CASTLEGAR NEWS, August 16, 1981 PANORAMIC VIEW is Slocan Lake in the foreground with the Valhalla Range rising the background. The photo was taken near New Deca in the late afternoon, when the light offers so much to Pp graphers. Analysis By Jim Sheppard VANCOUVER (CP) — The 10 provincial premiers wrapped up three days of talks Friday with stinging condemnations of federal energy, economic and tran- sport policies. But they failed yet again during a sun-drenched cruise through the islands of Georgia Strait to agree on specific measures to deal with any of the prob- lems. Under pressure from conference host Bill Benn- ett of British Columbia, the promiors tricd to patch internal differences and Premiers’ conference Agreement still missing board the cruise ship Queen of Prince Rupert, where the premiers spent the final day of their 22nd annual conference, that the provincial leaders will send a letter to Prime Mnister Trudeau urging an immed- iate meeting on what they culied ihe “erusitii bur- den imposed by record interest rates, rampaging inflation and the weak Can- adian dollar. But they were unable to advance beyond a vaguely- worded nine-point econ- omic recovery plan un- veiled Thursday. NEED reduce fed tensions, But difference of style and philosophy forced them into vaguely-worded compromises on most of fair andrequitable™ energy pricing agreement should be reached immediately to “signal a fundamental change in the climate for in the issues they discussed. The Premiers called for urgent fed the country.” Such a move would meetings on the e economy, the need to upgrade Can- ada’s rail freight-handling capacity and federal moves to reduce or eliminate rail passenger service on more than 20 regional and na- tional routes. ’ REJECTED MOVES As well, they unanim- ously rejected moves to cut aid for provincial health and relieve pi on the anemic dollar and soaring interest rates, they said. But they could not define “fair and equitable” be- cause while all of them . agcepted the need for dom- estic oil prices to rise eventually to 75 per cent of world levels, there re- mained sharp differences over how fast to move, how to split the resulting in- called for improved pen- sions and agreed to prom- ote co-ordination of their ph Portuguese air controllers U.S. flights face boycott LISBON (AP) - Portuguese aircontrollers’ will boycott flights to and from the United States next week in a 48-hour sympathy strike that may snarl transatlantic tra- ffic, spokesmen said Satur- day. A controller on duty at the Lisbon airport quoted a circu- lar from the Air Controllers Association of Portugal as saying that no flights to or from the United States will be handled by Portuguese controllers from 1 a.m. Mon- day (8 p.m. EDT Sunday) to1 a.m. Wednesday (8 p.m. EDT Tuesday). The 300 Portuguese con- trollers, in a show of support for their striking U.S. coll- eagues, decided to go ahead “with the boycott despite an appeal by the International Federation of Air Traffic i that the ban, said the Lisbon con- troller. Portugal's Air Traffic Con> trollers Association had d earlier last week Ce any planned actions be can- celled for safety’s sake. The Portuguese control that it planned a week-long boycott of U.S. flights, but repolled its various district ic traffic through the mid-Atlantic Azores Islands, the key in- after the IFATCA a ppeal. pba Premidnet, Ha- that President Reagan re- jected their ‘plea to renew negotiations with U.S. con: trollers. Reagan told repor- sys- tems. But they were generally forced to skirt the issues that have often bitterly divided them and their federal counterparts for the last year — the constit- ution, energy pricing and economic policy. And they appeared split on how far to go with what has always been their favorite pastime — Ott- _awa-bashing. Bennett told a conclud- ing news conference on creased and how to shiled the consumer. And the provincial lead- ers were forced into equal- ly vague wording on for- eign investment and fed- eral moves to nationalize the petroleum industry — two areas where Saskat- chewan Premier Allan Blae kney, the lone New Dem- ocrat, was at odds with his enger routes, 13 regional runs and reduce service on six others, Nova Scotia Premier John Buchanan told reporters. “The move is unprec- edented in Canadian his- tory.” They also found common ground la federal plans te cut $1.5 billion over the next two fiscal years in federal aid to provincial pau and education pro- eThe proposals could ad- versely affect the level of services in several prov- inces and would result in no savings to the average taxpayer, they said. The premiers called on Ottawa to reduce its vast annual deficit, estimated