Ethels’ deadline approaching
Deadline for nominations for The Richmond Review’s eighth annual Ethel Tibbits Women of the Year Awards is fast approaching.
Nominations for women in sports, business, arts and community service is next Wednesday.
The “Ethels“ are an annual celebration of Richmond women and their contributions to the community.
Winners will be announced at a luncheon on March 7, from 11:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Executive Inn.
Send nominations to The Richmond Review, #140-5671 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, B.C., V6X 2C7, or fax to 606-8763 or e-mail to etheltibbits@richmondreview.com.
Drain cleaner burns passengers
A woman suffered serious burns to her face while another suffered leg burns when a bottle of corrosive drain cleaner spilled from an overhead baggage compartment aboard an airplane Sunday night.
Richmond Fire-Rescue’s Rick Stene said the incident occurred aboard a Canadian Regional Airline flight that had arrived in Vancouver from Prince George around 9:30 p.m.
The industrial strength drain cleaner Zonk spilled as baggage was being unloaded following the aircraft’s touchdown at Vancouver International Airport. Zonk is 85 per cent sulphuric acid.
When fire crews arrived, they found a gel-like substance spread on several seats, on the floor and inside the baggage compartment. The substance was neutralized with potash.
Both burn victims were taken to hospital, along with four members of the flight crew who had inhaled fumes.
Transportation of the drain cleaner is restricted aboard airplanes without the proper licences. Crown counsel Jaana Hyman said transporting restricted items customarily carries a fine of $7,000.
In coming months there are a couple of cases scheduled to appear in court involving the transportation of restricted items aboard airplanes, including a motorbike which had gas still in the tank.
Real estate gains posted last month
Richmond’s housing market posted a strong turnover last month, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.
While total units sold across the region continue to be modest, the local market posted increases by category of between 48 and 122 per cent over the same month last year.
Sales in the Lower Mainland also posted significant gains, averaging 29 per cent higher.
Locally, sales of attached units jumped from 23 to 51 this year, with strong results as well for detached (up to 59 from 37) and apartments (up to 52 from 33).
Richmond ranked at or near the top in all three categories.
Real Estate Board president BIll Phillips said the numbers point to a rise in consumer confidence, due to a continued decline in interest rates and the expectation of a provincial election in the near future.
Art lovers wanted to sweeten the bid
This weekend may be a great time to buy either yourself, or your sweetheart, some sweet art.
Dozens of local artists have donated artwork to the Richmond Art Gallery Association, who will be holding its annual fundraiser, the Sweetart Art Auction, Saturday night.
Included in the collection will be hand-painted fans, paintings, prints and ceramics. Keeping in the spirit of the occasion, artist Loraine Wellman has donated a heart-shaped, hand-painted box.
The Gallery Association is a non-profit organization that requires about $50,000 yearly to run its activities. The city of Richmond provides the gallery space, and also hires the curator and programmer. But the association provides all other staff, educational programming and promotional materials.
The association generates money through grants, sponsorships, donations and special events such as this weekend’s auction.
Local musician Robyn Newman will be on hand Saturday night to provide entertainment, and numerous local sponsors have donated prizes to be given away.
Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be David Newman, vice-president of operations for Rogers Video.
Previewing dates will be Thursday and Friday (Feb. 8 and 9) from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and all day Saturday leading up to the auction.
The auction starts at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 10 at Richmond Art Gallery (7700 Minoru Gate).
Day coming to Richmond
Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day will be the keynote speaker at a Lunar New Year’s Dinner in Richmond Thursday.
Day, the Opposition leader, will speak at New Castle Seafood Restaurant (150-11700 Cambie St.).
A significant number of representatives from the Lower Mainland Asian community will be in attendance.
The dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.
For ticket information, call Peter Shuley at 684-4700.
Local senior still missing
A helicopter search of the waters around Richmond turned up no evidence of a missing 84-year-old woman who was last seen Jan. 20.
