4 - Friday, Apri! 2. 1939 -- North Shore News Councillor blasts civi laza cos Layne Christensen News Reporter fayne@nsnews.com A North Vancouver City councillor is question- ing the cost of rebuilding the city’s l4th Street civic plaza. “This counci spends money as if it were going aut of style.” said Coun. Bob Fearntey, whe has voted his opposi tien to the plaza project trom the start, In March of last year, council voted to proceed with a redesign and reconstruction of the approsimately 20-vear old plaza area that connects the library and municipal hall with Lonsdale Avenue. The total cost of the project was estimated at $578,000. But in October, that cost rase te $773,000 when further examination of the existing concrete pool revealed faults in its structure. The city engiacer recommended it be com- pletely rebuilt. And that’s simply toa much money, according to Fearnley. “Did it need some serious ising up? Yes. Pmonet going to deny thar,” said Fearnley. “Bui i don’t think it required ripping the whole thing up and doing what they did.” When completed, the new plaza will have improved light- ing and signage, additional seating as well as new Lindscap- ing, brick paving stones and fountains. The general laveut of the existing pool will be maintained, said city engineer fim Laughlin. Other new features include the installation of a clock tower to house the solar-powered clock that was a gift to North Vancouver from Chiba, the municipality's sister city in Japan, and the addition of a children’s area with colourful tables and chairs. The redesign will see the plaza’s total area increase by about PRO square metres (1,014 sq. tt. Coun, Join Braithwaite said the total reconstruction of the plaza was the city’s only viable option. “Ho vowre going to do sometitag, vou do it night,” Braithwaite said on ‘Tuesday as construction crews were in the final stages of the plaza excavation. “We made the deci- sion toe tear it up and do it right or we'd be having major problems (in the fiuture).” Site excavation began in carly March. Reconstruction of the plaza should be completed by the end of fune. Clerk threatened with gasoline REMEMBER to turn your clocks ahead on Sunday, April 4 ar 2 a.m. for Daylight Savings Time. WEWS photo Terry Peters CONSTRUCTION crews began excavation of North Vancouver City's 14th Street civic plaza in March. The reconstructed plaza should be ready for unveiling in June. A robber poured gas on a motel countertop hand over money. The woman was ordered into the store’s back bath- late 30s or early 40s with dark hair, He wore a black baseball the bottom. The suspect was also “unclean looking.” on Monday and threat- me, : aom. ened to light the place Police sav the robber lett on fire. with some cash. The desk clerk at the The suspect was described Travelodge at 2060 Marine as being Caucasian, in his Dr. handed the robber about $200 from the dill and was also forced to give up. his waller. No one was injured in the 8 p.m. incident. According to the North Vancouver RCMP, the rob- ber had the gas in a plastic bottle. He threatened to use a lighter to ignite the gas. The desk clerk was forced into a storage room. The robber was deseribed as having no accent, aged 35, clean-shaven, with blond sideburns under a blue base- ball cap. He also wore over- sized sunglasses. On March 18, a robber wearing large women’s sun- glasses threw a plastic coftce cup full of gasoline on a store clerk at Rogers Video at 972 Marine Dr. The robber held a lighter and threatened to set the woman on fire if she didn’t SIEBY'S Le Old Fashion Sunday Dinner Roast Pork with Crackling $419” Served all day Sundays For reservations call 990-4334 3108 Edgemont Blvd. cap and dark, purple-rimmed Anyone with information sunglasses. about these nwo robberies is The women’s sunglasses asked to call the North had dark tinted lenses which Vancouver RCMP at 985- were lighter at the top than 131). —caina Marie D'Angelo oven. BAKED THREE cHeEss For lunch, enjoy melting ricotta, parmesan & mozzarella cheeses blended with vregano, basil, mushrooms, onions & twisty rotini in a garlic cream sauce. Served casserole style with our garden salad of mixed lettuce, garden vegetables & tomato.