The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

ry Clerk John F, Raines had looked forward to many years in the teaching- profession when he gradua- ted from Teachers' College in Peterborough. He was. a fair-athlete, too, and hoped to combine both as a teacher. ' But he was forced to swerve into another direc- tion when struck by cripp- ling arthritis only a short time after he'd began teach- ing in the yellow school house that still stands north of Port Perry. Today, he prepares for retirement after 36 years in his second career as clerk- treasurer in Port Perry's municipal offices. On Oct. 15, he turns 70 and, in accor- dance with his own request, leaves the office he has served so well. Mr. Raines has served KE HOME HEAT N P. MURRAY 4 Electrical Contractor Domestic & Industrial WIRING CALL US FOR FREE EST)MATES ON COMPLETE ELECTRICAL Phone: 985 - 7005 273 ROSA ST. -- PORT PERRY . Served Village 36 yrs. John F. Raines retires with six reeves since he joined the clerk-treasurer's office in 1936. In those days he and the clerk-treasurer shared a tiny office about 75 feet west of the present building. Later, the office was moved into the Ryba Building on Queen Street, and finally to its present location, part of an old shoe factory. Mr. Raines .recalls that the first office was rather inconvenient. "No conven- iences at all; we had to carry water in, too. And there wasn't any central heating; just a stove." His first job was assistant to the late Harry Naismith, and when he retired, Mr. Raines was assistant to George Manning. "Then H.G. Hutchison and I took the work over to- gether, and when he retired I carried on. And I've really enjoyed the work." As clerk-treasurer, Mr. Raines has seen and been' involved in many changes. "In those days, for instance, my department handled waterworks and hydro and other general matters," he said. "But today, Hydro is a separate department and it takes five people to run it." Along the way, Mr. Raines has been secretary, Port Perry Planning Board and secretary, Committee of Adjustment, a bit of extra work in addition to his regular duties. He has also acted as assessor for ap- proximately 14 years. The growth of the village during Mr. Raines' tenure is reflected in comparative figures for the years 1936, 1970 and 1972. The village budget 36 years ago was $33,022, com- pared to 1970's total of $371,792.42. The population in 1936 was 1,124; in 1972 it stands at approxaimately 3,000. The cash outlay for education in 1936 was $13,763. By 1970 that figure had ballooned to $196,910. And the 1936 mill rate of 49 has risen in 1972 to 115.057 for commercial enterprises and 104.671 for residential. Mr. Raines, who was married in 1939 in Port Perry and has raised a 26-year-old-son, was clerk- treasurer until 1970 and is now deputy clerk-treasurer for a few days more. In contemplating the fu- ture --- his own and the village's -- he forsees greater centralization in the hands of regional govern- ment. Eventually, he feels, municipalities will handle only very local matters while items such as planning for example, will be in the hands of regional govern- ments. "Of course, this may produce a lack of interest by officials on the municipal level because they won't be taking part in many issues that still relate to their communities," Mr. Raines said. He said he's not planning anything special for his future. "Of course, it'll be quite a. change after all those years, but we'll find something to do." Later today Mr. Raines is being honored at a reception in the Royal Canadian Leg- ion Hall in recognition of his service to the municipality. The event begins at 7 p.m. and a presentation will be made at approximately 8:30. '= LAKE §¢ 235 Wank §;. UGOG L = 985.7am UMBER PORT PERRY CERES a