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No. 06 PORT PERRY, ONTARIO Will occur again at March break Hospital's holiday closures generate some savings By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star- A cost-cutting experiment at Community Memorial Hospital over the Christmas holiday appears to have been a success. Hospital administration - were hoping to close up to 10 beds over the holiday stretch between Dec. 18 and Jan. 2, an effort to keep costs down and chip away at a $52,000 deficit. "I think it's been successful," human resources coordinator Connie Jamieson said last Thursday, a few days before the holiday period concluded. During the Christmas break a number of staff members took a volunteer holiday, and elective surgery was curtailed. Hospital administration also asked relatives of elderly patients awaiting transfers to nursing homes to help out by taking them home for some time during the holidays. Eight of the hospital's 42 beds are chronic care, and another five to eight acute care beds are often occupied by patients awaiting transfer from other institutions; the waiting period for those institutions can be quite lengthy. Mrs. Jamieson said the com- munity was quite cooperative and understanding during the break. A number of patients did enjoy time away from the hospital for the holidays, and just one unscheduled surgical procedure had to be performed. Emergency was busy over the holidays, but staff there said they weren't plagued with trivial or unnecessary visits. In addition, the new life centre Turn to page 3 RIDE program stops 27,000 drivers here By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star More than 27,000 vehicles have been stopped during the Durham Regional Police R.I.D.E. am this holi- day season and has resulted in nine people being charged with drinking and driving of- fences. The week between Christ- mas and New Year's saw 3,500 vehicles stopped over a period of five nights. Due to inclement weather and poor road conditions enforcement was limited. During this week sixteen people were ad- ministered roadside tests re- sulting in four suspensions and one charge for impaired a driving. Of the 27,250 cars stopped, during this year's holiday blitz, police have adminis- tered 129 roadside tests and also issued 36 twelve-hour suspensions, along with the hine impaired charges. Twelve people were also arrested for impaired driving this past week by regular pa- trol officers. During the same week R.ID.E. programs were set up in Bowmanville, Oshawa, Pickering, Port Perry and Ajax. The Durham Regional Po- lice R.ID.E." program will continue to operate through- out the region throughout the month of January. - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, -- oir --- Ee -- J. PETER HVIDSTEN / PORT PERRY STAR Scugog welcomes 1996 Thousands of Scugogites welcomed in the new year last Sunday night at private and organized New Year's Eve parties across the township. These revelers were among more than 200 who partied at Knights of Columbus New Years Bash held at the Catholic Church Hall in Port Perry. From left are, Josiphene and Joe Marten and Henry and Joyce Janssen. ry Tt 7 yn > Ser SA POU Sr SO 1 Cr Si TR a SC Sg, I age 0 ® By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star A group of Scugog residents have resolved to keep on think- ing green in 1996. Scugog's Green Team, a small but dedicated group of environmentalists formed last year, vow to continue working to create more awareness of environmental issues among their neighbors, and to take steps to bring about change locally. Leading the way will be Janet Banting of Greenbank, Team's thinking Green in 1996 who said during an interview last week that acting locally on issues of global importance can bring about change, and encourage people to look out for the environment in a num- Turnto Page9 \ Ve PRET Experience our tough & classy 4; BELL E> PONTIAC BUICK LIMITED 10 Vanedward Drive, Port Perry 985-8474 = oe 4 Tl __