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Orono Weekly Times - 3 Wednesday, November 17, 2004 . Places I've Done Time by Clifford Francis Berry delicious A couple of weeks ago, Saturday, the town was alive with activity. Between the St. Saviour's Church having their bazaar at the Town Hall, and the putting up of Christmas trees downtown, things were busy. I slipped into the town hall at 9 a.m. to have a peek at the pastries that were for sale and spied a raspberry pie made with real berries. I was informed that nothing was for sale till 11 a.m., and to come back. I went outside to help put up the trees--I might as well have stayed in the town hall and watched my pie, as I did little or nothing nothing to help. I just talked to everyone on the street. We talked of software, soft wood and soft water and so on. Later on we got on the topic of selections, elections and erections, and I forgot about the time. Suddenly, I realized realized it was 11:05 and I dashed down the street and into the town hall, only to find "my pie" had been sold to a young Anglican girl from Kendal. Things have only slid downhill since that fateful Saturday. Last Monday I came home for lunch to find a message from a girl called Ann, from a credit loans company, on my phone. Since my son Jeff works for this company and his birthday birthday is coming up in late November, I called right away thinking maybe they were having a surprise party for him. I was informed by Ann, at a branch halfway across the country from my son Jeff, that I had co-signed for a loan for a guy and he had skipped town. He had a name like Marco Polo, from the far east, and I quickly informed her that I would co-sign for no-one from the far east or otherwise. "You signed and you will pay," she said. I told her to rub salt, and hung up. My son laughed and said the loan was for only $25,000. "I think not" I said. Hopefully they find another Cliff Francis. Monday night when I returned home, my daughter Jessica informed me that her computer was not working When she went to dial up MSN, it dialed up the wrong number. Someone came over to fix it and informed us that some kind of spyware had attacked it and had been dialing overseas to Malaysia for three days. Since that time I have been in constant contact with Bell Canada to find out how big of à bill I have, and if I am responsible for it. There is little else happening, happening, or so it seems. Further update; the Anglican Church and its members have been forgiven as Carol McCulloch, John Slater's lovely bride to be, has baked me a raspberry pie and it was simply delicious. Cabbies Continued from front a kilometer of part of a kilometer kilometer and 17 cents for each additional kilometer. Under this schedule a three kilometer ride would cost approximately $6. An annual fare increase of once cent for every one tenth of a kilometer is built into the new by-law. Riders seeking service to remote areas can be charged an additional $15 fee. This is on calls for service that originate, originate, or terminate, more than 15 kilometers from the taxi companies dispatch office. A Bowmanville taxi company, picking up someone in Orono to be taken out to Pontypool, for example - could be charged $15 on top of the regular regular fee schedule. Councillor Trim said the $15 fee should be charged in all cases or eliminated totally. He felt that if one company applies the fee and another not, it adds to mass confusion of the public." "You get into playing T should charge $15, Main Street, Orono Proprietors: Gary, Carol & Cory Vreeker 905-983-9779 Closed Sunday and Monday oMeui quality kitchen gadgets upstai/is cAsso/ited va/iLety of, Romance CandEe 9?igkts uUany new gijt items a/t/tiVing daiîy • Wedding Cakes • Bread & Buns Cakes for all Occasions Pastries - Donuts - Pies 50th Wedding Anniversary The fam ily of Jack and Elaine Mercer would like to invite family and friends to an Open House at the Odd Fellows Hall Saturday Nov. 20th from 1 to 5. Best wishes only. Thank you but I'll just charge you $10'." he said at Monday's meeting. "It ought to be discretionary," discretionary," said councillor Jim Schell. It's all part of competition, competition, he says. "If one company charges $15 and the other