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r • Total Market Coverage ofClaringtonfrom the Publishers of The Canadian Statesman • A James Publishing (omiminitv Newspaper Saturday, June 13, 1998 144th Year Circulation: 21.295 Alarmed For Life Fire Department Will he Going, Door-to-Door with Safely Checks by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Writer Hot Wheels Bowmanville motorcycle racer Mark Orchard leans into the corner during a 600 National Sport Bike race held at Mosport Park last weekend. weekend. The races .were part of the Superbike Championship weekend that wrapped up on Sunday, June 7, with all of the finals, In a race shortened shortened to only six laps becausè of a serious accident, Orchard finished 11th overall. The series now shifts to British Columbia for races June 20-21, and then it's on to Alberta for the weekend of June 26-28. Photo by Brad Kelly Handi Transit Users Look to Municipality by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Writer Handi Transit may have a rough road ahead providing providing transportation to 1,500 regular riders without provincial funding. Municipalities in "Durham are being asked to pick up the tab for running the non-profit service now that the province has bowed out. Handi Transit General appeared at Clarington's General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting on Monday to remind municipal councillors councillors here about the Important Important role the service plays for residents with physical disabilities. About ■ 100 people use the service here in Clarington. These are people who use wheelchairs, scooters and crutches, who are unable to climb into a bus, Mr. Chartier said. Others who cannot walk the distance distance to a bus stop also use it. Fare revenue only covers covers a portion of the operating operating cost. Last year's fares brought in'$l 1,400. But the overall cost to provide a essential transit to hospitals, shopping, school and social events will likely exceed $91,000 for the year. That works Manager Ben Chartier out to about $30 per trip. Traditionally, Handi Transit received 50% of its budget from provincial funding. But three years ago the province capped its annual subsidy at $42,200.'Zero funds were allotted for 1998. Now, Handi Transit is counting on $86,000 in municipal funding to add to a $5,200 surplus from previous year. "It's double what we gave out last year," councillor councillor Mary Novak observed. "The province has washed its hands of it. It's another example of the province leaving it on the backs of the municipali ties." Mr. Chartier pointed out that Handi Transit had been able to reduce expenses in recent years by out-sourcing some administrative functions. Councillor Jim Schell, acting mayor for the day, acknowledged the value of transportation services for handicapped. "My own parents took advantage of the Handi Transit service. Had they not, they would have been shut-ins. It's very worthwhile." worthwhile." Handi Transit was first established in Oshawa in 1974. It now operates in Whitby, Scugog, Uxbridge and Clarington as well. A big, red fire truck could be pulling up in front of your home very soon. Hopefully, it won't be there to put out a blaze, but to deliver a safety message direct to you. . "We are re-focusing our education efforts," says Fire Prevention Officer Randy Reinert of the Clarington Fire Department. "We have been to schools and community events and now we are going door-to-door." Uniformed firefighters plan to visit every residence in Bowmanville and Courtice over the next couple of months, doing most of their door-knocking in the evenings and weekends. They'll be talking to occupants and making sure all households have working smoke alarms on every floor, including basements. The slogan for the campaign is, "Alarmed for Life.": "A $4 smoke alarm can and will save a life," says Reinert. Householders can help fire officials by installing or testing their alarms ahead of time. The Firefighters' Association and the Town of Clarington have split the cost of purchasing smoke alarms and batteries which they will provide free to people people who need them. ■ The fire department is launching this program in the urban areas first because of the older buildings there', Reinert explains. : There is a greater potential for fire to occur in older buildings, he says. And 90% of fatal fires occur in the home at night when everyone is asleep. "You need a smoke alarm to wake you up in case of à fire," he says. Fire officials will also encourage families to draw up emergency escape plans. On their rounds, they'll hand out gridsheets, courtesy of McDonald's restaurants, on which homeowners can sketch the outline of their house, exit routes and a meeting spot outside. Continued on page 2 District School Board Unlikely to Approve Budget Before September Just the Right Height Branden Winters of Whitby was one happy guy as he shot baskets during the Fun Fair held at the Loblaws Bowmanville Market last Saturday, June 6. Brandon's mother, Christine, organized the fund-raising event held on the big side lawn of the store "to thank the Toronto Sick Children's Hospital Burn Unit and to help them." The idea started with her son, who was emphatic about ensuring that there would be a fun day, but with the educational theme of "Learn not to Burn." As of late Tuesday afternoon, the event had raised $4,000. Photo by Laura Richards The District School Board is recommending approval of 60% of a projected projected revenue budget worth $245 million. But it may be late September before the ■recently-amalgamated District 14 board sets its final budget. A committee of trustees recommended interim approval of the 1998 spending on June 9th. Trustees approved a motion that will go to the June 18 Board meeting authorizing administration to use up to a maximum of 60 per cent of thé projected projected revenue budget of $245,000,000 for operating operating costs for the period September 1, 1998 to December 31, 1998. This approval was part of the budget deliberations that occurred at Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board's Committee of the Whole Board budget meeting; held at Murray Centennial Public School. The meeting was the third in a scries of public input budget meetings held throughout the Board's jurisdiction. Gord Savage, Assistant Superintendent of Business, noted that the final 1998/99 budget will be sent to the September 24, 1998 regular board meeting, "The approved spending motion is based . on a working budget which incorporates the Ministry's target ■ to allocate allocate 65 per cent of budget resources to 'in-classroom' 'in-classroom' expenditures, Kawartha Pine Ridge has already met the Ministry's Continued on page 2 By Strike in Michigan A strike by 3,400 employees at GM's Flint, Michigan, Metal Centre resulted in a shortage of stamped metal components and closed the Oshawa Car Assembly Plant 1. "We have 1,800 employees laid off, but we are calling back some for four to eight-hour training sessions," said Richard James, a GM spokesperson He noted the training sessions are on issues like plant safety. The strike in Flint began last Friday, June 5, and on Tuesday, the workers at the Oshawa Plant 1, were asked not to come to work. The Metal Centre produces engine cradles, hoods and other stamped items. So far, no other GM plant in Oshawa or in Ste. Therese, Quebec, has been impacted, James noted on Wednesday. Car Assembly Plant 1 manufactures Chevrolet Luminas and Monte Carlos. "The Oshawa Car Assembly Plant 2 could be affected if the work stoppage continues, but we will not speculation speculation when that might occur," James noted. - Number 2 plant produces the Buick Century and Regal. All General Motors employees, except those at the Number 1 plant, have been advised to continue to report to work unless notified otherwise. Independent Flyers ÆsiaîEf *A|lstate (Darlene Ferguson 987-1611) A&P C[ie Comfort îihtuiye . mo idwniu 1 liadfoSit.uk. (Prices in effect from Sun., June 14 to Sat., June 20/98) Canadian Tire (Prices in effect from Sat., June 13 to Fri., June 19/98) *The Comfort Shoppe (Huge A.C. Sale) 'Graham's IGA (Prices in effect from Sun., June 14 to Sat., June 20/98) *Home Building Centre (Sale ends June 27/98) *Home Hardware (Sale ends Sat., June 20/98) *Port Hope Value Mart (Prices in effect from Sun., June 14 to Sat., June 20/98) *Radio Shack - (Prices in effect until Sat., June 27/98) ('Indicates partial distribution) For information about inserting flyers in %\)t Clavmgtoit/Couvttce 3htbc$)enbcnt, please contact our office at 623-3303. Itrsmar luyut^u |fi;»f!tstehfnx,-s8nMU