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WlnITrBY FREEPRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVENM 22,139M, PAGE 35 Satrda rderàhp ponWitb Trani caughtde uvtostu Sf Adults have avad p ovice - dents in their usage o f Whitby transit, helping to increase total ridership by 23 per cent on Saturdays. "CA 23 per 'cent increase in usage on Saturday is signifi- cant,» said councillor Lvnda Buf- fett at Monday night's operations committee meeting. A report from the public works department stated that both stu- dent ýand adult ridership has increased dramatically. At this point ridership is 50 per cent students and 50 per cent adults. Previously, the student rate was 60 per cent. Efforts -are being made to im- prove the efficiency of service from the GO Train in the after- noons. The GO train schedule doesn't coincide with the 20- minute Whitby Transit schedule and, as Whitby represents the east end of the G O train line, trains get ahead of schedule depositing passengers at the WhAitby Transit bus platformn ear, V tyTransit schedules allow for layovers at the GO station to provide for in-town transferring and for inclement weather. GO p assengers see this as a delay.Improvements are expec- ted to be made in the near future. Councillor Marcel Brunelle ci led the report "great news" ai suggested increased marketing of ted that bus passes be- macle the transit systemn. available at local stores open al- jast- conventional business nd Councillor Joe Bugelli sugges- hours. Sehool year won'et By Trudie Zavadovics Durham College bas taken ahl necessary steps to ensure no student I oses his year due to the 28-day teachers' strike. "It's hard to generalize because we've got s0 many types of programs," says Don, Mich le, vice-president of post-secondary programing and dean of applied arts. "We have made schedule adjustments se students get their whole year. "Our original -plan- was to go to Dec. 15. Now we re going till Dec. 22 and canceling winter break." Michie said t at the decision to extend classes was a joint decision. "We talked with the student council and OPSEU.» "Graduates want to be on the job market in time and other students want to get summer jobs.» Free parking in lots proposed FROM PAGE 1 "If it's sold properly it could be good,", says Stuart Craig, mana- ger of the downtown B TA. "It would be geat to offer downtown shoppers free parking. He expressed concern, howe- ver, that people who aren't shop- ping may use the lots, therefore creating parking problems f'or downtown shoppers. Rob Morton, chairman of the Downtown Whitby $IA, is all for legally averting the tax. But he is concerned t hat Bugelli's idea mnay prove to be a short term solution and that the provincial government maycorne up with another way of getting the money they palnned to get by imposing this tax. "Maybe the provincial govern- ment could deem certain revenues,"ý says Morton. "If Bugelli's plan were implemented, merchants and consumers would have mixed reactions. But, he added, «You're going to get mixed reactions no inatter how you cut be, lost They have decided to extent the first term to Jan. and end the college year May 4 instead of at the end of Apr. Michie said that the, nursing program and consulting access and prodtuctivity improvement are the courses hardest hit, while other, more conventional coifrses like applied arts were' more easily adjusted. He says that there was regular communication with students durinâ the strike and thinks that most students have returned "Teachers are in good spirits, says Michie. "They are dedicated and hard-working. They came back ready to go. Bath teachers and students' originally came here with one objective in mind and aIl are ready to get back to Downtown Chnistmas festival FROM PAGE 2 CLARA AND THE NUTCRACKER PRODUCTION 'On Dec. 15 and 16, the award- winning 'Studio cf Dance and Pefomig Arts wiil be perforg the Christmas story. Pefomanes will be held at the Studio cf Dance and Performing Arts, located at 307 Brock St. N., on Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and on Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. Tickets are available for $3 ea.ch at the Studio of Dance and Performing Arts and at Promenade Bocks in Pearson Lanes. Proceeds wiil be used Wo support the INTA-Kids Dance Company who will be competing in t he United States in the spring. For further information, cail 666-1528. SANTA'S BREKAT PARTY On Saturday, Dec. 16 at 8 a.m., Santals Breakfast Party will be held at St. AndreW's Family Restaurant in Whitby. The party includes breakfast, entertainment and gift bags from Santa. ickets are $5 each and may only be picked up at the restaurant, located at 114 Dundas St. E. (corner cf Perry StreetlDundas St.). Advance ticket sales .only. Quantity is limited, se visit St. AndreW>s Family Restaurant soon. For inquiries, call 668-1565 or 668-1588. CRA.RISMA MAGIC SHOW Visit the captivating magic act on Saturday, Dec. 16. The show, which includes doves, rabbits and se much more, will begin at 10:30 level of the Corporate Centre (209 Dundas St. E.), courtesy of Dundas Green Developments. KREATE A KARD WORKSHOP Kida are invited to make their own Christmas carda for faniilies and friends. For children ages 5 - 12 years froml p.-3 p.m. Space is limited. Pre-register, by calling- 666-3767. The event wil be held at Baby Shack, located at 131 Brock St. S. on, Dec. 16. GJFT WRAPING SERVICE On the evenings cf Dec. 21 and 22, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., a free gift.wrapping service will be provided for purchases-made in the downtown. Proof of purchase is required. Bring your boxed parcels te the Whitby Downtewn Business Irnprovement Area's new office, Iocated on the second floor of the former Faniily Trust building - 101 Brock St. S. COSTUME CHARACTERS During Saturday, Dec. 9, 16 or 23, you will find Rudolph, F'rosty or a Penguin roaming the downtown. Bring a camera if you wish a keepsake photograph. CHIRISTMAS PAPRKING BONIUS As a gift from the businesses of downtown Whitby, 22 minutes of free parking will be provided te anyone using the, on-street parkçing meters. Expired meters will be repleis hed with a cime. The. <ime entitles the owner of the vehicle, ini the expired parking spot, to, another 22- minut~es cf parking. A piece of paper, explainng where the fre time came from wiil be placed on the windshield cf the car. Unfortunately, cars that remain in the paring, spot after the 22 minutes are up and are once agaix> sitting at an expired meter, will býe ticketed. Aise look for available free parking in downtown mails and adacent Wo various businesses. WIUTBY TRANSIT If you would rather net drive, Whitby Transit services the downtown directly between 9 a.m. -and 3 p.m., with 30-minute service Monday Wo Friday, and 8 a.m. Wo 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Connections are* made fromn the GO Station Monday to, Friday with.* extended service to il p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. Connections with the GO train are also made on Saturdays from 8 a.m. Wo 7 p.m.1 from the downtown. CALL US TGDAY. 'YOUR COLLISION EXPERTS IN OSHA WA & A REA" K<igSI. o c Èj 401 Cr 0 M ;W~710 W loRd.. S.1 OshawaMAC 579-4000 Vans. trucks and commercial vehicles by estimale. Rust repair and bodywork extra. MAACO Auto Painting and Bodyworks are independent franchises of MAACO Enterprises, Inc IVAN8& TRUC !Accessorios & Installaotion WH ITBY IROQUI SOCCER CLUB rThe Whltby Iroquois Soccer Club Annual Gêeral i eeigPca hae ofI Nov. 26 trmm:3Opm -5.O0pmatîhe b1179 op4~fa, Masonic HllI, 200 Cochrane St., Whitlb'. Wh ourIèl ThM Club urgingalil m rs to atteni4ot (ie: Parents, coaches & sponsors.) For further information cali, Sam Coppolino, Puklicity Director, atI 668-92351 aMIm *MANY MORE TRUCK & VAN ACCESSORIES Mon.-Wed. 9-6, Thurs. & Fr1. 9-9, Sat. 10-3 1670 SIMCOE ST. N., OSHAWA 579-6868 i k