doesn't, I know which company company I'm going to use," he stated. stated. "It's all part of the process." Councillor Don McArthur agreed with Schell. "We shouldn't be in the position of telling any business person what they should be charging for there services," he said. Another issue raised by Councillor Trim was the matter matter of driver fatigue. "Nowhere "Nowhere in the new by-law does it state drivers can work 'X' number of hours, then they must be off 'X' number of hours," Trim said. That is a matter that should be addressed, according to Trim, because it becomes a public safety matter. While Mayor John Mutton said that hours of operation are covered by provincial legislation, legislation, under the Employment Standards Act, Trim did want it included in the new by-law so that it conforms. conforms. Trim also wanted clarification clarification on the random inspection of taxi cabs. "I think we should have the ability to check these [cabs] internally as a municipality," he said. David Pratt, who operates a cab company out of Newcastle, said it's time for a change, and felt that only good could come out of this new by-law. "The age cap on cabs will improve the quality of the rolling stock overall and improve quality of the people getting into the business," says Pratt. The recommendation recommendation in the new by-law is that cabs be no older than eight years. Though he feels the new by-law is much better than the old one, "but any bylaw bylaw without the proper enforcement is just a piece of paper," he said. The proposed by-law was referred back to the Clerk's Department Monday for clarification clarification on some of the issues raised by Councillor Trim. HAPPENINGS- Thursday. November 18 ^ ^ ~ Sugarplum Auction - 7 p.m. at Clarington Beech Centre, 26 Beech A ^ e * 5 ®°^ n \ anv ' . Preview 6 p.m. "NEW ITEMS" - cash or cheque only. Fundraiser for the Clarington Oldei I Adult Association. Call 905-697-2856. ctristmas'craft&Bake Sale -11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sarah Jane Williams Heritage Centre 62 Temperance St.. Bowmanville. Presented by Friends of the Museum. Unique handmade handmade crafts: tree ornaments, Christmas gifts, knitted items, baked goods, homemade jams and jellies. Proceeds to Clarington Museums. Orono'united'church Mission & Service Sunday -11 a.m. with special guest John Ames- bury speaking on Kairos (Action for Justice and Peace). Light refreshments, all welcom . ' Nc^tonvdle IhC.Thurdf Auction - 6:30 p.m. (preview 5 p.m.) at the church. Also includes baking, crafts, pine furniture. Frank Stapleton Auctioneer. Lunch available. Orow Horticultural 5 Society Potluck Supper, Annual Meeting * ^ow-6:30 p m. at Orono United Church. Mitten Tree for Salvation Army, Non-perishable food items for Clarington-East Food Bank. Guest Speaker - Sheila Kule. Topic: Glorious Gardens. BowmanviUe'ldon's^lub Turkey Roll Raffle, Spaghetti Dinner & SldOO Grand Prize Draw- 6 to 7 30 p.m. at Clarington Beech Centre, 26 Beech Ave., Bowmanville. Turkey Roll Raffle tickets $ 1.00 each and Spaghetti Dinner tickets $8.95/person sold at door or availab from any Lion's member or Doug Rutherford 905-623-1169. SSSS. AM,Da, "" «0, Newcastle. Featuring crafts, baking, tea room, and raffle room. For info ca 1 If^SSKhurch 2nd Annual Pasta Frenzy - presented by St George's Youth Group. St. George's Church Hall, Newcastle at 6 p.m. Adults $15; Seniors & Children n er 12 - $8; Call Lyne or Lyndsey for tickets 905-987-2262. cSSto - Orono United Church, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Features large variety of knitting, baking, crafts, tea tables, aiigels, white elephant table, toys, and Christmas items. NewcasIie > HortkuUimd Society Christmas Show & Potluck Dinner - 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church Hall. December 1 Orono Town Hall Olde Fashioned "Community Christmas Caroling" featuring "Pure and Simple" (check for times). Saturday. December 4 SfŒ #334 BAZAAR - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Odd Fellow and Rebekah Centre, 124 Church St. N., Orono. Crafts, baking, country store, penny draw, new-to-you articles, articles, quilt draw, refreshments. with Santa - 9 to 11 a.m. Camel rides and pictures with Sindm