Radio Haney Maple Ridge diff erent by default. p6 Council to decide on Harris Rd. pool. p13

Gardening The return of the bud bloomers. THE NEWS p33 www.mapleridgenews.com Friday, September 17, 2010 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · 50¢

Story by Robert Mangelsdorf

ornings for Dave Ius are bitterly slow. M After overcoming the Seeking crushing fatigue that attempts to pin him to his bed, he walks cautiously from his bedroom into the nearby kitchen in his small one-bedroom apartment liberation in Maple Ridge, grasping at the walls and counters to steady himself. His hands shake. His legs shake. His eyes struggle to focus on his surroundings. “Everything is methodically planned out,” he says, sighing as he carefully lowers himself into a chair, then digs into a yogurt container full of granola, his fingers trembling as they clumsily clutch the spoon. Ius suffers from multiple

sclerosis. Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS See MS, p3 Dave Ius is going to Cabo San Lucas for a new MS treatment not available in Canada. Girl gang-raped at Pitt rave 16-year-old boy arrested farm at 12993 Harris Road, Fri- about this victim and the tak- live in the home had allowed day night. ing and subsequent sharing two young men to use the prop- for distributing pictures A 16-year-old boy was arrested of photos depicting this rape erty for a party, for which they Tuesday for distributing child is disgusting, morally corrupt charged $10 in advance and $15 by Monisha Martins porn. and criminal,” said Sgt. Jennifer at the door. staff reporter He allegedly took photographs Hyland, the offi cer in charge of The registered owners of the of the rape on his cell phone and Ridge Meadows RCMP’s serious property who own lots of farm- distributed them to friends, who crime unit. land in Pitt Meadows said they Photographs of a girl being then posted them to Facebook. Police knew the party was set had no idea the party. raped at a Pitt Meadows rave Police have fi led a report to to take place and checked on the Contributed See Rape, p10 are spreading across on the In- Crown for charges against him, event Friday night, but found RCMP Sgt. Jennifer Hyland and Insp. Derren Lench speak ternet. which have yet to be laid. nothing amiss. at a press conference about a rave in Pitt Meadows The 16-year-old was gang- The gang-rape and distribu- A previous party called “A MR where a 16-year-old girl was gang-raped. Police want raped in fi eld by fi ve to seven tion of graphic photographs has night in Bangkok” had been NEWS Online anyone who attended the rave to contact investigators men – some adults and other shocked even seasoned investi- hosted at a barn on the same For video, visit so they can get a clear picture of what happened at the teens – at “Another Night in gators. property two weeks before. www.mapleridgenews.com event and afterwards. Bangkok,” a party held on a “The very public discussion Police said the people who Index

Opinion 6 Radio Haney 6 Parenting 30 Acts of Faith 32 Home&gardening 33 Community Calendar 55 Scoreboard 61 ‘Problem is plumbing, not electrical’

MS from front company with offi ces in Vancouver While his mind has remained that specializes in medical tour- sharp, his body has turned against ism, estimates that more than 98 him. The disease triggers the per cent of the company’s business body’s auto-immune system, forc- has come MS sufferers seeking the ing it to attack the body’s nervous liberation procedure, with more system, specifi cally the protective than 200 customers fl ying to Costa covering that wraps around the Rica for the treatment in the past nerves of the central nervous sys- few months. tem, called the myelin sheath. “By Christmas, I imagine we’ll He is one of close to 75,000 Cana- have had around 600,” says Sem- dians with the disease – one that ple. presently has no cure. He has personally witnessed 40 Though not considered fatal it- patients undergo the procedure, self, the disease can cause chronic and has seen the positive results pain, bowl and bladder failure, fi rst hand. muscle spasms and speech diffi cul- “I’m not a snake oil salesman,” ties. says Semple. “I have to manage “It isolates you,” says the divorced people’s expectations somewhat, father of three. “I have a lot of fam- because this is not a cure.” ily, so I’m one of the lucky ones, but Although the procedure corrects some people with this disease, they the fl ow of blood draining from the aren’t so fortunate.” brain, it does nothing to remove Suicide is not uncommon for MS the iron deposits themselves. sufferers as their symptoms wors- “When someone who was bound en and they lose control of their to a wheelchair gets up and walks, own body. you can’t tell me that it’s a placebo However, a new medical proce- effect,” says Semple. “I’ve seen dure is providing hope for some miracles.” MS sufferers, like Ius, but whether However, clinical trials in Canada that hope is founded remains to be could still be years away. seen. While Zamboni’s initial fi nd- Developed by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS ings, published in the Journal for a professor of medicine at the Uni- (Above) Steve Robinson, left, and Dave Ius both have MS and meet regularly to discuss it; (below) Robinson’s T-shirt. Vascular Surgery last December, versity of Ferrara in Italy, the new concluded that the pilot study war- treatment, called “the liberation furthest thing from your mind.” about it. In the back of his mind, ranted a subsequent randomized procedure,” represents a radical As Ius grew older, the episodes Ius suspected it might be MS. His control study, the Canadian Insti- departure in how MS is under- became more frequent, and more sister Teresa had suffered from MS tute for Health Research decided stood. frustrating. for years. two weeks ago it was premature According to Zamboni’s theory, A feeling like an electrical pulse “I was in denial,” he says. to conduct such clinical testing in the auto-immune response is trig- would shoot down his legs periodi- But when, at the age of 26, Ius was Canada. gered by iron deposits in the brain. cally. His fi ngers would go numb, fi nally diagnosed with the progres- Constricted veins in the neck, par- and he would experience a sensa- sive form of the disease, all he felt ticularly the internal jugular and tion like a large belt being pulled was relief. azygos veins, prevent blood from tight around his midsection. He “It was a huge relief to be diag- “There was unanimous properly draining from the brain, began having trouble with depth nosed,” he says. agreement from the instead causing blood to pool, perception, and would suffer bouts He fi nally had answer and under- which in turn leaves the deposits of vertigo. standing of what was happening to scientific experts that it is of iron. As a competitive athlete, the ef- his body. premature to support pan- Zamboni dubbed the condition fects became apparent whether he “But there wasn’t anything they “chronic cerebrospinal venous was boxing, skiing, playing base- could do for me.” Canadian clinical trials on insuffi ciency”, or CCSVI, and its ball or tennis. Thanks to the liberation proce- the proposed liberation treatment, which was fi rst per- “I’d be playing tennis, and I dure, for the fi rst time Ius says he formed on his own wife, is rela- would swing at the ball, but it was has hope for recovery, as well as procedure.” tively simple. Similar to an angio- two feet in front of me,” he says. “I an understanding of the disease plasty, the liberation procedure didn’t know what was happening itself. Dr. Alain Beaudet, CIHR president involves infl ating a small balloon to get his life back. to me.” But while the procedure is con- inside the constricted vein to clear “I started crying,” Ius says of By the time he was 17, his life was ducted in private clinics in more the blockage and allow for proper when he fi rst learned of the proce- falling apart. than 40 countries worldwide, and is “There was unanimous agree- drainage. dure nearly a year ago. “I couldn’t Working as a joinery apprentice available through the public health ment from the scientifi c experts In Zamboni’s initial trial, which believe it. It fi t so perfectly, and in the shipyards of the North Shore, care system in Kuwait, it is current- that it is premature to support was neither controlled, nor ran- made perfect sense.” he began accidently hitting himself ly unavailable in Canada. pan-Canadian clinical trials on the domized, 65 MS patients underwent Ius was eight years old when he in the hands, and once fell down an In order to undergo the proce- proposed liberation procedure,” the procedure, with more than 70 fi rst noticed his symptoms. It was open stairwell. A skiing accident dure, Ius is paying close to $15,000 said Dr. Alain Beaudet, CIHR pres- per cent showing decreased MS early summer, and he was play- shredded the ligaments in his left to fl y to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to ident. symptoms. ing in the front yard of his family’s knee. A motorcycle accident sent have it performed in a private clinic “There is an overwhelming lack Zamboni’s theory has turned the home in North Vancouver. Sud- Ius over the handle bars when he next month. The surgery takes less of scientifi c evidence on the safety generally accepted understanding denly, he couldn’t feel the ground couldn’t hold a turn. A car accident than an hour, after which he will and effi cacy of the procedure, or of MS on its head, suggesting the beneath his feet, and his world left him in constant pain. spend the next 10 days recuperat- even that there is any link between disease is a vascular condition and started spinning and he fell to the “Everyone around me was losing ing under observation before fl y- blocked veins and MS.” not a neurological one. ground. confi dence in me,” says Ius. “So ing home. In an effort to help provide that “Basically, it’s a plumbing prob- Ius called to his mother, who I tried to mask it, with booze and He is one of a growing number of evidence, the MS Society of Canada lem, instead of an electrical one,” chalked up the dizzy spell to a fe- drugs.” MS sufferers who are leaving the and the United States have provid- says Ius. ver. It didn’t work. country to have the procedure. ed $2.4 million to fund preliminary For many MS sufferers like Ius, “Why would you ever think it was His body was failing him and Mark Semple president of Pass- research into CCSVI so far. the procedure offers the potential anything else?” says Ius. “MS is the he was powerless to do anything port Medical, a Maple Ridge-based See MS, p4 ‘It almost sounds to good to be true’

