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aio NE tr hr cr RS Aan La PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 3, 1987 -- 5 iewpoint by John B. McClelland We should find out soon if the newly elected Liberal government in Ontario has any backbone when it comes to environmental issues. There is a bitter fight going on right now in Ajax- Pickering over a plan by Metro Toronto to open a new dump site in Ajax. Local residents have joined together to block the new dump. They have lived in the shadow of another dump for Metro trash (about 1.3 million ton- nes per year) and they don't like it one bit. Anyway, the Metro Toronto council, getting desperate for some place to get rid of its garbage, has asked the provincial Environment Ministry to wave an Environmental Assessment hearing. If the Ministry agrees, it will greatly speed up the dump operating. An assessment hearing is exhaustive in every detail, and really takes a hard look at whether something like a dump will have an adverse affect on the surrounding area. And such a hearing is time consuming and very expensive. The Environment Minister says he'll meet with both sides -- Metro Toronto and the Ajax-Pickering residents before deciding whether the hearing can be by-passed in the name of expediency. Then we'll find out if he caves in the the whims of politicians and bureaucrats from Metro Toronto. SOME CLARIFICATION Some earlier news reports about the proposed Con- pression that the plan calls for 90,000 square feet of retail store space. That's not quite so. In fact, the new retail floor space (if the project clears a lot of approvals) will amount to just over 50,000 square feet. The remainder will include 6400 square feet for a restaurant; 10,000 for offices and 20,000 for squash courts, a pool, a movie theatre and community meeting rooms. A local businessman in Port Perry suggested that the paper should clarify this. Actually, an article in last week's Star did just that. The proposed project on land around and behind the Conway Restaurant, also calls for 90 condominium units and a 100 unit seniors retirement apartment building. A GOOD MOVE I was pleased to see last week that Township coun- cil has agreed to go to work this fall on tile drains for the two baseball diamonds on the lakefront. The Scugog Mens Slow Pitch League has agreed to go out fundrais- ing to come up with half the cost, with the Township picking up the other half. And the council last week sug- gested very strongly that come next spring, it will foot half the bill to put in new lights at the north diamond, a new fence around the outfield and maybe even some new bleachers. The total cost of everything (drains, lights, fence etc.) is somewhere around $18,000. If the users of the diamonds come up with half and the Township the other half it' s a good arrangement. In any event, it's work that can't wait any longer. Those two diamonds in Port Perry get a great deal of use during the summer month by teams of all ages. They need to be upgraded. Nice to see that finally, some action has been taken to get this work done. Personally, I hope those two diamonds remain in that location for a long, long time. As far as I'm concerned, they are an integral part of the Port Perry waterfront, close to downtown. I know a great number of people who get a lot of pleasure wat- ching ball games there on a warm summer evening with the view of the lake and easy access to several fast-food outlets where you can get everything from ice-cream to pizza. Some day in the distant future, there will be new baseball diamonds built on municipal land near the Scugog Arena. And that's great. But even when that day arrives, I hope the lakefront diamonds are not turned into an extension of Palmer Park, or a place where the weekend picnickers can dump their trash. THE MARKET I bumped into an acquaintance a couple of weeks ago, the day after Black Monday on the stock market. He looked grim, to say the least. When I asked him how he weathered the storm, he managed a brief smile and said 'My broker tells me to fasten my seat belt and hold on tight." In other words, anyone with investments in stocks is going to experience the roller coaster ride of his life. How true when one looks at the way the market has behaved over the pastcouple of weeks. (Turn to page 8) way Development in Port Perry may have left the im- Yesterday's Memories 70 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 1, 1917 Mr. J.C. Brown is retiring from business. Mr. Brown has been identified with the Massey-Harris Company in Port Perry for many years. Mrs. W. Mitchell, Utica, while motoring with her son was thrown out when the car turned over. She was fortunate in just having her arm broken. 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 5, 1942 Miss Elizabeth Christie celebrated her 99th birthday. Mrs. Clarence Redman and family have bought the Mrs. Jas. Hortop house on Casmir St., and are moving in the very near future. Mr. J. Watson, Greenbank, has moved to Saintfield to live with his daughter, Mrs. Lunney. Mr.-and Mrs. Elmer Ploughman were presented with an elec- tric table lamp and toaster by their friends of Scugog before mov- ing to take up residence in Port Perry. