Accident waiting to happen
On Sunday, November 10, we attended a Far Off Broadway performance at Evergreen Theatre, Powell River Recreation Complex [“Broadway comes close to home,” November 13].
We are long-time and rather frequent visitors to the theatre and have noticed that there is not much attention being paid to the upkeep of our very wonderful facility.
We have a safety concern about the bleacher seats which we feel should be addressed. On the day that we attended, the seats were not connected with each other and the spacers were installed incorrectly. It was difficult to avoid tripping on the rubber spacers and the seats tended to tip.
If there had been a full house, this would have been an accident waiting to happen. As it was, members of the audience were fixing the problem themselves.
We have a very good theatre, and management and the technicians need to stay on top of the problems.
Alexander and Nancy Hollmann
Highway 101
Take back your power
According to what BC Hydro has stated, there are 60,000 of us holding out and hanging on to our analogue meters [“Film explores controversy around smart meters,” November 20]. Many people have accepted the so-called smart meters under duress, others living in apartment suites have more or less been blanketed with them. In BC, there are more than 60 cities and municipalities that have voted for moratoriums and/or complete opt-outs. I am of the opinion that the 60,000 figure is far short of the actual holdouts and the ones who wish they were.
BC Hydro has now come up with proposals that if we do not accept its smart meters, we will have to pay extra to keep our privacy private, our health healthy and possibly our home insurance viable, and our hydro bills intact. I am of the opinion that its proposals are undemocratic.
By accepting the smart meter grid system, we may all be subject to irreversible health issues, lose our privacy, compromise our home insurance, suffer higher hydro bills and damage the environment.
It is far too high a risk to take. I suggest those who are holding out, do so, those who wish to take back their analogue meters, let BC Hydro know.
See the film Take Back Your Power and find out the truths that are being hidden from us.
Norm Hutton
Duncan Street
Taxes in perspective
Regarding financing of the new Powell River Public Library project, local tax required is a topic of great interest [“Where is the referendum?” October 30]. Here’s the view from the cellar, supported by independently conducted research published by the library board on September 12.
An increase to City of Powell River taxes of $19 per year per average household would cover the long-term borrowing required over a 25- to 30-year period if Powell River Regional District kicked in a similar amount. For $19, you could buy one book each year, or you could get ongoing access, through the new library, to 25,000 (a 63 per cent increase) more books, media and periodicals than the current cramped library can hold.
But wait, there’s more: lots of other valuable educational, cultural and recreational programs, services and electronic amenities like computers and e-books, chock-full of positive economic benefits to the community, delivered more efficiently and effectively than ever to more residents than ever—once the new library is operational.
The current library is performing great feats, considering its inadequate space. Visit the library or www.powellriverlibrary.ca to see for yourself. It could do a lot better. After more than a half century in the cellar, it’s time we roused our Sleeping Beauty’s full potential. Contact [email protected].
Rob Arnstein
Library Trustee
Klahanie Drive
