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I Rs LTE TEN TTT Asia ide. Vol. 126 No. 4 PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17,1991 Copy 65¢ (61¢ +4¢ GSD TT - eo 52 Pages Ee ree hat a show! The Millar Lights, a local children's theatre group, warmed the hearts of Wp tl Scrooges with thelr most recent production "This Is Your Life, Santa Claus - A Christmas Extravaganza." The production was staged last week at Town Hall 1873. For more photos, please see page 22. SCUGOG'S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF CHOICE Evening blaze destroys barn A three-alarm fire on Scugog Island destroyed a 40,000- square foot chicken barn Mon- day night in a spectacular blaze which lit up the sky around the scene. Firefighters from Scugog Fire Department Hall 1 re- sponded to the call at approxi- mately 7 p.m. As the first tank- er approached, heavy smoke was seen from the Island Road prompting the emergency teams to call for back up. Fire trucks and men from Scugog Hall 2 and Little Brit- ain, as well as ambulance and police, were also called to the scene. Within 90 minutes approxi- mately 35-40 firemen were bat- tling the blaze. The barn, owned by the Cas- teels family was engulfed in thick, black smoke by the time the first units arrived. As firemen began hosing down the east side of the barn, flames began leaping through door and window openings. A Star photographer who was on the scene watched as firemen leaped over a nearby fence before the roof and side wall collapsed where they were standing moments earlier. Within minutes of breaking through the total length of the barn was engulfed in flames. Realizing the barn could not be saved, firemen resigned themselves to controlling the spread of fire and poured water Story and photo page 14 Many projects, limited funds "A lot of projects, but no mon- ey," is how Yvonne Christie, the Township of Scugog's Finance Committee chairman, de- scribes the year ahead. Mrs. Christie, who is also the township's regional councillor, says there will be many deci- sions for the committee and the township to.make in the next year. She says that due to a signifi- cant shortage of money they will be forced to determine "what is essential and what is non-essential." Councillor Christie says there will be many groups and organizations looking for finan- cial aid, as well as areas such as roads and other services that will need money. But she says they will have to take a hard look at what needs tobe done. One of the major problems the finance committee must deal with is the fact that there is no more room for cuts. Coun- cillor Christie says the budget has been fairly "well-honed" in the last three years and there- fore "cost cutting is no longer available." "It's a case of survival for the next three years," she says. One area which Scugog won't be able to count on for much money next year is assess- ments. Councillor Christie says there is a one-per cent increase in new projects projected and at this rate the money derived A FAMILY TRADITION FOR 125 YEARS from taxes won't be significant. As a whole, councillor Chris- tie says Scugog is "surviving." She credits the tourism indus- try as being a major factor in keeping some of the businesses alive. The tourists are coming into the shops and are buying items as well as frequenting the restaurants which is helping. Although she says people are spending, "money isn't flowing: freely." Building permits up for November but still sluggish For the first time in quite a few months both the value and number of building permits for the Township of Scugog are up. According to the building permit report, 20 permits were issued last month valuing $810,300, compared with 13 permits totalling $793,166 for the same month in 1990. All areas except single family dwellings saw an increase in value and number of permits. Industrial buildings lead the way with four permits totalling $157,600, compared with one rmit at $120,000 in Novem- r 1990. Only one permit totallin $60,000 in the institutional an Turn to Page 2 te mr.