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4 | | me nts i ------ ihniadic PRR ST TIENEN Rd cd JEL = 4 nev PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, October 7, 1986 -- 5 > Viewpoint by John B. McClelland JUST DREAMIN' I walked into the boss' office last week, plunked myself down in a chair and said, "Pete, I'm thinking of retiring some day and I want to make sure my golden years are taken care of, in er financial terms that is." * "You're a long way from retirement age,"' Pete replied. : "Oh, I know. But you have to plan ahead for these things and there's no time like the present." "That makes good sense," Pete said. "Just what do you have in mind?" "Well," I continued, warming to the subject, "the Good Lord willing, I'd like to work until I'm 75 years old. There's no way I'll be ready for the rocking chair at 65. If I'm able to hang in until 75, that will mean 45 years loyal and dedicated service to the Port Perry Star and it's faithful readers, so that should mean something." 'I could not agree more," said the boss. _I then proceeded to lay out the terms of my own retirement package. A nifty little pension of $60 grand a year would be nice for starters. Tack on a lump sum pay-out of $118,000 to cover accumulated sick leave and vacation time. And on top of that, I will "volunteer" to write a book about the Port Perry Star for which a sti- pend of $31,500 annually would suffice. The usual smile on Pete's face turned to a dark cloud. His eyes narrowed. He put down his pen, leaned forward on the desk and ran his hand through what's left of the hair on his head. He didn't say a word. Taking his silence as a sign of agreement, I push- ed ahead with my request for a golden retirement. "I'd kind of like to hang onto my old office here on the top floor of the Star building, especially when you put the elevator in to replace the long flight of stairs." Pete gulped and shifted in his chair. "And even in retirement, a man has to eat," I add- ed, "'so a meal allowance of $2500 a year is in order. And since the old legs won't be what they once were, I'd like a limo sent to the house each morning to bring me to work. If I'm going to write a book about the Star, I'll need secretarial help and the latest in word processing equipment. "Conservatively speaking," I went on, "this retire- ment package won't cost you more than half a million the first year and probably much less than that in subse- quent years. "In light of my long, loyal and dedicated service to you and the invaluable readers of this journal, I figure this is the least 1 should receive in my twilight years," I concluded. Pete didn't say anything, but when he picked up his pen and started to write something on paper, I knew he had accepted my reasonable and honourable terms. He looked up, smiled and handed me the slip of paper. I read it and the smile vanished from my face. It said simply, "can you read lips, fella?" "Gee, Pete, is that your final offer on this matter?" "Not only is it my final offer, it is my only offer," he said pleasantly. I couldn't believe my ears. Surely a man deserves some just recompense in his waning years. I skulked out of the office, but suddenly turned and said to Pete: "If you don't agree to these terms, I refuse to budge from my office on retirement. You'll have to call the cops to get me out and that will be extremely embar- rassing to you, me and the reputation of the Star." He smiled and reached for the phone. I knew I had played my last trump card. I'd have to settle for a pension cheque from Ottawa every month. OH, well, it was worth a try. «But as I humbly and slowly shuffled back to my of- fice to type up a story for the front page of next week's Star, I thought my life-long work and service should be worth as much as the retiring clerk of the Ontario" Legislature, Roderick Lewis. Heck, I'm not asking the tax-payers of Ontario to give me my due, like Mr. Lewis has. I wasn't asking for the moon, just a diamond-studded handshake. I spent the next two hours scheming how to bar- ricade myself in the office until the boss caves in to my demands. Two burly cops arrived and politely but firmly escorted me out of the office, out the front door and left me standing on Queen Street shivering in the cold of an October morning. I heard somebody calling my name. It was Pete at the upstairs window. "Just because the Ontario govern- ment strikes a sweet deal with the retiring clerk, don't think for a minute I'm going to do the same. Fair is fair, but don't be ridiculous." : "OK," I'replied. 'You're right, it is ridiculous. You don't have any tax-payers money to spend on platinum lines retirement goodies. When I go, I'll settle for the proverbial gold watch and one other little thing." "What's that," Pete shouted down to me. S "A free life-long subscription to the Port Perry tar." "You got it," said Pete. "Now, come to your senses and get back to work." (Turn to page 6) as CB + hae ania Tr _----m--m-- a a SERRE RRR | Yesterday's Miemories 60 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 14, 1926 The Rev. Mr. McIntosh of Lindsay, was the preacher for the Harvest Home Services held October 3rd at the Prince Albert United Church. Messrs. Graham and Cable, well drillers from Ringwood, have drilled a well each for Epsom residents, Norman Prentice, John Bailey and James Ashton and are at present drilling a well for William Prentice. At the close of the program at the Recital given by pupils of Rosswell Dobson on October 7 at Utica, Mr. Dobson was presented with a club bag in appreciation of his work among the young people of the community. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 11, 1951 Mr. and Mrs. Altona Mark were presented with a silver Tri-light lamp along with a beautiful decorated wedding cake on the occasion of their 25th Anniversary. On Thursday, October 4th, members of the Church of Ascension, Port Perry and St. Thomas' Church, Brooklin attended the Induc- tion Service performed by the Right Reverend Bishop A.R. Beverly when the Rev. H.S. Swabey, who has just arrived from England was inducted as Rector. Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Harper, Port Perry, have been attending Founder's Day ceremonies at McGill University, Montreal. A feature of the occasion was the re-union of the graduating class of 1901 of which Mr. Harper is a member. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 12, 1961 A number of sportsminded citizens attended a public meeting Friday evening to discuss the possibility of securing floodlights for the Ball Park at the fairgrounds and also to improve the playing dia- mond. Mr. Roy Cornish acted as chairman at the request of Mr. Rod- dy Foster, of the Port Perry Merchants Ball Club. Congratulations to our Warden and Reeve, Anson Gerrow, upon winning the Warden's Trophy last week at the plowing match. 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 13, 1966 Mr. J.G. Porter has retired as the manager of the Canadian Im- perial Bank of Commerce; a position he has held for seven ycars. The operation of the Texaco Service Station vacated by Charles Reesor recently will be operated by a father and son team. Charles Brignall, Sr. and Jr., moved in a couple of weeks ago and will operate the station as well as a taxi and ambulance service. Mrs. Louise Patterson, Port Perry, assisted by Mrs. Allen Mar- tyn, Prince Albert, demonstrated the fundamentals of rug hooking at the Y.W.C.A. at Oshawa recently. 10 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 14, 1976 While Mayor Lawrence Malcolm said the 1976 municipal elec- tions would be the first 'normal' election, Don Crosier and Ron Deeth indicated interests in running for the Ward I seat on council. Richard Drew confirmed his intention to seek the Port Perry seat on the council. Fair Board considers move (From page 1) October 29. The fact that the Fair Board was discussing a proposed move came about early last month when the Durham Board of Education told Township council the seven acre site at the present Fairgrounds is the most suitable one in the communi- ty as the location for 'a new elemen- tary school. The council has agreed to provide new facilities for the Fair in 1988 when the move would be completed, if the Fair Board agrees. NERVOUS Durham Education chairperson Ruth Lafarga has stated the Board must have a firm decision on the site for a new school by the end of this month, so the Board can submit an application for financing the school to the provincial government. When told 'the Fair Board will be meeting again October 29 to discuss the move further, Mrs. Lafarga said "that date makes me nervous." She said she hoped the Fair Board would have reached a firm decision on the site by that date, but added the Board can wait until November 15 at the latest. "We want Port Perry as the number one priority (for a new school) but if we have nothing firm (about the site) by November 15, Port Perry will have to go off the priority list for this year," she stated. Mrs. Lafarga said if the fairgrounds site for a school is not available, the Board does not have another location. During last Wednesday night's meeting of the Fair Board a lot of the discussion centered around whether a new site would include a race track and horse barn. Ward 3 councillor Don Cochrane, who is a council appointee to the Fair Board stated clearly that the Township is prepared to build a track and horse barn and maintain them, provided there is some "reasonable" financial return to the municipality from stall rentals and for use of the track year round. "This must be considered," said councillor Cochrane, "for right now, as far as I'm concerned, the tax- payers are subsidizing the horseman." The current track and barns at the fairgrounds now generate about $8,000 in annual revenue for the Fair Board. Horse owners pay $50 per month for a stall and use of the track. Although councillor Cochrane did not state it, he implied that if the Township builds a new track, barn and maintains them, the monthly rental rates would have to increase. Some of the other issued related to a proposed move centered around whether the Scugog Arena could be used for cattle showing, and what kind of structures would have to be built to stable cattle during Fair Weekend. , Rod McKay said the present Hols- tein barns are considered fine by ex- hibitors, but he stressed that any structure built on a new site must have room for enlargement. Animals for exhibit in the beef and coloured dairy shows are now tethered outside. A move to a new site would mean construction of covered shelter for these animals. While the members present at last week's meeting agreed to come up with the "wish lists" by October 29, the mood clearly was that the Fair Board now holds a lease on the ex- isting property until 1996, and if the Township council and the Board of Education want the Fair to move, the deal had better be a good one for the Fair. Part of last week's meeting was taken up with reports on the Fair which was held Labour Day Weekend. Most committee chairmen reported a drop in the number of exhibitors (the beef show being a notable exception). Overall gate receipts also dropped by about $7,000 over last year's figure, while expenses increased by about $1200. However, despite the problems and drop in attendance, the direc- tors and president Jim Jamieson said the 1986 Fair was a success. If the Fair Board can reach a decision by November 15 to sur- render its lease with the Township on the present grounds for a new school, the Township will sell the seven acres to the Durham Board of Education and construction will start in the fall of 1987 after the Labour Day Weekend Fair. The new school would open in the fall of 1988, and the first Fair on the new grounds would be in 1988. The Township owns 59 acres of land behind the Scugog Arena which is the site for the proposed new Fairgrounds. The 59 acres would be developed into a multi-use com- 'munity facility including baseball diamonds. But the Fair would have exclusive use of the site for its an- nual exhibition. STATIONERY Plain and Printed. Business/Personal PORT PERRY STAR 235 Queen Street 985-7383 to the editor. Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must continue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer.