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Sh ¥ | Ere VIR >. a ad ct 4 ¥ EE a a SE ' a .... vavdialviranidad eli etiioom ui wk Cia By a Sixty-three years ago (1914), these lad for the camera in front of the Armstrong home on Church St., Prince Albert. The photo was sent to lA Mr. Bill Mark by a Mr. Robert Plum of Toronto. 60 YEARS AGO Thursday, Dec. 13, 1917 The members of the Edith Cavell Society, Port Perry have decided to accept donations of money and good warm clothing, to be forwarded to the suffers from the - disaster at Halifax. Dr. F. E. Luke, Optic- ian from Toronto, and a * leading eye sight special- ist for glasses, can be consulted about your eyes at A. J. Davis Drug Store, Port Perry on December 20. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, Dec. 17, 1942 Gunner Arch Anderson R.C.A., has been trans- ferred from Debert, Nova Scotia to Toronto «for further training. Dr. M.B. Dymond was the guest speaker at the meeting of the Lions Club last Friday evening. He ~ gave a very practical and informative talk on "First Aid." } 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, Dec. 18, 1952 A Scugog truck driver, Robert Eade, escaped in- jury and death when his tractor trailer overturn- ed and burst into flames. "U' turns on Port Perry Streets are now illegal. As a result of heavier volume of traffic, council passed a By-law prohibiting "U" turns. The one exception is at the intersection of Queen and Water Streets. The new telephone ex- change at Blackstock was officially opened last . week by Henry Thomp- EAE SE Beans =F Se ] posed: * V4 From left, Albert Jeffrey, Cecil Heayns, Gordon Heayns, Milton Butson, Ben Smith and Bill Mark. Photo courtesy Bill Mark. son, who spoke by tele- phone, to Grant Thomp- son at his home. 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, Dec. 19, 1957 - Winners of the clown contest during the Santa Claus Parade were: 1st, Larry Mark, 2nd, Barry Oke, 3rd Douglas Eden- _ borough. The lucky winners of the dance prizes at the Teen Town dance last week were Jim Wilson, Mary Lynn "Hodgins, Joyce Cookson and Barry Fletcher. The proceeds of a Fowl Draw sponsored by the Fire Dept. amounted to $200. Winners of the prizes were Archie Men- zies (2 turkeys); Rae Webster (1 goose); Glen Wanamaker (eatfpn); and Johnny Grieve, (2 broilers). 10 YEARS AGO Thursday, Dec. 14, 1967 The official opening of the Port Perry High School addition took place December 13, 1968. The new addition in- cludes .12 classrooms, 5 commercial rooms, 2 science laboratories, 8 technical shops, an agri- culture shop and green- house, a library, a gymn- asium, a cafeteria and _ an administration area. 1968 will complete a century of Secondary School Education in Port Perry. Gloria Ann Fralick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Fralick, RR 3, Port Perry recently graduated from the Uni- versity of Toronto with her Bachelor of Arts De- gree. PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1977 -- 5 Reader's Perspective Viewpoint Honesty and reward Dear Sir: I am responding to the letter concerning the paper boy who found -the lost key and returned it to its right- ful place. (Port Perry Star, Wednesday, November 30). It is always regrettable when we fail to express appreciation for the thoughtful and honourable actions of others. I do believe however, that his kind of obedience and honesty carries its own re- ward; that is, self respect and the knowledge of one's own integrity. These are the values which need to be emphasized in order to pro- mote honesty in the young, and to create in them a desire to be of service to others. Very sincerely, Elaine McShane (Mrs.) Brampton, Ontario. A special Christmas Dear Sir: There is something very special about Christmas in a small town, or in a rural district. Christmas is a pilgrimage and each makes it in his or her own way. The large, cities have so many high rises, so much asphalt, so many cash reg- isters, so many Santas that the journey to the Manager is a'long one. In a smaller place it is a shorter journey and I'm so happy I can make it in Happy Memor- ies. Christmas is many things. A carol, a most appreciat- ed greeting card, a family festival, snow, greetings and gifts. This year like all others, there will be the sad and the good, the lonely and the happy, the gay and the bereaved faces and child- rens carol singing; prayers for Peace and uncertainty about it all and something that doesn't fit. This is Christmas 1977 is essentially just as it was in (continued on page 14) Canad (PORT PERRY STAR . Company Limited Phone $85 733) Serving Porl Perry, Reach, Scugog and Cartwright Townships J. PETER HVIDSTEN, - Publisher : Advertising Manager JOHN B. McCLELLAND EDITOR Member ot the OY) KS 7, Lo " (am): a, Era C Y and Onlario Weekly Newspaper Associa': Published every Wednesday by the Porl Per-y Star Co. Lid. Port Perry, Onlario Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Otlawa, and lor paymen! of postage in cash Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Subscription Rate: In Canada $4.00 per year Elsewhere $10.00 per year. paper ASSOC. Single copy 20¢ by John McClelland The regional gnunicipality of Durham was created by the provincial government in the summer of 1973, and it came into being on the first day of