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Letters to the editor for the week of July 4th

Cyclists: use the thing inside your helmet They say that lightning doesn't strike twice, but I can tell you that cyclists do. My car has been hit twice in the last seven months.
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Cyclists: use the thing inside your helmet

They say that lightning doesn't strike twice, but I can tell you that cyclists do. My car has been hit twice in the last seven months. The first time I was driving onto Highway 99 from Lorimer Road West on a green light. It was early winter and already dark. Suddenly a cyclist appeared in my headlights, he had crossed against the red light and ridden over the median. He bounced off the side of my car and then hit the hood. He had already done the same thing crossing 99 and the driver ran over to have words with him. He was fine and my car looked fine, traffic was backing up, so we carried on. Next morning, in the light, I did find some damage.

Last Wednesday I was driving up Alpine Way approaching Drifter Way. I always slow down and take a good look here as I have had cars, buses, bikes and skateboarders miss the stop sign, Alpine Way has right of way — no stop sign. I saw a cyclist coming down Drifter at full speed, I had time to stop and that was about it. She didn't even slow down for the stop sign and made a high speed turn down Alpine Way. The cyclist hit my car and went into the windshield. I felt lucky when I heard her speaking even before I could get out of my car. She apologized and even though I insisted, was asking that an ambulance not be called, more worried about dollars than sense. Police, Fire and ambulance attended. I do not know what her final diagnosis was, but her face and hands were obviously injured — head and spinal injuries were assumed at the least.

Next stop ICBC, they arranged to have my car towed to Vancouver, it was not drivable. A neighbour gave me a ride to the city to pick up a rental car. I asked if I would have to pay deductible and the answer was yes. What they did tell me was that they would seek full compensation from the cyclist if the police found her at fault, and pay me back when they had recovered their costs. I am getting the damage repaired from both incidents and have to pay a total of $600. Still I am thankful that both cyclists survived.

This past weekend was busy and I had a near miss, a cyclist decided to use the crosswalk on a red light, just as our light turned green at Blackcomb Way and Lorimer. A truck was in the right lane blocking my view and I was turning left, I barely missed him.

So cyclists slow down and be safe, use a few more pedal strokes and the thing inside your helmet (your brain). If you hit a car or it hits you, either way — you lose. Also if you are from out-of-province, get BC Med., hopefully you won't need it, but you'll have way less hassle and expense if you do.

Thank you Todd, Reidles and Robin for stopping to help on scene as well as RCMP, Whistler Fire and EHS.

Cathy Jewett

Whistler

More than I can say

In September of last year, my wife Susan and I fulfilled a long-term dream of raising our two boys, Jack (9) and Angus (7), in a small town by moving to Pemberton. Two months later my wife was diagnosed with cancer. Two weeks ago, on June 21st, she passed away.

In the short time we have been so privileged to live here, the response from all walks of life in this community to our situation has been overwhelming. The empathy, generosity, kindness and understanding of those who live and work in and around Pemberton has eased our pain and provided so much comfort, it is hard to put into words. My family and I are so grateful and appreciative. By naming a few, I'd feel obliged to name you all, and there are so many of you that regrettably that's not possible.

However, I am so deeply and profoundly moved by the remarkable care, not only for Susan but for our entire family, of Dr. Rebecca Lindley, that I must make an exception here. Rebecca, your compassion, skill and humanity bestowed tremendous solace and light on our darkest of days.

Before she passed, my wife and I decided that I would stay and continue to raise our family here in spite of this tragedy. I hope this reflects how sincerely we value the friendship, support and community-spirit we've experienced in Pemberton, because at this time, words seem somehow insufficient.

Thank you all so much.

Stacey Myrah

Pemberton

Re-using plastic bags

I'm feeling the need to bring up my take on the plastic bags 'issue'. In my experience, thin film plastic bags are way more than single-use. It starts with bringing my purchases home, then bringing stuff around (like my lunch), keeping things organized AND dry in a backpack or anywhere and finally, but not the least, as garbage bags to throw garbage out.

Lets get real, as a society we create garbage. We can't let it all fly around. That's why we have to use garbage bags. We don't throw our garbage bins out, we don't empty them directly in a landfill, it goes in a bag.

I don't buy expensive single-use thicker garbage bags because I re-use the cheaper grocery store ones. I suspect the garbage bag industry to be pushing the cause to increase their sales. Alternatives to carry groceries and the likes are fairly easy to imagine; cheap and convenient alternatives to these other uses, not so much.

I'll keep my stance, as I have since the subject came up years ago, until someone proves to me they don't use ANY plastic bags and that their leaky garbage is not found flying around.

Mathieu Samson

Whistler

Opposition appreciated

We would like to thank the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District directors who voted against issuing the Temporary Use Permits for the Upper Lillooet Hydro Project north of Pemberton, B.C. There is an enormous amount of support for your actions.

 We hope this stance will wake up the provincial government to examine some of the alarming problems associated with private power on our wild creeks and rivers.

