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

2 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 18. 1990 Welfare cases continue fo rise with 65% increase in last year Durham Region's welfare sit- uation has gotten even worse. Statistics compiled at the end of November show a startling 65 per cent increase over the same month last year. Almost 12,600 people are liv- ing on welfare in Durham which is an increase of 77 per cent more people than in Ro. vember of 1989. The downturn in the econo- my and the strain it is putting on regional coffers is only one part of the vast problem. Health and social service PLEASE NOTE REAL ESTATE listings start on page 44 CLASSIFIED ADS listings start on commissioner Garry Cubitt told council and the press that the problem has gotten so out of hand that the region's office space, technology and staff are being stretch to the limit. Over 8,000 cheques are being mailed each month and the staff is handling about 2,000" calls per day. Although employees are working about 25 hours a week overtime, hiring more staff would not solve the problem, he said. The computer system is be- ing used to its fullest capacity and the office at 44 Bond Street is already over-crowded. Offic- es designed for one person are being occupied by three staff members. The phone system is also being used to its fullest ca- pacity. The 1991 budget includes $81,000,000 "for general wel- fare assistance alone, and that could be too low," Mr. Cubitt feared. It's a "stressful and critical time" for the social service de- partment and Durham Region, he said. Health and social service committee chairman Diane Hamre told councillors she was sorry they had to make the an- nouncement at the last meeting before Christmas but "it was in- formation we had to share with you," she said. Regional Chairman Gary Herrema said the welfare situ- ation would have to become pri- ort over all other things. He said a special meeting may have to be called during the hol- iday hiatus to deal with the problem. Since the health and social service committee was not pre- senting a report in the agenda, the subject was brought up at the end of the meeting, under other business. After the meeting, members of council, staff and press en- Joyed the regional Christmas party held in the council cham- bers. Although there were many food selections to choose from, the annual party was scaled down tremendously this year. In other years, the main cen- trepiece at the party was a giant "D" plastered with shrimp. "ART ... THE PERSONAL CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME!" : FRAMER'S GALLERY 233 Queen St., Port Perry 985-2543 ... watch for our special weekend promotions ... EXTENDED HOURS: Weekdays to 8:00 PM; Sundays 12 Noon to 5:00 PM 187 QULEN STREET - PORT PERRY Remember ... St. Nick's Bargain Basement, 183 Queen Street The Port Perry Star Christmas publishing dates and deadlines Christmas is almost upon us, and as usual this festive holiday makes it necessary for the Star to do some shuffling of our deadlines, publishing dates and store hours. Please note the following changes: , The Star will publish its nextissue of the paper on Thursday, December 27, 1990. The paper will be avail- able in most stores and post office before noon. Deadline for advertising in this issue of the Star will be Monday, December 24th at 11:00 a.m. All cor- respondence, sports and news articles should be sub- mitted before 10:00 a.m. the same day. The first issue of the Star, following the New Year day holiday, will be on Wednesday, January 2, 1991. The paper will be available in most stores and post of- fice before noon of that day. Deadline for advertising in this issue of the Star will be Monday, December 31st at 11:00 a.m. Once again we would ask that all correspondence, sports re- ports and news articles be submitted before 10:00 a.m. thesame day. Deadlines for Real Estate, Business Directory, Weddings, etc. remains the same - Thursday at 5:00 p.m. before the next publication. CHRISTMAS STORE HOURS TUESDAY, DEC. 18to FRIDAY, DEC. 21 9:00A.M. to 9:00P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 22 - 10:00A.M. to 4:00P.M. MONDAY,DEC. 24 -8:30A.M. to 4:00P.M. NEW YEARS HOURS THURSDAY, DEC. 27 and FRIDAY, DEC. 28 9:00A.M. to 5:30P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 29 - 10:00A.M. to 4.00P.M. , MONDAY, DEC. 31 -8:30A.M. to 4.00P.M. \ WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2nd Regular Hours resume. pC The Star staff and management wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for your co-operation. PCE ION _ Wg ey ! I L Canadian and Butch Cuigine J Sunday Brunch at .-Emiel's Pancakes, French Toast or 2 Eggs (any style) ANY TWO OF Bacon, Sausages, Ham, Peameal Bacon or Dutchcheese PLUS Homefries, Juice, Coffee or Tea $6 9 5 (from 11 AM to 3 PM) ALL FOR ONLY .................. . -- also featuring EGGS BENEDICT -- | QUEEN STREET, PORT PERRY 985-2066 | i | Restaurant and Wining Lounge | | pl RY | CEBRERO & KING 180 MARY ST., PORT PERRY 985-3622