INSIDE COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 KATHY FLORITTO Hospital going down the tubes hildren have a wonderful instinct for truth. They ask ‘““Why?"’ and always know if you're fudging the answer...so they keep pushing. If your first reply doesn’t make much sense to them, out comes the ““Why??? again (and again and again), until finally, Grom sheer exhaustion, you respand clearly, directly and truthfully. It appears to me that we should be taking that same tack with the various levels of governance invalved with Mills Memorial Hospital. Why is Mills used as a regional care facility, but refused funding as a regional hospital? The queslion has been asked many times, but can anyone offer a response that makes sense? If you can, by all means, post it in large letters on all major arteries because, if it’s been printed in ordinary type, I’ve missed it Why is the almight buck more important than you or me? Anyonc?? Why is an 81 year old, terminally ill woman who has paid for *‘the best health care system in the world’” told, when she needs it, there’s no room in the Inn for her? Why is a hospital that is supposed to serve the needs of its community (in this case, a fairly large communily), reduced to 15 beds?? Why are the elderly residents of Terraceview Lodge now being fed by a hospital “kitchen’’ whose primary claim to fame is a knack for tak- ing perfectly good," wholesome foodstuffs and turniag thein into something my neighbor's dog would refuse? If you think I’m being too harsh, check it out, See how many people’s families are bringing in food because patients can’t handle what’s on their tray? To belabour this point, our two-year-old grandson was in hospital a few months ago and Thad the misfortune to be there when ‘‘dinner?? was served, The poor litle kid was presented wilh a plate loaded with a gluey mass of overcooked potatoes, hockey-puck hard carrots, preen beans swimming in water and, I kid you not, Rubber Chicken, He wouldn’t have touched it on a good day, Oh — he didn’t go hungry. He polished off his brought-in dinner in no time flat, Interestingly, no staff member asked ‘“Why??’ when removing the still loaded hospital plate. Now, apparently, the residents of Terraceview Lodge are going to be fed by that same kitchen, Tom Novak, the hospital’s financial troubleshooter, wants to integrate the dictary plan lo ‘‘save money”, Why? Is Terraceview in financial doo doo? I’ve seen no headlines to that effect, but now that the facilities’ accounts are being “handled’ by Mills bookkeeping staff, perhaps that will be next on the list. More “integration’’? To add insult to injury, Mr. Novak says he’s sampled the food at Mills and ‘‘it tasted good’’ to him, at the same time admitting he’s ‘‘not too picky’’. Terrific. A middle-aged, apparently healthy individual who lacks the ability to dis- criminate between good food and slop not only determines that sick peaple should be abused with unpalatable edibles, but now, it must be dished out to the aged, Why?? Admittedly, its cuisine is not the chief lament about Mills Memorial. Shortage of nurs- ing staff and doctors frustrated with a hospital that chooses pennics over people ought to send all of us marching to Victoria with three-letter signs...““Why??”’ For years, we've seen pcople demonstrating with signs saying “‘Save Our Trees”’, “Save the Spotted Owl’’, “Save Qur Coyotes’ and on and on. We could learn a les- son from the diehards who've refused, over the years, to be placated with political baffiegab; who've stuck to their guns and made themselves a royal pain in the nether region to governments ‘and, in some cases, us. Do we need sigus saying ‘‘Save Our People"? As Canadians, for decades we've prided our- selves on the quality of our hospital care. We've looked at the situalion in the US and wondered how on earth the lives of human beings not only could be measured in dollars and cents, but could wind up on the short end of the measuring stick. Well, we don’t have to look that far anymore. The bean counters may cash their paycheques in satisfaction, knowing they’re accomplishing what votes never could..an American system made int Canada. It’s time we took our lead from our children... “TERRACE STANDAR. COMMUNITY Murdoch Robertson’s new book, A Touch of Murder _Now and Then, casts readers deep into the foibles of a LOCAL LAWYER Mutr- doch ‘‘Doch"’ Robertson awaits this. mouth the release of his first full- length book, A Touch of Murder. Now and Then, which describes the mest bizarre criminal cases he’s ever tried. Practicing law in Terrace since 1957, Robertson, 773, is one of the best known lawyers in the northwest, His book allows readers a glimpse into the human side of the legal system. “There are always funny parts in any trial,’’ Robert- son said, ‘‘There’s always some crazy moment where something happens and gives you fits,’’ When asked whether or not he ever laughed out loud in court, be said he couldn't unless the judge was gip- gling too. “Bul you would laugh like hell after!’’ be added, The 258-page novel is based on cleven true criminal cases Robertson tried — nine murder tials and two murder = mans- laughter trials. Readers soou discover (that practicing in Terrace is never boring nor is it humorless. “T know it’s a funny small town’s legal system. baok,”’ Robertson said. “Tf something strikes me as funny, I don’t mind shar- ing it as long as it doesn’t destroy ithe clients con- fidentialily.’’ Robertson started writing A Touch of Murder Now and Then while undergoing 70 days of cancer treatment in a Vancouver hospital, He said his wife Marion urged him to write down all the funny tales be’d been telling guest over the ycars at the dinner table, Ii took Robertson about nine months total to write, rescarch and polish the fin- ished product, “It has great insight into the criminal system and great insights inlo the minds of counsel,”’ he said, “T think it’s a good read, It’s a winner.” Robertson is currently working on two other books A Perfect Case, which should be published by next spring, and The Tahitian. Robertson ‘still practices law in Terrace. Along with writing, wine making is an- other full-time hobby. The new book, A Touch of Murder Now and Then wilt be launched September 25 at Misty River Books from 2-4 p.m. SECTION B ALEX HAMILTON 638-7283 GREAT READ: Longtime Terrace resident Murdoch Robertson is launching his THE CAST of the play Eggheads includes Bradie Fladhamer, Jenna Vigv ers, Randi Laplante, Katy Morrison, Amy Mattern, Allison Knoedler, Ashiey Laplante, Christopher Watts, Shalane Crossan, Allison Bibby and Jonathan Orango,. TLT day camp a success BIGHTY-FIVE Terrace youths performed plays in this year’s Summer Drama Days, a children’s program ran by the Terrace Little Theatre. With help from camp directors Diandra Oliver, Teresa Fleming, Jeff Bolingbrook and Amber Caminish, students performed 15-minute plays. **The kids have a blast,’’ Oliver said. “They also gel a lot of self-esteem by per- forming in front of each other and an audience. As well as acting in the plays, students played games, made up skits and did a [ot of improvisation. At the dress rehearsal, Oben Hart, 12, said the drama camp was cool. “E like being able to play different characters," Hart said. He said everything aboul the camp was fun — including the time spent memorizing lines, | And as for the big performance, Hart said he wasn’t nervous a bit to perform in front of an audience full of proud parents. “It's casy!”’ be said, Around Town Women needed for survey The Bread and Roses Women’s Centre invites women in Kitimat and Ter-: race lo participate in a legal justice Survey. Share your experiences with the law and court sys- tem. Use our Jaw library, For more information call Joanna at 632-2020 or visit at 55600 Mountainview Square, Kitimat, Rotary Club searches for participants The Rolary Club of Ot- tawa has launched a nation- wide search to find past participants In its annual “Adventure in Citizenship Program.” The Rolary club is plan- ning a 50th anniversary gathering. of 10,000 ad venturers and their families, Ie will be held in Ottawa August 4-7, 2000 as part of the millennial : celebrations in the Nations capital. If you are a former Ad- venturer, of know of one, please contact the Rotary Club of Ottawa,. P.O, : box 9041, Ottawa ON KIG- 3 T8. Phone 613-241-6003 or e-mail rolary@ottawd.com. For additional details on the Rotary - Millennial Adven- ture program visit the web site at. www, roturyollawa.com, Grief support group The Terrace Hospice Socicty is offering a Grief Support Group for individu- als and familics . who’ are struggling with loss, When: you are grieving il - can be lonely and frighten- ig time, however it. docs nothave to be. ‘Tn joining with others who are grieving, you’ can find strenglh, comfort: and. sup- port. You are not alone in your. sadness. Please teach’ out, Poople do care, ‘Tf you ate inleresled In at- tending this program please call» the Hospice Office at, 635-4811. * which new baok September 25 at Misty River Books from 2-4 p.m. BOBBIE PHILLIPS, manager of the Terrace and Dis- tet Chamber of Commerce, admires the colourtully- painied totem pole that she would like to move out- side where tourists can appreciate it. Totem pole to move outside THE CHAMBER of Coin- inerce is faced with a totem pole crisis. ‘Bobbie Phillips, manager of the Chamber, said she’d like lo move a totem pale from inside the ‘small’ A- frame to duldvors, bul she’s unsure What customs and furmalilics “are-itivolved in moving iH, The filtcen-foot carving, was sculpted by Hotace Stevens of Green- ville, was a gift piven to the Chamber in thé late “70s. “AIL we want to do. is. move il outside so everyoic can see it," Phillips suid, "It's really beautiful.*' “Maria McGowan, .coor- | ~ dinator. of the. Terrace Tourism ~ Council,” who shares. the building, ‘said she's tried to track down “protocol or Stevens through the Green- ville and New Aiyansh bands, but to no avail, She’s had no luck finding anyone who could tell her what to do with the pole, “There’s probably some sort of protocal . involved, We don't want to move il oulside and get in trouble,’ McGowan said. Once the pole is moved oulside, she said she would like to pul up. a_ plaque noting its story. “Tt would also be nice to have a litte ceremony when we move it,’’ she added. ~“But-we need to find out what the story Is first.”’ “Tf anyone can. help with any information: regarding ‘knows =the whereabouts... of | Horace Steveiis contact 635-2063.