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8-Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, January 5th, 1977 Letter toc the editor, What is the Ratepayers' Assoc. ail about? At the Visual Arts Centre 0f Newcastle in the historie Creami of Barley Miil Simpson Ave. Bowmanville WINTER-SPRING 1977 PROGRAMI Pottery begins Jan. l7 Inistructor: Gail Reed 10,weeks, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. Potter's Studio; begins Jan. 18 10 weeks 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. Potteryý for, Youths 9-12 Instructor: Gail Reed begins Jan. 22 8 weeks 10: 00 a.mn. - Noon Sculpture begins Jan. 20 Inistrutctor-: Chris Keene 10 weeks 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. WNeaving begins Jan. 17 on "4-harness loomis" 10 weeks 7:30 p.rn. - 9:30 Printmnaking lield in OshiawNa begins Jan. 20 Instructor: Joan Dean 6 weeks 7:30 - 9:30 p.rn. Children's Art 7 - 12 yrs. begins Jan. 20 10 weeks 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Creative Stitchery begins Jan. 17 Instruictor: Susan Biss 10 weeks, 7:00 - 9: 00 p. m. Applique begins Apr. 18 Instructor: Susan Biss 10 weeks 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Watercolours begin Mar. 30 Instrutctor: Janiet McGhee 6 weeks 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Woven Wallhiangings begins April 5 lnstructor: Eliz. Bunton 10 weeks 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Week-End Workshops W,ýatercolours Jan 29 Inistr-uctor: Janet McGhee Mlonoprinting Feb. 26-27 lnstructor: Joan Dean ikat in April Instructor: -Mala Cunard also raku piottery, and natural dyeing in M,ýayN and June Prices range fromn $1-1.00 to $28.00 For further details or to register phone: Dorrie Bickle in Bowmianville at 623-3237 Liz Bunton in Orono at 983-5123 or write Visual Arts Centre Box 52 Bowmnanville COME TO THE OPEN HOUSE ON SUNDAY JAN. !) BETWEEN :00 - 5: 00 P..M. in t he CREAM 0OF WBARLEY Meet the Artists and lReister Philosphy: The influence and control of people by governments has had an alarming increase the past few years. However, thoro has not been a corrosponding increase of influence by the people on their governrnonts. While the number of the peoples' representatives per. capita has declined, the numnber in the bureaucracy has multiplied substantially. The politicians who corne and go by in large follow the policies and recommendat- ions laid down for thom by the administrators. The admninis- trators after many yoars of experience are quite capable of justifying either the pro or the con of any issue or devloprnent dopending on their own wishes. Consequon- ty, we now have excessive power concentrated in admin- istrative bureaus. Aready, gono are the good old days when we wore free to improve our own lot for our own resources provided that in doing so we did not cause harm to anyone else. This our forefathers called "liberty." Today almnost everything is controlled from our wagos to our property. Those of us who atternpt to initiate somothing for the henefit of our family, our comrnunity and our country are very much hincl- ered, others fool the effeets more indirectly. .We atT.O.N.R.A., are not so naive to believe that wo can~ change the system. It does have many good features. The problem is to make it work for us. For example since 1955 the cost of a serviced building lot cîimbod from $800. to $29,000 while during the sanie time period the cost of the building itself has only tripled. The lots are controllod by the bureau- cracy, the building is carried out by freedom of entorprise. The buroaucracy thon, is not working for us, it is working against us. This situation is not unique. Throughout history this oc- curs whonover governmental systems fail to involve one Pumping Out Septic Tanks Bert Tompkins Phone 786-2552 786-2636 Bujilding a House? or remodeliing your present one?! Th-len conntact: Floyd L'Nicholson ron 983-5049 very important ingredient in the decision making ioÀnula; namely, "The People." As this trend continues and governments grow larger and more remote f rom the people, the people themselves bec- orne increasingly less interes- ted in their government. As a show of discontent, polities (contempary affairs) become a distasteful topie of discus- sion among many well-bred citizens. The bureaucracy then has a more free hand to grow in size and control. On December 6th, we did not eleet a board of manage- ment. A board of manage- ment belongs only in a Corporation where profit is the only interest and invest- ors have the opportunity to cop out whenever they are dissatisfied. Such a board has no place in the government of a community, a province or a nation where citizens cannot cop out sîrnply by not becoming involved. On Dec- ember 6th, we elected repres- entatives to represent our ideas, our problems and our interests. To do otherwise, is not demnocratie. t is then an obligarchy which camouflag- es as a democracy once every two years. A Liaison: Therefore, in order that your representat- ives rnay enlist your -inter- ests, they must know what they are. To do this you need a liaison. This is what the Town of Newcastle Ratepayers' Assocation is ail about. (With, the advent of Regionalismn we no longer have 24 representat- ives, we only have seven). The individual or small groups can't get anywhere Wiýith governments. However at a ratepayer assembly, we ail have an equal voice. So bring us your problems and your ideas. - You make the motion and if you get the vote of the majority you have a united front to help soîve your problem or implirnent your idea in a