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< 2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, October 30.1991 Section Two 0 (fjll*. < A Former Publishers Rev. W. R. Climie, 1854-1878 • M.A. James, 1878-1935 • George W. James, 1935-1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited For 137 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Richard A. James Plant Manager - Donald J. Bishop Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Rick Patterson, Julie Cashin-Oster, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenbuig, Sharon McMullen, Barb Patterson, Sean Pickard, Ralph Rozema, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Laveme Morrison, Pat Patterson-Savage Editorial Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Angela Luscher, Junia Carnegie, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance, Marilyn Rutherfoid, Barb Schouten P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanvillc, Ontario, L1C 3K9 416-623-3303 Fax 416-623-6161 Rock and a Hard Place Being a politician ain't easy. If, for example, you approve of Sunday shopping, you are likely to be under attack by persons who have strong religious convictions about the Sabbath or those who simply believe that the day should be reserved for families to rest and relax. But, taking the other side of the debate and calling for strict enforcement of Sunday shopping rules will land you into water that is equally hot. Some business interests who believe Sunday shopping is essential to their survival and those advocating the "shop 'til you drop" philosophy will both argue that people should be allowed to do what they want on Sunday. If that includes shopping, then so be it. The New Democrats, upon seeing the dilemma, appear to have tried to solve the problem by striking a political compromise. In other words, their latest move is to simultaneously approve and disapprove of Sunday shopping. Now, Ontario residents can shop on Sundays during the pre-Christmas season. But, they can resume their peaceful Sabbaths once January rolls around. The Ontario government's decision is typical of the kind of action politicians take when they arc caught between a rock and a hard place. The government has responded to the issue by promising "Sunday shopping if necessary, but not necessarily Sunday shopping." By using a similar kind of wordsmanship, politicians often attempt to advocate two positions which are at opposite ends of the spectrum. They attempt to advocate both lower taxes and higher government spending or both preservation of farmland and development. So long as politicians arc talking about purely theoretical matters, they can get away with this technique. But, in the case of Sunday shopping, we're talking about an observable event which cither happens or docs not happen. In this case, when Sundays dawn in December, shoppers will be able to do their Christmas shopping on the Sabbath. And, in effect, it will be obvious that the government which has attempted to protect the day of rest has back-tracked on its previous commitment. If Ontario's working families ought to have Sunday as a legislated day of rest, shouldn't they have this day of relaxation during the pre-Christmas festivities which are, by definition, an important family time' of the year for so many Ontarians? If ever Ontario's working families needed a Sunday holiday, it is during the Christmas season. The fact of die matter is that, for the most part, wide-open retail shopping on Sundays has not been successful because of the fact that there is only so much money available to spend and adding another shopping day spreads out. the customers too dtinly. But, during the Christmas shopping season, it's just possible that some of the large stores might see some benefit to dividing their business among seven days rather than six. Business interests have decided that Sunday shopping around Christmas is a good idea and the provincial government has acquiesced. If, next week or next month the same business interests decide it would be advantageous to have Sunday shopping during summer holidays or Easter or Victoria Day or any other special occasion, they might very well seek further relief from the Sunday shopping requirements. And you don't need a crystal ball to predict what the government's reaction might be. The precedent has already been set. Then There Were Two What looked like a lively mayoralty contest seems to have shrunk to the two-way fight. At least, that's the impression one might have from the four candidates' meetings held in the past week or so. Incumbent mayor Marie Hubbard and newcomer Matthew Morra were absent from the mayoralty debate in all four meetings. , ' Perhaps there arc valid reasons why there were two empty chairs among , the mayoralty candidates at each of these meetings. But we don't recall, in recent memory, any time in which such serious and qualified candidates failed to show for any of the meetings. And so, the absence of these persons from the public forums needs to be publicly noted. We'd be reluctant to suggest that the missing mayoralty candidates have eliminated themselves from the proceedings because of their failure to appear at candidate meetings. Anything can happen in this campaign. But, the average voter has got to wonder how committed the missing candidates are to serving in the town's lop municipal post. It's the sort of question the public should be asking them. If they ever show up at a future meeting. by Laura J. Richards Simple Name Solution Offered Dear Editor: ,, Blotterhead O'Toole, (no relation to school board candidate candidate John) once remarked "Things is so mixed up they ain't worth unraveling." I was bom in a small "town" in The Netherlands. We Dutch folk call it Nederland Nederland and I wonder who changed it since most of us have trouble pronouncing our "th's". Anyway, this place I was bom in SL^Anna Parochie,. townsjn a Town is as strong as, has kept its'/,tame for quite . seeing a total eclipse in a salt some