Bch Fackin News Reporter bonackin@nsnews.cam TEE sun may set on the Brit Restaurant. a Monday public meeting, North ¥ council will ponder a staff recom: mendaiion to close the popular basement eatery for a month, A July 6 report to council from property use inspector David Owens said Bit owner Chris Bradley has frequently flouted the civic and- smoking, bylaw. The report said Bradley has been cited four times by city officials for permitting smoking in a prohibited location. He has been convicted ovice in provincial court and fined $100. Under the Municipal Act, the city can sus- = Brit Restauvant faces Friday. July 14. 2000 - North Shore News - 3 Smoking infractions lead to public hearing pend a business licence if the holder is convicted) or deemed gaily of a municipal bylaw or if the holder is engaged in misondoct that warrants a suspension. “Tt appears that Mir. Bradley is accepting, the tickets and imposed fines as a cost of doing, busi- ness.” Owens wrote, Bradley, a smoker hinyelf) said he hasn't per- mired smoking in the Brit since the bylaw came into effect July 1, 1998. “TP have just not enforced it to the city’s stan- dards,” said Bradley, who also plays in the house band. Bradley said it could enipple his business and cause nine people to lose their jobs. The Brit, at 1152 Lonsdale Ave.. normally opens Thursdays undays from + p.m. to midnight. If council vates to suspend the Briv'’s licence, Bradley would have to provide a letter to council asunng full compliance with the bylaw and pay all outstanding fines in order to re-open. Bradiev was ticketed Jan. 3, March 18, May 18 and Jane 22. He unsuccessfully disputed the first ticket in court. A S100 fine ts payable July 28. He did not dispute the March 18 oftence. iled to appear in court and was fined $100. Owens said a public health inspector who vi ited May 18 saw several customers smoking in and “that the proprietor had pro- vs for that purpose.” An Aug. 2 court cheduled to hear that matter. three other tickets have been issued in licence suspension 2000 — to the Rusty Gull Neighbourhood Pub and Montana’s Sports Bar. Those rickets were {and ono further complaints have been cd. Bradley said the city has not enforced the law properly. “The bylaw officer is allowed to write 4 ticket if veu smoke ina bar, but they don’t do it,” he said. “Thev'll only write me a ticker. The bylaw says not to permit anoking, f don’t permit it, but how am [supposed to entoree 12” He said he does not want to confront cus- tomers, especially those who have consumed alcohol and may become hostile. Health Canada estimates 4,000) Canadians die cach year because of second-hand smoke. The risk of lung cancer and heart disease is increased in otherwise healthy non-smokers by posure to second-hand smoke. ~ Anna Marie D'Angelo All the trimmings NEWS photo Cindy Goodman EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Alex Mizuguchi is trimmed during Kids Day festivities at Lonsdale Quay last Sunday. Kidz Kutz and Raymond Salon provided hair cuts in exchange for donations to Special Olympics. oks for ship cash Mascie Good Contributing Writer A plan to display the last sur- viving Canadian Victory Ship in anew museum on the water- front is facing competition for funding from elementary school playgrounds. The joint project between North “-Vancouver Museum and Archives and the DEEP Foundation would sce the engine and a section of the stern from the Cape Breton removed and put on display at a facility on the old Burrard shipyard site, where such vessels were constructed. “This is a unique project,” museum director Robin Inglis told North Vancouver District council on Monday night. “It celebrates the ships that won the war, an achievement that defined the entire community of North Vancouver.” So far, North Vancouver City and the province have granted $350,000 in cotal. The museum needs to raise at least $25,000 to make the project a reality. Inglis was appealing to council for a grant of up to $10,000. While councillors agreed that the project is worthy of financial support, Coun. Lisa Mun pointed out that the funds simply are not available to draw from. Moncey for the grant would need to come from council reserve, a $50,000 fund which is meant for requests not included in the budget. The reserve, however, is already down to $19,000. Osher projects, including three cations from elementary schools for play- grounds, are already waiting their turn. Council has a policy of matching funds raised by school groups for recreational equipment. Muri asked Inglis if the funding could be