i | -6 Ce te eee ee eee ee eee ee ee 2 oe ey Smokers f By Alex Hamilton “SMOKER CHARLIE ~ Meek wants the Worker's - Compensation Board to « butt out of his Life, : . He's dreading the arri- ‘Val of Jan. 1, whea in an ‘ effort to protect workers _ from second hand smoke, » the Workers: Compensation : Board (WCB) will ban *smoking. in- all work "places, including restaur- ; ants, bingo halls and the ~~ * Legion. > “They’re taking away » my. liberty,” Meek said. He said he enjoys going vlo the’ Legion for a pint ‘and a’smoke, or out for a > meal. and having a coffee ° and cigarette afterwards. : «Meek: said he doesn't » intend to butt-out, : “It just means we don't + gO Out to restaurants and : spend-our money,” he said. "What's the point if you zcan't do what you enjoy doing.” : He predicts many busi- nesses will suffer since smokers like him will re- ; fuse to eat out if they can’t tenjoy a smoke after their ‘meal. ». Lyn Wade, a bartender tal Hanky. Panky’s, said some customers may stop ‘coming to the bar if they ‘can’t smoke since some ‘people only smoke when ‘they drink. “But it might balance ‘out because some people will come because there ‘won’t be any smoke,” ‘Wade said. : She added that custo- mers have been signing ‘a ‘petition protesting the new ‘reguiations, which she ‘faxes off to Victoria. *: George Darvondis, owner of the’ Golden ‘Flame, doesn't expect’ the ‘new regulations to hurt bu- ‘siness — if anything more ‘people may come to enjoy ra smoke free atmosphere. *:-“People are still going ‘to come,” he said. “In the ‘end it’s going ta benefits everyone.” 5. iy. : “Vm. a heavy .smoker, ‘but L-think itll be nice in ‘the end.”. .. Other places in town ‘are predicting a drop in HEY, MR. PREMIER: Hanky Panky's server Bonnie Sigvaldason signs a message to Dane Miller pro- testing the ban on smoking in all workplaces in B.C. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 1, 1999 - A3 uming over rules starting January 1, 2000. The petition urges the premier to back off small and medium sized hospi- tality businesses and accept the ventilation option. business as a result of the new regulations, But a recent survey done in the Victoria area, where stringent anti-smok- ing rules for public: places - are already in-place, has found that business has: ei- (her remained steady or gone up, - When Meek was asked. whether he'll cut: down on smoking since ‘the regula- tion will permits him from smoking in any workplace, he defiantly responded: “No. Why should I stop doing the things in life | enjoy because same bur- caucrat tells me to.” He fears soon he won't be allowed to walk down- ‘town with a’smoke. -*: Christine” Walkinshaw, ‘coordinator for Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. and the Yukon, said the hew regulations aren’t about attacking smokers, they are about protecting the rights of non-smokers, Most workplaces’ in B.C. have been in com- pliance of WCB’s clean air regulations since last April. Restaurants, bars, sporting arenas, bingo halls, prisons, and exten- ded care facilities were given until Jan. 1, 2000 to implement the new rules. B.C. is the first province in Canada to enforce WCB’s slringent new re- gulations against second- hand smoke, The regulations require B.C. employers to prohibit smoking on the job or re- stricts smoking to designa- ted smoking areas. An exclusive smoking area must be either a safe, outdoor location or a se- parate, incependently ven- lated room thal workers do not have to enter while working except in an emergency or until all the smoke has been removed. Restaurants and bars will be fined if patrons don’t stop their customers from lighting up. Patrons who don’t abide by the new rules, wil! face fines up to $500,000. Zero tax hike pushed THE CITY’s provisional budget for next year — (he first step in the budgeting pro- cess before final numbers are decided upon — has been laid out based on a zero per cent average property (ax increase for “all classes of property. “That reflects ‘cily council's decision to try to continue to hold’ the line on taxes despite low levels of new construction, which the city has retied on in recent years to- bring new tax dollars for current or new spending plans. The provisional budget pives an ad- vance go-ahead for city officials to begin planning for the Hwy 16 finear park, al- ready the recipient of provincial and fed- eral grants, and for the reconstruction of Haugland Ave, The. tentative numbers, indicale the total available for capital projects may be less than $1.5 million - considerably less than any recent year. Your Christmas donation guide EACH YEAR various organizations work toge- ther to make Christmas more enjoyable for those less fortunate. Salvation Army kettle drive THE SALVATION Army began ifs kettle drive Nov. 27 to raise Christmas hamper money. Every Christmas the Salvation Army delivers hampers filled with food and toys, so local families have enough food to make a Christmas dinner. Last December volunteers made 500 hampers for local families. Donations uf non-perishable goodies for hampers are always appreciated. If the food isn’t used at Christmas, it will be used by the Salvation Army through family services. Salvation Army volunteers will be ringing kettle bells and asking for donations outside the liquor store, at Canadian Tire and the Real Canadian Wholesale Club. Skeena Broadcasters gift drive IF YOU'D like to contribute a pift for those Salva- tion Army hampers, you can drop off unwrapped gifts starting Dec. 1 at the Skcena Broadcasters of- tice at Lazelle Avenue and Emerson Street. The Salvation Army is looking for gifts for small children, teens and adults. Gifts for older children are in demand. Some ideas are games, sweatshirts, gloves, and vests. Toys and gifls should be new. Anti poverty gift distribution THE TERRACE Anti Poverty Group Society is collecting gifts through Zellers and Canadian Tire. Zellers and Canadian Tire have put up trees de- corated with name (ags that list a child’s first name, age, gender and clothing size. Customers are asked to take a name, buy a gift and drop it off at the stores’ customer service desks. The gifts should be unwrapped. For every Christmas tree sold at Canadian Tire, a portion of the sales will go to the anti poverty group to buy gifts. Gifts can also be dropped off at the Terrace Anti Paverly office at 4628 Park Avenue. CDC’s Tree of Lights THE TERRACE Child Development Centre’s Tree of Lights lit up the Skeena Mall Nov. 26. This ts an opportunity for people to support children with special needs by lighting up a Christ- mas tree. People can make donations for lights so that by Dec. 23 the tece should be glimmering with different coloured lights. This year marks the centre's 13th Tree of Lights. Each year about $6,000 is raised. Donations go to help the centre deliver pro- grams for special needs children. The centre offers therapy, education and support. It also sponsors prenatal programs to expectant mothers. Both individuats: and businesses are asked to . purchase a light fortthe tree. Lights cost anywhere from $2-§250 for individuals and $25-$250 for busi- nesses, Tax receipts are available, a Receive your choice of a D.V.D., T.V., OR VCR | with each new or used vehicle purchase. ENTER OUR TEST DRIVE DRAW. when you lest drive a vehicle, your name will be entered for a chance lo win your choice of a D.V.D., TY or VCR. ase eo ee DLR. 5958 www.terrac eautomall.com 4916 Hwy 16, Terrace * 635-7187 * 1-800-313-7187 ° Committed (or committable) Jumpers as of Dec. Ist 1999} David Hull Jennifer Bartman Brian Lindenbach Allan Bartman .) Kurt Grabinsky Louis Bibaud . Rick McDaniel Bruce Martindale Trevor Lutes Rana Nelson * Kelly McIntyre Dale Lufkin . e 8 i Challenge your friends, rivals, co workers. + Make this years swim the biggest & best ever. For more info call Bruce or Patrick at * 635-3748 y At the Kinsmens Kiddies Camp, Ist Ave., Lakelse Lake ° Swim is