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PAGE 6, WIflTBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1988 w mp w Ac . • Published every Wednesday By 677209 Ontario Inc. Phone: 668-6111 Doug Anderson Publisher The Free Press Building 131 Brock Street North, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. Maurîce Pîther Maurice Pifher Editor Peter Irvine Advertising Manager Alexandra Simon Production Manager The only Whitby newspaper Independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitbyresidents. Cooperate Crossing guards. They have been a thorn in the side of Whitby council for years and the object of parent's frustration and concern. It seems like a cushy job but no onewants to do if Perhaps the Town does not pay enough or perhaps guards just don't like standing in -15 C. weather in snow storms on winter days. But the fact is, the Town is having a tough time filling the positions. Now the Town's public works department thinks it has the answer. Eliminate the crossings and you eliminate the need to hire the guards. But that still will not solve the problem of getting children safely to school.' We don't know the immediate answer but cooperative planning between the Town and the schoolboards when planning a school, should help eliminate the problem in the future. Both should work closer together to eliminate the need for children to cross busy roads such as Thickson Rd. or Anderson Rd. Two of the most important figures in Whitby's suc- cessful St. John Ambulance program will receive well-deserved honors when they are presented the Serving Sisters award. Shirley Spicer and Linda Staples, the recipients of one of St. John's highest honors, have given much As for now, let's hope our councillors reject the idea of removing school crossings and instead, turn their attention to hiring more guards thus ensuring the safety of our children. to trie organization, its members and the Whitby community, with first aid and other programs. They are two of 28 across Canada who will be so honored in Ottawa later this year. And Whitby is glad to boast two such individuals who have given us much. We are honored. LETTERS FROM OUR READERS Committee commended for decision to review Lynde Shores To the editor: I would like to personally commend the members of Whitby's Administrative committee, chairman Gerry Emm and councillors Joe Drumm and Ross Batten, for their far-sighted decision to re-examine the future of the area along the east side of Lynde Creek marsh. It is heartening indeed to realize that our elected representatives are willing to respond to legitimate public concerns. They took several hours out of their busy schedules to look at the area firsthand. Upon determining that they shared the public's concerns about the Lynde Shores Secondary Plan as originally proposed, they referred the matter back to stafff for an environmental impact study as well as for a reassessment of road locations, density and placement of residential development and the extent of green space along the lake and marsh. Only people of courage and dedication would have been willing to admit that perhaps their original decision needed to be reviewed and then would have acted on their convictions as they did. The members of the administrative committee can be proud of their actions. Currently the Government of Ontario is on a campaign to make surplus provincial lands available for affordable housing. Part of the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital lands bordering the east side of Lynde Creek marsh are under consideration for this purpose. While affordable housing is a commendable objective, it should not be pursued at severe environmental cost. It appeared to me that Mr. W. Wilson, representing the. Ministry of Government Services at the May 16 meeting of the administrative committee, was trying to pressure Let's view developments To the editor, As chairman of the administrative committee, (Planning Committee). Your comments in your editorial Lynde Shores, Wed. June 8) are supportive of what this committee is trying to accomplish in all phases of development within the town. Only with a personal site visit can a decision maker acquaint himself with what is being proposed. Many years ago when I was chairman of the operations committee, * several 'walking tours' were arranged within areas of the town, and its not too surprising to see items requiring attention. Really, what I'm trying to say is, let's view our developments carefully then decide, you see much more when you walk, I do. Gerry Emm Regional councillor More letters page 12 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. All letters must be accompanied 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 all letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LiN 5S1 or drop through our mailslot at 131 Brock St. N. the Town of Whitby into proceeding with the Lynde Shores Secondary Plan no matter what. He seemed very upset when the committee even considered delaying the process to try to address the concerns that had been raised. Is this determination to achieve provincial objectives by trampling on local rights what we can expect from a provincial government with an overwhelming majority in the legislature? Or are we simply the potential victims of overzealous civil servants trying to further their pet project? Whichever the case, those involved need to be reminded that they were elected to represent us or were hired by us. Affordable housing in our community should be of benefit to everyone who lives here, and not be built at the expense of future generations who have been deprived of their rightful natural heritage. Is the Ministry of Natural Resources aware of these proposais and their potential destructive effects on the Lynde Creek fishery? Has the Ministry of the Environment been informed of plans to pollute Lynde Creek marsh by dumping salt and oil-laden storm water directly into it? Or is this a case of big government run amok with the right hand not knowing what the left is doing? The Town of Whitby is wisely taking a more careful look at the longterm impact of decisions regarding our green space. It's time the Province did the same. The mayor of Baltimore, Maryland speaking last week in Toronto, urged the city to preserve its waterfront green space because "once it's gone, it's gone." He stated that Baltimore's waterfront green space generates $50,000,000 per year in added revenue for his city. How much will Whitby's waterfront green space be worth to us and to '6ur children and grandchildren?, It will be worth nothing if we allow it to be destroyed by short-sighted decisions now. R.R. 2, Whitby VOICE 0F THE COUNTY TOWN Well deserved honors 1% lq m L