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 6, 1952 The popular game of five-pin bowling came to Port Perry Satur- day night when the new King Pin Lanes opened on Scugog Street. The proprietor is Mr. Wesley Stata, Oshawa. Fred Christie and Russell Pogue were elected as directors of the Ontario County Vegetable Growers Association in Whitby. Mr. Bill Lamb was the first winner of the Lions Club trophy in 4-H Grain Club presented at a meeting and banquet of the Lions Club at Little Norway. | 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 2, 1967 A benefit dance will be held this Saturday to raise money to help fund the practices and careers of Anna Forder and Richard Stephens who hope to make the Figure Skating Competitions at the 1968 Olym- pics at Grenoble France in March. Excavation began Monday on the next site of the Flamingo Pastries factory on Simcoe Street, Port Perry. Proprietor Ken Jackson says he expects to employ between 75 and 100 persons when he moves into the plant next February. Costume winners at Club Annrene Saturday evening were Mr. John Franssen and Mr. and Mrs. Bert McGirr, Scugog Island. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 7, 1957 The new Memory Hall, Utica, was officially opened by Dr. M.B. Dymond, the newly appointed Minister for the Department of Reform institutions. The old hall was lost by fire in April 1955. 10 YEARS AGO Wednesday, November 2, 1977 Tony Cesaroni unveiled plans to build a 20,000 square foot in- dustrial plaza on land across from the Port Perry Fairgrounds, at an industrial seminar held at Town Hall 1873. A retirement dinner was held in honour of Hazel Wallace by the Community Memorial Hospital Board, for her 15 years of service in the business office at the hospital. Jane Anne Stone, successfully passed the Ontario College of Nurses registration exams; and Joan Argue Wotten graduated from Trent University with a degree in Sociology. Letters Development a good project V- To The Editor: This is exciting. I read with in- terest about a local business moving 90 jobs to another town. In the same edition of the Star I find a proposal offering to build a complex valued at $20 - 25 million. (Conway Place Development) This complex will provide up to 10 million in labour costs to construct the project, plus material profit. It will provide probably 100 continuing jobs locally with a weekly payroll in excess of $50,000.00. It offers seniors a prime residence close to shopping, movies, entertain- ment and on site health facilities. It will provide new opportunities to business people. It will provide a healthy increase to the tax base which could be directed to upgrading our present- ly obsolete sewage facility. It will clean up the lagoon system which should please environmen- talists. It is architectually designed to blend in an area.without taking any farm land out of service. It is absurd to think some businesses downtown won't survive because of it. Our local businesses are professionals. Several new Bikes & skateboards To The Editor: When I was a youngster in the (East End) of Toronto the police force at that time was very obser- vant of what we did on our bikes, scooters and skateboards. Things such as riding on sidewalks was a penalty and was enforced. Back in the '"Thirtys" it was necessary to have a light on the front and rear of your bike. The other day I was walking on the Main St. of Uxbridge, when three youngsters roared by from behind within inches of me on their bicycles. If I had moved slightly I 'would have been hit. What would some people have said to that? Oh too bad, just an accident -- and besides they are just kids. Youngsters on bicycles are a potential problem for motirists as well but not nearly as troubling as youngsters on a skateboard. The sight of a youngster hurtling down a hill, precariously balanced on one of these devices is enough to cause ~ even the steadiest motorist to pale. The speed at which they travel is an invitation to a serious accident and their unpredictability is frightening to say the least. Cities and towns from coast to coast are seeking to do something about this matter. Many councils are reviewing by-laws to see what can be done about what is termed "A Menance."' Skateboarding appears to be fun. It was in my day. It must be or it would not attract the number of devotees it does. One can appreciate their frustration too, in finding a place to use their gadgets. But the basic principle prevails that streets are not a playground and should not be used as such. One thing is sure, however, they (Turn to page 8) areas have been developed, Cawkers Creek, Castle Harbour, Victorian Village and many ney rural families have chosen to move here. ©. This may also provide consumers with the variety of stores locally so that the O.C. Centre in Oshawa won't attract so many. More of these shoppers would buy here. This project phased in over 2-3 years would be in the same category as a new school, new library, expan- sion at the hospital, expansion at the clinic, a proposed sports facility. It isin Port Perry's interest to help a developer of this scope, especially such a well planned professional development. Any other ~ municipalities would endorse this and I hope our council can project a positive attitude toward a positive future. Imagine a headline 'Port Perry loses $25 million development." Please council don't blow it. P.S. Allow all new developers an op- portunity to contribute to building a sewage facility and spend future Study money on this project. Sincerely Yours, Mike Allen, Port Perry. ter to the editor. [etters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newpspaper 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 col- umn 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 let- While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer.