Urban renewal

Pinegrove on fix-up
list? p8 Fraser River gives sockeye gift. p3
Family farm,

THE NEWS
www.mapleridgenews.com Friday, August 13, 2010 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · 50¢
in Greece
Olive oil almost
medicine
p35

Guard
worries
about
migrants
Arrival of 200
refugees will strain
system, says union
by C h r i sti n e Lyon
contributor

While two already

crowded Maple Ridge
prisons are preparing
to house up to 200 Tam-
il asylum seekers, the
union that represents
prison guards in B.C. is
worrying the influx will
endanger its employees
– and the refugees.
A Thai cargo ship,
the MV Sun Sea, was
expected to dock in
Victoria this week, and
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS the Sri Lankan passen-
gers onboard were to
Music on the wharf be moved to the Fraser
Langley’s The Hot Moonbeams, with Dan Edwards, David Kandal and Nick and Tim Ubels, perform in third installment of the 14th annual Music on the Wharf concert series Regional Correctional
Centre and the Alouette
at the Port Haney Wharf, Monday. The final concert is Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. and features The Creole Jazz Band.
Correctional Centre for
Women, for two to four
months of processing.

Man dragged into jail cell

Monisha Martins/THE NEWS
Karen Young, wife of Ian Young, and
lawyer Cameron Ward at Burnaby court.
Inquest: Paramedics said Ian
Young needed monitoring
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s
staff reporter
A man who died after spending a
night in the Maple Ridge drunk tank
was dragged into the concrete cell
on a blanket.
Sgt. Roland Pierschke and a jail
guard got no assistance from Ian Al-
exander Young as they lugged him
down a corridor.
“He appeared to be sleepy and in-
toxicated,” Const. Jodi Lymburner
told an inquest investigating Young’s
death on Wednesday.
“He grumbled responses when he
was moved.”
Young was taken into custody by
Lymburner on Oct. 17, 2008 after
a passerby found him lying on the
side of the road in Hammond, seem-
“The government’s
acknowledged that the
B.C. jails are overcrowd-
ed, including the two in
Maple Ridge, and oper-
ating at close to 200 per
cent above capacity,”
ingly intoxicated. Young had been said Dean Purdy.
drinking at the By Bailey Pub before See Refugees, p4
he was found.
Almost eight hours later, during
regular cell checks at Ridge Mead-
ows RCMP detachment, officers
found the man breathing, but non-
responsive.
The 55-year-old was transported
to Ridge Meadows Hospital, where
doctors determined he needed med- Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
ical intervention. Portable shelters un-
See Inquest, p14 loaded at FRCC, Wed.

Index
Opinion 6
Letters 7
Acts of Faith 15
Parenting 19
Home&gardening 21
Business 35
Scoreboard 40
The return of the sockeye, 2010
Tuesday saw the first
commercial sockeye opening
on the Fraser River since 2006
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f
staff reporter

Gillnetters lined the Fraser River

Tuesday afternoon as fisherman
jostled for position to take advan-
tage of a rare opening in the com-
mercial sockeye salmon fishery.
The opening was brief, from 2
p.m. to 5 p.m., but it marked the
first time in nearly four years the
river has been open to commercial
sockeye fishing.
“It’s better than nothing I sup- Fishing boats race back up the Fraser River to cast their nets a second time. Weighing the catch.
pose,” says John Puska. He began
fishing on the river in the 1960s, but
gave it up more than 10 years ago.
Now his son and nephew fish the
waters, though more infrequently
then they would like.
Puska was down at the Kanaka
Creek government dock taking in
the action Tuesday, as more than
a dozen gill-netters were lined up
waiting to off load their catch.
“It’s nothing like it used to be,
that’s for sure,” says Puska, shak-
ing his head.
The boats were on the water just
after noon, as Mission in anticipa-
tion of the opening.
When the clock struck two, the
boats sunk their nets and drifted
down river with the outgoing tide,
as the salmon passed beneath,
heading in the opposite direction.
The consensus on the dock was
that the salmon run seemed strong.
Recent rains have helped call the
fish home, Puska explains.
“The rains fill the creeks and
rivers and that flows down to the
ocean,” he says.
“They follow that scent up and
that’s how the find their way to
their spawning beds.” On ice, and ready for the barbecue.
As strong as the run might be,
three hours of fishing isn’t enough
to make a living on the water, says
Puska’s son Dylan.
“You need to diversify, it’s the
only way to survive,” he says. Most
of the year, the Fraser fleet sits
idle, awaiting the intermittent com-
mercial openings.
“I’ve never fished like this be-
fore,” he said. “It’s pretty crazy.”
The demise of the commercial
fishery on the Pacific Coast and the
shift towards fish farming has also
impacted other industries, namely
boat building.
See Fishing, p38

MR
NEWS Online Colleen Flanagan photos
Kevin Farley loads up a bin with sockeye to be weighed and then to be packed in ice on a barge, Tuesday, Next in line to off load the day’s catch.
For video, visit
www.mapleridgenews.com as Grant Baker supervises. Commercial fishermen had a three-hour sockeye salmon opening, the first
since 2006, and did their best to take full advantage.
Corrections won’t give capacity
plete in 2011. A new prisons told the District somewhere in the prov-
Fraser Regional has 104-cell secure wing of Maple Ridge last ince or social services,”
457 inmates at Alouette women’s week they were prepar- said Purdy.
prison should be done ing for 100 men and 80 Meanwhile, Vancou-
Refugees from Front by next year. women. ver-based immigrant
Purdy is chair of the The province has al- But the Canadian and refugee rights
corrections and sher- ready added 150 beds Tamil Congress, a non- group No One Is Illegal
iffs services component in portable buildings in profit organization that is worried about the
of the B.C. Government Maple Ridge and Kam- represents Tamil Cana- health and safety of the
and Service Employees’ loops, and 24 perma- dians, is expecting chil- Tamil refugees if they
Union. nent beds at Alouette. dren as well. are housed in crowded
“Our concern is not There are currently “We do know that prisons.
only for the corrections 457 inmates in custody there are families on Spokesperson Harsha
officers that have to at Fraser Regional and board,” said congress Walia has been in contact
work in these conditions, 117 at Alouette. spokesperson Manjula with Tamil men detained
but also for the commu- But Corrections Selvarajah. at Fraser Regional in
nities with prisons. wouldn’t give the actual That makes this situ- October who described
“Increasing a jail with capacity of each prison. ation different from a “incredibly overcrowded”
an additional 200 or 300 However, Purdy said case in October, when a conditions.
inmates can turn an al- Fraser Regional was boatload of 76 male Sri “Some expressed that
ready pressure-cooker built to house 254 peo- Lankan asylum seek- they were treated with
situation into turmoil,” ple, and there is now ers arrived in Maple intimidation, they were
he said. just one prison guard Ridge. They were taken taunted, that they were
The B.C. Corrections for every 40 inmates. into custody onboard denied access to legal
branch wouldn’t com- “To add an additional the Ocean Lady ship aid, they weren’t told
ment on the prison’s two or three hundred and housed at Fraser what the process was,”
capacity but only said is going to increase the Regional. B.C. Correc- Walia said.
by e-mail that there is stress and agitation lev- tions, which operates “None of them under-
a $185-million capital els within the jails.” nine correctional cen- stood why they were
plan for prison expan- He said refugees could tres in the province, is incarcerated.”
sion across B.C. have been processed at typically responsible Walia said passengers
It said that 14 projects the Vancouver Island for adults and not kids. aboard the MV Sun Sea
totalling $17.3 million Correctional Centre “If there is children have likely come from
are underway at Fraser then moved to Maple onboard they could refugee camps and
Regional and Alouette, Ridge. possibly be placed into have had an arduous
which should be com- Wardens from the two youth detention centres journey.
RCMP assault trial concludes, judgment in Sept.
Constable charged
after man punched
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s
staff reporter
A trial for a Mountie
accused of punching
a handcuffed suspect
in Maple Ridge ended
Wednesday with a spe-
cial prosecutor asking
the judge to consider
the circumstances at
the time the smack was
delivered.
In her closing argu-
ments, Andrea Spence
said the officer’s deci-
sion to punch Matthew
Gregg had serious con- apartment to a domes-
sequences to his teeth. tic dispute.
“We all saw he wore The court heard
dentures,” Spence told Gregg was punched
the court. while handcuffed, his
Const. Ed Fox is ac- upper body bent over
cused of using exces- the trunk of a police
sive force while taking car. He did not file a
Gregg into custody for complaint with police
causing a disturbance until six months after
on Sept. 13, 2006 outside the incident.
the Villa Torni Apart- Police accused Gregg
ments on 222nd Street. of resisting arrest and
Fox was charged with kicking at their legs,
assault causing bodily aiming for their knees.
harm, 28 months af- “If your honour ac-
ter the arrest, after a cepts the accused ver-
RCMP internal investi- sion of events, you will
gation. likely have reasonable
The court heard doubt in this case,”
Fox and Const. Aaron Spence said.
Lloyd were called to the “Mr. Gregg denied
to tell the cops to stop,
he was punched.
“If your honour “What is not in dis-
accepts the pute is that Mr. Gregg
was punched,” Spence
accused’s version, said.
you will likely “What is key is what
happened in the sec-
have reasonable onds before. It is sig-
doubt …” nificant that Const. Fox
has testified. Are you
Andrea Spence prepared to reject his
Crown prosecutor version of events and …
can you accept the evi-
dence of Mr. Gregg?”
kicking at Const. Fox.” The officer’s lawyer,
Gregg, who has an ex- Jack Harris made a
tensive criminal record, succinct summation,
claimed it was he who telling Judge Pedro De
was being kicked by po- Couto: “I agree.”
lice. He told the court, De Couto will deliver
when he turned around a judgment Sept. 30.
THE NEWS/opinion Published and printed by Black Press at 22328 – 119th Avenue, Maple Ridge, B.C., V2X 2Z3

