218 ll Wednesday, Apri 12°19 19”

Wednesday, April 1, 1992 @

Nine toFIVE

BUDGET
BLUES

Action Ad Deadline For Saturday
Display Ad Deadline For Saturday!
Action Ad Deadline for Wednesday

____5p.m., Wednesday
5 p.m., Wednesday
5 p.m., Monday

WorRPLACE

BC Gas Inc. is
boosting the
amount it wants
to charge its
customers for
gas because of
last week's
provincial tax
increases. The
utility blamed the
provincial budget
for the increase
during the first
day of a B.C.
Utilities
Commission rate
application
hearing Monday,
spokesman Ted
Schellenberg
said

afterwards. The.
commission has
already been
given interim

United States —
for many years
the banker's
favorite — now
ranks sixth.
Canada is tenth.

BATTLE

Molson
Breweries said
Monday it has
teamed up with
U.S.-based Miller
Brewing Co. to
try to stop sales
of Labatt

Genuine Draft
Beer in Canada.
Molson and
Miller allege
Labatt has
copied the color
scheme and
package design
used for Miller

Precious Gems |

Robert Branning
turns a hobby
from Terrace into a
potential career in
Castlegar

Jonathan Green
NEWS REPORTER

Robert Branning has turned
a love for jewellery into what
could be a new career.

After leaving the air force life
behind, Branning plugged into
B.C. Hydro to become a power
plant operator.

For the last 19. years, he and
his family have gone from one
end of the province to the other,
transferring to wherever the
utility wants him to go.

The Brannings have called
Castlegar home for the last five
years and in that time, Robert
has slowly built a name for

imself in gemology.

The science dealing with
gemstones, Branning said his
introduction to the world of
gemology was quite accidental.

gt i got into it about five years
ago,” he said. “I just sort of fell
into it.”

Branning and his wife Donna

were living in Terrace while two
of their daughters were
involved in the jewellery
business.

Through one’s fiancee, the
Brannings got in as
distributors for a jewelry
clearance center, which lit a
bulb inside Bob’s head.

“If I’m going to be involved in
jewelry, I might as well become
a gemologist,” he said.

For the last two and a half
years, Branning has been plying
his trade in the area, doing
everything from repair work to
appraisals.

“Normally, I’m fairly busy
with repair work,” he said.
“That includes regular jewelry
as well as costume jewelry.”

Although most of his
experience in the trade has
come from hands-on work,
Branning did receive
certification in three areas from
the Canadian Gemological
| Institute i in Mec ae en

6 :
foceivedl his diamond sortiticete,
which enabled him to =prya
diamonds.

Two months later, Bienmne
received his gemiologists’s
certificate, which allowed to
practice as a gemologist.

Lastly, in March of 1990, he
received. his colored gem
certificate, allowing him to

appraise gems such as rubies
and emeralds.

Although the schooling
certified him as a gemologist,
Branning says his true
education has come away from
Vancouver.

“I’ve learned more about the
business outside of the
classroom than I could in
school,” he said.

Although there aren’t
gemologists on every street
corner, Branning says the field
isn’t a tough one to enter.

“It’s relatively easy to get
into,” he said, adding that a,
background is important. ©

“You have to have a broad
knowledge (of jewelry).”

Dealing directly from his
home, Branning is able to
eliminate some middlemen
along the way.

Because of that, he can offer
his customers a better deal than
a lot of jewellery stores.

“The only way they can beat.

me in price is if they buy huge
quantities,” he said.

Another way Branning says
he can compete is through the
work he does as compared to a
jeweller.

He said that to have an

appraisal or some repair work
done, a jeweller in a smaller
centre may have to ship it to
Vancouver.

Since he can do both from his
house, the cost to the customer
is lower.

As a certified appraiser of
both diamonds and colored
stones, Branning says it bothers
him to see jewelers who claim to
have appraisal certification.

“If they don’t have a
gemologist on staff and they’re
making up appraisals, they’re
not acceptable,” he said. “They
may think they are, but they're
Noe

And because of _ that,
Branning likes to make the
effort of telling the customer
just what it is they’re looking
at.

m willing to sit with people
and explain it to them, ” he
said. “That’s something a
jeweller won’t generally do.

“They’re in the business of
making money. Period.”

In the two and a half years
that Branning has operated

Wizard’s Palace of Gems, he has ~

noticed a trend.
“We've done better every year
we've been in business,” he said,

adding that the dividends don’t
stray too far from home.

“Everything we sell we pour
back into the business.”

Because of that, Branning is
able to update his equipment to
stay on line with other
gemologists.

“You need a lot. of
sophisticated equipment,” he
said.

