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i i I Handi Transit Provides Transportation for Handicapped .'U, ! ?,r;// ,f ■zrmzzzr ■■ X\l itm Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, December ig > 1934 9 Celebrates Second Birthday Driver Pat Pentland is seen here in the Newcastle Newcastle Handi-Transit van, donated by the Rotarians in 1981. Handi-Transit hopes to have a second van in operation in Newcastle in 1985. by Diane Pickett Not many companies can equal the rapid growth experienced experienced by Handi- Transit over the last 10 years. In 1974 Handi-Transit was a volunteer organization operating only one van to serve handicapped people in Oshawa. They made some 3,500 passenger trips. That number has increased to over 44,000 in 1984, and eight vans serve Whitby and Newcastle, as well as Oshawa. The driving force behind this organization is Handi- Transit's General Manager, Doug Manuel. In 1972, as a member of the Oshawa District District Handicapped Club, Mr. Manuel recognized the difficulty members had getting getting to meetings, it was evident evident that a special transit service was needed. The Handicapped Club could not afford to purchase purchase and maintain a vehicle vehicle themselves so they approached approached many service clubs and similar organizations organizations for assistance. The Oshawa Central Lions Club's president at that time was Vic Jenkin- son. Confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair, he relied on fellow Lions Club members to transport him to and from their meetings. This Club donated the first Handi- Transit van in 1974. Over the next three years the volunteers struggled along with Local Initiative Program grants and help from the City of Oshawa. At one point, when the LIP grants ran out, an appeal to the general public resulted in the owner and manager of Mercury United Taxi operating the night service with his drivers and dispatchers. dispatchers. Most of the financial problems problems were solved when the transit organization incorporated incorporated as Handi-Transit in 1977. As a non-profit business, business, separate from the Handicapped Club, they were taken on as an external external agency of the City of Oshawa. As such they became became eligible for full funding funding from the City. Handi-Transit could at this point "expand service and make it more worthwhile", worthwhile", said Mr. Manuel. More vans were donated by Lions and Rotary Clubs and the UAW in Oshawa. The Whitby Rotary also provided provided a van when Handi- Transit got a contract with the Town of Whitby. With the service becoming becoming much larger and more expensive Mr. Manuel was glad to see the province accept accept the alternative transit services officially and provide provide 50% of the funding. This also meant that all transportation services for handicapped people had to meet provincial regulations, regulations, improving safety standards across the province. province. In 1981 the Handi-Transit A VOY MGRIW CH-RISTMdS TO YOU OUR GOOD FRICMDS. SnapShop 237 King Stnet EaiI Bowmen vil I* Onurio (416)623-1501 Before you send it, RsK] Seal it. PRES «Just in time to n serve guests! Entertaining Entertaining this holiday? Or planning some special meals for your family? Let us prepare the dessert as only we can. Delicious goodies made daily from scratch. Sure to please everyone! Cakes Cookies Candies Breads Christmas Assortment Asst. Pies Carter's Bakery 21 King St. E. 623-5855 Bowmanville service was introduced to the Town of Newcastle with a van given by the Rotarians. Rotarians. Demand in Newcastle has increased significantly in the last year and it is becoming becoming more difficult for Handi-Transit to maintain its excellent standard of service with only one van for the whole municipality. Driver Pat Pentland has made over 2,600 trips in 1984 and that means a lot of mileage in a municipality the size of Newcastle. She takes passengers from as far afield as Newtonville and the Oshawa General Hospital. Mr. Manuel hopes that Newcastle will approve the Handi-Transit budget for 1985 which includes an application application for a new van. If not, the quality service that handicapped people in this area currently enjoy is sure to suffer. An important policy of Handi-Transit is "if you're unable to use city transit you're eligible for our service". service". Passengers do not have to justify their trips, nor are they expected to provide registration or identification cards. It offers same day service if the booking is received early enough in the day. The cost is a reasonable $1 to $3 depending on the area and the distance of the trip. After so many years of har'd work it is with no false modesty that Doug Manuel says: "I think we provide one of the best (transit services services for the handicapped) in Ontario!" anb .. liatant *■ iPaat Representing the Bowmanville Bowmanville Home and School executive executive at the Home and School Council meeting held in Oshawa last week were Mesdames C. Henning, A. Samells, G. Stephen and C. Burdett. At the Civic nominations held in the council chambers on Friday evening, all incumbent incumbent members of the Newcastle Newcastle village council, public school board and hydro commission to office by acclamation. 