seems blind to problems Dear Sir: Having gone to several of the Terrace and Area Community Health Council meetings, I think I can finally see the problem our health care facility is having — the only people that see that there is a problem are the ones in need of help and their families. , The timited admission to Mills Memorial Hospital came about because we did not have staff to cover the 15 bed hospital that we have become. For the population of our area a hospital of 50 beds would not be enough, and also the ratio of office staff to beds does not add up to a balanced budge. We most cerlainly do need administration for our hospital to deal with money matters, but we also need medical personnel to deal with pa- tients and medical matters. Medical personne! must be the ones to make decisions as to whe- ther or not a patient needs admission to the hos- pital. I do not believe that people who are trained in financial matters should be making these de- cisions. Do you? With the rapid advances of medical techno- logy, in services are vital to our nursing staff to keep up with procedures and new techniques. This service cannot be cut to save money. Also | believe that incentives to recruit nurses to this area are a must and this is being done in other communities. The Terrace and Area Health Council seems to be the only ones that do not see the problems with our services. It is their job to recognize and find solutions, not to sit in judgment of those who ask questions of their actions. They should not be sitting in judgment of me because I did not apply to sit on council. I was bright enough to know my abilities and | believe now that | know a few other people’s abilities and that worries me. ‘My job as a member. of the public is to both criticize and praise wherever needed. a Robyn Bagg ms Terrace B.C. Lodge food idea — destined to fail Dear Sir: In response to the Terrace and Area Health Council’s ad “Survey says”, I find the council’s perception of what occurred on Oct. 13, 1999 at the meeting at Terraceview to be an insult. We were given a description of the quick chilt system. There were some questions about the process regarding food temperature and transportation of the food from the hospital to Terraceview. |, Someone asked about the cost of all the new equipment that would be required to implement this project and we were told by Mr. Paul Man- has that $140,000 was the projected cost of all the new equipment. Then I asked how much money had already been spent on the consultants from Vancouver and Toronto on implementation studies, and a gasp went up in the room when Mr. Manhas in- formed us $250,000 had already been spent on this. I can only say that at this point } realized that if a quarter of a million dollars had already been spent before even a bean was cooked that this was already a done deal. We were also told by Mr. Manhas that they projected that in four years they would save en- ough money to have paid for the system and after that they planned to save an additional $70,000 a ear. Y I attended the March 9, 2000 health council meeting and was told that the $250,000 included the cost of the new equipment and that only $30,000 was spent on consulting. That still leaves $80,000 unaccounted for. I find it disturbing that five months later Mr. Manhas is saying something different. I’m sure I am not the only person who left the Oct. 13 meeting thinking $390,000 was the cost of this program. I would also like to point oul that at the March 9, 2000 meeting [ asked how much money to date had been spent on this program and | never did receive an actual answer, Perhaps the Terrace and Area Health Council could make public a breakdown of the $250,000 spent on this program if that is indeed what was spent, because quite frankly | still am unsure of this point and would like it clarified. E would like to know what we got for our tax dollars besides having hospital food fed to our loved ones for the duration of their lives, 1 don’t think the hospital should be getting into the catering business given the current con- dition of health care in this province. And I predict that in the end this will be a fi- nancial failure and I fear that it won't be any ad- ministrator who will be paying the price for it but the residents at Terraceview. Here’s my study — and it’s free — of what can go wrong: ; ; 1. There will be two union shops involved in the preparation and service of the food and pos- sibly a third in the transport from Mills Memorial to Terraceview. What happens when there is a labour dispute? What are we going to feed our seniors then, take out pizza? I know we were told that the kitchen would still] be operational in cases of emergen- cies but we were also told that as the old equip- ment broke down it would not be replaced. 