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A Matter of Courtesy Recently, at Town Council, a his job of informing council. No representative of Ontario Hydro doubt, he was fot only perplexed by made a, special trip to this area to the attack but dreadfully inform councillors of the progress embarrassed-as well, because he being made on the transmission had nothing to do with the policy that lines that will use the many towers resulted in the towers being that have been erected in this area. constructed. To his credit, the We don't know if he had been mayor called the councillor out of invited to make his presentation by order, but the damage was already council or what the circumstances done. were. Apparently, there was a This Hydro representative was a misunderstanding because he came guestin our community and we prepared to make a full report, think he deserved better treatment. complete with slides, but before he A public apology from the councillor had set up his equipment, his time concerned would be most slot was cut to 10 minutes, the same appropriate. If he doesn't like the as for other delegations. towers, he should voice bis opinion to Then, one councillor chose to Hydro's higher ups, rather than launch a tirade against Ontario embarrassing one of their Public Hydro for 'raping the landscape' Relations staff. with the towers, an inexcusable It's a matter of common courtesy. affront to a man who was only doing Thoeeaabulou Fai reaful mayorS calledatheOcounillroto In just a few more weeks, the Canadian National Exhibition will be opening its doors to the public. And for most of us, the opening of "the Ex" marks the end of summer. After the CNE, it's not long before the mornings and evenings start to get a little chilly, the pumpkins ripen in the garden, the first frost hits the summer flowers and the geese start to fly south. Next thing we know, it will be time to dust off the snow tires. But in the weeks that lie ahead, there are still plenty of opportunities to take advantage of what is left of summer. Those late summer and fall fairs are coming up very soon and we suggest you try to take in at least one of these fine, community events. The fall fairs do not appeal to the farmers and rural residents only. They're a good outing for apartment-dwellers, suburban residents and those of us from the towns and villages. Because, fall fairs are for everyone who wants to have a good time and thoroughly enjoy himself. Shoeked b August 3, 1979 Dear Mr. James, 1 I'm prompted to write for the first time on a subject I feel is very unfair. We like all the other merchants received our final business tax bill for 1979 and to say we were shocked puts it in a very mild tone. In 1977 our business tax assessment totaled $886.68 this all before the reconstruction of King Street. When 1978 rolled around our assessment wa. raised to a total of $1614.31of this $764.04 was classed as local improvements. At this time we were le to believe this a one year only assessment. At this time we asked around and found some other businesses were paying around $100.00 for the same local improvements., Our interim bill for 1979 totaled $481.53 which we paid. Now the final tax bill has been handed down with another $2089.83 still owing on 1979 business taxes. The two figures total $2571.36 of this we are again assessed local improvements this year $1197.70 and I guess we can say we were lucky because B.P. Oil owner of the property and ourselves appealed the original assessment and won a lower assessment figure. We, like all the other merchants on King Street, suffered the inconvenience of the construction over the last year and now, like they, are enjoying the beauty of the main street. We may be classed as cry babies but where is the justice of one business being assessed $1961.74 for local improvements and other businesses paying as little as $2000.00. When it's advertised the Of course the fairs offer the usual agricultural competitions -- the livestock judging and crop competitions. But they also have a variety of commercial exhibits, horse races, booths or handicrafts, midway rides, food, musical enter- tainment, beauty contests, tractor pulls and more. All of these at- tractions are certainl-j worth the moderate admission price. If you've been to a fall fair at all, you will no doubt return year after year. And if you have never been to a fair or haven't been for a-few years, then it's high time you went. To jog your memories, we offer the following dates of fairs which will take place in this area during the next two months. The Blackstock Fair will be held in less than two week's time on Saturday, August 25. The three-day Orono Fair gets underway September 6 with a crowd of 15,000 or more expected to attend. There will be a fair in Port Hope the following week. And the Port Perry Fair will be held on the Labor Day weekend. Why not plan to attend? You'll be glad you did. y Tax Rise downtown merchants on King Street are paying for trees, benches, etc. then each should be assessed equally. Their customers, s ours, use the same street whether it be roadway or sidewalk. The good people at the town hall say this local improvement could be tacked on yet another year. We will pay our taxes this year for two reasons, one we have always taken pride in paying our bills when due and of course we have no other choice. We don't mind paying our fair share but from where we sit $214.28 er month for business tax is not a air share. Sincerely, Shirley Brock Brocks