two and three year-olds might be able to take turns mainly be- cause they are easily distracted and usually weigh under thirty pounds and so can be physi- cally removed. But sharing is another malter. A toddler who sees something or wanls something might as well have a Bill of Sale clutched in a chubby hand saying simply, ‘‘Mine.”’ lam pretty sure my little boy feel he owns the library park’s swing set, the middle swing in particular, and feels shock and dismay when- ever finding someone else using it without his authorization, When a swing opens up for his use it must seem to him that rightful ownership has been restored. Sharing is hard for grown-ups too: look at land use, or the tax system. To arbitrarily remove said child from said swing at any point in time is to perpetrate a ter- rible wrong, going by the volume and duration of the screaming and crying that results. ‘But that litle girl is wailing to swing. Sec her there?” “No, no,’’ he cries, eyes squeezed shut. Well sharing is hard for grown-ups too: look at land usc, or the tax system. What about under-ducks, spinning, or simply swinging very high and very fast? Such acrobatics appear to increase swing enjoyment ‘for those children currently swinging at about the same rate it decreases swing safety for those children not yet swinging, Even a small child at a decreasing rate of air speed packs quite a whollop if he accidentally boots a kid who miscalculated the projectile and motors straight through the swing path. “Oops, fell down!’’ I shout, stopping the swing one nano-second too late so that both the booted and the booter are now upset, But I sup- pose the safest swing set is one that is emply and motionless, or better yet (there mighi be a gust of wind), a picture of a swing sect. Finally, there is the whole question of dogs at ihe park, or as my friend Bonnie calls them, Those Damn Dogs, She assumes all dogs are - potential biters and thus represent a real and ter- tible danger to her two-year-old. I’m afraid me and mine assume all dogs are happy friendly beasts who just want to play, For example, a large Rottweiler-type dog fortunately had enough of a stump of a tail left for me to see it was wagging as it charged across the grass to deliver an enthusiastic and slobbery face wash to my little boy, Oh, ho bo, Good thing il was indeed a bappy friendly dog because I am not absolutely sure I could have moved fast eiough to save my child from one of Those Damn Dogs. Sometimes when my little guy and I leave the library park we are both feeling tired and testy, if someone stepped on his fingers, or, worse yel, if he stepped on someone else’s fingers. “Sometimes it’s hard to get along with other _ peaple,’’ I say, and he agrees through his tears. ~. Especially when there’s no clear policy on some vital issucs of the day. And the winners are... FOR THE FIRST time there's a tie for Volunteer of the Year. Judges were torn between Mamie Kerby and Josephine Buck, so gave the top honour to both women. Honourable mention this year goes to Audrey Green and Crispina Cote. And Bill Braam received the special services award, “It’s getting harder every year,” said judge Dale Luf- kin, manager of Overwaitea and co-sponsor of the con- test. He and fellow judges Dale Lufkin, city councillor, and Carol Zucchiatli, last year’s winner, felt both Buck and Kerby had made a sig- nificant impact on the com- munity. The judge’s criteria was: length of service, impact on community, variety of volunteer services and not much previous recognition. Buck wasn’t included in the Terrace Standard’s nominations in the last four field trips. She volunteered one day a week for the Child Develop- meut Centre for three years, and taught primary Sunday School at the Salvation Army, and helped with other church functions. Buck helped found two important social institutions in Terrace — the Food Bank of the Churches and Terrace Anti Poverty. In the early 80s Buck and a number of others found themselves unemployed in the midst of a bad recession. So they starled a soup kitchen, which ran from 1982-85, But they also real- ized there was a need to do advocacy work, and formed Terrace Anti-Poverty, part of a coalition of anti-poverty groups across the province, Now Buck is gratified that the food bank and Anti- Poverty have gained such respect and status in the community, “As time progresses and “‘How do you say who was better?” — Judge Dale Lufkin on this year’s tie for top honours. weeks. Her nomination was put forward by daughter Maureen Buck, and handed directly to a judge, rather than to the paper. But it did come by deadline. Josephine Buck has been an active volunteer in the community for the past 16 years, Her volunteer work began as that of many mothers, by contributing to activities in which her six children were involved, such as school Audrey Green Honourable Mention Honourable Mention leaves money for teeth. Students were asked how the Tooth Fairy keeps teeth clean. Harmect Bal, in grade two wrote: I think the Tooth Fairy polishes them. { think the Tooth Fairy collects them and TOOTHY SMILES — Harmeet Bal and Kulji Sandhu both have some fascinating people see need is actually there, it does become a reality,’’ she said. From then on Buck volunteered for many groups, including a parent group, the labour council, political parties, Pro-Life, and was even an assistant soccer coach. In 1990 she became in- volved wilh Special Olympics, helping to coor- dinate