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eae Te eens Revoluntionary daycare a local project With the desperate need for good daycare facilities in North Simcoe, as well as across the country, the North Simcoe' Develop- ment Corporation (NSDC) and 15 local manufacturers have developed a concept that could revolutionalize daycare in Canada. According to NSDC President Kamran Khozan, his office, with the assistance of local in- 'dustrialists, have come up with a proposal for a new franchized daycare centre. In an interview last week, Khozan said the first centre would be con- structed in North Simcoe area as a pilot project. Dur- ing a trial period of the facilities, which would function under qualified Atkinson wins In yesterday's first-ever byelection in the Village of Victoria Harbour, a majori- ty of those residents who went to the polls, threw their support behind newcomer Bob Atkinson. The 41-year-old Atkinson defeated opponent 52-year- old George Gzindl in the byelection to fill the vacan- cy left on village council when ex-Councillor Mary Lou Mount resigned her seat on the five-member council in October. According to Village Ad- ministrator Doug Jackson, (unofficially) Atkinson, a Tay Township Road's Department employee, took the election by a margin of 71 ballots. Following last night's victory, Atkinson said he was very happy with his election to council and was looking forward to being sworn in at next Monday evening's council session. The new councillor add- ed he wanted to thank everyone who voted for him and all of those who helped him on his three week campaign leading up to the election. Out of a possible 1294 electors, only 573 (less than 50 percent) went to the Take a cab, not a cruiser Don Robitaille of Penetanguishene is $1,000 richer after being one of hundreds who took the advice of the Midland and Penetanguishene Police, the owner of Beaver Lumber franchises in Midland and Pene- tanguishene ead CKMP and took a taxi instead of drinking and driving over the Christmas holidays. Last certified daycare super- visors, Khozan said any problems in the centre would be ironed out before going into the franchizing market. The idea behind the con- cept is that all franchized centres would be designed and furnished exactly the same from the east coast to the west coast of Canada. "Each centre could facilitate up to 30 children and would be standardiz-. ed,' said the president. "Everything from the fur- niture to the food would be the same from.centre to centre." The philosophy behind the standardized centres, according to Khozan, is when families move from one city to another, polls yesterday and at the advanced poll on Jan. 3. At last week's advanced poll, 101 voters made a showing. Final results saw 322 youngsters in the daycare system could be transfer- red from one centre to another. This would make it very easy for the uprooted youngsters to become accustomed to their new_community be- ing in a familiar surroun- dings. Although the cen- tres would be located in different cities, the children would be ac- quainted with the toys and layout in the centres hav- ing already attended one of the franchizes. Local industrialists became involved with the planning and funding of the centre out of a lack of daycare facilities for many of their employees. Many of the smaller manufac- turers can not afford to provide facilities for their employees children, but collectively they could. Khozan said the centres would operate not as a co- operative nursery, but the parents would be involved in the daily care of the children. Manufacturers in the area have agreed to subsidize employees and allow them to take a certain amount of time off from work to spend time at the centres. Although both the federal and provincial governments will be in- volved initial planning of the centre they will not be involved in the financing of the centre said Khozan. by-election votes cast for Atkinson and 251 was opponent George Czindl. Atkinson, a 17-year resi- dent of the village, is to be officially sworn in as coun- cillor at next Monday even- ing's council session. The first session of the village council will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Offices. Permit value record set More than $10 million worth of building permits were issued in Midland in 1986. The previous record was Close to $9 million, set 13 years ago. Reeve Bev Day is of the opinion that this year will see as much or more con- struction in the town: A great deal of land has been sold. In 1973, large construc- tion projects made up.a significant portion of that year's construction: three apartment buildings, two on King Street each worth $1.7 million, the third on Midland Avenue and worth an estimated $1.35 million. A Pillsbury plant worth more than $1 million was built. RCA, KIL and Motorola expanded. Previous to 1973, the peak year was 1966: $5.5 million. Gignac spends night in jail Lillian