oa ee ee Volume 76 Issue No.31 TheReview Wednesday, August 1,1990 — AQ Sanscha Hall: Time to start planning After weeks of relative inaction during the winter, residents of Sidney saw the Port project slip into high gear this spring — first with construction of the residences, the marine pub and a commercial building. Now it’s mid-summer and the marina portion of the project is going full speed ahead. The fisheries closure is over, dredging resumed and is nearly done, a new building was floated in Friday night, more floats are on the way and completion plans are firmly in sight. At the same time, council approved a final design for the construction of a third commercial building, reworked to accommodate a conference centre, should one be proposed. The present state of the Port project is a good example of how fast a project can finally come together — after months of planning, estimates, tenders and design changes. At the intersection of Beacon Avenue and the Pat Bay Highway, one can see crews from the Ministry of Transporta- tion with surveying equipment. Despite controversy and opposition, Ministry staff have a job to do, which includes actual construction of a major highway interchange. The Memorial Park Society already knows that the land it owns near the intersection will be used for the new interchange. Sanscha Hall will be gone. The community’s need for a hall is obvious. There are many advantages to putting a conference centre on the Port site. But there are also disadvantages. And there are other options, although limited. That's a discussion for the Memorial Park Society to initiate. There’s been a lot of informal talk about what could and what couldn’t happen. Now we’re getting to the point in time when the real talks should begin. In another month, when people get back into the day-to-day routine, with summer vacations behind, some serious discussion must happen. With adequate time for planning, an exceptional plan acceptable to most can be prepared in time for an easy transition. Central Saanich Days: Enjoy A good time in the park There’s nothing like the beauty of Centennial Park in the summertime. There’s plenty of Centennial parks in Canada — just about every town has one. But the one on Wallace Drive in Central Saanich is something else — with tall stately trees throwing yards of shade and acres of green, groomed grass. This weekend it'll be alive with active sports like baseball and passive sports like darts. There’s activities for youngsters including a fish pond, a petting zoo and hay rides. You can pick up a little piece of Central Saanich at the arts and crafis tables. Or you can just relax and enjoy the music. This weekend’s three days of Central Saanich Days is not to be missed. There’s something for everyone. Letters to the editor must be signed and contain the writer's address and telephone number, Letters should not exceed 500 words in length and:may be edit- ed for clarity, legality or taste. TheReview Serving The Saanich Peninsula Since 1912 9781 2nd Street Sidney, B.C. V8L 4P8 or PO. Box 2070 Sidney, B.C V8L 3S5 Second Class Mail Registration #0128 656-1151 Publisher: Vic Swan Editor: Glenn Werkman SCYcNna —— caTRH . -. ~ = Qa da see . VER! : ue SCIREULATION ASSOCATION ett Sie es CONTROLLED WE MUST INCREASE OUR PAY SCALES / WE DON'T WANT To FALL BEHIND THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES! ae a THAT / SS MUNICIPAC 7 COUNCIL \ Yankee go home Editor: Who is the illiterate who can’t spell neighborhood, favor, or labor and who has the temerity to write a column? Yankee! Go home!! Ro Roxborough Brentwood Bay Riddle for those in North Saanich Editor: This is a North Saanich riddle — When is a garbage dump not a dump? Answer: When it is called Recycling. The innocuous article in The Review (Recycling spreads to roads, rats and rock, July 11) was missed by many. The political strategy of pushing things through in the summer is alive and well in North Saanich. The idea of mounds of compost- ing organic matter, pavement slabs, and chunks of asphalt, on a small open field adjacent to the airport Taises questions such as the fol- lowing. The property in question was purchased by Transport Canada to provide for safe air traffic arrivals and departures. There is a height limit for structures in line with the runway. Who is going to control on the height of piles of boulders, mounds of rotting compost, or equipment (how tall is a rock crusher?)? Consider the scenario of a plane unable to make the Tunway — in which case would there be a better chance of survi- vors: a level field or a pile of broken pavement? Clearly, rescue would be easier in the field without the need to Manoeuvre around immovable tubble and or risk of brush pile fires. In addition to the physical haz- ard to the aircraft there is a strong relationship between sea gulls and waste storage. Birds are a major cause of aircraft accidents, this factor alone would increase the possibility of the crash scenario compared to the present condi- tions. What is the environmental impact of this activity? Has an environmental study been done? Since ground and run-off water contamination is a problem in waste storage sites, how ill local neighbors be compensated for contaminated wells? The livestock, raised on proper- ties below the site, frequently drink from open water drainage ditches and pools. As pressure to clean up environmental problems is already at hand, is it wise to add to present contaminants in Pat Bay? Is the development of a dump, whoops, a recycling site, consistent with tourist beautification and enhancement of the Peninsula? Every flight exposes visitors to the wonders of the area, expansive Pat Bay, hazy hillsides and oh yes, the Recycling: site. Mills Road, a busy connector to West Saanich, Brentwood ferry and the Butchart Gardens, would offer the opportunity to follow dust and litter gently blown off the trucks enroute to the Recycling — site. On passing the site, undoubt- edly, visitors will see rubbish left outside by those avoiding payment# & for services. But on the positive side, it is a natural habitat for rats, crows and raccoons, all creatures need love and preservation! The bottom line to this farce is that a dump is a dump. Although recycling is an admirable goal, the plan for this option requires much better thinking than demonstrated. A recycling site should effi- ciently convert used products and market the byproduct. Recycling storage must be safe for the envi- ronment. Recycling activities must be consistent with community lifestyle and long-term goals. Noreen Campbell Sidney Continued on Page A10 sirong Canadian history in Korean War by Bob Orrick Special to The Review Friday, July 27, 1990 marks the 37th anniversary of the cease-fire in Korea, which brought an end to the intense fighting between the United Nations Force and the combined Communist Force of Chinese. and North Koreans. Three vears earlier, on June 25, 1950, Noxth Korea invaded South ‘Korea and the Korea(n) War was begun. Initially, the Communists were the superior force. By early November of that year, the United Nations ground force (at that juncture primarily United States Army), had been forced into a defensive posture in and around Pusan, South Korea. In late November the United Nations Force struck a telling blow near Inchon, a seaport on the west coast of South Korea, effectively turning the tide. The Communist North Koreans were put on the defensive; their supply and sup- port systems near collapse. However, due in part to the Inchon invasion the Communist Chinese entered the war in late November and “all hell broke loose.” Shortly after the entry of the Chinese, Canadian Army ground forces began arriving in Pusan, and the fight to regain the upper hand began. The fighting was intense with both sides suffering mounting casualties. Throughout the three years and one month of many bitter battles for the hills of Korea, Canadian servicemen and women served their country and the UN cause with distinction. The Royal Canadian Navy, which always had three destroyers in the theatre, made Canada’s initial contribution to the United Nations Force. Within 24 hours of the RCN’s arrival in the theatre on July 30, HMCS Athabaskan was on her first operational mission. The remaining two destroyers, HMCS Cayuga and HMCS Sioux, soon followed Athabaskan into action. Early in July, Ottawa authorized the RCAF to dispatch 426 Trans- port Squadron (Thunderbird Squadron) of six North Star air- craft for detachment to the United — Continued on Page A8 &