Issue #08   April 15, 02

Dear editor,
I  hope you can use this, I've been carrying  the "Dear Trucks/Cars" letter since you published it.
               -postmarked Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear Cars,
    We read your letter and we appreciate your concerns about our size and power.  Although most of us trucks try to be civilized while sharing our highways with you, we realize there are a few out there that also give us a bad name.  
    But, dear cars, some of you also frighten us!  You pass on double solid lines, on corners, in tunnels or wherever you please.  You'll get ahead of us just to slow down when you realize you cannot see with us behind you.  Maybe you do not know the road, sometimes we don't either but our visibility is better as we are higher up off the road. Try following us for a while, maybe you will feel a little more secure??
    And please, dear cars, we leave room between us and the traffic ahead so that we have a safe stopping distance, not so that you and ten of your car friends can cut in front of us.  REMEMBER, We cannot stop on a dime, we have more brakes because we carry more weight and it takes us longer to stop.   All of us, cars and trucks alike, need to work together to make our highways safe for each other. Behind the wheel of each truck is just another ordinary person with families and loved ones waiting for them.  A little road courtesy on everyone's behalf  would make sure we all get there safely.
                                        -Sincerely, Trucks

Friends...

    Friends are people you can count on to back you up and support you when you are in trouble.  They don't think less of you because you need help.  They understand when you slip from your standards and help you get back on your feet.  They see you in your strengths and weaknesses only for who you actually are.  Friends give you an honest opinion.  You depend on them to keep your secrets, and their promises.  They are the people you spend your time with, and know.  Good friends listen and care.  They help you learn about yourself, set your boundaries, and hold on to your morals.  They help you define your dreams and achieve your goals.  They are the people you care about.
    I'm leaving now, to make my own way in the world starting in Colorado, but I want you to know that I'm grateful.  I'm grateful to every one of you who have been my friend.  Thank you.
                                 - Sarah Baughman-

No. 1                               An Introduction                  W.(Bill) Young

    First, let me introduce myself.  My name is Bill Young and I lived in North Bend from 1926 to 1938.  Being born in 1926, I am now at the age where I find it difficult to remember what I did two days ago.  Yet, I can vividly recall events, names, locations and the like associated with my younger years- especially those of the 1930's in North Bend.
    Thus, the owner of  "The Fraser Canyon Express" accepted my offer to put pen to paper and write some periodic articles describing my youthful recollections of growing up in North Bend in the 1930's.
    My father, also a Bill Young, had emigrated from Scotland prior to World War One.  He started work with the Canadian Pacific Railway- working out of Revelstoke and Field as a fireman.  Later, he began working as a brakeman out of North Bend.
    Although my parents knew each other back in Scotland and my father had returned to "The Old Country" on a couple of visits (including with the Canadian Army during WW1), I imagine their courtship must have been primarily by letter.
    Nevertheless, the year 1924 saw my mother leave her hometown of Kelty in Fifeshire and begin her long trip to Canada.  Landing in Montreal, she was met by my father and they were married in that city on Sept. 7th, 1924.  Thus, the honeymoon consisted of a long train trip across Canada.  Destination: North Bend BC, where a new home was awaiting her.  More about the new North Bend house in my next " Recollection"

("North Bend Recollections" will appear in one Issue every month)

    It is well known that to plan anything successfully for youth, they really need to be involved in the planning and organization of the  project.  Then, we know that they are getting something they really want, and we know that they will attend the event.  With the intent of pursuing government funds, specifically earmarked for youth programs, a questionnaire went to the  Boston Bar School.  
These were the questions;

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What activities/programs/clubs would you like to see become available in our community?

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What special event would you like to see occur?

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Would you be interested in a specific visitor to our town? ( i.e. guest speaker, a poet, an entertainer, an author)if yes, who would you like to see?

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Would you like to be a volunteer in the  planning, organizing, running of a youth event or program?

 

This is what we learned , our kids want SPORTS!  SPORTS! SPORTS! , even the students who asked for Dairy Queens and shopping malls wanted sports.  How about a Sports Day? or a BMX bike track? or maybe even a sports figure to pay us a visit.  If you have ideas or would like to help organize an event, volunteer your time, or put together a team, give The Fraser Canyon Express a call, 604-867-9094.  Parents, you won't have to do it alone, The Enhancement Society will help find funding and lots of kids said they would happy to help, this is your chance to give the kids a gift they will truly appreciate.

   In the event of an emergency, do you think emergency vehicles could easily find your home? "There are a lot of new people in town driving the ambulances", says Howard Johnson.  Driving around the neighbourhoods, he noticed  that many homes and streets are not clearly marked.  If your street has no sign, you should contact the Regional District to post one.
"Your house number should be permanently marked and easy to see from the street", says Howard, "black electrical tape just doesn`t do it".  Look on your property tax notice for your house number, look in the phone book or call the Regional District office for more info.  Your life could depend on it.



   We have all heard horror stories of identity- theft, and credit fraud, but there are ways to protect yourself.
Anything you can do to minimize the damage if you ever lose your ID, or have it stolen, is well worth your time. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card, etc., you will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. As everyone always advises, cancel your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). Call credit-reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on  your  name and  SS#.  The  alert  means  any company   that  checks  your  credit knows  your
information was  stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.