Page 8A The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, May 11, 1994 Letters to the Editor continued Implication of short-changing support staff incorrect iw can't Thee Mickey Kinakin's May 4 letter to the dor (dio rial comment leaves reader cold too”) pass without comment. I agree with much of what Mr. Kinakin writes, in particu- lar his concern about the rise in the salary portion of school budgets. The lated part of the Castlegar District budget has grown at a dispro- portionate rate go that it now eats up nearly 89 per cent of local education funds. You daly need to walk into a classroom today to see where much of that increase has gone: imto teachers aides (TAs) and child care workers (CCWs). Ten years ago there were perh half a dozen CCWs and TAs in this school district. Now we have the equivalent of more than 22 full-time TAs and CCWs. I don't mean to imply that these workers are unnecessary or shouldn't be there. There are many reasons for the growth in the number of TAs and CCWs, of trustees and not with Victoria. The days of larger and larger increases in education funding are over. The sooner we accept that and quit wringing our hands the better off we'll be. ‘What we need to do is set pri- orities and live by them, In other words, spend smarter. And ding smarter for me mcans with special needs, increasing demand on schools to take on many duties that used to be han- died by the family, and pressure spending so that the money has from. parents secking more help * larger compone: district budget. (I haven't even ioned ion time for iP hers, class size limits and bad apples, mostly oes in response to , 1994 letter ‘oup ate at the Dairy Queen and when I comtacted them about the ; behavios.I was told — were well-thannered Mr. Nelson take approxi- mately 175 students to vari- ous communities every year and I have joined them as a chaperon on various occasions. Upon leaving various have My suggestion to you, “No Name” is that instead of ‘writing to the newspaper first, go to the band instruc- tor and make him aware of your concerns, then if you Saturdays weekends for our children, offering to provide them with positive experiences and opportunities to make them responsible and con- tributing members of the I would like to take this opportunity to say to “No Name” I'm sorry a couple of students disrupted your Thanks for your time, patience and hard work. Please do not get Thanks also to the stu- of values we try to instil in all of our children. Joanne Stan defender, would cast but one shadow, but ‘perish the thought’ for, as Shakespeare said: “His nature is too noble for the world.” J.A. Charters, Castlegar lunch hour supervisors, all of which have also Played a role in tion of the budget needs to be brought back into line. If it isn’t, it will i to the joyees—support are members of the Canadian Union of Public reducing their hours of work. He implies the board balanced the budget on the backs of its CUPE members. non-salary items which make up the other 11 per cent of the bud- in zero) in 1993-94 and cut in half to $100,000 this year. I also agree with Mr. Kinakin that the responsibility for the school budget lies with local The CUPE positions that were reduced make up just four per cent of the total budget shortfall. Now, I don’t know about you, budget backs of its support staff. Far tr fick, SHOULD of de iacety At the same time, the board added a 5 teacher aide for the Pathfinders program (which, if you want to look at it this way, increase that comes into effect on July 1. ee oe ee eet increase in the board budget—and one of the reasons we had a $450,000 shortfall in the first place. Did one group take the fall? Not that I can see, had the effect of cancelling out the reduction in the three other budget will jump by about $150,000 this year because of a seven per cent wage and benefit Ron Norman School District No. 9 Trustee FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION APPLICATION COMPLETION SESSIONS with Jake Van Hemert Financial Aid Officer, Selkirk College These will provide a complete overview of the British Columbia Student Assistance Program and needed to student loan applications. Seminars require a three hour time HIGH SCHOOL SEMINARS Tues. May 24 Wed, May 25 Mon. May 30 Mon. May 30 Tues. May 31 Wed. June 1 Thurs. June 2 Tues. June 7 Tues. June 7 Wed. June 8 Thurs. June 9 Kaslo Rossland ecopaietm School Grand Forks Secondary J.L. Crowe Open to all Open to all Open to all Open to all Open to all Open to all Open to all Open to all Open to all Open to all Open to all P. 1:30 - vr 