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Vol. 130 No. 01 PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - ~ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1995 David Ennis, Is carefully watched by an iguana, one of the numerous "exotic: pets: he keeps at his Utica-area touch with other people who sharé his enthusiasm for 'Wha tre you lookin' at? 5 'hopes to educate { folks on the. benefits of rooriia reptiles hi X as pets, and -d! home. He's just moved to the area, and hopes to get in. on David and fils. unusual menagerie on page 8 of today' 8 pets that are somewhat out ot the ordinary. He also Ti : dispelling some of the myths about critters that give many of us the willies. We've got a feature story Star. COPY 65¢ « (ble = d4¢ CG ast) Township, hospital brace for deep cuts By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star Local organizations are braced for the worst as the Tory government appears poised to cut some $3.5 billion in provincial funding tomorrow. "We're expecting the worst. We anticipate 20 per cent (reduction in transfer pay- ments) like most municipali- ties are (expecting)," said Scugog Regional Councillor . Marilyn Pearce last week. She said she isn't counting out the prospect of a package deal, which would see a 20 per cent cut this year followed 'another 20 per cent another year. The Ontario.government-ie- looking to make the largest, one-time cut in the province's history when Finance Minister - Ernie Eves brings in his eco- nomic statement tomorrow. Cuts are expected to hit across the board, including transfer agencies. The cuts will affect the so- called MUSH sector of society, Turnto Page 11 Region ready for immunization blitz By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star If the province calls for a massive immunization of school chil- dren this spring, Durham Region's Health Department will be ready. "They're talking the spring of 96," Dr. Linda Panaro, associate medical officer of health with the department, said last week. If and when that happens, "half of all the nurses in our public health nursing division would be stabbing needles in kids' arms on any given day." Speculation is mounting that the province will call for the re- immunization of school kids across the province, in the wake of a measles outbreak that has seen 2,000 cases diagnosed in Ontario this year. The booster immunization has been called for by Dr. Richard Schabas, Ontario's chief medical officer of health. It's expected the project could be given the nod by Christmas. The program, estimated to cost $6 million, would see 2 million school children and 500,000 pre-schoolers across Ontario immu- nized. In Durham alone, some 99,000 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 13 would require shots. Dr. Panaro noted that Durham has largely been spared during the recent measles flare-ups -- just five have been confirmed here this year -- and that could be because a number of family doctors here have made it a practice to give children follow-up shots before they enter primary school. Even so, there is a small segment of the population -- about 5 per cent -- for whom the vaccine does not prevent infection. "No vaccine is 100 per cent perfect," she said. "There's that 5 per cent who are susceptible, and they don't even know it." Never the less, "Durham kids have been very lucky so far." She said Durham would likely implement a region-wide inoc- ulation program before the measles season peaks in April; if stu- dents have had two shots, another won't hurt, and the booster could well help kids avoid contracting the virus. Daycare join day of protest Daycare centres in Senger joined together this past Friday (Nov. 24) to protest anticipated provin- cial funding cuts. ~ One daycare centre steps to inform . parents about the possible effects of funding restraints, ex d to be announced by nance minister Ernie Eves in tomorrow's provincial finan- cial statement. See page 9 of today' 8 Star for a + full report. closed, while others took | Your NIE QS Best choice! Dshawa Centre ft Certificates! Redeemable at all of our stores! am a remit AME MR ab wal - TE, PP.