7 FRIDAY ‘December 8, 1995 Inflatable St. Nick contravenes bylaw, car. dealership told ‘IN Adispute that likely won’t be resolved until the holiday season pass- es,a .car dealer claims North “Vancouver City is playing the part of the Grinch That Stole Christmas. “By Robert Galster Contributing Writer | Dick Irwin’ Chevrolet has been told. by city Officials that a giant inflatable Santa Claus “perched on the car dealership’s s roof contravenes a bylaw. . Fred Smith; the ‘city’s director of develop- ment services, said the . “enormous 10.6 metre (35 ft.) Santa is not in compliance with the city’s sign bylaw: The bylaw states that while inflatables ure allowed on the Marine Drive “strip, they can‘t ibe placed on the roof and “should not exceed an absolute maximum of 5 metres (16.4 ft.) .in height.” G64 / said: to the girl, ‘you want me to’. take down “4 don't think it has Santa? a] ‘anything to da = with Christmas..: bututinict- “ing attention: to. Dick dirwin.” said Smith.: ~ Peter Erwin, sales “Manager Jat.) Dick Irwin, says he was . Peter Erwin, sales manager. at Dick Irwin ~ shocked by the city’s directive. He said he parlier this week received a'call from the city informing him of the infraction. “T said to the girl | (city official), ‘you witht me Ato take down Santa?” te Coun. Bill, Bell, unaware of the dispute, defended city officials, but udded a glimmer af “hope for saving Christmas on Marine Drive. “©The “staff are there ‘to implement. the bylaws,” said Bell, adding that the bylaw was J nol implemented to {‘prevent a Santa.” ‘The Santa should definitely stay,” said Bell. “He suggested the dealership write a letter to , council asking for special permission to allow the ~ Santa to remain in place. Meanwhile, Erwin is : the recent developments. He said the.S “nice, happy ... it’s not gross or anything.” “(Dick Irwin) is:a company that has been in still dumbfounded by Santa is “THE LONG arm of Canadian law doesn’t véach to Austria, where a for- ‘mer We in February's Sentinel secondary pipe- ‘bombing incident is now living. : “By Anna Marie D'An elo News Reporter A.B. Cwide bench warrant for the arrest of (the teenager was, issued shortly after he failed to appear in West Vancouver provincial court on Nov. 27, ; “The Crow ni is reviewing the file to detennine ‘Vancouver teenager charged J NEWS photo Terry Peters DICK IRWIN" S Peter Erwin doesn't “understand the city’. s fuss over the dealer's Santa. business for 27 years wishing the community a. Merry Christmas.” said Erwin. Erwin also doesn’t understand why all: the ‘taking place over Santa . “Nobody said anything about the gorilla” said Erwin of a giant inflatable recently crowning, the showroom. what action Uiey can take,” said West Vancouver Police Sgt. Barry Nickerson on Thursday. The youth, who cannot be named under the Young Offenders Act, was 17 when he was charged with bombing his high school. No one was injured in the 3 a.m. blast, which damaged lockers and broke windows in the school, The damage estimate was. less than $2,000, according te a February News report. Apparently fearful students, along with par- ents and school officials, eventually helped the police in the bombing investigation. The teenager was arrested: at the Chartwell Drive school at noon on Feb, 17, eight days after the bomb was detonated. Smith said that even though he is now aware of the gorilla's previous appearance, nobody in his office had noticed it at the time. Smith's estiniate of the time required to act on the infraction is likely to extend ‘well - past Christmas, meaning Santa is unlikely to ever get his day in court. The teenager claimed he had diplomatic immunity when West Vancouver Police arrested him, according to News sources, The teenager was charged with: @ placing a tinied explosive device; intentionally or recklessly causing damage by fire or explosion on Feb, 9; @ mischief causing danger to life on Feb..9: Mi threatening a male on Feb. 13. He was released from jail after $3,500 was posted for his bail. In July, his bail was varied to allow him to live at a new address in Wien, Austria. \ The bench warrant for the teenager's arres' was issued on Nov. 30, ‘ Weather Saturday: Sunny High 0'C, low -5°C. are a Weekly Real Estate listings: 37-56 & Interior designs shed seme light: 13 a Automotive... scctsessereueece 2D a Christmas calendar..34 B Crossword... cus ® Home&Garden.... _@ NN. Shore Alert SPOPESorececccssneessnnaice 10 M Tatking Porsonals.....32_ WM Tide Charts... 34 @ TV. Listings. opinion @ Lautens — Of iccal bullies & budgets: 6 LS @ Mailbox - Column on judge blasted: 7 On the’news front: Animation nation plants North Shore roots.