The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE 4. WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 19, 1975, WHITBY FREE PRESS LISTEN WED. NOV.26 at 6:30 p.m. as Church mortgage burned Rev. Eric Mcllwain, Rev. John Porter and Thomas Moorcroft watch as the mortgage of Westminster United Church burns during a special ceremony Sunday. The church has been cleared of debt in 13 years, and Rev. Porter, the first full-time minister, was invited back to participate and meet his old congregation again. Free Press Photo presents the issues & candidates in the upcoming WHITBY MAYORALTY RACE A one hour CKLB news special 1350 THE OSHAWA STATION An historic event for the members of Westminster United Church, in the corri- dor area, occurred Sunday as they burned the church's mortgage. Rev. John Porter, the first full-time minister of Westminster, who served there for eight years, re- turned as guest preacher, and gave a sermon on the topic of "A Heritage Worth Pre- serving". Thomas Moorcroft, chair- man of the board Mrs. Norman Wood and Susan Van Roessel, representing the young people of the church, each put a flame to the mortgage, and within a few seconds it had been reduced to ashes. Rev. Eric McIlwain, the current minister of the church, told the congregation that the mortgage has been paid off in 13 years, while the congregation itself was only 17 years old. Mr. Moorcroft and his wife Kathleen were instnimental in forming a committee to estab- lish Westminster Church, which formed its congregation in 1958. Worship services were held at the Robert Thornton School and the Thornton's Corners Sunday School until the church was built in 1960. Rev. Porter came to West- minster in 1961 vhen it was part of a three-point charge, and became full-time pastor in 1966. In his sermon he spoke of the people of the community who worked with him to build the church into what it is today. Following the mortgage burning ceremoney, a lunch- eon was served in the church basement, where there was a display of photographs and documents .,outlining the history of Westminster. song and story, by Erma Part of the service included Wood, one of the congre- the history of the church in gation. Merchant co-operation, more parking needed for downtown to thrive More parking space and co-operation among mer- chants and property owners were suggested as solutions to the problems Whitby's down- town core by the candidates for mayor last Thursday at a public forum. John Goodwin said he had helped to establish three off-street parking lots since 1968. He also stated that he did not know if it was possi- ble to legislate improvements to buildings, and if it was, he said he would hesitate to use that approach. "No municipality itself can change the downtown", said Jim Gartshore. "If the owners of buildings are wil- ling to put the money up to fix the buildings up, the town could provide tax incentives with the co-operation of the provincial government. "We could get an agree- ment for a period of locked- in assessment to assist in expenditures. We are look- ing for more parking land and to dress up the streets and sidewalks". Gord Hanna, a member of the downtown action com- mittee, said he believed the downtown is slowly begin- ning to improve-through the efforts of the merchants, and will gradually accelerate in 1976. He stated that more park- ing must be provided behind the stores, and this will re- quire some kind of govern- mental expenditures. "We need a well-thought-out and documented scheme", he said. Graydon Colville, the youngest of the mayoralty candidates, said the mer- chants should form their own committee and all pull together. "There has to be a master ful leader to lead the owners of property and business before anything can be done that's reasonable", said War- ren Mowat. "The owners must be able to think alike and have a plan to follow". Bruno Harilaid told the residents he had personally brought four new businesses into the downtown in the past year and had purchased a building which has doubled in assessment. "There are all new tenants in there now: it can be done", he said. "Any- one who puts their mind to it can do it". Mr. Harilaid asked if it was necessary to have parking me- ters and said that one of his major concernswas to build\, up the downtown. When asked about devel- oping the old buckly factory site, Mr. Hanna said there were several scemes for high rise, but there was always a reason why they were not approved. He suggested that subsi- dizing would be required, and asked if the residents were willing to subsidize a land- owner who lived outside Whitby. Brooklin election forum Tuesday An election forum for the North Ward will be held at the Brooklin Community Centre next Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Candidates for both mayor and the north ward council seat will be speaking on this occasion and will be available to answer questions.