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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1987, PAGE 21 Brookhin Profile ROXANNE REVELER News & Features Editor Phone 655.3637 Oh my goodness! Anyone who saw either the stage play iteresting. or the motion picture of "Annie" will remember those Criticize as you may, you have to take your hats off to words as being an understatement of whatever was going the pair -they pulled it off. They actually signed a treaty on at that specific time. It is for that reason I say "Oh my banning certain types of nuclear weapons. They still have goodness" when referring to the events that took placeEa long way to go, but this is a monumental step; one neyer . over the past week. beforereached. And although it is far fror perfect, I will You have your shellfish scare. And heaven only knows by Roxanne Reveler repeat myself and say it is the first step. most of us aren't going to touch anything that comes from Many years ago, at least it seers that way now, a the sea for a good while to come. Then there's the news phrase was coied, "A srall step for man; a giant step , that Air Canada and the top brass are finally starting to for mankind" -and 1 truly feel this is what we saw last discuss a mess that has literally stymied the transpor- week. tation of millions of Canadians. But the icing on the cake Sure, there are stili rany problers, many concerns. has to be the bit of history we all had the privilege to par- s a start Reagan throws stones over the Soviet role in the takeover ticipate in....now affectionately known as the Ron- of Afghanistan; the U.S.S.R. counters with America's nie/ikhal sumit.support of the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. The United nie/Mikhail summit. And what a piece of history that was. Take away the fact anymore than we do. States screams about civil rights of Soviet citizens. The that the Soviet Union put a rnilitary satellite into space in The Geneva summit of 1985 gave the world a ray of counterclaim points to the indignations against American the midst of the talks; that they exploded an underground hope. At last the two "main men" in the world had agreed blacks, Hispanics and native peoples. nuclear test shortly after. It's still a great accomplish- to meet and try to do business. I would imagine the air was How high is up? As the bible s ays, "Let ye without sin ment. filled with anything but compassion; of trust. But it broke cast the first stone." Eveni if you are witbout Religious Because have feared a nuclear confrontation between the ice. t-ad everyone hoping for the best, only to be belief, you have to admit no one person, let alone a coun- the two superpowers more than anything else during the slamred down to reality again at Reykjavik after the duo try, is perfect. past decade, I have tried to keep on top of negotiations care to odds over the Star Wars controversy. I admit I was tickled pink to witness a bit of history last between those two i5owers, namely the United States and Only one thing carne out of these meetings in far away week. Moreso for the sake of my kids, for it will be their U.S.S.R. Having had relatives who have travelled in the Iceland. e world's two greatest leaders f this time ap- world which will either disintegrate through a nuclear U.S.S.R. on several occasions, starting with the firât peared to corne to an understanding;. They developed a holocaust or finally corne to terrns with itself. And media Canada/Russia hockey showdown, I have heard firsthand comfortable, if often strained, relationship. It was this hype aside, I arn grateful that the USA/USSR summits that we are fed a certain arount of propaganda. Perhaps love/hate relationship they brought to Washington last have finally becore the Ronnie/Gorby talks. For without not quite as much as the Soviets, but then again, a fair week. At first glance it appeared to me as though these discussion, understanding and an attempt at compromise, amount./t is for that reason I have tried to keep an open mighty men were perforing as two primary grade this earth doesn't stand an ice cubes hope in heu 0f sur- mind. I'm sure the average Soviet, and those they claim to children trying to upstage each other. This was per- viving. represent, do not want to be blown into never-never-land sonified by their wives, a sideshow that was nonetheless At least that's the way it looks to me. Changs in Ashburn mail delivery wilstart anymre tannw.do By MIKE JOHNSTON & ROXANNE REVELER A Canada Post decision to sort nail bound for Ashburn at the 3rooklin post office will mean Ash- iurn residents will be receiving heir mail one day late, says a Whitby councillor. North ward councillor and Ash- urn resident Ross Batten infor- med Whitby council of Canada Post's plans on Monday night. "Mail used to be sorted at the Ashburn post office between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. and ready that day. Now it will be sorted in Brooklin then brought up to the Ashburn store," says Batten. The Ashburn store, which will be sold to new owners on Dec. 24, houses the post office. .............*.........................'......*.... .*.... Reflections of a Golden Age The change will go into effect on Jan. 4, says Batten, whose father and mother ran the store for 34 years. His wife Debbie is now sor- ting the mail in Ashburn as well as making deliveries to rural routes. That delivery will remain, added Batten. Batten says mail delivery to some Ashburn residents who are unable to make it to the post office to pick up their mail is also going to be stopped. "If Canada Post knew the type of contact this means to the society they wouldn't make these changes," says Batten. "They are taking away personal service. This is a classic example of this level of government losing con- tact with the public." In an effort to keep service at Ashburn, Whitby council has agreed to write to Canada Post and "the appropriate people," asking that services not be removed. According to post office policy, the branch at Ashburn was to have been closed down at such time as the general store was sold. The policy was followed when the postmaster of Columbus recently retired. The