time..I'know' it still had mine. by Rick James Have you ever wanted to do something all your life, but for whatever reason, it just never happened? Some of our popular fantasies include a round of golf with Jack Nicklaus, or driving in the Indy 500. Although the acting days arc long gone, we'd love to play the Lion in the "Wizard of Oz." Winning the Stanley Cup would be a highlight, although that dream has been somewhat tempered due to the lacklustre performance of the Leafs. And oh how we would stick out our chest with pride if we were to win the contract to re-design that eyesore of a Town Hall! We're no architect, but we couldn't do any worse than the guy they paid to create that mountain of concrete with its solid oak doors painted black. Sorry. Sorry. . .back to our fantasies. Without a doubt, number one item on our wish list would be to pilot an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Unfortunately, an F-14 costs about $35 million. An aircraft carrier costs substantially more. Therein lies the problem. So, we will have to set our sights at a little more realistic realistic target. Something within our price range, say $25. Believe it or not, we got our ride. On a wing, and a prayer we stopped by Oshawa Airport Airport to see what opportunities to fly might present themselves. themselves. For $25, a flight instructor will strap you in a Cessna 150 and take you skyward. We couldn't resist, and moments later we were going through our pre-flight briefing. "Have you ever flown before Mr. James?" "Well no, but I do have a lighter jet simulator at home on my computer and it's just like the real thing." The instructor's face gave that unmistakable look of.,."Oh good, here's another Top Gun fanatic who wants to lcam to fly." "I assure you, Mr. James, dial this is substantially different different Ilian playing a game," he chuckled as though he had heard that line at least a few dozen times before. Obviously, we had impressed our instructor so far. Maybe it was our turn to check this guy out since we would be putting our life in his hands. "Robbie, just how long have you been flying," I asked. "Oh, abolit three" ... lie failed to finish this sentence as he checked his fuel tester, "Three..,days," I said. "Yes, actually you're my first student!" We tried to be cool and look around to sec where we could discreetly slip away un-noticcd. Meanwhile, Robbie Robbie the instructor turned his head with that smile that beams, "Gotcha." "Three years, with the highest rating obtainable for training," he said confidently. The blood slowly made its way back to my head as a slight sense of security returned. Let's start this baby up and get airborne. After the mandatory check list was complete, we radioed radioed the tower for clearance and a list of weather information information that only Dave Devall could decipher. Moments later we were flying, and noticing that our door wouldn't completely close! "Excuse me, captain, but my door won't shut," I hollered hollered through the headset. "Just push it to see if it will open," he said. Instinctively, as though in a parked car, we went to push on it. Then we realized that if it opens, the first step is a doozy. A 5,000 foot doozy. We looked back at captain Robbie to search for that "Gotcha" smile. But, this time he was serious. "Go ahead, you're strapped in. Push it!" On a scale of one to 10, our push was a negative two. We looked back at Robbie with a face that must have said, "I'm ready to go home now." "Do you want to take the controls," he asked. Why not, at least I will have something to hang on to when the door flies open? We immediately plunged into a steep dive that made me sample my lunch for a second time. It's amazing how quickly the ground comes racing towards you from 5,000 feet. "Pull up, pull up," he said. We pulled back and it did too. Wc were flying, What a feeling. Defying gravity using a bunch of physics theories Heinz Netten taught us in high school. We were hooked. Soaring left and right, up and down. Flying like a bird with the simplest of ease. A natural bom pilot. "How wc doin' coach?" I boasted confidently. "Where do you think you are, Mr. James?" "Ah, pilot to navigator, I judge our location to be somewhere over Newcastle, the village not the town," I said in a somewhat cocky tone, "Mr. James, wc arc over Port Perry, plus you arc 200 feet off vertical. You arc also getting close to stall speed of 55, Your horizon is loo high and your wing tips arc not equal. Plus... your door is open!" With my confidence shattered, I sheepishly asked, "Docs this mean that you don't want me to try a landing?" landing?" I wonder if Nicklaus could squeeze in a golf game Thursday? that name in 1634 when the famous famous Rembrandt was married " in the church next to the little house I was bom in. I can't imagine imagine anyone ever wanting to change or confuse its name. Now, anyone smarter than a rusty nail should know that our local politicians didn't really want to change or omit any names of our lovely communities communities here, but there is not much doubt in my feeble mind, at least, that some drastic errors were made in naming this municipality. municipality. Let's quit trying to find someone to blame and hopefully elect some people who will rectify it. Pur old Webster's Dictionary Dictionary defines a town as "a collection collection of houses larger than a village." village." Bowmanvillc' would qualify as one of these. It is even back on the map of Ontario Ontario now! Newcastle Village will soon be a town and likely Courtice is already a town. My wife is from Saskatchewan and she claims any place with at least one grain elevator, a hotel * and 23. dogs qualifies as a town. The likelihood of people not being confused about 3 Webster's also defines township as "a Division of a County.". We used to have two of those, Clarke and Darlington. Darlington. Trouble is you probably can't have a Mayor, just Reeves but I like the sound of 'Township of Newcastle..' I know, it's going to cost us big