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12 - ýOrono ýWeekly Minies, Wedneýsday, Januaiy 6, 1999 Precîsion rîders Precision riders from left to right are: Jamie Wallace on Snickers, Gillian Bames on Spirit, Kera Collier on Chanice, Hallie MacKinnôn on Cricket, Jessica Chiddenton on Price and Carolyn Barber on Guy. Standing is Karen Collier who helped with the choreography.- Decorated horse stalîs and a the musical ride were the big attraction at Homestead Hilis Equestrian Center's open house on December 5 and 6. The Equestrian Centre is located on Jewel Rd. and is operated by Barb King. Students choreographed a musical ride for Sunday's per- formance which was attended by about 130 spectators. The six students maneuvered their mounts through a precision ride to the tune of Winter Wonderland and Mr. Sandman. Students also decorated 21 horse stalîs, for which they received prizes. The top ive stalîs were: lst place - Tyler, 2nd place - Angel, 3rd place - Chance, 4th place - Snickers, 5th place - Cricket. EFuneral Home MfOUGHTFULNESS, SERVICE & CONCERN A Family Owned Business, Offering: Traditional Funeral Services Prearranged & Prepaid Services - Cremation Arrangements Alternatives to Traditional Funerals - Out of Town Shipping CORY KUIPERS - PRESIDENT 53 Division Street Bowmanville, Ontario LI C 2Z8 623-5668 OFF STREET PARKING ANNUAL RATES 35 157 287 515 40 187 367 670 45 259 535 985 5034 790 1,495 55 577 1,275 2,465 60 868 2,003 3,920 65 1,3803,1 6,215 Kim Little Insurance& Investments (905)983-0512 5,500 Obuidings tobe contracted out The Ontario government is set to contract out the man- agement and maintenance of aIl of its approimately 5,500 governmnent buildings across, the province, a total of 4 7 mil- lion square feet, at a greater cost to the taxpayers, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union charged. An OPSEU analysis of the' government's figures shows that the province will pay about $242,438,000-to con- tract out the buildings, coi-> pared to the $187,260,000 it now costs to operate them wlth government mainte- nance staff. -Mis just doesn't make economic sense," said OPSEU President Leali Casselman. "The government will hand over In excess of $200 million to the large private sector companies, then spend $50 million to lay off 600 workers ln eveiy town and clty. In thé end, not only wlll taxpayers get absolutely no savings. they wlll have to pay more." The Ontario Realty Corporation, a Crown agency that owns and operates the govemment buildings, origi- nally estimated that the gov- emnment would save $80 mil- lion by turning them over to prIvate sector real estate com- panies. The savings estimate was obtalned through two succes- sive studies by consulting firmns Price Waterhouse and Coopers Lybrand. However, t.ne governmnent lias kept these reports secret froni Freedom of Information requests, claiming they are "confidential Cabinet docu- ments." Casselman called on the Hanris govemnment to put its plan on hold and release the consultants' reports so that there can be full public dis- closure of the proposed deal. 'These may be the start of, some of-the largest private contracts by this government, and Mike Harris must be held lÙlly and publicly accountable for them," she said. The ORO issued tenders for the buildings last August, dividing the province Into four large regions and allowing only the large real estate com- panties to submit blds for managing and maintaining thousands of buildings ln each reglon. The bids closed in October, but the govern- ment lias yet to announce the winnlng tenders. Sources indicate that the bidders' quotes are far in excess of the original govemn- ment estimates. Cabinet lias yet to decide what to do wlth the situation. Did alcohol turn your holidays upside down Alcoholism in a family is like a tornado--it' can destroy the true spirit of the holidays and leave lives in ruins. For more than fourty years, AI- Anon and Alateen (for those under I 8-years of age) have helped to restore and enhance the strengths of the people who have been caught up in the storm surrounding the alco- holie family member or friend. In the rooms of AI-Anon and Alateen we learn three important lessons about a loved one's drinking: we didn't cause it, we can't control it, and we cani't cure il. Simpifle lessons such as thiese put the disease of alcoholsis in perspective and lIay thie -ondokfor reclaiming our lives. AI-Anon is not a religious organization. Instead it offers an opportunity for spiritual recovery and growth based on the Twelve Steps, adapted from those of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our tradition of anonymity protects the identity of ail. There are no fees for member- ship: we are self-supporting through voluntary contribu- tions. Newcomers are encour- aged to attend any of the mneet- ings held throughout the Durham'Region. Cali 1-800- 921-3555 or 728-1020 and ask for AI-Anon to get more infor- mation about times and loca- tions. Ail caîls are confiden- tial. ERGARTE REISTAI Tae PaeatYu LclPulcg-ho Thie Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board's Junior and Senior Kindergarten programs offer excellent beginnings for your child's academidc, social, emotional, and language development. KAWARTHA PINE RIDG DITIC CHOOL BOR Registration for full day, every other day Junior and Senior Kindergarten is taking place at ail Kawartha Pine Ridge public elementary schools throughout January for the 1999-2000 school year. Please register your child before Ianuary 29. 1999. if either of the following applies: -Junior Kindergarten-child must bc four years of age by December 31, 1999 -Senior Kindergarteni-child must be five years of age by December 31, 1999 When registering your child, please bring a birth certificate or other proof of age and current immunization (vaccination) information. Students who are already registered need flot be registered again. If you are unsure which is your home school, please contact us at (705) 742-9773, ext. 2123, or if long distance, toll-free at 1-877-741-4577, ext. 2123. "B etter beginnings mean better futures!" A ngela Lloyd Chair of the Board R.(Dick)T. Malowney Dir'ector of Education . aarh c District -j )