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Page 16, Whitby Free Press, Weclresday, May 8, 1996 Fundrng cuts affect rescue boat operation WHAT A DE A L!!um 1996 GOLF CL >a Power Locks - 7inted Glass Dual Mirors -, Advanced Safety AMM Cass. 8 Speaker Sou~ndSystem FREE 2-VEAR 40,000KM MAINTENANCE, COS. E R M. 1 . Financing for 24mos. ai 3.9% or 36mos. ai 5.9%... OR 2. Lease the Golf for only $2M9 for 24 months based on $1,500 clown payment, walk away lease, P.D.I. and ail taxes, O.AC> ... OR 3. 10 Year 160,000km Power Train Warranty OWASCOa VOLKSWAGEN INC.k~- Ponn f taseve you BESTsince 1972. AnWaiRfflad CAA avad *y, 1425 Dundas St East, WhiIby £dWA1f V'"0U~ The&.8yofOshawaMarine sud Rescue Association's 35- year-old vessel was lauuched last month despite a lack of funds., A graduai decrease iu fundiug over the years has affected COMRA operations to the extent that this year the vessel will be docked until needed iu an orner- poney situation rather than, as m past years, patrolling Lake Ontario from the Wxtbq border to Clarington. 'Thisyoar wo'ro not the ihark in the water looking for fish,» says COMRA public relations officor Jason Pow, noting tha $36,000 la requredto hel the 6O-plus volunteors run COiR anuualiy. - Most of COMRA's fuudiug over its 28-year historyhas been pro- vided -by the Cit. of Oshawa, including $26,000 last yoear. Some help from te 1 Town of Whitby and Township of Claring- ton was also received. But this year the, City of Oèh- aaeut back fuuding to $5,000, COMRA recently, Iaunched its rescue boat in boat patrolled this area of Lake Ontauto Oshawa harbour where it wiIl be sttioned unil 'throughout.the summer. em ergency cails arise. In previous years the Pt WJMVDrosw, WNIbyFre Prom snd the Cityr lana to eut off al CoMR Commander John Lavautis says $5,000 has been requested from Whitby and Clarington, snd amail service charges have been considored at launchos sud docksi the area. Oshawa councillor Brian' Nicholson says it's notonly up to Oshawa taxpayers to fund COMA bocausâe a lot of calls are from the waters off the shores of the other two municipalitios. "We ail have responsibâilities to contribute our fair-share bécause w. ail bonofit from COMRA. Thorefore we ail muet contribute oqually to have a safe day on the lake "says Nicholson. CÃ"MRA oý stablished a fun- draisiug committo. sat yer an attempt to make up orte fuuding shortfall and, even- tually, obtaiu a much-nooded new vossel, estimated- to cost about $250,000, a new in-shore rescue veasel sud a new dock. ,A raffle for a Seadoo willbe launchod thié- month, and US YOUR CAR... legged ~toed Then you need the experts at Knock kneed DIXON ALIGNMENTj I 317 Hopkins St. Whitby e Cail 666-5167 Today! I uOur expert technicians are ready to get you travelling straight again! .. . .. . . .. . .. ... .. . . .. . . . businessos and organizations will be ask.ed for donations.' COMIRA voluntoors, -who, have been tramnod in ail aspects of search sud rescue opeations sud f irt aid, are divided into tbreo erews, each crew oncaRM for five woeks; dur-mg the boa tgseason. Each member must donato at lest 40 hours of service to COMRA, Ie COMRA vessel, first used i 1961, was purchased from a Florida . broker- by the .City .of_ Oshawàand puit into service asa. rescue boat mu 1968- on the recommendation of the Oshawa Powr quadron whichfotsh a- service was needed in local- waters. In addition te local service, COMMA has also responded te calîs for holp u arts of the lake at Toronte,Co'ourg sud the U.8. Pow saLys there were about 25 userious» calîs . Ist season, but that calla have been dereasiug lu rocont years due teicroasmng awareness of boat safety.- Auother aspect of COMRA in- volves vessel/rescue centre tôus taiks on water ssfoty te local boat*, p Scouts, Guides sud sehols sd ssfety inspec- tions for lut-retedb oaters. Pow says Durham Regional, Police have a rescue vossel but they focus on Lake Simcoe and &cu"o Lake sud mainly enforce Sedoo laws. RCMP also have a vessel but their focus is on 'enforcement of Canadian'Ship- ýpin Act sud Customa regula- tIns Another organization that pro.. viously provided services loeally, the Piekeriug-Ajax Rescue Unit (PARU), la not operating this seaso n. COMRA operates from, the beinmg of April until the beq jrniofN"ovàmber. r ydo think COMBA la important because of the con- stant increase of boates sud Seadocera," gays Pow. <'Without COMRA.there could be some serious problemas such as death ansd drowning,*o thore's a def5nife nood." 5,5 Radal / -'Raied. hit RadialT/ - S -rat. Black55R15 87S861580ieo P205/55R16 89iqp5 70523 200.10 121. m i 00o-, RadialR16 96 53281229.50135.0 /ertdack-. -rs .0 - . S *qa- Long-term plan is for a new boat Air Cnd0nig95 SINCLUJDE=S2$39.95' *Check Refrgeration System with Manifold Gauges - Leak Detector Check Compressor Clutch M EM B E R Check Compressor and Drive Beits INSTALLER *Test'Temperature at A/C Outlets ~~cç <~;~ *Freon Extra (includes 1/21b. freon if nec.) Expires May 17, 1996 1 ai WIMf