to be $13.7 billion for the fiscal year which began April 1, but rejected the federal argument theis would be one way to trim spending. Ottawa now transfers about $16 billion a year in cash and tax collection authority to the province under the health, educa- tion and equalization agre- which expires NO CONSENSUS But as expected, they reached no consensus on federal plans to amend and patriate the constitution against the wishes of eight of 10 provinces. Seven of the eight é h is reduce * fedtral provinela tensions. “Shouting hasn’ t done anyone any good,” he said Friday. “So it’s time to tone down the rhetoric.” Bennett said the pre- ‘jalers went out of their way in their communiques to avoid the impression of mindless Ottawa-bashing. Instead, they offered “factual descriptions” of current problems and suggested either concrete solutions cr ways to arrive at them. WERE TOUGHLY-WORDED But Manitoba Premier Sterling Lyon, last year's provincial spokesman, said the communiques were as “Toughly-worded” as poss- ible and insisted the ball had been thrown into the court of a federal govern- ment he persisted in call- ing “Arrogant and insen- sitive.” Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed, who has borne the ‘bront of both federal- provincial and inter-prov- incial rancor over energy- pricing, agreed, saying he has “never seen the degree of tension... as intense as it is today.” Blakeney criticized the news media for reporting these disputes as a failure. The premiers’ confer- ence are not designed to produce concrete solutions, he told reporters. Rather, . they are simply & occasion already winging his way home on private business — were to meet today on what options they will follow when the Supreme Court of Canada rules, as expected, that Ottawa's The Premiers “strongly oppose” federal plans to eliminate without (public hearings two of four trans- continental railway 'pass- prop are legal, if not proper. The premiers also struck a different tone on what the expect in the next year. Bennett, their spokes- man as host of the confer- ence, said he wants to mut Buchanan agreed, saying the conference proved “the 10 premiers can do it and now surely the federal government can show some ability to compromise and co-operate.” Prince Edward Island Premier Angus MacLean said the premiers are often portrayed “as ial and narrow-minded in our to federalism.” “I think that accusation _ {has been proven) unjust- ified.” : ters in hii that the dismissal of the striking controllers ended the issue and that talks will not be reopened. Leaders of 1,350 British air traffic on Friday lation for the air route to and from Europe. The boycott may force an increase in flights on the North Atlantic route, snar- ling traffic that has just cleared up after a two-day controllers’ boycott in Can- ada. Emergency and pnillery flights will be said Friday that Mei con- tacted several branches plan- ning boycotts of U.S. flights, or other protests, and re- ceived assurances their actions will be cancelled. He said leaders of the fed- eration ended their two-day meeting in Amsterdam rejected taking any job action but deplored Reagan's handling of the walkout and said safety standards in U.S. air space now are “lowe than acceptable.” However, they will handle flights as usual. hler said IFATCA Against controllers’ union U.S. wins major WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. Federal authorities, saying there is no evidence striking air traffic controllers are involved, are investi- gating false radio commands and interference with comm- unications between control towers and pilots. The U.S. government, meanwhile, has won a major victory in its legal battle against the controllers’ union, with an adminis- trative law judge's reco- mmendation that the Federal Labor Relations Authority strip the union of bargaining authority for engaging in an illegal strike. Federal officials said Fri- day there have been at least seven reports of fake instruc- tions since the strike by almost 12,000 controllers began Aug. 3. The Federal Aviation Ad- ministration said all the phoney commands | were quickly by victory law judge John Fenton reco- mmended Friday that the three-member labor relations authority “revoke the exclu- sive recognation status” of the Professional Air Traffic Orcanizati, real controllers and none of the incidents posed any threat to safety. Authorities said the bogus transmissions have been re- ported at New York City; Ft. Lauderdale Fla; Denver, Colo.; New Orleans, and ‘IT’S NOT US’ One said “there is absol- utely no evidence” that any striking controllers were involved, and union leader Robert Poli said: “It’s not us. Meanwhile, administrative C and order the union to “cease and desist from calling or partici- pating” in the strike. A final decision by the labor board may come next week. Poli told reporters the union is “still alive and still well” and will argue strongly before the authority to rule against the judge's reco- dation. If 1 delegates will meet in Am- sterdam Saturday to con- sider the next step. CHRISTCHURCH (AP) - Police clashed with several hundred anti-apartheid dem- onstrators here Sturday and eight protestors took over a Boeing 787 airliner in Auck- land in the lates wave of violence over the South Afri- cand rugby tour of New Zealand. 