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Phone : (905) 985-6397 Fax : (905) 985-1410 Big challenge We have no quibble whatsoever with the election last week the important position of Regional chairman, Mr. Witty, as he no doubt would be the first to admit, has some mighty big shoes to fill as the late Gary Herrema held the job as Regional chair for 15 years, and was a good one. Herrema would not have been re-elected time and again by regional councillors were he not doing a good job. Perhaps Herrema's greatest strength as regional chairman lay in the fact he was equally comfortable in all areas of Durham--from the urban south to the rural north. Now, we don't necessarily expect to see Jim Witty doing the commentary at the Port Perry Fair's horse pull each Labour Day as Herrema did, but we are confident he will continue to "look out" for the interests of the smaller northern municipalities of Scugog, Brock and Uxbridge Townships. The challenges facing Durham Region, and all Ontario municipalities over the next few years are huge. It is not . going to be business as usual. The Ontario government served notice to that effect last week with sweeping cuts in grants. Witty will have to steer the Region through un-charted waters such as re-structuring in the GTA, garbage disposal and making do with less money. Let's hope he is up to the task ahead. Cuts hit home For the first time ever, beds will be closed temporarily and elective surgery cancelled for a two week period over Christmas at Community Memorial Hospital. Hospital officials want to close ten beds from December 18 to January 2 and have no elective surgery from December 21 to January 2. A similar plan will go into effect during March Break. In making this announcement last week, officials stressed that the emergency and maternity departments will not be affected. By taking these steps over Christmas and at March Break, the hospital hopes to save between $30 and $40,000, a needed savings as C ity Memorial is proj g a $52,000 deficit in its current fiscal year which ends March 31. While closing beds and cancelling elective surgery at Christmas and March Break is an un-precedented move for our local hospital, residents of the area had best get ready for even more drastic steps. Like all hospitals, Community Memorial will be impacted by the provincial cut-backs announced last week. By how much won't be known for a few weeks. But if the individual cut-back in provincial funds anouits to five per cent--that's $300,000 off the hospital's current budget of $6 million per year. Where will the hospital make up those funds? It won't. And officials know it. That's why there are a lot of grim faces of concern. Clearly, it's not going to be business as usual. The cut- backs hit home when the impact is on local hospitals. by Durham Region councillors of Ajax Mayor Jim Witty to published by: Sugog Citizen Publishing Ld OCNA Member office manager. Sibylle Warren an TH E pan 0G ted CCNA Member advertising manager : Valerie Ellis CCNA weekly community newspaper, ves! : is distributed, free of charge, a Gon A reception : Janet Rankin to over 13,500 homes and businesses production : Terie Mappin i i t ter : 54 WATER ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1J2 in and around Scugog Township. CCNA Verified ure writer rae Subscriptions sold outside Scugog Pp C co-publishers- John B. McClelland, Valerie Ellis editor : John B. McClelland adv. sales reps : Thom Doran, Jennine Huffman "Proud Canadians, proud to call Scugog Township home." > A LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Proud moment for church To the Editor: November 19 marked the culmination of four years of planning, talent and hard work at the Church of the Ascension, Port Perry, when the congregation, community leaders, friends and special guests celebrated our return to the newly-renovated church. The parishioners are most appreciative of the many expressions of support which have been given over this busy period, and have asked the Wardens and me to express their thanks through the Citizen to the follow: - the Mayor, members of Council and planning staff for their interest and co-operation. - the many community members who shared with us their creative ideas before and during our renovations. ! - the leaders and members of the community organizations who use our facilities on a regular basis, for their cheerful patience during the : . of - Port Perry United and St. John's, Blackstock, churches for their l help with chairs Likewise with Scugog Tt hip. An le of how fi ial impacts surfaced this week. The 1995 budget for snow ] is and b s and for their depleted with still another three weeks of tough winter weather ahead this month. So, what happens if there is a major snow storm between now and the end of the year? Will the roads get plowed. Yes, but the money will have to come from somewhere--perhaps another area of the municipal budget. Municipalities are looking at ways to make up the financial cuts without raising property taxes--user fees are a certainty, or those services we have taken for granted for so long just won't get done as quickly as in the past, like snow plowing and sanding. Welcome to the 1990's. The cuts are coming and every community and every individual is going to feel the impact in one way or another. In Scugog, we saw an example last week. And there's more to come. presence at the rededication service. - Heather McCrae and the staff of the Citizen for your continuing interest, icularly the recent article an¥ picture on the renovation process. - the Scugog Brass for their inspiring contribution, with our own junior and senior choirs, to the joyful service of praise and thanksgiving which marked our "coming home" to our lovely new sanctuary. The Bishop of Trent-Durham, the Rt. Rev. Douglas Blackwell, said in his address at the opening service that he was delighted to see a place where people are looking forward to the future with faith and hope, Port Perry is such a place, and Ascension is proud to be part of its life. We warmly invite any local | people to drop in and see our beautiful new worship centre. | Shalom! May God's richest - blessings be yours. The Reverend Roy Shepherd, Interim Incumbent ~~ Economic boost To the Editor: I have been reading articles and letters regarding' the proposal by the Lishmans to build a manufacturing facility in Nestleton recently. I live on Highway 7A on the south side just east of the proposed site, and have no objection to the proposal. What bothers me is the petitiori that the objectors say they have, was never brought to my house or anyone else that I have talked to in the area. It would be interesting to see how many 'genuine' signatures are on this petition and how close they live to the site. . I have often seen Bill Lishman flying over the house with and without the geese, and there has never been any undue noise or disturbances. He has always conducted his flights at a reasonable hour and obviously does not wish to upset the local residents. The proposed site of the manufacturing facility is on a very large tract of land, and would be well away from the nearest house. The only minor consequence-of a facility in this area might be a few extra vehicles on the road going to and from the facility at the start and finish of the work day. I think the building of this facility would be a much needed economic boost to the area, and welcome it. By the way, I have no ion with the Lish or their project, I just want everyone's views on the subject Good luck to the Lishmans' Pete Snowden Highway 7A, Nestleton Euthanasia To the Editor: I'm a senior who has written several published articles on the plus side, for Euthanasia. They are too long for publication here: and anyway there is no evidence that anyone was listening..until Ernie Eves. Where I could only make a case for Euthanasia (within broad limits) it seems Ernie is actually working up to it: by chopping the poor and the aged from their free lifeline to medication. Well, death doesn't bother me: but I can see where my 16 daily medications bother him. Okay. So it is time for me to go: but Ernie: not everybddy thinks like that. 1 only reason out Euthanasia: not. to be confused with selective genocide. Ron Ward R.R.1, Janetville