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, - ; , - ; 1 2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, May 25,1994 Section Two l\t Cauaîrtati statesman Former Publishers • Rev. W. R. Climie, 1854 -1878 • M. A. James, 1878 -1935 • George W. James, 1935 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 905-623-3303 Fax 905-623-6161 For 140 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher-John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Richard A. James Plant Manager - Donald J. Bishop Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Rick Patterson, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenburg, Sharon McMullen, Barb Patterson, Ralph Rozema, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Laverne Morrison, Eva Westermann Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Angela Luscher, Jùnia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford Life Imitates Baseball How about those Jays? You might still hear these words, but they are being delivered with a slightly different inflection nowadays. Toronto ball fans are justifiably worried. Heck, even the Toronto Blue Jays' manager is justifiably worried. But, what can we reasonably expect? Surely, Toronto fans don't expect to see the Jays win a World Series every year. In other words, the mettle of the Toronto fans is about to be tested. It's easy to be a baseball fan when your team is winning back-to-back World Series. Under those conditions, people who wouldn't know the difference between an RBI and the CIA come out of the woodwork and start waving their banners. But, when the home team seems to be dropping down an elevator shaft leading directly to the basement, that's when supporters show their colors. That's when fans reveal themselves as true devotees of the sport and not merely an unruly mob eager to climb on board the band wagon of a winner. Maybe it's time for the Jays fans to partake in the other aspects of the game which can be enjoyed whether the home team is at the top or the bottom of the standings. It's time to identify with the individual achievements and struggles of the players. It's time to bask in the sun within easy reach of a cold beverage and hot dog, while the century-old drama of baseball is played out on an emerald green field below the bleachers or on the TV tube. Who knows? It might even be time to grudgingly enjoy the talents of other major league teams who make their appearance against the Jays. The cerebral fans of baseball sometimes have elevated the game to the point where they see it as a metaphor for life itself. Whether they are right or wrong, there is some truth to the fact that, although accomplishments are the things that drive us forward, we must still enjoy the journey along the way. So, if a world series victory or even a .500 season is out of the question, it remains possible to enjoy the sport The goal is not just to achieve victory, but to relish the moments going before and after such achievements. But, it's still better to win. Maybe, in that respect, life does imitate baseball. Clarington has just completed a draft copy of its Official Plan. Such an announcement is not likely to be greeted by cheers, fireworks and brass bands, Planning documents are not likely to make anyone's best-seller list, but they should be read by anyone who has an interest in the future of their community. It is documents such as the Clarington Official Plan which will determine the character of the place where we live. It will determine, for example, how development might proceed on agricultural land. It will decide where the major shopping areas ought to be. It will indicate what size of population this town may reach in the next century. It will sketch out where the major streets will be built And that's just a few of the ways in which an official plan impacts on the quality of our life. Sometimes people accuse municipalities of acting without consultation from citizens. And sometimes those accusations are accurate. But, there are also times when citizens don't take the opportunity to make themselves aware of issues and to voice their opinions when opinions are sought Participation in local government is a two-way street It requires an open and receptive government, but it also requires an active and vigilant electorate. In connection with the.Official Plan's completion, there are some very important meetings coming up in this municipality. Citizens owe it to themselves and their future to attend. At the meetings, Clarington citizens will have a chance to see the planning document which will shape the future of this municipality for the next 20 or 30 years. There will be public meetings in Bowmanville (at the Recreation Complex) June 21; at the Newcastle Village Community Hall June 22; and at the Dr. Emily Stowe School in Courtice June 23. Information sessions will begin at four p.m. for people who just want to review the plans. For those who wish to make comments or hear the comments of others, there will be a public meeting which begins at seven p.m. on each of the evenings at the above-mentioned locations. If you plan to speak at the meetings, you may wish to register with the municipality before attending. Further details are contained in an advertisement appearing in today's Statesman. Often, when planning proposals are reviewed, the municipality hears from outraged citizens who wonder why a particular development is taking place. Perhaps, if citizens had voiced their concerns at earlier sessions, such controversies could have been avoided. This, at least, is the idea behind the upcoming draft Official Plan meetings. Sooner or later, the document will become the blueprint for deciding how this municipality will grow. But, as has been the practice throughout the Official Plan process, public input is needed. Now is the time to make your viewpoint known. LOCAL HOSPITAL! lC z SitPPEfy WHEN WET >i >> - '4b -, l -z^oC-2S-S4 Acute Care Study May Spell Major Changes for Durham Hospitals We Asked... What municipal or regional issues do you think should be focused on during the election campaign this year? ...And You Said iillllMMiiil Jftiillfi Tom McRoberts Peter King Bowmanville Bowmanville "I don't think it "Recreational facili- matters, they're not ties." going to do anything anything any way." James Barrett Hampton "Welfare. I know there's enough rip- offs out there." Valerie Preece Maple Grove "I think we need services services in Maple Grove." \c\l week's question: What is your opinion regarding the bill ottering equal rights to same-sex couples?