News Views Ingrid Rice

Refugee claimants
don’t belong in jail
C
anada’s refugee and immigration system
is again being tested with the latest ar-
rival of refugees from Sri Lanka.
Do some have ties to the outlawed Tamil Ti-
gers? Possibly.
Are some refugee claims bogus and some justi-
fied? Possibly.
It’s Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s job to
sort them out and decide who can stay and who can’t.
Under the previous system, the claims dragged out
so long, claiming refugee status was a free pass into
Canada, while thousands of immigrants followed the
rules and waited their turn.
Thankfully, the Conservatives have reformed
the system which will soon make it possible to
speed up decisions on refugee claims.
But that’s just one change the federal govern-
ment has to make.
Another is to find a new location to house these
claimants.
They shouldn’t be locked up with criminals in
Maple Ridge’s Fraser Regional Correctional Cen-
tre and Alouette Correctional Centre for Women.
These places are already jam packed. Putting
newcomers with already discontented prisoners
is not fair to either side. Instead, a secure loca-
tion, outside the prison system, is needed.
Presumably, Ottawa, not B.C. taxpayers, is pay-
ing the cost for accommodating these people into

RCMP tradition: never apologize

these crowded joints.
But we don’t know that – because Ottawa says
virtually nothing about the case.
What also has to change is the Stalinist manner
in which the federal government treats such cases.
The lack of information and accountability makes
you wonder if the refugees chose the right country. No choice but to close the bridge? It One, or at most two, lanes would be from shouting out comments.
– The News took RCMP media relations officer Sgt. quite adequate to ensure the safety of all Also, would Sgt. Thiessen please point
Tell us what you think @ www.mapleridgenews.com Peter Thiessen a full page (The News, personnel at the scene. out where the easy alternatives to the
Aug. 4) to not answer I am not quite sure what a high-angle bridge are?
that question. rescue team is, but since our suicidal I would be happy to learn about them

THE NEWS
Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows since 1978
Of course, it is a
time-tested technique
to answer a ques-
tion with another
man was capable of scaling the suicide
prevention barrier and had the physical
strength to keep the crisis negotiating
team at bay for more than five hours on
and so would numerous other people
getting across the Fraser River cheap
and easy.
Sgt. Thiessen is correct that a serious
question when you the outside, he obviously did not need fatal crash often warrants a road closure
Jim Coulter, publisher
publisher@mapleridgenews.com really do not want to such a team. to properly collect all relevant informa-
Michael Hall, editor provide a clear and He provided further proof of that by tion, but that is sidestepping the actions
editor@mapleridgenews.com direct answer or be getting back on the sidewalk on his own in this case.
Carly Ferguson, advertising, creative services manager held accountable for after discussing the matter with the There was no major crash with fatali-
admanager@mapleridgenews.com
Joan Griffith, circulation manager your actions. crisis intervention team. ties or severely injured.
circulation@mapleridgenews.com Let me first an- Health Care Even if he had required physical assis- He was dealing with a person who
swer Sgt. Thiessen’s Marco Terwiel tance, I surmise that the high-angle team considered committing suicide and then
Editorial return question of would be capable to do what a helicopter decided that this is not what he wanted
Reporters: Phil Melnychuk, Monisha Martins,
Robert Mangelsdorf what I and most team would be able to do; then why the to do.
Photographer: Colleen Flanagan other people expect the police to do in expensive duplication? That change of mind becomes a cry
an emergency situation: use their brains Furthermore, I wonder about the for help and often creates a set of
Advertising and sensibly apply the knowledge and following: If Sgt. Thiessen was keen to circumstances that will provide him
Sales representatives: Karen Derosia, Glenda Dressler, Rina Varley,
Michelle Baniulis skills they have acquired. provide peace and quiet, why summon or her with the help they need to get
Ad control: Mel Onodi On both counts, Sgt. Thiessen failed a noisy helicopter buzzing overhead? through the crisis situation and hope-
Creative services: Kristine Pierlot, Cary Blackburn and he followed the current RCMP Also, was Sgt. Thiessen aware of the fully beyond.
Annette WaterBeek, Chris Hussey tradition to never acknowledge that you normal traffic volume on the Golden The initial help was provided success-
Classified: Vicki Milne
could have done better, unless forced by Ears Bridge? fully, but the same would have been
22328 – 119th Avenue, overwhelming public opinion. And even I have crossed a good many times accomplished without Sgt. Thiessen
Maple Ridge, B.C., then, any apology rarely comes across as and each time it was a pure joy to have going berserk with, on the one hand,
V2X 2Z3 genuine. to share the bridge with so few fellow mobilizing all kinds of unneeded
Office: 604-467-1122
Fax: 604-463-4741 Sgt. Thiessen is rightly concerned motorists. resources, and on the other hand
Delivery: 604-466-6397 about the safety of his own and fellow of- Therefore, the large volume of traffic immobilizing countless citizens who
Website: www.mapleridgenews.com ficers, but are police officers really that was purely a figment of the sergeant’s have better things to do than suffer the
Email: newsroom@mapleridgenews.com huge that it takes the closure of six lanes imagination. consequences of this blatant case of
The News is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self- to keep the officers safe? Additionally, keeping four lanes open RCMP overkill.
regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The coun- I know that some are quite overweight, and shielding the troubled man from
cil considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member
newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input but I have never seen one that big to public view with emergency vehicles Dr. Marco Terwiel is a retired family
from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the require that much room. would have prevented the odd moron physician who lives in Maple Ridge.
editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or
story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written