9 policemen hurt in Toxteth melees LIVERPOOL (AP) - Two policemen were stabbed and seven hit with bricks, stones and wooden staves by the City’s black commun- ity following riots.early last month. The had as violence erupted in Liver- pool’s.Toxteth district during a: mass’ demonstration, British authorities said. Witnesses said they saw one policeman on the ground beign kicked. Another was stabbed and seriously wound- ed in the stomach. ~ Another policeman was stabbed during a melee in front of the old police head- quarters, His condition was ‘ibed as less serious. the union plans to appeal any decertification order to the federal courts, he said. Airlines laying off employees By theA d Press The air traffic controllers’ strike is causing labor tur- moil in the U.S. airline industry, leading to thou- sands of layoffs as well as pay cuts among airline employ- ees. Following the walkout by 13,000 members of the Profe- ssional Air Traffic Contro- lers Organization on Aug. 3, three major airlines have either laid off, or plan to lay off, almost 4,000 workers. Other airlines have asked workers to take early vaca- tions and one cut salaries for p! by 10 per cent. Spokesmen for other air- lines say they are still exam- ining how to cope with reduced operations and the possibility of a reuced flight schedule for several months while new are i by 10 per cent. The FAA expects to announce pessibly next week the level at which it hopes to keep U.S. air traffic operat- ing for the next few months, said spokesman Jerry Lavey. tained. “It all depends on the Federal Aviation Adminis- traion's decision, as to what level we can continue to operate the system” said: Dalton James, a spokesman for eastern Airlines, which cut the pay of its 39 top Press spot check of general aviation trafffic - the thou- sands of small planes and corporate aircraft - showed that the strike has not signi- ficantly damaged that area. Most airlines said they were operating 70 to 85 per cent of their normal flights. Extra police had been brought in and lined the five-kilometre route of a procession organized by the Liverpool Defence Commi- ttee, an formed been called to protest what was described as “police harassment” and to demand the dismissal of Kenneth Oxford, chief constable for the Liverpool area. Organizers had expected 10,000 to show up but police estimated the number at 2,000 when the march started. However, they said it had swelled to more than 3,000 by the time the centre of the city, was reached. Some windows were broken as the marchers passed through the centre of the city where one demon- strator was arrested for Bomb factory raided in Northern Ireland LONDONBERRY (AP) - Plice said Saturday they defused 360 kilograms of explosives discovered in an apartment they described as an Irish Republican Army bomb factory. Authorities said they were tipped to the location of the bomb-making materials by local residents who became suspicious about the number of prople seen coming and going at the apartment, which was supposed to be finding a cache of gasoline bombs and other equipment in a field. The embattled province has seen an upsurge in violence since March 1, when IRA guerrillas jailed at the Maze prison near Belfast that amounted to political-pri- soner status. New Zealand Rugby protests continue An estimated 6,000 demon- strators chanted anti-apar- thied slogans near the rugby gounds in Christchurch, where the South African Springboks team lost to New Zealand, 14-9, in the first of a three-match series. About 2,000 police, nearly half the country’s force, were no riot duty in Christchurch. The New Zealand Press Association reported several injuries and 27 arrests. In Auckland, New Zea- land’s largest city, eight people boarded an Air New Zealand jet that was prepar- ing to fly to Wellington. They stayed in the aircraft's cabin, along with 90 New Zealand's part in flying the South Africans to New Zealand. On Friday, a bomb blast awoke residents near the local park early Friday, but caused no damage. The