The way
T see it...

by Stephanie Wiebe

--Wanna hear something
dumb? The City of Terrace has
decided that 80 three- and four-
year-olds gathered together
with a qualified teacher, in a
classroom setting does not con-
stitute a school.

’ This has come about because
of traffic congestion at Netty
Olson’s Preschool at Eby
Street and Loen Avenue. Netty
and the parents would like a

sign erected to warn motorists - ~

that there is a preschool near-
by; and to please be cautious.
They’re not letting preschoolers
wander about the streets un-
accompanied; they simply want:
a sign to notify drivers that
there are smail children in the
area. A reasonable request.

But the city says that Netty
Olson’s is not a “‘school”’, arid
‘therefore, cannot have a
‘school zone”’ sign erected. ‘So
Mrs, Olson has asked for a
cautionary sign, announcing
that there are small children
‘playing nearby. The official
reply was that parents should
compose 4. letter, stating the
reasons for wanting the sign.
Then council would be ap-
proached witli the concerns,
consider the request, and
‘possibly take appropriate ac-
tion. Evidently, even this cau--
‘tionary sign would be’a
dubious possibility, since Eby
Street is a main thoroughfare,
-and traffic is considered too
heavy for such a restraint. |

I’m sorry, but J find it hard
to believe that the city needs to
have us notify them of our
‘reasons for wanting such a
sign. What do they think? That
we like the decorative effect it
‘would create on the street?
That ‘we feel it would create -
more shade in the summer, and
give passing motorists some-
thing to read for entertain-

* Ambulanc

» The fee. charged to B.C.
‘residents for a basic ambulance
call (less than 40 kilometers) has
been raised to $37 from $35,

Health Minister. Peter Dueck an-
nounced recently.

Other fees, 3 for additional
mileage after;:the first 40
kilometers, i for non-resident
users, and for stand-by am-
‘bulances have also been raised.

Dueck said the raises, - ‘which |

took effect April 1, will main-
tain the Emergency "Health Ser-
vices Commission's cost
recovery level at about 15. per-
cent of the actual real cost of
B.C.’s ambulance service.

‘The real average cost to tax-
payers for an ambulance call in
‘B.C. is about $305,’’ said
Dueck. ‘‘The relatively ‘modest
fees which the Commission
‘endeavors.to recover pay for on-
ly a small part of total operating
costs.’’

. The Minister also pointed out
that British Columbians, in fact,
enjoy one of the least expensive
‘ambulance services. in Canada,
Not. ‘to tention the «| 1.8; A,

ment? That we can’t think of
any way to spend tax: ‘dollars:
other than unneccessary sign
erection? ~

Maybe sarcasm is not the
way to get a sign erected, but I
cannot believe the bureaucracy
involved in something like this.
Netty Olson has done so much
for my child in the last two
years, She has taught my child
to write her name, to count —
and recognize colors, to share
with others, to know traffi¢

rules, to plant seeds, clean up
after herself, care for a pet,
and wear boots in the rain. She
has encouraged generosity, co-~
operation, consideration, kind-
“ness, and fair play.

Yet her institution is not rec-
ognized as a “‘school”’.

Many children cross Eby
Street, unaccompanied, from
the various schools in the area.

"Traffic is often slowed or stop-
ped by crossing children, I
didn’t realize that the city con-
siders motor traffic more im-
portant than pedestrians. No
‘wonder that poor j an was run
over on Lakelse Al e, not so
long ago. He should’ve known
better than to impede traffic on

_ a major roadway. -

By the time this sign gets

‘through the red tape.of coun-‘*

‘cil, if it does, my child will no

Jonger be in Netty Olson’s (par- :

don the expression) school.
She'll be in a recognized. public.

’ school, where there’s no prob-—
lem getting cautionary road ©
signs erected. But what about:
the other three- and four-year-
olds still attending Netty’s?
Well, you can gun your engines
‘as you drive past, and don’t
even look to see if one of the
little tykes has escaped.

Those children should be in a

proper ‘school anyway.

e fees. rise

where private . Jambulances
routinely bill more than $200 for
acall, . 7

In Alberta, residents are
charged nearly $150 for an am-
bulance trip, and. $1.80 per
kilometer for travel. In British
Columbia, by comparison, the
mileage charge (which is only
applied to trips of more than 40
km) has been raised from 35 to
40 cents per kilometer, with a
maximum charge of $227, up
from the previous maximum of
$216.

For transporting non-
residents of B:C., the pick up
charge goes to $108 from $100,
and mileage raised from $1.75 to
$1.85 per kilometer.

‘To hire a provincial am-
bulance to stand by-at a specific
location in case of medical
emergency, the fee goes from
$100 to $108 per hour.

The Minister also pointed out
that B.C. had one. of the most
capable‘and highly-trained am-
bulance attendant. fleets in the

‘

world.:

Holkestad (above) and other members of the

‘Terrace Peaks Gymnastic Club, local resi-

dents pledged more than $1,000 in donations
at the club’s opening **brick sale” Saturday
in the Skeena. Mall.’

The Peaks are attempting to” raise money
for construction of an ambitious gymnasium.
project in order.to give their members — and
other local athletic organizations —- a home

_ facility in which. to practice and put on

public displays of their skills. The young
gymnasts. presently use Clarence Michiel
Elementary School, but each session requires
a laborious set-up and take-down procedure
for vaults, bars, mats and other equipment.

Club representative Maria Mateus says -

they are presently in a situation made

Peaks kick off brick sale

inspired by the aerial grace of Kirsten

awkward by bureaucratic directives. They

_have applied for a $450,000 GO BC grant,
-but have been told that evidence of substan-

tial local fundraising has to be demonstrated
before the grant application receives ap-

. proval.

The group has approached Terrace ° City
council, Mateus said, with a request for land
on which: to ‘build the project. Apparently,

however, the city would like to see the |

government grant approved before pursuing

.the land issue. Without the land, getting

local donations j is difficult.

Discussions are continuing with the city.
“We've gone this far, and one way or
another we’re going to finish it,”? Mateus

said. :
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