Q
concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201
Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or
go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.
uestion Should smoking be banned from all public This week’s question:
CCAB audited circulation: (as of September 2009):
Wednesday - 30,221; Friday – 30,197.
of the spaces, including parks? Should the refugees from Sri Lanka be granted
week: Yes: 67% – No: 32% (53 votes) asylum in Canada?
@ Online poll: cast your vote at www.mapleridgenews.com, or e-mail your vote and comments to editor@mapleridgenews.com
THE NEWS/letters
Thanks for accurate Why not send ship on its way?
account of dog bite
EDITOR, THE NEWS:
I am writing to you in regards to your article “Dog eu-
thanized after Maple Ridge girl attacked” (The News,
Aug. 11)
I would like to commend you for such a refreshing, well
written article. It was nice to read an article with the
words “pit bull” in it that wasn’t sensationalized.
As a responsible owner of an American pit bull terrier,
I really appreciate level-headed reporting.
KAYTE LAWRENCE
COQUITLAM
Responsible ownership
EDITOR, THE NEWS:
Thank you for respecting responsible ownership. I am a
responsible owner of two beautiful pit bulls and it breaks
my heart to hear of any dog attacks, but it really bothers
me when media refers to the incident as “Pit bull attacks
… insert terrible story here.”
This morning on my way to work, that is exactly what I
had heard on a number of radio stations. I want to com-
mend you for setting the record straight in your article MV Sun Sea is now in Canadian waters.
while still giving the news.
I can’t thank you enough.
LORI WEST
VANCOUVER
The Pickton murders: Don’t look away
What’s it like to sit
chat@www.mapleridgenews.com a few inches away
from a serial killer?
It wasn’t a pit bull that attacked In 2007, I covered
From: emily priestley, posted on www.mapleridgenews.com. the Robert William
Pickton trial for
Black Press. The
As the article clearly states, this dog was not a pit bull, but rather half 16 seats reserved
bull terrier. The bull terrier is often lumped in with pit bulls but is a for media were
different breed. It is very unfortunate that you are focusing on falsify- confined to the first
ing facts to suit your own agenda here. This girl suffered and needs to and second rows of
heal, but it isn’t due to a “pit bull attack.” Courtroom 102 at the
New Westminster Commentary
Law Courts. Some Jennifer Lang
days, I had a front
row seat to what
some had darkly dubbed the Trial of
the Century.
A wall of glass separated the public
gallery from the court, but the defen-
dant sat, back turned, in a box directly
ahead of that first row.
It was close enough to discern the
News files
colour of Pickton’s eyes (green) and
notice he never seemed to fidget or so
Binder Khunkhun is worried about North Alouette River. much as scratch an itch during the 11
long months of the trial, never mind
River at risk make eye contact with anyone in the
public gallery.
From: Bruce Hobbs, posted on www.mapleridgenews.com. Slight, balding and jail-house soft,
Re: Resident worried about the river (The News, Aug. 11) he had a nondescript face and greasy,
stringy hair that always looked soaking
Once again, this illustrates that the lack of action by the Department wet. He looked more like a goblin than
of Fisheries and Oceans against the Golden Eagle Group will lead to Canada’s worst accused serial killer.
more and more abuses of our river systems. The GEG said exactly the Still, I preferred the second row.
same thing when they appropriated water from the North Alouette What’s it like to sit a few inches
away from a serial killer?
last year. i.e. “We only did it to save our crops.”
Truth is, it’s a lot more impres-
Now, we have a copy cat incident. If the DFO continues to fail to act, sive to watch the father of one of his
I fear this is just the beginning and all the good work that has been victims summon the courage to face
done to protect our river systems will be in vain. down his daughter’s killer – moments
after telling the judge that on hot dog
day at school, his granddaughter was
asked what it’s like to eat her mother.
Letters welcome I’d rather tell you about the sisters
Letters to the editor should be exclusive to The News who closed their eyes and clasped
and address topics of interest to residents of Maple each others’ hands in the anxious sec-
Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Include full name and address, onds before the judge delivered the
as well as daytime phone number for verification. Keep maximum penalty – their joyous cries
letters to 500 words or less. Letters may be edited for of relief ringing through the room.
length and clarity. I contemplate the dedication of
@ E-mail letters to editor@mapleridgenews.com. another relative – though his loved
EDITOR, THE NEWS:
The imminent influx of Tamil refugees to this country
leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
Most of these people will become dependent on our soci-
ety for the next several years, not to mention the unknown
numbers of them with a background in terrorism.
We will house them, educate them, provide them with job
training, employment grants, free medical services and a
wide range of other taxpayer-supported services at a cost
in the millions of dollars.
It would sound like a true humanitarian gesture if it were
not for the lack of equal support for needy people who are
already citizens of this country – senior citizens, single par-
ents, homeless people and others.
Is there anything wrong with simply re-supplying and re-
fueling the ship and sending it on its way?
That approach seemed to work just fine for Australia, a
country that is far more familiar with Tamils than Canada.
What has happened to the system of potential immigrants
using the front door to enter Canada?
People arriving on our shores via honest measures are
far less likely to become a burden on society. Allowing cue-
jumping boatloads to arrive here illegally is a disservice to
honest immigrants.
We should accept immigrants from all countries, but not
this way.
Contributed SANDY MACDOUGALL
MAPLE RIDGE
one wasn’t one of the six counts daughter of a victim sobbing from the
being dealt with – who observed courtroom.
every hour of the marathon trial, There were more terrible revela-
faithfully showing up each day for tions to follow. The Pickton farm was
nearly a year. essentially a death camp for drug
Now that the remaining 20 addicts in the heart of suburbia, sur-
charges against Pickton have been rounded by homes whose property
stayed, I wonder if he’ll ever get the values never faltered.
answers he’s been waiting to hear? The compulsion to look away from
Of course, not all of the victims Pickton’s crimes is understandable –
came from loving homes – quite the even my friends didn’t ask me about
opposite. the trial.
Abusive childhoods, poverty, But to say it’s simply too gruesome
fierce drug addictions, is to miss the point,
and even mental which is that terri-
illness run as com- ble things happened
mon threads knitting
“Thanks to the humanity to dozens of women
the backgrounds of shown by the loved ones – poor, drug-ad-
Vancouver’s missing dicted women from
women together, and
of the victims, covering abusive childhoods
it’s what put them in the trial wasn’t an and circumstances.
harm’s way. Women society had
“For them to have
experience devoid of all unabashedly writ-
been murdered in the hope.” ten off.
circumstances of this To look away is to
case makes their al- remain ignorant of
ready tragic lives more the fact the women
tragic,” said the trial’s lead prosecu- were mothers, daughters and sisters who
tor, Michael Petrie. were, and still are, very much missed.
Now that the public can finally hear “All we have are bone fragments,”
what the jury never knew when decid- lamented one relative speaking at
ing Pickton’s fate – much of it shock- Pickton’s sentencing. Some of the
ing – I’m hearing the same sorts of families don’t even have that.
comments I heard back when I was Thanks to the humanity shown by
covering the trial. the loved ones of the victims, covering
“Trying to avoid Pickton rev- the trial wasn’t an experience devoid
elations,” karen_cook Tweeted last of all hope.
Friday. During this final chapter, we need
“Already horrifying and tragic to examine what took place so we, as
enough and on my list of things I don’t a community, can ensure it doesn’t
need to know.” happen again.
“I skipped the trial, and I certainly Coming to terms with the horrible
skipped the tapes. I can hardly bear evidence from Pickton’s trial is an
to look at the picture,” a commentator important step in the right direction.
wrote on a news site. For the victims, it’s the least that we
The evidence presented at the trial can do.
was disturbing and horrific. Investiga-
tors found a gun with a sex-toy with Jennifer Lang is the editor of The Clo-
DNA from one of Pickton’s victims verdale Reporter. In 2007, as a reporter,
fitted over top, night vision goggles, Lang covered the Pickton Trial for
handcuffs, bloodstains and heads in Black Press. editor@cloverdalereporter.
buckets – details that sent the young com
RCMP looking for break-in auto
Road checks nab four for
impaired driving
A man made away with a
large loot Thursday after break-
ing into a shed behind a Maple
Ridge home.
Ridge Meadows RCMP said po-
lice were called to the home in
the 11700-block of 193rd Street
around midnight after residents
spotted a man running out of
their backyard.
He got into a silver or grey
four-door car and drove off.
After he left, the residents no-
ticed snow skis, a wake board
and a stereo amplifier were miss-
ing from their backyard shed.
Patrols by the attending offi-
cers failed to locate the suspect’s
vehicle.
Police are investigating wheth-
er the break-in is linked to one
that took place on Aug. 7, where
another shed was targeted.
The suspect is described as a
white man in his 30s, six feet tall
with a medium build and dark
clothing.
More drunk drivers
Police road checks on Tuesday
and Wednesday nabbed four
drivers for operating their ve-
hicles while impaired.
One driver was nearly three
times the legal limit.
Insp. Derren Lench said fortu-
nately police were able to locate
and safely stop these drivers
before they ended up crashing
their vehicles, which could have
caused injuries to themselves,
as well as innocent motorists.
“Police take incidents of driv-
ing while impaired very seri-
ously,” said Lench.
“Ridge Meadows RCMP contin-
ue to make this crime a priority,
so if you drink and drive, expect
to be stopped and charged. If
you plan on consuming alcohol,
make plans for a safe ride home
before you go out.
“Please help us make our roads
among the safest in the world.”
Crack house
A man and woman were ar-
rested at a Maple Ridge house
Wednesday after police execut-
ed a search warrant at the prop-
erty.
Ridge Meadows RCMP Street
Enforcement Unit entered the
home in the 12000-block of 228th
Street around 4:30 p.m.
They seized a quantity of crack
cocaine, along with other para-
phernalia used for the sale of il-
legal drugs from the residence.
Among items seized was a
quantity of money police allege
is proceeds from the sale of ille-
gal drugs.
A 49-year-old woman and a
47-year-old man were arrested
and held in police custody on
charges of drug trafficking.
The couple were scheduled to
make their first appearance in
court on Thursday.
Car crash
A two-car collision sent two pe-
destrians to hospital Tuesday in
Maple Ridge.
The women were hit at 12:45
p.m. in the 22200-block of Dewd-
ney Trunk Road.
The women were crossing the
street when a 2003 Volkswagen
Golf struck the rear end of a Toy-
ota Matrix, which had stopped
for the pedestrians.
The 62-year-old woman suf-
fered a concussion and whiplash,
while her 51-year-old friend sus-
tained bruises and scrapes.
A 55-year-old Pitt Meadows
man was charged with driving
without due care under the Mo-
tor Vehicle Act.
Gas theft
A 45-year-old Maple Ridge man
faces charges for several rob-
beries after he was nabbed for
holding up a store by Vancouver
Police.
The man is suspected of a rob-
bery spree that started in Maple
Ridge on Aug. 9 where he tar-
geted a Chevron Gas Station lo-
cated in the 21600-block of Dew-
dney Trunk Road.
He stole cash from the register
before running out of the store.
A few hours later, Vancou-
ver Police caught him after he
robbed a store on Main Street.
Police are investigating the file
to see if he is linked to similar of-
fences.
Anti-HST petitioners win,
but project stalled
ing chief elec- one should
Tactic leads toral officer stand for it.
campaign to move Craig James
advised he
We won’t
stand for it.”
to recall, says would take no A court chal-
action until the lenge by pro-
former premier court proceed- HST business
ings were final. groups aim-
by Jeff Nagel “That is ing to quash
Black Press a complete the petition
stalling tactic will be heard
The historic anti-HST which I’m sure Vander Zalm Monday, along
petition campaign has was much en- with a second
been ruled success- couraged by constitutional
ful but Elections BC is the government and challenge of the HST it-
blocking further action the big business groups self launched by Vander
until a court battle over that initiated the action Zalm, who contends
the validity of the ini- in the first place,” he B.C. failed to correctly
tiative is settled. said. implement the Harmo-
Fight HST campaign nized Sales Tax.
leader Bill Vander
Zalm accused the inde-
“It’s ridiculous. No theButproceedings
Vander Zalm said
and ap-
pendent electoral office one should stand peals could take years.
of stalling by refusing He said the Fight HST
to take the next step of
for it. We won’t campaign may seek an
forwarding the petition stand for it.” injunction to force Elec-
and his HST-repealing tions BC to follow its
legislation on to a legis- Bill Vander Zalm governing legislation.
lative committee. Fight HST campaign And he said volun-
That committee teers will prepare for a
would be required to ei- “total recall” campaign
ther send the draft law targeting all BC Liberal
to unravel the HST to a “One bureaucrat says MLAs to pressure the
vote in the house – or they can stop it all, they government to either
else hold a referendum can stop the will of the reverse the HST or be
in September 2011. people? toppled.
Vander Zalm said act- “It’s ridiculous. No See HST p13
Rough
ride
Charlie Attrill,
of Maple
Ridge, is
bucked off
High Roller
during
Sunday’s
rodeo at the
138th annual
Chilliwack
Fair at
Chilliwack
Heritage Park.
Jenna Hauck/
BLACK PRESS
‘We will move to recall:’ Vander Zalm
HST from p11 tempts on other issues, heat,” Vander Zalm said. cial Sales Tax and five-
“We will move to for a campaign to meet Fight HST forces pre- per-cent federal Goods
recall,” Vander Zalm the initiative require- viously released a hit and Services Tax.
said. ments of B.C.’s Recall list of 24 Liberal MLAs Finance minister Co-
“We will recall every and Initiative Act. considered most vul- lin Hansen rejected
Liberal MLA in the Although a non-bind- nerable. Vander Zalm’s accusa-
province if that’s what ing referendum just Vander Zalm said a tions of political inter-
it takes.” more than a year from decision on who to re- ference by Victoria or
The citizens’ initia- now on the HST is one call first would wait un- bias by Elections B.C.
tive petition, which possible outcome if the til November. “We’ve said from the
was submitted with petition and draft law Recalling an MLA is outset that we will fol-
more than 700,000 sig- makes it to the legisla- difficult – canvassers low the law regarding
natures, was certified tive committee, Vander must get the signatures the petition and that
as having passed with Zalm said he would of 40 per cent of regis- is exactly what we will
the required 10 per consider that a stone- tered voters in the rid- continue to do,” Han-
cent of registered vot- walling tactic by gov- ing within 60 days. sen said.
ers in all 85 constitu- ernment. No MLA has ever The all-party legis-
encies after a six-week Nothing short of a been recalled in B.C., lative committee will
count. vote of the legislature although one resigned consider the draft leg-
Elections BC offi- by Nov. 15 to repeal the just as a recall cam- islation when the chief
cials did not officially HST will satisfy peti- paign wrapped up that electoral officer decides
announce the result, tioners and avoid recall was expected to suc- to submit it, he said.
but instead simply in- campaigns to begin ceed. “I continue to support
formed Vander Zalm in picking off government Vander Zalm’s draft the HST because it’s
a move the former pre- MLAs, he said. legislation aims to end the right policy to build
mier called bizarre. “If by Nov. 15, you the 12-per-cent HST and our economy and cre-
It’s the first time, af- haven’t seen the light, replace it with the old ate jobs across B.C.,”
ter a series of failed at- we’re going to put on the seven-per-cent Provin- he added.
Man found on road
Inquest from Front be transporting him to
The man was then RCMP cells.
rushed to Royal Colum- Young’s wife did not
bian Hospital, where he want her drunk husband
underwent surgery. at home because her
Young died two days daughter was having
later in hospital from a a sleep over. Although
head injury. paramedics were wor-
Paramedics who dealt ried about Young’s con-
with Young testified he dition, they called police
smelled of alcohol and and struggled to load
was unsteady. He had an him into a cruiser.
abrasion on his head. Young was eventually
The inquest heard they put on a stretcher and
were reluctant to take pulled by both paramed-
him to hospital because it ics into the car.
could mean waiting until Paramedics testified
he sobered up. they told Const. Lym-
They said Young re- burner that Young need-
fused medical treatment ed to be monitored.
at least three times and But Lymburner said
signed a release form. she received no such
Still concerned for instructions from para-
his well-being, one of medics.
the paramedics walked “They told me they had
down Waresley Street to no concerns for him,”
Young’s house. she said.
Ron Henderson tes- Once inside the drunk
tified he spoke with tank, the inquest heard
Young’s wife Karen tell- police repeatedly vio-
ing her that her husband lated policy that re-
was found intoxicated, quired officers to rouse
lying on the street. inmates, make sure
Henderson told her they respond and never
they couldn’t leave her assume inmates were
husband on the street “sleeping it off.”
and would most likely See Inquest p20
How do we prepare for death?
dimen- flect on my own life.
Loss leads to reflection on sion, one It can happen quickly.
her own life of freedom One moment I can be enjoy-
to feel ing time with my grandchil-

