Residents concerned about reckless driving
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» Rugby champions
COMMERCE
Shops against setting hours at quay Parks and rec says legislating times for stores a bad idea ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
swindler. One victim went to the Harbour Air terminal in Nanaimo and handed the man hundreds of dollars, Braker said. “I’m surprised people are sending him money,” said Braker. “However, I appreciate the generous heart that they have. “It’s embarrassing and annoying because someone in my position, sometimes we do appeal to the public for help,” Braker added. “And now they’ll wonder if it’s really me next time.” During heavy rainstorms in December, Chief Braker asked online for help from the public to deal with flooding on the Tseshaht reserve.
The city’s parks and recreation department is advising against rules for Harbour Quay merchants after council suggested legislation to ensure shops are open more consistently this summer. At an April 13 public meeting Port Alberni’s elected representatives held off on renewing a fiveyear lease – worth $1,270 a month – for Salmonberry’s Emporium and entering into a new $686 monthly agreement with Sweet Pea Coffee and Desserts until consistent operating hours can be assured at the Harbour Quay. Some councillors mentioned complaints from residents that businesses tend to be closed while others are open. But in a report for council, Scott Kenny, the city’s director of parks, recreation and heritage, noted that the operating hours reflect the different clientele needs for the quay’s various shops. “Consultation with the quay merchants indicates that they do not support a requirement for uniform business hours,” wrote Kenny. “In staff’s view it would be a mistake to impose specific hours of operations for the merchants at the quay.” A list in the next council agenda package shows that half of 16 shops at the Harbour Quay will be regularly open past 4:30 p.m. this summer. Most of these shops are run seven days a week, including holidays like July 1, when some stores experienced record sales last year, stated Kenny’s report. Cost reductions from years ago resulted in the elimination of municipal management staff to oversee operations at the Harbour Quay, leaving proprietors to decide on their own when shops will be open to customers.
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Black Sheep win
Black Sheep Anthony Selva dodges through the Velox Valhallians in Victoria last Saturday. Port Alberni won the Island championship for the first time since the 1990s. Story on Page 5. [MARK BRYANT, BC RUGBY NEWS]
INVESTIGATION
Scammer impersonating chief Fraudster pretends to be a First Nations elected official, asks for money MARTIN WISSMATH ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
Someone has been impersonating Tseshaht First Nation’s elected chief, Hugh Braker. Port Alberni RCMP are investigating the scam and trying to locate the con artist. He has made numerous phone calls asking for money for an emergency situation. “Caution should be exercised whenever somebody solicits money over the phone,” stated Const. Scott MacLeod, aboriginal policing services for the Port Alberni RCMP. “The solicitor’s identity should always be confirmed prior to donating money.” Three people were scammed in Port Alberni, losing between $300 and $500, MacLeod said.
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BRAKER
One person may have been scammed in Victoria. There were at least two more attempts in Port Alberni. “They did some fact checking, and they weren’t victimized as
a result,” MacLeod said. Mounties are asking for the public’s help with the case. Anyone with information can contact the local detachment at 250-723-2424 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. Braker told the Times he knows who it is and the man has done this before. To avoid interfering with the investigation Braker decided not to identify the suspect by name. Altogether he’s scammed about $1,000 from victims here in recent weeks, said Braker. The phone calls began in March, Braker noted. None of the people the scammer has called are First Nations. The Tseshaht chief has been posting on Facebook about the
Alberni buildings in Real Estat awards
A spring recipe to make lamb less gamey
The Alberni Athletic Hall and the Port Posh Car Wash were recognized in the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Commercial Building Awards last week. » Alberni Region, 3
While healthier cooks tend to limit red meat, happily there is a place for lamb on the healthy plate! » Taste, 10
Inside today What’s On 2 Alberni Region 3
Opinion 4 Sports 5
ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES VOLUME 66, NUMBER 81
Scoreboard 7 Comics 8
Classifieds 9 Taste 10
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