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"A Family Tradition for 130 Years" Tables could be open Saturday Opening date for casino still uncertain right now By Chris Hall Port Perry Star With the new year arriving tonight, it is certain that The Great Blue Heron Charitable Casino and Bingo will not open its doors in 1996. But if everything goes according to plan, gamblers will be lining up at the front doors four days after 1997 has been rung in. \ "Right now we have set Saturday, January 4, 1997 as our target date," said Perry Steiner, Director of Marketing for World Casinos on Monday. "The date could be delayed but right now we're just finalizing the interior of - the building. Everything's going to be spit-shine and polished. We'll know the exact date of the opening in a couple of days after we make our decision." Mr. Steiner said he's pleased with the speed of the construction of the facility, pointing out that it only took about six months to get the building up and almost ready. When the casino does open, which could be as early as this weekend, Mr. Steiner adds that there won't be any big gimmicks, but just open doors waiting for new patrons. "We're just going to open the doors for the people and let them in. We're going to save the party until our big grand opening in the early spring." The road to the opening of the charity casino has encountered a few bumps along the way, though. Perhaps the oH | 4/Y eg Hh H HHH J HH] dH ~ 5 me NHHHE 1 d li % OFF biggest hurdle faced was the issuing of a liquor license to casino. ' A hearing was held in Port Perry Dec. 4 where both representatives from the casino and those opposing the hall met in a hearing of the Liquor License Board of Ontario. After a few weeks of waiting the LLBO sent down a decision allowing the Great Blue Heron Casino to sell alcoholic bev- erages. As quickly as that decision was sent down it landed in Provincial Court as Joel Aldred, a member of the Save Scugog Island Committee, made sure that the verdict be appealed. tried to persuade the Ivo person panel appointed by the LLBO that the road leading to the casino was in poor condition 'and that drunk drivers leaving the gaming premises would make the Island Rd. even more unsafe. He also stated that if a liquor license is granted to the casino he would appeal, and he hoped that the casino's opening would be delayed by at least six months to while road improvements occurred. When contacted by The Star, Mr. Aldred was very skeptical that the casino would be opening anytime soon, pointing out that, to his knowledge, it has many hurdles yet to overcome. At press time on Dec. 30, the appeal was inits 15th and last day, and a decision would be known on the outcome of the provincial court appeal by 5 p.m. = Welcome Winter Boot Specials! 20%-4 % \ % Holiday Fashions Mens Christmas 20*-50:: Selected Womens Fall & Winter Fashions Thank You for Your Patronage in 1996! At the time of the hearing, Mr. Aldred FURR-TASTIC XMAS GIFT: Christmas gift when she got a | Daphne's) and was told that she was drawn on Christmas Eve and Carol Ward, owner of the clothing to present the coat to the lucky A he : 3 3 ir red on All Kids 303 & Crist 20: or he % all & 30: Winter Fash ions % All Sleep oF and Rol BR@( 3 *excluding Sorels