T H E
the fine print
R I C H M O N D
The Richmond News December 21. 2012 A3
N E W S
Upfront
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CHUNG CHOW/RICHMOND NEWS
Good Samaritan, Marj Bolton (woman in black) diverts traffic from going over a possible fallen power line that came down across Francis and No. 1 roads. It was later discovered to be just a TV cable line, but her efforts were much appreciated by drivers, nevertheless.
TO DO: Richmond’s Miss World Canada hopeful Selina Yue is inviting everyone to pause for a moment and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas with her Warmth of Light Music Banquet on Dec. 21 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Thompson Community Centre. Musical performances by local choirs and musicians and all proceeds donated to Variety – The Children’s Charity. Tickets are $18 at the door.
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the weather Friday high..................5 low ...................2 rain, wet snow Saturday high..................8 low ...................1 Cloudy, showers Sunday high..................7 low ...................3 Cloudy
on this day December 21 1988 — A bomb explodes on board Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, killing all 270 on board.
quote of the week
“We’re basically giving Walmart a clean slate here.” — Local environmentalist Michael Wolfe isn’t happy about the prospect of Walmart coming.
webonly
Local businesses not ready for PST evidence is that people are not at all ready.” The province has some information out there, added Grabowski, referring to a 22-page document on the B.C. government’s website. What may be of more assistance to local businesses is a PST Transition breakfast seminar on Jan. 17 being hosted by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce with presenter John Nagy, from Reid Hurst Nagy Inc., at Executive Airport Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre. As for his own firm, Grabowski said the transition is on the agenda for sure. “I’m not sure we’ll know (if we’re ready) until we have the definitive information, but it is certainly on my radar,” he said. “That doesn’t mean I’m necessarily ready for it.” A “sudden urgency” in the spring is what’s forecast by many with the transition back to the PST, coupled with a “heightened awareness with people looking anxiously to their accountants,” said Grabowski.
Many parents will tell you that when they don’t recycle at home, it’s usually their children who remind them to clean up their act. Imagine how the parents from William Bridge and Kathleen McNeely elementaries feel. For the fourth year, Richmond schools participated in the My School Sparkles contest designed to educate students from Kindergarten to Grade 5 on important environmental and social issues. The winners of this year’s contest are William Bridge and Kathleen McNeely. Every year, the city coordinates and sponsors the theatrical show by Dreamrider Theatre — Make Richmond Sparkle — for elementary school students. The show is fun, engaging and inspires students to take action on reducing solid waste and increasing recycling, as well as teaching them about the hazards of littering, vandalism and graffiti. Eight schools participated. Students are then encouraged to demonstrate what they learn in the show by participating in the contest. Data is collected about the condition of each of the participating school grounds before and after watching the show. “Our school grounds are spectacular,” said Wanda Salewski, principal for William Bridge. “The children love going outside with the new garbage-picking tongs and often go out without even being asked. The classes on litter duty for the week often complain that they have no litter to pick up.” Social responsibility includes learning to be citizens that respect the environment, said Patrick von
see Seminar page 4
see Contest page 4
Switch back from failed HST not on people’s radar BY ALAN CAMPBELL
acampbell@richmond-news.com
The majority of businesses in Richmond aren’t prepared to revert back to the PST, while some are just fine because they never transferred to the HST at all. A BC Chamber of Commerce survey revealed that 63 per cent of businesses in the province are not prepared for the transition back to the PST on April 1. Richmond Chamber of Commerce chair Barry Grabowski said that figure is probably close to the mark in this city as well. What that means, says Grabowski, is there will be a mad rush for information come the spring when everyone tries to clamber back from the government’s failed HST. “We haven’t done our own survey, but we’re confident the B.C. poll is representative of what’s happening in Richmond,” said Grabowski, who’s a partner with local law firm Cohen Buchan Edwards. “I think there’s a general knowledge that it’s coming, but my own anecdotal
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