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Concentrated Effort Produces Creative Playground for School By Tim Weekes Teachers and parents worked late into the evenings without supper during the last weekend of May in order to complete a creative playground for the students of Courtice West Public School. Students who arrived at the school on Monday, May 29 were greeted with a structure consisting of tire swings, climbing bars and various types of slides. The project began way back in October of last year when Grant Thompson, vice- principal of the three Courtice public schools and chair- person of the committee who designed and built the play- ground, started researching the possibility of making a place for the students to play at one of his schools. He, and three others who at that time formed the commit- tee, looked at many of the similar projects that have been done in the Toronto area and went through numerous books and articles on the subject. The philosophy behind the multi-level play area is that each child will seek his or her own level or go beyond that level to achieve something more. For instance, kinder- garten children, to begin with, may only venture to the first level but in time may dare to go up to the second level, the third and so on. Grant Thompson estimates that the project would normally have cost about $6,000 but, because the parents and teachers did it themselves and because of donations from various companies in the area, the project so far has cost them $1,200. The home and school raised $1,000 by selling hot lunches and that figure was matched by a Wintario grant. Tires were donated by J & M Tire, the Bowmanville Community Services provided barrels and Ontario Hydro and the Public Utilities Commission gave them posts and bolts. Bell Telephone provided a post hole digger. When a final design was drawn, Mr. Thompson and his committee consulted Durham College students to make sure the structure would hold the 150 for which it was designed (the school presently has 137 primary children enrolled). Many of the students came to Mr. Thompson eo-Monday and thanked him for building them this playground. Sid Worden, a trustee for the Northumberland and New- castle Board of Education, said "Grant deserves a lot of credit." The members of the committee who designed the structure, gathered informa- tion and did most of the work are Dolores and Doug Croth, Don and Betty Samis, Georgie Kingsley, Susan Marsh, Walter Rohrer and Sandra and Neil Boyd. Mr. Thompson says that they are hoping this project will spark other school parent and teacher associations to do similar projects at their schools. From Page Two Planning Department, in Whitby for the Region and was referred to the Municipal of Newcastle for their action first. At first they said we could not build until 1981 because of sewer. We then proved by running water through the system that the site did in fact have sewer. Then the sewer capacity at the Treatment Plant was too small. At this point, the Schwarz Bros. agreed to wait until 1981 for their part of the site to be developed so that the Foresters could go ahead. We even agreed that if the pipe on the Base Line was in fact too small, we would pay the cost of replacing it if necessary. In February 1978 the Council of the Town of Newcastle, on a recommendation of the Planning Board, passed our application subject to removal of an objection by the Ministry of the Environment. This objection was lifted, so in effect our project was passed. Fact: They, the Council, also allotted top priority of the available capacity at the Treatment Plant and this gave every indication our project was approved. Then the whole thing bogged down in indecision. We went to a council meeting expecting to hear a by-law approved, instead we heard our project tabled so they could have a public meeting because the .He said that they already have a similar project in md for North Courtice Public School. Presently the playground provides the students with tire swings, climbing bars, a fort in which to hide, an obstacle course, many types of slides and numerous levels on which the students can create their own fun and games. Addition of sand, another tube slide and more tires placed in the ground will come in the near future. town had a letter of objection from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Rubber Workers Union. We had the public meeting in March. At that meeting, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. did not appear, the Town used 2 or 3 different chairmen and at no time was a vote taken to see how many were in favor or against the project. They would have been hard pressed to find 5 people in the meeting who objected to our proposal. More than 90 per cent of the people present were