‘Something good is happen- . ing.’? And according to Mayor Jack Talstra that ‘something good” is the continued upswing — in the construction industry. At first: glance it would appear ‘there’s been little change: con-' . struction was valued at about $10.56 million last year com- " pared to $10 million in 1987, but a closer look shows some signifi- cant differences. - _-- This upswing in the construc. tion industry doesn’t come as a. complete surprise and more of _the’same has been predicted by Dennis Palmu of Impact Con- struction, Palmu said recently that he looks towards the future of the Terrace construction in- dustry with optimism. ‘‘The ‘next three years look good and. - the present economy could carry that even further,’’ said Palmu. “There’s plenty of work. for. everyone and even though the ‘industry hasn’t recovered from Canada, it’s ‘going to grow and © ‘get better yet.”? In fact, the only shortfall predicted by Palmuis a shortage of skilled labor. .. According to a summary. by. the city’s building inspection de- partment, in 1987 new industrial - growth was responsible for more than. 40 percent of ‘the total — construction in Terrace — ‘but. that was primarily due to the. Skeena Cellulose ‘Starship’ saw- mill project. Without this one project, the 1987 value of con- “struction in Terrace would have -been recorded at only $5.8 mil- ‘lion, but even that would have been recorded as a good year with.a 26 percent increase over 1986. ; Bo - By comparison, in 1988, new industrial growth made up only about $1.54 million of the total value of: construction projects and the balance was made up of 41 new housing starts valued at the recession. as fast as. eastern — Books for Young Readers by Andrea Deakin Welwyn Wilton Katz’s latest book must head this column because with this: book she has reached the top flight of writers for young adults, and can stand in company with Robin ‘McKinley, Dianna Wynne Jones, Monica Hughes. ~ - Each book has shown a steady progression to this point, each time she has become more assured and adept in handling the dif- * ficult field she has chosen:—. fantasy. The Third Magic, pub- lished by Groundwood at $14.95, is a variation on the Arthurian . legend. The two magic forces of the world;Nwim have fought each other through’ many worlds for centuries. The male magic of _ the Line and the female magic of the Circle struggle fiercely and ‘ _ ‘bitterly. Arddu is born the twin of Rigan, a Sister. To-his people . he is A’Casta — the outcast — because his coloring belongs to the Sisterhood, but he is male: Rigan is sent to try and seize another world for the Circle. An-attempt to draw her back to Nwm draws instead a: desceridant from earth’s modern world, Morgan Lefevre. Arddu becomes her companion and the two are — drawn into the struggle surrounding the possession of an ancient weapon which holds the power of the Third Magic. The Third Magic is a powerful and totally engrossing story which combines Arthurian legend, time travel and an intriguing interpretation of the struggle for dominance between the male and female entity, a struggle which she wisely suggests can only be resolved by co-operation. How skillfully she presents this thesis. This is a book to be read on several levels. It is an ex- citing, beautifully crafted and written fantasy adventure, but it is much more. I have passed my.copy on to several young adults , and adults — not one could put the book down until it was finished... ee ee , The post-war housing shortage was acute, every bit as acute in the Ottawa area in the'1940’s al it-was elsewhere. An attempt to ease the situation was made by moving homeless families into the barracks at Uplands Air Base, Brian Doyle spént three years at _the base, the setting for his latest.book, Easy Avenue. Ashe remembers it, ‘‘There was one presence, one pressure, that. nobody. who lived in the Uplands Emergency Shelter could ig- * nore. Right next door... there was the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club where many of the best off people in the region hung about.’’ Brian Doyle gives us-the story of Hulbert O’Driscoll.