MS from p3 clinical trials as soon as One such study is be- possible. ing conducted at the “We need to fi nd out,” University of British he says. “One way or an- Columbia’s MS clinic other, we need to know by neurologist Dr. Tony if this works, or if we Traboulsee, who is seek- shouldn’t be getting our ing to develop a gold hopes up.” standard for the process Ius went on long-term of radiological scanning disability more than 10 to detect the blocked years ago, and he hopes veins, according to Su- that after the procedure zette Jay, spokesperson he might be able to re- for the MS Society of turn to work someday, Canada’s B.C./Yukon and get back into the branch. sports he grew up loving “MS is one of these ar- to play. eas where Canada can The athletic streak be a world leader,” said runs in his family. His Jay. cousin Chris was an “Canada has one of the Olympic boxer. His son highest MS rates in the Matt played for the Ever- world.” Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS ett Silvertips and Chilli- Jay said she expects Steve Robinson with the bike he rides on the dike. wack Bruins of the West- preliminary reports of ern Hockey League. the fi rst round of re- ing research proposals. However, she noted, ers through the decision “To play tennis again,” search to be available in Earlier this week, the there is an established of whether to leave the he says. “That would be about six months. province of Newfound- procedure to be followed country for surgery. amazing.” For many frustrated land and Labrador to research any new Should the procedure Ius’s friends and fam- MS sufferers, that’s too agreed to fund research medical procedure or prove effective, there ily held a fundraiser long. to study MS sufferers technique, and that will could be a huge econom- last weekend to help “Everyone in the who opt to receive the take time. ic benefi t. raise money for his pro- world is doing it except treatment out-of-coun- “We understand that Many MS sufferers are cedure. More than 150 Canada,” says Ius. “The try. it’s not happening as fast on long-term disability people came out for the medical community in “We’re eager to take as some people would and require thousands event, held at a friend’s Canada has put up a part in clinical trials to like, but [the research] of dollars of medications house in Maple Ridge, brick wall.” test the idea. After all, is going as fast as it can,” every month, costing the helping to raise more Last month the prov- we want a cure, and we she said. government millions of than $10,000. ince of Saskatchewan, want it now,” said Jay. While the MS Society dollars. Ius meets almost daily which has the highest “There are many people of Canada doesn’t en- However, there is far with other local MS suf- per capita rate of MS on staff who have MS, dorse the treatment, it from consensus in the ferers at the Starbucks in Canada, promised to or have loved ones with has set up a web page medical community as at Westgate Mall in fund clinical trials, pend- MS.” to help walk MS suffer- to whether Zamboni’s Maple Ridge. There the theory has merits. liberation procedure is The scientifi c journal a near constant topic of Annals of Neurology conversation. warned in March of this Lance Bannister is year there could be risks headed to Costa Rica involved with the libera- next month for the proce- tion procedure. dure. He owns a graphic “At present, invasive design and marketing and potentially danger- fi rm in Vancouver, but ous endovascular proce- has had step back from dures as therapy for pa- the business as his tients with MS should be symptoms worsened in discouraged until such the past two years. studies have been com- “I’m looking forward pleted, analyzed, and to working again,” says debated in the scientifi c Bannister. “I have a arena,” stated the policy 14-year-old son, and I piece, penned by a group haven’t been able to be leading North American in his life as much as and European neurolo- I would like in the last gists. year.” According to the MS Steve Robinson was Society of Canada, com- diagnosed with MS in plications from the sur- 1980 and is currently gery include possible trying to raise the more heart attack or stroke than $10,000 needed to from the dislodging of undergo the liberation blood clots, as well as procedure in Costa Rica. bleeding, bruising, and Robinson, who co- infection. founded the Alouette The results of a Ger- Field Naturalists, now man study published gets around on a custom- last month in Annals of made tricycle which he Neurology downplayed has fi tted with a small the connection between motor, so he can cruise CCSVI and MS symp- along the dikes in Pitt toms. Of the 56 MS pa- Meadows. tients in the study, all “It almost sounds too but one had normal good to be true,” says cranial blood fl ow and Ius of the procedure. drainage. “But right now, it’s all “Our results challenge we have.” the hypothesis that cere- bral venous congestion plays a signifi cant role Help Steve in the pathogenesis [de- Donations to help with velopment] of MS,” the Steve Robinson’s procedure study stated. can be made to account No. For Ius, the contro- 6872 at Envision Financial versy underscores the in Maple Ridge. importance of moving to THE NEWS/opinion Published and printed by Black Press at 22328 – 119th Avenue, Maple Ridge, B.C., V2X 2Z3 News Views Ingrid Rice Don’t hit send A 16-year-old girl was gang-raped at a Pitt Meadows rave on the weekend. The act, committed by between five to seven men, some teenagers, others adults, is vile and depraved. But it’s the events that took place during the rape and those that followed it that make you even more nauseous. A 16-year-old boy photographed the rape, then proceeded to distribute the pictures to friends who posted them on Facebook. They have been shared, police said, with stu- dents as young as 12. Although police have arrested the teen, the photographs called “graphic, sexual and dis- gusting” by police, continue to spread like wildfire. Investigators say they have reached as far as Mission, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody and oth- er sleepy suburbs across Metro Vancouver. As soon as copies of the photos get removed, others repost them, along with comments about the girl being a willing participant. Police say the teens don’t seem to understand that the act they are viewing is “rape.” Why is that? Has this electronic age of sexting and living lives online for the world to see blurred what’s right and wrong? Anyone who has possession of these photo- graphs right now needs to know they are child pornography. If you share them, you could be arrested and charged. Hit delete, not send. Diff erent by default, get my drift – The News ast week Maple the many thousands who live in the neigh- dents for Smart Shopping and the chamber Tell us what you think @ www.mapleridgenews.com Ridge News bourhood will applaud the fact that they of commerce, though both were invited. Lreporter Phil no longer have to travel to Pitt Meadows, That in my opinion is very odd indeed. Melnychuck reported Surrey or Coquitlam to shop. Others will Conspiracy theorists sharpen your pencils. a good fi rst get-to- bemoan the construction traffi c, fol- Mr. Melnychuck‘s report also states that THE NEWS gether at trying to get lowed thereafter by the complaints about Leslie Sofarelli, with Residents for Smart views on what should increased shopping traffi c and general Shopping, which wants a mall in the area, Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows since 1978 happen in Albion fl ats. congestion more familiarly associated west added she hasn’t heard if her group will Jim Coulter, publisher His story noted of our burgeoning dormitory town. be invited to the brainstorming (charette) [email protected] Mayor Ernie Daykin Coquitlam centre “now available in Al- process that takes place Oct. 20 and 21. I Michael Hall, editor as saying 24 people at- bion” will be the cry, and the outcry. have some advice for her. If you are not [email protected] tended the fi rst meet- The idea is to have an Albion plan by the invited, just show up. Carly Ferguson, advertising, creative services manager Radio Haney [email protected] ing Sept. 7 and seven new year. Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Chamber of Kathy Blore, circulation manager the day after. Claus Andrup Mayor Daykin, predictably – and sensibly Commerce president Jeremy Bekar, an [email protected] Radio Haney feels – noted that his priority was to get good astute and fi ne fellow, thinks just like me the meeting may have public involvement from average people, (if I may so). He would like to see Euro- Editorial Reporters: Phil Melnychuk, Monisha Martins, been ‘good,’ but clearly there was nothing and not only the “build a mall group” and pean-style community squares for public Robert Mangelsdorf good about the attendance numbers. “the don’t cut down a tree group.” Well, events, with stores around the perimeter Photographer: Colleen Flanagan Some readers may recall the heady days Mr. Mayor, that is a priority shared by us and parking behind the stores. Fabric roofs of the 2005 offi cial community plan meet- all, except, of course, the build-a-mall bri- such as those used in Canada Place in Advertising Sales representatives: Karen Derosia, Glenda Dressler, Rina Varley, ings and how much airtime has been given gade and the last tree standing stumpers downtown Vancouver could offer protec- Michelle Baniulis to the Albion fl ood plains by politicians, from Pitt Meadows to Maple Ridge. Not a tion from the elements. They may also Ad control: Mel Onodi district staff, commentators, letter writers, dike in sight, but I feel certain the Pitt Pol- hide that mess of a 19th Century industrial Creative services: Kristine Pierlot, Cary Blackburn the community, Smart!Centres and their dergeists will soon be haunting the Albion park in the Albion south of the Lougheed Annette WaterBeek, Chris Hussey Classifi ed: Vicki Milne gang of supporters since. In the context Area Plan. from view. of all that has preceded the current area Now then, Mr. Melnychuck’s report also Mr. Bekar brightly observes that the 22328 – 119th Avenue, planning meetings for the fl ats, 27 people is mentions the fact that all committees that Albion is not far from the downtown and Maple Ridge, B.C., disappointing. Seven is outright pitiful. advise council were invited. could create synergies with downtown. V2X 2Z3 Offi ce: 604-467-1122 Those familiar with process like this in The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Agri- He’d like Maple Ridge to be different from Fax: 604-463-4741 our district will not be surprised. In time, cultural Association was also invited. I other municipalities. In some ways, it Delivery: 604-466-6397 the public will claim that it was invited wonder what they make of this hullabaloo already is, if you get the drift of my net. Website: www.mapleridgenews.com or did not know, as they have done in the in the Albion? Email: [email protected] past. The district, for its part, will say that As a past member of two advisory bodies, Claus Andrup is a former member at The News is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a it did all in its power. I happen to know that they number many large of the Maple Ridge Community self-regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. With a population approaching 80,000, I persons. I wonder how many from all these Heritage Commission, the Maple Ridge The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, am ever surprised by the low turnout for bodies were attendance? With a grand Economic Advisory Commission, and with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talk- many, not all, of these types of meetings. total of seven at the second meeting, it is former President of the Maple Ridge ing with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. In the event that Smart!Centres gets its safe to say not many. Historical Society. He has lived in Maple Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. way – and I have no doubt it will – some of Also absent from the meeting were Resi- Ridge since 1994. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.

CCAB audited circulation: (as of September 2009): Wednesday - 30,221; Friday – 30,197. uestion Should Premier Gordon Campbell resign over This week’s question:

of the the HST? Do you use company-issued mobile devices Qweek: Yes: 84% – No: 16% (99 votes) when not at work? @ Online poll: cast your vote at www.mapleridgenews.com, or e-mail your vote and comments to [email protected] THE NEWS/letters What about ban on Let football have Friday Nights vegetable gardening? EDITOR, THE NEWS: Re: Pitt football needs more Friday Night Lights, EDITOR, THE NEWS: (Letters, Sept. 15). Re: Pitt medical growop bylaw in place (The News, Sept. To council and school board 10) members: Back in July, I sent Pitt Meadows city council a letter, im- It has just come to my atten- ploring members to re-consider their bylaw against medical tion that the soccer use of the marijuana grows. In that letter, I told them that if they con- new Pitt Meadows secondary tinued down the path of discrimination they were on, I would turf fi eld is not actually used exercise every fi nancial and legal resource available to me to for any team games, instead fi ght against their callous disregard for the Canadian Char- it is for ongoing training/ ter of Rights and Freedoms. clinic sessions for those elite What they have done is shamefully unconstitutional and soccer players who can pay will undoubtedly be overturned in due course at the expense $200 for the high-end, extra of the taxpayers. practice and instruction. The laws of Canada (MMAR section 34(1)) plainly state that I have been involved in a “holder of a designated-person production licence is autho- youth sports for more than rized, in accordance with the licence, to produce marijuana 35 years and understand the for the medical purpose of the person who applied for the challenges involved in sched- licence.” uling and distributing access That means what they are doing is no more illegal than to limited resources. growing tomatoes and cucumbers. I am very disappointed in Would the residents of Pitt Meadows support a ban on ur- the choices made in this mat- ban vegetable gardening? ter. Furthermore, section 15(1) of the Canadian Charter of It would seem to me that Rights and Freedoms states that all individuals are “equal money appears to have spo- before and under the law and have the right to the equal pro- ken again. tection and equal benefi t of the law without discrimination.” The Pitt Meadows varsity With a lawyer on council, it irks me to think that this was football team hosts four or not discussed before the passing of this grossly unconstitu- fi ve home games per season tional and discriminatory bylaw. and want to play them on Fortunately, the laws of Canada protect us from such tyr- Friday nights. Five dates per anny. See you in court. year for one team to get the CARL ANDERSON exposure they deserve dur- KAMLOOPS ing games – league games THE NEWS/files – against opponents who do The Pitt senior football played its only Friday night game last week. have preferred access to their home fi elds. They and their parents, with Lights experience for their The Friday Nights Lights Time for premier to resign I wonder how they view guidance and leadership school and their community experience is only available the fact that Pitt cannot ac- from Pitt Meadows second- and to build a legacy for play- at a certain time and on a EDITOR, THE NEWS: cess their own fi eld on Friday ary and Rich Goulet, worked ers who come behind them. very few certain dates. In response to the premier’s so-called solution to the HST nights because some soccer very hard to put a program This team and their par- I implore you to change tax referendum next year, can’t people see that he’s just ty- players want it for practice. together and to sustain it. ents have so much more to your minds about this field ing to buy some time? The real issue, if I can remind our Rather pathetic, really. Many of these local young offer the school and this com- allocation for this year as populace out there, is that he lied to you to get re-elected. This particular group of pioneers will graduate this munity than any group of soon as possible to assist And, he should resign and get the hell out of offi ce now. players is made up mostly year. They would love to $200-a-head soccer players in building that special leg- Let’s restore democracy in our province and not allow this of the initial junior varsity be able to experience that ever will. acy for the community. crook to deceive us any longer. team who helped start this which they worked so hard They can practice any- MARK NEWLOVE JOHN MCKENZIE new program four years ago. to achieve, a Friday Nights where, anytime. PITT MEADOWS MAPLE RIDGE