small community to the east has since been without a post office. With the sale of Ash- burn General Store, it appeared the post office would also close. . But this decision could lead to the post office closing in the future as well as the store. Batten says the store relies on revenue from Canada Post. Councillor Gerry Emm, a resident of Ashburn, told The Free Press he has been corresponding with officials of Canada Post in an effort to see the rural post office was allowed to keep its doors open after the closing date for the sale on Dec. 24. "I was delighted to get a telephone call saying these people wanted to come to Ashburn and discuss the situation," said Emm. He was referring to Richard Jones, communications officer with Canada Post, and Ann Reimanis of the York services division, who met with-Emm last Thursday. According to the councillor, the duo gave verbal assurances that the Ashburn post office would remain open to serve the public. They did state, however, that all rural deliveries would be handled through the Brooklin post office station. Emm indicateil his pleasure at the news, but has asked that Canada.Post submit their assuran- ces in writing to the clerk of both the Town of Whitby and the Region. Current Ashburn postmaster, Moyra Griffin, was unavailable for comment as she was attending the funeral of her father in England. By MABEL M. McCABE Most folks love a mystery. We have a very stuhborn one right here in our building. Some weeks ago we had a robbery. A very nasty person or persons unknown entered the lounge late one night and stole our stereo. Not only the machine but all the records and the speakers as well. It is a poor excuse for a human being who takes from those who have very lit- tle to start with. We all know that this type of crime is more common now because the old and defenceless are easy prey. This particular low-life came in the dark of night and without distur- bing or tampering with the locked doors or windows did his dirty work. The police do not have any idea how this happened. You can imagine the stories and the conclusions some folks have come up with. We just have to go along with the fact that we do not have any music and cannot listen to football or baseball games anymore. I sure hope the perpetrator eh- joyed his booty, for he has left many old folks with less faith in their fellow man. On Dec. 8 we had our Christmas party here and missed our Christmas music. Incidents such as this are common now throughout the country. There is no longer any place or age when one is safe from those who are determined to take what does not belong to them. Where does this men- tality come from? Do they not teach right and wrong anymore? Is it the outcome of falling away from the basic principles of being your brother's keeper? The sad part of this whole thing is that the person at fault cannot gain by it. They do not realize that you cannot keep the things you are not en- titled to for long. We on the other hand have learned that material things do not make up the best things in life. We can live without that stereo but I wonder if the one who took it will benefit? It may have been traded for a few dollars that may have been put to buying booze or drugs. I would prefer to think they were used to feed a hungry child. If the gains were used to good purpose I for one would be content. So that is what I will believe. It may be true or it may be way off base but it makes it easier to take. Someday, somehow, we will manage to replace that machine but the loss of self esteem that the robber feels will linger all through his life. I hope that person can live with the guilt that will follow him everywhere. I will ask God to give him the grace to forgive himself. Whitby's administrative commit- tee has asked planning department to work out servicing problems to permit the Hunter application for a subdivision and seniors' complex along Anderson St., south of Win- chester Rd., in Brooklin. Planning department had recommended denial of the ap- plication, noting that the develop- ment was premature since services such as water supply are needed. But councillor Ross Batten, at last week's administrative commit- tee meeting, said he was "disap- pointed" at the recommendation because seniors' housing had been wanted in Brooklin "for many years." Before making a motion to refer Hunter's plan for a seniors' com- plex and 56 single family lots, Bat- ten said the Region could work out servicing problems. "This thing is too good to turn down," agreed councillor Joe Drunm'at last eek's meeting. Planning department had also noted that the Ministry of Tran- sportation and Communications commented there be no new residential development south of Winchester Rd. because of the proposed Highway 407 alignment. The department also noted that the property had been recommen- ded for industrial use if no high school was built in Brooklin. The high school had been included in future land use plans siould it be needed when the Brooklin population reached 10,000 at full development. Batten, however, said he remembered that the fairgrounds area only had been suggested for a high school site. He also rejected the 407 impact on the property, saying the highway would "not even come close" to the site. "Senior housing in the north ward is overdue," said councillor Gerry Emm, noting there were several ,prjcectsip southWhitby bgt51one in the north. And he said the Region, for which he serves as works committee chairman, is "pursuing a servicing solution." When asked by planning director Bob Short whether a report should be made before or after a servicing solution is found, Emm said the department could "look at piped water in the long term andcom- munity wells in the short term." School concert Meadowcrest Baptist Church will be presenting their annual Christ- mas concert this Sunday, Dec. 22 in the church on Vipond St. (beside Meadowerest Public School). As part of the concert, there will be a small play, "I am..." The festivities will start at 6 p.m. and will be followed by refreshments. The community is invited to attend. PLANNING RECOMMENDA TION REJECTED Committee supports seniors housing project in Brooklin