i .. i 'ajor changes' part *o0f Centen nial faceli*ft. WbtysCentennial Building may be h tr framjr facelifting. O'n Modyngt on Cil's pann n evelopment committee recommended anrva S.of a proposai. to expand and renovate the former Ontario County courthouse on If endorsed by cnila ebished Centennial Building will house an enlarged community theatre, theWhitbyarchives nda mueu ALAN TERASE sprinted hie way to an Ontario record for the 100-metre sprint at the Ontario Disabled Games. Thrasher competed in the cp-5 category. C sBvephoto B y Chris Bovie In ouly bis first competitive season, Whitby's Alan Thrasher set a provincial recordin the 100-metro sprint at the 1991 Ontario Disabled Ganios held ovor the weekend in Hamilton. Sttiug the record turne of 19:11 in the CP-5 category, Thrasher also captured a gold medal in the 200-metre race. He was also second iu both javohin and shot put. ThrasherF 16, who has cerebral palsy neyer thought he would take part in track and field on a competitivo basis. «I used te race at school but I was always fiuishiug last.» It wasn't until he started running with the Durham Hot Wheels that his poteutial was realizedi. «I knew I could run fast but I hadn't raced at this level cf competition." Now ho bas developed a system that is paying off. «I check to see what the best timoý in the oveut ià and I work towards beating it!» While ho excels in sprints, Trhrasher hopes. te, becomo more comPetitivo lu the field evonts. «lm bettor' at runing than at field," Thrasher admits. 'But I prefer the field events.» Not having a junior category, Thrasher must compote with athletos possoessmng a much largor frame._ But, having recently started a weight-lifting prograin. he hopes te sean be on an equal level wit h is competiters. Training requires internai disciplie, and Thrasher prefers practicing 'th others, including close fiend Joo Zuppanic whe sot two Canadian records ln Hamilton. «When we race oach other, it takes hlm (Joe) a while te get goin. Sometimes near the end I get tired and start te drag." Wfule the competitive edge may be fairly new te, Thrasher, hie is used te boeing in good condition. Bofore learning te ride a bike last year, walkng long distances was very common. «II would walk te my friends' houses aIl the tixne. By the time I got there it was almest time te go homne.» 'Now that Thrasher bas set an Ontario record, hoe will work towards becomîng the fastest in bis class in alI cf Canada. The project will cost $5.2 mil- lion and wiIl be funded by both public and private sectors, according to a consultants' report prepared or council. But even if approved by coun- cil next week, work on the 'Cen- tennial Building Redevelopmhent Project' will not begin im- mediatoly. The recommendation only referas-the matter to next year's capital budget discussions. Anew council to be elected in November, will decido when, or if, the project proceods. Built in the 1850a, the old courthouse, and county council, chambers has' ben tdesgnated undor the Ontario HeritageAct. Concept is based on 4n'eservtng and conserving"I It operated as a courthouso until a now facility was erected on Rossland Rd. in the 1960s. lIn 1965, the courthouse (now ownod by DurhamnRegonwas leased to the Town for 99years. In 1967, a Contennial project turned it into a community centre and sinceq that turne, the building has served a variety of community functions. While a final decision is still pouding, there were only positive comments when the proposai was outlinod to the committee. Iii making their presontation, reprosentatives of the consulting firm which preparod the study gave their assurance the build- îng's historical character will be protected. At the saine turne te noted that «significant changes to the structure must occur if the build- ing is to serve a worthwhilo ?tcge*be a facility which can play a significant part lu the cultural lie of the ecommunity," said Henry Sears of Sears and Russell consultants. "It's an important historical structure and our intention was te respect it, but there must also be some major changes," he addod. As described by Catharine Tanner of Sears and Russell, thero will be two notable changes te the existing structure. A oue-storey addition will be constructod on the west side of the -building for backstago faci- lites for the theatre which will remain in its current location on the grund f1pç. 'A~tw-st fyer mdüilti purpose room wili be added te the northwest corner and wili enclose the oisting histericai façade. OuQ.'.whole concept is basod on proserving and conserving as mucb of the building as wo can,» explainod Tanner. The Whitby archives wili occupy the entire soutb wing cf the ground floor while a museuin will occupy most cf the secnd floor. Other areas cf. the building wili be used for ,sterago and offices. ., dcwxenting,4h. poqjoct's financing, Sears sidfour dif- féent scenarios were considered, ranging from $2.1 million te $5.2 million. «uJste d cean it up and et it in shape would cost .$2.1 mil- lion » said Sears. "ight now it doesn't have proper mechanical systems sud dosen't meet fire safety rogula- tiens.» Excluding the foyer. addition, the cost would be $4.5 million and with the foyer, $4.7 million, said Soars. The $5.2 million figure in- cludes the cost cf providiug «Jiro- per euvironmental coutrols7 te preserve museum artifac ta, ho said. "If a building is net woll-soa- led, moisture can be destructive,» said Sears. .The $5.2 million price tag in- cludes $4.3 million in construc- tion costs; $523,000 in consul- tante' fees sud *350,000 fer museum exhibits. The Town would be rospon- sible for, $1.74 million te be paid over four yoars, said Sears. The, balance of the funding would be contributed by federal and provincial agoncies, as well as througb a privato sector fun- draîsing campaigu wbich bas Atoane "etails were dis- elosed Sèars sai $*1 million bas alreacly been collected in a muni- cipal trust fund ostablisbed in connection with the project. With revenues cf $140,000 and expenses cf $330,000, Sears expected the facility te have an operatinoe deficit of *190,000 in its first year. However, this is a «firly con- servative ostimate,» said Sears. "I think other monies could be made available from other levels cf goverument. Whetber you get theni aIl are subject te negotia- tiens.» *Noting that it uow 'costs about $94,000 annually te operate, the oxisting facility, Sears said, "The difféence 15 mucb more effec- tive.» Ceuncillor Joe Drumm was *deigbted» with wbat ho termed a «temendous» proposaI. 4 'î 4 - ~ ~ .**,~ ** **,..,*.*... ..~44 .44444.44.4 1a . . HEIGHTSI ]PROJEOTMV SOON'. EGIN, CONCERNS OVER, PLAN FOR 600-UNIT' APARTMENT, COMPLEX pageê10 HEÀDQUARTERS BUILDING WOULD ' COMPLEMENT' NEIGHBOURHOOD- page 9 - heeIs Letters -____6, 12, 24 Business_______8 En ertainment 1 - 1- Recycler's Report- 14 Sp.orts 21-24 Sohool news -___26 Obituary______30 Wha's on ____31 i a 4 ~-J. 4441*4IO1ê 4* 4 44 1I44.4.~? ~A~4.*,t*4'.""'4' 'q . 1