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& Of course, it‘s cheaper for the customer to order the cab and do their own errands, but the walkâ€"in service is great for the ill or disabled, or when the weather is bad. im : Even liquor can be ordered this way, but minors, beware; Ms. Hewton checks LD. For that money, plus the regular fare and the charge for anything the customer wants bought, she will pick up your groâ€" ceries, mail, library books, prescriptions, cleaning, whatever. » The walkâ€"in charge applies whenever she has to leave her cab to go into a store, post office, or other facility. PACKAGE PICKâ€"UP She does errands for a small "walkâ€"in" charge. She offers a number of services that not every cab company does. Ms. Hewton has as her goal the operation of "a fast, safe, clean, efficient cab service, day or night." A1 Colborne Taxi is open 24 hours a day. Ms. Hewton operates the busiâ€" ness herself, with the help of two partâ€"time drivers. By Eileen Argyris She‘s Linda Hewton, owner of a new local busiâ€" ness, A1 Colborne Taxi. One Colborne woman has an added reason for her timely message: "Don‘t drink and drive." olborne The car underwent a mechanical inspection, and another inspection ‘by Colborne bylaws officer, Mike Godin. In order to open her business, Ms..Hewton, and her cab, had to be approved. White most of her runs are made in an area between Belleville and Port Hope, Ms. Hewton does take you where you want to go â€" even to Toronto. "But, for long trips like that, I like to book in advance" (because she only has one cab in serâ€" vice, so far) and she asks for the fare in advance, as well. "That way, I‘m giving something back to my customers," Ms. Hewton observes. Al Colborne Taxi will even come and boost your vehicle‘s battery. She even offers a secondâ€" driver service to bring your car home, as well. A1 Colborne Taxi offers school runs, and special seniors‘ discounts, such as 10 per cent off for seniors every Tuesday, and one free local ride (or a discount off a longâ€"disâ€" tance run) after 10 rides. As well, if you get celeâ€" brating with your friends over the holiday season, or any time, she will gladly pick you up and bring you home. s sn BRING YOU â€" AND YOUR CAR â€" HOME Taxi takes partyâ€"goers safely home Why take a chance? â€" Enjoy yourself at seasonal Gatherings, then call A1 Colborne Taxi to make sure you get home safely, advises A1 owner, Linda Hewton. She had to get a.â€"bustâ€" ness licence, and as a taxi licence, and is paying business tax to the village, even though she operates from her home; an apartâ€" Photo by Eileen Argyris The Colborne Chronicte, Tuesday, December 24, 1996 iShe recalls with a smile the day she was called to pick up a stray dog and deliver it back home. She drive just the dog, not the owner. She didn‘t say what kind of tip he left. At this time, her cab is dispatched by cell phone. Eventually she says she‘d like to be able to install a radio system, but the setâ€" up is expensive, however the operation would be cheaper in the long run. SOMETHING THE VILLAGE NEEDS® As well, there could be a second cab, and more But sometimes her pasâ€" sengers are not human â€" literally. "I like people; I like all kinds of people. I like to have fun with them," Ms. Hewton says. In addition to dr;vlvr;g skills, a good taxi driver must have people skills. She says, a taxi licence can be cancelled at any time, if she, or any of her drivers, fails to meet curâ€" rent standards of safety and good driving conduct. "You can‘t have just any driver," she points.out. "Each one has to be cleared by my insurance company. They have to have a clear driving record." DRIVERS ARE ._ SCRUTINIZED And her drivers faced scrutiny, as well. ment at 38B Toronto St. An impairedâ€"driving conâ€" viction will net you a year‘s suspension (miniâ€" mum) for a first offence, and a hefty fine. "How would it be for kids to wake up Christmas Day or New Year‘s Day and have no parents, because (the parents) partied the night before?" You can reach Al Colborne Taxi by calling 855â€"2028. Then, there‘s the greatest cost of all. If you test over the legal limit for alcohol, she reminds everyone, the police now automatically lift your driver‘s licence for 90 days. So she thinks about chilâ€" dren, especially at this time of year, when she tells everyone â€" especially parents â€" not to take any chances with drinking and driving. She is the mother of two grown daughters, and grandmother to two (almost three) grandchilâ€" dren. Ms. Hewton says she is "pretty acquainted by now" with all the roads in and around Colborne. She has lived in the area since 1991, and was born in Trenton. "We‘re giving Colborne something it needed," she believes. "All I need now, are more customers." staff members, in Al Colborne Taxi‘s future, but for now, Ms. Hewton says she‘d settle for a few more fares. Page 3