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THANK YOU MR. HENRY As an interested reader of Mr. Henry's letters to the Editor b would like tô thank him for his recent contribution re the downtown core. I am afraid my thoughts did not come across as I had intended them to, so I shall try to correct this. "A quick cover-all coat of paint"No, never a quick cover-up; nothing slip shod and nothing done without careful thought. "A dreamy place" no, but maybe a dream of a place, a woman's words probably not well chosen as I had meant -!haracter and charm. I am well aware of Heritage properties and feel there is a great urgency in this field of endeavor. There are quite a few properties in Whitby which fall into this category and they should be prserved at all costs. However the down town to-me is a different matter. All the buildings are not. architecturally pleasing nor are they historically important. The careful repairing of these buildings is needed and then Donald Warne heads NDP assoc. Dr. Donald Warne, 56, a teacher at Anderson Collegi- ate, was named recently as the new president of the New Democratic Party Associa- tion for the provincial riding of Durham West. A resident of Whitby, he succeeds Vernie Emoff, of Pickering, who remains as past-president and as tempo- rary membership chairman. Other ofticers namea during the association's annual meeting June 25 in Ajax were: Gordon McKay of -Ajax, vice-president and publicity chairman; Gloria Cr<. secretary, Dianne WaiX-, treasurer; Velma Cornish, proviriîal council delegate, and Pat Martin- dale, council alternate. A membership drive will be held in July as the membership has dropped from 222 to 121 in the past year. make the blocks pleasing to the eye and tie it all together, with creamy, beige paint. This shows up the good features of the buildings, the careful hand work done many years ago. Now a lot of it is hidden by ugly, shabby paint, signs and so on. What we want to do is to make these buildings pleasing to loot at and to accentuate their best features. -This has been done in so many parts of the world and the effect is startingly beautiful. There are many hundreds of old homes in Toronto's downtown -that were thought of as slums forty or fifty years ago or for that matter, fifteen years ago. Some weredownright ugly, Victorian monstrosities with all the gingerbread. Now after renpvations and paint, the latter making them look most attractive and often beautiful, they are being sought after as homes and are bringing tremendous prices on the present day market. To all of us who remember, the transformation is astouding. Many of you must be familiar with the Halifax harbour front. A few yers ago it was a place to avoid. Now called The Historic Properties, it is something to behold. It is a collection of restored harbour front buildings dating back to the late 1700's, most unique and draws tourists and natives alike. It is now charming with it's restaurants and shops, a place to linger and to return to over and over again. To me it has changed the atmosphere of that whole area. The world is full of these places and are a great credit to the people who cared enough to do something about iL. It takes courage, initiative and dreams to effect a change like this. And toocooperation a meeting of the minds to reach an agreement which can motivate all concerned. Charleston South Carolina is another example. The old town, "a lovely name" with all it's history is absolutely wonderful. Restored buildings include one of the oldest theatres in North America, a gem of a place. When property is sold in this area a contract has to be signed by the buyer to the effect that the buildings will be kept in their original state. This is not to say that they can be allowed to become shabby in any way. If I remember correctly women had a great deal to do with this. The same idea is our Heritage Act, only they started this many years ago, long before we realized what we were losing. In 1967 our Ontario Government realized the need for architectural conservation and established the Ontario Heri- tage Foundation and n 1975 the act was proclaimed. In Charleston people gatherfrom near and far just to drink in the beauty of this place. There re designated streets with attractive signs which you follow and walk about looking at all these treasures. Over fifty years ago, I walked these same streets and took pictures which I still have and today, these buildings are still there in all their glory. The city just on the edge of Orlando Florida, Winter Park, is nother gem. Hundreds of people, many of them Canadians, go there just for the sheer loveliness of it. The nin street looks like an English Village with wonderful interesting shops and restaurants. Flowers abound and lots of resting places; benches along the way where you can sit and take in all the beauty. It's too good to miss. A downtown core that is inviting, pleasing to the eye and productive helps people to "live" for want of a better word. Children who are brought up to value beauty whether. it be a $4,000 for books WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1979, PAGE 3 fine piece of china, a tree or a painting rarely turn to vandalism. These are not the ones who smash school windows or set fire to same. Food for the soul may be as important as food for the body. In Europe these malls and squares exist by the thousands, a place to sit, to think and to recharge the batteries, the body and mind. The business man can recoup his energy in a relaxed, happy atmosphere whether it be inside or out during the lunch hour. The weary shopper can do the same. These people from afar laugh, sing and dance and have wonderfully happy and often comic parades through the centre of town. The songs and Cont'd on P. 5 The Whitby Public Library has been awarded a grant from Wintario, in the amount of $4,000. This grant will be used in the purchase of Canadian films and records, microfilm of newspapers and large- print books. Antiques Custom Upholstering Duncan Phyfe Sofas, Love Seats, & Wing Chairs Made To Order Velvet Touch Furniture Stripping M Bus. 668 - 5481 Res. 668 - 6526 Repairs Refinishing Appraisals 413 Dundas St. E. Whitby, Ontario rSUF»Eft Ho-r 1