Hilda Ruby was last seen by her family when she dropped off her niece at her Vancouver home near 49th Avenue and Chester Street.
Richmond RCMP Const. Peter Thiessen said Wednesday afternoon’s helicopter search turned up nothing.
Thiessen was one of the officers who took to the skies in the search, and said they were looking for any sign of the dark red 1986 Oldsmobile Calais four door sedan she was driving. The car bears the B.C. licence plate number NAD-164.
So far, tips to police haven’t led to anything substantial.
Ruby was last seen wearing an oatmeal-coloured fleece jacket with a collar, light maroon jogging pants, a blouse and flat shoes.
She stands about five feet tall and weighs about 110 pounds. She also uses a walker.
Anyone with information about Ruby’s whereabouts is asked to call the Richmond RCMP at 278-1212.
10 Richmond firms heading for China
Delegates from nearly a dozen Richmond firms will be among more than 100 from B.C. that are heading for China this month as part of Team Canada’s trade mission.
This is the largest contigent of delegates from B.C. to go on a Team Canada trade mission.
The trade team will be heading for Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong on Feb. 9 and is slated to return on Feb. 18.
Richmond firms taking part in the trip are: Tri-Star Seafood Supply Ltd., T.Z.F. International Herbs Investment Inc., Radarsat International, Northstar Trade Finance Inc., McDonald International Technology Centre Inc., Jie Li International Environmental Technologies Group Ltd., Canada China Business Association, Canada Control Equipment Inc., Canada Fei Cui International Industrial Group Ltd. and Vancouver International Airport Authority.
Sex offender released again
Convicted sex offender Samuel James Waller is a free man.
The 64-year-old, who resembles Santa with his full white beard, was sentenced last week to four months in jail for violating one of the 18 conditions of his probation.
But because he’s been in police custody since his Dec. 1 arrest, he received credit for twice his time in custody and was released.
Waller was in Vancouver Provincial Court where he pleaded guilty Friday to breaching his recognizance by walking by a Vancouver park and watching children playing.
In November, Richmond RCMP took the unusual step of warning residents that Waller expressed an interest in moving to the Steveston area.
Police would not say if Waller still plans to move here.
Driver fined a penny by court
A 69-year-old Richmond man was convicted of driving without a proper licence under the Motor Vehicle Act.
What was newsworthy was the price he had to pay.
Judge Ron Fratkin fined Keith R.B. Travers one cent in Richmond Provincial Court.
According to the Crown, Travers had been pulled over by police and did not have a proper driver’s licence.
He apparently had failed to obtain the proper medical clearance to retain his licence and had been prohibited from driving.
Fratkin said the exceptional circumstances of the case—including the fact Travers was an exceptionally good person and had no record of a driving infraction and that his prohibition was the result of an administrative process—justified the notably low fine.
Thumb’s down for Throne Speech: MP
Canadian Alliance MP Joe Peschisolido wasn’t impressed with what he heard at his first Throne Speech Tuesday in Ottawa.
The Richmond MP, elected in last November’s federal election, made his debut in the House of Commons this week.
The Throne Speech outlines the federal Liberal government’s priorities and goals for the 37th Parliament.
Peschisolido said the speech did not address issues of importance to Richmond.
“Cutting taxes, bringing in a budget to deal with a possible recession, stable health care funding and a justice system that works,” he said. “It is clear to me that this government has no idea what people actually want. They may well as be in Wonderland.”
Peschisolido was also disappointed the government made no mention of a budget for February.
“Since the mini-budget in October, economic forecasts have taken a turn for the worse. We need a new budget to deal with the new realities of the economy.”
Music of Vienna waltzes into town
The Richmond Orchestra will be creating the sounds that floated along the banks of the “Blue Danube” in the 18th and 19th Century, at a concert Feb. 10.
Vienna on the Fraser features the works of many of the composers who gravitated to the Austrian city in a golden age of classical music.
