Learning expert to speak TERRACE RESIDENTS get their first look at how young children are faring in the area when one of the continent's leading experts on early ‘learning visits the area next week. UBC professor Dr. Clyde Hertzman will list strengths and weaknesses of current services on maps of the area. _.. [U's part of the Terrace Make Children First - Initiative, a three-year program aimed at im- proving the first years of children up until school age. The idea is to have children pre- pared for entry to school. ‘Part of the information for the maps comes from information supplied by kindergarten teachers, -Hertzman is the director of the Human Ear- Gentle policing for overnight tourist RVers CITY OFFICIALS say they will crack down - gently — on overnight camping in retail parking lots. Free RV parking by tourists has angered local RV ly Learning Partnership, located at UBC and backed by the provincial government as part of a province--wide effort to improve services for young children. In Terrace, that’s meant a commitment to spend $300,000 over three years. There’s an emphasis not only on services, but on establishing partnerships to provide fi- nancing and guidance. Already in existence is a management committee and under develop- ment is a committee of community leaders. Local providers of child services are being expected to pool resources and to work togeth- er, To that end, and to develop a program plan to move forward, a consulting firm has been hired. Its plan is due in September. “We'll be finding out where we're doing well and we're not doing well at all,” said Darlene Westerman, a participant of the Make Children First Initiative here and a co-ordina- tor at The Family Place, “One of the changes is that agencies need to be accountable. Dr. Hertzman gives .us that information you need to start with as a base. He provides the science background,” said Westerman. Westerman is one of the spearheads of the Hungry Kids Committee, a mostly informal group that has concentrated on low-cost volun- teer efforts to stem hunger in the area. Hertzman’s presentation takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. June 17 at the Coast Inn of the West. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - A3 ee ee News In Brief Libs gather in Rupert IT'LL BE politics and fishing in mid-July when provincial Liberals gather in Prince Rupert for what's billed as a regional conference. The July 18-20 will also feature a tour of the North Pacific Cannery and a golf tournament. Party members from the all nine northern ridings have been invited as well as MLAs, the entire pro- vincial cabinet and Premier Gordon Campbell. The regional conference is one of a series being held throughout the province as the party checks in with its members. Passenger numbers dip THE NUMBER OF passengers going through the airport here was the lowest for May since 1999. Latest statistics indicate 7,743 people used the airport compared to 8,168 for May of last year, 8,849 for May of 2001, 7,818 for May 2000 and 7,269 for May 1999. Numbers were also down in April compared to April 2002 but January, February and March pas- senger figures were higher than for the same months in 2002, “If you look at the two towns the airport covers, there are fewer peaple period — the population is dropping ~ and there are fewer people working,” said George Clark of Elan Travel. park operators, who say they’re losing money as a result. . The city will first ask stores such as Canada Safeway to take down any signs encouraging RVs to camp there, says development services director David Trawin. Overnight camping in parking lots is already illegal in Terrace except in campgrounds that meet city regula- tions. - . -.: Trawin said his department will create a new munici- pal ticket that will allow the city to fine the stores when -:.RVs camp in their lots. The size of the'fines is yet to be Set. City councillors have said they don’t want to harass - tourists who arrive in Terrace late at night and opt to park in a supermarket parking lot because it’s tao late to find an RV park or campground..- - “T don’t think we need the bylaw enforcement Gesta- ‘po running around all night,” councillor David Hull said. | “We're going to take a low-key approach,” Trawin -. assured, The city will turn a blind eye to RVs that pull in late in the evening and depart first thing in the morning, Trawin indicated. “But if they pull in at 4 p.m. and stay Tight restrictions on public sector spending have also cut into the number of air travellers, said Di- ane Francis of Uniglobe Courtesy Travel. She did note that April air travel bookings were down 18 per cent world-wide, more than three times what the drop was here in May. “It's a number of things. World issues - from the war to SARS —- down to the local economy, said Penny Kuemper of Carlson Wagonlit Travel. There was also some apprehension because of the Air Canada uncertainty, she added. lt’s Andy for the Alliance SKEENA MP Andy Burton has earned the overwhelm- ing support of local party members who want him to Tepresent the Canadian Al- there for two or three days, that’s a problem,” he said. . City staff won’t actively police the parking lots, but will instead Tespond only to complaints, Frawin added. "Wild Duck RV park owner Yvonne Danroth said the enforcement plan doesn’t appear to have much teeth. She’s hopeful the problem will be reduced if stores “take down their signs welcoming RVs. “It’s better than nothing,” she said. _. But Danroth said tourists are increasingly camping at Canadian Tire even though it has no signs posted, “It’s becoming more and more known that you can ~_park for free in Terrace,” she said. Danroth hopes the city comes to grips with the prob- lem this year, predicting it will be much worse next year ‘when Wal-Mart opens its store and giant parking lot right next to the Skeena River and the city’s riverside trail. Smile and Whitening By Dr. Zucchiatti ADENT DENTAL CLINIC Phone: 635-2552 4623 Lakelse Avenue, Terrace Mon-Fri * 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Buy Two PrePlayed OVD, VHS or Games GET TWO MORE FREE! #113-4717 Lakelse Avenue, Terrace ¢ 635-4333 4730 Keith Avenue, Terrace * 638-7227 254 City Centre Mall, Kitimat * 632-4878 All titles not available in all locations. Free items must be the lesser valued items in the transaction. 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Burton, a former mayor of Stewart now serving his first term as Skeena’s representative in the na- tion’s capital, ran uncontested. “We are extremely fortunate to have Andy as our representative,” Skeena constituency president Lorne Sexton said. “He has made considerable contributions to the Skeena riding and has worked extremely hard to represent his constituents,” Andy Burton By & FF Gao fs