The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 26, 1997 - B1

TERRACE STANDARD

INSIDE
COMMUNITY

SECTION B

EVENTS B2

KATHY aetna

"1997 is the Year
of the House!"

ITH THAT, a long-time friend be-

gan a chronicle of events leading

up to a present dilemma that may

modify the headline to read “Year
of the Garage."

Since she’s surely not the only British Colum-
bian determined to build her very own
Goldilocks home this year {not too big, nol too
small..just right), you may be interested in fol-
lowing her progress...

My pal is a Planner and this is no minor in-
vestinent, so despite a few occasions when I
thought she was a tad over-focused, she's
worked through her lists of ‘‘Want,’’ ‘‘Need”’
and “‘When I win the Lotto’’ so well that she’s
prudently eliminated the last and knows the di€-
ference between the first two.

The recession of the early ‘80s was her Great
Depression. Nonetheless, she’s made of sturdy
stuff and, since then, she’s managed to save
about $30,000, figuring that ought to be enough
for the downpayment, legal fees and other costs,
while putting her and the bank into the three
bedroom Cape Cod of her dreams.

That, apparently, is where her planning fell
apart.

I probably don’t have to tell you the rest of the
story...while she was dreaming, the dollar went
down and everything else went up. Ten years
ago, a new house in her area, including the sub-
divided little piece of Canada that she would
call her own could be bought for about
$100,000, Maybe less.

But 10 years ago, she didn’t have the $30,000,
Just the dream.

Her mistake was in thinking that while ber
own income was working its way from dead
broke to mediocre, everything else had
remained relatively static.

Oh, she knew the price of some materials had
risen, but she reckoned on some having dropped
enough to offset the increases.,.a miscalculation
that has tortured her dream into something more
closely related to the consequeaces of indiges-
tion.

Her only nod towards a more
epicurean lifestyle is the oversized,
multi-jetted whirlpool tub in the master
bath — it’s hard to disagree with that
one.

She’s planned a modest 1,400 sq.ft., 3 br, 2
bth structure ona full basement with allowances
for a future garage, sunroom and studio, Since
friends and family congregate in her kitchen,
she ditched the dining room in favour of a large,

country kitchen and, acknowledging a youth left.

far behind, the laundry is on the main floor,

Her only nod towards a more epicurean life-
style is the oversized, multi-jetted whirlpool tub
in the master bath — it’s hard to disagree with
that one.

Unhappily, her house and ber bank account
are nol as compatible as she’d hoped. Instead of
$100,000, she’s looking at closer to $180,000.
However, her friendly banker jumped in to save
the day, He assured her that she qualifies for a
much higher mortgage than the $80,000 she'd
anticipated.

Then he siniled. Big mistake, that smile.

She’s sure he’s lost it.

“Can you belicve ii? He says that my gross
income less any significant debts (none), means
my bank will let me have a mortgage as high as
$160,000!!

The man’s mad!"”

A quick peek in bis morlgage book darned
near did her in. The prospect of paying anyone
$1300 a month for each and every one of the
next 240 months of her life, assuming the rate
continued to hover around 8 per cent - was
enough to test her hold on this mortal coil.
Despite her aversion to debt, she was prepared
to assume an obligation of anywhere from $700
to $900 a mouth, maybe $1,000 including taxes,
but, half ber take-home pay?

*‘My kids like to eat,’ sums up her position
rather well...

The last half of ber letter is an exercise in
making adjustments. At first, she thought she
might be wiser to look for a ‘mature’? home -
one that might teed a litle paint and paper, but
Is basically sound,

*T didn't find any, but there must be gold in
them thar walls!"

If there’s a way, she'll find il, but 1997 may
be the Year of the Garage - with allowances for
a future atlachments...the studio, the _sun-
room...the house.

Scouting offers much to family

LIFELONG FRIEND-
SHIPS, amazing cxperi-
ences and the chance to gain
new skills has kept Scott
Peden in scouting for 21
years,

Just last week he was pre-
sented with an award for the
longest youth involvement
in Scouts, And his father
Earl Peden has been in-
volved with him the entire

" way along.

