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6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wed., December 5, 1979 letters continued It is one of the great options we have in Canada, the right to disagree and express our opinions. Unfor- tunately, to6 many people express their points of view with little or no research, they spend little time en- suring that they have the facts to enable them to make a clear and accurate evalua- ren eT BY: tion, thus come to a reason- ide able and sensible conclusion. 3 xd In a great many cases, a because they do not gather information or understand NEARS - ve i 1 Dear Sir: AN TRY In response to several ant questions raised last week in AE a letter to the editor from IN Roy Grierson, we offer the IRN following answers about the a new Scugog Memorial att Library. Vo Question: The original HON request for expansion was wy for 1000 square feet. Why is oh it now at approximately 5000 i) ¥ square feet? AY Answer: A 1000 square foot addition was never discussed. The initial proposal made to Scugog council on October 23, 1978 was for a two storey addition of 5000 square feet. Question: How is the new library to be financed, and will it increase our taxes? Answer: The new library will not increase 1980 taxes. The $100,000 commitment from the council to the library building fund comes out of the Township's municipal projects fund, a fund set up four years ago by the previous council for ER DA : ~ - SESE EIEN Sh RARE SN J \ LO SO PAE St os SOAS! RADE 5 Ap pit SSA INA Pk Dear Sir: I am an ordinary citizen of Scugog Township, with a young family of three. I hate to see taxes go up as much as the next person; but the need of a serviceable library for the Township is still there and will not go away. In fact I'm beginning to think we should have built it last spring when it was only SADE ee - oe rr et RAG iY SAG Be Pa ~ >, a: 4 0 RET Ca ANS aR, i $300,000, since rising infla- 44) tion has sent the cost to 4 $315,000; which in today's i bi Ak AT 74 7 {4 Dear Sir: So! We are seeking your support to inform any members of your community who are former residents of Sarnia and who may have attended Sarnia Central Collegiate Institute. Over the past 25 years, several thousand graduates od of Central have settled in 0 ar oH! communities all across is | Canada, and with your support we hope to inform those people in your com- munity of the upcoming reunion. _ the problems or reasons for someone else's ideas or plans, they resort to distor- tion, interpretations, and in some cases even attempt to discredit people by name calling and mud slinging. In most cases, if these people would spend the same amount of time and effort supporting community projects, instead of attack- ing people who are very involved and committed, a great benefit would be the reward for the community Expansion committee answers questions community projects. As for the financing: the total project will cost $315,000. The Township has committed to pay one-third of this up to a maximum of $100,000. The remainder of the cost will come from a Wintario grant and donations from private foun- dations, the general public and local businesses. "Question: What will be the cost for ongoing services and operating the new library? Answer: The projected increase in operating costs is 12 percent per year for the next three years. Question: How much debt will the new library incur on the municipality when the building is completed? Answer: There will be no long term debt to Scugog taxpayers for this project. Yours truly, Nelson Patterson, Dr. Jack Cottrell, Library Expansion Committee Need new library world is not all that much as public buildings go. The present library, quaint as it is, was built for the small town of Port Perry in the early 1930's when a lib- rary was a place for a bookworm to go to be alone. Todays library should be alive with the sound of music and the sight of films (a picture is worth a thousand words) as well as the good books. (Turn to page 7) Former Students "To former residents of Sarnia, Ontario. If you attended Central Collegiate: you are cordially invited to attend the 25th reunion to be held in Sarnia on May 16, 17, and 18, 1980. For further information please write to: Aniversary Reunion Committee - Sarnia Central Collegiate, 281 East Street North, Sarnia, Ontario. Registration forms and information will be sent to you immediately." Yours truly, E.F. McCaffrey, Chairman Anniversary Reunion and it's people. Talking of involvement in the community, the members of the Library Board, Finance Committee and Building Committee, not only devote long hours, valu- able time and money to the Library, they are also involved with many other Community projects, Cancer Society, Heart Foundation, Meals on Wheels, Big Brothers, various church organizations and many, many more very worthwhile and beneficial associations which benefit everyone in the community. The people associated with the Library project are not flippant, fly by nighters and high livers, with little or no thought for costs or effect, these are people who weigh the facts, discuss the pros and cons, investigate long term effects, research the problems, then, in consert with others, arrive at reason- able and responsible deci- sions, which they believe will be of benefit to those they serve, the community. We are aware that certain recent events in the area have had a real and dama- ging effect on the plans for improved Library Service for the community. We would therefore ask that before you accept someone else's opinion, please contact people with the knowledge of what is actually going on with this project, who know Freedom to express opinion is a privilege all the facts and have spent two years researching and developing these facts and conclusions. There are no secrets attached to the Library improvement plans, so please reconsider your position and call any Library Board member, Finance Committee member, Build- ing Committee member of Library Staff. We need your help, so take time to get the facts and appreciate the efforts of many people, give them a chance to help and give them the credit and respect that they have earned through hard work and committment to your community. Chuck Preston Chairman, Library Board. Library needs our support (From page 5) dedicating the "Memorial" Library, that the involved persons of that day intended to limit the library resources of our community, but that they meant to provide a community service symbolic of the freedom which our countrymen lost their lives to preserve. A new '"'Memorial Library will expand this service and thereby augment the intent of this memorial. Does this mean that the old building must cease to have this aspect of purpose? Of Separate facts, rumours Dear Sir: As a teacher I felt that it was an honour and priviledge to canvass for the new library. It offered me an opportunity to contribute my energy to the educational improvement of the community. Naturally I was shocked by Mr. R.E. Grier- son's negative article and his suspicions raised some doubt. in my mind about the library. 