THE the DELTA LEADER FEBRUARY delta leader APRIL 2013
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APRIL 2013 FAMILY LAW CHANGES P3 ••• DELTA CRIME BEAT P4 ••• ART FUNDRAISER FOR OWL SOCIETY P5
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ND high rise gets nod
North Delta’s Robin Burgess, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, is gearing up for her first MS Walk in Surrey on April 28. With her is her cat Dr. Evil. Boaz Joseph credit
Delta Council adopted bylaws and authorized the issuance of a development variance permit April 15, allowing for the construction of the proposed 37-storey mixed-use high rise on 80th Avenue in North Delta. The building will be the South Fraser’s tallest building west of Surrey’s City Centre. The mixed-use building will include 359 apartment, a four-storey commercial component with a maximum 2,304 sq. m. (24,800 sq. ft.) floor area.
Delta mayor on fence over TransLink referendum idea
Putting the heat on MS Boaz Joseph, reporter Surrey North Delta Leader A former fan of the heat of her hometown of Kamloops, and once a backyard hot tub enthusiast, Robin Burgess is not looking forward to summer. For years, warm temperatures caused so much weakness in her legs, that her North Delta home now has separate air conditioners for the her bedroom, kitchen and basement. “I know heat bothered me, but I didn’t know why.”
Prior to her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis in March 2012 at the age of 49, she thought she was just clumsy. The new diagnosis explained the weakness, and also proved that her other strange symptom, numbness in her left arm, hand and fingers, was not carpal tunnel syndrome. “Things made sense and I was not just a klutz,” she says, recalling the days she would have trouble carrying a laundry basket or walking up the stairs. She’s now much more aware of her environment and actions, such as count-
ing the seven steps in each of the two staircases in her home, doing spring and summer chores in the early morning or evening, consuming no aspartame or immunity-boosting cold medicines, and taking the new MS medicine she’s receiving in a double-blind study. There are good days and not-so-good days, but the medicines seem to be helping, and her UBC medical support team and employers (Burnaby’s D.A. Townley and Associates, where she works fulltime) offer her no end of positive support. — Continued on p.4
Several Metro Vancouver mayors are blasting what they say is the potentially disastrous election promise of the BC Liberals to put any new taxes or tolls for TransLink to a regional referendum. However, Delta Mayor Lois Jackson said she’s not sure a binding referendum on a complex question would be wise, but said Delta has successfully used non-binding referenda before to gauge voter support for some initiatives. “I don’t think referendums should be poo-pooed necessarily because that is one way to get information from the public,” Jackson said. Metro Vancouver mayors have asked the province for new funding sources for TransLink including a vehicle levy, a share of carbon tax, a small regional sales tax or some form of road pricing.
Summer School Registration Now Open! Students have an opportunity to complete a secondary course during the summer. This is ideal for those who wish to complete graduation requirements, upgrade a course mark, or lighten next year’s academic load. There are also ELL summer courses.
For more information and to register visit the Delta School District website: web.deltasd.bc.ca There is a link on the homepage.