Page 10, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday. December 29, 1993 businessnews Herman Kassinger retires, son takes over firm Oshawa area builder and deve- loper Herman Kassinger, 71, has retired as president of H. Kas- singer Construction. He handed the presidency of the company to his youngest son, Stephen, 34. Nearly one in 15 Oshawa fam- ilies lives in a Kassinger-built home. Herman had only $30 in his pocket when a German im- migrant unable to speak English, he arrived in Halhfax, N.S. in 1952. He moved to Ontario where he had a succession of jobs. He was fired after a few weeks as a carpenter in Cobourg, told he would never make it in the con- struction business. He then worked as a pattern- maker at General Motors in Osh- awa. When Hurricane Hazel struck in 1954, he began repair- ing homes. He took an opportunity to buy a small parcel of land on Ritson Road, with no money down,·and used it as a down payment on a larger property in east Oshawa which he developed into Grand- view Gardens, one of the first large-scale subdivisions in the area. vý __ KMDALWOOD PLAZA-. His second project was Beau Valley in northeast Oshawa, one of the first subdivisions in Canada with all underground utilities and services. It was also one of the first all-electric homes in Canada. Later projects included Park Valley, Rossland Park, Sun Val- ley, the Estate Courts, the Rose Garden, Plaza 900 and 700 and Highland Gardens. Rossland townhouses1 concept of Park introduced to Oshawa and the rental accommoda- tions organized in a mix of hous- ing forms within a park-like set- ting around a central community centre. The company expanded into California in the 1970s, produc- ing condominiums, single family homes and commercial com- plexes in the Palm Springs area. Stephen Kassinger, an archi- tect, worked in the Los Angeles area and South Carolina for six years before returning to Osh- awa to join the family business as vice president in 1992. Attersley buys back auto care centre By Mark Reesor Although he misses the people, former Whitby mayor Bob Attersley says it's good to be back "into the business side of things." It's a different life, though, says the owner of Attersley Tire. "Nowyou're looking at things from a business standpoint... it probably took me the best part of six months to get used to that aspect... 'he one big difference in busi- ness -- when you make a deci- sion, you make it and it happens. If you make a decision in politics, by the time it hr.ppens, you're long gone. I noticed a lot of the things in Whitby that are hap- pening now are things I dealt with five years ago!" General Hospital Season's Greetings! from the Pinewood Centre of the Oshawa General Hospitalj STAY ALIVE; If You Drink, Don't Drive! In business "things happen every hour -- decisions are made and it's nice teobe able to make them and not have to... wait for public meetings and all the other things,"he says. Attersley says his experience as mayor is helping him run his businesses, just as his experience in business helped him as mayor -- "they both complement each other." He currently employs 130 people in his Toronto auto parts business and seven Attersley Tire outlets. In addition to the Oshawa outlet, he has stores in Kingston, Peterborough and Toronto -- "we're a busy little bunch here.» His newest venture is Atters- Whitby's only True Discount Drug Store 311 Brock St. N. mWhitby ~ 666-3784 Have a Safe & Happy Holiday Season MacINTOSH CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH LMJED 331 PARK RD. S., OSHAWA 728-4638 ley Auto Care, located in the former Goodyear Auto Service Centre at the Thornton Centre, 850 King St. W., Oshawa. Attersley sold the outlet to Goodyear five years ago, which ran it as a company-operated store, explains Attersley Auto Care vice-president John McMil- lan. "We recently reacquired it from them and will continue to operate it as a Goodyear select dealer (selling tires), as well as offering complete automotive mechanical care,»he says. Services in the asixy shop range from "electronic engine diagnostics aIl the way through to basic and preventative main- tenance." BROCIR PHARMACY LTI Prescriptions Delivered 668-9393 619 Brock Ste . Located in Medical Centre This holiday, please think before you drink... Call a cab, grab a bus, or designate a driver. DON'T DRINK & DRIVEo This message made possible through the generous support of the advertisers on this page. 1801 Dundas St. E. Whitby 434-8020 The9 The Royal Canadian •Legion PLEASE... DON'T DRINK & DRIVE Info Number 668-3544 Branch No. 112 117 Byron St. S., Whitby 668-0330 DUFF'S TOWING SERVICE Serving Whitby for over 25 years Have a safe holiday... Please don't drink & driv' 400 Mary St. E., Whitby 24 HOUR SERVICE e yf The store is managed by Barry Johnston, who's been with Attersley Tire Service for more than nine years. The assistant manager is Gord Attersley, Bob's son. The two technicians -- we're "in the process" of hiring a third, notes MeMillan -- have each been in the business for more than 12 years, including the last five as fully trained Goodyear auto- motive technicians. Attersley decided to get back into auto service "because we strongly felt" there was a need for "the provision of the complete range of automotive services at fair and reasonable prices," says McMillan. "That's the area we're concen- trating on.» Sleigh rides begin Jan. 16 The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority Sleigh Ride Express will operate at Heber Down Conservation Area on Sunday, Jan. 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. Ticket price is $1.75 per person per ride. The horse-drawn sleigh rides will start from the day-use area at Heber Down Conservation Area (not from the winter parking lot). In the case of inadequate snow conditions, a wagon will be substituted or the rides cancelled. Call 655-4843 for up-to-date information. Children contribute to food drive Carrying gifts for the Durham Regional Police food and toy drive, 13 children from the Gor- don Street Day Care Centre visited the Whitby fire depart- ment downtown on Dec. 23. Santa Claus paid a surprise visit to the kids, and firefighter Dave Bemis put on a skit to entertain the kids. Self-help directory available The 1993/94 edition of the directory of self-help groups in Durham Region is now aVailable from the Canadian Mental Health Association/Durham Branch, for a cost of $12 plus shipping and handling. There have been more than 50 per cent changes made to last year's directory, and new groups have been added. Each listing includes purpose, contacts, meeting information, etc. To order a copy of the directory, call the public education office of CMHA at 436-8760. Interested in expreing youraelf better publicly? Then join Revenue Toastmaster. For further information, contact Shirley at 728-1403. the 01.1 a du AÊmvlý la duo i it r s