R
ecently, a friend of the pain dren and the next moment
mine suddenly passed of loss facing my maker.
away of a heart attack and to be Kind of makes you think
at a young age of 58. comforted doesn’t it?
She left behind a husband of but to also Do I want to make the most
28 years and two sons. rejoice of my days here, do I want
I say “left behind” because that one to be doing things in my life
day they that have an impact, to influ-
she is now in heaven awaiting
their arrival at some future
will be Acts of Faith ence someone else so their
reunited. Wendy Townsend life can change?
date. There But it doesn’t have to be a big
It’s funny how we all want can be Billy Graham kind of experi-
to go to heaven but we really comfort, security, ence; it can be by knowing who
don’t want to die, because hope and purpose in knowing my neighbour is, being kind to
God has given us this drive to that God’s plan for each one my co-worker, laughing with
survive and to keep of our lives doesn’t the clerk at a department store
on living. end here on earth. or a smile at someone on the
However after it As Christians, street.
the fear of death God has given me a desire to
happens, it’s those “we all want to go
is taken away, fear serve others, that’s what gives
who are left be-
hind who have the
to heaven but we that can grip us and me joy and in that joy, I’m
stop us from living strengthened.
grief and emotions really don’t want in the now and en- Are we ever really totally
to deal with. to die …” joying the moment prepared for the loss of some-
I attended her and the life around one we love?
memorial and us. Other than my Probably not.
it truly was a grandparents, I Are we ever really totally
celebration of haven’t yet experi- prepared to die?
her life, not enced the great loss Well I have heard of some
only about how of a parent, sibling or child. cases where people have
she lived and the lives she I know that one day I will been.
touched but also about her be faced with that and even All I know is that while I
love for Jesus and her assur- though it will grieve my still have breath, I want to
ance of where she would be heart, my hope and prayers embrace the experiences of
when she died. are for their future with the living; not take for granted
Her family also has that Lord. the people that I love; and
assurance which gives the My friend’s passing also rest in the assurance of
grieving process a new made me step back and re- where I’m going.

