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The Ptarmigan Players are busy rehearsing for
their April presentation of “The Wizard Of Oz’. Thanks
to a few “believers” and alot of negotiation between
Players president, Iris Trask and Vancouver Symphony
director Mike Wall, eleven members of the Symphony
will be the “Pit” band for this popular musical. Cassiar
Country presents a very special interview with some
of the main characters who inhabit the ‘Land of Oz”
created fifty years by George Baum.

Finding the ingredients that would go into a
transportation recipe to the Kingdom of Oz was difficult
since Cassiar is not renowned for having twisters. After
much contemplation I felt there was little chance of
getting any first hand information for this article.

Perplexed I decided to go for a drive. The moun-
tains stood white against the black velvet of the evening
sky. The northern lights were out and danced brightly
to the melody of the universe, colorful and carefree in
their crackling movements.

Suddenly I hit a patch of ice, just the other

side of Quartz Creek Bridge. The truck spun first in
one swooping motion, then as I tried in vain to gain
control, it spun faster and faster in smaller circles.

My seatbelt held me firm; but my head bounced
to the side hitting the window. The last thing I remember
was the truck leaving the road, still spinning as my fading
vision caught sight of blurred colours of the northern
lights!

All was dark when I came to. It was quiet, so
quiet | thought perhaps I was deaf as well as blind!
Shaking my head I moved my body, starting with my
feet. Testing each movement of the bones, ligaments,
and joints for damage there appeared to be none. No
searing pain, wet patches of seeping blood, or tender
bruises! I unfastened my seatbelt, keeping my eyes shut
and feeling my way as the dark was so oppressive having
my eyes open was disconcerting!

Groping along the door frame | found the handle
and tried to open the door. It wouldn’t budge. I’m buried _
alive, I thought, deep in some snow bank, wedged in
solidly!

Suddenly there was a loud banging noise and
the heavy silence was broken by the sound of a voice.
My door opened and I felt strong hands help me from
my seat. | still could not see, but a deep voice asked
me if 1 was all right. I mumbled a yes, and guided by
this stranger, I stepped out of the truck.

Moving along carefully, 1 stepped through what
felt like mud and then found I was being assisted up
a flight of stairs. I heard a handle turn and as the door
was opened my eyes slowly focused in a dimly lit room.
To my astonishment I found myself in a castle! I turned
to look at my rescuer. He was a soldier!

“Where am I?” I asked. “You are in the castle
of the Wicked Witch of the West.” he replied. “Your
coach somehow landed in her dungeon and she certainly
wants to see you!” “The Wicked Witch of the West,”
I said. “Where is this place?” “Why Oz of course,”
he said. He then lead me out of the chamber and down
a lantern lit hallway.

The events that followed in Oz were amazing.
I was thankful for my gifts of speaking, persuasion,
and common courtesy. These assisted me in manouver-
ing through a diplomatic maze of interviews with some
extra ordinary characters! It seemed I had landed right
smack in the middle of the historical drama that is “The
Wizard Of Oz”!

The Wicked Witch of the West was most annoyed
with a gal from Kansas named Dorothy, who had squished
her sister (the Wicked Witch of the East, under her flying
house).

Not only that, but this Dorothy person had the
audacity to hang out in really odd company. A brainless
Scarecrow, a heartless Tin Man, and a very cowardly
Lion had become her travelling companions. Adding
to this scenerio were overjoyed Munchkins, and an in-

terfering Good Witch named Glenda!
“I have so much to deal with,” the Wicked Witch
told me, “I just want to fly around scaring Munchkins,

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picking on dogs and working up spells. My sister and I
were very good at these things, that is until that brat
Dorothy interfered. Why she’s even wearing my dead
sisters shoes! What nice girl from Kansas would do a thing
like that, I ask you?”

I explained to the Wicked Witch of the West
that I was a reporter from Cassiar Country and that I
would like to have the opportunity to interview as many
of the characters of Oz as possible. For some reason
she liked me (perhaps one witch relates to another)
but with some discussion she agreed to let me roam

freely about Oz and get my story.

“Just get it straight,’ she warned, “or you'll
be sorry!’ “I only report what people say,” I replied,
“Trust me.”

1 wandered down the difficult path from her
castle waving at the soldier who had rescued me. He
looked strangely familiar. Tall, bald, and dark eyed,
but I couldn’t place him.