Scott, now 25, started in
Beavers when he was four
years old. He moved
through the ranks, taking
part in Cubs, Scouts, Wen-
tures and now Rovers. He’ll
stay in Rovers one more
year, and then if he wants to

_ continue his involvement in

scouting he'll have to take
on leadership roles.

Scouting has a reputation
for teaching children and
youths ovidoor survival
techniques. By the time you
get to Rovers, the emphasis
has shifted more to doing
communily service,

For example, Rovers act
as designated drivers for a
number of company Christ-
mas parties, and Scott in in-
volved in Search and Res-
cue and with the ambulance
service. ,

“Pve gotten so much out
of scouting,’’ said Scott. ‘If
I could keep going [
would.”

Many kids drop out of
scouting when they get to
Ventures, which is for ages
13-17. They’re very suscep-
tible to peer pressure, and
some of the kids think the
uniform isn’t particularly
cool.

**But a few of us stuck it
out,’’ said Scott. There are
three other Rovers in Ter-

at

THE WALKING STICK scouting leader Earl Peden holds represents the path of life. Life never travels in a

straight line; instead it's crooked. The “y” at the top shows the different path you can choose, Earl has been in
scouting with his son Scott for 21 years.

race besides him.

Scott says sticking it out
also brought him closer to
father.

Ear! started in scouting as
a Beaver Leader in Surrey
in 1976, The family moved.
to Termce in 1981 and he
continucd his involvement
When Scott moved onto
Ventures, the group had the
option of choosing who they
wanted for a leader.. They
chose Scott’s dad.

. “It's been quite an honour

for me,”’ said Earl.
Together he and Scott
have travelled to regional
camps and jamborees, tak-
ing part in camping, canoe-
ing, hiking and more. They
also travelled to the Cana.
dian Jamborce in Guelph,
Ontario, and to a gathering
in Prince Edward Island.

As part of his involvement
in sconting, Scott was
awarded with the Queen’s
Venture Award. It was pre-
sented by the Licutenant-

governor in Victoria, and is
the highest youth award in
Scouts Canada.

“It’s meant a closer rela-
tiouship with my Dad,’’ said
Scoit of their shared experi-
ences, ‘It’s been nice. It
hasn't been like he’s a third
wheel. He’s just ane of the
members. He’s not there as
a father —— but his is.’’

There’s another  rela-
tionship Scott formed
through scouting which is
just as important —- be met

Women’s centre hosts conference

THE TERRACE
WOMEN’S Resource
Centre has pulled off a
coup. The leader of the
country’s top women’s
group is speaking in Terrace
for International Women’s
Day on March 8.

Joan Grant-Cummings is
the head of the National Ac-
tion Committee on the
Status of Women. She
works as an anti-racist, pro-
choice health activist, and
she'll be speaking about in-
slitutional racism.

Grant-Cunmmings’s speech
is the opening address al a
conference the women’s
centre is hustling in Terrace
that day.

The conference has a good
variety of. free workshops
lined up for women,

What’s unique about the
conference is that all the
workshops are being put on
by local women. That keeps
the cost down and lets Ter-
race women share their ex-
pertise, says organizer

Kathy Wesley-Scott

Kathy Westey-Scott.

“We want to help women
get ta know who's in the
community.”

Topics for the workshops

IDS’ PERFORMER Bing Jensen is one of the
highlights of the upcoming Terrace Little Theatre
talathon, on March 9.

were decided as a result of
surveys the women’s contre
sent out,

In the moming and
afternoon sessions
participants can choose

from three workshops,

Laurel Gregg from Nir-
vana is leading a workshop
on holistic healing methods.
This touches on a number of
things such as healing
touch, aromatherapy, crystal
healing, prana and reflexol-
ogy.

