'D A 0- it n IITTTYY1TO V YlI'flCOO UTI'TnkTCqf V-T ThU1-i 1988 w VOUCE 0F THE C0UNTI YIOWN Maurice Plfhsr Published every Wednesday PByihe 6720vOtrlo mc.sd PhR:668-6111aio n PDoue:Ander611 Pubtisher The Free Press Building 131 Brock Street North, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. Editor Peter irvine Advertising Manager Alexandra Simon Production Manager The only Whltby newspaper Independently o wned and operated by Whftby residents for Whtby'resldents. e More Block Parent comnuttees needed After f ive years of faithful, and'often frustrating, work as president of Whitby-Brooklifl Block Parents, Heather Bray will be taking her talents to the Ontario level of the program. It would seem that Whitby and Brooklin are losing a valuable member of the team that seeks to make safer neighborhoods of this growing municipality. But perhaps as secretary in the province-wide association, Bray can more eff ectively work to find a solution to the problemn that exists in Whitby as in other communities - a need for more residents f0 form committees. Brcly indicated in her letter of resignatioli hat as -- . M- a- thnt thoir much as residents Iike t10 uwieve imaL tit- uvi Il neighborhood is saf e, "lthis is flot always the case." And three schools'areas in Whitby - R.A. Sennett, Dr. Robert Thornton and R.A. Hutchison - have no Block parent committeeS. It might be appropriate that some effort be made to establlsfl îDOse committees, for the sake of safety and in recognition of Mrs. Bray's effort to improve Whitby as a place for f amilles to live.f Following the path of gold left by Anne Ottenbrite in 1984, another superb Whitby athiete will be competirig for Canada in swimming in the 1988 Summer Olympios. Lori Melien, 16, will be joining. her Anderson CVI schoolmate and Canadian womerl gymnastics champion Lori Strong as well as judo etqr rtt.nn Rpemiohamp, who will make his second Olympic appearance, at the great sportiflg everit. Needless to say, Whitby willbe better represented than most communities in Seoul, Korea. We offer congratulations and a "Best of luckr' to our very own superstars. We hope they do well, but more important, we're just proud that they're there. Conerovr.indstialization near marsh area Conceflot ene oe au ana an* ait. To the editor:* Copy of letter to thle executive Sonnittee, Town of Whitby. Dear SIrs, Re: Esquire Development'5 submnission ta revise zoning on its property west of ThicksonW Road South in Lot 21, Broken Front. You are familiar with Whitby's Çorbett Creek Marsh area, a prime natural paradise in the heart of town. Buffered on the east by intrepid Park, on the West, by Thickson's Woods, On the north by Durham Region Pollution control plant landsa, and on the sou4th by Lake Ontario, this special-. wetland serves the commiunity in ways that no shopping mail, no indutrno residential development, nor even planned and groomeci parkland ever coulid, for here is preserved that irreplaceable reality - nature. Here birds by the thousands stop to rest and feed during migration. Waterfowl dabble -in the marsh while land birds hop about in the trees and bushes. Mammals such as red foxes raise their young. Almost 300 plant species are safe from destruction here, a genetic storehouse, an island in a vast landscape of lawns and imported shrubs. The Corbett Oreek Marsh is vital to many species, and notth least of these is muan. We humans need to get into wild areas from time to time -- to get away from asphat and concrete and the roar of cars. We need to relax, to calm down, to get in touch with the earth and the elements, to rediscover our place in nature. You may not realize just how important a piece of wilderness we have here in Whitby --and how many people escape to it regularly. You may not realize how much tourist potential we have; already Thickson's Woods draws bird watchers and other nature buifs from across the province and the neighboring United States. On May 15 alone several hundred people visited the area. Proof of its popularity lies in the fact that in four short years private citizens have donated out of their own pockets more than $100,000 to preserve Thickson's Woods as a natural area forever. I speak for Thickson's Woods Heritage Foundation, but Tmrr confident the two other owners of Corbett Creek m arsh --Durham Region and the Town of Whitby - -are as cognizant, protective and proud of the valuable natural asset we share. With the above in mind I want to express our concerns about the heavy industrialization of adjoining lands, 1) Noious Fumes We are concerned increased noxious vehicle exhaust, reaching the woods. Already the trees are under stress, and they are under more and more of a barrage of exhaust as truck traffic increases on Wentworth. Often chemical substances can be smelled in the deepest recesses of the woods. They can't be good for the health and well-being of flora or fauna. 2) Noise Pollution Part of the healing benefit of nature is in the peace and quiet there. More practically, you can't hear the delicate song of a wood thrush when tractor trailers are constantly rumbling by. Already near Wentworth and near Thickson's Road north of Wentworth it's impossible to hear birds over the constant roar of trucks. Allowing truck traffic on Thiickson's Road south of Wentworth would ruin much of the tranquility of Corbett Creek Marsh and we're strongly opposed to allowing them there. Money is 3) Whe equi nest ta ntua buffer zone be left around the whole of the Çorbett Creek wetland area. Thati' the best insurance we have 'to preserve what will become more and more vital to Whidtby's citizens in the decades to corne. What Whitby. is, is the people who live here. Thickson's"Woods Heritage Foundation represents many hundreds of people who care strongly about preservinig the peace and tranquility iof nature in the heart of town. They have - literally - put their money where their mouth is. On behalf of them and of the quality of life here for generations still unborn, we ask, that you take these concerns into account as you plan for our future. Margaret Bain President Annans are appreciated To the editor: On behaif of ahI the staff and residents of Fairview Lodge, 1 would ike to extend a big public thank you to Margaret and Melissa Annan of Garbo's Boutique in Whitby. Over the past two and a half years, these two very special women have held five benefit fashion shows for Fairview Lodge generating over $7,500 in funds. The money has been used to. outfit the new solarium at Fairview Lodge. There is a tremendous amount of time and energy involved in putting, these fashion shows together. The last fashion show held by Garbos was on April 24 with over 200 people in attendance. The hairstyles of all the models at ahi the fashion shows were also provided free of charge, by Valentino's ofWhAitby. Whitby should be proud of these two outstandrng individluals. They are a real crecit to the community. Their devotion and generosity is hehping to enhance the quality of care that the residents of Fairview Lodge receive. Local merchants such as Margaret and Meissa Annan exemplify that Whitby is truly a "icaring community." We salute them.Yours truly, Carrie Mason Activities Director Fairview Lodge LETTERS The Whitby Free Press welcomes letters to the Editor on any subject of concern to our readers. Letters should be brief and ,to the point - rarely more than 300 words. AUl letters must be accornpanied by the name, address and phone number of the writer; however, on request, your name may be withheld from publication if we agree that there is a valid reason. The paper reserves the right to reject or edit ail letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LN51; or drop through pur niailsiot at 131 Brock St. N. - -4"SO where do we start?"I Whitby well represented at Olympie 0, WkirrJJX In q%ýý i . -a- R. -a- JL L--ý m ! ý .- .-