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PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1995 COPY 65¢ 61¢ = 4¢ GST) 48 Pages J. PETER HVIDSTEN?/ PORE PERRY STAR I don it know about this... - Six-month-old Matthew Hudson-Packard looks warily up at Santa after being plunked - In the jolly old man's lap by his mom during the second annual Breakfast With Santa, held this past Sunday moning a at the Gadmus Goumny « Club. The tyke was lusts one of 1 and girls during the year. Merchants say Christmas sales are going well By J. Peter Hvidsten Port Perry Star With less than a week to go until Santa squeezes his way down the chimney, local store owners have great hopes for the final five days of Christmas shopping. A survey of a number of local retatl establishments suggests that despite the slow economy, people are not holding back on their gift-buying this year. In general most of those sur- veyed are pleased with the sea- son to date, but are bracing for the inevitable rush of last- minute shoppers. +With Christmas falling on a Monday, most stores will open all day Sunday (Christmas Eve) to take advantage of shop- pers who have left those impor- tant purchases to the final hour. Jayson Callan, owner of Jayson Callan Music in Port Perry, said he is "really pleased" with his Christmas sales. Among the larger items he sees being scooped up are musi- cal instruments like keyboards and saxophones. "We've been really busy and people are buying both large and small gifts," he said. - Jody Luke, of Luke's -- Country Store, says business has been slower than usual for the past couple of weeks, due to the recent winter storms. "We tend to be rushed on bright, sunny days, but slow when the weather is bad," she said. Ms Luke said customers appear to be purchasing more gifts, but smaller ticket items. Turnto Page 17 Dowson's closing ih January By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star After 46 years in the grocery business in Port Perry, the Dowson family is leaving the scene. Ken Dowson, manager of the Valu-Mart store in the Port Perry Plaza on Scugog St., announced Monday that the store will be closing as of Jan. 6. Mr. Dowson said the deci- sion to close the store was not an easy one for him and his family to reach. He had been offered the opportunity to take over as owner of a new, 35,000 square foot store, to be built across the street from the exist- Turnto Page 27 Scugog Township spent the last nickel of its $140, 000 winter roads budget for 1995 for maintenance continues to climb with each additional snowfall. Since Dec. 8, the township has been hit by two more major winter storms. At cost of $10,000 to $15,000 for each clean-up, the roads budget is inching close to a $30,000 deficit. ...And winter doesn't offi- cially arrive until later this week. This has caused a dilemma for the roads department. Committee chairman Marilyn Pearce, told The Star the safety of the township's resi- Snow buries roads budget in red ink two weeks ago, but the bill ~ ondary streets being plowed dents is of major concern. "It's important we kee the roads cleared so our resi- dents can get to work," she said. | While most people have been extremely understand- ing, she said residents will have to get used to less plow- ing on side streets this winter. "Main access roads will be given the priority, with sec- when the roads department can get to them," she said. Clearing and trucking away snow from the down- town core last Wednesday cost the township about $5,000, but the roads chair- Turnto Page 5 Saturday, 10am - 8pm