Editor,
I am writing in sympathy of the downtown residents who have lost their recycle centre. I am a Valleycliffe resident and for a long time our recycle centre was removed as well. Once we have established good recycling habits, it is very frustrating to have the district curb our good intentions by removing sites. I wish the district would recognize that if it is necessary to close a site, it should not happen until a new site has been selected and opened. I urge the district to find a solution quickly.
Recycle centres should be in every neighbourhood not just a select few and they should be as lovely as the new site in Valleycliffe. For this I applaud council. The new site is larger, paved, gated and landscaped so it looks much tidier than the old site did - a big improvement.
As a community we need to be proud of our recycling efforts. We need to show off what we are accomplishing, not tuck our efforts away like a dirty little garbage secret.
Marion Gilroy
Valleycliffe
Simpler, cheaper ways to provide recreation
Editor,
I am a cyclist (not a mountain biker) in Squamish who rides his bike almost every day. I feel a lot more could be done in Squamish to make it a bike friendly place. Instead of spending $20 million on undetermined recreational facilities, we could use far less money to provide far more benefits to a broad cross section of citizens, including children, families, and fitness and environmentally conscious people. We do not need a $20 million rec centre to provide recreation. There are simpler and cheaper ways to provide recreation to the masses. It seems to me if you are not a car driver, which includes all those under 16 years of age, many elderly and poor, and those who chose not to drive for social (remember why there is a war in Iraq?) and environmental reasons (global warming ring a bell?), then Squamish roadways are not for you.
I understand we have a $25,000 budget for bicycle projects - which seems like a pittance. To add insult to injury, last year's money went to a project totally unrelated to cycling. My question is, how does the $25,000 compare to the regular roadways budget? Why is the total Squamish bicycle budget less than the cost of five nice downhill bikes?
Would it be possible to pave a safe northbound shoulder on Government from Mamquam Bridge to Eagle Run Road? There is no safe and legal way to cycle north from Mamquam Bridge to Eagle Run Road. How are we supposed to get to and from the wonderful new rec centre you proposed if there is no safe bike route? In case you did not know, it is illegal and dangerous to ride against the traffic. In addition, lots and lots of kids ride their bikes daily from Brackendale to Mamquam Elementary School. Do these children have a right to a safe and legal route to school? I think so.
Daily safe cycling would provide a benefit for those kids interested in or not rich enough, to play hockey on that new "sheet" of ice.
Further to my point of looking after what we have, there is no street sweeping machine in Squamish, because it is broken. Getting a new one should be a high priority in addition to getting the old one fixed. On the cycling shoulder southbound on Government there has been broken glass there for six weeks.
Cycling is excellent family recreation, is safe and cheap, good for the environment and has the added advantage of providing transportation. I am not talking mountain biking, which SORCA deals excellently with. I am talking about the district's responsibility to provide safe roadways for all.
Martin Fichtl
Squamish
Volunteer Centre appreciates support
Editor,
Something good has been going on around here and it has to do with the many local businesses, individuals, and organizations that have leant tremendous support to a little organization called Squamish Youth Resource Centre.
Five years ago, the Centre opened as a safe place for local teens to get support and to engage in free recreational activities. One of the first problems that presented itself to staff was the fact that some youths were not getting enough to eat. Thanks to the tireless ongoing efforts of businesses such as McDonald's, Lions Bay Café, and Four 'n Twenty (Shakespeare's Pies), the Centre has been able to take small steps toward alleviating hunger on a daily basis. Thanks to annual support from Evans Lake Forestry Education Centre, Save-On-Foods, IGA, Extra Foods, Alain (Pastry Chef Extraordinaire) Xocolatl, and Mostly Meats, the Centre has been able to host a free annual Christmas banquet. Recently, TD Bank has donated $1,500 toward starting a free cooking program for youths.
Also due to local generosity, the Youth Centre has been able to host summer outings at a minimum cost to youths. Sea to Sky Ford has donated the use of rental vehicles each year, free of charge. Recently, Sheri Davis from the Rotary Club came by the Centre with a huge bin of brand-new, quality outdoor recreational equipment, as well as a cheque for $500 to put toward summer outings.
Through the Youth Centre, youths were offered many free recreational activities during Youth Week this year due to the unbelievable support of Climb-On, Squamish Yoga Centre, and Squamish Athletic Club.
Youths have recently been able to publish the second issue of their Doppelganger magazine at almost no cost, due to the very thoughtful and generous donation of a laser printer by Nicol Erin. Youth Centre staff have also gratefully accepted donations of items such as cooking utensils, craft supplies, board games, and furniture from parents and other individuals.
Finally, it is important to acknowledge the contributions made by many youths to Squamish Youth Resource Centre. Here I am referring not only to the donations of equipment such as a Nintendo and a Karaoke machine, but also to the time which individual youths have donated to everything from fundraisers to clearing underbrush and, recently, to painting the interior of the Centre.
In closing, I would like to say thanks, Squamish.
Suzanne Akers,
Squamish Youth Resource Centre
Lost credit card story ends happily
Editor,
My sincere thank you to the man who turned in my credit card at the Chevron service station on June 14.I was a few blocks down the road when I realized that I didn't remember putting my card back in my purse.
After checking and not finding it, I drove back with very little hope that I would see it again. As I arrived, the woman in the station was just about to look for my name in the local phone book. What a relief! Thanks again.
L. Greer
Burnaby