blast followed by 24 hours a fire that destroyed a grandstand at a suburban rugby park. The Springboks, playing in New Zealand for the first time in 16 years, touched off a wave of violence and protest against the South African, g policy However, about 20 demon- strators climbed the. fence about eight minutes before kickoff and were dragged from the field by police. ‘Fans at the field retal- iated by throwing debris at demonstrators outside the fence. Police also said several fights broke out after the match. In Wellington, 100 demon- strators were arrested for blocking a freeway into the oe. Two protesters sat atop of racial discrimination when the team arrived in New Zea- land earlier this month. Bar! wire surrounded the field at C and until police d them. They were portesting Air were unable, to break the police lines. mast for most of the day in strong wind and rain to object to the telecast- ing of the match to South Africa. The Springboks are sche- duled to begin a United States tour in September. Swan Hills, Michel Fire threat diminishing By the Canadian Press Residents made their way back of Swan Hils, Alta., and Michel, Sask., during the weekend and hoped that forest fires would not force them to leave again. About 2,000 of the 2,500 residents of Swan Hills, an oil town 180 kilometres north- west of Edmonton, and 100 of, the 150 residents of Michel, a village 410 kilometres north- west of Saskatoon, were evacuated Monday. The end to both evacua- tions came Saturday. S KEPT SHIFTING Authorities in both prov- inces had hoped to end the evacuations earlier but shift- ing winds made it village but Al Duncan, of the Sask. Forest’ Protection Ser- vice, said firefighters believed they had the situa- tion under control. “Unexpected and unfore- cast high temperatures and strong westerly and north- westerly winds could result in fire perimeter expansions and possible renewed threats to the town of Swan Hills,” Howard Pratley, an Alta. Forest Service spokesman, said. Swan Hills is a major oil- field service centre and the fire forced Home Oil Co. Ltd. to temporarily halt produc- tion of 36,000 barrels a day. A forest fire also forced the of 60 The Swan Hills fire, which started last Sunday, grew to 12,500 hectares (31,000 acres) but firefighters were able to hold the line 12 kilometres away from the community. The Michel fire, covering 28,000 hectares, was less than two kilometres from the ol the Prophet Indian Band, 90 kilometres sough of Fort Nelson, B.C. on Wednesday. They returned home earlier. Forestry officials said the forest fire hazard remained high to extremely high in Alberta and Saskatchewan during the weekend. Besides the Swan Hills fire, still officially designated 2s out of control, Alberia fire- fighters were fighting 18 other forest fires. ae ae e Native job agreement ° signed YELLOWENIFE, N.W.T. (CP) — Following two years of negotiations, Cominco Ltd. has signed a native job employment agreement with the Northwest Territories government involving Can- ada’s most northernly mine. Cominco agreed to give northern residents priority for and estimated 225 jobs at its Polaris lead-and-zine mine on Little Cornwallis Island. A program called Opera- tion Katak provides training of potential Inuit employees for 72 jobs at the mine. Services avai LEARNING IS FUN for pre-schoolers attending the Hob- bit Hill Special Needs Day Care Centre, thanks to at- tractions such as a variety of colorful puzzles. Half a century ago the handicapped individual was, for the most part, shunned by society. Some with only minor dis- abilities were put into large institutions, centrally lo- cated, often a great distance from the family home. Useful employment was seldom available, schools were not equipped to handle the dis- abled, and the community as a whole did not welcome them. This, happily, is changing. is year has been desig- SMILING FACES are common at Silver Birches School. Here Chris is learning to PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES on a bow! is Bill Bird. Decorative ceramic Linda Holl photos. nated The International Year of the Disabled, and perhaps this ould be a good time to take'a look at some of the services now offered in Cas- tlegar. The Hobbit Hill Special Needs Day Care Centre is a relaxed and happy place. Preschoolers who are de- layed in their development; color, paste, puint and play together under the close su- pervision of their three pa- tient teachers, Norma Col- lier, Ellen Grant and Gloria Smee. Castle. LINDA HALL lable for the han _Getting to Know Your Neighbor The physio-therapist and the speech therapist pay reqular virita to the pre- school and work with those children who need help