If you'd rather leap in and
get physical, Janct Harris is
giving you the opportunity
to get your hands dirty
making empowerment dolls
from clay.

There's also a panel on fe-
male friendships, focusing
on older women who've
been friends since'childhood
and inter-genczatlonal
friendships. This panel will
also look at living alone and
lonetiness.

In the afternoon Sheila
McDonald puts women

at physical

through au introduction to
self-defeuse. She'll be
teaching a few easy-to-learn
physical techniques.

Dr. Almas and Laurel
Gregg will conduct a work-
shop on menopause, looking
changes and
ways to cope with those
changes.

And a panel on feminism
will wrap up the afternoon's
events.

In order to make sure ail
women can altend the con-
ference, there’s no charge
for any events. If required,
child care and transportation
are provided.

Wesley-Scott is hoping for
a tum-out of about 100
people, Because the work-
shop leaders are all

volunteers, she says ihe con-—

ference shouldn't cost mare
than $2,000 to put on.

The evening finishes wilh
a potluck dinner and dance
at the Kinhut,

For more information or to
register call 638-0228.

Telethon nears

TWO GREAT children’s entertainers are lined up for the
second annual Applause Telethon, on March 9. The
telethon, put on by Terrace Little Theatre, is to raise
money for a new performing arts centre, to replace the ex-

isting McColl Playhouse.

Last year’s telethon raised over $80,000 in cash and

pledges for the new building.

Bing Jensen was a hil at the Vancouver International
Children’s Festival. He gets both young and old involved
by singing along, clapping, stomping and making funny

noises.

With his acoustic guitar and rich baritone voice Bing
guides the audience through a musical journey,

Jim Raddysh’s show also features plenty of involvement
for the kids, He says kids are the real stars at his per-

formances,

The kids” entertainment takes place during the afterncon.
Later in the day and early evening the show has more for
adults, with vocalist Leora Cashe, and the acappella

quartet Euphorics.

The local entertainment line-up includes performances
by dancers from the Laura Flynn ballet school, native-style
dances and the band Dance Express.

The telethon ‘takes place from 11 am. till 9 pam. on
March 9 at the REM Lee Theatre, Door prizes include a
tip fortwo to Vancouver io. see the Canucks and the
Grizzlies In Seattle, and a framed print by artist Terry Red-

lin,

his wife Stella in scouts, and
they’re now in Rovers to-
gelber,

After this year is up Scott
says theyll probably take
on nore leadership roles in
scouling,

Scott aid Stella don’t have
any children yet, but when
they do Scott says they'll
probably keep up the family
tradition wilh scouting,

“And knowing — their
grandfather he'd still be
there loo,’ said Scott.

May the
force be
with you

STAR WARS buffs dis-
appointed that Tillicum
Twin Theatres weren't
going to carry the re-
teleased trilogy now have
reason to cheer.

Theatre manager
Adrian Enright says he’s
now hoping to go ahead
with the three movies,
starting with Star Wars

an March 28th.

He Says local
enthusiasts weren't
making Darth Vader
breather-mask naises
over the phone or

threalening to sever his
head with a light sabre.
But he admits there was
pressure lo get the
movies,

‘We have had quite a
few calls asking about
il,”? he said. ‘‘They were
pretty reasonable about it
when J explained it."”

The problem was that
direclor George Lucas
had diclated that theatres
would only get the three
movies if Star Wars, The
Empire Strikes Back and
Return of the Jedi ran
back to back over a total
of 10 weeks,

Thal was too much of a
time commitinent for an
independent theatre like
the one here, and Enright
had to say no.

Now, however, he says
the miles are being
loosened, and he's
hoping to gel the three
movies for two weeks
each,

That plan might be dis-
rupted i€ Vancouver
theatres decide to hold
the movies over longer,
but so far Enright is op-
timistic.

Those who can’t wait to
sce the movies here have
the option of a rokd trip.
The Nechako Theatre in
Kitimat is playing Star
Wars starling Ibis Friday,