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R.EE R E S S THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1973 FIsh In chips Us Town roady for the bus"inessa WHITBY-The Town of Whit- by mlight be hea ding for somie- thing it has nover tried before --a fish and chip business, complote with pots and pans and plenty of steam in the kitchen. The steam is alroady being provided by Joseph McQuade, a small-time businessman who owns the Metro Fish and Chiips restaurant in Blair Park Plaza. His annual incomie is in the neighborhood of $6,000 and he's about to lose that, if Town of Whitby decides to close down his tiny restaurant. Mr. McQuade dlaimis ho is being harrassed by the town's tax colloctor for non-paymient of $1 20-mn business tax. Fur- ther, ho hias been served a notice that ho can face a closure of bis business if ho decîdes to ignore the amouint due. But, first the town bailiff would try to collect the mon- ey in a peaceful maniner. Mr. McQuade believes the Town owes him'approxi- miately eighity dollars which hie lias spent on cleaning up his basemient. The latter, hoe daimis, gets frequently flooded with sewor fronm the nearby station whero pumips fail to work properly. The broakdown of the pumiping system hlas caused imii a considerable damiage. McQuade told the FREE PRESS this week hoe had paid out close to one hiundred dollars f'or baseenin repairs. The Town hias acknow- lcdged tdie sewer damiage. hie said, but carried out the job stj)erficially. -1 lad R) cleaîi the valls and sterilize tliecocntents Iin Firemen sparingly use water while battling a three-alarm f ire in Claremont. Whitby firefighters bel ped to bring the blaze under control to no avail. Cooper Hardware Store was levelled to the ground. Other buildings were also threatened by the ftire. -Photo by Alex Kalnins phenbses aid Muade ex pensCIarid gboldhe.txcl Actrbrvd, wryly: "Mol jeco isenl to clet axes ji on als to paolimtae. Ifon tryl to ollect themey wthrughth etownhebailiff And, if the onot got the mAne, tho no e theo moey moethng to d 'soloc upe the placebya ouror- dper." ebyacur r dnMeud'scse.t"p pears, ho is casey bain teTown's ins uanco com-i pany owîh ilshead ffce in Mntreal. If hisofaimforin dmonragesIfis eing turnoddon bymge the Monturaed com- pany, ho could legally sue it. A court case, however, seems most unlikely since Mr. McQuado can hardly afford to keep the place open. But, ho may have to carry on with his business because as ho put it, "my wife doos not want me to givo Up this meagre incomo." For ail his troubles, says MeQuade, the local police de- par menIlt should be singled out. Police chief William Pil- kington,'ho said in an inter- view, first had agreed that the sewor station's comm uni- cation contre did not respond properly but lator lhad denied th is. One thing, though, is clear: McQuade miust pay the busi- ness tax or there just worn't ho any more fish and chips. At least. not in Blair Park Plaza. But, a remote possibiity exists ot Town counicillors being swvanped with fisb 'n cips orders during eveniing sessions. Folks. just bring yc,)il own bottle of Coke! By ALEX KALNINS. CLAREMONT - Whitby Fire Department played a m ajor role in battling a $50,000 blaze here Monday night. For the first time this yoar, Whitby firefighters had to drive more than 20 miles, outsido their own torritory, to fight a flamning inferno which levolod a two-storey building in a hiaîf hour. At about 6.1I5 the fire hall was practically desertcd. Three pumipers and an orner- gcncy unit were speeding to- wards Claremont while other firfihtngunits from Ux- bridge, Brougham and Pier- ing were also on their way to Cooper's Hardware Store. At the same tirne OPP units from Whitby were dis- patched for traffic control duties at the four corners. One Whitby fireman said the three-alarm fire was "coin- pIe tely raging out of con trol" in I15 or 2-0 minutes aftor the alarm was turned in. At the scene, firenien were hanîpered in bat îling thec blaze hy the lack of' water. There were no fire hiydrants na the building. Joint efforts were made 10 fîlI pumipers at a nearhy creek. But, soon it was dis- covered the water levol in the was injured at the fire. How- creek was far to0 lo'. ever, two young girls, who Thon firo trucks, includ- shared an apartment over the ing those from Whitby, dashed store, lost aIl their personal back and forth to Flighiway 2, belongings. The girls, ho said, where they found some usable were away whien the fire broke firo hydrants. out. Whitby OPP constabhIe Police investigators told G. Bihun said the mietal-frame The FREE PRESS that arson building, onme of. the oldest ini was flot suspected in tlhe town, produced a "&spectacular Claremont firo, but Ontario f'ire bal" that could be 500fl Fire Marshal's Office will con- miles away. duct a further investigation. Aliiost every person of Claremion t, hoe said, was watchîng the crackling fire. Dense smioke covered the arca for several hiours. Const. Bihun said no one major fire this year. l'he nmost spectacular was that of Dun- barton United Church, Ian. 8, witi anl estimiated damiage of $1 00,000. From outslde, the Metro Fmsn l Chips store looks ilke any other restaurant ln town <see photo above) but owner McQuade closlng up his restaurant) has a sad story to tell. He ls *about o t o ,tt of business because of tex arrears. Photos by Alex KainirIs FAIUU LV RESTAUAAN1U 6,,WHITSV ' WOSHAWAý