The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

l 8 The Canadian Statesman. Bowmanville, August 20.1986 Handi Transit to Operate 2nd Van to Overcome Rush Problems by Rob Savage Rush hour can be a pain for everyone, but it's especially especially tough when you're doing the driving for many people. So it's no wonder Handi- Transit is going to operate a second van in September to handle some of the busy afternoon traffic within the Town of Newcastle. Doug Manuel, the General General Manager for Handi- Transit, says the second vehicle will only run in the afternoon, since that's when the van service for handicapped people has the most difficulty keeping up with the rush. He says it's easy to get people out in the morning but is sometimes hard to get everyone back home. "They all hit mid-afternoon," he says. So the second part- time bus will operate from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Mr. Manuel doesn't expect expect the additional bus to satisfy everyone. But he does feel the service is doing the best it can to provide provide as much transportation transportation as possible. The 12 vans in the entire service operate from 7 a.m. to 5 • p.m. on weekdays throughout the Durham region. region. They don't operate on weekends or week nights because it's too costly to the non-profit service. "If it's not worthwhile, you aren't going to do it," Mr. Manuel said. The refusal to offer weekend service annoys some, Mr. Manuel says, but he says the company would lose too much money if they did travel on weekends. The company did try offering offering Saturday service for five months and found they had little response, averaging averaging three people a day. "There's just not enough demand demand for it," Mr. Manuel said. So the company has elected instead to stick to weekdays. And he says they will rent vans to interested parties who want to use them on the weekend or evenings, although he admits admits that renting is a little more expensive than the regular service. During a regular run, the company charges passengers passengers anywhere between $1 and $4.50 for a trip. He says the $4.50 maximum is for especially long trips which might go from Newtonville to Oshawa. And the varying rates are used to match the variance in the trips within the town. All trips on the van should be booked five days in advance because of the limited number of vehicles. "The further ahead we know, the easier we can try to schedule you in," Mr. Manuel said. Ten vans operate daily and two are used as backup, he added. The smaller vans can take six walkers or four wheelchairs and two walkers, walkers, and the larger vans have room for• six wheelchairs. wheelchairs. The service is partially funded in the Town of Newcastle Newcastle by the municipal government government and by the Ministry Ministry of Transportation and Communications. "The municipality is very good," Mr. Manuel said. "They're very easy to work with and are very co-operative. co-operative. They have been a big assistance to us since we started." He said the municipality hasn't turned down any of their requests. The service has been offered offered in the Town of Newcastle Newcastle since 1981. The com- ON FOR Back-to-School Jeans Sweats Sweaters Pants Skirts Shirts CLIP HERE CLIP HERE CLIP HERE WORTH UP TO WORTH UP TO 50 KING ST. E. Redeem this coupon for $1.00 off every $10 worth purchased -- maximum -- $20 off. Present coupon prior to Ul 1 purchase.iNo cash value. OFF For All Your Back-To-School Needs P.S. We have stuff for you too, Mom! $20 $20 Doug Manuel, the general manager of Handi-Transit, says additional afternoon afternoon service will be added in the Town of Newcastle this September. Mr Manuel says the new service won't be enough to please everyone but that it will be an improvement. pany first began in Oshawa in 1974 and was incorporated incorporated as a non-profit organization organization in 1977. In 1979, the service was expanded to include Whitby. In 1981, "the year of the disabled," a big push was given by town council to get the service into the Town of Newcastle. And the company is awaiting word from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to add another van which will service service Uxbridge and Scugog. Mr. Manuel said the final approval is mostly justa formality formality at this stage. "It's been agreed upon by all concerned." Each community owns the vehicles which are contracted contracted out independently to the communities. The Ministry of Transportation pays 50 per cent of the capital capital expenses, 25 per cent of the operating expenses, and $2.60 towards each passenger trip. Each municipality picks up the tab for the remaining capital and operating expenses, expenses, and passengers pay their own fare. The money collected from fares is used to help the municipality with its costs. "The only part that gets a little confusing is we have to keep separate books for each community," Mr. Manuel Manuel said. All three communities share the administration costs on a per capita basis. "It's an umbrella group," Mr. Manuel said. "It just makes more sense than having having three separate operations." operations." Id MS do all When its too