in particular areas, The goal of the instructors is to send out the children fully able to function in the regular class- room situation. “May we go outside?” asked a few boys who'd finished their lunch early. “OK," said their teacher, “but what do we remember?” “Manners,” they. recited in unison, Another. boy who chose to remain inside wan- dered over to the dressup clothes and proceeded to put on every item of clothing available — two long dresses, numerous sweaters and shirts, a pair of pants, and to top everything off, two hats. The teacher joked and laughed with him as he strutted around the room, the king of his castle. This kind of humorous ident is not uncommon at ver Birches School, a place where school-aged children with special needs are taught individual life skills according to their individual needs. All kinds of students are helped, from the severely physically disabled to the mild case of social mal-adjustment. The two teachers — Fran- cis Martinelli, who has been with the program for 15 years, Jo-anne Fisher; and , three teachers’ aids, Sharyn Boven, Carol Brett and Leslie Soles — work with the 16 youngsters on a one-to-one walk with the ‘help and Supervision of one of the’ instructors. ware is offered for sale in the Clay basis, éach at his own per- sonal level of progress. If a child has a problem reading he is not only text- book taught, but he is taught to read signs, to find names and numbers in the phone Intemational Year of Disabled Persons Année intemationale des personnes handicapées book, and to read labels. “Everything is aimed at independent living,” explains Ms. Martinelli, “We' ‘re proud of our program. _ The Prorat at Silver Birches is'casual, relaxed and friendly. Students are never made to feel threatened or different. Says Mrs. Martin- elli, “We use very little criticism, lots of humor and affection. But the discipline is right there when it needs to be.” * * * For parents with school- aged disabled children, Gwen Bristow has been heading up a Respite Care program. One weekend a month the handi- capped child is placed in a foster care home, and. the parents are able to take a break from the constant care that a handicapped child re- quires. The program, gener- ously funded by the ministry of human resources, is “very Spirit Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And labour for that which satisfied not? Isaiah 55:22 “Waste not want not.”-Has anyone heard it recently? Not too long ago it was kind of a universal blessing — a sort of password on every-. one's lips. The number of balls of string it called into being, the bundles of used envelopes, bags of buttons, bent and straightened nails ‘and thousands more were a part of every household. Old skirts and jackets, would be reversed so that the shiny Waste not, successful,” says Ms, Bris- tow. Being the parent of a dis- abled child is often difficult and ti ‘a 24- is sold to the public. Norm CASTLEGAR NEWS, ‘August 16, 1981 dicapped Wolfe and Kathy Graham,.. . the directors, see , results from this program every day., living is .the haa ps a-year job >with no holidays,” says Ms. Mar- tinelli of Silver Birches School. This service offers parents “a breathing space,” says Ms. Bristow, “the chance to function as a nor- mal family.” According to Ms. Bristow, the ministry of human re- sources is not interested in institutionalizing any more children. It is felt that they function far better in the home environment and this service, says Ms. Bristow, “supports the parents in the job they are doing. We're looking for more homes!" A degree in psychology is not necessary to be a foster parent of this kind, only love and concern for the young: ster and a wide open heart. Many disabilities can affect children. Autism is one. To assume that an autistic child is mentally retarded is a mistake. Castlegar parents with autistic children, under the auspices of the . Trail Branch of the Pacific Asso- ciation of Autistic Citizens, have formed a parent sup- port group. These parents, and other interested people, meet monthly to share, to discuss, to listen to guest speakers, to view films, and plan workshops. The Clay Castle, a shel- tered workshop, meets the needs of Castlegar’s handi- capped adult community. Here the participants make beautiful ceramic ware which goal, and many have achieved this is the non- competitive friendly atmos- phere: Like Hobbit Hill and Silver Birches, people with a wide vareity of disabilities are worked with. Blindness and poor vision affects many Canadians, and the library might seem to be a strange place for a blind person to frequent, but the staff at the Castlegar and, District Public Library. feel that good