I found the Yellow Brick Road and began to
walk along it in a direction I picked by using the old
eenie, meenie, miney, moe routine. The country side
grew much brighter and prettier the further away from
the solemn castle I got. Somewhat enchanted with my
walk I barely noticed the small log house to my left
as | rounded a bend in the road. Startled at the sound
of music ringing from within this abode, I stopped and
peered in the window. Inside stood a person who to
this writers eye could only have been a Munchkin. She
was short, plump, fair skinned and very pretty. It seemed
she was a hairdresser, as she was busy singing while
sweeping up locks of hair from her shop floor. I entered
and was greeted in a friendly manner. I explained who I
was and we spoke of many things.

“I’ve been in Oz forever,” she told me. “I used
to live in the Munchkin Village but I always liked the
scenery in the country better. My customers don’t
mind the walk along the Yellow Brick Road as I always

have the coffee on and there is interesting news to dis- '

cuss.”

I asked her about any strangers (besides me)
in the area. “Oh well, of course there was that dear
little girl from Kansas. She was by here with a Scare-
crow about two hours ago. Seems he needed his straw
trimmed. They were on their way to the Emerald City.

With her directions to a short cut I bid her good-
bye, (wanting to catch up with them as soon as possible).
“Come back any time,” she called to me as I walked down

the steps. “I’ll perm your hair for you, make you look .

real pretty too toots!”’ I had a familiar feeling of knowing
this Munchkin.

Out of breath and sure I would never find Dorothy
and the gang to try to wrap up this interview I crested
a long tree lined hill. It was like climbing a mountain.
I expected a steep downhill grade, but instead the road
continued in a plateau, twisting and turning. Taking
a big breath I trudged along.

“Oh - ohmmmmmm,” screached something
in pain. “Why did you hit me, that hurt?” I looked
up into the forest where to my astonishment all the
characters I most wanted to interview were clustered.
I couldn’t believe my luck! Climbing the hill I walked
straight up to the little group. “Hello,” I cried, “Oh

hello, it’s really you guys, hi!”

The four looked at me in astonishment! “What
are you doing here,” said Dorothy disdainfully. “You
aren't in this play!” “Why you’ve got red hair.” I re-
plied. You’re supposed to be a brunette. “Excuse
me,” answered Dorothy, “I don’t know what you are
talking about. Who are you?” I again explained my
situation and they seemed to relax a little. “This is most
unusual,” said the Scarecrow. “Why, I just can’t figure
this out!”

d We sat and talked and as we did that old familiar

feeling came over me again. It was as if I knew these
characters. “I was a great Lions Den Chef,” said the
cowardly Lion. “I thought I was doing so well, until
I burnt the eggs and bacon at the Wicked Witch of the
West’s birthday breakfast. She just devasted me after

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that, until I had no confidence left at all! I took to
scaring people with my loud out bursts and the shaking

of my name.
friends 1 was lonely. But now, well I do have hope
for new courage! .

“You think you’ve had it bad?” said the Tin Man.
“Why I’m the last of my kind alive. I used to have lots of
cousins, but through the years they all rusted over. I
thought I too was doomed until Dorothy and the Scare-
crow found me and oiled me with the Vitamin K can.
Now all I need is a heart and I’ll live forever.” “‘Well,”
said the Scarecrow, “I love to dance. I just can’t seem to
remember all of the steps! With Dorothy’s help, I'll get to
Oz and meet the Wizard; I just know I’ll be good! Why,
with a brain that really works, I'll actually be able to
join in conversations with people!”

“That old witch is really mad at us,” added the red
headed Dorothy. ‘“We’ve got quite an adventure ahead,
and have decided to rest awhile. Would you like to join us
on our journey to see the great Oz?” she asked. I hesi-
tated for a moment, then declined, thinking I’d best not
interfere with the plot. ‘No, I think Pll hurry on my way

‘to the Emerald City and see if I can’t catch the Wizard

before all of you get there. Good-bye - and good luck!” I
called out as I returned to the Yellow Brick Road.

I was growing weary of my journey and wishing I
had my truck. The thought was hardly out of my mind
when the most beautiful fairy I'd ever seen appeared
before me. (Not that I have seen many fairies.) ““You’ve
made a wish, and you shall have it,” she said.

