Burnaby’s first and favourite information source
Delivery 604-942-3081 • Friday, December 21, 2012
Needs help: Bureau is coming up short
Thinking well about seniors at Christmas
PAGE 3
PAGE 11
Your source for local sports, news, weather and entertainment! >> www.burnabynow.com CITY CRIME
Vandals slash 120 car tires Alfie Lau
staff reporter
A recent spate of 120 tire slashings in the Barnet Road area and at two Burnaby car dealerships mirrors a similar pattern of activity which occurred in the city this past April and May. In the spring, approximately 100 cars had their tires slashed, bringing the cumulative total to more than 220 cars with slashed tires. According to Burnaby RCMP Staff Sgt. Andy LeClair, the incidents are taking place in different areas of the city and at different times. “This is disturbing because of how senseless it is,” said LeClair. “People are going to work or going about their business and this really impacts their day. … There’s no gain to the individual or individuals who are doing this.” LeClair said the December incidents occurred between Dec. 2 and 8, with 26 instances recorded in the Barnet Road and Pandora Drive area of North Burnaby, 60 tire slashings at one Burnaby car dealership and 33 at another dealership, along with two instances along Woodsworth Street near the Forest Lawn cemetery. Sad Thiara, dealer principal and general manager at Carter Dodge Chrysler on Lougheed Highway, confirmed with the Burnaby NOW on Wednesday afternoon that his dealership had been victimized. “We are covered by insurance, but this has affected our business,” said Thiara. “Half the cars still have flat tires and the sales guys can’t take them out on test drives with Tires Page 5
APPY HOUR! SELECT APPETIZERS
Only 6 $
*
From 3pm-6pm Daily
Larry Wright/burnaby now
Christmas spirit: From left, City of Burnaby planning department employees Leah Libsekal, Donna Iacobellis and Lina Johannson help raise money for the Marguerite Dixon Transition Society every year. In all, about 20 employees help raise funds.
Carrying on the caring tradition Janaya Fuller-Evans
staff reporter
Almost since the beginning of her career at city hall, Donna Iacobellis has helped raise money for the Marguerite Dixon Transition Society every Christmas. The society runs the Dixon transition house in Burnaby and provides support for women and children who are fleeing violent situations. Donna, who began working at the front desk of the planning department in 1989 and is now a subdivision technician, became involved with the fundraising efforts in 1990 under the leadership of retired staffer
From 3pm-6pm daily, we’re serving up selected new appetizers for only $6* each!
See stores for details.
*
Helen Krenzler. Helen, Donna and a few other women would meet for lunch and decided to turn their creative talents to good use, Donna says. The group began creating objects to sell at a Christmas craft sale at city hall, giving the money to the society. “We started off with crafts, like crocheting while we were having our breaks, and knitting,” Donna recalls. Donna also moved on to painting Christmas decorations, making jelly and baking biscotti, she says. This year, she learned how to quilt from two other employees and made her first quilted Christmas
OLD ORCHARD MEDICAL CLINIC ◗ WALK-INS WELCOME ◗ WOMEN’S WELLNESS CLINIC ◗ BOTOX & FILLERS COSMETIC TREATMENTS #11 4429 KINGSWAY BURNABY
604-431-6585
burnabymedicalclinic.com ◗
Open 7 days a week
DR. GIDON FRAME MD, CCFP, ABAAM, NAMS
runner. “We spent a Sunday, and they were teaching me how to put things together and quilt, and I just finished on my lunch hour with the hand-stitching and stuff,” she says. Now, there are about 20 city employees involved in the effort, according to Donna, who took over organizing the fundraiser about five years ago. “I’ve got more ladies involved from here. I think that’s one thing I do well, is get volunteers,” she says. For one day in November, after Remembrance Day, city staff sell baked goods in the morning and hold a large craft, Caring Page 3
YOUR AGENT YOURBURNABY LOCAL AGENT
BRIAN VIDAS 604.671.5259
2009-2011
Brian Vidas Personal Real Estate Corporation 3010 Boundary Road, Burnaby
BrianVidas.com
www.
centre realty