PAGE 20. WHFFBYYREE PRES, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 19M *hit *busnes BUTILDING renovations are aimost complete at Russell Travel, 126 Brock St. S. in Whitby's down- town. Exterior renovations include new vinyl siding, new roof (and possible awning), while interior work includes removal of mue h of the drop ceiling to restore -the building's original Free Press phot~o a mme0 a a ua un a a- a - ami - ww *RECYOLING ONE ITON 0F *NE WSPA PERS 19 TI EES .. . ... ...... Newest Nation0al Bank bran.ch opens inWh-iLtby The National Bank of Canada has opened its second- branch in Whitby. The newest branch, opened on Saturday with festivities that in- cluded street entertainment, free hot dogs, free pony rides and a ribbon-cutting,' is located at 701 Rossland Rd. E., in the new plaza. The first branch opened in the faîl lant year at the Kendalwood plaza. The new Whitby'branches are part of «Projec't 100," a five-ya plan by the National BaT of Canada teo oen'100 branches across Ontario. The Rossland branch is the l8th to be opened. The 12.>5-year-old banik han, many branches across Canada, mostly in Quebec, but until now- han, had little exposure in Ontario. Rossland branch manager Robert Wearing of Whitby, who .ioined National Bank last November after workxng at Stan- dard Trust in Port Perry for five years, says the new location is ideal for *traffic flow and "'on the edge of what I feel will soon be, the centre of Whitby.» He says personal service and «commitment to the client" are the bank's strengths. National Ban k branches have customer service "stations" at which staff handie new accounts, rate inquiries, term deposits, RSPs, boans and other transac- tions. The stations were designed te malce banking service more convenient. Hours are 8 a.m. te 8 p.m., Mondayt Friday and 9 a.m. te 5. p.m.,Satuday. And the auto- matic teller machine is open 24 hours. «We're different because we do it better,»n says.Wearing, who han 14 years experience i n banking. As p art of openiîng ceremonies, Oswa'ld and* Christel Sharpe, the bank's first personal account cus- tomera, were presented with $100, deposited in their account. Mayor Bob Attersley joined Wearing te handie the large scis- sors that eut the ribbon te "offi- cially open" the branch. Big ticket items sucn an cars and houses wiltbear the brunt of an economic slowdown in Canada because of an increane in taxes, predicts an economist with the Royal Bank of Canada. Jack Vermeeren told business* leaders last week he expects car sales to decrease by seven per cent this year and two per cent next year, and housing starts te, decline te 85,000 this year from 100 000 last year. "7âasically we are looking for a soft landing in the economy in the next 18 months with growth slowing to 2.5 per cent this year, Vermeeren told members of the media before his presentation te, business leaders Mat week. Fie said growth was at 4.5 per cent last year. He noted that automobile sales have increased over the past few months but said incentives by the big three car-makers were the reason for the increane. Fie predicted Ontario would follow the national trend and have a slowdown in its economy but that may not be the cane in Durham Region. Lower house prices (lower than Toronto's) and a far greater capa- city at General Moters may not slow down Durham Region's gowth,he said. He says the Region will have a~ problem with the-lack -of serviced land. «You have people coming ini because jobs are created and there is a need for housing,» he said. Hie predicted. the chances of going into a recession at 50 per cent. Fie predicted the. recent federal budget will increase prices on goods and services by 2.5 ver cent. ONTARIO L1W 3A4 ORDER DESK 831-m8469 SHOWROOM OPEN: MON. - FR1 9AM-5PM SATURDAY 9AM-4PM DISCUSSION ALLAN FURLONG, MUPIPI Thusday, May 18,1989 7:30 to 9:.301 FERNHILL - NIPIGON CLUBHOUSE 144 Fernhill.. Oshawa -For fufther information Cal! 430a 1141 KRed Cross. Ready. Thanks to your donation through United Way $2 4.85 MONTHLY (maie age 30, non-smoker) CALL TODA Y TO ARRANGE A NO COST FA MIL Y PRO TEC TION ANAL YSIS Denis Ardagh Jeit Brown 428-8613 428-8791 PFickeng ýl_ý428613- V'V- W'V 'v 4W4.'W 'mw A FESTIVE MOOD, helped by this tail (stilt-walking) crow-plaser greted visitors to the National Bank of rCanagd"a branchýwhich.juLst.opened.at the .newplaza at .191 rneref Gard î - RosL î& R Lý,. CO Econonile slowdo--wn predicted by bank feeing. The War Amputations of Canada... è6 Safety Is CHAMP PLAYSAFE No Accident Program