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Compost costs out of control

Regarding the clarification in both the Pique and Question newspapers on the reporting on the budget over runs on the composting facility. From a story printed in the Pique on Aug.

Regarding the clarification in both the Pique and Question newspapers on the reporting on the budget over runs on the composting facility.

From a story printed in the Pique on Aug. 8th, 2007, “Diana Waltmann, information officer for RMOW, said the overall capital costs for the purchase of the machine and the construction of the new facility is estimated at $6 million”. At that time, no one from the RMOW clarified that the budget was $6 million, plus an additional $3 million for assumed leases for infrastructure on the project.

By the middle of October 2007, two months later, the project budget had risen to $12.5 million, a more than 100 per cent increase (or if you include the un-mentioned $3 million lease, a 72 per cent budget increase). Recently, the budget has risen to $13.8 million. When you consider that the cost of the technology bought from Carney’s, the original owners of the composting plant, was $1.8 million, plus the assumption of the $3 million in leases, then that means the cost of installing the composting plant has risen from $4.2 million to $9 million in less than 10 months. So far, the only explanation given for the cost over runs has been the increase in labour and materials costs.

By any reasonable standard, the costs of this project have gone completely out of control, and worse yet, show an appalling lack of transparency.

David Buzzard

Whistler

‘Profiling’ doesn’t fit

While there is consensus that something should be done to curb violence in Whistler, I do not believe prejudicial comments made in recent letters to the editor should be left unanswered.

I strongly believe ignorant statements such as “we need to put a gate just outside of Function and start doing some ‘profiling’ on long weekends” (Letters to the editor, Pique, May 29) do not reflect the opinions of the friends and families who welcomed me, a visible minority, to the community back in 1996. Yes, the community needs to find solutions to reduce criminal activity, however, equating an entire ethnic race to thugs or gangsters demonstrates a lack of judgment.

The irony of the statement “…this is a resort with a reputation that can easily be tainted.” (Letters to the editor, Pique, May 29) is not lost on those residents who will distance themselves from ignorance, and seek action in a manner that does not taint Whistler’s image.

Channa Pelpola

Vancouver

Work together rather than whine

In reference to Mr. Bob Davis’s letter “Village idiots” (Pique News magazine, May 29)

Two “Pique weeks” have passed since the Victoria Day weekend and we still read in the letters to the editor about whining, and whining, and whining some more about how unsafe our village is, but no concrete solutions… Come on! First of all, no village, town, or city in the world, is a “family village” at 1 in the morning…

Solutions? How about C.O.P.S. (citizens on patrol)? Locals that walk around the village at night could advise walking RCMP of suspicious looking gangs and people. Maybe a toll-free “crime line” we can call, advertised at every pathway corner. Maybe a little random ID checking around the village at night.

These are not the greatest ideas but I’m sure locals, together, could bring a solid, realistic solution to this. Your camera idea was a good start.

RCMP can’t make miracles happen… If you want a perfect town with no crime, I’m sorry to say, that you’ll have to go off and live alone on an island like Tom Hanks in Castaway and have a volleyball named Wilson as your best friend!

Whistler is great, crime is minimal, and all locals helping out at night could make a difference, so please, no more whining. If we don’t work together, I guess that makes us the village idiots.

Jerome Ouellet

Whistler

A time of awakening

Judas began to steal from Jesus, either for his own means or maybe to fund some other activities. At first Jesus believed in him and thought of him as one of his own. In the end Jesus learned the hard way and was betrayed.

We as the people have put all of the disciples that are making some of the lethargic decisions for us in place, who knew. Let this be a time of awakening for all of us. These stealthy individuals do not work for the status quo, they slither in their dark back offices only to enhance their deep and probably very full pockets.

With all the happenings of May 24 the people that were affected should write to the province, call the local news channel. Everyone is waiting to break the image of this tiny village snow dome. The Whistler dome use to be filled with beautiful white flakes of snow, now it is filled with rage and uprising. Until there is a collaboration of people who will not bend over and just turn a blind eye the only changes that at the end of the day truly make sense will not happen.

The next time somebody is evicted from their home so the homeowner can house a tourist paying $3,000 a night over the Olympics call CBC, 1-866-306-4636. The next time you are walking home from a great night at the bar or chilling out by the skate park enjoying the view and working on a painting and you get jumped by people that do not belong here call CBC, 1-866-306-4636. And finally, the next time you go look at a house and the landlord asks for six months rent up front as well as a damage deposit call CBC, 1-866-306-4636.

If we all just sit around and think about change and do nothing about it we have no one to blame but ourselves. The Flaming Lips have said it best: "You cannot know yourself or what you would really do with all your power." We all have the power, that feeling you experience in the pit of your stomach when you see or hear of a choice that has a negative effect on all of us, that is your power.

Paul Rowe

Whistler

Negative daycare decisions

It is shameful how the board of directors for MY Place Society handled the closure announcement of Teddy Bear Daycare, March 17 th . This is a community daycare (non-profit?) and the MY Place Society looks to this community for contributions and donations. A financial report has been requested on numerous occasions and still has not been produced and the board members did not want their names released publicly.

After the closure announcement was made, the board of directors was not available to meet until April 10 th .  I guess that "Close a daycare and get out of town fast" is this board's policy.

When there was finally a meeting, the parents were very frustrated, still no financial report! There was discussion of a third party operator taking over Teddy Bear daycare. The chair of the board, Sue Adams, indicated a third party operator was a possibility, but the Resort Municipality of Whistler would make the decision on who was operating in that space. The Resort Municipality of Whistler has since said, at a council meeting, they would not make this decision, so why was this said? Are we being lied to?

