REMEMBRANCE DAY
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2013
Special recognition of Korean War veterans A5
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Fire service to charge for false alarms
Fees also will be levied for Äre department hazardous material callouts Alex BUTLER Abbotsford News
False fire alarms and hazardous material incidents may lead to fines if there isn’t due diligence done to stop them from occurring. Council has approved a plan by Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service to help recover the costs of false alarms and other fire services.
Fire chief Don Beer said the goal is not to make money, but to hold people accountable for false alarms due to improper alarm maintenance, and to charge polluters for the cleanup of hazardous material spills. There are existing fines for false fire alarms, which were approved in 2009. Property owners and occupiers are allowed
one false alarm in a 12-month period with no charge. After that, a single-family home, townhouse or duplex may, under the current rules, be fined $50 for a second false alarm, increasing up to $400 for fifth and subsequent false alarms. For apartment buildings or businesses, a second false alarm may cost Continued on A5
PILOTS FLYING HIGH A43 Junior B club rides win streak to the top of Pacific Junior Hockey League
‘The great imitator’
DEVELOPMENT PROCEEDS
Lyme disease sufferers raise awareness, medical response uncertainty
A7 Vicarro Ranch residential proposal moved forward by Abbotsford council
Alex BUTLER Abbotsford News
TOM SAWYER ON STAGE
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atasha Wood is 18 years old and should have graduated from high school last year. But the constant illness she experiences has kept her at home, delaying her dream of going to university. Her father Shawn said he still struggles to understand why doctors can’t treat his daughter for Lyme disease. “We take our daughter to the doctor when she’s sick to find out what’s wrong with her, and nobody says anything. We take our dog to the vet and the first thing the vet says to me... is ‘Do you want your dog vaccinated for Lyme disease?’ ” After visiting specialist after specialist, looking for answers for her symptoms – fainting, exhaustion, pain, hypersensitivity, cognitive issues and more – Natasha now gets her treatment from a naturopath, who prescribed long-term antibiotics and a variety of supplements to manage her symptoms. Her family is thrilled to find treatment, and thankful that Shawn and Natasha’s mother Sonya have health benefits that cover some of the costs. They said many people with Lyme disease are often forced to pay out of pocket to travel to the U.S. for treatment, or to cover visits Continued on A4
A13 Gallery 7 Theatre presents Mark Twain classic in Spice of Life season opener Q
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ALEX BUTLER Abbotsford News
Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . .A49
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After contracting Lyme disease, 18-year-old Natasha Wood now takes a long list of medications and supplements prescribed by a naturopath for her symptoms.
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