30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7pm. 7 p.m. 2:30 - 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. We would encourage interested persons to check with the locations they wish to attend a day before the workshop to confirm the event and attendance. BRiTisnH cOoOrtuMBiA’ from ea The Forest Renewal Plan will: fini @ provide new skills training for BC forest ENEWING OUR_FOREST ECONOMY Your provincial government's new Forest Renewal Plan, introduced in the BC Legislature April 14th, will renew both our forest environment and BC's vital forest economy. Here's how: . ° ° ° Ensuring family-supporting jobs The Forest Renewal Plan will invest an estimated $2 billion in new money raised through increased stumpage fees over the next five years — money that will be directed entirely to renewing the forest environment and increasing the jobs and value ch tree harvested. More jobs from each tree cut @ expand value-added manufacturing and ished products @ invest in the research and development of new BC forest products and markets workers Forest workers and forest communities will benefit from these steps, as will British Columbians tion throughout the province because of the continued important role forestry plays in our economy. RE Restoring our forest environment The Forest Renewal Plan will restore and protect forest eco-systems in BC, ensuring jobs by: @ cleaning up environmental damage to rivers, streams and watersheds @ removing unnecessary logging roads to prevent soil erosion protecting fish and wildlife @ improving reforestation and care of our forests after replanting @ developing new environmentally-sound forest practices such as more selective logging and commercial thinning . ° ° Working in partnership British Columbia's Forest Renewal Plan is an opportunity to replace confrontation with coopera- It's a chance to begin working together in partnership to renew our forests, ensure jobs and strengthen communities. BUSINESS The Castlegar DNESDAY, May 1 To find out more about the Forest Renewal Plan, contact your MLA for details, POR or call 1 800 866-7717 @) De Berek Glance Cooking up Living Waters Faith F. ip is selling cookbook. GMC employee joins eure sroup MARILYN STRONG Sun staff from recipes by local | people, ‘as a fundraiser for the Christian ny 0.5mm Ave. are from any church member or from the academy. Up to spec On May 17 and 18 more than 30 Motor Vehicle Inspectors from the Kootenays and Okanagan will be in Castlegar for Challenge 94. The competition consists of tractor-trailer mopectiont, log book and driver i 8. Ce will use facilities at the Public Works building in the industrial park and the Sandman Inn, DTC Chamber has donated the truck and Okanagan Valley ‘Transport has donated the trailer. On the move Kootenay Car Tunes has moved from the City Centre Square mall to the old Ackland building beside West Kootenay Power on Ave. Their new space will allow for complete car instal- lation facilities including a new installation bay. More bullding The City of Castlegar reports that 29 building permits were issued in with a value of $1.482 million. Seven were for new resi- homes, one for a 12 for tions to resid six for i or oie new ial building. The Sess hor: Downtown Shell ition, and Cotunbia Plas. Congratulations Mike Garvin of Castlegar Mazda is the April Salesperson of the Month. Congratulations Mike! Fish food With the growth of ponds for landscaping and the increase in the number of people who keep tame trout, Critters, Crunchies and Crafts, on 13th St. in downtown Castlegar, now stocks bulk trout and gold fish food. Sign of the times Columbia Plaza has its new sign at the entrance its stores including Met Mart, Tim Horton and Gardeli’s. Responding to customers As a result of customer inquiries, Castlegar Foods is now open late on Thursday nights until 8:00 pm. Now open All Make Appliance Repairs has opened a storefront operation on 13th Street, beside Critters Crunchies and Crafts and across from the CPR station. Muffler shop opens Shop is Larry and his staff invite everyone to come. They are open six days ‘a week and can service all makes of vehicles as well as specializ- ing in custom work. Opening soon A Touch of Elegance will be the name of the new store opening in mid-June in the Castleaird Plaza. They plan to carry to quality fur- niture and furnishings. Keeping up Wonder what an MP does? Following Jim Gouk, the MP for Koote- may West Revelone bakcomloenray nearly everyone. Lately he has been to the Interior L in Kel It's an elite group among GMC salesman, and Brian Bebelman