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TET THE PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 8, 1968 -- 7 Viewpoint by John B. McClelland Last week's municipal all candidates meeting at the Latcham Centre in Port Perry was attended by close to 300 people, which was something of a sur- prise, considering that the local election campaign his year in Scugog is void of any "single burning is- sue." Despite the lack of a "hot issue" to galvanize the voters, the fact that so many attended the meeting suggests there is a great deal of interest in how the ffairs of this community will be conducted over the next three years. | think it is fair to say that three topics dominated the candidates meeting: growth, how much and where; the need for expanding hard services such as the sewage treatment facility for Port Perry; and the need for improvements and expansion to the community infrastructure, such things as recreation facilities, parking, even a new municipal building. The lagoon system for sewage treatment in Port Perry is at or near capacity now. That fact is known. Unless the treatment facility is up-graded in some way, Port Perry is in danger of being "ringed" by septic systems in the new subdivisions, and surely that is not what the community wants. But what happens if Durham decides to put in an expanded treatment facility. That would allow more intensive residential development to take place: instead of homes on large lots of three- quarters of an acre, developers would be able to build homes on quarter-acre lots. Rather than 70 or 80 new homes on a 100 acre subdivision, there could be 250 or 300 on fully ser- Vv ots. : But what would that kind of growth rate do to the infrastructure. The squeeze on existing facili- ties would be even more acute. For the last few years, the average growth rate in Scugog Township has been about 400 new homes per year, and just look at the strain that has put on existing facilities. A new sewage treatment plan would allow that growth rate to double, even ple. If that happens, we will have no choice but to greatly expand the so-called soft services. Scugog can't do one without doing the other. For these and other reasons, the Township council is going to be faced with some of the most important municipal decisions since Scugog was formed in 1973. The election on November 14 is so very important. Speaking of the candidates meeting, | was im- pressed with the way people conducted them- selves, both those on the podium and those who asked questions from the floor. There were a few "barbs" exchanged to be sure, but there was no mud slung. And not once did the meeting degenerate into a shouting match among the candidates. It doesn't take much for these kinds of meetings to break down. But this simply did not happen, and that is a credit to all those who are seeking office. And there was even a healthy dose of levity thrown into the proceedings, thanks to Stan Taylor, who's running for Mayor. Stan broke the meeting up when he appeared Gag ---- on stage with a shovel and a broom. His speech was taped to the back of the sparkling new shovel. The shovel, he said was to "clean up the mess" left behind by the out-going council, and the broom was to sweep the slate clean. It really was quite amusing, as were his one line answers to questions from the floor. Quite frankly, I'm not sure what to think of this 67-year old bachelor who has been campaigning since the middle of the summer. After the meeting last week, one member of the audience quipped to me "I think Stanley is in the wrong election. He should be running for the Rhino Party in the federal election." | know it is an old cliche to urge people to "get out and do their civic duty" by voting, but there is no questions that this municipal election is an im- portant one. Polling day is November 14. Voters should make an effort to talk to the candidates, find out where they stand, and get out next Monday to vote. Speaking of local politicians, it was nice to see Seny Taylor and Lawrence Malcolm honoured last week by the Durham Region council. About ten Re- gional councillors are retiring from politics and they were all presented with a handsome gift. Jerry Taylor and Lawrence Malcolm have repre- sented Scugog well at the Regional level for a great many years. They may not be the most vocal in the gang down at Region, but both are effective and re- spected, in the sometimes cut-throat jungle of Re- gional politics. | Yesterday's Memories 70 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 7, 1918 Mr. Wm. Reader, Scugog, has moved to Port Perry to live. He purchased the property of Mr. McIndless. Mr. and Mrs. John Nasmith, Utica, have bought a home in Port Perry. : Rev. and Mrs. John Ford received word that their son Maurice has won the Military Medal for bravery. All churches and schools are closed because of the Spanish Influenza epidemic. Mr. Wm. Bruce, Seagrave, is building a new house. Mr. E. Griffen has the contract. 