“TI know you from somewhere,” I said. “Oh,” she
replied, “‘you might say I’m in the travel business here in

_ Oz.” With a wave of her wand my blue Bronco appeared,

shiny and new, facing in the direction of the Emerald
City.

I climbed in and turned to wave at the oh-so-fami-
liar fairy and realized she had disappeared! This is a
strange land I decided. No wonder Dorothy is so con-
fused!

Driving into the Emerald City, I was impressed
with its’ beauty. Everything was green and gold and the
people greeted me as if they were expecting me! ;

Getting in to see the Wizard was no problem. I
marveled at the great halls of his palace. He lived well, as
I supposed most Wizards did. I entered his office and
found him with his feet up on the desk, talking on the
phone. He waved me in, pointing to a chair. “Yes Glen-
da, she’s here. Oh of course my dear, you did an excellent
job. Mmmm, alright, we'll get together Saturday night,

I’ve got a tape you just must hear. It will drive your little —

fairy ears crazy!” With that he said his good-byes and
welcomed me.

“Now, what is it that you would like?” he asked.
“I suppose you would like to go back to Kansas too?”
“Well, no,” I replied, “actually it Cassiar, but could we
talk awhile first?”

He was very candid in his remarks about the Emer-
ald City. ‘I’ve been here long enough. It is time for me

to go on to other things. Of course, this Dorothy person —

is going to demand my attention, but I have faith in her
and her friends. With care, intelligence, a lot of heart, and
the courage to stand for what is right all will work out the
way it is meant tobe. I know most everything that goes

on in Oz, and the people who inhabit this land are much
the same as people anyplace else. They look upon life as
it is, both positive and negative. I’ve just tried to balance
things out for them a little, that’s all.”

I wanted to talk some more, but my head was be-
ginning to ache. I hadn’t had any sleep, and I knew I
had a long drive out of the Land of Oz. “Oh, don’t
worry,” said the Wizard,“the way you drive, you should
be home in no time!””

He walked me to my truck. It was night time, and
as I gazed into the dark sky, I noticed the green trail of
light that streaked across it. “That sorta looks like the
Northern Lights back home,” I said to the Wizard, but he
was gone. Suddenly I was alone, standing by my truck at
Quartz Creek Bridge, dreaming!

Until today when I met Dorothy and her ©

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Sat ea

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ACCOUNTABILITY

Public accountability is a major attribute of
the education finance system in British Columbia. Re-
sponsibility is shared by the provincial government
and local school boards. The government has responsi-
bility for establishing an amount of funding which it

judges necessary to provide a basic quality education”

sufficient to prepare students in every part of the pro-
vince for entrance to post-secondary education. This
is called the provincial benchmark education program.
The funding amount, called the shareable operating
budget is shared by government, through provision
of grants; and by school boards, through local residential
taxation. It is the responsibility of the publicly elected
school boards to set their own budgets according to
local needs and wishes. If boards, with the support
of their local taxpayers, choose to set standards and
budgets higher than the shareable operating budget
determined by the province, the funding for that sup-
plementary amount must be raised locally through addi-
tional residential taxation.

WHO PAYS FOR WHAT

The provincial government pays approximately 75%
of the cost of the provincial benchmark education
program through direct grants to school districts. These
grants come from the Consolidated Revenue Fund -- de-
tived from provincial income and sales taxes, federal
transfer payments, resource taxes, sales licences -- and
from commercial and industrial property taxes.

About 5% of the benchmark program is paid from mis-
cellaneous revenues, such as federal French grants, and
from surpluses and other minor amounts. The remaining
20% of the benchmark program is paid for by local res-
idential property taxes.

HOW THE BENCHMARK PROGRAM IS DETERMINED
A system called the fiscal framework enables the Ministry

of Education to describe in detail the government’s
position on an acceptable benchmark education program

' that will provide students in the province with a basic

quality education.

The benchmark program for all school districts is describ-
ed in a statement of Educational Service Levels and

PSS SOOOOO SOOO OOO OOOO OOOO Ooo Ooo OO OOOO OOOO OOO OooOo Oooo Ooo oo ooo oc CoS Oooo ooooooeoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooos

‘MARVEL TRAVEL
SERVICE LTD >

Want warm sandy beaches instead of
cold hard snowbanks?

