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2 - Orono Weekly Times Subscriptions $38.09 + $1.91 GST = $40.00 per year. No Refunds. Publishing 48 issues annually at the office of publication. "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Aid to Publishers - Canada Periodical Fund toward our mailing costs." Wednesday, September 8, 2010 ORONO WEEKLY TIMES - 5310 Main St., P.O. Box 209, Orono, ON L0B 1M0 E-mail: oronotimes@rogers.com or Phone/Fax: 905-983-5301 Publisher/Editor Margaret Zwart Production and Display Advertising - Roxanne Johnston Classified/Sports - Sue Weigand The Orono Weekly Times welcomes letters to the editor on subjects of interest to our readers. Opinions expressed to the editor and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Orono Weekly times. Letters must be signed and contain the address and phone number of the writer. Any letter considered unsuitable will not be acknowledged or returned. We reserve the right to edit for length, libel and slander. If your retail or classified ad appears for the first time, please check carefully. Notice of an error must be given before the next issue goes to print. The Orono Weekly Times will not be responsible for the loss or damage of such items. Seminar fall-out gives Clarington a bad rap Someone asked me last week, "How are things in the Repbulic of Jaworski?" Since I have never been on the 40 acre Jaworski property on Best Road, I had to say, I didn't know how things were. For the past 10 years the Jaworksis have hosted an annual weekend seminar, for their son Peter, on their agriculturallyzoned property, with no public objection. After this year's seminar, held on the weekend of July 24/25, the Jaowrksis find themself facing a hefty fine for using their property for a purpose not permitted in their agricultural zoning. While the weekend seminar was never a permitted use of the property, the Jaworskis got away with it for the past nine years because no one complained. This year, Clarington's By-law Department received a complaint about the event, and on Sunday evening as seminar participants were leaving the Jaworski property, a by-law officer investigated the use of the property. As a result of this investigation, Clarington's By-law Officer has filed charges against the Jaworskis for using their agiculturally-zoned property as a commercial conference centre, contrary to Clarington's by-laws. The Jaworskis were issued with a summons to appear in court at the end of the month, and face a maximum fine of $50,000. Upon receiving the summon's, son Peter hit the world wide web with a press release which he titled, "Home owners burnt by BBQ." In the press release Jaworski quotes his father as saying, "If we're convicted of letting our son host a barbecue with his friends, these charges could bankrupt us." Jaworski's attempt to position this event as a simple backyard barbeque with friends is misleading. The weekend event was a two-day seminar, complete with meals prepared and catered by Mrs. Jaworski, lectures, on-site camping, all at a cost of $75 to $125 per person. All of these activities would have been permitted on the property, if they didn't charge a fee. Once they began charging, the event became a commercial venture. Peter Jaworski's press release found a sympathetic audience, and columnists and writers for a number of large media outlets have portrayed Clarington's By-law Department as an abusive bunch of thugs, intimidating a couple of rural residents who were just minding their own business. We have recieved a number of letters to the Editor on the issue over the past few weeks , all of them from away, and all of them sympathetic of the Jaworskis -- facing bankrupcy for simply holding a barbeque on their country property. This apparently was not the first time the Jaworskis ran afoul of Clarington's By-law Department. According to Clarington's Chief By-Law Officer, Len Creamer, complaints were generated when the Jaworskis began holding wedding receptions on their property, another un-permited use. While the Jaworskis may wish to use their property for anything they want, they are not at liberty to do so. Rural lands are zoned agriculture for a reason, and the line has to be drawn somewhere to ensure the rural lands are protected. The Jaworskis are free to hold conventions and banquets at establishments properly zoned for that activity, or apply to the Municipality for a special exemption to their exisitng zoning to permit the type of activity they want to provide on their property. All those people who have written letters citizing Clarington for their unfair treatment of the Jaworksis live in municipalities who also have restricted uses on their agriculturally-zoned land. Operating below the radar gives the Jaworskis an unfair advantage over those who do play by the rules and pay the higher price for obtaining the proper permits and zoning. Jaworski quotes his mother at the end of his press release saying, "I will always let my son use our property for what he believes in. If he wants to have a barbeque to support more liberty in Canada, we're not just happy, but proud to let him do that. That's what you do as parents." How many parents support their children to the point of breaking rules, and proudly help them do so? If the Jaworskis don't like the rules here, they have the freedom to move to some republic where there are no laws to be obeyed. Bakery `story' doesn't rise to occasion To The Editor: Re: Orono Times 01 Sept 10 "Bakery owners decry unfair audit" This "story" makes mention or accusation that Revenue Canada inaccurately assessed no ... has the "situation". "We will be forced to close" can't be an acceptable reason to forgive legitimate debt. When one opens a "store front" business ... understanding "the rules" is part of running that business. Yummy Pleasures could have spent their $ign money ... supporting their appeal presentation. The "system" occasionally works ... especially when one is innocent. Sincerely Kelly Adams, Orono A bummer for Liberty Summer To The Editor: I am writing as a five-time attendee (though I am also an organizer) of the Liberty Summer Seminar. When I first attended the seminar, I had no idea where Orono was. I had never been to Clarington and might never have visited otherwise. Since I visited the Jaworskis' home that first year, though, I have looked forward to spending time every year in your beautiful corner of Ontario. I'm not alone. Every year many people from around the world visit Clarington for the first time, or return, to attend the Liberty Summer Seminar. 70-100 people come to Orono for a few days, spending money at local businesses and staying in other bed and breakfasts near Willow Pond B&B. Then they spend the rest of the year talking about it. If Clarington is committed to supporting small business and promoting itself to visitors from outside the area it has a funny way of showing it. If the municipality isn't willing to go to bat for the Jaworskis and others like them, I'm sure another part of Ontario would be happy for the business. Janet Neilson Windsor, Ontario