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Orono WèekMy:T.fie W de:aegae 19- Stayingà In Touch John O'Toole Durham East MPP ln general 1 arn pleased by the reactions to our munici- pal funding changes. Most of the local- and regionally, elected people 1 speak-with outside Toronto are cau- tiously optimlstic. There were complaints in the past, that the province did flot fund this or that, or that there wasn't enough money for such a prograin. Please recail that I was flrst elected in 1982 and back then, we were complainlng that the province was downloading. I amn sure there will lie com- plaints as this new funding process unfolds. 1The Toronto City Issue Is something different. There are two big changes in Toronto and neither one Is being accepted very well. First, the six local councils of Scarborough, York, East York, North York, Etobicoke and Toronto, are being dis- solved as is Metro (Regional Council) and there wil lie a completely new Toronto City organization. Second, this new clty of Toronto wiil also have to sort out this new fundlng envelope like every other comrnunity in Ontario. Why Is this such a big problem for Metro Toronto? Do you recail before this leg- islatlon was announced, the Metro mayors got together and suggested they could now do it for some $300 or $400 millions less. -Metro Council suggested they could do it for less stlll. In Toronto, they have services that we neyer thought of. Take for instance, public transit or handicap transit services. In most of Ontario, we are lucky if there are taxi cabis, let alone public transit. Outside Toronto, services are very different. Generally, There seems to be a gener- ai consensus this year that over-wintering birds are down in numbers. We keep hearing this locally and onily a couple of nights ago this subject was discussed on television with the saine opinion voiced, Apparently if your bird feeder Is busy you are one of the lucky ones. Decernber certainly was not a winter month and we had to await the turn of tirne to January 1997 before a siff of snow appeared. But January bas not been the greatest of rnonths to travel about loolçing for birds. Last year at this Urne it was a Great Grey and a Barred Owl that awaited for spring on the west side of the Village. A couple of years back it was a couple of Snowy Owls and a Hawk Owl. Our first harbinger of win- ter this year was a flock of perhaps one hundred Snow Buntings on the Town line west of the Village. These birds migrate down from the polar artic and for- age for weed seeds ini plowed fields with littie snow cover. They run along the ground and play a gaine of leap front with those in the back to fly to the front of the group. They often corne to the road edge where seeds are out in the open for picking. The body is white with a rusty tinge on the head and front of the wing. They fly in a group and cover over an area quick- lY. One of our interests in these birds is that they are apparently at Urnes accornpa- nied by Lapland Longspurs. To this point we have only read about it. Bowmanville Drama Workshop Production outside Toronto, parks, zoos, librarles, museums, day care, cultural centers and public places are less aval- able, if available at all. Corne to, thinkz of It, children~s ser- vices, access to hospitals and speciallzed services are far more avallable in Toronto than they are in the rest of the province. I would say Toronto bas been very lucky if not spoiled. If the province funds Toronto on the same formula as the rest of Ontario, Toronto willî likely be upset. Ail the grants for special groups and the levels of service wiil have to be re- examlned. I understand that if you live in the country, you don't expect regular police patrols, perhaps the response to emergency ser- vices are not as rapid. High growth areas like Durham are already behind in sorne services. Toronto is natural- ly going to complain about any change. The citizens in Northemn and rural Ontario are not going to be very syrn- pathetie to the cries from Toronto. With the new city of Toronto, please keep in mind that not very mucli is cliang- ing really. The population is not increased by-one person and the geographical area is still the sarne. What will change is there will be fewer politicians, fewer politicians, fewer bureaucrats and fewer man rnade borders. Perhaps ail the complaints are from the politicians who are look- ing oiit for their political position. Today, Toronto lias more municipal politicians than the total of ail Ontario's Provincial and Federal mein- bers of Parliament. 1Want to tickle your funny bone, charge up those littie grey celis, and leave the win- ter blahs behind? On February 12, 13, 14, 15, Bowrnanville Drarna Workshop presents "Ail In The Timning"; five delectable intelligent one-act-plays by David Ives. Director, Fred Archibald, was delighted by the produc- tion at a recent surnrer the- ,atre in Owen Sound. "If I'rn still affected by it the next day, I know it's a good play". Archibald said in a recent interview. Although, or per- haps beca useý this one had a different twist, he was willing to take the risk in presenting it to Bowmanville area audi- ences. 1I like to give thern not onlly what they want, but also what they rnight like", lie said. Wliat follows is a sampling for the curious, a littie taste of the weirdness of "Ail In The Timing". One of the plays involves how not to get what you want in a restaurant, or how to get what you don't want. Another speculates on the îast hours of Leon Trotsky; so little tirne, so rnuch to do. Then, the strange and secret lives of three construction workers. Lastly, a trio of famous mon- keys assigned to type Sliakespeare's Hainlet. This production prornises an evening of good, solid entertainrnent. The script is witty, the cast comprises of actors of experienced talent and very prornising new tal- ent. Director Archibald, who owns a local apple orchard bas worked with the Bowrnanville Drama Workshop for twelve years, and lias acted in cominercials and Toronto filrn productions for several years. Hle recently studied directing with David Switzer at Theatre Ontario, Brock University. "Ail In The Timing' promis- es to deliver rnuch rnore than its rnoney's worth. Don't miss this one! Perforrnances at Bowmanville high school Theatre, Liberty Street, Bowrnanville, February 12, 13, 14, 15 at 8 p.rn. Tickets are Adults $8.00 and Seniors/Students $5.00. For ticket information please eall 436-2899 or 697-2380. Bowmanvi lie Toastmasters The theme for the January 21, 1997 meeting of Bowmanville Toastmasters was winter. Many aspects of winter pervaded the meeting from the graninarians word "frigid" to the positive and negative aspects of winter addressed by our speakers. Toastrnaster Irene Konzelrnann frorn Orono rnalntalned the light hearted rnood with lier speculative topics each of which addressed the question quote "If Only .. Toastrnaster Dow dernon- strated lier usual calm b refusing to panic when it seerned that she migit lie trapped on the Internet. Have you ever been trapped on the Internet? What would you do? Corne and join us for an evening of fun and stimula- tion any Tuesday 7:30 - 9:30 p.rn. at "The Darlington Information Hydro Centre". For more information please caîl 623-2243 or 623-3527. Recycle ~j:\ z Services and Repairs To Ail Makes 0f Vehicles Used Auto Parts ,'Comptete Auto Body Service & Used and New lires Service Cails À ST P 1GET YOUR SHOP AROUND GET OUR SHOP rn BEST PRICEY THEN CALL US FOR YOUR BETTER PRICE We give you the maximum $$$.for your Trade-In. 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