THINK MEXICO

Fun Sun Vacations

Start As low as

Mazatlan $769
Acapulco $959

Per person for 2 weeks
(based on double occupancy)

Monday to Friday
164 Elliott Street

for popular destinctions

Puerto Vallarta $879

includes accomodation & hotel tax

Roundtrip airfare from Vancouver
Airport/Hotel transfers

YES, WE ACCEPT
NORTHWESTEL PAYMENTS

Hours Effective immediatly
9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Acceptable Cost Factors which is revised annually to
reflect Ministry of Education policies. Service levels
describe factors such as the number of pupils per teacher
in a given program area. Cost factors state the accept-
able price of delivering the services. They reflect the
different needs of districts, such as the unusual require-
ments of small, isolated school districts which have a
number of small schools scattered over large geographic
areas.

An information system is used to gather data on school
district enrolments, teacher salaries and all other cost
factors involved in offering the benchmark program.
The service levels, in conjunction with the cost factors,
are used to calculate the shareable amount for each school
board. The shareable, amount is funded through a com-
bination of direct grants to school districts plus residential
property taxes raised locally though bylaws.

The main purpose of the fiscal framework is to ensure
students across the province of equal access to a basic
but sound education.

THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT SYSTEM

Once the fiscal framework and shareable operating
amount are set for each school district, the next step is to
determine how much will be paid for by direct provincial
grants. The main purpose of the grant system is to ensure
that taxpayers across the province are taxed equitably.
The grant has three parts: :

1) a part of the shareable operating amount for which
the province is totally responsible and therefore
pays 100% of the cost, e.g. where a district pro-
vides, on the government’s behalf, a provincial
regional resource program for handicapped
children. p

2) a base grant, which is a fixed percentage of the
shareable amount arbitrarily set by government,
that applies to every district regardless of the
wealth of the district. This year the base grant was
55% of the shareable operating amount.

3) the shared services grant which is based on a form-
ula reflecting the ability of each district to raise
_money through residential propertv taxes.

%

YOUR LOCAL
GENERAL INSURANCE AGENT

164 Elliott Street, Cassiar, B.C.

Phone 778-7220

Monday to Friday
9:30 am to,1:00 p.m. -2:00 to 5:30 pm.

Cassiar Courier April- 1988 Page 11 .

How The Education F inance System Works In BC

THE ROLE OF THE PROVINCIAL
HOMEOWNER GRANT

Independent of the school financial management system,
but under the authority of the Minister of Education, the
$380 Provincial Homeowner Grant ($630 for senior
citizens) is paid to homeowners as a deduction from their
property taxes. It offsets taxes for both the shareable and
supplementary amounts of a school district’s budget.
When the grant is larger than the residential school tax,

homeowners may apply the surplus to other parts of their
tax bill.

Despite an increase in school taxes in most districts in
1987, the owners of average homes in 38 districts of the
province (out of 75) paid no school taxes because of the
Provincial Homeowner Grant. However, when: school
taxes increase, homeowners still feel a tax increase
because they have less grant to apply to other taxes. The

homeowner grant is paid for out of the Consolidated:
Revenue Fund.

Royal - SuperHost

The Royal Bank of Canada will have up to 4,000
employees graduate from the SuperHost program of
the Ministry of Tourism, Recreation and Culture, making
it the first bank to commit to SuperHost throughout
the entire province. :

Bill Reid, whose. Ministry is responsible for the
program, will officially designate the Royal Bank as
the ‘SuperHost Bank’ and announce the 75,000th person,
an employee, to successfully complete the program.
The designation will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday,
February 22, at the Royal Bank branch at 685 West
Hastings Street in Vancouver.

“It is an honour to designate the Royal Bank
as the ‘SuperHost Bank’ and I am pleased that it has

encouraged employees to participate in the course,”
said the Minister. “I hope that this will encourage all
businesses and individuals to become more aware of
the rewards of this terrific program. It will not only
stimulate business but also induce visitors to return
to our friendly Province.

“Thousands of people who have taken the course
are now out in their communities practising the com-
munication and ‘hospitality skills taught in SuperHost.
It shows the enthusiasm and pride British Columbians
have in making visitors feel welcome,” said Reid.

HOLT AGENCIES
INSURANCE LTD

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