of of Merit. This year Bebelman reached the bronze level ~ his third bronze award. In previous his praise for Bebelman, shows consistent on going commnitt- ment to his customers ... [and is} one of the premier performers in sales. In fact, right now he is ahead Award of Merit to Brian along with a set of luggage. Bruce Schappert (1), GM District Sales Manager presents Brian Bebelman (c) with his Sales Marketing Guild Award of Merit and his luggage while President and General Manager Neil Kalawsky assists. West Kootenay Trade Fair another resounding success KAREN KERKHOFF Sun staff A whole year of intense plan- ning has paid off in a big way. Once again the West Kootenay Trade Fair was a resounding suc- cess, and Trade, Fair Chair Castle- gar Selkirk Lion’s member Dave Shalanski couldn't be happier. Declining to Shalanski said plans are under- way to encourage more cottage- type industries to become exhibitors next year. As well, there is discussion how outside exhibitors will deal.with a wet Mother Nature—there’s the pos- sibility that some outside exhibits might be housed under a large awning or tent. . about the actual amount of money raised, Shalanski. said the Trade Fair is the Lions’ _diggest Larry ff is pleased to announce that Sep norm , a p open at the stop of Sherbiko Hill (old nae It’ AR heii ‘air was good enor year to help us perform our charitable activities for the year.” Not only do the funds raised help charitable activities, Shalan- ski said Trade Fair benefits the entire community. “It generates a lot of other activity in the community. Visi- tors use the restaurants, motels, and other businesses in the area.” Shalanski said exhibitors were mn WOM DE Tal cdticials shout te lier optics lace attended the AKBM meeting in Rossland, attended the Selkirk College Founda- Sen ee ee eee ee er whine tieikec, cada grapes, p d a Te Ih award in Ronslend oa behalf of the Minister of Sclent> and Tochoology and attended the Senior Citizens of BC annual conference in Revel- stoke. In between, he has been in the office meeting with con- stituents. Whew! New businesses The City of Castlegar reports that 18 new business licenses weré issued in April, bringing the total to date to 488 (up 14 from April 1993). Welcome: Kathie Fields operating as K&V Unlimited, an agent for Personal Care Products; Stefan Kreuzer of Winlaw oper- ating Ponderosa Construction, a home repair Contractor; Gloria paces erating a Hotel ips service, CDG Custom Contracting Ltd., a home building contractor, Scott Carlson and Chris Popoff operating a Bicycle Tour Service; James S. Beat- tie opauting 9: Constrection Surveys, a construction surveys and ;, Leonard Rosen operating as The Yard Squirrel, contractor; Walter Gretchin of Crescent Valley, oper- contractor, Were isck nic opening ut Pecaread Tear Wan Deciga decorative wall finish contractor, Nielsen Roofing and Sheet Metal of F a roofing Danny Walker operating Cabi- nets for Less, a home based agent; Yvette and Casey McNeil oper- ating Samson's Soap Shops, a retail store selling cleaning agents and products; Kevin Seville cpersting 06 Kak Concrete Form rentals, a rental eq JH. Pass Creek Carpentry, a home bi repairs ‘and Brenda Bortolussi, a home based agent for Please Mum home sales. Welcome! Phone 365-5579 with your business brief EL Fh ton Pp ly happy with the turn- out this year. “We've heard from a lot of the exhibitors that people were look- ing AND buying—even more so than last year.” Even though Trade Fair was the place to be, Shalanski said they did have competition on Sat- urday night—a televised Canucks game. In fact, one of the most popular exhibits was one which had a television set tuned to the game. Hockey fans were crowded around the set oblivious to the sights and sounds of Trade Fair. Now that the dust has settled, and the 18th Annual West Koote- nay Trade Fair is history, the Lions have already begun plan- ning for next year’s event. ‘Tasty Delites Smoke Free & Air Conditioned 292 Columbia Ave. 365-7401 ATTENTION CRAFTS PEOPLE *% Reserve your booths NOW for cs Rossiand's Fall Fair * Sept 10 &11° ‘ Please recycle ‘SUN STAFF PHOTO Martyn Strong PLUMB PERFECT SERVICE <= CALL ON ALICENSED MASTER FOR ALL YOUR Plumbing —_* Air Conditioning * Heating + Gas Piping * Refrigeration * Service & Installation (commercial & industrial) NEEDS... OUR DISPLAY. ROOM: | FEATURES ONLY QUALITY. SS ARROW LAKES AIR CONDITIONING & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS LTD. 613 - 13th St., Unit 1 & 2 FS PHARMASAVE 1128 - 3rd St. (Downtown) Castlegar PRESENT YOUR PHARMACARE CARD AND 365-7813