bucks to add these 4 little letters on. Thousands of us rural rural folks had our addresses changed last year when 911 came in (and they boarded up our Post Offices) and that went pretty smoothly. So, just add a SHIP to the Town. (Art Robinson has one for us in the Whitby Harbour he would like to sell, just kidding). kidding). If our municipal employees employees think it is too much work to add this in, I will personally personally donate a rubber stamp with SHIP on it to the newly elected Mayor/Reeve. Perhaps, some day, our children children will also brow exactly where they are froth. Yours truly, My no Van Dyke Rhya looked up into the house on Hyde Road and stepped up her pace. Determined to spend a night in the house, she shifted her back pack and walked up to the house's gates. The wrought iron gate squeaked on the rusted hinges. hinges. Usually the noise wouldn't have bothered her but tonight it raised the hair on the back of her neck. "Oh why oh why, did I agree to do this," Rhya muttered muttered to no one in particular. "Because they want proof of your abilities," she said in a thin high voice mimicking the editor of The Canadian Statcswoman. "Bah--they just want to sec me fall flat on my face," Rhya thought. Rhya began winding her way through the overgrown driveway and the fancy cut marble staircases up to the house. When she reached the veranda veranda of the house she slid a small silver-plated key into the lock. It quickly glided in and the lock turned without hesitation when she turned the door handle. "Ahh the first step is completed, completed, I'm inside." Rhya looked around , the foyer. The walls which seemed to rise up forever had trails of wispy, dust trailed cobwebs covering them. The checkered marble tile...the voices. : There's the voices. ■ Rhya walked softly over election. They were talking to;; each other about how to run a : ; campaign. j Rhya gulped and began toll walk gingerly around and un- 11 der cobwebs, streamers, and;; things she didn't even want;; to know. As she was walking by all bottle on the floor, she" stepped more into it than;; around it, sending it wob-1 bling around in a circle. ll "Oooohhhl," said one fig-': urcs at the table. "Hi," said Rhya, smiling - when all the figures turned toll her. j "Urn, you're probably; wondering what I'm doing;; here...right?" The ghosts continued to" watch her. "Sit," said a trembly.; voice. Rhya looked more closcly l at the figure which told her to ; sit. The face looked vaguely,; familiar, but she wasn't quite; sure. 1! She sat down and placed.) her back pack beside her on;; the floor. "What do you want?"! asked a faded representative, of Matthew Morra. j "I am here to find out 1 what happened during the 1991 municipal election campaign," campaign," said Rhya. 1 "Why?" asked a reedy, voice from a wispy figure, looking like Ann Cowman. - "Well, why shouldn't she want to know?" said a be-' speckled Diane Hamre. - . "She must.be one of those- to one'of 1 th'c doors near the ; jbüfnalists," said the ghost Of grand looking staircase. "'former mayor Marie Hub- Writer Hopes 'No* Vote Will Help Save Heritage Dear John: , I sympathize with Shcr Lec- tooze, she works hard to make Heritage Week a success. Could the poor response to her invitation to start planning nest year's Heritage Week reflect the lack of pride in the Town of Newcastle? After all The Town of Newcastle is only 17 years old, while Bowmanvillc dates back to 1858. Now that's "Heritage". Perhaps after this election, wc will be able to hold Bowmanvillc Bowmanvillc Heritage'Week and all the other Communities can hold Heritage celebrations that will really mean something to those living there. To all those who arc proud of their Heritage, please go to the polls on November 12th and Vote "NO" on the referendum. referendum. Sincerely, Marjorie Hodgson 'Sounds like there's a party party going on," she thought. "I wonder if the voices have bodies too." Very quietly, and while. she held her breath for fear of making a noise, she turned : the handle to the room. Inside, candles were lit and a party was going on. However, this , party was . not like any that Rhya could ever recall having attended. Throughout- the 1 -huge room--a ballroom perhaps -- cobwebs' waved like faded banners of a long-ago municipal municipal election.. Rhya looked around as she 1 shut the door behind her) "Step two," Rhya murmured. murmured. She' looked straight through the still hanging streamers, the bottle-filled ice buckets to the one table in the.. room. Seated in four of the five chairs drawn up to it were the ghosts, of the four mayoralty candidates from the Town of Newcastle 1991 municipal bard. "They're always snooping snooping around looking for a piece of news." "Well, actually I am a journalist," Rhya said while she met their steady stares with her own gazé. "I want to know what happened happened during the election campaign." Breaking the steady stares, the ghosts looked at each other other and then Matthew, simply faded away. . . "No comment," '..Marie said. Then, she got up and left the table and walked into a wall leaving Ann and Diane at the table with Rhya. "Everyone wants to know why you two were the only candidates for mayor who showed up at the all candi- 5 date meetings," Rhya stated. "I was there because I cared and didn't like business, done behind closed doors," said Ann. "And I was there because no one could deal , with esca- Continued on Page 3 ' m 1 sKeci Should faxed signatures be accepted on legal documents? ... And. You Said Chester Jensen Bowmanvillc I believe they should be. They're as good as any other signature. I don't know why they shouldn't be legal. Sandy Lunney-McDonal d Bowmanvillc I guess they should be acceptable. I guess it's the same as being there. Jack Brown Bowmanvillc No. A signature is a signature, not a duplicate. It's either a bona-fide signature or it isn't. Gloria Thornbeck Burketon Yes. It's the right thing to do. Next week's question: What is the most important municipal election issue? m Ü