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Weekly Times Serving East Clarington and beyond since 1937 Subscriptions $23.36 + $1.64 G.S.T, = $25.00/year Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 Publishing 50 Issues Annually at the Office of Publication 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB 1M0 E-Mail Address: oronotimes@speedline.ca Phone/Fax (905) 983-5301 Publisher/Editor Marg Zwart ODCA at crossroads The Orono and District Community Association (ODCA) has come to a crossroads. Do they carry on, or pack it in? With the disappointingly low membership numbers, outgoing president Glenn Legault feels the group can not adequately speak on behalf of the community they represent. The ODCA has been in existence for over a year now, and has spent that year gathering information and insights into the issues that are likely to effect the quality of life in the community- community- _ ; ; Howie Harrema of the Durham Federation of Agriculture spoke on the importance of preserving our agricultural lands. John Weirsma, Chair of the newly formed Veridian Hydro Corporation gave a presentation on changes in how hydro is being delivered. Presentations were made on environmental concerns, and Mayor Ham re spoke on the pressures on local governments to downsize and streamline. ■ As a result of a recent workshop given by the ODCA, a group of residents arc.going to tackle the collection of garbage in the village's ravines: One member is working on getting time in the local pool for 'adult' swimming, and a committee will be formed to look at the very broad issue of sustainable development. Mayor Hamre's talk on amalgamation issues really hit home. When government becomes increasingly remote, who will speak for the small rural communities that do not have the population population base to attract attention? A well established community group, familiar with the issues, and mandated to preserve and enhance the quality of life in the community, will be invaluable in seeing our rights aren't ignored. The ODCA originally restricted their membership to anyone living in the 983 telephone area. They soon realized that was far too restrictive, and have since opened up membership to anyone who cares about thè community. A second attempt to hold an Annual General Meeting will made on May 17, 2000, 7:00 p.m. at the Orono Forestiy Station. The numbers will speak for themselves. OPEN LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Dr. Galt, This open letter is being sent to you and to the local newspapers in our area. We have followed with interest your government's advertising campaigns designed to inform the Ontario public about improvements in public education education in our province. In light of your stated intent to raise the quality of education in this province, we would appreciate your considered analysis of the learning environment environment that exists for. our students at The Pines Senior Public School. In our school, we have nine classes. The smallest class size is thirty and the largest is thirty-four. In fact, one third of our classés stand at this larger class size of thirty-four. Your government chose to legislate a class size of twenty-five. We, of course, understand that a board wide average of twenty-five is mandated, and we know that Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is doing its best, even though we rank twelfth lowest provincially in annual operating funds per pupil. However, the reality is that, in our medium-sized school, our population warrants warrants two more classes according to the standard set forth in Bill 160. Before Bill 160, when pupil-teacher ratios were negotiated, the public incur area was served at a ratio of approximately 17 to 1. Today, under Bill 160, the ratio is 19 to 1. From 1998 to 2000, our school population remained relatively stable, while our teaching staff decreased by 10% and our Educational Assistant staffing decreased by 50%. These decreases are made even more dramatic if one considers that in 1992-3, our school with approximately the same number of pupils was staffed at 18 teachers and 2 full time educational assistants. Today we are staffed at 14.7 teachers and à .8 educational assistant. Could you please explain to us how this decrease in staffing benefits the students in our care? Your answer is anticipated given the fact that according to the research, small classes are , key to student achievement because: - students receive more individualized attention - teachers can focus more on teaching than on classroom classroom management - students become more actively engaged in learning - teachers can identify learning problems earlier in a child's development and provide provide the appropriate intervention intervention Your sincerely, The Pine Senior Public School Staff (continued from pagel) fie control devices,"'he stated. And according to him, Fishman's sensor triggered cautionary light system was certainly 'unorthodox'. Steve Mayhew, Regional Works Department, says, Fishman either has to take the crest off the hill, or relocate the accbss. Fishman had been negotiating negotiating with the neighbour to the west, to purchase property for a new entrance. "Unfortunately that became too costly, just about as costly as redoing the road," Fishman stated in a phone interview * last week. 'It is a make or break situation situation whether the project goes forward or is abandoned', states Fishman in his letter to Chair Anderson, dated May 4, 2000.. The Fishmans are prepared prepared to cover up to $25,000 of the costs of whatever modifications modifications are required. If the Region is not willing to accept Fishman's commitment commitment of $25,000 towards improving Taunton Road, will have no to abandon the they say choice but project. "At this point, we've struggled with this so long, we're worn down," stated Fishman. "We're of the opinion opinion nobody wants us in Clarington anyway." Fishman claims that in the original discussions they were to pay only part of the road improvement. "Right from the start we figured there was a better solution," he stated. "Three hundred thousand would strip us if it came to that," Fishman said. "It depends on what the Region wants to do, if they accept,' we're here, if they don't we're gone," he stated. As it stands, it is up to Fishman to satisfy the conditions conditions of the land severance application, before August 23, 2000, said Regional Planner Kai Yew. Regional Planning Department 'received' Fishman's letter at their regular regular meeting on May 9,2000. It is possible that Regional Council may give some direction direction to this item at their regularly regularly scheduled meeting on May 17, 2000. Letters to Editor V J I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to the kind people of Orono. I run the shop "Blueberrys" in downtown Orono. I have on occassion during the past 6 years, left some store items outside and closed up and gone home. - Each and every time someone has taken the item home and returned it in person, person, or placed it outside my door for me to find. Just last week I had left a bathtub rail outside. I noticed the next day it was missing, and realized I had left it out! The next morning after that I came to work and IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE it was hooked onto the door knob. Again an item was returned to me. It immediately put à smile on my face as I realized what a wonderful bunch of people we have here. Orono is full of honest and thoughtful people, and I am proud to live and run a business here. These people know who they are and I thank you so much, not only for returning my items, but for also reinforcing reinforcing my faith in human nature. With all the bad things we hear in the nfews I wanted to tell of the good which people do. I invite further businesses businesses and families to come to Orono, it truly is "The Village with a Difference." Most sincerely Sue Lemay Owner - "Blueberrys"