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6 stouffvine suntribune thursday nov 20 2003 h r opinion publisher ian proudfoot telephone 905-640-2612- fax905-640-8778- email jmasonymgcom website wwwyorkregioncom editorial beetle big problem but not disaster vaughan mayor michael di biase has declared a national disaster in his city vaughan may need to replant as many as 2000 healthy maple ash poplar and other hardwood trees the federal govern ment must destroy in an effort to stop a spreading infestation of the asian long- horned beetle mr di biase told reporters last week and lie is loathe to open his coffers for the 800000 he estimates is required to replant the trees the federal government came through for other disasters like the quebec ice storm he states following his reasoning he should have declared a disaster much earlier when the city dished out nearly 700000 in severance payments to senior staff who have left in the past 18 months that money would certainly have come in handy in dealing with this national disaster while the federal government is responsible for and is paying to cut down infested trees in woodbridge the mayor complains ottawa should also pay to rehabilitate the barren areas left after ward under its disaster relief fund to suggest the infestation of the asian longhomed beetle is on par with the devastating ice storm in quebec or raging forest fires in british columbia is quite simply laughable the federal government considers an event a disaster when a community is hit by a devastating and unprecedented act of nature such as an earthquake ice storm fire flood or hurricane that rav ages peoples lives homes offices streets and livelihood the reparation of which is beyond the bounds of the local economy forpetes sake the feds could hardly be convinced by the province the sars outbreak was a disaster which leaves mr di biase looking like yet another local politician asking for a handout to solve his problems instead of being so concerned about shifting responsibility after the fact vaughan could take a page from mississauga which has stepped up to the plate with proactive measures city forestry staff are inspecting trees on public and private property in an effort to stay one step ahead of the pesky asian bug other municipalities including all those in york region that may very well be affected by the infestation should undertake the same initiative as mississauga by july 1 ll have lost fifty pounds tllbe ready f0rthe 6d55 reunlohl letters to the editor entrance to construction site makes mess at library i have lived in whitchurchstouffville since 1957 and have seen a great deal of change in this area the latest is the new subdivision south of the new library just south of downtown stouffville on nov 4 lwas waiting in the library park ing lot there was a lot of activity at the new subdivision so i decided to see what was going on the builders had cut the curb about 30 feet wide level with the parking lot and were using the roadway to let cars and trucks in they left mud and stones spread about the south side of the parking lot in this area you have disabled parking spots and children running back and forth between the library and pool there are no signs or barriers indicating children are run ning about at the other end you have obrien avenue which is being used for trucks and cars mak ing deliveries to this subdivision on this day obrien was closed i would like to know if this town is run by the developers or if they had any say in this matter at all patrick cashman whitchurchstouffville the stouffville suntribune welcomes your letters all submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daytime telephone number name and addressthe stouffville suntribune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clarity and space write letters to the editor 34 gvic ave po box 1 54 stouffville l4a 715 email jmasonymgcom residents dont have to pay for development in town people of whitchurchstouffville you voted for development and now you have to pay the price just to make sure you understand some thing here you are funding this develop ment we have a fiveyear capital budget of 27 million 19 million for roads and public work facilities and equipment funded through developmental charges and 10 million from our reserve of 12 million a debenture of 2 million of the 3million cost for a new fire hall your money is funding this development you have every right in the world to have a say and ask questions every step of the way you can even stop funding something that is harmful to the town in fact it is your duty randy mole stouffville tc- mt stouffville t a metroland community newspaper 34 gvic ave 3rd floor stouffville ontario l4a7z5 phone 905402512 fax9056408778 oassified 18007433353 distribution 9052948244 website wwwyorkregioncom email jmasonyrngcom member ontario community newspapers association canadian community newspapers association ontario press council editor in chief deborakelry editor jim mason reporters joan ransbenyhannelorevoipe retail sales manager steve kane sales representative susan berry production manager pamnkhok office manager vivian okep business manager robert lazurko advertising director retail sales fryers nicole fletcher advertising director classified real estate events management gordpaolucci managing director real estate mikerogerson director of production johnfuthey distribution manager barrybiadc sales manager new business development distribution davma andrews general manager york region printing bob dean director marketing promotions debraweller shows manager staceyallen classified manager ann campbell off the top with jim mason our legion much more than beer hall in many canadian communities its the social hub the pub the wedding hall the watering hole cruise many a canadian commu nity and the royal canadian legion branch sign is as identifiable as tim hortons legions get a bad rap as a home of cheap draft pickled eggs and smoky games of pool and darts but how many of us really know what goes on behind those walls last sunday harry bowes worked the empty upstairs banquet hall at legion branch 459 on the ninth line in stouffville the second world war veteran and town councillor was arranging pieces of art and literature on the long tables he could have been at home watching the nfl games or dealing with his town council duties he could have been in florida but the former main street phar macist was coordinating entries in the legions annual art poetry and essay contests judges would arrive soon to pore over the prose and dis sect the posters all on the subject of remembrance branch also serves markham months ago mr bowes went from school to school in whitchurch- stouffville and markham which does nt have a legion branch of its own promoting participation its easy to fall in love with the legion in november with its classy remembrance day services and poignant poppies but the work is yearround on the south wall of the hall the legion sign hangs proudly with a recent addendum a new sign lists the work the legion does in the communi ty assisting veterans and their fami lies sponsorship of youth sports teams youth education programs sponsorship of air cadets and support of markham stouffville hospital this sunday the winners in the lit erary and art competitions will gather in the banquet hall proud parents will take photos of their talented kids the legion members in their blue berets and sports jackets will preside over the ceremonies more than a beer hall much more jim mason is editor of the sun- tribune mb