10 Years Ago, Wednesday, December 2:ird, 1974 Newcastle Council has decided to move the town's bylaw enforcement officer, Horace Best, from Orono to Hampton, by January 1st. Head table guests at the Courtice Senior Citizens of Courtice United Church Christmas dinner held on Wednesday, December 11th were Rev. and' Mrs. James Hendry, Rev. and Mrs. L. M. Somerville, Mrs. Audrey Johnson and Mrs. Isabel Osborne. Mrs. Aldorine Haagmans of Hampton gave the students at Hampton Public School an insight insight into what Christmas is like in Holland, Germany and France, when she visited the school on Thursday. Gordon Wilcox of 53 Duke Street won two 10 speed bikes in the Knights of Columbus draw last Wednesday. St. Paul's UCW Holds Meeting prised the group by reading and showing the brand new story book which has been completely written and produced produced by the Ewert Family in Newcastle. The members all agreed that The Camel Boy is a delightful book and much credit is due to Kathy and Charles Ewert and their illustrator, Jim Noble. Plans were made for the annual visiting of the sick and shut-ins and President Joan Fruin distributed some pretty little gifts which had been made by Beth Teeple and Jane Wright. The members agreed to deliver the wee gifts when they visited friends and they thanked Beth and Jane for their efforts. A social half hour was enjoyed when sweets and tea were served by those from- Unit Three. Special guests included Mesdames Muriel Ferguson, Gladys Lloyd, Marjorie Palmer, Janet Stacey and member Olive Hull who has recently returned from hospital. hospital. 50 Years Ago, Thursday, December 20th, 1934. At the Bowmanville Public School's Annual Concert the following pupils were awarded . prizes, Miss Jennings' Room - Kay O'Neill, Diana Wheeler, Miss Collacott's Room - Byron Crawford, Charles Hoar, Miss Morris' Room - Hazel Alder, Marion Dudley, Miss Wickett's Room Keith Slemon, Nora Fagan, Miss Bunner's Room - Howard Corden, Douglas Harnden, Miss Jewell's Room - Berniece Kimball, Bill Edger. Mr. Roy Shrubb of N. C. College, Chicago, Illinois, is spending Christmas with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Shrubb. 25 Years Ago, Thursday, December 10th, 1959. In the Assemblies last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at B.H.S., eight cheerleaders were chosen from among twelve finalists. The new cheerleaders are Sandra Chaskavick, Dixie Gill, Mary Lou Marr, Marie Cooney, Linda Roberts, Carol Lathangue, Judy Jeffery and Ilene Rahme. An excellent paper was given by Mrs. Earl Osborne at Trinity United W.M.S. on Tuesday on the work in Africa, using personal letters from Mrs. Elsie Bunner who is well known in Bowmanville. A very pleasant afternoon was spent at the nicely- decorated home of the Rev. and Mrs. Tom Smith, King St. E., on Tuesday, Dec. 4th, when 26 ladies of Units Two and Three met for their annual get-together. Mrs. Beth Teeple, leader of Unit Three, welcomed everyone everyone and asked the poetic question "What is Christmas?" Christmas?" She then introduced the members of Unit Two who provided a very thought-provoking thought-provoking and timely devotional when the Purpose of the U.C.W. was related to the Christmas Story. Those taking part included: Betty and Margaret McGregor, Vimla Malik, Margaret Killeen, Leah Henclren and Jean Boyd. Bernice Trigg was the pianist for the singing of two carols especially appropriate to the service. The program consisted of the presentation of two old, but cherished, Christmas stories by Mrs. Teeple. Then Mrs. Margaret Smith sur- , m w/r: r c- m : , i r~ v } MU Vf'v/xjW* ■ '■$}#$. >■-0$ ^ ÜFv ' * , i A' ; <* ix* •if--' m W Hi! My name is Amanda June Malley. I celebrated my second birthday on October 29,1984. My daddy and mommy are Earl and Nancy. I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Greetings to all our friends. Margrit and Tony Malcolm Debbie - Linda - Joanne Of 'SVIDEO ft AND BOOKS 59 King St. W. 623-5897 Bowmanville ^8 V r TO. TO ALL! ^ ...the Spirit of Christmas is the spirit cf Cove. % PETER KOWAL REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE LIMITED BROKER 52 King St. W., Bowmanville 623-2453 May it be decked out with love, wreathed in peace and illuminated with joy and laughter. Many Lucille and Gordon Sturrock Helen and Howard Sturrock Arnold Etcher and Harold Knight of A.H. Sturrock and Sons Imperial Oil Distributor Sturrock Rd. Bowmanville 7 * « 5CW. INC ^ May the joy and peace of Christmas be with you :vi today and always. BRIAN --SANDY --JACK of Oshawa Optical BRIAN LARSON 8 Bond St. E. Telephone 723-5161