C
ommunity Calendar lists events in
Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
Notices are free to local non-
profit groups courtesy of The News. Drop
off details to 22328 119 Ave., fax to
604-463-4741 or e-mail newsroom@
mapleridgenews.com at least a week
before the event. Include a contact name
and number. (No submissions by phone.)
Listings appear as space permits. For
guaranteed publication, ask our classified
department at 604-467-1122 about
non-profit rates.
Saturday, Aug. 14
• Lou Gramm, the lead singer of For-
eigner, and local country artist Sandra
Larrata, come to the ChamberFest stage.
General admission tickets are $65 and is
open to all chamber members, their staff
and friends. VIP tables, situated in the
front row, are $800 (10 tickets per table).
Golden Ears Winter Club, doors open at
6:30 p.m. For tickets call 604-463-3366
Sunday, Aug. 15
• Osprey Village Farmers Market
supports the Friends of the Library with
a cookbook exchange on Sunday. Bring a
book, take a book; or make a dona-
tion. Popular Celtic musician Nigel Tucker
entertains. There will be more bread,
sweets, corn, popcorn, lots of fresh
vegetables. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at
the south end of Bonson Road in Pitt
Meadows.
• Join the Alouette River Man-
agement Society and the Kanaka
Education and Environmental Partner-
ship Society for Maple Ridge’s first Frog
Safari. Have you ever wondered what
Community Calendar
type of frog species live in the Alouette
Watershed? Perhaps we some endan-
gered species in need of protection. Join
ARMS and KEEPS and expert herpetolo-
gist, Monica Pearson, as they explore the
area. Meet at the dikes along the North
Alouette and Neaves Road at 2 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 26
• Gilbert and Sullivan’s world
famous comic operetta drops anchor for
a dress rehearsal at the Spirit Square in
Pitt Meadows at 7 p.m. Free to attend.
Friday, Aug. 27
• Gilbert and Sullivan’s world
famous comic operetta drops anchor at
the Clarke Theatre in Mission at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10, children 10 and under
are free. Advance tickets available at the
Bergthorson Academy of Musical Arts
and Hair Expressions 604-467- 6613.
Saturday, Aug. 28
• Gilbert and Sullivan’s world
famous comic operetta drops anchor at
the Clarke Theatre in Mission at 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10, children
10 and under are free. Advance tickets
available at the Bergthorson Academy
of Musical Arts and Hair Expressions
604-467- 6613.
• Doggie Days comes to the Haney
Farmers’ Market. The fun starts at 10:30
a.m. in the grassy area beside the
Market. Bring your tallest, shortest, best
dressed dog. Aurelius Band will entertain
the shoppers. There will be hot buttered
corn, popcorn, cookies and more to snack
on while you enjoy the morning. www.
haneyfarmersmarket.org
• The Maple Ridge Better Breath-
ers Club is holding its annual yard sale
at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Legion on
224th and Brown Street. There will be
board games, video games hundreds of
VCR movies, toys, household do-dads
and hundreds of other good things.
Many boxes of donations have not been
opened so our surprise will be your
surprise.
Ongoing
• The Ridge Meadows Hall of Fame
Society is now accepting nominations
for 2011 inductees. The Hall of Fame
honours the achievements of Maple
Ridge and Pitt Meadows residents in
the fields of sports, the arts, business,
education, and community volunteer-
ism. Those considered for the honour will
have contributed to the community over
a significant number of years, bringing
provincial, national or international
recognition to Maple Ridge and Pitt
Meadows. Nominations can be mailed
to the Ridge Meadows Hall of Fame
Society at #303 - 22213 Selkirk Avenue,
Maple Ridge. Call 604-463-6595 for
more information. Nomination deadline
is October 5.
• Golden Ears United Soccer Club
women’s teams are now accepting
players for the fall season. There is space
in Divisions 1, 3, and 4, as well as the 30-
plus Division. Division 1 is best suited to
former gold and Metro players. Ages 17
and up. Season runs from September to
March, with registration underway. For
more information please contact Susan
Carr at 604-467-8447 or via email at
clascarr@shaw.ca.
Appliances stolen during BnE
Two fridges, a wash- property in the 9900- loud truck at the prop- the vehicle or suspects.
ing machine and dryer block of 280th Street erty around 4:30 a.m. • Anyone with any in-
were stolen from a Ma- by prying open a rear but police patrols failed formation is asked to call
ple Ridge home during bathroom window as to locate it. RCMP at 604-463-6251.
a break-in early Mon- well as a door on the The neighbour was To remain anonymous
day. detached garage. not unable to provide call CrimeStoppers at
Thieves entered the A neighbour heard a a further description of 1-800-222-8477.
Gun charges resulting from raid in March, tossed out of court
arrested by the RC- were charged with 26300-block of 100th found handguns, tion and substances Police said one of the
All charges MP’s gang task force drug possession and Avenue. The Depart- three silencers, four believed to be heroin guns was loaded.
dismissed were thrown out by possessing prohib- ment of Justice would rifles, numerous and cocaine were In a press release at
PoCo court last week. ited weapons last not comment on the rounds of ammuni- found in the house the time, police said
All charges against Arthur Eyford and March after police stay of proceedings. tion, a small mari- during a search of the the raid was connected
two Maple Ridge men Trevor Crawford raided a home in the RCMP said they juana grow opera- property. to organized crime.
Watching kids grow – just awesome
When your Once again, home, the first …
Memories sparked baby’s eyes fol- my wife I could go on for a
by book low your move- was not as long time because, let’s
ments is an excited as I face it, there are a lot

A
friend recently awesome mo- was, primar- of firsts as children
gave me a ment. It is the ily because grow and so many
book entitled, true realization I spent my moments that are awe-
The Book of Awesome. that everything days at work some that it’s hard to
It is, essentially, a you do will be and she pick one over another
collection of small ob- of interest to spent her or leave some off a list.
servations and experi- your child, at days chasing When you are grow-
ences in life that leave least until he mobile tod- ing yourself, progress
you feeling awesome. or she reaches Parenting dlers around seems natural, even
They were collected by 14, after which Graham Hookey the house, slow, but when you
the author from a lot of little that you the neigh- watch your own chil-
Internet contributors do will interest bourhood, dren growing it takes
who offered their own him/her. the grocery store and on a whole miraculous
versions of awesome The first word your the world at large. My kind of feeling.
events on a website. child speaks, assuming wife’s fitness level From that first
Seeing as I don’t spend it’s “Dad” of course. during the period of moment of birth to
as much time on the OK, not really, but as our children’s develop- the high school grad,
Internet as many, I long as it’s not a curse ment was an awesome there’s just one long
somehow missed this word or in a foreign bonus! string of awesome
site in its original form language, it is equally The list starts to get moments, interspersed
so I’m offering some awesome to realize pretty long when I think of course, with a few
belated moments of that everything that back on it; the first hair awful moments (that
awesomeness from a you say from then on cut, the first snowfall, first really bad diaper,
parenting perspective. in will be of interest to, the first birthday, the that first throw-up on
Being present for and repeated by your first Christmas stocking a nice suit, that first
the birth of each of my child, thus the relief at 6 a.m., the first catch tantrum at the grocery
children was awesome. when the first word of a ball, the first kick checkout …
Really, it’s almost isn’t a curse word! of a ball, the first bike Graham Hookey is
surreal to see your The first step was, of ride, the first drawing of an educator and writer
own flesh and blood course, a pretty awe- mom and dad, the first and can be contacted
come into the world some moment as well. words read, the first at ghookey@yahoo.
and now that they are However, what was letters written, the first com.
grown, my only regret even more awesome day of school, the first
is having not filmed was how quickly one school concert, the first
it. That sentiment is step became two, then speech, the first t-ball
not shared by my wife three and within a game, the first attempt
whose perception of few days there was at a musical instrument,
childbirth was more no place in the house the first sleep-over at
unreal than surreal! safe from exploration. home and away from
Policy requires
regular checks
timate with the drunk
Jail guard expressed tank, having spent
concern more than 40 nights in
it over the past three
Inquest from p14 years.
A card detailing “rou- He said cell checks
seability” checks is improved for a short
posted in every jail cell. time after Young’s
That requires pris- death, but have since
oners to be checked dwindled, with officers
regularly depending on and guards only check-
their condition. ing on inmates through
The policy requires a small window.
medical help be sought “Maple Ridge is fairly
if prisoners are unre- rough,” said Vander-
sponsive. bom, who got a black
The inquest heard eye during his last stint
that Young was never in the drunk tank two
checked when placed weeks ago.
in the drunk tank or “They hit you with
throughout the night, torches.
despite concerns ex- “They re-broke my
pressed by the jail collar bone. I’ve been
guard on duty to the the in Nanaimo, Coquitlam,
RCMP officer in charge New West.
of the watch. “All those places they
Young was found treat you with dignity.”
the next morning af- Presiding coroner
ter a corporal took Vincent Stancato and a
over command, with a jury will hear evidence
clear fluid, tinged with in order to determine
blood, oozing from his the facts surrounding
head. Young’s death until Fri-
RCMP poked him in day.
the stomach with their The jury will then
boots to rouse him and have the opportunity
called paramedics when to make recommenda-
he didn’t wake up. tions aimed at prevent-
A man who shared ing deaths under simi-
the cell with Young on lar circumstances in
the night in question the future.
told the inquest not The inquest is a fact-
much has changed. finding process that
Willem Vanderbom, can’t make any legally
who is battling an al- binding recommenda-
cohol addiction, is in- tions.
THE NEWS/home&gardening
Late vegetable crops a real treat
by Bri anM i n te r
gardening

