Preston's Haulage
T: 705-656-3524
F: 705-656-2479

• sand, gravel, fill, topsoil

• custom backhoe

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Apsley Pharmacy
168 Burleigh St., Apsley, ON
T: 705-656-3301
F: 705-656-1764

Apsley Day Care

By Barry Rand

At the last moment, Peterborough Social Services funding for day care in Apsley has been withdrawn. There is a short window of time to get day care back in the school design, to ensure we take advantage of this one-time opportunity for day care.

There are strong reasons for creating and providing day care in Apsley:

• Apsley is a remote area as designated by the Ministry of Education. We are the only area in Peterborough County without reasonable access to registered day care.

• The need for registered day care has been substantiated. In 2006, two needs assessments determined that 62 spaces were needed (infant, toddler, preschool and JK/SK), in addition to after school programs for older children.

• The school is the best location to provide day care, and this is reflected in Ministry of Education and KPR School Board policy. The 2007 Capital Plan for the KPR School Board included a day care centre in the new Apsley Public School.

• We have an experienced, successful provider of day care services, which already partners with the school board and Peterborough Social Services. Kawartha Child Care has a financial plan for our area and a wage subsidy is not needed.

• The provincial government has allocated $900,000 from the recent federal budget to Peterborough City/County for day care. This is an addition to the 2007 Social Services budget, and can fund the Apsley first year costs of $180,000.

• Economic development is critical to the success of our community. Day care is an infrastructure essential in permitting young families to be part of the work force.

Background

Registered day care centres are located in Millbrook, Keene (2), Norwood, Havelock, Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Buckhorn, along with many more in Peterborough City - 36% of all day care spaces are in the County. There are no certified day care facilities in Apsley, and small private operations (6 children per facility) do not provide enough spaces to meet demand.

Registered day care centres benefit from fee subsidies through Peterborough Social Services’ $8.7 million budget for children’s services. Since there are no registered facilities in Apsley, North Kawartha parents are not able to access fee subsidies and must bear the total cost, even though they pay Peterborough County taxes.

The design for the new Apsley Public School includes space for a 3,000 sq ft day care centre, in addition to an enlarged gymnasium and Public Library. It is very efficient to build these facilities at the same time as the main school, and they can all be accommodated within the space and schedule available.

The Ministry of Education and Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB have both stated that day care facilities should be included in new school construction, given that a well developed partnership exists with the local community. The Municipality of North Kawartha is participating in funding the gym and library expansions, North Kawartha Council is unanimous in its support of a day care centre at the new Apsley Public School, and our Public School Renewal Committee has built a strong network throughout the broader community.

Apsley School Renewal Committee – May 15, 2007
 

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Open Letter to those that Help…

Late last fall after spending a weekend in the Kawarthas, our Son Drew headed back to Toronto. Shortly after we received a phone call from the Wicks. It was Drew, saying he had had an accident involving a deer just south of Apsley.

When we arrived at the scene, the car was on its’ roof up against a fence on the other side of the ditch. The Fire Department was there, the emergency Ambulance Service, the OPP and several passers by had stopped to offer assistance.

Fortunately, no one was injured, the vehicle was a total write off and we do not know the fate of the deer. A near tragedy had been avoided. The Emergency Ambulance crew gave Drew a clean bill of health and tended to Father’s high blood pressure caused by the stress of the moment. The Volunteers from the fire department were great in making sure there was no danger of fire and in securing the site to prevent any others from being injured. The OPP were considerate and helpful dealing with a very traumatic situation.

To all those who stopped to help, the Emergency crews, the Volunteer Fire Fighters and especially the Wicks (Brian, Debbie & Greg), we wish to say thank you.
 

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Apsley Easy Walkers 6th Anniversary

For six years the Apsley Easy Walkers have enjoyed the health benefits of walking in a social environment. We are seniors, mostly in our seventies, and we know that you must exercise to feel better. We meet at the Apsley Community Centre every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9.30 AM. If you are a senior, and want to walk, you are welcome to join us. For more information, contact Gerald Watson at 656-3505 or Roy Allen at 656-1791. R. Allen

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