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 4, 1943 Reeve Letcher at a meeting of the Business men reported further progress in the matter of the Chiropractic Memorial to be erected at the water front, and it is evident that in a year or two we may expect to see a fine park at the waterfront. Mr. Bruce Beare has received a promotion in rank from Pilot Officer to Flying Officer. Port Perry High School students have raised $14.00 to pro- vide ditty bags for the Navy League and have sent forty subscrip- tions of the Readeér's Digest to ex-students in the armed forces. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 5, 1953 Mr. Roy Cornish received a letter and a metal from Her Ma- jesty Queen Elizabeth for having made an outstanding contribu- tion to education in Port Perry as principal, to be worn to com- memorate Her Majesty's Coronation. Prizes for the best decorated baskets on Guide Day went to Carol Oliver (Guide) and Elaine Butson (Brownie). 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 6, 1958 Miss Esther Pickard became the bride of Mr. Herbert Ritter. Mrs. Marion Sandison was elected Worthy Matron of Blue Ray Chapter of Eastern Star. At the Annual dinner of Port Perry Rod & Gun Club, the speaker was Mr. Stan Hudson. The Port Perry Chamber of Commerce honours The Honourable Dr. M.B. Dymond, Minister of Transport, at a testimonial dinner. 20 YEARS AGO - Thursday, November 7, 1968 = Lynne MacGregor was the Valedictorian at tire 1968 Port Perry High School Commencement. | The largest case of theft, possibly in the history of Port Perry, took place some time Friday evening. $5,100 in cash and $2,300 (Turn to page 8) ethers Those "self-righteous Christians" To The Editor: I was upset last week when I read two letters by seemingly narrow-minded individuals who were outraged by the removal of the Lord's Prayer from public schools. The true basis of our nation is not the Christian faith as Reverend Walter H. Crawford sees it; rather, it is the mosaic which is created by the many dif- ferent races and religions that are evident in Canada. It seems to me that Christians are outraged because not everyone is of the Christian faith. Patrick Jarvie, in his letter, asked, 'Why can't they (the minorities) say their own prayers in silence?" Why can't Christians say their prayers in silence as well? Christians should refrain - from being so self-righteous and consider the feelings of those of different religions who share this land with them. Am I wrong to assume that peo- ple of the Christian faith want freedom for minorities as long as they adhere to the beliefs of Chris- tians? People of different faiths should be allowed to practice what they believe without having to answer to Christians; if Chris- tians prevent those of other religions from following their beliefs, is that not the same as in the days when white men did not allow blacks their rights to freedom? I would like to follow what I believe in without continually having Christianity forced upon me. I am one of the agnostics that Reverend Crawford is so terrified of because I am confused about God and religion; I have t "trouble believing that the Bible is the word of God just because= '. - Christians say it is, and it annoys me when Christians continually quote the Bible to justify their ac- tions and opinions, as Reverend Crawford has done in his letter. I think Christians should stop trying to run the lives of the many minorities and accept the dif- ferences of the people who make Canada a great place in which to live. The new 'Credo' allows everyone in our public schools the right to appreciate these dif- ferences. Christians should also learn to accept them.. Sincerely, Margaret Rowland, Port Perry, Ont. Received great care To The Editor: Moving here from Toronto ap- proximately a year ago, I was__ confronted with a medical pro- blem that had not been anticipated. Finding it necessary to attend both the Oshawa Medical Centre and the Oshawa General Hospital our doctor suggested that we con- tact the Scugog Community Services. From the initial phone call culminating in my post operative return from the hospital I could not have received more or better Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newpspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter to the editor. While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers; we must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. aE. attention trom the staff or drivers sent to transport me to the hospital. I understand that the Volunteer staff find it difficult to keep up with the work load. I am writing this letter to perhaps encourage anyone with time to spare to assist in any way possible in this very necessary and worthwhile work. Sincerely, J. Willis, Caesarea