A
s the interest in food gardening
explodes around the world, many
new varieties of vegetable plants
are being discovered, and the season for
growing food is being extended.
Many vegetables tolerate the cold and
can provide food at a time of the year when
vegetables are more expensive and less
readily available.
First of all, winter vegetables are basi-
cally the same varieties we grow in spring,
summer and fall.
The only difference is these specific
varieties are bred to grow vegetatively in
hot weather and to mature in cool weather.
Some vegetables, like Brussels sprouts and
parsnips, are traditional winter vegetables
that are always a treat for Christmas din-
ner.
The vegetables I am referring to are
meant to be sown now for harvesting any-
where from December through April.
This month, wise gardeners, who work in
very sandy, well-drained soils and who use
a little protective mulching, will be seeding
special varieties of beets, carrots, parsnips,
turnips and even onions for terrific winter
crops.
Unless a severe cold spell compromises
some of them, these late crops are a real
treat and believe me, their flavour is ter-
rific.
One of the most popular winter veg-
etables for the home garden is cauliflower. Contributed
There are several excellent European Winter broccoli is becoming a popular gardening choice.
varieties, but ‘Galleon’ seems to be one of
the best. ‘January King’ will do just that. Seeded All the kids who detest spinach will be If you do a little digging, you’ll find all
Seeded now, these plants will grow quick- now, it will mature in 200 to 250 days, pro- delighted to know that it too can grow kinds of other interesting winter gems, like
ly and mature in February. If you plant ducing compact three to five pound heads. through the winter. corn salad and winter lettuce.
them much earlier, the plants become too ‘January King’ will usually finish head- From a July sowing, ‘Bloomsdale’ and In this part of the world, we’re still
lush and vegetative and as a result, they ing out in February and will be ready for ‘Perpetual’ are varieties which can be har- novices when it comes to the art of winter
can be badly damaged by heavy winter harvesting from March through April. It vested from February onward. I’ve always gardening.
frosts. has excellent flavour. found that Swiss chard will do much the Don’t go overboard, but for a bit of fun,
Seeded too late, they never seem to Endive is beginning to catch on as a same, if you harvest before it goes to seed. try a few of these vegetables. The seeds
develop far enough to produce good-sized vegetable in Western Canada, but it’s While you are planting a selection of these are available now and for the sake of a few
heads, so timing is everything. You may something for which you really have to vegetables, don’t forget about some beauti- cents, you just may discover a whole new
want to do a little experimentation, but develop a taste. Most Europeans love ful exotic culinary and flowering kale. I season of great garden harvesting. Trans-
early August is the time you can seed for it. don’t know how many salad bars I’ve seen plants are also available, usually from
success. Chives and leeks are always nice to have decorated to the hilt with dark cerise and mid-August to September.
The same is true for winter broccoli. The in the garden to spice up an egg sandwich white kale leaves. They look gorgeous and If you’ve got a little space in even a small
purple-sprouting varieties have become or a salad, but you can also grow winter can really spruce up your culinary designs garden, I highly recommend trying winter
the most popular and are incredibly sweet onions. too. vegetables – they’re amazing.
and tasty. If they are planted now, they’ll grow up Red Bor is, by far, the hardiest variety,
It seems unlikely that cabbage plants to four inches across by early spring, and and once it has had a good frost, it is the Brian Minter owns and operates Minter
could overwinter, but the English variety their flavour will be mild and sweet. most beautiful and most delicious. Gardens outside Chilliwack.

THE NEWS/business
From Greece, with love, for you
Pitt Meadows company
bottles olive oil from family
farm overseas
by Phi l M elnyc h u k
staff reporter
All olive oils are not created
equal. Some can result from the
use of chemicals that extract the
oil from the fruit.
Some olive oils may have been
extracted using heat, which yields
more oil from the olives, yet af-
fects the purity.
That’s why Helen and Basil
Koutalianos import their certified
organic, extra virgin olive oil from
Greece, so people can taste the
real thing.
That has been the mission of Ba-
sil Olive Oil Products of Pitt Mead-
ows, since they began in 1997.
“This is something we decided to
do when Basil retired,” Helen said
Wednesday.
“It’s given us a purpose. And it’s
a passion to give people quality.
It’s more than just olive oil. We
consider it medicine. It keeps you
healthy.”
According to the company’s web-
site (www.basiloliveoil.com) the
benefits of olive oil include choles-
terol reduction, prevention of ar-
tery and heart disease, decreased
osteoporosis, improved digestion
and reduced calcium loss.
With the assistance of daugh-
ters Vassiliki, Anastasia and
Evangeline, the family imports
the freshly pressed oil, about
five tonnes a year, from Basil’s
family farm in Greece. The 10
acres has been producing ol-
ive oil the healthy way for four
generations of the Koutalianos
family.
In addition to providing a fam-
ily business here, harvesting
the olives and producing the
oil is a way of preserving the
farm operating for future gen-
erations. In Greece, as elsewhere,
Helen Koutalianos has been distributing virgin olive oil to B.C. for more than a decade. She’s just written a book about
cooking with olive oil.
kids don’t always want to work on
the farm after an education.
Helen hopes their daughters or
grandchildren will carry on the
business. She notes times have
changed, that when jobs get hard
to find, people can make a good
living returning to work on the
family farm.
“It’s a very viable way of making
a living. It’s also producing quality
foods for so many people.”
After a single press during the
fall, the extra virgin oil is trans-
ferred into vats, imported to Cana-
da, then bottled at their Pitt Mead-
ows operation.
There it’s used to make Golden
Olive Eleni, named after Helen, as
well as Golden Olive Anastasia,
a certified organic laundry soap,
“It’s more than just olive
oil. We consider it a
medicine. It keeps you
healthy.”
Helen Koutalianos
president, Basil Olive Oil
Evangeline balsamic vinegar and
Vassiliki Olives are among their
other olive products.
The desire to share the prod-
uct, and educate people about
olive oil, launched the busi-
ness.
“The reason we brought it here
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
was – people would be amazed
by the freshness of the oil that
we were bringing,” Helen ex-
plained.
What they soon learned was
that North American shopping
habits differ from Europe. Shop-
pers there will buy 60 litres at a
time when the oil is freshest, just
after harvest and keep that year
round.
Consumers here though, who
often use margarine or canola
oil, buy their olive oil 500 millil-
itres at a time.
“We thought it was going to be
so easy.”
Helen advises shoppers to al-
ways look for the harvest date
when they buy olive oil.
“That means this is fresh olive
Section coordinator:
Phil Melnychuk
604-467-1122 ext. 215
newsroom@mapleridgenews.com
oil. Fresh olive oil is stable and
will last two to three years with-
out it changing.”
After more than a decade, the
company has its product in more
than 50 high-end niche and health
food stores, plus restaurants,
throughout Western Canada.
As part of her mission to edu-
cate about olive oil, Helen, who
used to write a food column
for The News, has also written
a book, From the Olive Grove:
Mediterranean Cooking With Ol-
ive Oil.
That will be released this fall
and includes many family reci-
pes such as Olive Oil Poached
Lamb, Quail with Olives, Shrimp
and Feta Casserole.
Helen, who used to teach Greek
cooking, says she and daughter
Anastasia wrote the book be-
cause “people are interested in
finding out more about food and
they keenly want to know the
truth and it’s hard to find.”
Just because a container says
‘extra virgin olive oil” doesn’t
make it so.
“This is the joke, the joke is
that everything’s extra virgin ol-
ive oil.”
Extra virgin olive oil is that
which comes from only the
first press of the olives, which
produces the best oil. A sec-
ond pressing or third pressing
and the quality drops. Heat or
chemicals used in those second-
ary extraction process can also
affect quality.
“People just don’t know,” she
says. Unlike wine, the fresher
the oil, the better.
With Basil Olive Oil established
in its speciality role, Helen says
there are no major plans for ex-
pansion. The company isn’t pur-
suing big grocery stores.
“The high-volume markets are
always looking for a deal.
“This is not a deal. We sell the
real thing. If you’re looking for
quality versus quantity, then
we’ve got it.”
DFO expects more
sockeye openings
later this season
Fishing from p3 “We had to do
John Puska’s father something to make
founded the Albion sure there still some
Boat company, which fish getting through,
produced more than while still accommo-
500 vessels from their dating the commercial
factory next to the fishery,” he said.
Kanaka Creek wharf. DFO officers buzzed
“I built that boat,” by in high-speed
Puska says matter-of- Zodiacs, checking for
factly, pointing to the licences and make
boat his nephew is ma- sure the fishers cut
noeuvring towards the their nets short.
dock. “But that was a Of the one million
long time ago.” Fraser River sock-
Department of eye caught so far,
Fisheries and Oceans 350,000 were caught
spokesperson Barry by the Canadian fleet,
Rosenberger expects and 300,000 by the
more commercial sock- American fleet as
eye openings. the salmon passed
Of the seven million through U.S. waters
sockeye expected to on their way home.
return to the Fraser More than 10,000 have
River this season, one been caught by sports
million have already fishermen, while 50,000
been caught, while two have been caught by
million have continued DFO and the Pacific
on their spawning Salmon Commission
beds in the creeks and for testing purposes.
lakes of the Interior. First Nations’ fish-
That leaves four mil- ers, meanwhile, have
lion still to come. accounted for 300,000
“The quality is good salmon caught, a
and the size is good, number many of the
about six pounds on fishermen at Kanaka
average,” said Rosen- Creek wharf feel is
berger. unfairly high.
The Fraser River Because of their
gillnetter fleet, which historical connection
is 300 vessels strong, to the Fraser River
was restricted to using and its salmon, the
only half the length Supreme Court of
of their nets during Canada recognizes
the opening. The nets First Nations’ right
are more than 350 to fish for food, social
metres long and seven and ceremonial
to eight metres deep, purposes, a right that
and are efficient at takes priority over
catching the salmon as all other uses except
funnel up the river. conservation.
“I understand this
is their traditional
territory and all that,
but they don’t fish in
the traditional way, so
they should be treated
like everybody else”
says Dylan Puska.
“If they did, it
wouldn’t be an issue.”
While many have
blamed First Nations
for overfishing the
Fraser River stocks,
Puska doesn’t buy it.
“It’s not the fault of
the natives, I used to
fish with those guys
down at Hammond and
you can’t blame them
cause the government
gave them a good deal.
It’s El Niño, fish farms,
global warming,” he
says.
“Heck, there’s things
going on out there
in the ocean that
we don’t even know
about.”
Years of over-fishing
by the commercial
fleet have also taken a
toll. “Hopefully this is
a sign things are get-
ting better.”

