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s i Freez Vol. 12, No. 47 Wednesday Dec'ember 1, 1982 28 Pages For the second year in a row, regional coun- cil has frozen the wages of elected members at $13,890. <In a 16-14 vote last week, council decided it must set an example of restraint by giving up a raise in 1983. But regional coundillor Tom Edwards says the decision is a llphoney"l show of restraint, smnce the cost 0f a five per cent raise would be minimal. Edwards says'he is ý confident when the issue is brought up again in March, council will vote for a salary increase. Story on page X-masi caroons Some kids will say anything. And some will draw anytbing. Local school cbildren have used their car- toonn skilis to have fun with the Santa Claus mytb, and the resuits are startling. We'll bet you didn't- know Santa'now basý robot-reindeer pulling b is sleigh. .And be's, having trouble fitting 2,000 PacMlan games on bis overloaded sleigh. Tbe kidshave been learning the fine art of cartooning. from local artist Ken Lennox, wbo says drawing is just plain fun". Story and pictures on page 10. Short- fai Ofcasfor the Osbawa-Whitby-Newcastle United Way predict a shortfall of about 10 per cent (or $200,Ã"00) in this-year's fund-raising drive. Returns in the past few weeks have been. slow, and the organization fears many neces- sary servic 'es wil suffer if the $1.5 million goal is not reached. Despite the slow economy, some groups in the community have responded with generous donations, while others are far froni their in- dividual goals. The United Way is appealing to ail comrmu- nity members to make a final contribution by Dec. 15 in order to. meet'the needs of its 39 charitable organizations. See pages5. Strange message. Weekend vandals left a tombstone and two amber flasbing lights on the desk of a teacher at Denis O'Connor High Sehool, police report. Police say the tonibstone and ligbts were left 'in a portable classroom at the scbool some time between Friday. afternoon and Monday morning. No forced entry had occurred. The tombstone was stolen from Stafford Brothers on Dundas Street in Wbitby, and the amber lights were taken froni Stinson Equip- ment, a Scarborougb construction company. Police say the door of the portable class- room wa s difficuit to lock, and may flot have been properly secured on Friday. No arrests have been made. Everyone but Tweedlemdee and Tweedle-dume.. Lewis Carroll's Alicein Wonderland characters will come alive Dec. 9 tbrougb 12 at Wbitby's Centennial Building. Members of the Wlutby Theatre Youtb Group cast are lef t to right: Tbe Queen of Hearts (Anne Edmondson), the White Rabbitt (Alan Rosen), the Gry- phon (Scott Griffin), Alice (Lanie Anderson) and the Marcb Hare (Helen George). -Free Press Staff Photo Three months later teachers have con'rc Durham elementary school teachers voted 90 per cent in favour of ac- cepting the Board of Educations's latest con- tract offer last week. The new contract, wbicb has- also been ratified by the board, gives teachers a nine per cent' pay increase and an expanded benefit package. "Under the present economie situation. and considering the (re- straint) legisiation that is going to be imposed, i am quite satisfied with the arrangement," Jack Houghton, cbief negotia- tor for the teachers, said at a press conference Friday. The new contract is a one-Year, agreement re- troactive to September 1982. Highlights of the set- lement are: *a nine per cent pay in- crease for teachers, principals and vice- principals * a re-organized benefit Package whichincludes comprehensive dental coverage at 1981 fees a a pre-paid leave plan in wbicb teachers can have a portion of each paycbeque witheld by the board to finance a year's leave of absence a a job sharing plan whereby two teacliers who wish to teach half- time for one year can share a classroom ea staffing committee comprised of five teach- ers and five administra- tors to review .staffing needs each year The teachers say they are dissatisfied by the board's refusal to niake provisions in the con- tract to lower the pupil- teacher ratio (PTR). Federation president RonGugula sald Durham Region bas bad the bigbest PTR since 1976, witb a ratio of 22 students to one teacher. Gugula said the' in- coming- restraint legis- lation makes nou provi- sion for changes in the PTR. "Six montbs ago the teachers would not have been happy with a nine par cent pay increase see Settlement, Page 3.