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Tr. I've been good, Santa After the Santa Claus Parade was over, children lined up at the Latcham Centre to sit on Santa's knee. Above, Kylie Howsam, 6, whispers in St. Nick's ear what she would like to find under her Christmas tree. For more photos of this year's Santa Claus Parade, see inside. Region housing boom on the way fo a new record The number of new homes con- structed this year in Durham Region is on its way to a record, sur- passing the all time high set more than a decade ago in 1975. In a lengthy written report to be tabled at this week's meeting of Regional council, Durham's plann- ing commissioner-Dr. Mofeed Michael says that during the first nine months of 1986, there were 5247 * building permits issued for new homes in the Region, more than 1000 higher than the same time last year, and closing in on the 5344 per- mits issued in 1975, the previous high for a single year. While he calls 1986 a "banner year" for Durham Region in terms of overall construction, Dr. Michael's report has a few warnings as well. He notes that the average price of a new home in Durham in September reached $150,000 and this has created "'extremely limited housing choices" for the first time buyers. "The housing industry in Durham appears to be concentrating its marketing efforts towards the se- cond and third time, high in- come/high equity home purchasers with large single family detached and luxury condominium dwell- ings," he states in the report. Dr. Michael predicts that 1987 may see more moderate growth due to consumer resistance to increas- ing house prices, an up-turn in mor- tgage rates and a reduction in con- sumer spending due to hikes in in- come and sales taxes. The value of building permits in the commercial sector across Durham dropped 13 percent in the first nine months of the year (from $35 million to $31 million). But in- dustrial permits stand at $84 million over the first nine months of the year, up by 21 percent over 1985. The value of all permits in the Region (housing, commercial and industrial) stood at $515 million by the end of September, a staggering 55 percent increase over the $331 million for the same nine months the previous year. Figures for Scugog Township for the end of September show $16.4 million in permits, up 39 percent over the same period last year when (Turn to page 3) Vol. 121 No. 1 Tuesday, December 2, 1986 Copy 35¢ ¥ Fair Board votes no for the last time The Port Perry Fair will be stay- ing where it is, and the Durham Board of Education is almost back to square one in the search for a site for a new school in Port Perry. By the narrow margin of 22 to 20, Port Perry Fair Board members re- jected a proposal to break the lease the Board has for the existing Fairgrounds on Simcoe Street. The vote, by secret ballot, was held last Wednesday evening during a special meeting of the Fair Board. The outcome of the meeting last week was greeted with sadness by Durham Board of Education chair- man Ruth Lafarga who told the Star she is "very disappointed" that The construction of a sidewalk to the Greenbank Public School will be a "high priority'"' item when Township council gets around to set- ting the 1987 budget next March. * That's about as far as council would go Monday afternoon in response to a request from Green- bank resident Janet Banting that the Township build a sidewalk to the school. Mrs. Banting, who attended the Monday meeting along with school principal Cathy Hamilton, told coun- cillors that "a great many parents in the community are very concern- ed about the need for the sidewalk to the school." She said children walking to school are often forced to use the road, especially in winter. This creates a dangerous situation because motorists not familiar with Council will help Scugog Township council is prepared to assist the Durham Board of Education in the efforts to find a new site for an elementary school in Port Perry. With the Fair Board site not available now, the council indicated Monday there are a couple of other sites in the general area that the School Board should be considering. "We have to let the School Board know this council is prepared to help in finding another (school site)" said Mayor Jerry Taylor. Two possible alternative sites were discussed briefly at the Mon- day council meeting. One is a piece of municipal land immediately to seven acres at the present Fairgrounds will not be available as the site for a new school. She said the Board will now have to consider alternative sites for a new elementary school, sites which Mrs. Lafarga said are not nearly as suitable as the one at the Fairgrounds. She said the Board had hoped to be able to start construction at the Fairgrounds site in the fall of 1987 with the school ready for classes in September 1988. With the Board now facing the prospect of finding a new location, the construction and open- ing of a new school will be delayed ayear. 'Sidewalk to be a high priority the area often travel at high speeds on the Concession Road ap- proaching the school. Mrs. Hamilton told the council there are now 137 students at the school, and 53 of them walk to and from school each day. The Township has estimated the cost of building the sidewalk is in the $75,000 range, almost double what the council normally budgets for sidewalk construction each year in all areas of Scugog. Major Jerry Taylor assured the delegation the council would treat the issue as a high priority during the 1987 budget preparations. While Mrs. Banting said Green- bank parents would like to see the sidewalk built next year, she in- dicated she was pleased with the fact the council will deal with the issue during budget preparations. the east of the Scugog Arena. And the other is on the Brooks Farm, which is privately owned but slated for residential development in the future. The Brooks Farm site is on the east side of Durham Road 2 just north of the Port Perry village limits. Reaction among councillors to the Fair Board decision of last week not to break its lease was one of disappointment. "It's unfortunate that it just didn't work out," said Ward 2 councillor Howard Hall. "This issue has been talked to death. It's over and done with," said area councillor Harvey Graham. "The new school could have been under construction right now," said Mrs. Lafarga. "That's the really frustrating thing for us." She added that Port Perry will continue to be number one on the Board's priority list for a new school, but the Ministry of Educa- tion, which provides most of the money for construction has told the School Board "not to ask for any money until there is a suitable site." Mrs. Lafarga said it is extremely unlikely the Schoo! Board will be able to secure an alternative site for the school by January 8, the cut-off date for provincial funds. for con- struction in 1987. At the Fair Board meeting last week, 42 persons cast votes. They were made up of directors, honourary life members, exhibitors and any member in good standing - with the Fair Board for the past three years. There were 108 persons eligible to vote on this issue, but only 42 show- ed up at the meeting. 'During a brief discussion prior to the vote, it became apparent that some members of the Fair Board remained adamently opposed to breaking the lease (with the (Turn to page 3) Bridge may be raised Plans to raise the bridge over the Scugog River in Lindsay are mov- ing ahead slowly. Scugog Township has been seek- ing to raise the Rainbow Bridge as this would allow large boats to make their way into Lake Scugog and in turn would be a benefit to the sum- mer tourist industry in Port Perry and around the lake. Mayor Jerry Taylor told council Monday that an engineering report has come up with some cost estimates to raise the wooden structure. The local Chamber of Commerce has indicated it will come up with $1500 and marina operators on the lake say they will chip in a similar sum. The Township council, which paid for the engineering reports, is prepared to come up with further money, but councillors feel Mariposa Township should also help pay as it would derive economic benefit if the bridge is raised. Requests for contributions are go- ing out to both Mariposa and the town of Lindsay. 48 Pages