THE West Vancouver Recreation Centre complex has been recommended as the best site for the proposed new $5 million Arts Centre. Architect Ernest Collins presented an Arts Centre Feasibility Study at Monday’s West Vancouver District Council meeting. The West Vancouver Recreation Centre was found to be the best choice for the location of the Arts Centre, he concluded. West Yan Memorial Park and In- glewood School were also con- sidered, but had inherent problems, he explained. Memorial Park, while very beautiful, encompasses a creek and some very steep areas. Three existing homes would have to be acquired for the'l1C0 or so parking spots needed. Arrivals and departures at the Arts Centre could create congestion, located as it would be at the end of a dead end. Construction at Inglewood School would most likely require demolition of an historic building, which is cur-. rently utilized by the YMCA, Collins added. The recreation centre site was deeried preferable for a number of reasons. It would consolidate recrea- tional and cultural activities on one site, creating an accessible commmuni- ty focal point. Recreation and arts programs could mutually benefit by sharing resources and space, such as parking and administration costs. There would be no land acquisition costs and the development process could begin immediately. The Arts Centre, as currently en- visioned, would physically connect the existing buildings on the site. Collins proposed that the centre lie adjacent and to the east of the ice arena, connecting in its lower portion with the recreation centre. The new building would consist of a theatre, a public meeting space, an art gallery, a sculpture garden and a semi-circular plaza accessed from AURE CUR Contributing Writer Marine Drive. About 125 parking spaces would be required by the Arts Centre. Ex- isting parking at the complex, ac- commodating 145 cars, would have . ARCHITECT ERNEST Collins displays the proposed site model for the to be increased to 250 spaces. But as parking would be shared with other facilities, the number of spaces needed would be 20 per cent less than what would be required at another location. On a motion from Ald. Mark Sager, the feasibility study was refer- red to the Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission and thereaft 7 the Parks and Recreation Committee. at ‘ NEWS photo Mie Wakofileid Arts Centre at the West Vancouver Recreation Centre. Christmas charities scramble for food ON TIONS TWO NORTH Shore Christmas charities hoping to make the holidays a little more cheerful for local families say this year’s food donations are down from 1985. West Vancouver Santa Claus Fund head Ruth Stout and North Vancouver Christmas Bureau chief Ida Paddock said Tuesday both organizations need more dona- tions. “We need food,’’ Stout said. “And money we need to buy turkey vouchers and other things to put in the hampers. We don’t get everything given to us.”’ So far, the number of families requesting help from the WVSCF is 200, slightly lower than last year’s 250. By Christmas, Stout says, it will be 250 again. In North Vancouver, Paddock said food donations are down from last year. ‘‘i’m worried about the food,’’ she said, pointing to the commitment for 70 hampers. “We only have enough food for 15,” she said. ‘“‘And they’re a skimpy 15.” . . The two groups, in conjunction with the North Shore News, are collecting food and food gift cer- tificates to help who Paddock calls “the poorest of poor.’’ One NVCB worker even described the food shortage as “pretty scary.”” By STEPHEN BARRINGTON News Reporter For this year's Christmas food drive to be,a_ success, the Christmas Bureau and the Santa Claus Fund need the public to donate food to make up hampers. “The food donations are way down,’’ said Paddock. ‘*We haven't got food.”’ Each of the food hampers is meant to tide families over the Christmas holiday. ‘‘We hope the hampers are a little better than one day (of food),”’ she said. Some of the hamper goods is- clude a turkey or ham, butter, soup, flour, sugar, pasta, rice, coffee, cake or pudding mixes and assorted Christmas goodies. “We augment the hampers with treats and little gifts for the children,'’ said Paddock. “McDonald’s gift certificates are great — kids love to get them.”’ But Paddock admitted the food will not last long and right now the bureau’s meagre supply of food could mean the usually ample hampers will be reduced. DOWN To help meet this increasing need, the North Shore News is helping. Together with 43 local businesses, the News is spearheading a drive to collect food. Spread throughout the three North Shore municipalities, the businesses are sporting News ban- ners, window screamers and posters heralding the location as one of this year’s collection depots for the two local Christmas groups. Donations of non-perishable food or gift certificates can be dropped off at any of these loca- tions. ‘‘Frozen items we can’t handle. We don’t have a freezer.”’ Despite the lack of food dona- tions, Paddock and Stout remain confident they will be able to meet the need. ‘‘We're going to make it,’’ said Paddock. “We're not going to turn anybody away — I can guarantee we'll make it.” The last pick-up from the depots will be Dec. 22 and Paddock and Stout are urging people to give whatever they can no matter how small the donation is. For depot locations, look in to- day’s News cn page 12. For more information call the NVCB at 984-\MAS or the WYSCF at 922-6522. 3 - Friday, December 19, 1986 - Nori Shore News Weather: Friday and Saturday, cloudy with a few Showers. Highs near 7° C. INDEX Classified Ads... Doug Collins .- dl Editorial Page........6 Entertainment . Horoscepzes......... 21 Bob Hunter Lifestyles... .. Mailbox. . Movie Listings. ... TV Listings What's Going On.... XMAS SCHEDULE Local food bank hours changed THE NORTH VAN- COUVER food bank will change its schedule of food distribution through the Christmas holidays. Volunteer coordinator for the North Shore’s food bank John Hegeman said Thursday food will be distributed on Tuesday, Dec. 24 beginning at | p.m. instead of the bank's usual Wednesday opening. NO FOOD He acided that there will be no food distribution on Dec. 30 or 31, but the bank will reopen the fol- lowing Wednesday, Jan. 7. The North Vancouver food depot is located at North Shore Neighbourhood House, 225 East Second Street. Hegeman said the bank is facing no shortage of donations, “because the community has responded very generously. We still have a record of never having turned anyone away.”’ 206 HELPED The North Shore food bank ser- vices an average 200 to 7 W people each week. Demand, he said, was down slightly Dec. 17, when about 190 people registered for food. “But I think that had a Jot to do with welfare cheques having just been distributed,’’ Hegeman said. Registration to receive food from the food bank begins at 11:30 a.m. Families or single people receive one bag of groceries each. “NEWS photo Stuart Levis AFTER A passer-by noticed smoke he called the North Vancouver City Fire Department to William Meek Printing Ltd., at 121 East First Street Wednesdsy around 9:30 p.m. Store manager Don Gordon con- fers with two police officers and a firefighter, in front of the burning building. The fire started on the main floor in the rear, and the cause is not yet known. The building was saved, but there was a significant amount of smoke damage.