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The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Mardi 5, 1997 Page 4 f 1)t Canabtan Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and W. R. Climie 1854 -1878 M. A. James, 1878 -1935 • Norman S. B. James, 1919 -1929 G. Elena James, 1929 -1947 • Dr. George W. James, 1919 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 905-623-3303 lnternet-slatesman@ocna.org Fax 905-623-6161 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For 142 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher-John M. James. Assoc. Publisher - Rick James . Plant Manager - Rick Patterson Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Supervisor - Ralph Rozenia, Suzanne Bennett, Sharon Cole, Laurens Kaldcway, Doug Lugtenburg, Barb Patterson, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Laverne Morrison Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Supervisor - Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford, Sharilyn Carnegie Municipal Ballots Will be Different This coming November, the Clnrington municipal ballot will get a new look. You won't find the three wards of the previous elections. Nor will you find a regional and local council position up for grabs in each ward. Nor will you find two public school trustees to be elected in each ward. Times are changing. First of all, let's look at the public school board representation. representation. Unless you've been at an Arctic outpost for the last year or so, you are probably well aware of the upheaval in Ontario's education system. In Clarington, that means our schools will be part of the neighbouring Peterborough Board of Education. And, rather than the six trustees who currently represent Clarington on the Northumberland and Clarington Board, there will probably be no more than one or two on the new, amalgamated board. The exact details are unknown at this time because the amalgamation process has not been finalized. It is likely that Clarington's few trustees will be elected at large from the entire municipality. We presume the hydro commission elections and the separate separate school board elections will be unchanged. On the municipal scene, Clarington voters will still elect the mayor in a general vote. However, there will be one fewer representative representative to Durham's regional council, but one more local representative in the municipal council chambers. Or, to put it another way, Clarington will have four wards, instead of three. Each ward will have a local council representative. representative. However, the two eastern wards will share one regional councillor and the two western wards will also share a regional regional councillor. The new ward boundaries will be much different from what they are now. For one thing, they are not based on the old Darlington, Clarke and Bowmanville municipalities. Each ward includes both urban and rural communities and extends from Lake Ontario to the northern border of Clarington. This means, for example, that Bowmanville will be split into two wards. But, those wards will include territory not presently considered part of Bowmanville. It remains to be seen whether individual communities can still hold onto their local identity now that the local political structure bears no resemblance to the boundaries of the old townships or Town of Bowmanville. It looks to us as though it's all Clarington now. Farmers Say Agriculture Cutbacks Must Stop Ontario's farming community says it is being asked to pay more than its fair share in a province-wide reduction of expenditures. expenditures. This is the verdict of a coalition of Ontario fanners which has produced a brochure entitled "Grow, Prosper or Whither?" Specifically, they are asking that the budget of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs be maintained. The Ministry works in partnership with fanners in many areas. Just a few of these include: land stewardship, marketing, and technology. The coalition of 36 farm groups adds that the problem is an ongoing one. The cutbacks started close to a decade ago and the ongoing decline in funding has reduced OMAFRA's budget budget by 39 per cent, the farm groups say. In making their case for better funding of agriculture and rural affairs, the groups offer statistics which are often forgotten forgotten by those who measure trade and commerce in terms of factories, factories, highways, subdivisions and retail outlets. The fact is that Ontario farmers constitute a formidable industry. In 1995, they purchased $6 billion worth of "inputs" and used those inputs to produce $7.6 billion worth of goods. Because farming tends to be the responsibility of many small businesses and not a single, highly-visible operation, sometimes sometimes its importance gets overlooked. The public and perhaps the government decision-makers tend to forget we are looking at an industry which employs 647,000 people in the farming, food processing and related retailing and food services. And the really important point is that farming is an essential essential service. If you really had to, you could get along without your computer or your car. But just try to do without food for a few weeks! We'U leave the last word to the farm groups who make the following observation in an open letter to Premier Mike Harris and other officials of the provincial government: "With the prospect of another $3 billion spending cut looming, many farmers