finished.

A new dining area and patio was opened before Easter and further revamping of the hotel is planned.

General manager J.P. Martens said the entire project -- which includes public rooms and guest bedrooms -- was expected to be finished by next winter.

The 200-room hotel has remained open during the work and Mr. Marten said bookings were very good during the first quarter of the year.

MAN FINED FOR CANNABIS POSSESSION CTS Man fined for cannabis possession A Pembroke man was fined a total of $500 yesterday after he pleaded guilty to two drug-related charges.

The court heard that Police officers, acting on information they had received, approached Dimitrie Lionel James, 24, outside his Controversy Lane home on January 28 and searched him.

Inside his pouch of Samson tobacco was a twist containing plant material and Rizzla cigarette papers. The plant material was found to be 0.2 grammes of cannabis.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined James $300 for possession of cannabis and $200 for having drug equipment, namely cigarette papers.

POLICE PROBE SERIES OF THEFTS CRM Police probe series of thefts Police officers are investigating two incidents which occurred at neighbouring Harvest Lane homes in Hamilton Parish on Wednesday morning.

In the first, a woman returned to her home to find a man in her kitchen. He fled after she confronted him. Police have a good description of him and are now investigating the incident.

And a thief struck a neighbouring home and searched several rooms before taking a pouch containing cash, the Police added.

Elsewhere, on Tuesday evening, money and cheques were stolen from home at Glenwood Park Crescent in Warwick after the culprit entered through an insecure window. The same entry method was used at a Printer's Alley, St.

George's home on Wednesday and cash was taken.

HISTORIC RESTORATION NEARLY FINISHED CLB Historic restoration nearly finished The historical restoration of Carter House is almost finished and St. David's Island Historical Society members plan to have a celebration to mark its opening.

On May 18, society president Richard Spurling and other invited guests will watch as one of the oldest homes in Bermuda is blessed by Reverend Larry Lowe and Reverend Carl Williams.

It will then open as a museum.

The society was given a ten-year lease for Carter House from the Bermuda Land Development Corporation at a cost of one lily bulb a year and hopes that a 99-year lease will be approved by Parliament afterward.

Carter House grounds were once covered with the specially-bred Howardi Lily, which was named for its creator Howard Smith.

Contractor Tom Smith handled the $150,000 restoration which focused mainly on repairing the roof and restoring the interior.

The home is believed to date back to the 1600s and will now be home to the St.

David's museum with displays that tell the story of St. David's Island and its culture.

The history of Carter House is tied to the family of Christopher Carter, one of the first three settlers of Bermuda that arrived here amongst survivors of the Sea Venture .

Mr. Carter stayed on the Island in 1610 when the Patience and Deliverance took other survivors on to Jamestown in the US.

He died in 1642 aboard the Seaflower , which exploded and sank in St. George's Harbour.

The historical home was preserved by the American Forces when they built Fort Bell and Kindley Field. Later it was turned into a beauty parlour by the US Air Force.