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PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1980, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby Voice of the County Town Michael Ian Burgess, Publisher. Managing Editor Tne only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents fur Whitby residents. Published everv Vednesday by Ni.B.M. Publishing and Photography Inc. Phone 668-61 Il The Free Press Building. 131 Brock Street North, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. Community Editor .Mike Knel Production Manager • Mar) BurgelS Print & Promotionat Manager . Robin Lyo-n classifIed Ad Advertising Manager -Karen ThofnP$O ;4 !1 1f 0S Snowmobiles should be banned south of R ossland Centre Ward Councillor Barry Evans has proposed that the use of ail snowmobiles be ban- ned on town owned roads in the Town of Whitby. Evans was motivated to introduce this proposai because of the unfortunate death of a local girl - killed in an accident on Manning Road involving a snowmobile. Evans correctly noted that it was within the Council's jurisdiction to pass such a by-law and wondered why it had never been done in the past. WelI, we wonder too. It is refreshing to agree with a member of council and we concur with his conclusion that the use of such vehicles is not necessary within an urbanized community such as Whitby...especially on main streets. Our publisher was cut off two Saturday's ago by a snowmobile crossing Hwy. 2, which he nearly hit. However, there is one major modification to Evan's proposai that could be suggested. The use of snowmobiles should be banned in the urbanized part of town - i.e. south of Rossland or even Taunton Road. In the northern, rural areas of the town, snowmobiles are a necessary form of emergency transportation, especially in the aftermath of a win- ter storm such as the one that was experienced on Saturday, March 8. Road clearing and snow removal service in the urban part of town is usually reasonably fast and efficient, however, that is not always the case in the rural areas. These areas need an alternative form of transpor- tation during the winter months - even if it is just used for emergencies. Evan's proposai should be a safeguard for the lives and property of ail Whitby residents, but should not be a handicap to those people in the northern areas who have a visible and viable need for snowmobiles. It is regretfui, however, that none of us had the foresight to implement such a move before that tragic accident. The death or injury of one person is too high a price to pay to make us aware of our mistakes. Reader complains about snowmobiles to Mayor and Council in open letter EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an open letter to Whitby Mayor James C. Gartshore and all members of WhItby Town Council. Mayor Gartshore and Councillors: On Saturday after- noon, March 8, 1980, I asked my wife to call the police department and complain about snowmobiles being driven in the area. I have made complaints in the past of both snowmobiles and trail bikes illegally being operated. It would ap- pear as though strong enough measures to stop both types of of- fenders have not been taken - verbal warnings have obviously failed. Now, i read of the death of Dawn Spen- cer, 15, of Centre Street, run over by a snowmobile having been thrown from a motorcycle when it spun out (of control) on Manning Drive on Saturday night (March 8). Maybe now it will be understood that the laws should be strictly enforced so as to prevent such un- necessary deaths, in- juries or damage to property. Please take definite measures to stop these types of offenders. G. Honle, Garden Street, Whitby. Fund toput $7.4 million nto research Dear Sir: "Heart Month" in Canada is now over and on behalf of the Canadian Heart Fund, Ontario Division, please accept our hear- tfelt thanks for your promotional support during February. Our objective for the 1980 Heart Fund Cam- paign was $6.4 million and aithough ail retur- ns are not yet in, we are quite hopeful that our objective will be at- tained. Without your willing co-operation in communicating our needs to the public, we would not be able to express such an outlook. The Medical Com- rnittee of the Ontario Heart Foundation, met at the end of January to review research ap- plications submitted to us for support. You will be pleased to know that after deliberations, $7.4 million was com- mitted to car- diovascular and cerebrovascular resear- ch projects in Ontario, commencing June 1980. The financial support of many in- dividuais and businesses has made this commitment possible. Thank you again for your support, and for helping us to ensure that research against our nation's number one health enemy will continue. With best wishes. Yours very truly, Candian Heart Foun- dation Ontario Division Esther M. Richards Director of Public Relations