Gignac spent last night in police custody in Barrie after appearing yesterday before both a justice of the peace and a provincial court judge. Gignac, 35, of Fifth Street, Midland, was charged on Dec. 31 with setting fire to St. Margaret's Church, and to a residence on Fifth Street. Yesterday morning she was taken by Midland police from the Pene- tanguishene Mental Health Centre to Barrie, to appear before a justice of the 0 9 peace for a bail hearing. The justice of the peace chose not to hear the ap- plication after Gignac ask- ed to represent herself. The justice of the peace remanded her to be taken to Midland Provincial Court, where she was ex- pected by the assistant Crown attorney and the police, but without hearing the bail application, Midland Police Chief Ernie Bates said. The judge in Midland didn't hear the application for bail, either. She was returned to Barrie, since she could not be returned to the Mental Health Cen- tre. Psychiatrists from the Mental Health Centre were present under supoena in Midland Provincial Court yesterday to give their opi- nion of the woman. Chief Bates said he couldn't guess what will happen today. None of the local justices of the peace are em- powered to hear applica- tions for bail. Wednesday afternoon, (from left to right) Midland Police Chief Ernie Bates, CKMP representative Ian MacPherson, Beaver Lumber owner Gerry Lees and Penetanguishene Police Chief Robert Cummings were on hand to pick out the winning taxi stub. Design concepts of the cen- tres will adhere to all ar- chitectural specifications of the provincial govern- ment agencies responsible for daycare in Ontario. The funds for the pilot Pras: Kamran Khozan project in North Simcoe, which is estimated at close to $250,000, will come from a mixture of public and private sector financ- ing and not solely from the public purse, according to Khozan. Once in opera- tion, the president expects the pilot will operate self-sufficiently. Funding for all branch centres will come strictly from the private sector. St. Ann's parents petition board In an attempt to get the school board to seriously consider their troubles, parents of children atten- dingy (St. vAnnss sin Penetanguishene will be at- tending the regular meeting of the Simcoe County Roman Catholic Separate School Board (SCRCSSB) tomorrow evening. A delegation of concern- ed parents will be going to inform the board about the rough conditions at the Penetanguishene school, says Parent's Committee member Michelle Quealey. She said her group will "educate" the new trustees by using a slide show. The group is concerned about their school which is comprised entirely of por- tables and its failing report card, issued by the Simcoe County District Health Unit in November. The health inspector said problems include sanitary fixtures not "complying with existing building and plumbing codes" and '"'are of styles which are inade- quate for younger children."' He warned of safety hazards such as separating floor covering and dangerous hydro lines crossing through the playground. St. John's Ambulance homeless Midland's Finance Com- mittee doesn't have a home to offer the local St. John Ambulance group. The Midland- Penetanguishene St. John Ambulance Brigade last month wrote the Town Council, asking for help in locating a building with a garage. The Finance Committee has passed the request to the Town's Board of Park Management and Recreation. Brigade leader Beverley Steele in the letter to the Town Council explained, "The Brigade financial situation is such that the cost of rent per night is too high. The finances available would cover utilities and a minimal yearly fee. Funds raised by the Brigade cover in- surance costs for the Mobile First Aid Post, first aid supplies, uniforms as needed and costs to main- tain.a building. Many peo- ple feel the Brigade receives money from atten- ding duties, from local in- dustry or governments. This is not true. Periodical- ly money will be donated after Brigade members St. Margaret' St. Margaret's Church Parish Council' meets tomorrow evening for the first time since the church burned last Dec. 24. Rev. Wayne Manne says the meeting will be the first opportunity for an official discussion of how to res- pond to the disaster. Still to be announced by the church's insurance company is the value of lost property, and the volunteer hours of first aid coverage but usually members use their own money to keep the Brigade financially stable." The Brigade needs a building in which to park its vehicle, and in which to meet and give first aid instruction. Ss responds amount of insurance to be paid. Opinions from engineers and stone masons about the advisability of making the surviving stone walls of the church part of a new structure are not unanimous. The 15 to 20 member Parish Council meets tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the church rectory. Tuesday, January 13, 1987, Page 3