Service Centre Limited r• • Time on Their Side When the smaller, hometown merchants get together to compete with larger shopping .plazas and malls in major cities, it s a David- and-Goliath situation. And even though we doubt that the large-scale shopping centre will ever disappear, we believe that in the next 10 or 20 years the Davids might give the Goliaths a run for their money. First of all, you don't have to be a genius to realize that the large shopping centres were built for the automobile. But with the rising costs of fuel, there's a good chance that we'll think twice before we back the gas-guzzler out of the garage and head out of town to pick up a few things. The second and third cars in some families will disappear. And the result of high transportation costs will be more shopping close to Sailing on Lake Scugog Sugar and ice The Oasis Almost every day in the summer I drop in at The Oasis, as I think of it. I know, I know. Nasty-minded readers are already thinking it's some kind of watering-hole for dry old Bill Smiley. One of those air- conditioned bars that are so dark you can't see a thing for five minutes and have to count your change by the Braille system. Not so. I strongly dislike those joints. Most of them are dark and dirty and stink. They have a few poor, lonely souls who have nowhere else to go, and very often a construction gang or a road gang, noisy and beer-swilling and profane, sousing it up on the company's time. Nope. I avoid those places like the plague. The Oasis is nothing like that. It doesn't have a braying television set, foul-mouthed roisterers and cold-eyed waitresses. It's just the opposite. True, it is air-conditioned. But not the kind that makes you wish you were wearing a fur coat after five minutes. And true, it is not brightly lighted. But there is enough light to see what you are imbibing, count your change without using your finger-tips, and read a book or a newspaper. And that's exactly what I do there, and why I think of it as The Oasis. It's a charming little place to stop and refresh oneself, to cool out and 189 Lakeview Rd., Box 52, Newcastle, Ontario Dear Editor: Thank you for reading this letter. The issue which I write about, I read about in the Statesman. You have the final say on a movie theatre in our community.» I feel we do not need a cinema in our town as there is adequate provision of this type in our area (Oshawa). Main reason for my objection is that it does not provide wholesome family entertainment. We have more than enough garbage on our newstands, over air waves etc. that I see our community degrated with a movie house. The film industry today produces pornographic, ludicrous garbage. It makes the sponsor wealthy while our people end up with polluted minds. You people are family oriented. Our youth need wholesome thoughts and morals; not that which will decay society further. However, if you feel the necessity of this type of project PLEASE make an effort to be familiar with what meditate a bit, and gossip and just plain, sip, before plunging back out into the desert of life. What The Oasis provides for the wandering bedouins who stop there is a little peace and quiet. It has none of the plastic jazz of the chain hamburger and submarine joints. But it has a number of the things those places can never offer: charm, friendliness, good manners, courtesy. The customers are not made to feel that the management is doing them a favour by serving them. They are greeted warmly, they are served quickly and efficiently, and they are thanked graciously when they leave, even though they've spent only thirty cents and taken up a seat for half an hour. How many public laces to eat and drink are there like that in this country? You could count them without taking your socks off. Sure, we have fancy restaurants in this country where you can pay $50 for a so-so dinner for two, and be patronized by the wine waiter. And we have eleventy-seven thousand snack bars and lunch bars and grills where everything tastes the same. But we have scarcely any places like The Oasis. It's not much, will be shown in our community. Our youth follow the example of what we the adults of today do, say, and believe in. Is it any wonder we have such an abundance of unlawfulness in our community? Our country was founded and grew out of men who were concerned for the family unit and had a devout respect for God and scriptures. Today, man tries to do all in his own feeble way instead of being guided by God and His word. Let's get back t'o the basics of one accord and one nation under God. You are responsible for this community and its affairs. Do it justice! Sincerely Lyle Bender Dear Johnny, Your editorial re Bd. of Education administration salaries (July 25th States- man) made a lot of sense. There was one omission in that you could have reminded your readers, and the mem- bers of the Bd. of Education, that last year the education levy took 54 per cent of the. total taxes raised. With the big chief at $50,000. the littler chiefs at 45 grand and the littlest chiefs at $43,250. The administrative costs sure represent a bundle. Small wonder the board couldn't find a few dollars to support a swimming pool. On the radio a few weeks ago I heard the Mayor of Aurora being interviewed. Aurora are trying to hold raises to around 6 per cent and their library board voted themselves 23 per cent. Do not confuse this 23 per cent with the 43 per cent recently voted our local councillors by them- selves. In Aurora the council says to the