trips, raffles and ac- livilies of mentally chal- Crispina Cote cup. Mamie Kerby Volunteer of the Year lenged athletes in the area. Last year she faced her greatest challenge with the death of Joan Cox, a friend and key organizer of Special Olympics. ‘Although extremely sick for six weeks with pneumonia, (shc) tock over Joan’s duties of recording secretary and treasurer and went to Vancouver for the Provincial BC Special Olympics annual meeting,”’ wrote her daughter Maureen. “Without Josephine’s commitment, the 37 spe- cial needs people taking part in swimming or bowling would not be able to have this weekly ouling to im- prove their self esteem, socialize, be competitive, have fun or prepare for events such as BC Summer games,”” Despite such an extensive history of volunteering, Buck was shocked when she learned sbe had been named one of the Volunteer of the Bill Braam Special Service ales of the Tooth Fairy THE TOOTH Fairy doesn’t quite rank with the Easter Bunny and Santa, but she’s among the many mysteries of childhood, ' This month is dental month and children at ET Kenney Primary wee asked for their impressions of the mysterious fairy who makes them into money. J think the Tooth Fairy maks them clean with her magic wand. { think the Tooth Fairy scrubs them. I think the Tooth Fairy collects them in a Aad Kulji Sandhu in grade three wrote: Everyday I brush my teeth daytime and night time, You are sopped to brush your teeth two times in a day. Once I had @ loose tooth and the naxt day I woke up and { was eating my breafast and my tooll: came out, ‘Where do you keep the teeth? insights into what the tooth fairy does with those teeth. They recorded their ideas In honour of dental month, this April. ; Josephine Buck Volunteer of the Year Year winners, “Why me??? she asked, "When you read the write- ups about other volunteers in the newspaper, you sort of aspire to be like them,’ she said of her fellow nominces, Of her work with Special Olympics she said “you know exactly who you're doing volunteer work for. You see results right away in the ‘successes of the athletes —- and not just in- creased skills.’ Buck points out that the community came forward last year when Special Olympics desperately needed volunteers to fill key positions, and that their ef- forts should be recognized as Well, Mamie Kerby had a similar reaction when she learned she’d been nomigated. For the past 15 years Kerby has been the driving force behind preserving Ter- race’s past, creating Herilage Park, a collection of pioneer log buildings and artifacts. Now the museum is a pop- ular tourist destination, and - ‘ an invaluable part of north- west school curriculum. When Kerby was nominated, she protested it was too soon, saying she still had another year of heavy-duty work ta do with the museum. When she learned she’d : won the honour, she com- mented on the large aum- bers of people voluntecring without any recognition. “There are so many people doing volunteer ‘work,’’ said Kerby, “The judges were very much in agreement,’’ said Rich McDaniel about Kerby and Buck’s selection for the ' top honour. . ‘Mamie has given a con- tribution to Terrace and the area Which is incredible.’’ And she’s never sought recognition for her work, added Lufkin. As for Buck, — her volunteering has touched a wide range of people and groups, said McDaniel. “How do you say who was better,’’ said Lufkin of the tie, Lufkin said deciding on the two honourable mention positions was also tough. When he phoned Crispina Cote to inform her she'd been named runner-up, she tried to refuse, offering the names of other volunteers instead. “Anyone who takes their holidays ta work on volunteering for the com- munity, ] think that shows a really good personal com- mitment,’’ said Lufkin. As for Audrey Green, McDaniel said ‘she’s just everywhere.”’ Bill Braam was an ob- vious choice for special ser- vices winner, for his in- credible dedication as a volunteer fire fighter and head of Terrace Search and Rescue, All the winners and other nominees are invited to the Volunteer Bureau’s annual luncheon on Friday, April 24, The two winners will also be teated to dinner at the Bavarian Inn, Around Town health patients. Katimavik. English backgrounds. be given priorily. Easter Bunny came a callin’ THE TERRACE Volunteer Department helped the Easter Bunny make its rounds recently. (The bunay had a little help from local stores too.} The Easter Bunny visited residents at Terraceview Lodge, patients at Mills Memorial Hospital, and mental Fire fighter Ron Fleming escorted Easter Bunny Wendy Prinz on ber rounds, Travel’s paid for IF YOU'RE young and want to travel, but can’t afford to see the country and save for school, then check out It’s a national program run by a non-profit organiza- tion who's aim is to help the personal development of young people through a program of volunteer work, training and group interaction, Youths aged 17-21 are eligible to take part in this 8- month program. They'll gain new skills, practice a sec- ond language, improve interpersonal and communica- tion abilities and travel to different regions of Canada, Groups of youths are made of an equal number of males and females, and those from both French and Kalimavik covers the costs of travel, food, lodging and activitles, plus $3 a day and a $1000 bursary on completion of the program. Tf you’re interested in applying, cail toll free 1-888- 525-1503. Applications submitted before May 15 will simply, "