The decisions this board of directors is making, are negatively affecting this community. How are we to attract or retain employees in this community, without adequate affordable daycare? There has been no request for money, only the opportunity to keep the doors of Teddy Bear daycare open for working parents of this community.

Jennifer James

Whistler

RIP Murray

Re: Conservation officers destroy black bear (Pique online June 3)

It is so sad to hear of yet another bear that became accustomed to entering homes. One cannot help but wonder about this specific home that the bear tried to enter more than once. We need to work harder at keeping bear attractants to a zero tolerance level.

RIP Murray.

E.A. Berezowsky

Whistler

Another Zero Ceiling success

On May 24 th it was my privilege to host a neighbourhood charity yard sale with proceeds benefiting Zero Ceiling. On behalf of the organization and our participants, I am thrilled to announce that just over $1,000 was raised for the cause.

For the past 10 years, Zero Ceiling has helped many youth overcome the challenges of living on the streets and provided a better environment for growth and opportunity here in Whistler.

I would like to send a huge thanks to all those Tapley’s Farm residents who donated items for the sale. Your enthusiasm and support was a breath of fresh air.

A special thanks also goes out to the Edwards and Chiasson households for helping to hold down the fort, as well as the conference centre for donating clothing racks and tables.

I would encourage anyone with a cause they believe in to hold an event such as this one. It was a fantastic way to get out and meet your neighbours and build a rewarding sense of community at the same time.

Glenn Mishaw

Zero Ceiling board member

RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate

Making the connection…

I found it a sad irony to read Environment Minister Barry Penner quoted as saying, “I’m concerned about an increasing urban disconnect from nature,” in Wednesday’s front page headline article in The Vancouver Sun. Was it not his ministry which axed the interpretative program for B.C. Parks? Could it be his ministry which operates B.C. Parks on a shoestring budget? (Provincial parks account for almost 14 per cent of B.C.’s land area, yet the B.C. Parks budget is approximately 0.1 per cent of the total provincial budget.)

Personally, I’m concerned about an increasing government disconnect from B.C. Parks.

Mark Grist

North Vancouver

Fantastic Friends

Once again, the Friends of the Whistler Public Library have pulled off another win/win event! The used book sale has become one very positive part of the May long weekend in our community and this one was no exception!

The Friends, headed by the indefatigable Jane Reid and Mo Richmond, gathered their forces and the sorting began — all the donated books end up in Jane’s garage and believe me when I tell you that there is little room for anything else in there! Following the sorting, the books are transported to the front of the MarketPlace IGA — many thanks to the IGA for the space — and once in place the sale begins! Volunteers take shifts and the donation jar starts to fill and an amazing community event is in full swing!

This year the Friends will be organizing two used book sales; this one is to benefit the Whistler Public Library, and the second one in the Fall will benefit our school libraries. On behalf of the Whistler Public Library staff and board of Trustees, I cannot thank the Friends enough for their continued efforts on behalf of the Library and our community.

Thank you so much, you really do make a difference!

Alix Nicoll

Chair, Whistler Public Library Board of Trustees

Until next year

From humble beginnings at Myrtle Philip school five years ago the one-day Whistler Wellness Fair has grown into an annual event with a unique flavour each year. The one thing that remains constant is the co-operation and help that goes into it.

So, to Mark at TW, Aryn and crew at lululemon, Kerri and Lynn from Every Woman in The World, Glenn from Whistler Wellness, Bruce and all at Nesters, and our wonderful volunteers — thanks again for all your help last Sunday!

See you at the fair next year!

Roxanne Chappell

Mind Body Fitness

A group effort

The B.C. School Sports Provincial A Sr. Girls Soccer Championships is now over and the soccer players from 16 different communities are now home thinking about the great soccer that was played here in Whistler from May 29th to June 1st. This tournament would not have been the success it was without the support of many. I would like them to be recognized and they are:

1. Mother nature — wow what a showing of sun and blue sky. You provided just the touch we needed to make everyone feel on top of the world.

2. Business who gave generously — Nesters Grocery Store, Coast Mountain Photography, Insight Photography/Whistler Life, Whistler Cooks, Slopeside Supply, Toad Hall Studios, Rick Claire - Whistler 1 Hour Photo, Great Games and Toys, Infinity Sports, Sports Stop, Spaghetti Factory, OPA Greek Foods, Rogers’ Chocolate, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Mountain Blooms, and The Longhorn.

3. Individuals who gave so much of their time — Peter Train (Athletic Director Whistler Secondary), Kerry and John Benbow, Kathy and Ben Podborski, Rod and Broderick Thompson, Steve and Matt Bayly, Scott Carrell, Sandy and Andrea Flynn, Heromi, Tsuboto, Sue Baradel, Bob Baker, Andrew Griffith, Geoff Jansen, Shannon Smith, Helen Roy, Mike Kirkegaard, Michelle Crowe, Lorraine Faucett-Grills, and all the assistant referees who made every game professional.

4. Our local papers who came to the field and covered the tournament. Your presence always indicates to the competitors that they are at a very special event.

Finally, my words of thanks would not be complete without making special mention of Andrea Bayly. She immediately volunteered to support me and without knowing it became a very important conduit to the success of this tournament. Thank you Andrea!

Andrée Janyk

Whistler