The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

BUSINESS Students likely wont see any difference Parkview Casey out as school bus service providers BY TERESA tlatchfordyrmgcom Come September some York Region students will get on differ ent buses A new Education Ministry pilot project that used three school dis tricts including York Region to test a tendering process for transpor tation service contracts has cost two local school bus operators their contracts with the local school boards Newmarkets Parkview Transit and King Townships Casey Trans portation will not pick up students come September as new bus com panies take over their routes Students may not notice any difference as the new companies will strive to keep routes and bus drivers intact as the service con tracts change hands Sinton Trans portations Christine Johnson said Sinton was one of the companies to be awarded a contract While the new company which has expanded into Newmarket from Barrie is asking drivers to fin ish out the school year with their current employers it will begin its hiring process in May There has been a lot of upheav al and turmoil Ms Johnson said We want everyone to take a deep breath She understands drivers become attached to their routes students and families and hopes the com pany will be able to hire some of the drivers to keep them with their current routes Parkview Transit was original ly hired by the Catholic board in 1988 because of the growth the region was experiencing After two decades of service president Jon cant help but feel a little disappointed Our drivers are very upset he said Its rather sickening to be part of a business that has offered good service to York Region for so many years and to lose it like we did Our drivers are very upset Its rather sickening to be part of a business that has offered good service to York Region for so many years and to lose it like we did The company covers 50 bus routes 39 with 72passenger buses and the other 1 with 27passenger buses Although the company will still provide minivan services to the school boards for students with special needs and will look at devel oping its charter bus service for the private sector he predicts it will still mean letting go about drivers Casey Transportation a busi ness that has been in operation for 40 years will continue on as it too but will look into providing transportation for private schools The company is facing the task of letting go about 50 drivers director Charles Casey confirmed While 27 transportation compa nies expressed an interest in sub mitting a proposal the local school boards received 1 York Region District School Board spokesper son Ross Virgo said The proposals were reviewed on the basis of safe ty total cost of services and techni cal requirements needed to meet the demands of the workload The fiveyear contracts were awarded to First Student Newmar ket King and Markham divisions Simcoe Coach Lines Sinton Trans portation and Stock Transportation Gormley and Richmond Hill divi sions It is expected that other school boards will become involved in a similar process across the province when their contracts expire he said John MacLam who has driven for Casey and Parkview in the past disagrees with the route the minis try has taken because the process doesnt take into account a compa nys past service record To me its just callous he said These are companies the boards have depended on for years and now this is it for them The school boards have made a mistake just to save a few nickels and dimes he said noting new drivers who are not familiar with the routes could cause chaos when the school bell rings in September HOME HARDW JOINS ONE BRICK AT A TIME FUNDRAISER Newmarket Home Hardware will be selling bricks from February until February 21st to help Southlake Regional Health Centre with their One Brick at a Time fundraiser Each brick will be sold for 200 and all donations are going towards Southlakes Cancer Program to upgrade their technologies and to help bring the latest radiation facilities closer to the residents of York Region and ft South Simcoe County iNewmarket Home Hardware is aiming to cover their nfstore house with bricks They invite the co in help this worthy cause MakeYour Resolution a Reality Lose weight guaranteed AncLyoiir first 15 lbs are FREE tent locations in the Newmarket area to serve you Herbal Magic has given me my body my health and my happiness back Its the best phone call I ever made 1988 Olympic Medalist and Vancouver 201 Commentatoi Elizabeth Manley lost 28 pOlindS 40 inches Moated ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Saturday April 17th 2010 1000 am Ray Twinney Complex Lounge 2 Note Any changes to the Constitution must be made in writing signed and submitted to the Secretary or mailed to Newmarket Minor Hockey Association PO Box 71081 570 Mulock Drive Newmarket Ontario prior to March 2010 Coaching resumes now being accepting for the 1 season for all Rep teams Novice to Midget AE incl Tyke Select Resumes can be dropped off at the hockey office or mailed Deadline Friday February 2010 For more information please contact the Association Offices 9058980714 Is Your Current Medication Providing Adequate Knee or Hip Run Relief If NOT you may be interested in learning more about a clinical research trial of an investigational medication that is being evaluated for the treatment of knee or hip pain caused by osteoarthritis You may be eligible to participate if you are to 80 years of age have pain that is inadequately controlled by standard therapies have been told by your doctor that you have osteoarthritis Study volunteers will be provided research related medical care and medication at no cost be able to take their normal pain medicines while receiving study medication be reimbursed for study related expenses We are actively seeking volunteers for this study FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT 18666603737 SKDS RESEARCH INC