“Everyone seemed to end up in Vienna,” Christopher Robertson, the orchestra’s principal conductor, said.
Among the composers that sought out the wealthy patrons along the Danube River were Mozart, Strauss, and Liszt.
The concert next week will feature the talents of James Lee, winner of the Most Promising Performer Award at the second annual Richmond Music Festival; harpist Josephine Lee from Richmond Community Music School; and flautist Lynne Piening, past performer with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Josephine Lee and Piening will bring their talents into sharp relief during the Flute and Harp Concerto, written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791).
“It’s very ethereal,” Robertson said. “You can walk out the door whistling the tunes.”
The piece includes a pair of oboes and horns, in addition to the strings.
“The results are magnificent, to say the least.”
The 40-member orchestra will also perform the Thunder and Lightning Polka and The Emperor Waltz, which is, according to Robertson, “one of the most beautiful waltzes that Johann Strauss Jr. (1825-1899) wrote.”
The concert also includes Strauss’ Blue Danube waltz (featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey), and Rogers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music.
The performance will be 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10 at Richmond Alliance Church (11371 No. 3 Rd.). For tickets call 276-2747.
Writer coming to Kwantlen
Noted author Morris Panych will read from his work at 4 p.m. Feb. 19 at Kwantlen University College’s Richmond Campus (8771 Lansdowne Rd.).
Panych is active in theatre as a writer, director and actor.
He has won a Governor General’s Award for drama and numerous Jessies.
Author to read from thriller
Author Robert Hadley will be reading from his new book Bad Press at Chapters in Richmond Feb. 22.
Published by Turnstone Press, the thriller follows the action from the streets of London to a green protest on the high seas, to the bedroom of a seductive knife-wielding corporate lawyer.
It’s all in a day’s work for Steve Sinclair, a press photographer who stumbles from one disaster to another.
The reading takes place at 7:30 p.m.
Foundation raises $3,100 for hospital
The Richmond Hospital Foundation was the recipient of some good fortune as a result of Aberdeen Centre’s Chinese New Year Casino fundraising event.
Three casino booths—staffed by community volunteers—raised $3,100 for the hospital foundation last weekend. The money has been designated to surgical equipment. Richmond Hospital Foundation raises funds to purchase equipment for Richmond Hospital.
Join the ‘Walking School Bus’
Children at Ferris Elementary are putting their feet to work as part of the new, “Walking School Bus” program launched there earlier this month.
The “bus,” which is part of the “Way to Go” Program sponsored by ICBC, started its first route on Moffat Road, between Granville and Blundell. Students, along with a parent “bus” driver, started out at 8:25 a.m., stopping at the designated stops and arriving at the school well before the bell rang.
At 3 p.m., students and driver met at a designated spot at the school and headed home.
The purpose of the program is to make it safe for children to walk to and from school, assist parents, cut down on automobile traffic around the school, and provide a healthy activity for students. The school has started the “school bus” for Wednesdays only, so far, but hopes to make it a daily routine, and add more routes to the school.
Ferris parents interested in assisting as a walking parent should call Deborah Mok at 232-4516.
Girls’ outreach project planned
Richmond Women’s Resource Centre is holding an information session Feb. 7 for the Girls’ Outreach and Action Project.
The project is aimed at girls interested in: talking with other girls about things important to them; learning more about violence against girls and women, and what to do about it; helping other girls learn about the signs of an unhealthy relationship; and having fun.
The session will be held at 110-7000 Minoru Boulevard (Caring Place) from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
For more information, call Amber at 570-0408.
Magnificent seven earn recognition
Richmond school board has recognized the accomplishments of McMath Secondary’s junior girls volleyball team for its undefeated season and provincial championship title.
Led by coaches Lee, Scott and Melissa Carroll, the team comprised just seven members, including provincial tournament most valuable player Ashley Greig, all-star team selections Bev Woytowich and Breanne Watson along with Gillian Cooper, Amanda Ovenden, Karen Tennant, Bev Wong.
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