[email protected] Do we believe those with something to lose? More than trees and lakes EDITOR, THE NEWS: of CropLife Canada, rep- prohibit there use? would like to prevent any Re: Pesticide bans do resents the pesticide in- Regulatory agencies ap- more disastrous effects. From: J, posted on www.mapleridgenews.com. nothing to protect public dustry, and so, of course, proved DDT, Thalidomide, Should we believe the Re: Municipalities look at building $5 million tourism centre (The News, (Letters, Sept. 8). he would like us to believe VIOXX, DES, etc. And Canadian Cancer Society, Sept. 15). I wonder if your read- that pesticides are safe. then these products were which has nothing to gain Until there is the infrastructure to attract visitors, a larger info centre is a ers remember the tobacco The review of products discovered to be unsafe from banning cosmetic waste of money. You may have the farms, but do they offer tours at con- industry telling us that by Health Canada is large- and they were withdrawn pesticides, or Mr. Hep- sistent times? You have bike trails, but do you have a bike rental company their product was safe to ly based on information from sale, sometimes after worth, who represents an available? Is there a company to offer bike tours? “Wilderness, wetlands and use. Even scientists (hired submitted by the produc- disastrous effects. We are industry with something farms” describes almost every municipality. Wildplay is a start, but you’ll by the industry) told us ers of pesticides; would in the process of discover- to lose? that tobacco was safe. they submit information to ing the harmful effects of SHEILA PRATT need more actual tourism products, not just trees and lakes. Mr. Hepworth, president Health Canada that would cosmetic pesticides and MAPLE RIDGE Emperor’s clothes From: Christian Cowley, posted on www.mapleridgenews.com. Re: Ridge the next South Bronx (Letters, Sept. 15). Maple Ridge not aff ected by census data Sometimes it takes an outsider to state the obvious before the locals will accept the truth – the emperor’s clothes is an allegory that is oh so close to EDITOR, THE NEWS: Upon reading the quote census voluntary will make well advised to spend it’s all of here in Maple Ridge. Re: Council offers take given by Coun. Linda King any substantive change for time trying to fi nd ways to on census (The News, Sept. that the change “could hin- Maple Ridge residents. improve our transit options, 15). der council’s ability to make What a perfect argument reduce road congestion, im- I read in total amaze- informed decisions regard- in favor of changing the prove the commercial tax Letters welcome ment the article explaining ing housing and land-use,” I census than to suggest that base, increase shopping how council is upset with almost fell off my chair. the sorry state that we fi nd opportunities, reduce the Letters to the editor should be exclusive to The News the change in the Canadian How could the disastrous ourselves in today is the re- costs of running this mu- and address topics of interest to residents of Maple census long form. It was hu- Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Include full name and address, situation that we now have sult of data used from the nicipality, and especially as well as daytime phone number for verification. Keep morous to think that census regarding these two is- census. reducing our ever escalat- letters to 500 words or less. Letters may be edited for data had infl uenced any de- sues get any worse, let alone Instead of spending time ing taxes. length and clarity. cision made by this or any the suggestion that by sim- discussing totally nonsensi- GRAHAM MOWATT @ E-mail letters to [email protected]. past council. ply making answering the cal issues, council would be MAPLE RIDGE Still no answers about North Aloutte fl ooding

very long time.” “multi-jurisdictional.” ‘Flood situation Public works man- Murrell also has con- has deteriorated’ ager Frank Quinn, cerns about soil being though, explained that hauled on to nearby by Phil Melnychuk a partnership the dis- farms and how that will staff reporter trict hoped to join with affect drainage of water another agency for the around her property on study fell through, re- the east side of 224th It’s been 31 months quiring the district to Street. since the North Alou- proceed on its own, de- She’s written the dis- ette River fl ood task laying the study. trict about one farmer force recommended a “The good news is bringing in soil and was hydrology study that we’re nearing comple- told that a report from would look at the ebbs tion of the fi rst phase.” a hydrological engineer and fl ows of the river The land north of was required, showing and serve as a baseline 132nd Avenue is a fl ood that the soil won’t af- for any strategy to man- THE NEWS/files plain and water regu- fect surrounding prop- age it and ease the con- Dian Murrell (right) wants the Alouette River Flood Task larly swamps the roads erties. But to do that, cerns of residents. Force to meet again. during heavy rains. the owner’s consultant They are still awaiting Murrell said the Alou- needs information from for that study. Last year, residents the sandbar removal?” ette Valley Association the yet-to-be-completed So Dian Murrell asked measured a sandbar be- Murrell asked council. recently met and wants hydrological study. The Maple Ridge council neath the 224th Street The contract to do the the fl ood task force, district has said previ- Tuesday what is is go- bridge and told the dis- study was awarded in formed in 2007, re-as- ously that all the rules ing to do about it. trict there’s not enough 2007 and was to be done sembled for at least one are being followed on The fl ood situation clearance between that in three stages, said meeting. that property. in the area has dete- and the bridge. They Murrell. Quinn said the hydrol- Yet Murrell wonders riorated rather than im- were told to wait until She pointed out the ogy study should go a why applying for a per- proved, she added. the hydrology study district’s website says long way to solving the mit seems to excuse an And although heavy was complete. the fi rst two phases problems. applicant from penalties rains have held off the “When will the hy- were supposed to be He said in a letter to for hauling soil without last few seasons, people drology study be com- done by October. But Murrell that the district getting a permit. who live around 224th plete enough to be of the varying deadlines also has plans to replace “They just don’t seem Street and 132nd Av- use in resolving the is- are confusing. “That’s both the bridges at to have any answers as enue get nervous with sues for the residents of one of our frustrations. 224th and 232nd streets to what’s going on down the onset of winter. the fl oodplain, such as It’s been going on for a and notes the issues are there.” lected knives and swords. He claimed the photo- Drug dealer guilty of rape graph with the Hell’s Angels was one with childhood friends with Justice believes victim over claims that sex was consensual whom he has no criminal involvement. An admitted drug deal- a notorious downtown ball gun, showed her a Five people – a drug er accused of brutally Maple Ridge townhouse pellet gun and a photo- dealer and four addicts – raping and threatening complex, known widely graph of himself posing testifi ed on Reis’ behalf, a woman with a sword as “The Ghetto.” with Hell’s Angels. telling the court the sex was found guilty of the She ended up in Reis’ She described him as between him and the vic- crimes Wednesday in basement suite and told “psychotic.” tim was consensual. New Westminster Su- the court he proceeded In between the rapes, Justice Schultes, how- preme Court. to cook powered cocaine he sometimes calmed ever, did not accept their Justice Terry Schultes into crack in front of her. down and told her about testimony. found the sex that took Then he turned on a his personal life. He even “Overall [Reis’] evi- place between Victor Jo- pornographic video. She read to her from a book dence struck me as a fab- seph Reis and the victim, told the court Reis then about pit bulls. rication,” Schultes said. whose name is protected grabbed her by the wrist After raping her, he “I do not believe it, nor by a publication ban, was and dragged her to his fell asleep but the victim do I fi nd the witnesses not consensual. bed, where he demanded said she was too scared called on his behalf be- “I fi nd [the victim’s] she take off her clothes. to leave. She fi nally left lievable.” testimony was truthful She was then raped when a man she was ac- “This verdict was and accept her evidence,” repeatedly, forced to per- quainted with knocked reached after a very Schultes said. form oral sex as well as on Reis’ door. careful consideration of Reis was charged with threatened with a small Reis, though, denied all the evidence,” Crown sexual assault using a metal baseball bat and the sex was forced. prosecutor Winston Say- threat or weapon and sword. He said he was a drug son said outside court. unlawful confi nement on She said Reis angled dealer who only dealt “It is a verdict that is just Aug. 25, 2008, four days the blade of the sword crack to support his hab- and supported by the evi- after the rape. against her neck as if he it. He told the court he dence.” The court heard the was going to cut off her never struggled with her Sayson, however, 38-year-old victim was head. and told her she could would not allude to the on a drug binge Aug. 22, He tied her hands with leave after they had sex. sentence he would be 2008 and met Reis after a TV or VCR cable and He said the child-sized seeking. she purchased heroin also used it to tie her hair baseball bat was in his “This is a type of crime from another dealer at in a pony tail. home because he plays that usually attracts a sig- Northumberland Court, He also fi red a paint baseball and that he col- nifi cant jail sentence.” Photos of rape spreading like wildfi re: police Rape from front the police investigation. the rape and comments “Make no mistake, this It was attended by hun- It has since been taken about victim being a will- girl was raped, likely dreds of teens and young down. ing participant continue drugged and abused by adults, was taking place Investigators contacted to spread via Facebook. numerous people. The at the rental house. the victim as a result of Some of the photo- posting and viewing of Police only found out the images and she was graphs have been shown the photos is continuing about the rape when a examined by a nurse to students in Maple to victimize this young high school student came specializing in sexual Ridge and Pitt Meadows girl and her family and forward with images of assaults, who found in- who are as young as 13. needs to stop.” the act in progress. juries described as “sig- “They are spreading Hyland said anyone A Facebook page about nifi cant.” like wildfi re,” said Hy- sharing the photographs the party helped with But photographs of land. is distributing child porn. Investigators can iden- tify some of the men in- volved through the pho- tographs, but are urging other witnesses to the rape to come forward and “do the right thing.” “Regardless of what some believe they were watching, this was a rape,” said Hyland. Police want anyone who attended the rave to contact investigators so they can have a clear pic- ture of what happened at the event and after- wards. A man who lives in the house on the property where the party took place said the house is rented by fi ve people and one of them may have given permission to the men to host the rave in the barn. “We’ve had parties there before and there has never been any prob- lems,” he said, adding he did not attend the rave. • Anyone with any in- formation is asked to call RCMP at 604-463-6251. To remain anonymous call CrimeStoppers at 1-800- 222-8477. CrimeStoppers will pay a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Council to decide on Harris Rd. pool by Robert Mangelsdorf staff reporter

There’s a hole at the bottom of the pool, and what to do with it will be up to Pitt Meadows Council to decide. The aging Harris Road outdoor swimming pool is leaking more than 25,000 litres per day, ac- cording to a Maple Ridge- Pitt Meadows Parks and Leisure Services Com- mission report authored by facilities operations THE NEWS/files manager Mike Millward. The Harris Road outdoor pool is leaking 25,000 litres of water a day. The pool normally costs $22,000 to oper- commission decided the community well,” opened for the season ate for its two-month Thursday to instead said Millward. on July 1. season, independent of forward the report to The pool has been leak- Parks and leisure ser- labour costs, and those Pitt Meadows council as ing heated chlorinated vices proposed an indoor costs are sure to be high- information, leaving the water into the ground aquatic centre replace er because of the leak, direction up to its mem- for years, but the leak the aging outdoor pool he said. bers. has grown from 8,300 in its draft master plan, A temporary gas hot One option could be to litres per day in 2008 to which was presented to water tank was brought attempt to fi x the broken more than 25,000 litres both municipalities ear- in to help heat the water, piping under the pool. now, and amount rough- lier this summer, and to while extra pool chemi- “If that is the route ly equal to 1.5 million be voted on this fall. cals were required to council wants to go then litres over the course of The preferred option treat the increased vol- we will look into that,” the outdoor pool’s two- would include a shal- ume of water needed. said Millward. month season. low leisure pool with an “The totals are not in He could not say how Geotechnical work eight- to 10-lane, 25-me- yet, but we know they much that option was performed in 2008 found tre competition pool. The will be higher,” said Mill- likely to cost. that the pool was struc- plan suggests splitting ward. Harris Road pool was turally safe, and there the municipal portion His report originally built in 1945, and under- was no danger of a sink- of the cost for the $15-18 called for the parks com- went renovations in the hole forming. million project between mission to endorse the 1960s. The pool passed in- the City of Pitt Meadows permanent closure of “It’s been around for a spection earlier this and the District of Maple the pool. However, the long time, and its served year, prior to being Ridge. Pitt library project breaks ground 12,200 square foot facility will open in 2011 by Monisha Martins staff reporter

Construction has be- gun on a bigger and brighter library for the City of Pitt Mead- ows. The library will move into the first of three towers of So- laris at Meadows Gate, a development by RG Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS Properties at the cor- Pitt Meadows councillors Doug Bing, Deb Walters, Gwen O’Connell and Tracy Miyash- ner of Harris and Ford ita look at a 3-D model of the Solaris at Meadows Gate development. The new library roads. will be occupy the second floor of the shortest building. The books, comput- ers and staff will occu- ect and got a tour of need to borrow stuff in which offer breathtak- py the second floor of the Solaris towers on a hurry. ing panoramas of the the new development, Tuesday. Council has approved Golden Ears Moun- next to city hall. Once complete in a 10-year lease with tains, Mount Baker The relocation will 2011, the library will RG Properties. and unobstructed allow the library to have a computer lab, The current library views out to Burnaby. almost double in size, study area, children building will be used “The design is just to 12,200 square feet and teen areas, a for other municipal right for Pitt Mead- from 7,500. space with seating needs. ows. It compliments “The staff do such that allows patrons to The Solaris devel- our downtown nicely,” a great job with what take in the view from opment also has 150 she said. “It will be a they have now, but the corner of Harris underground parking nice synergy with the they are going to be and Ford Roads, and spaces, doubling the recreation centre, city able to do so much a multi-purpose meet- parking at the Pitt hall and the library.” more with a larger ing room. Meadows civic centre. Condos not bought space,” said Coun. Deb The new location will Walters was also during a pre-sale for Walters, who attended also have self-serve pleased with the al- the development are a ground breaking check-out stations, most-complete 10-sto- expected to go on the ceremony for the proj- helpful for people who rey Solaris towers, market in October. No free flights for MP Kamp by Phil Melnychuk Kamp said he’s heard staff reporter of colleagues who went to Israel and Taiwan. “They’re not vacations, Despite reports of MPs that’s for sure.” MPs re- taking free fl ights to for- turn with a good sense eign destinations, cour- of the region and coun- tesy of national try, “so there is governments or some benefi t to lobby groups, them.” Randy Kamp According to hasn’t taken up a Sept. 8 report any of the of- by CBC News, fers. MPs received After fi rst almost $2 mil- being elected lion in free trav- in 2004, Kamp el and gifts from (Pitt Meadows- national gov- Maple Ridge- ernments and Mission) had a Kamp lobby groups, few invitations, between 2005 mainly when he was in and 2009. The report opposition until 2006, but said that in 2009, 54 MPs, he’s never accepted any. or nearly one in six, ac- “No I haven’t gone any cepted sponsored trips, of those,” he said Mon- with Israel and Taiwan day. the most popular destina- Over the years, there’s tions. been one or two trips to Kamp said he’d won- Israel and Taiwan that der if it was appropriate some his colleagues have for cabinet ministers or gone on, but Kamp never MP secretaries to accept felt inclined. He said he’s free trips. Being at the been too busy with his cabinet table, they could job as parliamentary sec- infl uence government retary to the Minister of decisions. Fisheries Gail Shea to go “But for backbenchers, on those trips. I’m not sure that’s an is- He has had to do three sue for them or not.” or four overseas trips on Of those who took the behalf of Fisheries and trips, he said he didn’t Oceans Canada, but ex- see anything particu- penses for that were cov- larly subversive going on ered by the ministry. there. “Those have all been Kamp said there’s also when I’ve been repre- the National Association senting the minister. of Parliamentarians that Those are paid for by gets government money Department of Fisheries to attend overseas confer- and Oceans.” ences from time to time. Firefighters try to enter the top floor of a house at 20389 Walnut Crescent after an explosion set the side of the house on fire. Bob Gosse and another near- by neighbour put out the fire with garden hoses. No one was home at the time. The fire is being treated as suspicious.

Colleen Flanagan/ THE NEWS

Maple Ridge house fi re ‘suspicious’

The blaze started her neighbour’s house. The Maple Ridge Fire Old woman in with a loud boom Her husband and a Department called the slippers seen around 10:30 a.m. in the neighbour from across blaze “a close call.” 20300-block of Walnut the street grabbed gar- The fi re spread two fl eeing the scene Crescent. den hoses to douse the storeys and almost A neighbour said the fl ames while she called reached the roof of the Police are investigat- explosion was loud 911. house. ing a suspicious fi re enough to be heard The neighbour said It started in a pile of that burned the side of streets away. “an elderly woman” wood. a house in west Maple When she looked out- with a scarf on her Police are investigat- Ridge early Wednes- side, she saw fl ames head, in slippers, was ing to determine what day. surging up the side of seen leaving the scene. started the fi re. Smart!Centres holding Albion meeting

to be spelling out how information on the Al- consider them as it Takes place Sunday to get involved,” Major bion area that will be prepares its plan. Any at curling rink said. used in the consulta- questions that repeat- Smart!Centres will tion, has yet to be post- edly arise will be ad- by Phil Melnychuk be reviewing the key ed on the website. dressed on the web- staff reporter dates of the district A staff report from site. consultation. “Every- August said seven stud- Brothers John and thing will be as per how ies, dealing with such Steve Wynnyk also The fi rst community the district has laid out as issues as impacts on own several hectares forum on the Albion already.” agriculture, drainage, in Albion fl ats. fl ats takes place Sept. He didn’t want to say the environment and While they’ve start- 29, but Smart!Centres if there’s more or less transportation, were ed a housing project is holding its own get- support for a mall in expected by Sept. 1. near their homes on together 10 days before the area. Mayor and 240th Street, John said that for anyone who council have also been they’re more interested wants to see big box invited. “We need in the 16 hectares they stores along Lougheed The district has al- own in Albion. Highway and 105th Av- ready had two meet- your help to “We own a consider- enue. ings as part of a round communicate to able amount of land in The public’s invited to of consultations this that area and that’s the the Golden Ears Win- fall, which will result in district staff and part that’s impossible ter Club this Sunday an Albion plan by the the consultant for farming now.” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for new year. John said the raising a “family fun event,” The fi rst public event that you too share of the elevation of land where Smart!Centres of the consultation this vision.” around their fi elds representatives will takes place Wednes- has turned theirs into discuss important day, Sept. 29 at the Arts Smart!Centres a drainage basin that dates for the municipal Centre Theatre, from 5 fl oods often. He says consultation that takes p.m. to 9 p.m. their land is now 2.5 place this fall. That’s where people metres lower than sur- “We need your help to can drop in and hear a Those will be posted rounding land, making communicate to district presentation that will by the end of Friday on it diffi cult to farm. staff and the consultant be given twice that eve- the district’s website “I’m in a basin now. that you too share this ning. (www.mapleridge.ca) We have got the lowest vision,” Smart!Centres Then on Oct. 21, from so people can thumb land in the Albion fl ats says on its Albion shop- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., also at through them prior to because of all the fi lling ping website. the ACT, another open the public meetings. in the Albion fl ats.” Dave Major, with house takes place to A Twitter account He favours removing Smart!Centres, says review the brainstorm- also will be activated his land from the Agri- the idea isn’t to replace ing or charette process Friday. cultural Land Reserve the District of Maple that took place two The district will take and would like to see Ridge’s process. days prior. online input and writ- commercial and resi- “It’s basically going However, background ten submissions and dential development. HST raises lots of questions sion for the prov- The protracted And Fight HST ince.” timeline could also group still wants to The cost of a interfere with any referendum, $30 of the party’s plans recall local Liberal million for an for a new leader. election-style vote, People on Maple by Phil Melnychuk can be covered by Ridge streets also staff reporter the amount the had their doubts. province will have “I’d like to see it saved by imposing gone too,” said Uta A year from now you the HST for the last Schwarzenau, in can vote yes or no to the year, he pointed Aucelluzzo Schwarzenau sales. Harmonized Sales Tax. out. “It doesn’t mat- And if 51 per cent of the Even though lo- investment, ter to me, I could people vote no, it’s gone, cal chamber president he said. care less,” said Kenny Premier Gordon Camp- Jeremy Bekar supports Under the HST, busi- Erickson, from Maple bell said Monday. the HST, if the majority nesses get full rebates Ridge. But Maple Ridge votes to trash it, that’s for their HST costs. But taxes need to be HST fi ghter Ron Sward fi ne with him. NDP MLA Michael paid to get things done, doesn’t believe a word. “You know what, this Sather doesn’t know he added. “He wasn’t going to sell is democracy, so that’s what the referendum He said he’d probably B.C. Rail, either. what matters at the end means for Campbell’s not vote in the 2011 refer- “He said [in the 2009 of the day.” future as Liberal leader endum. B.C. election] he didn’t Bekar, who run’s and wonders why the Angie Aucelluzzo have HST on the radar.” Mark’s Work Wearhouse referendum is scheduled didn’t sign the fi rst anti- So Sward, who collected in Maple Ridge, said the for a year from now. HST petition because names for the Fight HST tax has had minimal ef- “The thing is, we could she didn’t think it would campaign in Pitt Mead- fect on his business since do it this fall. We don’t make much difference ows and Maple Ridge, implementation July 1. have to wait until next anyways. isn’t waiting around and “The one thing it did ef- fall.” “It should be nice not to is going to make the re- fect was work boots.” Sather said he’s con- pay the HST, because it’s call of Liberal MLA Marc “The HST is actually a cerned that the Liberals a big chunk.” Dalton the priority. good thing for B.C.” be- could fudge the wording She plans to vote No. “They’re just delaying cause it will create high of the referendum ques- “I’d be surprised if they and hoping the mood paying jobs and attract tion. actually follow through.” will change, but they’re not going to get a chance. We’re going to do some recall damage here,” Sward said Tuesday. The Maple Ridge branch of Fight HST wanted Dalton’s name added to the top 24 Liber- al MLAs that Fight HST had targeted for recall. Sward hasn’t heard yet if the group, led by for- mer premier Bill Vander Zalm, would agree to that, but points out the local branch can recall Dalton on its own. Dalton, who won Maple Ridge – Mission riding by only 68 votes, is vulner- able, said Sward. “I think we can get him.” According to the Recall and Initiative Act, a recall petition has to be signed by more than 40 per cent of the voters who were on the last voter’s list. But those signatures all have to be collected within 60 days. If the process is successful, a by-election takes place. Dalton has said he’d run again if that happened. Sward, a realtor who’s worked on previous NDP campaigns, said the HST has hurt the real estate business. For new homes over $525,000, buyers have to pay the 12 per cent HST, while for homes under that it’s only two per cent. The debate over the tax, which combines the fi ve per cent federal Goods and Services Tax and the seven per cent Provincial Sales Tax, will catch the public’s atten- tion over the next year, says Dalton. “It’s going to be water cooler talk, because this is a very important deci- The News second in North America

The Maple Ridge-Pitt “Mixes local news fea- News collected three professional trade as- Meadows News has tures with the essential awards in the Suburban sociation specifi cally earned second place local news nuggets. Newspapers of America serving the suburban in the 2010 Suburban Strong news coverage,” editorial contest. and community newspa- Newspapers of America wrote the judges. The News came fi rst in per industry in the U.S. general excellence con- “The photography on its circulation class for and Canada. It has more test. the front is artfully lit, best local election cover- than 2,000 members. The News, which has colourful. Inside layout age, second for best edi- Earlier this year The a circulation of more is strong.” torial page, third for best News earned a blue rib- than 30,000, came sec- The News came third young people’s cover- bon award for general ond in the second larg- in the SNA general ex- age, and also earned an excellence from the est circulation category cellence competition in honourable mention for Canadian Community (22,501-37,500) for non- 2009 and 2008. best sports writing. Newspaper Associa- daily papers. Also last year, The SNA is a non-profi t, tion. Pitt going green with awards The City of Pitt Mead- ows announced a new business awards pro- gram promoting sustain- ability on Thursday. The “Going Green Business Awards” will reward local businesses for implementing and encouraging green prac- tices within Pitt Mead- ows. “We have a lot of great local businesses that are doing some innovative things to go green, and to encourage their cus- tomers to go green,” said Laurie Darcus, city direc- tor of corporate services. “Whether they’ve im- plemented a program to reduce waste or educate their staff or the pub- lic about going green, we want to recognize them.” The “Going Green Business Awards” in- cludes three categories: Most Innovative Green Solution; Most Integrat- ed Green Solution; and Most Awareness Raised through Education/Ad- vertising/Sharing. An award will be pre- sented to businesses with less than 10 employ- ees and those with 10 or more employees in each of the three categories. Winners will receive a “Green Star” Business Ranking Award, a press release profi ling their achievements, a fea- tured article in the city’s “City Talks” and “Green Team” newsletters, and a brief profi le on the City of Pitt Meadows website. • Nomination forms are available online at www.pittmeadows.bc.ca or copies can be picked up at Pitt Meadows City Hall, Pitt Meadows Eco- nomic Development Offi ce, Pitt Meadows li- brary and the Pitt Mead- ows Family Recreation Centre. Forms can be emailed to ldarcus@pittmead- ows.bc.ca or dropped off at Pitt Meadows City Hall. The application deadline is Oct.15 – 3 p.m. B.C. deficit forecast improves by Tom Fletcher Black Press

VICTORIA – The B.C. government is reduc- ing its forecast defi - cits for the next three years, based mainly on higher than expected corporate income tax revenues. Plummeting corpo- rate tax payments were largely blamed for B.C.’s sudden plunge into defi cit last year, when a worldwide credit crisis stalled Black Press construction and in- Lumber sales to China are one bright spot in B.C.’s exports, which have partly recov- vestment and triggered ered from a 37 per cent drop between 2008 and 2009. job losses across the country. A pre-election ing some very healthy where unemployment level it reached in Au- defi cit estimate of $495 revenues for us in remains high and the gust 2008. million ballooned to these coming three housing market contin- Retail sales in B.C. nearly $1.8 billion in years,” Hansen said. ues to struggle. have also recovered to the summer of 2009. NDP fi nance critic Statistics Canada re- nearly the same level Now Finance Minis- Bruce Ralston said ports that as of August, as 2008, and exports ter Colin Hansen says Hansen is painting the number of em- have recovered some of the defi cit is expected a rosy picture that ployed people in B.C. the ground lost in the to be $1.4 billion for downplays the latest has climbed back up to recession, partly due to the 2010-11 fi scal year, signals from the U.S., 2.32 million, the same lumber sales to China. a reduction of $335 mil- lion from the previous forecast. The defi cit for 2011-12 is now project- ed to be $810 million, falling to $130 million in 2012-13. The fi nance minis- try expects B.C.’s red ink will end in 2013-14, with a surplus of $80 million. Hansen noted that the forecast depends on continued recovery in the U.S. and world economy. Presenting the fi rst-quarter fi - nancial report, he said B.C.’s employment, re- tail and exports have all show signs of im- provement. He stopped short of attributing the improvement to the harmonized sales tax that reduced business costs beginning last July, pointing instead to corporate tax cuts instituted previously. “We have very com- petitive corporate tax rates in British Colum- bia, and those competi- tive rates are generat- stocks of coho salmon that are now migrating upriver. Sport fishery on lower Fraser River ends Sept. 19 Rosenberger said the same logic applies to recreational fi shermen. This will be the last big weekend still millions more fi sh holding in Rosenberger said Wednesday. said could soon happen. “We want them not to be catch- for sports anglers hoping to hook Georgia Strait that are yet to begin “We expect them to start moving The Pacifi c Salmon Commission ing too many coho,” he said, adding a sockeye salmon in the Fraser swimming upstream. in at a faster pace,” he said. on Tuesday maintained its over- there will be no extension of the River. The estimates of how many sock- Sockeye in past years sometimes all run size estimate of 34.5 million sport fi shery. Recreational angling for sockeye eye are still in salt water range make a sudden mass dash into the sockeye returning to the Fraser. Trollers have continued to fi sh on the lower Fraser ends Sunday from six to 12 million, Fisheries and river after an extended wait off- Most commercial fi shing had al- sockeye but that is expected to end Sept. 19, even though there are Oceans Canada area director Barry shore – something Rosenberger ready been halted to protect weaker soon. TLink moving headquarters by Jeff Nagel ing had left TransLink fi cers and civilian staff Black Press with more offi ce space – as well as 230 Trans- than it needed and the Link employees. new quarters allow for Hardie said 17 differ- TransLink will relo- a much more effi cient ent sites were consid- cate its headquarters confi guration of staff. ered. from Metrotown in The deal came at what “It was mandatory Burnaby to a new build- Hardie describes as an that we locate next to ing in New Westmin- opportune time in what high-capacity transit ster it will share with is currently a tenant- and where we could the Transit Police in a friendly market. refl ect our own broad- move expected to save “We got a very good er regional goals, in- a signifi cant amount of deal,” he said. cluding collaborative money. The move will happen land-use planning that The new four-storey in 2013, when Trans- encourages location of building is to be built Link’s lease for its cor- jobs, homes and servic- on Columbia Street porate offi ces expires es near existing transit across from New West- at the Metrotower II facilities.” minster’s Sapperton offi ce tower in central The building is part SkyTrain station, ad- Burnaby. of a cluster of four resi- jacent to Royal Colum- Transit Police op- dential towers mixed bian Hospital. erations are spread with offi ce and retail “We will actual save out at several differ- space in the Brewery $430,000 a year over ent buildings in New District redevelopment what we’re paying Westminster – some of Wesgroup is leading on now,” said TransLink them in need of seismic the site of the old Lab- spokesman Ken Har- upgrades – and Hardie att brewery. die, adding the savings said there was an ur- “We wanted to have from the move to new gent need to consoli- a sustainable project quarters will be worth date them under one from a jobs, residential $8 million over the life roof. and retail perspective,” of the 20-year lease In all, the new Wesgroup president with developer Wes- 137,000-square-foot Gino Nonni said, call- group Properties. building will house 250 ing it a prime example He said the recent ad- Transit Police staff – in- of transit-oriented de- ministrative downsiz- cluding uniformed of- velopment. Living Proof at Baptist church Women from all over read by millions around regardless of their age, the world will gather the world, is known for race or denomination together on Saturday her ability to apply bibli- from a host church in to hear from author cal scripture to everyday their community. and Bible teacher Beth life. Women from all over Moore at LifeWay Wom- Acclaimed worship the world will join to- en’s “Living Proof” Live leader Travis Cottrell gether to hear a special Simulcast event at the and his Praise Team will message from Beth Maple Ridge Baptist join Moore for the event, Moore. Church. which will utilizing live The event takes place Beth Moore, whose streaming video via the from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. books and studies in- Internet to bring her Call MRBC at clude Breaking Free and teaching to life as she of- 604-467-9613 for ticket Esther: It’s Tough Being fers insights that touch information. Seating is a Woman, have been the hearts of all women, limited. Open house Justin Mulligan, 8, learns how to curl with Bill Gardner, who has 65 years of experience in the sport, during an open house at the Golden Ears Winter Club on Sunday.

Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS Tsawwassen treaty lands soar in value

that was then removed values will eventually understanding of what Assessment from the Agricultural bring higher taxes. kind of project would be surprises TFN chief, Land Reserve and is Baird said the Tsaw- viable.” now earmarked for wassen have Asked members higher-value industrial spent much of whether TFN development, likely the fi rst year plans could by Jeff Nagel port-related container setting up an ef- include a fu- Black Press storage and warehous- fective structure ture casino, ing. to govern them- Baird said Baird noted the 724 selves. it’s not in the The Tsawwassen First hectares of TFN lands They’ve also current land- Nation’s land base is include the band’s for- made several use plan, al- now valued at nearly a mer reserve lands, key decisions, though she quarter of a billion dol- which also now hold including con- did not rule it lars. more potential for de- vening the Tsaw- out over the The estimate of $249 velopment because wassen Legis- Baird longer term. million is the fi rst valu- their use is no longer lature, setting “I think it’s ation for the combined tightly restricted by the budgets, passing probably a treaty lands since B.C.’s federal government via laws and establishing a potential project, but historic fi rst urban trea- the Indian Act. community plan. it hasn’t been highly ty took effect in April Valuing land pre- and Work is well underway sought after by mem- 2009. post-treaty is something to ensure the land base bers of my community,” That’s more than of an “apples and orang- generates income. she said. “We’re not double the $120 million es” comparison, Baird Potential bidders are actively looking at that estimate of the value of said, but predicts the being identifi ed for the kind of development.” land and cash conveyed value of TFN property 40-hectare fi rst phase of There have also been by the treaty prior to its will continue to climb. industrial land develop- exploratory talks with passage. “It’s only going to get ment, dubbed the Tsaw- Vancouver-based Aq- “I was surprised at higher over time as we wassen Gateway Logis- uilini Renewable En- the high number,” Chief do things to improve the tics Park. ergy on the potential for Kim Baird said. “You lands and do things to Baird said the TFN is a waste-to-energy incin- don’t know the value add services and infra- also preparing to launch erator on TFN land. of your lands until you structure,” she said. a commercial develop- The treaty gave the actually have them ap- “It’s good to realize ment project that would band land, cash, a share praised somehow.” what assets we really do likely include a major of the fi shery and self- The valuation was per- have and reconfi rm we big box retail anchor on government powers to formed by the B.C. As- do, in fact, own the land land along Highway 17. resolve the Tsawwas- sessment Authority. base.” “We have a memoran- sen land claim to 10,000 She acknowledged Half of the 405 TFN dum of agreement with square kilometres of part of the jump in land members have incomes a retail mall developer,” traditional territory in value is because the below $30,000 a year and she said. what is now Metro Van- treaty transferred 200 Baird noted some are “In the next month or couver and the southern hectares of farmland concerned higher land so we’ll have a better Gulf Islands. Camping with 17 Grade 9 students

am off this week else to do but talk to At 2 a.m., I’m re- heard the mice around on a five-day canoe each other, they do, ally not interested in the campsite and are I trip with 17 Grade incessantly. what Cindy did with sure there are bears, 9 students. What they don’t Sammy in the moose or di- If you have a mo- seem to realize is boathouse nosaurs just ment, say a prayer for that talking in a tent this summer. outside the me. affords you the same Even more, tent. None of I’m not worried listening privacy as I’m pretty them will get about the canoeing or putting your photos sure that out to investi- the weather, although on Facebook, which is what Cindy gate initially, I am always a little bit to say, not very much did with but they will nervous about both. at all. Sammy is yell out, “Mr. What I worry the I try to remind them being grossly Hookey, are most about is what just before bedtime exaggerated you awake?” I might hear and that I can hear every- and I’d like I don’t whether I will get any thing they say so that to interrupt answer, of sleep over a period of they will show some and have a Parenting course, lead- five days. reservation in their long conver- Graham Hookey ing to their I’ve create this topics, but within a sation about discussions problem somewhat couple of minutes the risks of of whether by altering the world they are usually go- gossip. I have already been of students during ing so rapidly and so This is not the time consumed. Eventu- this trip. They are excitedly that they and so I make a note ally, a brave soul will not allowed to bring not only ignore my to self to have a talk venture out with a cell phones, iPods or warning, but wake any about gossip around flashlight to assure any other entertain- other campers in a the campfire the next the others, loudly ment devices. In fact, 20-kilometre radius. night. and with conviction, the only electronics In the modern stu- The night will be that there is nothing they are allowed is a dent vernacular, I am pierced, of course, outside and everyone camera. often exposed to “tmi” by about a hundred can go to sleep. Sure, Camped beside a – too much informa- shrieks from various fat chance. lake, with nothing tion. students who have Usually, by about 3 a.m., an element of quiet comes over the camp, but by then my shoulders and hips are numb from the rocks on which I’m lying, and since I generally wake up very early anyway, I’m too restless to fall into that nice deep sleep that actually lets the brain get a little reboot. Ultimately, I am not without a few moments of sweet revenge. Strange how loud and clangy the pots can be at 6:30 a.m. Strange how every hike or canoe trip has to start by 7:30 a.m., not noon. Strange how there’s no opportunity during the day to catch up on lost sleep. I’m almost certain, by the second or third day, that I will have them begging for mercy and heading to bed by 8 p.m. There are some who crash and burn by the second day, but there is some law of physics, I think, that says that the person with the shrillest voice, needs the least sleep and each year, by the third night, I have pulled out my duct tape and promised to use it on anyone I hear after midnight. Of course, duct tape is good to lay around the campsite to cap- ture bears as well, and as I set some pieces outside each tent, I often hear a mysteri- ous silence come over the occupants.

Graham Hookey is an educator and writer (ghookey@yahoo. com). persecuted because of fi sted, demanding and comes fi rst. “I am the LORD your righteousness; blessed disparaging. The Beatitudes (these God, who brought you are you when people But Jesus opens the sayings on blessing) out of Egypt, out of the His blessing comes fi rst insult you. door and are the in- land of slavery,” before What a pleasant sur- greets us with troduction to it goes on to say, “You Blessed are the mon on the Mount with who hunger and thirst prise. The desire to be “blessings Jesus’ Sermon shall have no other poor in spirit for these words and follows for righteousness; happy is one of the driv- to you.” It on the Mount, gods before me ... ” “theirs is the king- it up with eight more blessed are the merci- ing forces in our lives. turns many of which is the In the Sermon we dom of heaven.” words of blessings: ful; blessed are the pure But you don’t have to our religious main body of fi rst hear, “blessed How is that for a way blessed are those who in heart; blessed are the be around for long to conceptions ethical teach- are the poor in spirit,” to start a sermon? mourn; blessed are the peacemakers; blessed realize that blessing, upside down. ing in the New before we hear, “love Jesus starts his Ser- meek; blessed are those are those who are peace, and joy are by no We suddenly Testament, your enemies and pray means common experi- realize that the standard for those who perse- ences. Jesus’ greeting, faith is not our for Christian cute you.” “blessed are they,” feeble attempt living. There Why is this impor- sounds awfully strange to please God, is an interest- tant? in this world where but that we Acts of Faith ing parallel It teaches us how people know so much are living in Gerard Booy between the Jesus is. He does pain, suffering, and response to Sermon on the not come to us with injustice, and where God’s grace. Mount and the demands. He fi rst people are becoming The world that Jesus Ten Commandments, offers grace. He gives increasingly self-ab- invites us into is not which is the main body himself, then instructs sorbed and unfulfi lled. dull, legalistic, or mor- of ethical teaching in us on how to live in Blessing is not what alistic. The atmosphere the Old Testament. his grace. He meets we fi rst expect of life. is not in the least Both these ethical us in our poverty, in We rather expect that restrictive or burden- texts, the Ten Com- our sadness, where we we will have to work some. It is not the kind mandments and the lack power, where we hard and earn our of life where a heavy- Sermon on the Mount, hunger and thirst for way, and that we will handed, demanding do not start with exhor- righteousness and he encounter disappoint- God keeps us on a tations and obligations, offers healing, salva- ments, losses, criticism short leash. The world laws and demands, tion, joy, hope, love and and skepticism along of Jesus is spacious as one might expect. grace. the way. We don’t and gracious. There is They both start with expect much blessing. wholeness and pro- the announcement of Gerard Booy is pastor We also suspect that found delight. We are grace. The Ten Com- at Haney Presbyterian God might be tight- embraced. His blessing mandments start with, Church. THE NEWS/home&gardening The return of the bud bloomers magine if you will a plant with fl ow- Iers that don’t open, at all, a stingy little evergreen shrub that produces an abundance of brightly-coloured buds from which the pollen will never see the light of day. Such a beast exists and is now available at your local garden Gardening centre, while quantities Mike Lascelle last. And they won’t last long. These little freaks of nature are called Bud Bloomers, a class of Calluna vulgaris, or Scotch heather, which has been the particular focus of German plant breeder Kurt Kramer. They have been readily available in Eu- rope under the ‘Garden Girls’ brand (most of these cultivars have women’s names such as ‘Anette’, ‘Sandy’, ‘Melanie’ or ‘Alicia’) and many are patented in the United States. But they have only been marketed here for the Mike Lascelle photos past few years, and in very limited quanti- (From left) ‘White bud bloomer Calluna ‘Veronique’ in a planter with Carex ‘Ice Dance’, Heuchera ‘Melting Fire’, gold violas and variegated ivy; the glow- ties. ing flowers of red bud bloomer Calluna ‘Alexandra’; a purple bud bloomer coupled with Carex ‘Evergold.’ So why would you want a Bud Bloomer in your garden – in a phrase, rain resistance. green black foliage of Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’ If you happen to read this article a little brick red in winter and deep mauve blooms; Bud Bloomer heathers are in full, glorious or Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planis- late or can’t seem to fi nd any bud bloomers, • ‘Kinlochruel’ (25cm x 40 cm) – large, colour (with no fading) from late summer capus ‘Nigrescens’). Purple bud bloomers there are other cultivars of Calluna vulgaris pure white double fl owers are followed by to early winter, often lasting three to four pair well in containers with the gold tones with winter or spring appeal. They include bronze highlights in the cold weather; months. The buds resist severe weather, the of Carex ‘Evergold’, Lysimachia ‘Goldilocks’ coloured new growth, winter bronzing or • ‘Red Fred’ (35cm x 45 cm) – absolutely constant rains and will tolerate tempera- or Hedera helix ‘Goldheart’. a complete change of foliar colour in the brilliant red spring growth with lilac pink tures as low as minus-10 C without incur- summer blooms; ring damage or browning. • ‘Ruby Slinger’ (25cm x 45 cm) –the white By way of comparison, consider how fl owers are followed by bright yellow new many times you would be deadheading your “Bud Bloomer heathers are in full, glorious colour (with no fading) from growth tips in spring; winter pansies or violas during that same • ‘Flamingo’ (30cm x 50cm) – purple sum- period of time. late summer to early winter, often lasting three to four months.” mer blooms and pinkish-red spring tips Just think of the possibilities – weeks and make this a popular cultivar; weeks of pristine colour in a season that • ‘Spring Torch’ (45cm x 60cm) – as the normally gives us little more than falling name implies, vivid orange-yellow new leaves and brown perennials, planters The crimson-red varieties such as ‘Al- cold temperatures. Speaking of which, most growth provides spring colour with pink which are as colourful and attractive as the exandra’ almost seem to glow in the dark Scotch heathers are quite cold tolerant, blooms following; day you planted them, months ago. and would make a great mass planting in being hardy to Zone 5 and even tolerating • ‘Hoyerhagen’ (25cm x 45cm) – the If Bud Bloomers sound like a plant for you, the foreground of any island bed or mixed Zone 3 with some protection – all they re- golden foliage deepens to reddish-orange in then I would be less concerned about fi nd- border. ally need is an acid soil , good drainage and winter, while summer brings pale crimson ing a particular cultivar, as many are only Two new pink cultivars from the Beauty as much sun as possible. Here are a few of fl owers; available as generic reds, purples, pinks Ladies series are ‘Salena’ and ‘Selly’, while the more winter worthy varieties, along • ‘Spring Cream’ (40cm x 50 cm) –the or whites. Focus instead on your favourite the buds of ‘Veronique’, a pure white, each with their respective height and spread: pure white fl owers are followed by creamy- colours or tones, and don’t expect to have seem to be silhouetted by the contrasting • ‘Silver Queen’ (40cm x 55cm) – eye- yellow growth tips in spring. a second chance at buying them – I’m not dark green foliage. catching silver foliage is accented with pale kidding when I say they sell out fast. The return of the bud bloomers is indeed lavender fl owers; Mike Lascelle is a local nursery The white bud bloomers are particularly a fl eeting late summer tradition, so if you • ‘Firefl y’ (40cm x 60 cm) – features gold manager and gardening author striking when contrasted against the ever- want to enjoy it, go looking for them now. foliage (with hints of terra cotta) that turns ([email protected]). Don’t bother saving HST receipts way Vander Zalm is “Impossible” to demanding, after B.C. reimburse: Hansen residents have paid the HST for 15 months. by Tom Fletcher Sorting through those Black Press millions of transactions subject to sales tax would be “extremely VICTORIA – Don’t diffi cult,” Hansen said. bother gathering up And then there are the all the receipts that myriad input credits show the harmonized given to businesses sales tax you paid on under the HST, as well haircuts and restau- as HST rebate cheques rant meals, in hopes of that are now going out getting reimbursed for quarterly to about one them a year from now. million B.C. residents That’s the advice at the low end of the from Finance Minis- income scale. ter Colin Hansen, who NDP fi nance critic says it would be all but Tom Fletcher/Black Press Bruce Ralston, who impossible to do what Finance Minister Colin Hansen says people will learn helped collect sig- former premier Bill more about the harmonized sales tax before a referen- natures for Vander Vander Zalm’s anti- dum on Sept. 24, 2011. Zalm’s petition, said he HST petition calls on doesn’t know how the the government to do. mands that the old July 1, 2010, and that government will re- The petition’s pro- seven per cent provin- B.C. residents be reim- fund the HST costs as posed “HST Extin- cial sales tax be rein- bursed “on a per capita the petition demands. guishment Act” de- stated retroactive to basis” for any HST Ralston suggested an they paid in excess of estimate of individual the provincial tax. HST costs could be Hansen said Tuesday prepared for each of that his government a range of incomes, will undo the HST if and one-time refunds that is what the people paid to everyone in the vote to do in a referen- province. dum next September, Neither Hansen nor but he has no inten- Ralston would venture tion of trying to sort a guess how much that through millions of would cost, but both big and small transac- agreed it would be on tions. top of repaying a $1.6 “In my opinion, it billion in transition would not be responsi- funds to the federal ble for any government government and rehir- or any legislature to ing hundreds of B.C. commit to passing the sales tax collectors HST Extinguishment who were moved to Act as it is currently the federal payroll this drafted,” Hansen said year under harmoniza- Tuesday. tion. The anti-HST petition The former provin- is now scheduled to go cial tax and the new to a province-wide ref- HST apply equally to erendum on Sept. 24, many items, and ex- 2011, in the fi rst use of emptions for basic gro- B.C.’s 15-year-old citi- ceries and other neces- zen initiative legisla- sities still apply. But a tion. Premier Gordon range of services such Campbell announced as hairdressing and Monday that if the ref- gym memberships es- erendum produces a caped the old PST, and simple majority of vot- items such as bicycles ers who want to scrap and energy-effi cient the HST, that will be windows had enjoyed done. provincial exemptions But it almost certain- that were lost when ly won’t be done the B.C. adopted the HST. Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS Just be-cause Tara LaBelle gives her dog Swift, a seven-year-old border collie, direction as he flies through a dog agility course Sunday during Paws for a Cause at the Albion Fairgrounds. Paws for a Cause is a fundraising walk to raise money for the B.C. SPCA. Community Calendar

