The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 14, 1997 - B1 TERRACE STANDARD INSIDE | | SECTION B COMMUNITY CRIS LEYKAUF EVENTS B2 , 638-7283 ow WHAT? CHARLYNN TOEWS Fortune teller tells all CAN READ people’s telephone numbers for insight into their characters and their futures. For example, did you know that people whose telephone number begins with 638 tend to be less trustworthy than those whose number begins 6357 It’s true. 635s tend to be more stable, traditional, aware of their preeminent place in history, some would say too stodgy and stick-in- the-mud for their liking. 638s, on the other — hand, are often flighty, flimsy, transient, overly modern some say, but also therefore forward-looking and future-minded. These basic tendencies are mitigated, of course, by the last four digits of the phone number, If you are a 638 with a “‘last name’’ starting with 8, or a 635-5, you will have improved luck for as long as you have . that phone number. It’s the effect of the double digit (55 or 88) spanning the hyphen that does it, Furthermore, 638-8s are often even more trustworthy than the average 635, So don’t jump to conclusions about a per- son’s character just by looking at their first three digits: you must read the entire num- ‘ber to get an accurate picture. 798s are known to be earthicr, friendlier and more neighbourly, but how close do .you want to get to a flake? This is a stereotype, though, as 798s will see a near future {to the millennium) of increased sophistication, refinement, and cultural achievements. Are you a cautious 635 or a brave 638 in your reaction to 615s? | Naturally, 615s represent the unknown: a great yawning gap, a wide gaping yap, in anyone’s crystal ball. Do you respond to uncertainty and change with fear or with joyful anticipation? Are you a cautious 635 or a brave 638 in your reaction to 615s? As you go around town, renting videos or making appointments, do you find people assume you are a conservalive, old- fashioned 635? Do friends often relate how they dialed the wrong number inslead of yours, pegging you erroneously as a flip- pant, light-weight 6387 Perhaps your phone number is out of alignment with your inner sense of being. Work to embrace the better qualities of your first three digits. Then money and love will follow. We can only scratch the surface of the deep meaning to be found in the last four digits. As we have seen, doubles are gener- ally positive; be glad for any bit of luck they throw your way, Those whose last four digits start with 01 are known in the trade as ‘‘the blondes,” sharing with them the association with in- nocence, youth, and lack of grey matter. But clever 01s (and most of them are) use this to their advantage, winning at poker for example, Be warned that if you treat an 01 like a bubblehead, he (or she) gains the ad- vantage. After the year 2000, those whose last four digits hold one or more zeroes will have improved luck with gardening, but ‘more trouble with unwanted facial hair. If your last four digits have two sequential numbers, like 56 or 23, singles can expect new romance in 1998, but if there are three sequential numbers, like 456 or 123, the romance will likely involve a tawdry, torrid love triangle, so beware. This does not hold, however for 89s, wha would be well advised to focus instead on ‘model airplane building, home decor, or some other safe hobby until. about 2001. I’m just warning you. That’s all the time and space we have for . now. Reflect upon your own phone number, and learn to forgive others for theirs. Of course, this is for entertainment pur- poses only, as Jojo used to say before her 1- 900 number went bankrupt. It’s funny she didn’t see that coming. I did. VINCENT COOKE greets visitors to his small duplex with a large outstretched hand, and cloudy unfocused eyes. Cooke, aged 61, became blind two months ago after a set of unsuccessful operations. The blindness was brought on by diabetes. Cooke has lived in Terrace 24 years, and for 21 of those he has worked as a yardman at Repap. Now he spends his days at home, sitting in the living room and listening to music. When asked what he docs on an average day, he laughs and says, ‘‘the average day is long. Anything that helps get me out of the house is good.” - He tries to go for walks every day, but he’s not too confi- dent yet about his ability to get around. "T could see a little bit at first, but now ] don’t see any- thing,’’ says Cooke. He can however, tell the difference between day: and night, and on sunny days can see the light that shines in his living room window. Cooke has had some help leaming how to walk with a cane, but there are a lot of unanticipated obstacles he has to learn to overcome. He lives on Olson across from Clarence Michiel Elementary, Although he’s close to downtown, it’s still a challenge to get around. For example, sidewalks aren’t as clear as some people might imagine. “You got cars that don’t pull all the way into a driveway,’’ he says. The backs of cars can stick out onto the sidewalk and that’s a hazard if you can’t see them. Garbage day presents another set of obstacles, Peopic often stick their garbage cans out on the sidewalk, tuming a simple waik into a minefield. “These things you don’t recognize when