The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 17, 1996 - B4 Tea Cae ft SECTION B CRIS LEYKAUF 638-7283 RTA ag MT TET ge tik i ae ta ae ga ay a yg gg Tig ai aE EN _ BOOKING IN. PETER HEPBURN Goodbye ELCOME to my valedictory column, Over the course of the past year I've written about Ter- race’s finest community resource — our public library, Well, okay, I haven’t really. I mean, | set out to originally. Each and every month something new, Imagine — ‘‘You and the Pamphlet File.”’ Or — “‘Inter-library Loans and an Empty Social Calendar.’? What stimulat- ing columns they could have been. Then two strange things happened. I hijacked my own column. I started telling you about my trips and my CD’s, my foods and my friends. Last month when I actually wrote a library-centered column, I realized how far I had veered off the path. Given a few more months, the ostensibly library- related column would have focused on my recurring dream where I wander through the Cornett Building at UVic, agonizing over a term paper I’d put off for far too long. I think that the Standard had originally hoped for some sort of a book review column. I hope I haven’t disappointed them. It’s just that it’s become rather tedious trying to work up five hundred words on an aspect of a facility that is open six days a week for hands-on public scrutiny. Already in 1996 we've had three consecutive months with circulation greater than 20,000, Splendid. Let’s keep it up, shall we. I would prefer that you come down and discover our services yourselves. And in the meantime I could move on to write about Bluebacks Swim Club or something else instead. About my dreams. Besides, that photograph of me is vile. And I never could find a way to use the word ‘‘chthonic’’ in a column. Before I go, however, a few last bits of business. Do, please, continue to use the library. Already in 1996 we've had three consecu- live months with circulation greater than 20,000. Splendid, Let’s keep it up, shall we. Don’t accept any inadequacies you may encounter at the library, Let us know. Let city council] know. Checking out books is all very fine, but involvement is better, We so seldom have any patrons attend our meetings, especially the annual general meeting. Despite the great use of our services, this public no-show demonstrates an un- fortunate level of community apathy. Meeting times are 7:30 p.m., the third Thursday of the month. The AGM is ad- vertised in the newspaper. Read, Buy books, borrow books, En- counter ideas and language. Learn to con- front, defuse, appreciate, assimilate, or even manipulate the two. A book in itself cannot physically damage you (save for a paper out, I sup- pose). Nor can an idea. Don’t be afraid of them. I do have a mother, She does not bum pancakes. I charge you, then, to become passionate about your library. I may now relinquish my obligation to this newspaper, but the library remains with me. Do not ever forget that you, too, have an obligation to it. Enjoy it, please. Volunteer of the Year =. COMMUNITY: Seaet Final nominees announced IN PROMOTING a feature like Volunteer of the Year, i’s humbling to realize how many giving, caring people live here, donating their lime and energy to help others, We'd like to thank every- one who participated in this contest, letting us know about those volunieers who do so much for Terrace. Without your nominations, we would not have had a chance {o publicly thank these volunteers. Below are the final entries in the Terrace Stan- dard/Overwaitea Volunteer of the Year contest. The winner -and two honourable mentions will be announced at a luncheon Friday, put on by the Volunteer Bureau. We'll also be featuring them in next Wednesday’s paper. In total there have been 24 nominations for Volunteer of the Year. Some of those are repeat nominees, includ- ing two for Joan Cox, three for Jim Stainton, two for Linda Van Dale, two for Bill Braam and two for Margaret Cooper. LORELEI VER SEAS HBAS Dave Jephson This is the second year Jeplison has been nominated for this honour, and this year is Bill Braam who nominated him. Braam is also nominated himself. Jephson is well known throughout Terrace for his volunteer work with Terrace Search and Rescue and Ter- race Water Rescue. He is a past-president of the search and rescue society and is the present chair of the water rescue team. He also serves as the official spokesperson for both, Jephson is also an active volunteer with the fire de- partment, going ‘‘beyond the normal call of duty,’? writes Braam. Jephson bas also been in- Stumental in developing Terrace’s water rescuc team, making it one of the most highly trained water rescue teams in the country. The team is now intemationally recognized. ‘Dave deserves this honour,’’ writes Jephson. Bud Smith Maurizio Basso noiiinated Smith for bis role in devel- oping Hazelton community sports. “Bud Smith has been ac- tive in Hazelton for over 20 years,’ writes Basso, "He has been an excellent Supporier of our sports team, but more importantly Bud has been a person you can counton.”’ Smith has served as a referee for volieyball, bas- kelbail and more. He also coaches both sports at Hazelton Secondary School, “Bud gives so much,’ says Basso, summing up his reason for his nomination. Gloria West “A tremendous help” is how Dave Crawley and Keith Gosse describe Gloria West on their nomination form. The two offered West’s name for the work she does with the Volunteer Bureau and with Thornhill Elementary and Copper Mt. Elementary, For the past three years West has volunteered her time with a number of orga- nizations in Terrace, She helps out at PACES, an organization which offers support for teen moms, and heips teach students to learn how to read. West also has been busy helping people on low and fixed incomes fill out their income {ax forms, She also volunteers at the Volunteer Bureau | and helped make the Multi- cultural Dinner a success, “She cares about kids and is willing to help them and Wwachers with anything they necd,”” Joan Cox A bewildered Joan Cox was confused at ber nomina- tion for Volunteer of the Year, Both Gayle Holtom and Barbara Howe wrote in, speaking highly of the work she does with the Special. Olympics. But Cox denied there was anylhing special in what she does. “T just like working with them,’’ she says. Wher she was five years old, her 20-year-old cousin who was. mentally chal- lenged used to come over and play barbies with her. At the time, Cox never suspected there was any- thing wnusual about her cousin, Ils this friendship - which spawned both her career atid her volunteer wark. Cox works as a special ed- ucation teacher with the school district, and since 1987 has been involved in Special Olympics in Ter- race. | Since then she has served “~~ local coordinator, regional ‘coordinator and Secrelary treasurer for Spe- cial Olympics, Every Saturday she also gocs down to the bowling - alley to encourage the spe- cial athletes. As well, write Howe, she organizes events, taking care of all the extra details. “T- like being behind the scenes,’? says Cox. “‘I don’t want any credit for it.”’ The real heroes are the athletes ~ she — explains. “Maybe I have the ability to help them excel at it, that’s all’ “P’m they're — cheer- leader.”’ And a better cheerleader couldn’t be found, from what Gayle Holtom writes. ‘When you ask her about ‘her’ special athletes, her face lights up,’’ says Holtom. Addie Ippel The entire staff at Copper Mt school got together to nominate Addie Ippel for ° Volunteer of the Year. ‘Addie Ippel has been an active parent volunteer at our school for five years. ... phe bas been, supportive _in ‘all arcas such as driving, cooking bulletin boards, working with students indi- vidually as well as in _groups.”” ; They were very enthusiastic about her sup- port, adding that she is a very positive and visible parent at Copper Mt. throughout the year. Patricia Woods Patricia Woods was bidliedd a nominated by Bernard Koblischke for her work with Project Literacy Ter- race, Woods only moved to Terrace two years ago, and already she has immersed ~ herself in the community. She tutowrs one literacy student four hours a weck, and is taking on ancther stu- dent soon. “It’s really enjoyable, you ~ Can see great progress,”’ says Woods, Woods also volunteers at her daughter’s school two afternoons a week, giving children there the chance to practice their reading in a one-on-one situation. She also helps our with the Reading Writers group one lunch hour every week at Kiti K’Shan. “Her daughter also led her to become. involved with Guides, and she’s a Brownie leader and the person in charge of public relations. She’s also the person you want to talk to if you want some of those delicious Girl Guide cookies which wiil be . On Sale soon. As if that weren’t enough Woods is also the treasurer for the Volunteer Bureau and regularly gives staff there computer support, set- ting up forms and spread sheets for them. **My husband travels a lot 80 I like to keep busy.”’ In between volutitcering — Woods is taking course work al the college, upgrad- _ ing her education. Vivian Rapose “Vivacious Vivian’ is how Nolan Beaudry de- scribed Rapose on his nomination form. Rapose has been an active volunteer since 1987, first joining Block Parents and Big Brothers and Sisters. She is a member of the Parents’ Advisory Council at her children’s school, is a school sports coach and Is alsa active with Mother's March. Readers might remember Rapose from being nominated for Coach of the Year. She has a ‘‘warm, bubbly personality, and is always positive and ready to help out,”” writes Beaudry. m= Lords and ladies GRADE & STUDENTS at Centennial Christian School capped off their study of medieval times with an old-fashioned banquet. They drank from goblets, ate with the hands and didn't object to a bit of sword play over lunch. The class also studied archery, horseshoes, chess — a game which originated as a way to learn military strategy — as well as medieval Poems and | d songs. :