Page 2, News, Tuesday, March 13, 1990 ib YOUR FOREST... YOUR RESPONSIBILITY The Fine Print | he Fine Print Reading Between the Lines of a Tour Brochure A tour can be a convenient, enjoyable and economical way to travel, and in some cases its the only way for most of us to see some destinations such as China, Soviet Union or East African Game Parks for example. None the less, picking the right tour can involve as much work on your part as planning an independent trip. The first step is to see a good travel agent, one prepared to do more than hand you a fistfull of brochures. To get the most out of your agent, however, you have to come prepared. Here are some of the things you should ask about when investigating tours. 1. The Operator (Wholesaler): There are several ways to judge the reliability of a Tour Operator. Membership in ACTA (Alliance of Canadian Travel Associates) is one good sign. A Tour Operators style is probably the most important thing to consider. Some are know for impersonal mass market junkets, others for quality, experience-orienters trips. Most fall in between. Ask your agent about other clients reactions to the Operators Tours. 2. Cost: Be sure you understand what's covered in a tours price. Does it include airfare? How many meals are covered? Does local sight seeing cost extra? Ask also about cancellation policies. If full payment is due far in advance of departure, and cancellation penalties are Stringent, it's a good idea to invest in trip cancellation insurance. 3. Hotels: If the brochure doesn't include photographs of the hotels used on the tour, ask your agent to evaluate them. Many agents have the four- volumn "Official Hotel and Resort Guide", which contains candid appraisals and photographs of _ hotels worldwide. * 4. Food: A tour with most or all meals included might save you money, but if food and wine are vital to your enjoyment of travel, look for a tour that minimizes group meals. Tour food leans heavily toward chicken and green peas cooked many different ways. 5. Pace: Look for an itinerary that matches your own pace - whether that's covering as much ground as possible or spending more time in fewer places. 6. People: Nothing will affect your enjoyment of a tour more than the people with whom you share the experience. Ask your travel agent to find out what he can about the tour members, ages, amount of people on tour and where they come from. It might give you an idea whether they're your kind of fellow traveller. But if you want the convenience and cost savings of a tour, without unwelcome company, consider an independent tour - one on which you purchase air and hotel arrangements. But are free to do as you please ZON VOYAGE from Wanrck 14 tt March 30/90. Next article in poprit...4¢ report on Carnival Cruise Lines. Atnyone wishing te Cook air-faret, trifte, or haue any enguiries please call O-767-6411 collect and ether rtngela, Maureen, Doug or Lionel will Ce happy to accommodate you. = Erosion...still an issue continued from page 1 Building Code. The walls and sand which do not comply with the Building Code should never- have been allowed in the first place. After the walls were complet- ed and the sand dumped on the lawn the owner passed away. This is when the trouble started. The cement retaining walls fell down not long after they were put up due to the heavy sand. Sand began eroding into both proper- ties directly behind the house which is on a double lot. Neighbors are concerned about the many problems the sand brings into their own yards. A couple directly behind 230 MacDonald, who have lived there since 1948, used to win horticul- tural awards for their beautiful flowers and garden. Now all their hours of hard work becomes covered with sand with the slight- est north wind. A 7 foot wooden fence erected has done nothing to stop the sand. Windows cannot be opened in summer due to sand and also the hot railway ties stink Your badly of creosote. Anyone ven- turing into the back yard on a hot windy day will get sandblasted. Flooding in the spring brings yet another concern as does rain. The downward slope of the sandy lawn causes the water from the melting snow to run into the neighbors' lawns. About a foot of water seeped into the basement of a house on Kenogami Road in the Spring of '89 because there was run-off from both his property and from 230 MacDonald. Sand was also washed onto the proper- ty by the melting snow. Rain also washes the sand into the neigh- bors' yards. The unattractive appearance also depreciates the value of the surrounding properties. No one wants to buy a house with an unattractive hazard right out their back door. Safety of the property- is defi- nitely questionable. Children often play on the railway ties - jumping off them into deep snow in winter and climbing them in Forest... summer. It's just a matter of time until the overbearing build-up of sand causes the ties to fall over. Even if children are told to stay off there is still a danger of chil- dren playing in their own yards being hit by falling ties. No one wants children hurt because no one will take responsibilty to repair the problem. ~ The property is owned by the Bank of Montreal in Winnipeg. It will cost beyween $8,000 to $10,000 for repairs and removal of the sand. but the bank refuses to rectify the problem. Terrace Bay City Council has been approached for assistance. In Spring of 1989, residents con- fronted Council with the problem but still haven't seen any results. Council has checked with their lawyers and legally there is noth- ing that can be done but will check into the problem. When last asked, the Council had the topic under discussion but were not sure about the situation. It was stated that a decision should be reached before or. by Ma 1990. Photo on page g Your Responsibility (i po Ni, Ep o® ?3%°% Lakehead University iS fA Northern Vision UNIVERSITY STUDIES AT HOME 1990 SPRING/SUMMER TERM DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE OFFERINGS (Subject to minimum enrollment and availability of instructors) ») COURSE DURATION TUESDAY, MAY ist-FRIDAY, JULY 27th MID-TERM EXAMINATION Saturday, June 16th FINAL EXAMINATION Saturday, August 11th * Bow a: Call your only in town = Travel Consultant eae Joe Mykietyn oe 824-3418 « \ For further information and application/registration material, please contact: SIGNAL NORTH Office of Continuing Education Lakehead University Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E1 APPLICATION/REGISTRATION MATERIAL MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED FROM THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR AREA: Contact North Access Site Coordinator Public Libraries Lakehead University Off-Campus Representative Telephone: (807) 343-8210 toll free 1-800-465-3909 (valid only in the 807 area code) rN GTI LEE, SIGNAL NORTH Distance Education yy,