2, This is not a service that is put out to tender to find the most cost-effective and efficient bid- der. It’s the council’s attempt to make the kit- chen at Mills more productive at the cost of em- ployee hours at Terraceview and to take the, menu at Mills from a seven day menu to a monthly menu which they believe will improve the food at the hospital. oo The al Bag SKEENA JUNIOR Secondary band students and teacher Susan Brouwer continue their work in the absence of Grade 6 and 7 level band classes, which used to help music stu- denis better prepare for secondary level band. i a: : . : ‘ : _ Pp . int boon | , “ i ie ge _ na | T S T | f I e to r it } 4 ac out of Mills Memorial Hospital, that day. féeling- ; . very angry, frustrated and dishonoured al the school band program Dear Sir: it was with great pleasure that | read Jim Ryan’s letter to the editor (The Terrace Stan- dard, March 1, 2000) re: reinstating the Grade 6 and 7 school band program. It forms the founda- tions to senior school band programs. ‘From personal experience, we have learned that the growth and development stages in child- ren (and adults) at particular ages helps in mak- ing particular choices. When children are in Grades 6 and 7 they are very enthusiastic about learning to play different instruments. It’s also easier to learn when you are younger. . As children enter teen years, ie. Grades 8 and 9, they do not typically pick band as an elective. Besides, there are hormonal changes affecting them, making them moody, elc. If they are given the gift of music it helps to bring them some calmness as they can play on their instrument and spend some quiet and constructive time with themselves. The benefits to the children, the par- ents and society are iremendous. The Grade 6 and 7 school band enabled our older son to be part of the Grade 9 band now. He has made many personal and intellectual gains as a result. There is high academic achievement, confi- dence, discipline, a chance to play and to listen (a great life skill), respect and responsibility. There is the chance to be part of a band team, to set personal and team goals and to have re- hearsal and performance dynamics. Musicians also learn organizational skills, have a construc- tive and pleasurable hobby — the list goes on. I’m sure we're all familiar with the statistics proving that music improves academic achieve- ment. I definitely want my children and the children of our community to make the gains [’ve had as a result of music that I learned at my school. Please unite to Fight for the rights of our child- ren for the Grade 6 and 7 band programs, Appar- ently there is money in the school board budget to do so. The public needs to remind the school board personnel to give us back that which they confis- cated from us ~ the Grade 6 and 7 band program. I thank the elementary and high school music teachers for volunteering their time to teach band and jazz band to Grades 7 to 12. ’ Our son tells us we have onc of the best band programs in the country, finishing first, second and third al Musicfest Canada in the past. The Skeena band is travelling to Musicfest in Toronto this May. , Kanwal Gill Terrace B.C, There’s no guarantee that this will even be accomplished and at what cost to our seniors’ quality of life? , 3. After a period of time when the kind of sav- ings projected are not realized further cuts will be required. Expect more staff cut backs at Ter- , taceview when they start serving food on trays just as it is at the hospital. , These are just some of the things that are of real concern to me and [ am sure a few other . people. ] was happy with the way things were being run at Terracevicw and so is my mother as far as I can tell. 1 do not understand why it is necessary to fix: something when it is not broke, especially when there are much more important issues to be ad- dressed at Mills Memorial Hospital. I think it is irresponsible of the senior administration to be putting so much money and effort into this pro- jeck Sadly, it is just another example of how the health council has misinterpreted the health care needs of this community. Lorraine Fortner Terrace B.C. | Still waiting . Dear Sir: . io It was with great annoyance that I read in your paper of March 1 that the Braun’s Islanders might join with Terrace. Gee, this is the first I've heard of this and guess what, I’m one of those islanders. When anyone decides to condescendingly ask me, I will give you my answer. Alberta and Vic MacPherson, Terrace B.C. No surprise many people drive to fly Dear Sir: Olga Power and David Hull don’t seem to get the point. “Buy local” is a marvellous concept, but most people in this uncertain economy have financial constraints. Why would a family of four not drive to Prince George? The $76 airport tax leaving 'Ter- race plus another $40 for the Vancouver airport tax would almost pay for the gas to Prince George. Then you save big bucks on the airfare. Then you get to go to big box stores that are truly price competitive. If the cily thought it was such a good idea to take over the airport, then they obviously did not do their homework. Some. councillor gets a hairbrained notion, and it’s off to the races - pouring $100,000 