Doug and Jeanette Helmer

Helmers Organic Farm

Pemberton

Lights out, please

Innergex is concerned that a recent set-back at the SLRD table infuses the Independent Power Project (IPP) development process with uncertainty. I am sure the proponent prefers the "certainty" of rubber-stamp approvals, lax oversight, and guaranteed sales to a public utility. This decision to deny essential permits must have come as quite a shock.

It shouldn't have.

The facts are: the projects are not green and present a threat to fish and wildlife populations, they are not in the public economic interest, and most interesting of all given the politicized rhetoric of zealous defenders, we don't need the power.

Lights out on further IPP development, please.

Anna Helmer

Pemberton

Beautiful decision

Wow, sometimes decisions made in this town make me think "what the!" and other times I think "nice job, bravo Maestro." I must admit that the hard, cold aesthetics of a chain-link fence along the highway at 19 Mile is really, really nice. The way those perfect little diamonds shape the world into "ours and theirs" meshes so nicely into a community living in the heart of nature. Not unlike spotting a fawn in the ditch I find myself naturally slowing the vehicle just to spend more time in its metallic presence. Its blinding brilliance as a student stopper is to be commended.

I for one am eagerly looking forward to the northern extension when those wily youth realize that the end of the fence is just... kinda'... right there. To fully realize this dream I will be starting a Facebook page called "Razor Wire for the 19 Mile Fence would just be so nice".

Sean Dinwoodie

Whistler

Sounding out Howe Sound's future

Open Letter to Ruth Simons and the Future of Howe Sound Society

Congratulations on this Canada Day, Ruth and all those who participated in a huge flotilla that would have stopped the Spanish Armada head-on if it had attempted to invade Howe Sound yesterday. Over 150 boats! The public participation was magnificent, as magnificent as your vision to preserve Howe Sound for future generations. I was impressed by the number of people involved, the variety of ages represented, and the happy spirit demonstrated by all those involved.

On this Canada Day, I consider it appropriate to pledge to you my commitment to work with those who would like to preserve Howe Sound, in the following way. I would like to explore with your group the possibility of providing at least some initial assessment of creating that type of broad-scale plan that Mayor Brenda Broughton and other people have discussed. From the many discussions I had, it is obvious that a variety of factors should be included in any such ambitious plan: the splendor of the natural surroundings, the biodiversity, the resurgence of natural life in Howe Sound, the contribution the surroundings make to tourism revenues, the intensity of impact of any industrial activity, the range of effect of such activity, the longevity of the industrial activity, the opportunity to restore land and surroundings damaged by the activity, the number of jobs created, the relevance of the products created by the activity and the monetary value of such activity.

This is a wide variety of factors and I'm sure there are more.

Here is a goal to which we could all aspire. August 5th is a deadline by which applicants must approach the Finance Committee of the House of Commons in order for that Committee to consider any applications that might find their way into Federal Government Budget 2014. While there are other ways to get good ideas into the Budget, I suggest we work together to see if the Finance Committee will accept an application for funding of a preliminary study of the Howe Sound area and the wide variety of environmental and economic factors and activities.

This may be the beginning of a long journey but one well worth traveling together. Again congratulations on the marvelous outpouring of public support demonstrated yesterday. I'm honored just to participate

John Weston

M.P. for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country

Idle no more

Today, July 2 2013, BC Hydro was working at the junction of Crabapple and Lorimer Road. I observed a pickup with BC Hydro printed clearly on the truckside. The truck was idling and I told the driver that Whistler has an idling bylaw. I was told that he had to keep the engine running because he had his dog in the car and needed the air conditioning on. I also observed that the driver's door window was fully open. This was at approx. 1:20 p.m.

I returned by the same truck, still idling, driver's side window open at 2 p.m. and suggested the air conditioning would work better if he closed the window. The truck was parked in the shade.

Is this the kind of cavalier attitude that BC Hydro wishes to project to our community?

Imagine if all their pickups are idling all day!

No wonder we are being told to expect cost of power increases!

Terry Spence

Whistler

Catcalling is threatening

To the man with his friends Saturday (June 29th) mid morning outside of Happy Pets who sneered "Hi... I'd like to get to know you more" followed with laughter from you and your group:

I was too shocked that an adult would have such poor behaviour that I was at a loss for words. I've found them now, and while I hope this was a one off incident, I am going to tell you this:

Catcalling is not funny nor flattering. Women do not appreciate these comments. It is harassment. Do not do this ever again.

I'd like you to think about your comment and think about your wife/girlfriend or your daughter hearing it. How do you think it would make them feel, that while going about their day, a male said this and laughed about it with his friends? When comments like this are made towards women, it dehumanizes them, making them merely objects to be commented on. Would you want your wife/girlfriend or daughter made into an object to be laughed at?

I am very lucky that this encounter happened during the day with surroundings I (had) felt comfortable with, even with your group outnumbering me at least four to one. Not all women are this lucky. Catcalling is not appropriate in any setting but when it is done when the callers are in groups, it can be downright threatening.

Again, I hope this was a mistake. If not, next time you feel like saying something other than "Hi, hope you're having a nice day" that you think about your words, their context and how the other party will hear them. I don't want to see Whistler become like large cities where street harassment becomes an unfortunate part of everyday life.

Kalee Eder

Whistler