delayed until next March, when it could be included in the 2001 budget. The project, however, needs the money now because the work on the old ship must be completed by mid-August. The Artificial Reef Society of B.C., which owns the 10,000-tonne argo ship, plans to sink the Cape Breton in September for use as a diving site. Council deferred the item, and directed staff to‘find another source of funding for the Victory ship project. rbet sti links jaims Artist on theft-related charge crafting ‘Royal’ medallions Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter adangelo@nsnews.com A man who was involved in the Vancouver art scene and who is currently charged with possess- ing stolen paintings belonging to a West Vancouver artist was profiled on Wednesday in the Ottawa Citizen for his art connections to the Royal Family. Christian Cardell Corbet, 34, was charged on June 15 with possessing stolen paintings belonging to well-known artist Elizabeth Smily. The offence was alleged to take place on Aug. 9,1999. Ten of the stolen paintings were created by the West Vancouver artist who is now in her carly 80s. Another stolen painting was by Alan Edwards and owned by Smily. Corbet ated for a first court appearance to face the charge next week in North Vancouver provincial court. Corbet used to sign his correspondence “Artist to iM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.” He made headlines in 1995 and 1997 for his portraits of British Royal Faniily me: bers. Bue a News story revealed that Corbet had no such royal appointment or commissions for his portraits of the late Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Philip as was widely reported at the time. On Wednesday in the Ottawa Citisen, freelance reporter Buzz Bourdon reported that Corbet was creating 50 limited edition bronze medallions depicting the bust of the Queen Mother. The Ottawa daily newspaper reported that Corbet will present one of the medallions to the Queen Mother to mark her 100th birthday in August. The story does not cite any confirmation from palace relat- ing to the medallion presentation. The Ortawa Citisen states that Corbet claims he was asked in May to take on a private commission to make the medal- lions. Ottawa Citisen senior news editor Randy Boswell said yes- terday that he was trying to contact Corbet. Boswell said there is some question about work Corbet has done for the Royal Family in t ¢ past. Boswell said the Ottawa Citisen story suggests Corbet has produced artwork for the Royal Family and had a relationship with some Royals. “I think that needs to be confirmed or denied in some way,” said Boswell. Nurse shortages close beds at Lions Gate Hospital! the North Shore hospital. our staffsome much needed time off,” were Nor enough nurses, ital), About 20 other losed on seven cast and the main ki beds will be t the time News Reporter adangelo@nsnews.com ABOUT 26 in as many as 51 beds to close at Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) this month are due to nurse shortages. The hospital has 324 acute care beds. With the closure, the available acute care beds could drop to 273 at North Shore Health Region (NSHR) administration hopes to re- open all of the closed acute care beds in carly September. - NSHR spokesman Clay Adams said a chronic nurse shortage prevent- ed many LGH staff from taking a vacation last year. LGH staff had increased overtime and demanding on-call schedules last year. “In the interest of patient care and staff well-being it was necessary to give said Adams. Adams said that normally about 20 surgical and medical beds are closed in the summer because of staff vacations and lower number of people wishing to have surgery in the summer months. . This is the second time in LGH’s history that beds were closed due to nurse shortages. Last October, NSHR closed 39 LGH acute care beds because there there were 50 vacancies for registered nurses. The 39 beds were re-opened in January. Currently there are 70 vacancies for registered nurses as well as other staff positions, according to NSHR. About 700 registered nurses are employed full time and part time at LGH. This summer’s bed — closures involved 26 general medical beds on four west (fourth floor, western part of six west. Since January, NSHR has recruited more than 60 registered nurses. ‘The region recently hired 24 nurs- ing students for the summer to work as nursing assistants. Heaith region officials recommend people go to a medical clinic or doctor for medical problems that are not emergencies rather than to LGH’s emergency department.