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Attersley: Use Centennial for theatre, museum only The Centennial building should have only two tenants - the Whitby Courthouse Theatre and a Town museum, said mayor Bob Attersley during his inaug- ural spech Monday night. Approximatley 300 people, many standing, packed into Whitby council chambers to hear Attersley and his fellow coun- cillors outline their objectives for the next three years. "Council must establish the ultimate use of the Centennial Building on Centre St. S. Over the years there has been a mixture of uses in this building and many organizations have had the opportunity to occupy parts of this facility," said Attersley. He citied the Whitby Courthouse Theatre group as an "important part of our cultural community" that should operate from the Centennial building. "With their participation and cooperation, their needs should be addressed through appropriate renovations to the building," said Attersley. The Town recently asked the Province for $240,000 for reno- vations to the century-old building. A preliminary study on the Centennial building indicated it could cost $1.2 million to renovate it. The other main user, according to Attersley, should be a museum. He noted that locating a museum in the building will in- volve many discussions and reports. "It will also involve the Whitby Historival Society...Town archi- vist Brian Winter, and other community organizations who are presently using the building. Nothing will happen overnight~" said Attersley who called for the creation of a museum board of management consisting of repre- sentation from the public and council. "Through a board of management...with council's fin- ancial involvement...we would be eligible for provincial funding. A SEE PAGE 35 Glirl, 4, injured in accident 9 C E R ii ~~EWGO TRAIN travels through ePIC KER NR a banner to officially open the Whitby GO station. Approximately 1,500 people were on, hand for the grand opening on Sun- day which featured free rides. Above, Transpor- tation Minister Ed Fulton holds his nephew while addressing the crowd.* Free Press photo '88 building expected to surpass $200 mnillion A four-year-old girl remains in Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto with head injuries following a two-car collision at Maple and Palace St. last Thursday. Police say a car driven by Colleen M. Knaggs of 503-Harris Crt. was travelling east on Maple St. when it collided with a car, driven by David Sobel of Gerrie Crt., northbound on Palace St. A four-year-old girl in Knaggs' car, Katlin, was transported to Whitby General Hospital, then to Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto. Police have not yet laid any charges as a result of the accident. Neither of the drivers received injuries. Inside BUVSIESS NE WS Pges 23 - 26 . The Town of Whitby will surpass the $200-million mark in new building this year, says Mayor Bob Attersley. Statistics compiled by the public works department show the Town topped $196 million by the end of November. "Four years ago we had $68 million in permits, now we are up to $200 million," said Attersley, commenting on the report. The precise amount of permits issued as of November was $196,869. During November the Town issued $17,032 in permits. Residential permits worth $12.6 million were issued during November. Industrial permits totalling $3.4 million were also issued. A $2-million industrial permit was issued for construction of the Thickson- Champlain Corporate Tunney will chair separate board By Debbie Luchuk Whitby trustee Catherine Tunney was elected chairman of the Durham Separate School Board at the board's inaugural meeting Monday night. Tunney, re-elected for a second term in the municipal elections, was vice chairperson in the last board, and has chaired several sub-committees of the board. Ten new trustees, as well as nine incumbents, were installed into the board formally with a mass and a swearing in cere- mony. Whitby's representatives for the Durham Separate School Board are Catherine Tunney, Tom Oldman, Ed Finan, and representing francophone resi- dents, Roger Brideau and Fleurette Leger. Issues the new board will have to face will be funding, accommodation of students and staff, and improved public relations, said director of SEE PAGE 38 Robbery attempt is foiled A 39-year-old Scarborough man was arrested by Durham Regional Police after a botched robbery attempt in Whitby last Wednesday, Nov. 30. Police report a man entered J&S Convenience at 1003 Brock St. S. wearing a nylon stocking over his head and pointing a handgun at the cashier. While the man was removing cash from the register the cashier noted that the gun appeared fake. The man eventually threw the gun, which turned out to be plastic, at the cashier and fled the store. A driver noticed a man leaving the store in a car and followed him long enough to get his license plate number. Police later arrested Richard Allen Davidson, 39, of Lawrence Ave. W. in Scarborough. He has also been charged with a second robbery which occurred at the store on Nov. 8. Centre at the corner of Thickson Rd. S. and Champlain Ave. A $1.25-million permit was also issued for an industrial complex west of the centre, according to Attersley. "There is growth in Whitby but we do have a balanced growth," said Attersley, noting that every area of the eport is at an all-time high. Industrial permits totalling $25.6 million have been issued this year. "That is the highest ever in Whitby since 1972 (except for 1982 when a single permit worth $25 million was isued for construction of the Liquor Control Warehouse)." Attersley attributes that not only to new industry pushing but to expansion of existing industries such as Anca Labs, Sony and Lake Ontario Steel. Commercial permits totalling $11.7 million have been issued in 1988. Residential permits totalling $148 million were also issued. As a result of the growth, new schools were also needed in Whitby, which led to the issuing of $11 million in institutional permits. * p P Pf .7 Ae edNeerCangsS onwmuac The Santa Claus Parade Pages 10 and 11 An Olympic tribute page 34