board "no way." The board to council "you've got to - we are just like the board of education. The.. Mayor admits the board will cite examples where higher salaries are paid for the same work but he maintains, and is unanimously backed by council, that the salaries paid plus the raises offered are very fair for Aurora. The ensuing stalemate is being taken to Queen's Park and to the courts if necessary. Inte- resting. physically. Just a half dozen or so tables in the back of a store. Very much like the sort of tearoom you can still find in England, if you get of the beaten track. The menu varies little, but there's a good soup du jour, good coffee and hot tea, fresh-made sandwiches and a lot of goodies that are baddies for the many little old ladies and all the vulnerable young ladies who frequent it: home-made pies, butter tarts, muffins loaded with.calories. Part of the fun, for me, is sitting there getting a jolt from my coffee and listening in. "Just a pot of tea, thanks. Well, what are you going to have, Ida? You are? Well, what kind do you have? Well, maybe just a square of pineapple cake. And just one butter tart to get started on." And half an hour later, those the gentle ladies are walking out with about six hundred calories they didn't need. Each. Even when The Oasis is busy, there is no sweat. No barking of orders. No getting cross. There's time to laugh and joke with old customers, be pleasant to new ones, and make sure nobody is being neglected. I've watched tourists come in, a little uneasy because they're not used to such informality. They I see in the papers Oshawa are starting their fourth senior citizens building. This was an issue in this town prior to the last election. And I see we are asked what to do with our old town hall. This building should be used for just what it'was built for - our municipal offices. Unless it has changed since I was there last I would suggest it be cleaned up a bit. And I see where our town solicitor was going to court and forgot to tell council he would not be representing the town. Ho hum. Ho Hum Morgan July 30, 1979 Dear Editor: We have read your article of May 2, 1979 entitled, "Marilyn Now Winning The Battle With Booze" yith a great deal of interest and gratitude. You certainly did a fine and sympathetic job for A.A. All of us are most appreciative of your understandiig and care in writing this very fine article. From the very beginning of our Fellowship, we have had splendid understanding and tentatively order sou pand a sardwich, find them excellent, wind up with a whacking great piece of ie, pay a modest bill, and go out ooking as though they couldn't believe what had happened to them. It's a place that brings out the decency in people. Seating is limited. The other day, four people walked in and there wasn't a table for four. A young couple, with a babe in arms, offered to move to a table for two that had just been vacated, transferring their food, utensils and baby. The newcomers were so shocked they could scarcely sa thanks. YVery often, The Ticket-Seller is there. He sells tickets on every lottery you've ever heard of. He loves children and jokes and talks to the little guys in The Oasis. He drinks a coffee, displays his tickets, usually selling one or two, and hits the street. The Columnist observes. Two teenagers grab a table. The Columnist listens. "So, I said to him, not on your life." Giggles. "So, guess what he says?" Giggles.'And so on. Despite what my wife thinks, I am not enamoured of the lady who runs The Oasis, though she does have a beautiful face, figure and walk. In fact, she doesn't walk. She sashays. I am in love with a little place of sanity, sense and serenity in this increasingly ugly world. cooperation from the communications media. Many people sober in A.A. today first learned of the Fellowship, and the possibility of recovery in it, from reading an article in a newspaper or magazine. Therefore, it is a matter of particular gratitude with us to see this fine work still going on. Ail of us send you not only our thanks, but our warm greetings as well. Sncerely yours, Public Information General Service Staff Newcastle, Ont. Aug. 6th, 1979 Re - Aug. 1 Statesman Dear John; I'm writing you regarding: - Donna Fairey's article and interview with a former enemy of Canada. In my opinion, she seems almost apologetic for our age group, putting this German behind barbed wire. She also says bis capture is the type which movies are made. Is she try- ing to make a "hero" of this German? This German, Donna Fairey also says, flew 56 combat missions. I wonder if he was responsible for any of the young men from Durham County not returning home. I also wonder what the Mother's and Fathers, Sisters and Brothers and Widows of the young men that died overseas, think when they see and read where Mayor Rickard escort- ed the "former enemy" around the area and also presented him with a memen- to of his visit! This German and many more like him, is the reason we have Cenotaph Services every Nov. 11th. Donna Fairey also says this former German P.O.W. is "not harbouring any resent- ment toward Canadians for his confinement.' Why should he? His kind started the war and he was the enemy!" I do not object to this man coming to Canada and Bow- manville but what I do object to is the publicity he got! I am sure it reopened a lot of old wounds. Most of us realize the war has been over for 34 years, but, "We Still Remem- ber!" Yours in Comradeship Douglas G. Walton R.R. 3, Newcastle, Ont. LOA 1HO