(Hubbo), living with his guardian aunt in the ‘cramped accommodation at the base, who enters Glebe Collegiate, a High School in the more affluent area of town: Here he feels the gap between rich and poor even more acutely, gives way to being ashamed of his aunt — the school’s cleaning lady: — and yearns to belong to the boys’ Hi-Y Club. A new job as companion to the elderly Miss Collar- Cuff who introduces him to the pleasures of reading when he reads War and Peace to her, and an anonymous benefactor whe subsidizes him, bring further confusion into his life. - Brian Doyle handles his cast of eccentric, warmly observed - characters with great skill and understanding. The book is funny, it is also deeply moving, poignant in its portrant of young Hub- bo, on the edge of maturity, learning to deal with the inequities of the world while beginning to'perceive that there are values, - and nobility and sensitivity of character, which have nothing to do with poverty or wealth, Brian Doyle is one of our most valuable writers, a writer who can express complexities of human réialionships and values with warmth, compassion and humour. Easy Avenue, published by Groundwood at $12.95, is another. triumph forhim, (0 $3.12 million (up 42 ‘percent), $1.94 million in commercial ad- ditions and renovations (up 30 percent), $1.24 million in-new commercial facilities (a whop-. ping 679 percent increase), - $119,000'in industrial additions -PREMIUMS ) going ‘and renovations (up 38 percent), and a total of $2.16 million in _institutional projects (up 77 per- - Gent) which includes new facili- ties, renovations and additions. Recession recovery in the con- .struction industry began after a Motorists billed in 1989 As a result of contin- ually increasing numbers of bodily , injury and property damage claims in - British Columbia, most B.C. motorists will. pay $40 to $60 more for their Autoplan vehicle premiums in 1989 — an average 8% increase. WHO PAYS MORE? - Terrace Review — Wednesday, February 8, 1989 11 strong, ~ Jow of $2.1 million in.1985, That - Vehicle owners who had one at-fault claim - ‘in 1988 will see their Autoplan premium increase by 63% or . more. An owner with . two at-fault claims will pay approximately . -116% more. | The premium for Basic Third Party Legal Liability, the $200,000 compulsory coverage, is increased 11% on average. Collision premiums and "- premiums for Compre- hensive coverage are only slightly increased. - Some vehicle owners will even see a decrease in Collision or Compre- hensive premiums due to the ‘aging’ of nearly wa of the vehicles in DRIVER POINT PREMIUMS- In 1989, Driver Point: Premiums will be increased by about 20%. for accumulating five points or more against their driver's licences must pay the 1989 _ rates: This is part of the continuing effort of _ICBC to increase costs to drivers who break — the law. - Points Premiums Points Premiums 43.1.) $555 25... $2720 14... $645 26+. . $3,000 ’ SENIORS. DISCOUNT current claims trends:: 0-4.,..: $0 16.... $860 6 ..... $118 17,... $990 Sevens $150 18... $1,135 Pell. $185 19%... $1,290 8...,. $230 20...$1,470- 9..... $280 21...$1,670 10.... $335 22... $1,890 11.... $400 23... $2,140 12..,. $470 24...$2415 As of January 1, 1989, senior citizens who. qualify are eligible for the 25% handi- capped driver discount in addition to the 25% seniors discount. These. discounts apply only to the basic insurance and can combine for a total saving of nearly 44% for a handicapped senior. Island, all islands off figure. more than doubled to $4.6 million in 1986, jumped to $10 million in 1987 with the help of Repap’s Starship project, and - year, . ~ RADAR _. DETECTORS On new policies or — | renewals as of January | 1, 1989, ICBC no longer provides coverage for | | radar detectors. The | definition of ‘equip- . ~ ment’ in the Insurance. | . (Motor Vehicle) Act has Zz been amended specif-’., ically to excluderadar: _ [i detectors. | vee oe __ TERRITORIES...» ‘ICBC has adjusted _ rates in a-number of =: territories to reflect +: By ee a Rates for the Fraser Valley (Territory J) are up slightly in addition — to overall premium increases. Collision premiums are reduced for South Vancouver Island(Ter- ritory B). Except for Bowen Island and Central and Northern Vancouver the B.C. coast are in | Territory B, making the overall premium increase slightly less than elsewhere. The Pemberton area north of Garibaldi Pro- vincial Park is.changed from Territory A to Territory M, with a resulting decrease in premiums for most veh- icle owners in that area. mo hit the $10.6 million mark last . - nee eee - ns ne Wega tee cas OMNIS SS ge gece ~- - eet tel FONE UE mT tae pe - Dt ne ng ener ae ~— DRIVE DEFENSIVELY.