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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-12-30, Page 2Page 2 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, December 30, 2009 Getting to ro ensures a comfy chair, the best way to beat RIDE And funny enough, the driver for more more than 23 years, Pat Smith, said her crew programs and traffic checks, and more im- than three years says he has never encoun- of four cars is ready to take the New Year's portantly keep yourself and those around you tered a problem with passengers who may rush where they need to go until about 4 alive and well, is to call in a professional. have partied a little too hard while ushering a.m. Jan. . Goderich is home to three dedicated taxi cab in a New Year. Though in the past, downtown businesses services, two of which are "The people I've picked have come together to offer up a free taxi standing by to get you home up, they all know me and I service to celebrate the dawn of a new year, safely in the early hours of know them," he said. "I've Smith noted that hasn't been the case for 2010. had no problems at all. I quite some time. All systems are a go for find the people great." "I still get a lot of calls askingif we're the three -van fleet at Any- Anytime Taxi runs 24 doing the free cabs," Smith said."But that time Taxi, said driver Ted hours a day, and holds hasn't been around for about eight years. It's Kubik. This year, Anytime no boundary restrictions, a pay as you ride service." says it has done away with leaving ample options B&B Taxi is not driving this New Year's a pre -booking system it has for partygoers away from Eve. It will mark the first time in seven years tried in the past. New Year's home. Kubik' added that that the company has halted operations on Eve for the company will cabs called farther away the holiday, however due to staff numbers run on a first come, first from the Town of Goder- and health issues, the company says it re- serve basis. ich are more prone to wait grets to report all cars will be in park. "We tried taking [reserva- times due to travel. "If they think you shouldn't be driving, tions] a few years ago, but it didn't work out While calls flowed into the Elizabeth don't," Van Mierlo added. "We just want well," Kubik said. "Last year we just ran first Street headquarters of Goderich Taxi and people to be safe. Have fun, but be safe." call first car and it worked out just fine." Delivery last week, veteran taxi driver of Dominlaue Milburn - __ signal -star staff We're coming into the last 48-hour stretch of 2009 and that means it's almost time to celebrate. Along with party hats, noise mak- ers and the occasional sip of a celebratory spirit, New Year's Eve means an increase of safety measures on the road. The Huron OPP have ramped up their holiday season patrol of the roads in the last few days of the year. Constable Joanna Van Mierlo said that in addition to the holiday RIDE check program, on -duty OPP officers in Goderich will set-up additional driver check points throughout the town. "[RIDE programs will] be ramped up in terms of prevention and making certain that everybody gets home safe this New Year's Eve," Van Mierlo said. The festive RIDE program will wrap up Jan. 2, 2010 Save designating a sober driver, or stay- ing home to usher in 2010 in your favorite It's not worth the risk- call a cab if you don't have a sober driver tomorrow, New Years Eve. Anytime Taxi 519-524-0029 Goderich Taxi and Delivery 519-524-6594 • • New search and rescue station plans presented to council Gerard Creces signal -star staff In a year that saw the closing of Snug 1 1 1 1 1 Si rat ford alit` 1l as 551 Huron St. 1 273-6780 Show Schedule for January 1 - January 7 It's Complicated Nightly at 6:45 & 9:15, Fri/Sat/Sun matinee at 2pm TIP Alvin & The Chipmunks Nightly at 7:00 & 9:15, Fri/Sat/Sun matinee at 2pm Avatar Nightly at 7:00, Fri/Sat/Sun matinee at 2pm Sherlock Holmes Nighty at 6:45 & 9:15, Fri/Sat/Sun matinee at 2pm The Princess and the Frog Nighty at 7:00 & 9:15, Fri/Sat/Sun matinee at 2pm 55 00 Tuesda,s slratfordcinemas r_om 1 1 1 1 1 1 Harbour and the creation of a massive new building at the salt mine, there is yet another change in store for the Port of Goderich. After years of planning and seeking the necessary approvals, the Canadian Coast Guard will be getting a new home on the Goderich waterfront. Architect Alan Avis presented the site plan for a new search and rescue station to town council December 14. The new, two-storey building will be con- structed on the site of the current picnic pavil- lion on the west end of Snug Harbour, and will feature a work yard as well as parking for Coast Guard storage trailers currently housed in other parts of town. E 3 The Square GODERICH 524-7811 Fri & Sat 6:45&9:15 Sun - Thur 7:30 Sat & Sun Mat. 1:30 0 Jan. 01 - O7 "THE PBT INKMAY the scliue FROM THE DIRECTOR OF 'TITANIC' AVATA d 7:30 Nightly Violence teneueeeleseallond www.movielinks.ca .f ,t , )1-800-265-3438 Avis said there will still be parking for boaters and fishermen on the south end of the building site, much the same as it is now. "The new station does not have an impact on the (boat) launch," he said. "There will be eight parking spaces for fishers" Councillor David Yates asked the architect what the time line for starting is. Avis said bidding for contractors will take place in Feb- ruary, with the work commencing in March or April. The building will be constructed using en- ergy-efficient materials, as well as grid ma- sonry and aluminum to resist salt -corrosion. Dredging will have to take place before construction, as additional docks will be in- stalled - a higher dock for the regular rescue vehicle and a lower one for the smaller, high- speed Zodiac. In addition, the land will be built up to cre- ate a higher grade for the new building. Meanwhile, the Goderich Port Manage- ment Corporation will have to decide what it intends to do with the existing search and rescue station. "It's a great comfort for our part to have that search and rescue station vehicle," said Mayor Deb Shewfelt. YMCA seeking $132k for 2010 projects Gerard Creces signal -star staff It was a good year for the Goder- ich YMCA, despite the recession. Representatives from the YMCA were on -hand December 14 to present their annual budget to Goderich Town Council. memberships for t e Y this year, Goderich forte Y year, The total figure, including capi- and 23 per cent of them were fi- tal costs is $648,000. Prefacing the budget, Mait- land Recreation Centre general manager Kathy Lomas -McGee told council there were 2,980 • LET'S All BOWL...wed., 30th...1 - 11 pm Family New Year's Party Onlys5 cover Thurs., Dec. 31 st...1 pm -1 am $5 per Game Sat, Jan. 2nd...9am - 1 am Sun., Jan. 3rd...1 am - lOpm www.littlebowi.ca nancially-assisted. "Recreation is one of the pri- mary services the town provides," said Councillor David Yates. "They've done a great job. No one gets turned away." There was a 30 per cent increase in preschool and youth program- ming as well as an increase in ice rentals at both the Memorial Arena and the Maitland Recreation Cen- tre. However, there were some sig- nificant losses for the Y. Summer rentals were down, and the annual golf tournament generated $6,500 less than expected. An additional $51,000 in main- tenance costs and $20,000 for natural gas added to the growing expenses, however the YMCA is mitigating the financial setback. "We have minimized the losses by cutting other expenses," See YMCA, Page 29