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- os _ 23 TE ie PERRY g0g's Newspaper of Cho 7 COPY 75¢ 16 Pages (70¢ + 5¢ GST) MERRY CHRISTMAS: No doubt Santa will see many likenesses of himself this evening when he makes his way around the globe completing his annual delivery of gifts to all the good children. The residents of Scugog Township have once RIK DAVIE / PORT PERRY STAR again opened their hearts and wallets to help those in need. Staff and management at The Port Perry Star would also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Holiday Season. Epsom PS. remains slated for closure By Rik Davie Port Perry Star The fight to save Epsom Public School from closure came close to victory last Monday night, falling just short in the end. Whitby Trustee Doug Ross made a motion to split the $89 million Student Accommodation Plan into two sec- tions, dealing with elementary and secondary schools. The plan calls for $39 million of that total to go towards regional high schools with the remaining $50 million slat- ed for elementary schools. However, to fully utilize that $89 million the Durham Hometown Proud! PORT PERRY Te INTL IN] \ il 3 i! EEA | ALTE LA} District School Board must close at least four schools, including Epsom Public School. During Monday night's meeting, Scugog Trustee Martin Demmers attempted to move a motion that would have seen Epsom removed from that list. "Supporting this motion will show your support for the value of small schools," Mr. Demmers told fellow trustees in speaking to the motion. "Vote for small schools that are more beneficial to education and respect among students," he said. "If we Please turn to Page 3 We'd like to wrap up the year, by thanking you for shopping here! HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! from all of us at IGA Party Programs: Inquire about our Special Event Pop Program (pay for what you use) o Party Platters © Fresh Flower arrangements by our professional designers portpereryiga Scugog agrees to incentive plan Council commits 525,000 to help woo new doctors By Rik Davie Port Perry Star Scugog councillors agreed last Friday morning to cut a $25,000 cheque for the local hospital to help their efforts in attracting new doctors to the community. Local councillors convened for a special session Dec. 21 after Joseline Sikorski, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Lakeridge Health Port Perry, forwarded a request to Scugog Mayor Doug Moffatt asking for a $50,000 grant to be used as incentive money to woo two new doctors to the area. According to the mayor, Ms. Sikorski is currently in negotiations to bring the much-needed doctors to the area. Regional Councillor Ken Carruthers supported the move, citing the municipality's responsibility to make sure sufficient health care was in place for residents, "We will have-to explain to the public if we let good doctors get away," Mr. Carruthers told fellow his council- lors. All councillors were present expect for Ward 4 rep David Dietlein and Ward 5 Councillor Paul Michel. Ward 2 Councillor Marilyn Pearce was extremely reluc- tant to turn over funds to the corporation -- which cur- rently finds itself in a messy financial bind -- without any idea where the funds would be used. "Do we have a copy of a financial plan to go with this," Councillor Pearce asked, "because while I am not adverse to doing something to attract new doctors, all we have here is some vague request. "I cannot believe we are being asked by (Lakeridge) for money with no accounting or idea where that money might be used or for what." Councillor Pearce continued, saying, "what are we funding here, students loan repayments, a new car, a house, what?" Mayor Moffatt said that incentives used to get doctors to commit to practising in small communities could amount to exactly that. "Those kind of bonuses you mentioned -- loans or rental of a car for six months -- yes, those are the kinds of things involved here I think," Mayor Moffatt said. No member of the Lakeridge Health Corporation or from the Port Perry Hospital Foundation were on hand to elaborate in any way on what the funding might be used for Councillor Pearce said that if, as Councillor Carruthers stated earlier in the meeting, no doctors were taking on Please turn to Page 3 Dec. 24 - 7-5pm. Dec. 25 - CLOSED Dec. 26 - CLOSED Dec. 27 & 28 - 7-9pm. Dec. 29 - 6:30-7pm. Dec. 30 - 8-6pm. Dec. 31 - 7-5pm. Jan. 1 - CLOSED