1 did what I hope everyone in the area will do. I sought out the truth of the issue and separated the rumours from the facts. His lack of research into the library matter and subse- quent accusations have raised may unfounded doubts and caused a great deal of damaging mis- information throughout the community. I respect the right of anyone to .bring forth legitimate issues, but this unfair criticism has made canvassing extremely diffi- cult and is a dis-service to all those who desparately need a new learning centre. Let's seek out the facts of the library issue with an open mind. Certainly the future benefits of this excel- lent facility deserve a fair evaluation. L.N. Doble Port Perry A letter to Trudeau Dear Sir: You made two mistakes. You had the audacity to think that you could govern a country which has often been described as ungovernable. Furthermore, you wrongly assumed that you would be allowed to provide good government when you should have known this to be impos- sible. For a country inevit- ably gets the kind of govern- ment it deserves, despite whatever its leaders might have in mind. -In my opinion Sir, you were defeated not by some nonentity 'Joe Who?' but by the very nature of this coun- try itself, by the present world crisis which must certainly be agreed is far beyond one man's ability to control, and most impor- tantly in my mind, by the chronically negative atti- tudes of the people you tried to lead. In short, though your motives were "admirable, your frequent outbursts of frustration understandable, and your mistakes forgive- able, your eventual failure was a forgone conclusion. Take heart Sir, that you did not let the people of Canada down. On the con- trary, it was they who must have disappointed you great- ly with their attitudes of parochialism, selfishness, short-sightedness, narrow- mindedness, and political @mmaturity. Rest assured that histqry will vindicate you and oY the many good things y accomplished, against the resistance of those who will benefit, will become your legacy. Personally, I forgive you for abandoning us to our well-deserved fate, for I see that your children will appreciate your time, effort and devotion far more than the Canadian people ever did. One of the silent majority who should have stood up and been counted sooner: L.A. Warne Port Perry, Ontario course not! The old building could be used for numerous community groups and continue to serve the public in a way in which the found- ers would, I'm sure, see as a joint tribute to those who gave their lives for us. As for cost, it is my under- standing in talking to those involved that the newly designed building will be much more efficient in terms of staffing and energy, and is not likely to place a great burden on the taxpayer. For these reasons, I cannot accept the arguments of those opposing the present plan. I support the library expansion board for the sake of our community, our children, and the founders of our library who tried to create a symbol of freedom in memory of those who died defending that freedom. The library expansion board have worked hard. Let us support them. Yours truly, J.I. Stewart M.D. Port Perry Saturday afternoon. points of a possible 200. "The Early Adolescent'. tice's. remember when...? continued Perry last Saturday afternoon. Merchants and private citizens alike made a gala showing in spite of the mis- erable icy drizzle which the weatherman saw fit to dump on the area that particular day. 15 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 24, 1964 Little Margaret Vokins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Vokins, Port Perry, had a chat with Santa Claus and had a chance to sit on his knee at the annual Legion Childrens Christmas Party held at the Legion Hall last Dr. Helen Bathie, who had her miniature poodle Askher, entered in a 10 day dog obedience training course conducted in Oshawa recently, was awarded 191 Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Hunter, Prince Albert, who reached their 59th Wedding Anni- versary on Sunday and were visited by their family. Santa, riding in a truck this time, visited Wana- maker's store on Saturday afternoon, bringing candy for a large crowd of children. He then called on the shut-ins, bringing them Christmas cheer. 10 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 18, 1969 Participation in the 1969 Santa Claus Parade was beyond all expectations. Some thirty units, including individuals, floats and bands, took part, and a great deal of imagination and hard work went into the crea- tion of these excellent floats. Tina Ruhl and Robbie Croxall appeared comfort- able with professionals during the Educational Tele- vision Branch of the Ontario Department of Education's filming of their rural school lives for a series entitled, Mr. Ken Jackson, president of Flamingo Pastries Ltd., is expected to return home before Christmas from a business trip to England. Congratulations to Mr. Larry Hoskins, who recently received his degree of C.A. following successful writing of his Chartered Accountant examinations. Ruth Tanton, R.R.2, Port Perry, won a brand new Skidoo snowmobile in a free draw sponsored by Majcher Pontiac Buick Limited, Port Perry. Mr. George P. Sweetman of Windsor, dropped into the Star Office to pick up a copy of, "On the Shores of Scugog." He is spending a few days with the Ross Pren-