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Ridge ward under renovation Renovation inside Oak Ridge is occurring while pressure mounts on the provincial government to build a new maximum security mental hospital. Ward 7, one of the Ridge's eight wards, has been vacant. Renovation Taxis Midland taxi company owners are being invited to give their opinion about mandatory 24 hour service. The town's public safety committee also wants to hear opinions about safety inspections of cabs every six months. Now, cabs are inspected when they are put on the road, or when a licence is renewed. Two of the town's three taxi companies are open 24 hours. An announced, fourth taxi company, own- ed by Ron Alderson, is sup- posed to be a 24 hour operation. Town hall Ecole Secondaire Penetanguishene Secon- dary School (ESPSS) mar- ched down Robert Street to the Town Hall Thursday to raise public awareness and concern about the phasing out of courses offered in French. "ESPSS not just PSS" the group of about 300 students yelled, as they car- ried placards and signs. The group's spokesman Michael Morrison made a presentation to Pene- tanguishene Town Coun- cillor Ray Baker, who pro- mised the town council "would give it our utmost consideration." "We would like to have your support as the town council to have a choice," Morrison said, as he presented a letter outlining the students' concerns. "The elimination of French language subjects at ESPSS not only deprives the students of a balanced timetable of both English and French subjects, but Red Cross March is Month. A general Red Cross appeal for money is being mounted by the Huronia branch of the Red Cross for all of March. when complete in June will make Ward 7 "more like a hospital,' Kathy Finney, associate administrator of Oak Ridge, said. Ward 7 will be the new admission ward. Some of the patient rooms are being made larger. Other rooms are being converted to of- fices. The concrete beds are being replaced with regular furniture. Carpet will be laid, and blinds and curtains hung, in a manner that won't interfere with observation of patients. The ward's nursing station will be in the centre of the ward, instead of at the en- trance. The old nursing sta- tion will become a staff lounge. Kitchenettes and laundry equipment will be installed. "We certainly need a new building but we need a better facility for both pa- tients and staff in the in- terim," Finney said. Oak Ridge has a staff of 225. The provincial government has been ask- ed for at least 40 more non- RN and non-RNA staff, and more RNs and RNAs. More parking possibilities The Midland Parking Authority wants to make more parking stalls by making existing stalls shorter. Bud Lewis and Ray McLarney proposed to the public safety committee that some of the turn lanes on King Street be shorten- ed as well, to help make room for more parking At least 14 new spaces. parking spaces could result. The committee asked the protest could also decrease our student population, thus threatening the very ex- istence of our town's oldest and largest school," the let- ter states. 'It is for this reason that we feel this is a matter that affects the en- tire town, not just the schools." "We are asking that a public forum be set up so the people of Pene- tanguishene can present their views and have their questions answered by the FLEC (French Language Education Council) members and the Simcoe County Board of Educa- tion," the letter said. According to ESPSS stu- dent Jennifer Daoust, "what we're fighting for is the choice (to take our courses in both languages)."' "It's really unfair," said Sarah MacKinnon, another ESPSS student. '""We want to make our choice,"' "Two people are deciding our future," Tyler Peet added. "The majority is against taking it (French) out," said fellow. student Shannon Campbell. '"'If FLEC takes out the French, we'll fight to get immersion in." The students, along with their parents and neighbours, will be making their concerns known to at the SCBE meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Educa- tion Centre in Barrie. Parking Authority to return with a written proposal. The parking stalls on King Street are 22 to 23 feet long. At least half of the cars in use today are 16 feet or shorter. The committee is being asked to permit a change to 20-foot-long Group Ecole Secondaire Penetanguishene Secon- dary School (ESPSS) Prin- cipal Gilles Cinq-mars, despite orders from the French Language Educa- tion Council (FLEC), talked about the implications of the new phase-out policy and options available to parents, students and other interested citizens. Cing-mars said, as an employee of the Simcoe County Board of Education (SCBE) and as prinicipal of a school under FLEC's jurisdiction, he must obey orders from his superiors and not criticize board policies with the media. The principal justified his comments by saying he was talking to his students and their parents at the Sunday afternoon meeting. parking stalls. If the parking stalls are | changed, the turning lines at King and Hugel will have to be changed. Lewis and McLarney said they were willing to trade more parking spaces for a No Left Turn prohibition, if necessary. SD, Goodbye, Marie After nearly 15 years, Marie Scott is say- Jim Bales, at right, American Federation ing goodbye to pizzas all day. She has of Grain Millers Local 388 President Don retired from her job at Pillsbury's Maldeis. Midland plant. At left is plant manager discusses possible options Cinq-mars