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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, January 8, 1997 - 3 Orono Public Scholol Holds Community Carol Sing Stayn Orono Public School fela a funa-raiser and tooK mne opportunity to say "Merry Christmas" to the community at a Community Carol Sing held up at the school. Money raised from the penny auction (all items were donated by the businesses of Orono) will go towards new equipment for the school. Santa's Little Helpers Katie O'Neill and Rebecca Delorne took time out from the fun to pose before the school's Christmas Tree. The School would like to thank the fol- lowing business and people for their support of the event (and dona- tions): Cindy at Village Ceramics (ceramic hand-painted clock), Tina and Harry Van Alebeek at Fairwinds Antiques (Collectible Antique Plate), Maryann and Darlene at Favourite Pastimes (Collection of Wooden Miniatures), Sandra Topper and Michelle Ernst at The Natural Nut (gold gift basket assortment), Sandra Smith at Sewing and Stuff (hand-made angel), Carol Vreeker at Village Bakeshop (cookies and home baking), Mrs. Stutt at Stutt's I.D.A. Pharmacy (stuffed teddy bear), Karen Cox at Drifter's Pizza, Chicken and Subs (gift certificate for larg'e 3 item pizza), Leona Andrews at Orono Bulk Foods (assortment of Toffee in a decorative Christmas tin), Murray and Linda Taylor at Rolph Hardware (large gold Father Christmas), Yvonne Maitland at The Apple Blossom Shop (Fresh Flower Arrangement), Sue Lemay at The Fashion Exchange (handcrafted stuffed lamb with fashion jewellry), Bev Brown (handcrafted wood- en toy cars), Fran Lunn (crafted Christmas stockings), and Sandra Davison (chocolate house). Special thanks to Troy Young and the Orono Weekly Times for their support and donation of Christmas Carol Flyers. Bowmanville Business & Professional Women's Club by Ruth Carrigan The Bowmanville Business and Professional Women's Club held their December meeting on December 12, 1996 at Silk's Cafe, Bowmanville. After a deli- cious dinner enjoyed by 13 members and 4 guests we heard the guest speaker. Nancy Barnes introduced the guest speaker Wendy Hawken who is a single mother with 2 children who lives near Blackstock. Wendy works part time at Bethesda House, a house for abused women and children which opened in March 1995. Bethesda House has space for 15 at a time and is open 24 hours a day. The staff works 3 1/2 hour shifts. They have a retired teacher who tutors children if they do not attend school. There are also 2 counsellors to help children cope with their problems. Bethesda House is always look- ing for volunteers to drive moth- ers and children to doctor appointments, and legal appointments. The ladies attending this meeting had brought a large assortment of articles for the women and chil- dren at Bethesda House which Wendy Hawken took wth her. Nancy Barnes thanked Wendy Hawken and presented her with a gift. The January Business and Professional Women's Club meeting will be on January 16, 1997 at Silk's Cafe, 73 King Street West, Bowmanville. Marilyn Armstrong, Manager Project 2000 for EDS will speak on how will your life change when computers turn the cen- tury. Guests are welcome. Fee $20.00 If any one is interested in attending please phone Helen Devitt at 623-3915 by 7 p.m. on January 13, 1997. in Touch John O'Toole Durham East MPP My wish for 1997 is prosper- ity, hope and good health for all. Over the past couple of busy Christmas weeks, I have met hundreds of people. Naturally, where ever I go, people want to talk about politics and govern- ment. This has served as a fine opportunity to assess what peo ple are thinking and what peo- ple see as priorities. At the end of 1996 and the start of 1997, the issues that people are con- cerned about are not really sur- prising. I will recap briefly what different people tell me are their priorities: lst is health care, 2nd is jobs and job security, 3rd is education quality and 4th is municipal restructuring. Often some people said they agree that most of our proposed changes must occur but 'too much too fast', worried them. The top four priorities are not surprising to me. These areas touch each of our lives and form the basis for most of the news. I was impressed by how much informed opinion was around. People do understand that the debate with the doctors is all about physician distribution not physician pay. People understand that hospital restructuring is all about hav- ing the right number of patient beds in the right locations. Jobs and job security is, as we all know, a very complex issue. Governments which include municipal, provincial and fed- eral do not create jobs. Everyone knows