over. the side of Kalum Hill, budgeting $600,000 for a The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 15, 2000 - A5 Health body ‘CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD very skinny park, buying computers thal were not Y2K compliant, taxing the profitability out of the airport merchants, spending big bucks on a sew- age outfall pipe that, if you know the Skeena River, will not be there very long. The city wants to take in as much money as possible, but rather than spend it where it is nee- ded, they'd rather fritter it away. Some city councillors “can’t imagine”-why people do not fly out of here: [t cosis too much! Plain and simple. Does the city not look around for the best price available on major purchases before they buy it? Local suppliers can aticempt to match the best price, and if it is close lo the besi deal, then, yes, buy local The airport sce- nario does not even come close. The city should be doing everything they can lo encourage a Westjet type of operator to move in, and other businesses should be encouraged through reduced taxes to move their operation up the hill. _ Either that or the city should get out of the lransportation business. Chris Spangl Terrace B.C. Elders deserve to be treated with dignity Dear Sir: ] would like to respond to the fetter to the edi- tor “Charlie deserved more” (Terrace Standard, Feb. 16, 2000) written by Mr. George Chinn, a dear friend of my fate father. It is an honour for me to know that my father had such a dear friend like Mr. Chinn. My father was a retired hunting guide who is well known throughout the warld by many. He is well respec- ted and left all those who knew him with some parts of his expertise of the land he calls home. — My dad believed that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and never failed to exercise his belief. | agree that my father deserved to be trealed with the same respect and dignity. Having read the letter, ] wish that at the time, 1 could have done more for my dad. Now that my dad is resting in peace, | could only hope that in- cidences like this never happen to anyone else. My recollection of this whole ordeal is that [ was the one who picked my father up from the hospital on the day of his discharge. I will never forget the look on my dad's face when [ walked into the hospital that day. The minute he realized that it was I, he im- mediately indicated to me that he wants cut and I seased that he was not treated properly. He complained about nol being able to locate his clothes and he was very cold. My immediate reaction was to find out what was going on and to locate my dad’s clothes. I never could understand why my father was placed in the psych ward. He was nowhere near having psychiatric disorders. He was in that hos- pital to fix a problem he had with his bladder. To see my dad heing treated like that made me very angry and | knew that I must take him home. [ went to the nurses’ station and stated my intentions and requested assistance in locating my father’s clothes, .. After‘T pot my father ready/to-leave,-E walkeit treatment of an elderly man. It is our belief that elders are to be respected and treated with dignity for they are the most va- luable source of information any culture can ever have. I still have questions about this incident. Is it because we are of First Nation ancestry that we receive this sort of disrespect? If it is, I am truly disgusted, for we are all of the human race and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. T. Abou, Iskut B.C, Check out flagging compliance, WCB Dear Sir: I have heard all the reasons that W.C.B. wants to stop smoking. They have all the different fines and staff to monitor everyone just to ban smok- ing. That is all good | guess. But what [| am getting to is that, 1 am a flag- german in Terrace B.C. When 1 look around town I see a lot of places where they should have flaggers even on the highways. , Even a road closure should have flaggers. When I was working on the Kalum road closure for B.C. Tel the foreman for the other crew asked me to stop cars from going that way. I asked him where his flaggers were, and he said this road is supposed to be closed to the public, but not to people living on the roadway, But with no flaggers everyone goes through. So if W.C.B. is so worried about safety they should be going after them. Are the fines not high enough? Or is the pub- lic’s right to be safe from traffic hazards not as important as ithe issue of second hand smoke? mc Daniel F. Brown Terrace B.C. A disturbing rant Dear Sir: , In response ta Tom Brophy’s leiter (Terrace Standard, Feb. 23, 2000), | find it very disturbing that the people of Terrace have just finished a week celebrating multiculturalism and diversity, but the only reference to this in your paper comes from the idiolic rantings of the town bigat. What community does this paper represent? Mare Battle Terrace B.C, About the letters The Terrace Standard welcomes letters to the editor. Our deadline is noon