NEWS BRIEFS Cars burglarized THE WEST Vancouver Police are warning drivers who park their vehicles at Park Roval Shopping Centre to iock them or lose them. Over a two-day period earlier this week, 12 cars were burglarized in the Park Royal area. Thieves are favoring Japanese cars. In most cases attempts were made to steal the cars. The police advise drivers to lock their cars and keep all vehicle contents hidden from view. Suspicious people Joitering around cars should be reported to the West Vancouver Police at 922-4141. Butts out THE PROVINCIAL governmeat has pulled the sales permit of a cigarette-sales outlet operaied from the Squamish Band's Capilano Reserve. A second operation, however, continues to sell dis- counted cigarettes from the band’s Mission Reserve. Status Indians are not required to pay provincial or federal taxes on reserves. Some of the savings are being passed on to non-native smokers. Meanwhile the Dollarton Smoke Shop at the Burrard Reserve was robbed some time overnight between Feb. 13 and Feb. 14. Thieves escaped with 710 cartons of cig- arettes, a haul worth approximately $26,000. Freeze favored NORTH VANCOUVER City Ald. Rod Clark presented a notice of motion at Monday night's city council meeting calling for a two-year hiring freeze for North Vancouver City. “Our business is to continue to provide effective gov- ernment which balances community needs and resources thereby maximizing the city’s potential,”’ he said, quoting the city’s adopted corporate mission statement. Council will vote on Clark’s motion on Monday, Feb. Currently 85 privately-run facilities in the province From page 1 needed for the Fraser Valley- North Shore region. But the report also identifies a need of 418 long-stay (a few years to a life- time) beds for the mentally ill liv- ing within the region. And an additional 700 beds are required within a supported-hous- ing environment. Regionally, there are 99 beds in place or under de- velopment. According to the report, the beds will provide an alternative to ‘traditional residen- tial care.”’ The five-year process to reduce the size of residential care homes and make them ‘‘more responsive to focal acute hospital needs and to accommodate new Riverview patients who require extra staffing and programming’? would be managed at current residential care funding levels. Funding anticipated to trickle down to the Fraser Valtey-North Shore region includes $6 million worth of community mental health ‘*fix-up.”’ The new money is earmarked for community support programs and increased local mental health centre staff. As Riverview is downsized from a 1,000-bed psychiatric care hos- pital to a 200- adult-bed facility, transitional funding of about $15 million for 250 patients (beds) will be available to the Fraser Valley-North Shore region. But the money is not antici- pated to meet the area’s needs. West Vancouver resident Cathy Easdown operates the 12-oed Stirling House in Vancouver. It is a privately-operated specialized residential care facility.. She has been providing housing and sup- port for the mentally ill for the past 12 years. “T essentially feel | am running an acute care ward, but without the support and the funding. Our standards (of care) increased 30% to 69% depending on your level of care. The funding increased 1.8% over an average of the last six years.” Easdown receives maximum funding of $56 per day for a “level three’? client. Human Resources covers a $22.50 per day user charge. The Ministry of Health pays the rest. For that Easdown provides shelter, food, programming, maintenance, staffing and 24-hour coverage. “One of those clients goes to Vancouver General and gets ad- mitted to the psych ward where the bill was $1,600 for two days,” she said. According to Ed Helfrich, ex- ecutive director B.C. Pridecare, there are 85 privately-operated mental health care homes in place throughout the province. ‘*My understanding is that West Vancouver and North Vancouver have very few facilities. There’s certainly a shortage of available resources, let’s put it that way,” he said. UP TO 60% OFF reg. dept. store prices Blinds as Fast as 3 Days Yaletown Biinds & Drapery Inc. Se Visit our Showroom 987-0203 OPEN 7 DAYS 9am - 9pm BEAT AHY PRICE BY 5% Sunday, February 23, 1992 - North Shore News - 5 Suit filed over cannon blast ON A mild spring afternoon at the Deep Cove Yacht Club, North Vancouver receptionist Caroline Blair was standing too close to the club’s ceremonial cannon when it fired, causing her permanent hearing loss and headaches. She hired a lawyer to seck compensation, and a statement of claim was filed last week in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. The claim was filed almost two years after the incident occurred, and Blair, 68, learned she was court-bound only when she read about it in a Vancouver newspa- per. “*it was quite a surprise finding out the claim has finally been fil- ed,’’ says husband David Blair. “*Caroline was born deaf in one ear, and when the accident occur- red it badly damaged the good ear. We decided it would be well within reason to pursue the matter’ legally. {t’s unfortunate the claim took so long to be filed.” Unfortunate, too, for the club’s commodores, who were shocked to learn they are defendants in a Supreme Court lawsuit. **l can’t comment on the acci- dent, because I’ve been com- modore of the club for only four months,” says Bev Parslow. **I’m amazed the press knows about this, because I haven't been con- tacted by any legal party yet.”’ According to the statement of claim, Blair attended the annual sail-past at the club at about 2:30 p.m. on May 12, 1990, when the cannon was fired. Blair’s lawyer, W. Howard Bradbrooke, claims that his client’s injuries were the result of negligence. The club’s staff, he claims, fail- ed to ensure she was standing a safe distance from the cannon discharge and failed to warn her of the firing. Blair allegedly suffers ‘‘irrever- ‘ALL REPAIRS 20% OFF Pearl Resttinging (individually knotted) 75° an inch CUSTOM DESIGNS create ao masterplece with | your gold and gems or ours | Jewels Inc. fike custom-made jewellery leyaway pion Insurance claims 1414 Lonsdale Ave., North Van 984-4691 By Robin Brunet Contributing Writer sible and permanent irreparable post-traumatic neurosensory hear- ing loss’’ of her left ear, as well as ear pain and headaches. Blair continues to incur medica- tion, hospitalization and hearing aid expenses; the claim demands general and specific damages and medical costs. “I'm grateful Caroline is getting @ NEW DENTURES g@ COMFORTABLE SOFT LINERS @ REPAIRS a chance to have her day in court, but it should be emphasized that this was a straightforward acci- dent, nothing mysterious about it — and two years old,"’ says David Blair. Parslow is somewhat less than grateful the accident has achieved Supreme Court status. “*My assumption was the matter had been settled by the insurance companies long ago, but I guess this is the way mistakes are settled nowadays. It’s shocking to get the information from a newsman rather than a lawyer.”” No date has been set for court appearances in the suit. @ RELINES M@ FREE CONSULTATION &@ a SENIORS DISCOUNTS a R. PALLAI & R. 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