said the first option is to appeal to the Languages of Instruction Commission, an indepen- dent body of experts in education appointed by the Minister of Education. The commissioners study the situation and must report to the Minister within 30 days, and the Minister may either accept or reject the commission's recommen- dation or turn the matter over to the courts. The second option would be to challenge Bill 75, an option some are already" giving some thought, said Bob MacKin- non, the public forum chairman. The ESPSS principal also said the group could request the Simcoe Coun- ty Board of Education (SCBE) to appeal to the Minister of Education to amend Bill 75 himself, with the help of his cabinet. Cinq-mars described another option - the public demanding the resignation of the French trustees, whom, he says, were elected under false pretenses. The group could also lob- by the SCBE to designate Ecole St. Joseph and ESPSS as immersion schools, which would take them out of FLEC's jurisdiction, he said. Cinq-mars also offered the option of changing children's course selection forms as soon as possible. He said parents could take their children out of any course offered in French so FLEC would have no con- trol over their children. This option met with some Sidewalk nodes unpopular Unhappiness with the decorative nodes on King Street is growing among Midland BIA members. "It's starting to build. We'll see a direction soon," Ray McLarney, a Parking Authority board member, told the town's public safe- ty committee. McLarney said that as critics are becoming noisier, supporters of the nodes are starting to speak. McLarney estimated that opinion about the future of the nodes will build until enough people want to make it an issue. "I think it's a year away." Whether the members would want to spend the necessary money can't be known, he said. McLarney said he would vote "'tomorrow" to remove the node. Bud Lewis, also at the meeting, likes the nodes. Without the nodes, King Street looks like a "runway." criticism by parents, who said their children could suffer without French in- struction for a year. Cing-mars 'idea of parents taking control of their children's registration should be done as soon as possible was supported by the committee. The committee advised parents, since they were given back registration forms along with a letter from the French language superintendent explaining the new FLEC policy, to take the form directly to the school of their choice by March 20, the SCBE deadline for régistration. MacKinnon added the parents could lobby the SCBE to implement an im- mersion program or an ad- vanced French-as-a- second-language (FSL) pro- gram, although, he said, "neither one of these alter- natives is as good as the situation we have now (with courses offered in both languages)."' MacKinnon concluded the list with the option of civil disobedience, saying the parents have human rights legislation to back up their case. course ¢ China * Stoneware * Crystal ° Flatware ¢ Nurseryware THE PLACE SETTING 711 Yonge St., Midland We've got what you're looking for... And so much more... Figurines Handpainted Jewellery Scarves Picture Frames and Albums Gunds Stuffed Animals Go John Go! Residents of the new Provincial riding of Muskoka Georgian Bay. As you possibly may have heard, | am seeking the nomination as official Liberal candidate for the new riding of Muskoka Georgian Bay. i The boundary changes of the new riding from the last election are really significant. We now extend from Midland to a little north of Huntsville. In order for me to achieve this nomination, | respectfully ask for your support in assisting me by joining the Muskoka Georgian Bay Liberal Association and becoming a registered delegate by March 5th, so that you may attend the candidate nominating meeting that is being held in Bracebridge, Thursday, March 12th at 8:00 p.m. supporting me as official candidate at this time. The cost of a membership is $10.00 per member or $20.00 for a family membership. Buses will be provided free to you and will be leaving at 6:00 p.m. sharp from the PMCL office on Bay Street in Midland, from the Community Centre in Port McNicoll, from the Post Office in Victoria Harbour and the Post Office in Waubaushene. It is extremely important to have a good representation at this nominating meeting and you must be a registered Liberal in order to vote for a candidate. This will be a miniature type of convention as seen on T.V. from time to time. | thank you for any consideration you have given this request and | value and respect your decision. For further information, do not hesitate to call- 534-3789 John or Loreen, 526-2526 George or Catherine, 534-7379 John or Pat, 534-7701 Leo or Marj, 534-7069 Ted or Heather IMPORTANT NOTICE to TOWNSHIP OF TAY TAXPAYERS 1987 Interim Tax Bills were mailed on February 20, 1987. If you have not received your bill, please call the Township Office at 534-7248 or come in as soon as possible. Sincerely, Liberal Candidate for nomination John B. Moreau Please note that even if you do not receive a tax bill, you Becom are still responsible for payment of your taxes. nae oeeree delegate py Bench ------------------ Attend Nominating Meeting in. Bracebridge March 12-8 p.m ak > Interim Bill is due on Friday, March 27th, 1987. As \pril 1st, 1987 penalty of 1-%4% per month will be ap- pled to any unpaid Interim Taxes. ree FREE BUSES leaving at 6:00 p.m. Gladys E. Smith Treasurer Page 14, Tuesday, March 3, 1987 =_-- Ss.