Friday
Dec. 11, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 99)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
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S O U T H
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Crosstown rivals: A South Surrey basketball rivalryy is set to be renewed Monday, as the Peninsula’s three public-school ol senior boys hoops teams battle over the Rivals Week Cup. i see page 277
Murder investigation hits one-year anniversary
Police believe there were witnesses Tracy Holmes & Melissa Smalley Staff Reporters
Dario Bartoli
As family and friends of South Surrey teen Dario Bartoli prepare to mark the one-year anniversary of his violent death, police investigating the killing say they still believe someone out there has information that could help them solve the case. “Without the public, we can’t move forward at this time,� Sgt. Stephanie Ash-
ton, spokesperson for the Integratrated Homicide Investigation Team, told Peace Arch News Tuesday. “We know there’s people who haven’t talked to us.� Bartoli, 15, died in Peace Arch Hospital just after 10 a.m. on Dec. 13, 2014, from injuries suffered just hours before, when he was attacked while walking with a friend near Bakerview Park, located at 18 Avenue and 154 Street. Police were alerted to a disturbance
just before 3 a.m., after Bartoli and a 14-year-old boy – who police said was not injured – fled to a home in the 15600-block of 18 Avenue. One year later, information regarding the incident – including details of what happened, or if police have any suspects – has yet to be shared, and Ashton acknowledged that void may be troubling to the public. At the same time, police are confident
there are witnesses who were in the area of the park late Dec. 12 and early Dec. 13 who could shed some light on what happened, but have yet to come forward. “It is frustrating,â€? she said. “What I would say is for every person out there‌ who hasn’t tried to contact police – imagine how the family would feel right now.â€? i see page 4
Tree clearing reviewed
Hillside tour kept ‘internal’ White Rock Coun. David Chesney is hoping to get some answers about the city’s ‘vegetation removal’ on the Marine Drive hillside, when he tours the area with senior staff today (Friday). Requests for Peace Arch News to attend, however, were turned down by city manager Dan Bottrill, according to Chesney, who said Bottrill told him “he would like to keep it internal.� Requests for an explanation from Bottrill were not returned by PAN press time Thursday. Chesney, a longtime advocate against the removal of trees on ‘the hump,’ told PAN last week that he felt the city was being “disingenuous� in its reasoning for removing trees and shrubs from the slope, surmising it was meant to improve the views of those living on the hillside. Greg St. Louis, the city’s director of engineering, said the work was a continuation of a project launched in the spring, aimed at “maintaining slope stability,� and the main focus is to reconstruct the retaining wall and eradicate invasive species. The work has received mixed reviews from residents. – Melissa Smalley
Erich Saide photo
Crossing guard Eric Saide flashes his trademark ‘V’ sign Monday, during a celebration at Pacific Heights Elementary honouring his retirement.
Crossing guard retires at age 85
Students salute Samaritan with final wave Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
After nearly two decades guiding children safely across two of South Surrey’s busiest roads, Eric Saide has tipped his hat to drivers for the last time. The longtime crossing guard retired officially from his post on 24 Avenue – where he’s most recently been watching over students walking to and from Pacific Heights Elementary – last week. Students, staff and parents honoured Saide during a morning assembly Monday, with flowers and plenty of thanks.
“He has been our crossing guard since the opening of the school,â€? principal Jennifer Jock told the crowd. “Before that, Mr. Saide could be seen on 176 Street (at 20 Avenue, the former home of Grandview Elementary)‌ and he’d always wave at all the cars that went by. “We are all going to miss that wave and your friendly smile and the tip of your hat.â€? Saide, who turned 85 on Dec. 5, started his crossing-guard career in 1998, and quickly developed his friendly strategy for getting drivers’ attention. “My way of doing it was to start waving at people,â€? he said, demonstrating his trademark,
two-finger signal. “Never the hand open, always the ‘V’ sign‌ At the beginning, only maybe 50 per cent would wave back.â€? Over the years – eight watching over Grandview Elementary and the balance focused on Pacific Heights – he became a staple on the thoroughfares, and his smiles and waves were more often than not returned. He remembers just two close calls over the years. In one, a driver, instead of stopping for Saide as he led students across the road, actually went around them just as they hit the midway point. i see page 4
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