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10 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, March 19, 1991 Ranmdornm Jottings (From page 6) subscribers each week. These costs cannot be absorbed by this newspaper, or any community newspaper put in the same situation. While we haven't had time to figure out just how to combat this unfor- tunate situation in full, we can assure our readers (in particular our subscribers) that we are trying to come up with a solution that will minimize the extra cost needed to pay Canada Post these unwarranted increases. Two things are far sure: 1. The cost of your Port Perry Star on the news stand, or picked up at our office, will not be increased. 2. Additional costs will have to be assessed to subscrib- ers wishing to continue to receive their Star by mail. Since Canada Post monopolizes postal delivery in Cana- da, we have little choice but to pay the higher rates, but we will do everything possible to minimize the impact on our custom- ers by seeking the lowest possible rates available to us. As soon as we have more information (re: exact costs) we will make it known to our readers. In the meantime, The Star, along with its colleagues and provincial associations are ar- guing the reduction of the government subsidy has not been applied fairly and equitably to all publications, stating it will cause undue hardship on many small community newspapers which are already struggling through the current recession. In fact, a spokesman for the Ontario Community Newspa- per Association says there are many small community newspa- pers now in serious trouble, and this latest move by Canada Post could be the last straw. To think that some of Ontario's smaller communities may well lose their local newspaper is unimaginable. For the resi- dents of many of these communities, the local paper is a vital link to their municipal government, their neighbours and their past. ' One newspaper publishers writes, "community newspa- pers are not asking for special consideration. They are asking that they be treated as a valued and valuable service to their communities; as a valued and valuable customer of Canada Post and as equals with other Canadian publications." But equality and respect does not appear to be a consider- ation as Canada Post prepares to gouge community newspa- pers with unwarranted postal increases of up to 1000%. We hope it won't take the closure of many of Canada's small community newspapers to bring the government and Canada Post to their senses! UPSET? If you, as a subscriber or reader of the Star are as upset with Canada Post, as we are, then we urge you to phone or write to your Member of Parliament - Mr. Ross Stevenson and - let him know how you feel about these unfair increases being assessed to your community newspaper. We're upset because we have no alternative but to pass the costs on to our subscribers. Since the cost is ultimately go- ing to be felt by the subscriber, we would hope you are upset enough to let your MPP know. ; H&R Block has the experience you need. We prepare all kinds of income tax returns, from the simple to the complex. Whatever your tax situation, we can handle it. H3R BLOCK Canada's Tax Team. Put us to work for you! at our new location ... 174 PERRY ST., PORT PERRY 985-9803 90 per cent placement rate Durham College graduates get jobs A total of 90.7 percent of last year's Durham College grads are working according to a Place- ment report just released by the Durham College Career Resource Centre and Placement Office. This year's statistics show in- creases in employment and wages in a number of the pro- grams compared to last year. The Faculty of Health Science, which incorporates the nursing and den- tal fields, received an outstanding total employment figure of 99.5 percent. Salaries among graduates vary from $18,500, the recorded median for Dental Assistant, to $47,800, the record- ed median in Dental Hygiene. Programs such as Sports Ad- ministration, Food and Beverage Management, Data Processing, Nursing Diploma, Dental Hygiene, and Dental Assistant have all boasted an 100 percent employment rate. "Iam very pleased at how suc- cessful our graduates have been in finding employment," said Sheila Bell, Director of the Place- ment Office. **It has been a hard year economically in Durham Region and elsewhere. At a time when many businesses are in dif- ficulty, our graduates are still be- ing hired. Their successes can be attributed, in part, to the outstan- ding commitment of our faculty and Career Resource Centre staff." In 1990 the College graduated a total of 925 students. The entire group was surveyed to determine job location and salaries. A total of 775 graduates (83.8 percent of the total number of graduates) replied to the survey. Durham East MPP announces $5,500 grant fo Scugog Mississauga Band The Mississauga of Scugog Band Library will receive a $5,500 grant to purchase com- puter equipment and software as part of the government's anti- recession program, Durham East M.P.P. Gord Mills announced March 14. "There is a need to recognize that First Nation libraries do not have access to the resources available to other public libraries. This grant will help to upgrade services so that people enjoy and have access to the kinds of ser- vices available in other com- munities," said Mr. Mills. Through the Ministry's anti- recession program, $344,000 will Separate school board to discuss The Durham Region Roman Catholic Separate School Board will be holding public meetings explaining how the Board draws up its budget. The first meeting will take place Wednesday, March 20, 7:30 p.m. at Monsignor Paul Dwyer High School in Oshawa -and the other Wednesday, March 27, 7:30 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School in Ajax. Trustees will provide a brief history of the rapid expansion of the Durham Region Roman Catholic Separate School Board, as well as explain the allocation of the Board's Operating Budget and sources of Board Revenue. First decline in electricity use After seven consecutive years of uninterrupted growth, On- tario's electricity consumption declined in 1990 by almost three percent. The last time consump- tion dropped was in 1982, when it dipped 0.8 percent. The 1990 decline of 2.8 percent was due mainly to the current recession, strikes in the industria] sector, a milder winter and cooler summer, and successful energy efficiency programs. Consumption in the last month of the year dropped a significant 12.5 percent from the same period in 1989 - the coldest December ip 113 years. Last year's 20 minute December peak of 21,794 megawatts was about 8 percent lower than 1989 when sustained, bitterly cold weather set a new record for electricity demand ang prompted Hydro to make public appeals for reduced power use. be spent on initiatives to upgrade First Nations library services in the 42 band libraries which serve over 50,000 Native people in On- tario. Of this amount, $231,000 will provide computer equipment and software and the remaining $113,000 will be allocated to On- tario Library Service to develop automation training programs for more than 80 band library workers. The equipment that the Mississauga of Scugog Band Library purchases with this fun- ding will enable the library to automate its administrative and collections functions, and will pro- vide a communications link with other libraries in the province. Mr. Mills made this announce- ment on behalf of the Minister of Culture and Communications, the Honourable Rosario Marchese. "First Nations communities have been especially hard hit by the recession,' said Marchese. '"'I am pleased that my Ministry, in con- sultation with the native com- munities, was able to develop these initiatives thereby demonstrating my strong com- mitment to ensuring that ministry programs support the First Na- tions and broaden their access to culture -- of which libraries are an integral part." This project is part of the $700 million anti-recession package announced by Treasurer Floyd Laughren in December to alleviate some hardships of the recession. Priority is being given to communities and regions ex- periencing serious economic problems. NOTICE Township of Mariposa Box 70, Oakwood, Ontario 1991 DOG TAGS are due March 31st, 1991 at a cost of $10. per dog. Failure to comply: the set fines are as follows: - Failure to licence dog - Allow dog to run at large - Fail to cause dog to wear tag Ken Anderson, By-law Enforcement Officer Over 300,000 graduates recommend Young Drivers of Canada THE DRIVER TRAINING PROGRAM EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT 2 BROCK ST. WEST UXBRIDGE, ONT. 4 WEEK EVENING COURSE STARTS APRIL 2 TUESDAY & THURS., 6PM - 9PM Call today for more information Young Drivers of Canada 852-9705