literature should be enjoyed by all. They have . a shelf of 40 “talking books” on cassette. They are con- stantly rotated with other li- braries in the province. ‘Any visually impaired per- son who doesn't like what's currently on the shelves may choose a cassette from the large catalogue, says Pat Livingstone, West Kootenay: representa- tive for Audio Books. Even a loan-out tape deck is provided. for’ those who don’t have one. A shelf of large “print -books is con- stantly rotated with other li- librarian and ~ “DELIVERING: BOOKS is year Willlansen: Castl *s shot-i f psing tied ieaihas in community need | no! lod whesichalney a the local ibrar vet hooks b acest busy : ity side- walks’, ‘have: ‘seldom . been _ places. ‘which have welcomed: : braries for those with slight © visual impairment. Even those who can't’ ven- ture out to the be- cause they ‘are confined to a wheelchair, a bed, or just their homes, are able to use the library on a regular basis. Joan Williamson: leaves. the library once a month with a large stack of books to de- liver to shut-ins or people in the hosptial. designed to © accommodate wheel'--chairs’ with -wide,- gradual ramps. When an existing sidewalk-needs to be repaired, ‘ramps will’ auto- matically *be put in: Today, new handicapped parking spaces: and curb. ramps are welcome mats to our disabled. residents. delve nals, : ‘As Castlegar - becomes more’ aware, more educated jand\'more supportive of its disabled people, they will be venturing into the commun- ity, doing business, joining the work force and becoming part of our ‘society, maybe even to leave some mark for good in the life of the town. “Weineed only to give them a chance. “After all,” said one moth- er of a handicapped young- ster, - hey n re really just like anyone of thriftiness still around: Middlemist (of whom more another, time) and his wife Betty, as house guests. Ed is a man of many talents, including photography, and is a bitter enemy of waste. He wanted to take some pictures of the river, 50 we strolled > down to the gravel pit since it has some good views in the right light. En route we passed: sev- JOHN CHARTERS’ Reflections & Recollections eral 2x8s. “Cedar!” exclaims - Ed. “That stuff is worth 60 to 80 cents a foot in Idaho. I sure could make something out of that.” " A bit further on, and in spite of City warning signs want not: once a password, it is heard again side didn’t show, then worn again, and when this too failed, would be sent to join the pants and. numerous other anonymous, still sturdy clothes, to reappear as pot- holders, coiled rugs and quilts of many colors. I know that my grandmother made me for every year of my youth—and never. failed to make the benediction “Waste not, want not.” The story is told (to emphasize Scottish thrift .iness) of the young Scottish lawyer who had inherited his practice and law building from his father. After a time he noticed that the door stop of his office, an oblong piece of granite, was badly worn and danger to his clients. He therefore hired a_ stone- mason, but with true Scottish canniness, instructed him not. to replace the stone but to take it out and turn it over. A short while later the mason called him out, and smiling faintly, pointed to the turned over stone. It too was worn out; his father had had the idea before him. Nonetheless, I am happy to report,.the old spirit of ‘waste not’ is still alive and well, and not only among the Scots, but across the border too. Last weekend we had former state senator Ed against dumping, there was a dump, and in the dump there was an old washing machine. “See these casters onithat 4 thing,” said Ed. “I have an idea.” In a trice he had knocked out the three” good casters with a. piece of pipe, picked up one of the cedar boards and we were off for home. In remarkably short order the board was cut into three sections. Then two were nailed together with some surplus nails and cut again to form a base. The third was ripped in three to form a base; a hole was drilled and the cleaned and oiled casters ‘set in and voila!—a useable base for Bunny's oversized palm planter. Works great. “The’ great satisfaction in this,” said Ed when he had finished, “is the fact that it cost absolutely nothing to make.” The pencil for marking the ~boards? Oh, he picked that up on the path back to the house. Another stroll in the gra- vel pit on another day brought this reaction: ‘The Wasting’ I met a man this morning with a‘beer case in his hand. “In two months only” said he smiling wryly, “One hundred dozen empties, and a full me. Too, too much wasting in this hauntious land.” ED MIDDLEMIST and planter he built of salvaged materials. John Charters photo.