you can sce, you just walk around them,”’ said Cooke. Potholes are another hazard, and could potentially lead to a twisted ankle. But Cooke’s biggest problem is that he doesn’t know when he comes to an intersection. Sidewalks slope down into the streets, and there’s no in- dication where one starts and the other ends. Cooke can’t rely solely on the slope, because sidewalks aren’t always level. “The drivers have been pretty good,” he says. “No close calls yet.’” Sidewalks are designed to slope into the intersections in order to aid wheelchair users and those -with strollers, Cooke acknowledges that necessity, but wonders if some- thing couldn’t be done to help him out. , For example, he wonders if the cily could paint broad white lines to mark the intersections. He'd be able to see the difference between the white of the lines and the dark of the pavement. Cooke offen tries to go for walks with others. For exam- ple, his pastor’s daughter often drops by to take him for a walk. Right now he relies on others to help out with chores. He : has frozen meals brought to him, and his groceries are delivered once a week. A large freezer which dominates the living room is a testament to how many frozen meals he eats. His sister Jenny also takes him out to run errands. “TI hope I can get to the stage where I don’t need any- body’s help,’’ he says. Bound for Costa Rica MUD, BUGS and sore mus- cles are what Wade Ken- nedy can look forward on a trip to Costa Rica. He'll be volunteering in the country for three months. “My friends think I’m nuts for going somewhere and not getting paid,’ says 20-year-old Kennedy, This is the first time Ken- nedy will have travelled out of B.C. He’s going to Costa Rica as part of Youth Chal- lenge International, ; He was one of 30 ‘challengers’? from across the country chosen to take part in the project which will last from December to February of next year. Youth Challenge Interna- tional combines community development, health work and environmental research, Participants are between the ages of 18-25. In order to quatify for the project Kennedy had to take part in a grueling selection weekend in Squamish. “Te rained incredibly the whole time we were there,”’ he says. Applicants were tested on determination, compatibility and problem solving — all while biking and camping in miserable weather, “The hardest part was WADE KENNEDY is trying to raise money so he can travel to Costa Rica ta do volunteer work. DRIVERS SHOULD keep an eye out for Vincent Cooke. Cooke has recently be- come blind, and he's learning haw to get around his horseshoe neighbourhood. One of his biggest problems is that he can't always tell when he's in an intersec- tion. He hasn't had any close calls yet, but drivers should slow down when they see him or anyone else with a white cane. . Around Town Those confusing teens DO YOU FIND your teenage children strange, confus- ing and plain mystifying? Skeena Family Services is bringing in guest speaker Shawn D, Untinen, a social worker and parent, who will offer suggestions to parents coping with teens. His workshop touches on what tecns are really doing, : and what they really believe. He offers suggestions on how to help a young person through adolescence and explains the differences between teen and adult beliefs, “Twenty ways to survive the teenage years,” is an- other topic parents will appreciate. Untinen also touches on tcen’s rights and what they want from adults, particularly parents. The workshop is being offered from 9:30 a.m. till noon on June 14 at the Terrace Pentecostal Assembly. Cost is $10. To register, call Neil Burrows at Skeena Family Resources at 625-7087, An angler’s dream ONCE AGAIN the Kinsmen are offering the chance to win a riverboat. Tickets are available on this spiffy boat up till June 15, You can purchase them from any Kinsmen of whenever you see the boat — which is usually nearby one of the major grocery stores in town. The draw will take place on June 15 at 2 p.m. in the Safeway parking lot, Proceeds go to local charities. Chasing rainbows YOU'LL FIND a pot of gold at the Pentecostal church on May 29. That’s the day that the Rainbow Choir of Langley will be performing at the church. The Rainbow Choir is comprised of 40 women be- tween the ages of 51 and 87 years. They perform a wide variety of music including sacred, folk, popular, cca working in a team rather than running off and doing your own thing.’ While in Costa Rica Ken- nedy could be working, to improve schools, health clinics and water. supplies, building bridges or coilect- ing environmental data, Now that Kennedy been accepted he has to raise $3,750 for the trip. His boss at Mr. Mike’s out. Every We-lnesday will Grill will be helpiig him - be Wade Days, and a per- “Market to raise money. swing, and classical. The choir was formed in 1979 and for the fast 15 ycars has been directed by Joan Danby. Every spring it tours the province, and this year the focus is on north- em communities, = The Rainbow Choir will be performing May 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pentecostal Church. . centage of any Mikeburgers sold will be donated to Ken- nedy. Kennedy also plans to put on community: “dances, sollcit service clubs and sell {tems at. the Farmer's