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WHITBY FREE PRESS. WEDNESDAY B Theatre company receives $6,000 Wintario grant The Whitby Theatre Com- pany recently received a Wintario grant for $6,000 to purchase new . sound and lighting equipment for its theatre in the Centennial Building. The equipment is needed to replace the outdated equipment in use for at least six years. The biggest task is yet to come for the theatre company. A matching sum of $6,000 has to be raised by the Whitby Theatre Com- pany to realize the full amount of $12,000 which the new equipment will cost. Already a fund-raising committee chaired by Greg Lang, with Catherine Scheill, Bert Kirkham, Don Dewey and' Bert Heaver as members, has laid out its strategy, part of which will include a raffle, a "Gamblers' Night" and a direct mail campaign, aimed at local industry, clubs and the general membership of the Whitby Theatre Company. Durham West MPP George Ashe presents Whitby Theatre Company President Terrill Stewart with a Wintario cheque for $6,000 as part of the cost of replacing the light and sound system in the Centennial Building Theatre. Taking part in the cheque presentation are Whitby Recreation Director Wayne Deveau (left) and Mayor Jim Gartshore (right). The Theatre Company is planning a fund raising drive to obtain its matching $6,000 contribution to the project. Photo by Bob Nelson LA CONTESSA BEAUTY LOUNGE v 119 Green Street fui meeting March 6 at the YWCA, 199 Centre Street South, Oshawa. Those interested are welcome to attend. Whitbyý By' John Roberts A word of congratulations to the Jaycees, who put on an excellent winter carnival over the past weekend. I wasn't able to attend many of the events, but what I did see were well run and organized. This was a very impressive effort for their first year in the carnival business. And, while praising service clubs, kudos are in order for the Optimist Club of Whitby, who ran away Çvith the service club contests. I always knew you guys were quick off the blocks. I was interested to read in the paper last week where the Whitby Council has approved a pay raise for themselves. But I don't think that we should be as hard on them as are some people to whom I have spoken. In the first place, I don't believe that political life is all that easy, and those councillors that I know (all of them) earn every penny that they make now. I can't see where the small raise that they've voted themselves is going to hurt anything. It seems that the main question concerns the fact that after all the talk of restraint and cutting back, all of a sudden we see those yery people who have to cut money here and there from the budget, coming up with a raise for themselves. And not all that long after the last election, at which time I think it was well known what the salaries were. Yet as far as restraint is concerned, the councillors have been as generous as they could be, I feel, to those who have asked for money from the town, given the budget the councillors had to work with. I don't think they took the money away from anyone else to give themselves a raise. And I do think that the present salaries for councillors are low, when compared to those of other elected officials in the region. So, all in all, I think that the money is well spent. It seems as if the retail merchants are having their problems again in getting people involved (monetarily) in the Retail Merchants Association. I really think that it's a terribly sad situation to see merchants who have benefitted from the Association in the immediate past not want to be involved any longer. The whole situation is reverting back to what it was not all that long ago, and after such a promising beginning last summer. I've written on this topic ad nauseum, I know, and yet I feel that there's one last thing to say here. Keep iL alive. There can be no alternative to a strong and viable association, be it of only a few hard-working members who want to see the town progress. The weather is. against the merchants, the shopping plazas are competing with the merchants, and the last thing we need is the merchants competing against the merchants. I know that people can only take so many frustrations and disappointments before deciding to give it all up as a lost c'ause, but this isn't the time to give up on the Association. There is a lot of good work thàt has been done in the past, and a lot yet to come. The word is out that the people in Otter Creek might be getting a mail delivery service, and might even be given the parks that were promised to them. Great! I've been living there almost two years now, and have heard these same promises for the entire time. But I believe the post office and the local recreation department to be honorable people, and will doubtless have these facilities and services available as soon as possible. Now all we have to worry about are the other things that were promised, such as schools, jug milk facilities, and the like, Maybe another twô years from now? no' with lidas gets tough on se pollution anew shoD 1220 Dundas E. Bring your noisy muffler to our convenient new location and you'll find out why Midas is tops in the muffler business. Low prices. Fast, professional service. And the Midas Muffler Guarantee: it's good for as long as you own your car, whether it's North American or import- ed. You can search far and wide r guarantee, ly MUFFLER SHORS for a good muffle but you'll probab discover the best is just down the street. At Midas. YOU'VE GOTTA BE TOUGH TO BE TOPS Midas Muffler, 1220 Dundas St. E. Tel. 668-1065 CUSTOM Social planning The Social Planning Council of Oshawa-Whitby will hold its 14th annual meeting March 6 at 7:30 p.m. F Downtown 668-9262 at - 2 FEBRUARY 28, 1979, PAGE 3