worry about their ability to take advantage of growth opportunities. We think farmers have paid enough. It's time that the government of Ontario ensure that OMAFRA's budget is maintained and enhanced so that it is able to work with the agri-food industry to create jobs and prosperity in Ontario." The Public Sector A list of top employers in the Municipality of Clarington gives a classic example of the importance of the public sector in the local economy. In Clarington, it is the public sector organizations which are the biggest employers. The largest employer of all is Ontario Hydro's Darlington Nuclear Generating Station which provides jobs for 1,612. This is followed by the Municipality of Clarington which employs 421 and Memorial Hospital, which employs 308. In other words, the top three employers are really public sector organizations. Goodyear Canada (which employs 275) ranks fourth and is the largest private sector employer in the municipality. municipality. The size of public sector employment would be even larger if the above list included the number of persons who work in the municipality and are employed by school boards. Since both the public and separate boards have their headquarters outside the municipality, the numbers aren't included. Of course, if the number of Clarington residents employed by General Motors were included in the statisics, the balance between private sector and public sector would be more even, Nevertheless, the fact remains that the public sector is a sizeable factor in the economy of Canada. Politicians trying to tame the deficit and reform the government tend to think of the public sector as a kind of parasite attached to the economy. The reality is that the public sector is a large portion of the economy, economy, This makes reforms a more difficult process than one might, at first, suppose. Say No to Fluoride Dear Editor: I was disappointed to read that there was someone out there who would like to have another chemical added to our drinking water. Yes, fluoride fluoride is a known toxic chemical. chemical. There is no sound proof that drinking fluoridated water will prevent tooth decay. We are one of the few developed countries that still fluoridate our water, which would indicate to me that maybe it hasn't been such a good idea. Fluoridation can increase the lead levels in tap water, and lead is one of the most toxic metal contaminants. Certainly we can all imagine the potentially health damaging damaging risks involved with adding more chemicals to our water. The growing number of households out there filtering their water, installing expensive expensive water purification systems systems or buying distilled water would indicate to me that people do not want more chemicals. If you want fluoride, get a prescription from your dentist, dentist, but don't force it on the rest of us! ' I would ask that the town council please do your homework homework on this one. Cheryl Reynolds Bowmanville EDITOR'S NOTE Perhaps it's the other municipalities which should take their fluoride out. deader Ask Town Council Why Drinking Water Lacks Fluoride The following is a copy of a letter addressed to Clarington's Mayor and Councillors. To whom it may concern, I feel the concern that I have is important, mostly for the children growing up in our community. I recently found out through my dentist that the town is not providing fluoride in our drinking water, nor is the school providing providing fluoride treatments due to cutbacks. My dental office and the public health department have answered my questions and educated me so I am very much aware of how important fluoride is for the health of our teeth. I was also informed that many parents in our community community are not even aware of the situation and therefore may not be providing fluoride for their children's growing teeth. I have spoken to several town officials to find out how much it would cost our town to provide fluoride in our drinking water, and I have been told that it can be achieved at no cost.,.(from what 1 understand our surrounding surrounding towns such as Oshawa do provide this treatment treatment for their citizens). Therefore my question to you is, why is the town of Bowmanville not providing fluoride treatments for its residents residents drinking water? I would appreciate it if immediate attention and consideration consideration is given to this growing need in our community. community. Yours sincerely, Darlene Milne EDITOR'S NOTE - You raise a good question. Surely fluoride isn't a contentious contentious issue any more. Outlook Newcastle Public School, Circa 1897 ■■IPs Gone! Last Friday morning, Feb. 28, after attending an assignment, assignment, I drove down to Robert Street, Newcastle, and parked on the street. I looked across the road and saw the old school had been completely demolished. Hiave been watching the building being torn down, with disappointment over the decision made by a school board which did not want to see it retained. Once the two ugly additions were gone, the original century-old century-old building proved to me why it should remain standing. When you looked at it, you could sense children's laughter, women's and men's voices asking questions and children's voices responding to questions, children playing, running, playing marble games.Jt was a blur of sensations. It seems strange to'me that, as a relative newcomer to this area, I am one of the people who