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1,200 Cubs, Scouts, Beavers invade Tiny's Awenda Park -See Page 3 Vol. 13, No. 40, Folio 79 Wednesday, October 1, 1980 48 pages, 25 cents Start more French Simcoe County Board of Education trustee Alvin Gravelle of Penetanguishene wants French taught in the county's public school system starting in Grade 1 as of next September. He expressed his desire at last week's board of education meeting. He later admitted that expanding the French program is dependent upon the size of the 1981 budget, consideration of which begins "in January. Gravelle also noted that any decision about expanding the French program in the county's public school system would be the responsibility of the board that is elected in the November municipal election. The Penetanguishene trustee's remark at last Wednesday's meeting was spurred by the recent suggestion of Official Language Commissioner Max Yalden that French become more available in the country's schools. At the moment, says Gravelle, the county's separate school board's French program is larger than the public board's French program, as are the French programs in other counties. Last Wednesday he told the board that if French becomes mandatory in secondary schools, providing French at Grades 6, 7 and 8 will not be sufficient. Gravelle. does not know how many courses says trustee teachers would be required to expand the program. He isa member of the French as a Second Language Committee. The committee has concluded that the French program cannot be expanded at this time, but that the proposal be considered in future, alongside other priorities. Yesterday Gravelle said expansion of the French program should be a top priority. An investigation needs only be updated. His committee was given the job in June of studying the system's French im- mersion courses. The committee's report is scheduled to be delivered to the boardin early 1981. - The mail continue to trickle in Residents of Penetanguishene should still be able to receive at least local mail in spite of the current strike by Federal Clerks. In fact, unless post office staff decide to honor picket lines in other centres; something they've so far been requested not to do by the striking Federal employees, the effects of the strike should be minimal. Only if the Post Office honours the picket -- lines will mail flow be disrupted. Yet in Penetanguishene, the local mail should still get through because there are no federal clerks operating out of the Post Office here. Here comes Santa Claus, here comes... Area children and the eternally young at heart will be glad to hear Santa Claus is coming to town, in this case, Midland, Dec. 6. Santa has already accepted an invitation to appear in Midland's fourth annual Santa Claus parade the third weekend before Christmas. Santa's local representative, Dick Ivens, hopes businessmen and service club mem- bers will lose no time in contacting him, or any member of Midland Civitans, with their ideas. and notice of their plans to enter the parade. The parade route this year is the same as last year. Participants will gather at the town dock, travel up King Street to Yonge Street, turn left to Midland Avenue, and return to the town dock along Midland Avenue. The Midland Santa Claus parade will be the only Santa Claus parade in Simcoe North. Midland Jaycees to get proceeds Midland Jaycee's "'Save A Life' campaign will benefit from a dance to be held in Penetanguishene this coming Saturday. To be hosted by Penetanguishene firefighters, the dance will see its proceeds turned over to Jaycees who are in the process of raising funds for extrication equipment for Midland Fire Department. Blitz countdown has started Penetanguishene General Hospital's Ladies Auxiliary is counting down to the Oct. 6 date of their blitz to raise money for a new Endoscope machine for the Hospital. Anyone interested in assisting with the blitz should contact the PGH Ladies Auxiliary. ..and the learning sessions go on Penetanguishene firefighters have had things quiet of late which has allowed them time to take in some worthwhile activities other than putting out fires. For example, last Wednesday, Gerard Desrochers visited local volunteer firefighters to demonstrate the use of an apparatus called a striker board OPC not probing Penetang force Contrary to reports out of Toronto, the Ontario Police Commission is not conducting an investigation of Penetanguishene Police Department. So said Police Chief John Geere yesterday. The chief did say OPC representatives had been in his town last October carrying out an "Adequacy Survey"' of his police force at the request of the town's public safety committee Tricks of the trade Is this how you do it? Practicing the proper method of scraping and cleaning the goal crease area is one of the young goaltenders who took part in last weekend goaltender's clinic, held at Penetanguishene Arena. The group which num- bered about 30, including netminders ot several age groups, received first rate instruction from the likes of Paul Goodine, goalie for the Penetanguishene Junior "C" Kings. Goodine is seen on the right, observing the youngsters progress. and council. Letters Page 4 Life style Page 8 Sports Page 19 Huronia Calendar Page 32 \ Y