hot, or you're too busy to do your own baking, come to Carters Bakery. We've been a family-owned business for three generations, with Steve and Barb Oke, grandchildren of the founder, Charles Carter Sr. Our delicious products are baked fresh daily, using only natural ingredients, according to the original family recipes. Ga/Uesi'â, fècJze/uf, 21 Kituj St. Sait 623-5855 SowmoHuilU "A deliciouA- pad of fcoumuuuulle foA. ouen 50 ueani-! And the company works in co-operation with Community Community Care to make sure passengers get the transportation transportation they need. A per son who calls Handi- Transit requesting transportation transportation which could be better provided by Community Community Care will be given the right number to call. Community Community Care offers the same assistance to people calling them who really need the vans. Mr. Manuel said many of the Newcastle passengers take long trips because their medical facilities are in Oshawa. "We don't take as many down there, but we certainly go a long way." But the company doesn't ask the passengers where they're going. "It's not our business where they go because because it's a public service." He says he's hoping the new van , which will operate operate for 10 months each year, will satisfy some disgruntled disgruntled customers. The new van cost the town $34,000, which is $16,000 more than the vehicle purchased in 1981 through a donation from the Bowmanville Rotary Rotary Club. He says the cost of a van has increased dramatically dramatically because of the changed requirements for vans for the handicapped. Mr. Manuel says the new regulations from the Ministry Ministry .of Transportation and Communications are "good", since they ensure safety, but are costly as well. Yet he knows some people will still be unhappy. unhappy. But he argues the service is doing the best it can with what it has. Mr. Manuel has been in a wheelchair himself for 20 years and says he's been with Handi-Transit "since it was an idea in 1972." He says people in the Town of Newcastle must realize the service is relatively relatively new. "Five years ago it didn't exist. The town has taken this on and it's not cheap for the town to do it. Oshawa Rebels to Host National Championship Area residents are in for a treat this weekend as several musical groups will be spending spending some time with us. The Oshawa Rebels are hosting the National Drum and Bugle Corps and Marching Bands Championships this Saturday, August 23, at Civic Fields, Thornton Road South, Oshawa. Preliminary competition competition begins at 11 a.m. with 18 Corps expected to participate. participate. Night finals commence at 6:45 p.m. The evening ends with a spectacular massed bands retreat "A Salute To Our Heritage" involving all the corps, with approximately 1,000 young people, as well as the Oshawa Folk Arts council. Most of the corps come from distances and Bowmanville will be providing overnight accommodation for some of them at Bowmanville High School and Bowmanville Senior Public. Corps will also be staying at Courtice Secondary Secondary School, Hobbs Senior Public and Darlington Sports Centre. If you hear some unusual sounds this weekend, do not be alarmed! Just sit back and enjoy the practising. Better yet, take a drive over to Civic Fields and see all the corps perform for a great day of music, precision marching and colourful manoeuvers. This is family entertainment at its best. The Rebels have had a suc- cesful season thus far, beginning their competitions in June at the Canadian Open in Kitchener and bringing home the trophy for first place in the "A" division. They were also named Provincial Champions Champions as well as North Circuit Champions, tying with the Patriots of Rochester, New York for that honour. The Rebels have managed these and other wins with only 40 marching members on the field. In a competition which allows up to 128 marchers, it is difficult to compete with the larger corps. Just think what they could do with more members. members. Next year will be the Corps' 10th Anniversary and they are very anxious to add to their ranks and make it their best year yet. The Rebels presently have Bowmanville, Orono and Enniskillen members. members. Young people come from as far west as Willowdale to participate. If any young person person between the ages of 12 and 21 would like to learn more about the Rebels, call 623-1432 or 725-0168 for more information, information, or come to the National Championship on Saturday to see what it's all about and speak to any of our members or to someone at the booster table. Although experience is an asset, it is certainly not necessary. Fall practices are on Tuesday nights. FSRESiTtS wmimma 0BB Stà My promise to you.... provide the BEST in Service, Selection and Price ! Joe Silva, President Make us your headquarters for Lumber • Hardware Plumbing and Electrical Supplies Doors • Windows Contractors' Supplies • Garages Custom-built Ventury Homes Roof Trusses, manufactured by Darlington Wood Products Just about everything to improve your home. DURHAM BUILDING SUPPLIES ttomelmpmvemen, eunmHOOHms 164 Base Line Rd. E. 623-6341 II IimImvM W. ->| Duitiam Building G3 Bowmanville