did not want to see the building building destroyed. ■ There are many people like me who see value in retaining old school buildings. Obviously some trustees do too, since there is one school in Port Hope which recently celebrated is. centennial anniversary. And look at Central Public School in Bowmanville, which is approximately 100 years old and which has been on a television series. Old buildings can add value to a community. Look at Port Perry, Port Hope and Cobourg. They are proud of their historic buildings. (Just take a look at the on-going fight to save St. Michael's Rectory in Cobourg.) It seems that the people who wanted the new building the most arc the people from the new subdivisions that have popped up in the past decade. Next year, when the student capacity has been reached and exceeded, portable classrooms will again appear on the school's landscape. ■ Probably, in 50 to 100 years' time, the new people living in the village will want to tear down the replacement school, because it is simply old. On Friday morning, when I arrived to check out the progress, I saw someone standing at the old stair-rail, trying to catch the attention of a worker on the other side of the fence. Finally, she was rewarded for her patience when the man asked her what she wanted. "Two-hundred bricks," she requested. Less than five minutes minutes later she was told that she could have the bricks. Later, as I spoke to her, Karen S. told me she has served as the crossing-guard at a nearby intersection for nine years. The demolition of the building saddened her so much that, when the demolition machine first began its work, she had tears in her eyes. "I'm going to use the bricks for a front walkway at my home," Karen explained. "The bricks will be special, since they have sentimental value for me." She rioted she had been told that the bell tower had been saved and would be used to commemorate the location. She added, "I had hoped the building could have been saved and maybe used as a seniors' centre." Instead, the demolition crew will continue clearing the site. Soon, children will play in that area. My question is: Where is the board of education going to park the portables? On the soccer field that was so desperately required, or where the old school once stood? BSPS Play Gets Passing Grade Dear Mr. James: In the midst of all the furor about education cuts, one group in our community has continued to deliver exemplary service to our children. I have had the privilege of viewing the production production of "Oliver" at Bowmanville Senior Public School from an involved parent's perspective. Despite having to prepare report cards on seriously flawed computer programs, teaching regular classes, continuing extra-curricular activities, and finding finding time for their own home lives the teachers at Bowmanville Senior Public School have produced an incredible theatrical performance. I was able to observe the staff at work during this production. production. The caring, dedication and effort put forth by the teachers can only be described as inspiring both for students and parents. parents. For several weeks prior to the show teachers were at the school until ten o'clock or later in the evening and over the weekends preceding the production spent most of the weekend there. Despite what can only be described as an arduous, schedule the teachers from this school continued to treat each child with respect, dignity and encouragement that should make us all proud. Given the resources, the opportunity and the leadership, our children have excelled. Over one hundred and fifty students have been involved in this production and have gained not only insight into how a theatrical production works but how team work, fellowship, and mutual support benefits us all. These lessons will remain with them for their entire lives. This community should extend to these dedicated teachers a resounding "WELL DONE". Yours truly, John D.G. Cunningham EDITOR'S NOTE - Here, Here! Students Offended by Thoughts Unlimited Column Dear Editor, In regards to "Thoughts Unlimited" by Rick James on Wednesday, February 19, 1997, he wrote that the litter and graffiti in Rotary Park was caused by students from BSPS. A very small percent of the students actually do those things. The other large percent of the students are good students, who did not do those things. We are deeply involved in our student student production of "Oliver" and many other worthy things. Rick James also stated stated that we (the students) should perhaps clean up Rotary Park. Why? It's not the large majority of students creating the problem, so why should we clean it up? So please, Rick James, find more facts before making making such awful statements, And for anyone else thinking wrongful things about our school or students, please think twice about stereotyping stereotyping students all into one category category of littering, smoking, graffiti-creating teenagers. Sincerely, Janet Howarth Student BSPS EDITOR'S NOTE - We too are proud of the students at Bowmanville.Senior Public School. The column did not say the problem was caused by BSPS students and we're sorry if it may have implied such a thing. It did suggest the students might conduct a clean-up as a community project, Clean-ups such as the nation-wide Pitch-In campaign campaign are conducted regu- lary by citizens who had nothing to do with creating the mess in the first place, but want to help out,