THE NEWS/sports
New look for
Jr. B Flames
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f
staff reporter
There will be plenty of
new faces on the ice when
the Ridge Meadows Flames
suit up for the Pacific In-
ternational Junior Hockey
League’s 2010/2011 season
this month.
Gone are three of the
team’s top scorers. Last
year’s captain, Brett Allen,
has aged out, while brothers
Sean and Matt Pesut were
traded to the Mission Ice-
breakers in return for Ryan
Stewart and Matt Keller.
The Pesut brothers com-
bined for 81 points last sea-
son, while Stewart, Mission’s
leading scorer last year, and
Keller combined for just 49.
“The team is going in a dif-
ferent direction,” said head
coach Tavis Eaton. “I think
the change of scenery will
be good for them.”
Bringing in character and
work ethic to the dressing
room were the major themes
behind many of Eaton’s off-
season moves, he admits.
The Flames went 28-16-4
under Eaton last season,
his first as a Junior B head
coach.
While the Flames managed
to win the Harold Brittain
Conference championship,
they were knocked out in the
second round of the play-
offs by the Aldergrove Kodi-
aks, who eventually won the
League title.
Eaton said his first year
as bench boss was a learn-
ing experience, and that he
expects more from his play-
ers, and from himself this
season.
“I think I communicate well
with the players, but maybe
I was a too lenient,” he said.
“Things have to change, if
they don’t they are never go-
ing to get better.”
C.J. Legassic will fill Brett
Allen’s role as team cap-
tain.
See Flames, p41
‘Bellies blow out Burrards
Maple Ridge loses best-of-
seven series 4-1
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f
staff reporter
The Maple Ridge Burrards sea-
son came to an end Wednesday
night at the Queen’s Park Arena
in New Westminster, not with a
bang, but with a whimper.
The Burrards were knocked out
of the play-offs by the defending
Western Lacrosse Association
champion New Westminster Sal-
monbellies, losing the game 13-5,
and the series four games to one.
It was the fourth game in a row
the Burrards handed the ‘Bellies
after winning the series opener by
a score of 12-11.
Things looked promising in the
early going for the Burrards as
they opened the scoring with a
goal from the stick of Peter Tellis
three minutes into the game.
Alex Gajic of the Salmonbellies
tied things up 30 seconds later,
but the Burrards were able to re-
gain the lead at the midway mark
of the first period as Joel Dalgarno
made the most out of a New West
turnover in the Burrards end,
throwing a stretch pass to Curtis
Dickson who buried the ball be-
hind Salmonbellies goalie Matt
Roik on the powerplay.
However, in a theme common
this series, the Burrards soon
found themselves in penalty trou-
ble.
Greg Hinman took a tripping
penalty less than a minute after
the Burrards regained the lead,
and was soon joined in
the box by Creighton
Reid, who went off for
slashing.
Ilija Gajic tied the
game as time wound
down on the five-on-three advan-
tage, while Jordan Hall scored to
give the Salmonbellies the lead a
minute later with Reid still in the
box.
The Burrards had a chance to
even the score with a powerplay
of their own a minute later, but in-
stead found themselves down 4-2
after Gajic scored short-handed.
Gajic added his third of the period
with less than a minute left to give
the ‘Bellies a 5-2 lead going into
the first intermission.
Despite an early goal from Joel
Dalgarno, the Burrards were un-
able to make up any ground in the
second period as New West scored
Kyle Ross (on
left) and Shayne
Bennett of the
New Westminster
Salmonbellies
pursue Aaron
Pascas of the
Maple Ridge Bur-
rards Wednesday
night at the
Queen’s Park
Arena in New
Westminster. The
Salmonbellies
won the game
13-5, eliminat-
ing the Burrards
from the 2010
Western Lacrosse
Association play-
offs.
Robert Mangelsdorf/
THE NEWS
three unanswered goals to extend
their lead to five.
The Salmonbellies further out-
paced the Burrards in the third
period, scoring three goals in the
span of four minutes, taking an
eight-goal lead, the game, and the
series.
The ‘Bellies defense kept the
Burrards’ shooters
on the perimeter, al-
lowing Roik to stop
41 of 46 shots. Bur-
rards netminder Ron
Schibild, meanwhile,
stopped 39 of 52 shots he faced.
Despite the lacklustre ending
to their 2010 campaign, this year
marks a number of milestones for
the club.
The Burrards finished the regu-
lar season 9-9, their best record
since 2005, the last time the team
qualified for the post-season.
Jarrett Davis finished the season
fifth in league scoring, notching
73 points, the most by a Burrards
player since the WLA switched
to its current 18-game format in
2005.
Schibild, meanwhile, led the
league in the regular season with
an 8.14 goals against average, the
best by a Burrards starting goal-
tender in the past six years.
Section coordinator:
Robert Mangelsdorf
604-467-1122 ext. 216
newsroom@mapleridgenews.com
Listen to
your back
T
he vertebral disc in
the spine is an inter-
esting and unique
structure. Its primary
purpose is to act as a shock
absorber between adjacent
vertebrae, but it also act as
a ligament that holds the
two adjacent vertebrae of
the spine together. Each
disc also allows a small
amount of motion at each
segment of the back in all
directions and the modest
amount of movement at
each disc adds up to the
overall large movement
we get when we bend over
to pick
some-
thing up
off the
floor or
turn to
reach for
some-
thing.
The role
of the
inter-
Kinected vertebral
discs is
Kerry Senchyna
mechani-
cal. They
play a significant role in the
joints of the spine, enabling
the spine to bend and twist
in all directions. They
support compressive loads
arising from body weight
and muscle tension and
anchor one vertebral bone
to the next. How the discs
perform these mechanical
tasks, however, depends
on the organization and
composition of the major
molecules which make up
this tissue (called collagens
and proteoglycans) and
how much water the disc
retains. As we age we slowly
lose water content and the
normal height of the discs
shrinks. This does restrict
our mobility as we age but it
can also reduce our risk of
disc injury since the spine
becomes more stable.
See Back, p41
THE NEWS/scoreboard
Baseball Slo-Pitch
Lower Mainland Baseball Association Ruskin Slo-Pitch League
Bob Bunnett Division Final Standings
Teams GP W L T Pts F A
Maple Ridge Jerks 13 12 1 0 24 87 35 A Division
Coquitlam Cardinals 11 8 2 1 17 75 38 Teams GP W L T Pts
Burnaby Yankees 12 7 4 1 15 82 71 Posse 27 22 5 0 44
South Delta Padres 13 7 6 0 14 51 53 Master Batters 27 21 6 0 42
Vancouver Mounties 13 7 6 0 14 91 62 Gamblers 27 20 7 0 40
Richmond Athletics 12 5 7 0 10 90 81 Marlies 27 17 10 0 34
New Westminster Red Sox 12 4 8 0 8 41 57 Longnecks 27 12 14 1 25
Burnaby Brewers 14 3 11 0 6 41 113 Outkasts 27 12 15 0 24
Tri City Indians 14 1 13 0 2 25 93 Brewers 27 11 16 0 22
Ball Busters 27 9 18 0 18
Bob Bunnett Division Renegades 27 7 19 1 15
Teams GP W L T Pts F A Outlaws 27 3 24 0 6
Delta Dodgers 11 10 1 0 20 97 22
Delta Tigers 11 9 2 0 18 73 40 B Division
Aldergrove Giants 13 8 4 1 17 81 80 Teams GP W L T Pts
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Langley Knights 14 8 6 0 16 71 57 The Moose 27 23 3 1 47
Chilliwack Cubs 13 6 6 1 13 80 77 Charging bull Maniacs 27 17 10 0 34
Newton Royals 14 7 7 0 14 87 79 Krackers 27 14 12 1 29
Langley Expos 12 5 7 0 10 59 58 Pat Boscariol (on left) of the Blue Bulls runs back to first after teammate Bryan Long is thrown out
during the semi-final match Sunday afternoon at Telosky Park. The Blue Bulls beat the Moose 9-1 to Blue Bulls 27 13 14 0 26
Ridge Meadows Twins 14 4 8 2 10 87 95 Zig Zags 27 12 15 0 24
North Delta Fighting Irish 14 1 13 0 2 25 132 advance to the finals, finishing second in the B division at the Ruskin Slo-Pitch year-end tournament.
Full Tilt 27 11 15 1 23
Hawks 27 11 15 1 23
Sports Calendar Lacrosse Ridge Pigs 27 11 16 0 22
Falcons 27 11 16 0 22
• Drop-in summer touch rugby from now until Western Lacrosse Association Monday, Aug. 9 Sunday, Aug. 8 Uncoachables 27 10 17 0 20
September. The Ridge Meadows Bruins are hosting Play-off results New West 12 at Maple Ridge 6 Coquitlam 11 at Victoria 16
weekly drop-in touch rugby on Thursdays at Maple C Division
Ridge secondary (Merkley Park). Mini rugby (ages five Wednesday, Aug. 11 Tuesday, Aug. 10
Series A Maple Ridge 5 at New West 13 Victoria 13 at Coquitlam 10 Teams GP W L T Pts
to 12) goes from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and U-14, U-16, men New Westminster Salmonbellies (1) vs. Slammers 27 23 4 0 46
and women are on the field from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Maple Ridge Burrards (4) Thursday, Aug. 12
Series B Rebels 27 22 5 0 44
www.bruinsrugbyclub.com New Westminster wins series 4-1 Coquitlam at Victoria, 7:45 p.m.
Victoria Shamrocks (2) vs. Big Ballers 27 19 8 0 38
• Golden Ears United women’s soccer teams are
Tuesday, Aug. 3 Coquitlam Adanacs (3) Saturday, Aug. 14* Vandals 27 18 9 0 36
now taking players for the fall season. There is currently
Maple Ridge 12 at New West 11 Victoria leads series 3-1 Victoria at Coquitlam, 7 p.m. Base Invaders 27 12 15 0 24
space available in Divisions 1, 3, 4 and 30+. Ages 17
Monday, Aug. 16 * Big Doggs 27 12 15 0 24
and up. For more info please contact Susan Carr at 604- Thursday, Aug. 5 Wednesday, Aug. 4
Coquitlam at Victoria, 7:45 p.m. Hangovers 26 10 15 1 21
467-8447 or clascarr@shaw.ca. New West 12 at Maple Ridge 7 Coquitlam 10 at Victoria 6
Bombers 27 9 17 1 19
• The Pitt Meadows Senior Snooker Club is a non *If necessary
Saturday, Aug. 7 Friday, Aug. 6 Alchoballics 26 6 20 0 12
profit group of seniors ages 55 and up who play daily at the
Maple Ridge 9 at New West 12 Victoria 16 at Coquitlam 10 Shake ‘n Bake 25 1 24 0 2

