Dr. Ryan Shugg & Dr. Paul Shutsa of Elmira Family Dental are
WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS! Call us or drop in to the office to book an appointment today!
45 Arthur St. S., Elmira ON (Located above R.W. Thur Real Estate)
519-669-1526
12 | 22 | 2016 VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 50
THE NUTCRACKER IS A YULETIDE FAMILY FAVOURITE ARTS PAGE 25
WOOLWICH HAS THE RIGHT TAKE ON TRANSIT
COMMENT PAGE 10
Woolwich nixes additional expenditures for bus route
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Really getting into the spririt of the season at Breslau PS
Falling ridership, large empty buses and low revenues sway councillors against spending yet more money STEVE KANNON SIMPLY THROWING MONEY AT the system won’t improve Grand River Transit service in Elmira, say Woolwich councillors, who voted Monday night not to increase the budget for route 21. Extending evening hours would have seen township taxpayers on the hook for another $73,000 a year on top of the $500,000 budget. While agencies that provide transportation to clients in Woolwich, including Community Care Concepts and Kiwanis Transit, made a case for enhanced GRT services, councillors pointed to low ridership and existing deficiencies in opting against a budget increase. Among those opposed to new spending, Coun. Patrick Merlihan called for GRT to improve the route
without spending money, noting staff has been reluctant to support any of the suggestions raised by the townships. “Maybe a small route in Woolwich doesn’t work the way that a route does in Kitchener-Waterloo, and they’re completely unwilling to make it work for us,” he said. “They’re a contractor – we’re paying for this service – but we’re paying for only the service that they’re going to give us. We’re supposed to be partners, and it didn’t feel like any partnership.” Among the changes proposed is swapping out the full-size bus for a smaller vehicle, such as being used in a pilot project to extend GRT service to New Hamburg. Coun. Mark Bauman was a vocal advocate for that option, having seen
The sounds of Christmas filled Breslau Public School twice on Dec. 13 as they put on their holiday concert in the morning and evening for friends and families. Clockwise, the Grade 3s get into Everybody’s Going on a Sleigh Ride, Grade 1s Christian and Ayden find their families in the crowd before singing Up Up Up in the Sleigh, and Grade 7s Olivia and Faith enjoy a laugh after performing an instrumental Twinkle Through the Ages. [WHITNEY NEILSON / THE OBSERVER]
BUS | 5
E V I S S MA F F O L L SE UES... N
CONTI
Open Boxing Day 9-5pm
Rich Rustic Plank Finish!
NEW COLLECTION! Great Style & Price! Dresser $399, chest $349, Nightstand only $189 ea.
OPEN 7 DAYS | 30 Benjamin Rd., Waterloo (across from St. Jacobs Outlet Mall) 519-746-0060 | FLYER SPECIALS www.furniturehouse.ca