“I’m trying to be as
sophisticated as possible so
when I do something, I can do it
quickly.”

With jewelry a preferred
catch during a burglary,
Branning says that collectors
would be wise to visit an
appraiser.

“People who have'a lot of
jewelry should get appraisals,”
he said. “It’s.also important for
insurance purposes as well.”

Although his job with B.C.
Hydro is the one that pays the
bills, Branning says he would
ultimately like to switch
careers.

“I’m one of those people who
bee probably never retire,” he

oar you’re doing a job you
enjoy doing, what’s the point of
retiring?”

ActionADS

Display Ad Deadline For Wednesday
ACTION ADS — 365-7266

5 p.m., Friday

‘V_ ANNOUNCEMENTS
12 Card of Thanks

THANKS to everyone at the
Celgar Expansion Project for your
support and generosity. Sincere
appreciation, Dave Samuelson
and family. (1/26)

17 Notices
CRAFT supplies, craft classes,

knitting machine club at the Craft
Corner. 365-5801. (8/18)

THE FISH TRUCK, next to Shell
Car Wash, Friday; April 3 — 10:30
a.m.-7 p.m. (1/26)

Support Your Lung Association

Coming Events

NDP FILM NIGHT. Wednesday,
April 1, 7:30 p.m. Fireside Lounge,
sponsored by Gerald Rotering.
NFB film “Imperfect Union —
Canadian Labour and the Left”
part one: International Background
— Canadian Roots. No admission
charge. (1/26)

27 In Memoriam

In loving memory of a dear father,
Mikolaj (Nick) Klapper, who
passed away April 2, 1987.

Well Dad, it has been 5 years
since you have gone,

You missed the birth of our infant
son.

So much we wished you could
have seen,

The happinéss this new life does
bring.

We miss you and think of you

CLASSIFIED RATES
“AND INFORMATION
RATES
First 15 Words $5.00
Additional Words 30¢

GST EXTRA
3 Insertions for Price of 2
7 Insertions for Price of 4
Special Reduced Rates for 13X,
26X, 52%, 104X are also available.

SPECIAL RATES ARE FOR
CONSECUTIVE INSERTIONS.

LEGAL ADS
Word ads: 28¢ per word for one insertion;
21¢ per word for subsequent insertions.
Minimum charge is for 20 words.

PAYMENT POLICY
Payment may be made by cash, cheque
or Visa and MasterCard credit cards. It is
not advisable to send cash through the
mail. Classified Ads may be charged, but
a $2 billing charge will be made if the ad

I every day,
How we wish you could have
stayed.
Loved and remembered always by
his son Terry, daughter-in-law
Carolin and grandson Alex. (2/26)

33 Lost

inéss Opportuniti

BIG

CAS$H
PROFIT$

Unlike anything you've ever seen.
We manufacture the hottest little
vending machine ever made. No
selling. No experience necessary.
Unbelievable repeat business.
Fantastic profits. Guaranteed
locations. Takes just a few hours a
week to service your own chain of
instant profit centres. Secured
investment of $14,500 required. For
details and free color brochure on
our proven money maker call

Marketing Manager
collect today

464-0296

Vancouver

ALASKA black diamond pendant
by Dairy Queen, March 24.
Sentimental value. Reward. 399-
4438. (4/25)

SUNGLASSES, clip-on in case,
Saturday, March 14, Syringa
Creek/Dam area. 365-6046. (4/24)

42 Personal

ALCOHOLICS Anonymous and Al-
Anon. Phone 365-3663. (104/91)

CASTLEGAR GRIEF SUPPORT.
Meetings Home Support Office, 7
p.m. on the 3rd Monday, monthly.
365-6883 or 365-2148. All in grief
welcome. (104/4)

PRIVATE: Individual and/or Family
Counsellor. 365-8041. (12/20)

THE FAR SIDE

By GARY LARSON

|

"© 1992 Unwversal Press Syaciate

73

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99 Help Wanted

WANTED: POKER PLAYERS.
Open Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
and Friday, 7 p.m. 365-2216.
(2/25)

PART-TIME help wanted. Must
have strong communication skills.
Apply at Chicken Time. Non
smokers. (3/26)

URGENTLY NEEDED
VOLUNTEERS

TO DELIVER
MEALS-ON-WHEELS
approximately one hour a
- month. Anyone interested

“Waiter, is that a hair in my salad?”

Work Wanted

126 Work Wanted

WILL wash windows, do yard
work, odd jobs. Reliable. $5 per
hour. 365-4961 or 365-8120.
(3/26)

ROAD building, road grading,
loading and hauling, all types of
excavating. Gravel supplies. 365-
3014. (5/26)

18 YR. OLD male will do
yardwork, lawns, cutting, etc. Ask
for David at 365-6316. (3/26)

Seamless Gutters
<4” or 5" Heavy Gauge
- Painted Aluminum

MECHANIC with air ticket, 10
hours experience in trucks, seeks
to trade labor for time to acquire
Class Ill licence. Call Malcom,
359-7738. (4/25)

WILLING to clean offices, 365-
7064. (4/25)

JOURNEYMAN Carpenter —
doors, decks, drywall, roofing,
repairs, clean-up etc. Free
estimates, guaranteed work. Call
John 365-5428. (7/26)

3/4-TON for hire. Small moves,
spring cleanup, etc. Call Paul,
365-6320 and leave message

4

News photo by Jonathan Green

While a lot of people may return home from a hard day's work and want nothing to do with more work, Robert
Branning is different. The Castlegar man is a certfied gemologist, something he pee to good use in his spare
time, spate one day to make it full time.

isnot paid-for-seven days atterittirst
appears. (This $2 charge does NOT apply
to Visa and MasterCard charges.)

ORDER BY MAIL
Print Your Action Ad on a separate piece
of paper and mail to:
ACTION ADS, Box 3007
Castlegar, B.C. ViN 3H4
The Castlegar News reserves the right to
classify ads under appropriate headings
and to determine page location.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

All advertisements such as Help Wanted

must comply with the British Columbia

Human Rights Act. This Act states no

advertisement may state or imply a
|, OF on

CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY.
In memoriam donations
information: Box 3292, Castlegar,
B.C. V1N 3H6, 365-5167. (104/2)

please contact
Castlegar Home
Support, 365-2148

‘vv CHILDREN
73 Childcare Available

FORMER «- Early Childhood
Education student looking for part-
time/full-time babysitting job.
References available. 365-6477
ask for Corina, (4/23)

FAMILY Daycare in South
Castlegar. Ph. 365-2750. (8/26)

Vv _ EMPLOYMENT

the basis of an applicant's race, religion,
colour, marital status, ancestry, place of
origin, age, sex (unless the matter relates
ie the of public

prior approval has been obtained
hive h the Human Rights Branch).

93 Career Opportunities

TURN PLAYTIME into earnings
with Discovery Toys. Demonstrate
quality products that help children
learn. Melody, 365-2526 (8/21)

PERMANENT part-time
Merchandising/Sales
Representative required. The
candidate should have experience
in servicing client displays &
maintaining stock levels in major
retail outlets. Fax or send resume
sto Mr. Ross F. Garner, Novus
National Retail Service, Box 81,
Embro, Ontario, NOJ 1J0. Fax 1-
519-475-4005. (1/26)

"365-3240

CHEAP! CHEAP! CHEAP! Will do
quality yard maintenance and
painting. Call Mike, 365-7451.
(4/25)

WILLING TO to cut lawns, do
yardwork. 365-7064. (12/19)

WILL DO OFFICE CLEANING.
359-7187. (9/17)

LEASE operator with 5T truck.
Minimum 22 ft. box for 5 nights per
week. To/from Kelowna. Phone

Gordon at 860-3066 for details.*

(3/26)

OUR ACTION AD PHONE
NUMBER IS 365-7266

WILL do spring clean-up with truck
or small jobs on part-time
basis.Ph. 359-7187. (9/17)

EARL'S CARPENTRY — Houses,
renovations, concrete, painting,
swimming pools, liners, chemicals,
spas -— reasonable — work
guaranteed. 365-8355. (tfn/98)

(4/25
v SERVICE GUIDE

EQUIPMENT

FOR RENT!
With Operators.

* Hitachi Excavator
¢ D6 Cat Dozer
° 966 Loader
Hourly or Contract
Free Estimates
PH. 365-2743 or

& Placing

Driving Schools

Clothing, Furs & Jewels
Computer Hardware
..:Farm Equipment

Drywal
Education

.....Garage Sale

Duty y
.Hobbies & Crafts
weeveee Misc. For Sale

Misc. Wanted

‘Musical Instruments

tt

26.
v SERVICE GUIDE

BEESRENPVsan ere

Repaire

sassserssesrereees WINNCH
v CHILDREN
we Baby lems

Blinds & Drapery

Moving & Storage

Childcare Wanted
..Daycare Centres

Office Services
ing &

2aW, AUTOMOTIVE

~ewAntique Cars and Trucks

Auto Accessories
Aut

Ww LEGALS

v EMPLOYMENT
°

.Pressure Washing

ng
--Auto Parts/Services

Cal

Legal Notices

Campers; Trailers/Rent