in favor of our project. After the public meeting was held, they tabled it again so the Mayor could talk to Goodyear. A claim from Council was they didn't want a lengthy OMB hearing. After a two week delay, the Mayor had still not talked to Goodyear. We decided okay, let it go to the OMB, we were prepared to take our case to OMB. But at this meeting Mayor Rickard said he had a meeting set with Goodyear on the following Wednesday. As a result of that meeting, it was again postponed for 2 weeks and at no time during all of this did we get the impression that it was going to be denied. On Monday, May 29 the Council, after more than 2 hours of debate, voted against our project with only Council- lor Taylor voting in favor. Councillor Holliday insisted that our proposal was already passed. Councillor Woodyard wanted a legal opinion before he left the room and refused to vote. We feel that we were given an underhanded treat- ment as far as the excuse about Goodyear.We have'not seen or heard any evidence that they are ever going to expand or have we heard or seen any evidence that they would pull out of Bowmanville just because we build. What are the over 300 people who are waiting for our housing supposed to do? We are sure that there are manye more people that need our help. There are families and seniors who are in desperate need of our project and who are now living under impossible conditions. Also we believe the Town could have used the $80,000 grant which they would have received - no string attached - if it had been approved. If this is all our Council and Mayor care about the Municipality, then we are in a sad state of affairs. The Canadian Foresters ask the citizens of the Municipality of Newcastle to phone, write or talk with your council and mayor and tell them what you think. This is an election year and we feel most of our council should not be re-elected. We ask you to think about this and other things that council have done. If one industry, like Goodyear, or who ever or whatever is the real reason for our project being turned down, thçn we are in a sad way in oÙr town. I want to make it perfectly clear that the Board of Directors of the Canadian Foresters Project cannot under any circum- stances receive wages or directors fees as we are a non profit corporation. As a matter of fact the Board of Directors are money out of their own pocket for their travelling, time off work to attend council meetings, etc. Make no mistake about the Schwarz Bros. plan to build an abbatoir on this site. As of the 2nd of June, they received the plans which are complete with smoke house and holding pens. They are going to develop their land, not Goodyear or any one else. They have told us we have a couple of weeks to make up our mind what we are going to do. They will let us proceed with an appeal if we decide to do so. If we choose not to, they will then apply for a building permit. As of now it is in the ands of our attorney and we will know very soon what route we will take. I wonder if this is the type of industrv the people in the South Ward wait as this site is completely surrounded by residential streets. We believe the Schwarz Bros. have been very fair to us in offering us the property we can afford, however we believe they have a right to develop their property, after all they own it. As far as the mayor suggesting this site is not suited for senior citizen housing, I ask him where the present senior citizen housing is. They are on Nelson Street, the same street as our proposed development, but they are even farther from down town. To the people of Newcastle - these are the facts. Sincerely yours, Milton Dakin ' President Canadian Foresters Project (Eastern) Group BOOK BEAT Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case Many formerly secret documents were used in this carefully researched study of the case which polarized American political opinion in the early fifties. The author concludes that Hiss was indeed guilty of perjury when he denied involvement with Communist party members. On Being Funny: Woody Allen and Comedy The author observed Allen at close range for three years, at homer on movie sets, playing in nightclubs and even while eating. This is an entertaining account of the life and development of one of America's funniest men. Other new books to watch for: Canadian Business Law, Damned in Paradise: the Life of John Barrymore, Breathing Tokens - Carl Sandburg, Shadow Box - George Plimpton, A Cree Life - the Art of Allen Sapp. Many summer programs from magic shows, craft lessons and movies to puppet shows are being offered for children at your local library during the sumnmer months. For more information, call 623-7322. Break-ins Reported Durham Regional Police report three break-ins occurred last week in the Newcastle Village area. Police said a cottage off Golf Course Rd. east of Newcastle was entered and tools and foodstuffs were reported stolen. Police said a small amount of cash was taken from Goode's Hardware in Newcastle Village and entry was gained through a rear window. A break-in was also re- ported at the J. Anderson Smith Company in Newcastle. Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, June 7, 1978 Honor Retiring Teacher and PrinciPal A retiring teacher and principal from the Orono and Newcastle area were presented with silver trays last week at a dinner sponsored by the Northumberland Newcastle Board of Education. Mrs. Gladys Greenwood, principal at Lockharts Public School and Mrs. Helen M. Nesbitt, a teacher at the Newcastle Public School are retiring from their teaching careers this year. Mrs. Greenwood is in her 25th year of teaching and Mrs. Nesbitt has over 38 years of teaching experience. Two other retirees and eight staff members with 25 years of service were honored by the school board last Wednesday at the Port Hope Legion. The photo above includes left to right: Frank Thom, director of education; Mrs. Gladys Greenwood; Mrs. Helen Nesbitt and Bill Carman, chairman of the board of education. Education Board Honors Long Service Employees by Peter Parrott So e of the most senior em pIyees with the Northum- berl nd Newcastle Board of Education were honored last week at a testimonial dinner held at the Port Hope Legion Hall. About 125 guests were present. Officials from the board of education welcomed eight new members of school board staff to the "25 Year Club" during the banquet Wednesday, May 31. In addition, three retiring, teachers and one retiring principal were thanked for their service to the board. retirees. They are Mrs. Gladys Greenwood, principal at Lockhart's School and Mrs. Helen M. Nesbitt, a teacher at the Newcastle Public School. Mrs. Greenwood is presently in her 25th year of teaching. She attended Normal School in Peter- borough in 1933-34 and first taught grades 1-9 in a one room school in Clarke Town- ship, called S.S. No. 21. Mrs. Greenwood taught for seven years before she was married and temporarily left maromethendesternararea of her teaching career. In 1960, From the western area of she returned to serve as the school board's principal of the new, two- jurisdiction. there are two roomed Lockhart's School. She has been principal there for 18 years. The second retiree, Mrs. Helen Nesbitt, first taught at Port Granby, in Clarke Town- ship. She later moved to Oshawa where she taught in various schools but mainly in the old Albert St. and North Simcoe Schools. In 1954, she started teaching at the Newcastle Public School and has remained there until the present. Mrs. Nesbitt plans to stay in Newcastle on her retirement. The other teachers from the eastern area of the Northum- berland Newcastle Board who are retiring this year are Mrs. Aline M.E. Austin of Dr. Hawkins Public School; and Mrs. Edna Faulkner of East Northumberland Secondary School. This year's new members of the 25 year club are all from the eastern area of the Northumberland Newcastle board. Their names are as follows: Mrs. Carole R. Benor, eastern area primary consult- ant; Mrs. Annie M. Blezard, a teacher at Baltimore Public School; Charles A. Hagen, principal of Cobourg District Collegiate Institute East; Mrs. Joyce L. Lewis, a payroll clerk at the board's office; William L. Rothwell, a teacher at Campbellford District High School; Mrs. Doris M. Stapley, a teacher at Hillcrest Public School; Albert L. Whitfield, principal of Kent Public School; and Mr. Ken Workman, custodian at Merwin Greer Public School. There are now 33 persons on the staff of the Northumber- land Newcastle Board with 25 or more years of service. Letters to Editor Ask the insurance professional STEVE BELL. Q: I have an orange two-wheel trailer that I use to haul grass clippings to the dump. It's only worth $100, so I don't isure it for comprehensive or collision coverage, and it isn't described in my policy. On the way back from the dump Saturday, the trailer broke loose from my car, crossed the center line and sideswiped a car going in the opposite direction. Is the damage covered by my auto insurance? A: Yes. Your bodily injury and property damage liability coverage applies. So any injury or property damage resulting from the accident will be paid. There's just no substitute for professional advice. If you have an insurance problem, l'il be glad to help you solve it. Just call me. SSAFECO OSBORNE &SHANK INSURANCE AGENCY LTD. 108 Liberty St. N., Bowmanville, P.O. Box 277 623-2527 Hampton Union Cemetery willhold Decoration Day on Sunday, June lthat2:30 p.m. Pastor Erb will be the speaker. Soloists will be Grace Smith and Bruce Hurst.