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i ~i W.J~. i~iJiJ~ lU. ~ J I AJLjJ. I Oron Weklylims, ednsday, Sýeptember 17, 1997 - 3 . . . .. . . DURHAM COUNTRYSIDE ADVENTURE A romp with the donkeys Jillian Bail romps>with the donkeys at granidpa Skinner's Farm. The animais on this farm range from the ordinary to the exotic. Besides the Oxford and Northcountry sheep, farmn residents include a hairless pig, Japanese Silkie hens, a miniature horse, and a Ilama. Susan Sedlak was also on hand both days giving spinning demonstrations. FROM AROUND HOME by Roy Forrester Random Chatter Sports Program Tops off one evening last week for a late night snack Conversation opened witb the fast-food waiter wbo is speniding bis last year -at Clarke Hîgh Scbool. It started off somewbat like "HIow was your summer and glad to be back in school?" He was a resident of Newcastleý keeping busy working at the Fast Food- as well as playing and coaching soccer in Orono. "I do enjoy soccer" be said and bas played out of Orono for a number of years. As well be coaches one of the junior tearns. With bis job at the fast food, and being botb a player and coach must have kept bimi busy. The interesting part was bhis satisfaction witb the Orono sport prograrn under the Orono Athletic Association. "The sport programns in Orono are well organized much better than in Newcastle or even Bow- manville". he said. "I have always played in Orono and do enjoy coaching the garne of soccer". 1 thouglit I coîuld at least pass along tbes> words of praise to tti*'se who organize both tie wlnter and summe Tsports programi in tbds Village of Orono. Ajob wel4 done. Toronto Subway Tops Last week luncbing in Wellington with tlonna and our daughiter, Nancy, a couiple at the next table pt down their utensils alt the same timne as we dîd. I suppose it took no more than a smile and a conversation opened witb the two from New York City. They were touring the nortb side of Lake Ontario having been at Niagara Falls and now on their way to Kingston along the scenic Higbway 33. The natural question. "How are you enjoying Canada?" Certainly they enjoyed the falîs at Niagara Falls but found the area too commercialized for their lking. In Toronto for tbree days there was a feeling of safety and "How dlean the city is". "We can't get over the cleanliness of the Subway operation - bardly a scrap of paper". "In New York city you wade tbrougb filth and debris using the subway". -Toronto is unbelievable". "We thorougbly enjoyed Toronto". "We will corne back". You coirld tell the couple were comfortable wi!th life and most relaxed. Tbey wouid enjoy Wellington and as well Bloomfield and few kilomieters down the road. Within a short block the 13lonifid smiall sbops are 4.:>rtb& 1)e time spent to S*tayi ng In Touch John 07ooIe DurhatTl East MPP The Lishrflan rezoning application ilu Claringtoni s an interesting dileîmma, Local and Regionai councillors must- decide if tbey want industrial as§essment and jobs versus the.natural con- flicts of indusify. As I arn not a coundillor aflY longer, I sim- ply watcb and read the local paper as gnyone else. However, sourid planning and land use prindiples must pre- vail. The appli@ant must com- ply witb mini§try guidelines in agriculturd and environ- mental issues: This xii be an interesting uýsue to watch during the muplcipar election process. IKnoWwhwere your candidate stgnds on this question. In Port perry this past week, I was pie-ased to share in the openirig of the new mid-block school tra.ffic' sig- nal on HighwàY 7A- I give al the credit to the R.H. Cornisb school council and in partic- ular Diane Martin. Bill Dunn, the crossing guard, told Councullor pierce, Mayor Hall, Diane Martin and me that "the crossing ligbt works great". I want to -thank al those who doniated and the Minister of Transportation for allowing the rnoney and regu- lation change~ to make this happen. My Rogers Community Cable TV Progi arn bas started again. You cai see the pro- gram on Roger-s Cable 10, at 11:00 a.m. Sunday mornings. For those constituents living in the northern part of my rid- ing, we are planning to dis- tribute the video through local outiets like the library. If you want'a copy, call my con- stituency office at 697-1501 or 1-800-661-2433. The usual format of the program is generally myself with a Minister or an expert on the topic being dlscussed. This week's topic is the changes to the apprenticeship prograrn. My next programn will be the subject of education changes. Like my weely column, thiis is just another format to stay in toucb with all the con- stituents in Durham East. Proposed and completed changes to our educational system are now the dominant news themne. The educationial Improvement Com-mission (EIC), issued their report, this past week, with a numnber of recomimendations. The length of the scbool day, the lengtb of the scbool year, the amount of teacher prepara- tion timie in our secondcary scbools and other recom- miendations were proposcd. The Royal Commiiission oni L-eainùg, issuied by the NDP govemmient, bas served as a reference for many of the rec- David Cooke, the former NDP Minister of Education and now co-chair, along with Ann Vanstone of the EIC. Generally,- the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation is opposed to any change. Some of the other teacher unions were talking with, the Minister of Education. Many individual bard woring and dedicated teachers are worried. The EIC believes that we must sup- port the individual school, classroom teacher and stu- dents. At this- moment, 1 arn not aware of any pending legisla- tioneffecting teachers. The union leaders are threaten- ing strike action but I believe, that individual teachers just want a stable environrnent to get on with teachinig our chul- dren. As this subject affects every citizen somebow, I believe that we must ensure the delivery of quality class- room education. This does not mean that we sbould not improve the education stan- dards and curriculum and eliminate ail waste and dupli- cation. According to the infor- mation I have, the provincial The Durham District Health Council (DHC) is one of the current 33 health plan- SincE 1982 Authorized Sales & Service Centre for: ratio of teachers to students is some 16 to 1. 1 ask myseif the question. how corne we have classes of over 30 stu- dents? Individual teachers did not set these rules. ning organizations in the province. The Ministry of Health bas announced that' the 33 DHC's xii be reorga- nized into 16 DHC's. The Durham DHC bas been advised that they xiii be merged with Haliburton and Kawartha Pine Ridge which Includes Peterborough. The DHC is not, happy and feel they sbould be aligned with York or the other GTA areas. I have met with the Durham DHC Volunteer Board and arn supportive of their con- cerns. The District I-ealth Councils perform an impor- tant fiunction for the Ministry. The DHC represents our needs in the planning and delivery of bealth care from long termn care to hospitals and mental health for our area. It is strange to me that on one hand we, the govern- ment, are binding the Region govemrment to the GTA in so many ways that we would not align health care planning along similar uines. 1 will be making this view known to the, Minister. On Sunday, September 14, 1997, 1 attended the Terry Fox Run for cancer charity. I also attended the 'Change of Command Parade for the Ontario Regiment (RCAC). both events were well attend- ed and were blessed witb beautiful weather. It is won- derful to see people involved in their community and for very worthwhile causes. "I have learned that there are no unimportant acts of kindness." Cameorders VCR's IViicrowaves TV' s 0 Accessories - Stereo Systems - Telephones - Top 100 CD's & Tapes * ANASNIC- SNY >ý Tuesday, September 23 SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL Upper Library - 7 p.m. - New Members Welcome Wednesday, September 24 PARENTS MNTN - GRADE 9 6:30 to 8:.30 p.m. Thursday, October 16 PARENTS NIGHT - GRADES 10 to OAC 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.