ommunity Calendar lists Afar, Margaret Cook, Corrina events in Maple Ridge and Cunningham, Cindi Hofl in, CPitt Meadows. Notices are Beverley Peacock, Scott Schell, free to local non-profi t groups Claire Louise Stephen, and Rik courtesy of The News. Drop off Watson. Ten per cent of sales details to 22328 119 Ave., fax will be going towards the to 604-463-4741 or e-mail Friends in Need Food Bank. For events@mapleridgenews. more info, call 604-462-1399 com at least a week before the or email [email protected]. event. Include a contact name • The popular cookbook and number. (No submissions exchange returns to the by phone.) Listings appear as Haney Farmers’ Market. Bring space permits. For guaranteed a book, take a book or make publication, ask our classifi ed a donation to the Friends of department at 604-467-1122 the Library. It’s Fitness at the about non-profi t rates. Market with Parks and Leisure demonstrating some of the Saturday, Sept. 18 activities available to you. The • Maple Ridge Japanese Yuen Family has a display of Language Association is Martial Arts. Memorial Peace hosting a story-telling session Park on 224th Street in down- from 11:30 a.m. to noon at the town Maple Ridge from 9 a.m. Maple Ridge Public Library. For to 2 p.m. www.haneyfarmers- more information, call Astrid market.org Stimpson at 604-945-7064. • The Maple Ridge Public Sunday, Sept. 19 Library celebrates Eid from • The 30th Annual Terry 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Eid Fox Run for cancer research marks the end of Ramadan will take place at the Ham- on the Muslim calendar. This mond Community Centre. celebration is a time for com- Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. ing together as a community, and the run begins at 10 a.m. and renewing friendships and Please come out and support family ties. Learn about an- this great cause. other culture, see calligraphy • The eleventh annual Art demonstrations, taste delicious in the Swamp will be held food and have a good time. from 10 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. at No registration necessary. For 25812 Dewdney Trunk Road, more information, please call in beautiful Webster’s Corners. the Maple Ridge Public Library Artists include Amar from at 604-467-7417. Afar, Margaret Cook, Corrina • The Maple Ridge Adopt Cunningham, Cindi Hofl in, A Block Society will be Beverley Peacock, Scott Schell, holding their annual TD Great Claire Louise Stephen, and Rik Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Watson. Ten per cent of sales at 10 a.m. at Maple Ridge will be going towards the Park. Vests, bags, grabbers Friends in Need Food Bank. For and gloves will be provided, so more info, call 604-462-1399 grab your family and come on or email [email protected]. out. We will be meeting at the • Celebrate the last day of picnic tables. If you have any the Osprey Village Farmers’ questions please call 604-463- Market by supporting the 9699 or email adoptablock@ Food Bank and dropping your telus.net. ideas and thoughts for the • The eleventh annual Art market season of 2011 into in the Swamp will be held our suggestion box. Located from 10 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. at in Pitt Meadows at the south 25812 Dewdney Trunk Road, end of Bonson Road. www. in beautiful Webster’s Corners. haneyfarmersmarket.org Artists include Amar from See Community Calendar, p56 Community Calendar

Community Calendar from p55 • The Maple Ridge Community Church is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special service at 6:30 p.m. at the Maple Ridge Alliance Church located at Dewdney Trunk Road and 203rd Avenue. A dessert evening will follow at Maple Ridge Community Church. Anyone who attended Maple Ridge Community Church over the past 25 years is welcome to attend. For more information contact the offi ce at 604-465-4211.

Monday, Sept. 20 • The Valley Women’s Network Ridge Meadows Chapter meets at the Maple Ridge Library (Fraser Room) from 6 to m8:30 p.m. Speaker Sue Clement will be talking about referral network- ing. Build your business connections and network, while enjoying a fully catered dinner. For more information or to reserve contact [email protected] or call 604-764-8877. Members $20, Non-members $23, Reservations required. • The Pitt Meadows Garden Club is holding its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Pitt Meadows Community Hall adjacent to Community Church (corner Harris and Ford Road). Guest speaker will be Wes Hawley, Arborist. Bring all your tree-related questions about Fall and Spring pruning of trees and shrubs. Everyone welcome.

Tuesday, Sept. 21 • The Municipal Pension Retirees Association meets at 10:30 a.m. Call Fern at 604-463-8669 for more information, or visit [email protected] • Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services is holding its annual general meeting at 3:30 p.m. at the Rainbow Club, 11907 – 228th Street, Maple Ridge. All interested parties are invited to attend.

Friday, Sept. 24 • The HOMINUM Fraser Valley Chapter is a support and discussion group to help gay, bi-sexual and questioning men with the challenges of being married, separated or single. Its next meeting is at 7:30 p.m. For information and location, please call Art at 604-462-9813 or Don at 604-329-9760.