Junior B Flames start exhibition play Aug. 20
Flames from p39
Legassic averaged nearly a point
per game last season, and Eaton
expects big things from the tal-
ented 20-year-old.
“He’s the perfect guy to lead this
team,” said Eaton. “He’s a great
kid, he’s great in the dressing
room and he’s got Junior A expe-
rience.”
Meanwhile Maple Ridge’s own
Daniel Amesbury is off to the
Abbotsford Pilots in exchange
for blueliner Sean Kavanagh. Ka-
vanagh had 42 points last season
compared to Amesbury’s 28. How-
ever the biggest statistical discrep-
Use common sense, go easy on your back early in the day
Back from p39
Back injury rates reduce as we
go from middle age to old age. It
has been well documented that
during the day, compressive
forces on the spine under the
influence of gravity can cause a
loss of water in the discs, which
in turn causes a small amount
of natural shrinkage in the disc.
About 54 per cent of this loss in
disc height occurs in the first 30
minutes after getting up out of
bed. When you sleep however, the
water becomes reabsorbed and
the discs regain their full height.
Since the discs occupy around one
third of the length of the vertebral
column, changes in the behaviour
of the disc can affect other spinal
structures such as ligaments
Sports
ancy between the two players is
penalty minutes: 28 for Kavanagh;
368 for Amesbury, who led the
league by more than 100 minutes.
“Kavanagh is one of the league’s
best defenseman,” said Eaton.
“We’re happy to have local kids,
but in the end this is a business
and if there is a deal out there
that’s going to help the team, I’m
going to make it.”
Returning will be defensemen
Reilly Moffat, Matt Bevilacqua,
and Matt Genovese, as well as for-
wards Dustin Cervo, and Shane
Harle, the team’s leading scorer
with 26 goals last season. Paul Pi-
and muscles. It is not surprising
that small changes in each disc,
when added together, can create
a daily change in spinal height
of one to two cm. However, the
increased fluid content and the
increased height of the discs first
thing in the morning means that
the ligaments are pulled taught
causing the spine to feel stiffer
and less mobile. That means that
back-bending movements would
feel stiffer in the morning. This
is why some people report that it
is easier to take their socks off at
night compared to putting them
on first thing in the morning. Most
of us notice that it is a little harder
to move around first thing in the
morning. The reason is, at least in
part, due to changes in the height
luso, younger brother of WHLer
Mike Piluso has also signed with
the Flames after playing parts of
two seasons as an affiliate.
However, the team’s goaltending
situation remains in doubt as Eric
Williams appears poised to jump
to the WHL’s St. Albert Raiders,
while Tyler Klassen tests the wa-
ters in Junior A.
“No one has really emerged yet,”
said Eaton of the team’s possible
replacement between the pipes.
The Flames play their first exhi-
bition game of the season against
Aldergrove at home at Planet Ice
in Coquitlam on Aug. 20.
of the spinal discs. Research
has found that muscles did not
contribute to this restriction of
movement. They also estimated
that disc-bending stresses were
increased by 300%, and ligament
stresses by 80% first thing in the
morning when the back was taken
through a full range of motion.
The recommendation is that
while we should get moving when
we wake up, we should also not do
full range, vigorous activity for a
while if we want to avoid potential
injury. It is something that em-
ployers need to recognize in order
to reduce back injury rates.
• Kerry Senchyna holds a bach-
elor of science degree in kinesiol-
ogy and is owner of West Coast
Kinesiology in Maple Ridge