quiet diplomnatie fashion. Don't wait until 'you have been turned down by your government, remember your elected representatives have their pride too. For myself, af ter accepting nomination for Council; 1 withdrew, not because 1 slight the position, but rather 1 feel the job of building a strong organization to act as your liaison for citizen participat- ion is at this time and in mny mind more important. Mfter much consideration, 1 believe rny chances of success are' much greater outside of government than from with- in. Like the executive of T.O.N.R.A. with whom I arn so proud to be associated, we don"t have to be paid to serve our community nor do we have the appetîte for power, But we do need help. If you have been interested enough to read this long release in its totality then you are the type of person we are looking for. If you believe as we believe that people should bc involved with their governrnent and care cnough t'o assist other people and neighbourhoods in finding solutions to their problems then we would like to be associated with you. Cal mie at 576-6433 or drop out to an assembl.y. We meet every LETTER TO THÉ EDITOR There is a Santa A sign on the outskirts of our village, is worded, "Or- ono, a good place to live." - 1 can vouch for the truth in this statement. The Christmas season has been acknowledged for dec- ades as a tirne of goodwill among men, a theory that has been of rather dubious char- acter in my opinion. How- ever, something happened this year that has completely changed my philosphy. Pos- sibly the residents of Orono and the surrounding comm- unities will consider this account sornewhat frivolous - so be it! But having recently moved from a city, to what I like to terra "Country living," I have just experienced "Goodwill arnong men" in a very practical way. I do flot intend to narne n.imes, or designate an exact location, for I don't wish to cause any personal emabar- rassrnent - indoed this is not necessary, for I have no doubt that anybody involved will recognise the circumstances without any assistance. My wife was suddonly tak(en sick on Christmas Eve whilo I was ini Oshawa. One of my nieighbours found her in a rather helpless condition, managod to contact me, theni looked after her until I got home. Af ter a trip to hospital, that the substance of this release is correct, infalibility does exist and 1 welcorne any critismn, public or otherwise). 1Sorno of the things we wil be working towards are as follows: A block parent program Drop in centres for school children of working par- ents, espocially single par- ent families. A regional Ombitsman A courtice firehaîl. Other questons are also slated for discussion at our next meeting of January 17: Should water and sewer responsibilities rovort back to the Area Municipality or stay with the Rogion? and somne modication, she was confined to the house ovor the holiday period. Unfortunately however, wo had planned to spend Christ- mas with our children out of town, therefore thore was nothi ng propared at home. Christmas morning dawned, and the day looked very bleak. A sick wifo, and no Christmas dinner, 50 I resig- ned myseif to the prospect of bacon and eggs as a substit- ute - 'm a rotten cook anyway. But suddenlv the phone started ringing and neigh- bours began arriving, sor, with Christmnas cake, oh with fruit and mince pies, and one family - bless them ail - with a complete Christmas dinner for two, turkey, veget- ables, dressing, and even a delicious dessert. How the news got around so fast, 1 don't know, but one thing I do know - something special happened this Christmas, I have nothîng else to say, lother than a great big thank you to my neighbours for making me a very humble person once more. One who knows, for sure, that there really is a Santa Claus. Not exactly a banner crop year Although 1976 wasn't a banner year for crop growing, Durham farmers were sur- prised with the bounty yielded in sonne of the unexpectod crop harvests, according to agricultural ropresentatives at Bowrnanvillo's offices. Weather and crop growing information compiled by Rev Ellis, the office's extension horticulturist indicate that 1976 wasn't ail that bad. in terms of corn heat units or degree days availablo for crop growth, the growing season wasn't as bad as it has been other year. Statistics collected at tho farm .of Martin Mostert, oast of Bowmanville show that frorn April 1 to Oct. 15 the area experienced a total of 3,069 corn heat units, the scientific termn for the amount hoat needed to produce the dry conditions that will allow the crop to mature. "In terms of dogreo days, that is those days when the thermometer was above 42 F. or 5C., we had a total of 3,040 dogree days," according to Rod Stork, associate agricul- tural roprosentative. This compares with an average of 3,138 degree days during the period from 1968 to 1976. But the real problemn for farmers in the area was that the hours of actual sunlight wero down, a weather condit- ion that didn't allow best developrnent of some crops such as sprinig grains. In terms of rainf ail total accumulation frorn April 1 to Oct. 15 came to 20.9 inchos at Bowmanvillo, compared to the 1968 to 1976 average of 18.6 inches. Another detrirnental factor faced by the farmers (court- esy of the weatherman) was the below average tomporat- ures thanks to rather fluctuat- ing weathor during May, July and August which are the koy months in terms of crop growth. Oxford BRICKLAYERS STON EMASONS Fireplaces Chimnney Repairs Ail types of House Remodelling F Iagstone Patio Slabs Concrete Jobs Phone 983-5606