Saturday, Sept. 25 • Discover what Downtown Maple Ridge has to off er at the last Downtown Maple Ridge Summer Market for 2010 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Memorial Peace Park on 224th Street next to the Haney Farmers’ Market. Enjoy entertainment, kids’ activities and local vendors in a fun street market atmosphere. Call the DMRBIA at 604-467-2420 or visit downtownmapleridge.ca for more infor- mation, or if you’d like to be a vendor. • Every year the Haney Farmers’ Market dedicates a market day to the Friends in Need Food Bank and this year is no excep- tion. Come by their booth and make a donation for the coming winter. Jeff Huggins performs. Memorial Peace Park on 224th Street in downtown Maple Ridge. www.haneyfarmersmarket.org

Ongoing • Happy Wanderers singles walking group for people aged 45 and up meets every Saturday at 9:15 a.m. at the Pitt Meadows Heritage Hall, Harris Road and Lougheed Highway. Walks take place in various areas on both sides of the Fraser River. For more information call 604-463-8874. Section coordinator: Robert Mangelsdorf 604-467-1122 ext. 216 THE NEWS/sports [email protected]

John Van Putten/BLACK PRESS Chantelle Biagioni dives for a save during practice under the watchful eye of sister Charmaine Biagioni during UFV soccer practice. Pitt sister act backstops UFV Cascades

Chantelle, age 20, came into the vocal and aggressive, because sive in light of her recovery from months, and it was supposed to Chantelle and Charmaine season the Cascades’ No. 1 goal- she’s more experienced. Watch- a devastating injury she suffered take me six to nine. Biagioni compete for the keeper, and now she’s got her ing her makes me want to be last spring. “It was a challenge for me to 18-year-old frosh sister breath- more like her. I hope to play like On March 23 – five days before overcome.” starting goal keeper job ing down her neck. she does.” her 19th birthday – she shattered The next challenge for the “It’s frustrating at times,” Ch- The Biagioni sisters are going her heel while participating in Cascades is making the Canada by Dan Kinvig antelle admitted with a wry to end up spending a lot of time West playoffs, a feat the program black press chuckle. “She (Charmaine) is together this year. They both live has yet to accomplish in four a talented goalkeeper. When I at the family home in Pitt Mead- previous seasons. Giesbrecht, an see her doing well, I’m proud of ows and drive out to UFV for Abbotsford native who took the When Pitt Meadows’ Chantelle her. But at the same time, I don’t classes and soccer practice. They “When I see her doing well, helm at UFV after Colin Miller Biagioni watches her sister Char- want her to catch me.” work for the same house-clean- I’m proud of her. But at the joined the Vancouver Whitecaps maine make a nice save during a Having siblings playing the ing company in Maple Ridge. You coaching staff, is hopeful his University of the Fraser Valley same specialized position is a have to wonder if they’ll tire of same time, I don’t want her team can build on an encourag- women’s soccer practice, there’s unique dynamic for the Cas- each other at some point. to catch me.” ing 5-5-4 campaign. a fascinating moment of inner cades. It’s also a new situation “We haven’t yet . . .” Chantelle “Any time you’re part of a conflict. for the Biagionis, who comprise begins. Chantelle Biagioni building phase of a program and On one hand, Chantelle feels a two-thirds of UFV’s goaltending “. . . but it’s still early,” Char- there’s teams out ahead of you swell of pride – Charmaine is her depth chart along with fourth- maine finishes with a chuckle. that you’re trying to catch, you younger sister, after all. year keeper Michela Fiordo. Chantelle, a third-year keeper, have to keep instilling that belief There’s also a less joyous emo- Because of their two-year age is coming off a banner 2009 cam- indoor rock climbing. that they can do it,” Giesbrecht tion present, one that’s linked to difference, this is the first time paign. She was the backbone of The injury was supposed to said. “That’s been a bit of our Chantelle’s competitive instinct. they’ve had the opportunity to a stingy UFV squad that allowed keep her sidelined for nine challenge, and it’s something Rob Giesbrecht, the new wom- play on the same team. just 16 goals in 14 games last months to a year, but there she we thrive on – just continuing en’s soccer coach at UFV, says “I find we’re the same in a lot season, and posted six shutouts was in September, tending goal to encourage the girls and give he’ll pick his starting keeper on of ways,” Charmaine said, com- along the way. for the Cascades. them confidence that they can a week-to-week basis based on paring her skills to her older sis- The elder Biagioni’s perfor- “I’m really stubborn,” Chantelle compete against the best teams. how they perform in training. ter’s. “But she’s definitely more mance was even more impres- said. “I went off crutches at three They’re very capable of that.” Sports

Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS Slap shot Markus Hourigan of the Ridge Meadows Rustlers tries to block a slapshot by a Chilliwack player during a peewee A3 exhibition hockey game at Planet Ice Sunday afternoon. Ridge Meadows beat Chilliwack 4-3.

ing, bullying, aggressive parental Sue. Tae Guk Tae Kwon Do is lo- Martial arts behaviour, and win-at-all-costs cated at 20120 115A Avenue, Maple thinking. Ridge. For more information, visit True Sport is holding a contest www.taekwon.ca school vies for for sports organizations to give back to their communities, and the organization that wins, wins a Offi cials needed sports grant $10,000, or $5,000, sports grant for With hoops season just a cou- the community where they are ple of months away, the Fraser A Maple Ridge martial arts located. Valley Basketball Offi cials Asso- school is hoping to earn the Dis- Cameron Tsoi-A-Sue, an in- ciation (FVBOA) is searching for trict of Maple Ridge a $10,000 structor at the school, said he is new members. sports grant. hoping the community comes out The FVBOA offi ciates all bas- Tae Geuk Tae Kwon Do is cel- on Saturday ketball games played between ebrating its grand opening Sept. “This would be great for Maple Langley and Hope, and from 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is en- Ridge if we could win this,” he Maple Ridge to Agassiz on the couraging the public to come by said. north side of the Fraser River. and donate non-perishable food Tae Geuk Tae Kwon Do is the The association is running edu- items for the food bank. The mar- home to local Olympian Ivett Gon- cation and training meetings at tial arts school is taking part in a da, who competed in the 2004 and 7 p.m. on Monday evenings at program organized by a national 2008 Summer Olympics. Abbotsford Collegiate, begin- community sports organization Gonda will be on hand for a meet ning Oct. 4 and running through called, True Sport. The group and greet at the event. There also the end of November. For more promotes community sports that be demonstrations and sparring. information, contact Paul Nivins are healthy, fair, inclusive, and “There’s going to be board and at [email protected], or call 604- fun, while fi ghting against cheat- brick-breaking too,” said Tsoi-A- 613-6391. THE NEWS/scoreboard

Football Valley Community Football League Regular season standings

Atom Team W L T % STK PF PA PTS Abbotsford 3 0 0 1.000 Won 3 132 6 6 MR Blue 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 48 24 4 Mission 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 58 24 4 MR Gold 1 1 0 .500 Lost 1 46 30 2 Chilliwack Red 1 2 0 .333 Won 1 62 94 2 Chilliwack Blue 0 3 0 .000 Lost 3 24 85 0 North Langley 0 3 0 .000 Lost 3 18 125 0 Bantam Team W L T % STK PF PA PTS Chilliwack 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 52 19 4 Mission-Abby 1 0 1 .750 Lost 1 46 0 3 Meadow Ridge 0 1 1 .250 Lost 2 13 21 1 North Langley 0 2 0 .000 Lost 2 6 77 0 Junior bantam Team W L T % STK PF PA PTS Chilliwack Red 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 71 24 4 Abbotsford 1 0 1 .750 Won 1 74 36 3 Chilliwack Blue 1 0 1 .750 Won 1 84 48 3 North Langley 1 1 0 .500 Lost 1 48 59 2 Meadow Ridge 0 2 0 .000 Lost 2 12 84 0 Mission 0 2 0 .000 Lost 2 46 84 0 Peewee Team W L T % STK PF PA PTS Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS Chilliwack Blue 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 77 31 4 Soaring and pouring Meadow Ridge 1 0 1 .750 Lost 1 45 13 3 Chilliwack Red 1 1 0 .500 Won 1 20 32 2 Elisabeth Harmer of Port Moody rides Whisper in the rain as she competes in the Maple Ridge Equestrian Centre’s September Classic Hunter North Langley 1 1 0 .500 Lost 1 12 26 2 Jumper Show Sunday afternoon. Abbotsford 0 1 1 .250 Lost 2 32 47 1 Mission 0 2 0 .000 Lost 2 18 55 0 Midget Hockey Team W L T % STK PF PA PTS Pacifi c International Junior Hockey League PIJHL scoring leaders Curtis Rocchetti Steelers 3 1 3 4 Langley 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 88 0 4 John Proctor Ice Hawks 3 3 0 3 Nanaimo 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 32 3 4 Harold Brittain Conference Players Team GP G A PTS Sam Chichak Sockeyes 2 2 1 3 Cowichan 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 44 8 4 Team GP W L T OTL PTS GF GA Michael Nardi Devils 3 3 5 8 Dustin Cervo Flames 3 2 1 3 Coquitlam 1 0 0 1.000 Won 1 7 0 2 Aldergrove Kodiaks 3 2 1 0 0 4 13 12 Jake Roder Sockeyes 2 4 2 6 Marko Gordic Steelers 3 2 1 3 North Delta 1 0 0 1.000 Won 1 14 0 2 Abbotsford Pilots 1 1 0 0 0 2 5 4 Christopher Busto Devils 3 3 3 6 Shane Harle Flames 3 2 1 3 Cloverdale 1 1 0 .500 Won 1 27 29 2 Port Moody Black Panthers 2 1 1 0 0 2 6 11 Liam Harding Ice Hawks 3 3 3 6 CJ Legassic Flames 3 2 1 3 Mission 1 1 0 .500 Lost 1 17 36 2 Ridge Meadows Flames 3 1 2 0 0 2 10 9 Sebastien Pare Sockeyes 2 2 3 5 Ryan Veillet Kodiaks 3 2 1 3 White Rock 1 1 0 .500 Won 1 35 24 2 Mission Icebreakers 2 0 2 0 0 0 5 12 Cody Smith Ice Hawks 2 1 4 5 Stefan Burzan Ice Hawks 2 1 2 3 Meadow Ridge 1 1 0 .500 Lost 1 38 7 2 Colton Precourt Kodiaks 3 1 4 5 Brent Fletcher Flames 3 1 2 3 Victoria 1 1 0 .500 Won 1 36 16 2 Tom Shaw Conference Kentaro Tanaka Steelers 3 1 4 5 Danny Brandys Flames 3 0 3 3 Richmond White 1 1 0 .500 Lost 1 39 21 2 Team GP W L T OTL PTS GF GA Mitchell Smith Sockeyes 2 0 5 5 Mico Dragutinovic Black Panthers 2 2 0 2 Richmond Black 1 1 0 .500 Won 1 38 24 2 North Delta Devils 3 3 0 0 0 6 11 6 Eli Wiebe Sockeyes 2 0 5 5 Rudi Thorsteinson Sockeyes 2 2 0 2 Chilliwack 1 1 0 .500 Lost 1 51 33 2 Richmond Sockeyes 2 2 0 0 0 4 14 2 Thomas Hardy Kodiaks 3 3 1 4 Mike Phillipson Kodiaks 3 2 0 2 Westside 0 2 0 .000 Lost 2 6 65 0 Delta Ice Hawks 3 1 1 0 1 3 9 10 Robert Wilkinson Steelers 3 3 1 4 Chad Veillet Kodiaks 3 2 0 2 Burnaby 0 2 0 .000 Lost 2 0 66 0 Grandview Steelers 3 1 2 0 0 2 10 10 Jeremy Hamaguchi Sockeyes 2 2 2 4 Richard Moul Black Panthers 1 1 1 2 North Surrey 0 2 0 .000 Lost 2 6 70 0 Squamish Wolf Pack 2 0 2 0 0 0 2 9 Julius Ho Devils 3 2 2 4 Bradley Parker Pilots 1 1 1 2 Vancouver 0 2 0 .000 Lost 2 8 84 0