that govern- ments can create the climate for economic growth. Governments are not a profit center nor should they be. Governments provide services for people that are generally not offered by the private sector. Everyone simply cannot work for the government. Priority number three is education. The many teachers I met with socially over Christmas were unanimous on a couple of things. You can probably guess what these were. Teachers gen- erally agree that the way things are today, they have not got much control, there is often a lack of respect. Teachers agree that we must be competitive with the best in the world. Some of the younger teachers feel there should be changes. The fourth priority was, municipal restructuring. To many, this often means Toronto or the GTA Regions. This is often what we read in the paper. Premier Leslie Frost, in 1953 created Metropolitan Toronto with 13 area municipalities. In 1967, the province consolidated the 13 municipalities into the cur- rent 6 cities and in 1997, some 30 years later, it appears the province is consolidating again. Let me assure you, this is a very important issue effecting the over 800 municipalities, our 26 counties and our less organized northern communities as well as our Region of Durham. Toronto is the center of Ontario just as Ontario is the center of Canada. We need a healthy heart to stay alive. There were a couple of let- ters to the editor as well as a report from our Mayor about a possible municipal tax increase. 1 have generally decided not to carry on a weekly tangle in the press with those expressing a different view. I feel that Rev. Mervyn Russell should careful ly re-read the material on Ontario Works. If the Mayor feels that we need a tax increase, I think we should ask the people. The first question I have is, what is the tax increase Clearly, 1996 has been a year of many controversial studies and reports. In 1997 we will see more decisions and actions on these commissions and reports. We must keep Ontario great. I will try to keep you up to date in my weekly col- umn and Rogers Community Television report. I encourage you to cal me with your opin- ions and suggestions. If you need any specific information or reports, please call me at 697-1501. Your input and opin- ions are important to me, please keep in touch. I am looking for- ward to the Ontario legislature returning for this special ses- sion January 13, 1997. "Seek joy in what you give, not in what you pt". Mosport Park to host Motorcycle event Mosport Park has added a major motorcycle racing event to its 1997 schedule: the Formula USA vs. Canada Match Races, on the weekend of May 29 - June 1. THis new three-day event will feature the third round in the nine-event North American Sport Bike Series (NASB), which includes five classes of racing. The schedule also includes the season opener for the Canadian Superbike Championship, along with several other profes- sional motorcycle road racing classes. The racers will be comoeting for approximately $70,000. in prize money and contingency awards at the new Mosport Park event. A large number of major U.S. companies will be providing financial support for the event, as well as Canadian companies, including Molson's Breweries and the International Motorcycle Super Show. Another highlight will be the NASB midway, Showcase 97, which will feature new attrac- tions with expanded exhibits of particular interest to motorcycle enthusiasts. The Formula USA vs. Canada Match Races will head- line five different classes of rac- ing, including the Sunoco Race Fuels Formula USA Series, which showcases the biggest and most powerful bikes from North American, European and Japanese manufacturers. The other NASB classes include: EBC Brakes Sport Bikes (with a 102 hp/395 lb. standard); the Idemitsu American GP Championship by Honda (with a 125cc standard): The Harley- Davidson Twin Sports Series (for twin-cycle bikes with a 65 hp standard); and, the Buell Lightning Series (for Buell motorcycles). Advance tickets for this event are available by calling 1-800- 561-0124. The 4-Day Bonanza Ticket, which costs only $20. if bought in advance, includes access to the track on Thursday (the final testing day), Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus free camping, and full paddock access. SHÎOP AROUND, GET YOUR BEST PRICE THEN CALL US FOR YOUR BETTER PRICE We give you the maximum $$$ for your Trade-In. Toli Free from Area Codes 905 or 705 at 1-800-361-8154 or local calls 885-8154 i a m Il Authorized Sales & Service Centre for: • Camcorders - VCR's - Microwaves 982 TV's • Accessories - Stereo Systems • Telephones - Top 100 CD's & Tapes PANASONIC - SANYO SONY - JVC - GOLDSTAR