January, 1974. There was a lot said and written prior to the formation, and there has been more written and said since then. Some of it good, a lot of it bad. Prior to January 1, 1974, there were more than 20 individual municipalities in the geographical area now as Durham Region, from the industrial city of Oshawa in the south to the rural townships like Reach and Thorah in the north. The creators of this new region picked up all the old municipalities, threw them high in the air, and when they came down, many simply ceased to exist: The process-was- called -amalgam- ation. Some of the dissolved municipalities had existed for over a century, and suddenly, overnight, they were one. : § It is one thing for provincial legislators to draw up a piece of paper and artificially create new policies with new structures and new regulations. It is quite another to expect the traditions, voting patterns, allegiances, needs and desires that have evolved over decades to disappear with the old municipal boun- "daries. Forenza, The new Township of Scugog, of course, was created by the amalgamation of the old municipalities of Port Perry, Reach, Scugog and Cartwright. And while even the staunchest supporters of the regional concept would not expect an entirely smooth trans- ition, it is obvious that the old allegiarices and tradition are not breaking down. This fact is illustrated by some of the debates and votes which occur during the meetings of Scugog Township Council, especially when they concern the expenditures of small amounts of money within the town of Port Perry. Ward 4 councillor Neil McLaugh- lin who represents the old Cartwright Township, and area councillor Vern Asselstine who is a long time Cartwright resident and a farmer members of the old Township council have voted together against some issues where the immediate benefit will be to. a particular part of the Township, namely Port Perry. A recent case in point involved funds for the Township tennis courts which are located in Port Perry. Mr. Asselstine objected to the amount, $1500, and Mr. McLaughlin suggested that money for such things as tennis court lighting should be raised by those who use the facilities the most. The vote on this issue was a recorded one. In stating this, there is in no way any criticism intended towards Mr. McLaughlin or Mr. Asselstine. Their arguments are well taken, and like any politician worth his salt, they measure their actions with one eye on the voters who put them into office. And this is not to say that Mr. McLaughlin or Mr. Asselstine are in constant opposition to the issues before Scugog Council. For the most part, and certainly. on substantive issues, there is a rather remarkable degree of conciliation among all members of the council. Co . "But every once in a while, a comparatively small issue comes along, like tennis court lights, and the old allegiances and barriers become apparent. While it is dangerous sometimes to make general- izations, it is a well-known fact that the people of Cartwright "are proud of their independence and self-reliance. To their credit they have a history of doing things for themselves through a strong sense of community involvement and awareness. It.is hardly surprising that the amalgamation of old Cartwright into the new Scugog Township should create some feelings of alienation and suspicion. The centre of population, economic power and local govern- ment has shifted to Port Perry. And, after all, one can see almost an exact parallel of sentiments voiced by many people in all northern areas of the Region who feel their best interests are not being served, and their political voices dominated by the heavily populated and economically powerful areas of the Oshawa- Whitby corridor. 3 While regional government may in theory (and in ---* practise) provide long-term benefit to its citizens, one of its major shortcomings is that the natural forces and allegiances that had evolved over the years have been almost totaly disregarded. Instead of more political power and more government at the grass roots level close to the people where it is needed most, this artificial imposition has created less. Instead of allowing the small municipal governments to grow stronger and become better financed, the creation of regional government simply did away from them. The voices of dissent that one hears now at the local council level are a reflection of the fact that people perceive a loss of control over their political destinies. Listening to the debates at Scugog Council one can sense this feeling of anomie. Instead of feeling closer to their local government, the people are saying that they feel further removed than ever. Change is occuring at a rapid rate. New subdivis- ions are mushrooming in fields where cattle used to graze, altering the demographic make-up of many areas that took pride in their rural traditions and the "Homé-made" way of getting things done. The formation of regional government and amal- gamation of rural townships may have created new political boundaries, but"it hasn't changed people's attitudes. That is a process which ever the highest priced planning department will never achieve. ~ One should expect that the muted protest to these rapid changes will continue at the local level for a long time yet.