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8. -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, February 2, 1988 | February 8 to 13 Viewpoint | gowl For Millions week by John B. McClelland (From page 5) physician in this community and he and his wife also run a lurge farming concern just north of Port Perry. Bill has lodged an ob- jection to a proposed subdivision across the Concession road ° from his farm. Just a couple of weeks ago, Bill wrote a letter to this newspaper lamenting the loss of farmland to new homes. Bil and myself have had differing views on a number of topics over the years and I was tempted last week to get into a "discussion"' with him over the positive benefits of a growing community. New subdivisions mean more people in the community. And among other things, that has meant over the years that Medical Associates, of which he is a part of, has grown from three or four physicians to more than a dozen and every time I turn around they are adding to the building on Paxton Street. But I thought better of it and told Bill that he can write a letter to the editor any time he wants. Besides, last week's Fair Board meeting was free of bickering and arguments, unlike the meeting last year. The last thing in the world I want to do is get into an argument with anybody on the Fair Board, including Bill Cohoon. Bill is concerned about the loss of farmland and he is very concerned about new houses popping up in the fields beside his farm. : I could not help but think about this in light of the council meeting I attended that afternoon where the not so good news is a tax hike of eight per cent and a spending increase of double that. What is the point of new homes, factories and shopping malls if all they do is force up taxes higher than the inflation rate? The Durham Region portion of the property tax bill amounts to about 20 per cent of the total. An eight per cent hike this year will mean about $15 more for the average homeowner. The School Boards take just over half the average tax bill and they have yet to set their 1988 budgets. Local government (Scugog Township) gets about 27 per cent of the taxes. Will their budget hikes be the same as the Region's? At a time when Durham Region is growing in leaps and | bounds, will the people who already live here be hit with a double- digit tax hike in 1988? The odds are pretty good they will. And this is an election year. You won't find any politician this fall running on a campaign of zero growth, that's for sure. But where does it end? Personally, I have believed that growth is a positive and healthy thing for any community, including Scugog, but obviously it is a sword with a double edge on it. The loss of farmland (urban sprawl) is just part of that edge. People cost governments money. They want better roads, better police and fire protection, a place to dump their garbage, new arenas and swimming pools; they want their Concession roads plowed of snow BEFORE they jump in their cars in the morning to drive to work in Toronto, they want an emergency phone system (911) they want the grass cut in the parks and baseball diamonds. They want new schools, subsidized daycare, and, though most won't admit it, they want governments to look after those who can't or won't look after themselves. And they " don't want their taxes to go up. Well, they can forget about that, in 1988, anyway. Like Bill Cohoon (though for different reasons, maybe) it makes one wonder where all this is going to end. But enough on that. Speaking of the Port Perry Fair Board annual meeting, the members last week paid tribute to a guy who Is beginning his 50th year of service as a member of that Board. : Fred Christie has not only been a member of the Board for half a century, he's been an active member. Fred and his wife Ruby have put countless hours of work into the Port Perry Fair over the years, and the tribute paid both of them last week was well deserved. Half a century is a long time for continuous ser- vice to any organization. : Nice going, Fred, and may you have many more years to devote to the Port Perry Fair. And last week spent a very enjoyable time with Herb Swain who received an Agricultural Service Diploma for his many of work with the Blackstock Fair. This is the highest award the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies can give to an individual and not too many are handed out each year. When I asked Mr. Swain how many years he has worked at the Fair, he just smiled and said "oh, about 30 or so." I think he was being modest. His work on Fair Day in Blackstock goes back a lot longer than that, more like 60 years. He'll be 83 this spring, and you can bet that when the Fair rolls around the last Saturday in August, Herb will be there do- ing his share. | Rural Fairs in Ontario simply would not exist without the dedication and work of people like Fred Christie and Herb Swain. It's nice to see them get some recognition for their efforts. Calling all bowlers! (or would-be bowlers!) to plan your games for the Bowl for Millions week Feb. 8-13, 1988. Pledge sheets are available at Scugog Centennial Lanes in Port Perry or Uxbridge Lanes, Ux- bridge. There will be prizes for the most money raised by pledges as well as team trophies in the Celebri- ty and Corporate Bowl categories. Last year's Celebrity Bowl win- ners, the Scugog Township Council, will be defending their title Satur- day, Feb. 13 against the challenge another event will take place on Feb. 13 at Durham College. Big and Little Sisters are invited to par-. ticipate in a workshop titled 'Kids Just Want To Have Fun" sponsored * by the Central East Région of Big Sisters Association of Ontario. The day begins with registration at 9:30 a.m. followed by mini-shows for Lit- tle Sisters and a workshop for Big Sisters on the topic of making reading fun. Families of Big and Lit- tle Sisters and other interested per- sons are invited to call Pat Duchemin at 985-3935 for more details. A charge of $5.00 per person may be charged for those who are not Little Sisters and everyone mus call before Feb. 6, 1988. Watch this newspaper for upcom- ing events including: a Regional Big Sisters meeting during March, hosted by the North Durham group; a sexual abuse prevention program presented by Outreach in April. If you are interested in getting in- volved in Big Brothers or Big Sisters, call Gail Williamson at 985-3733 or Pat Duchemin at 985-3935. . PORT PERRY, ONTARIO * TIM BARTLEY ' PRECISION AUTO ELECTRIC Durham'Rd. 8, 1/2 Mile West of Areha 0985-8406 LOB 1NO PARTS - SALES - SERVICE - TESTING Of All Starters, Alternators, Generators and Regulators -- BATTERIES -- TUNE-UPS -- AIR CONDITIONING OPEN: -F 8 AM to 6 PM Owned & Operated by No Geturday 8AM to 12 Noon of teams from the town councils of Uxbridge and Brock, from 3-5 p.m. at Uxbridge Lanes. Business and community groups are encouraged to form a team and challenge another group to help raise money for a child needing a friend. The Uxbridge Optimists will be defending their prize, won in 1987, from challenges by other service clubs, also Saturday afternoon, Feb. 13 at Uxbridge Lanes. Before the bowling gets started, Hospital HOSPITAL REPORT Week Ending January 29, 1988 Editorial Comments (From page 4) with any degree of moral, medical, ethical and legal certainty? For many thoughtful Canadians who are somewhere in between the two opposite poles on the abortion issue, but are troubled by it nonetheless, the issue has. raised some related questions. In 1985, there were just over 60,000 abortions in Canadian hospitals. How many more were carried out in clinics in Ontario and Quebec is not know, but in that same year, about 3500 Canadian women went outside the country for an abortion. Admitted... 19 Presumably some were carried out for reasons that many Cana- BirthS ooo 9 dians would consider necessary: rape, incest, danger to the health DeathS.......cc.oevvvveieiiiiiereenereennnn. o of the mother. But they may also wonder if abortion is being used Emergencies..............ccceeeenn.... 208 for convenience, as a form of belated birth control. Operations............c..ccevcunennnes 9 itis troubling to think of the thousands of married couples in this ER rietssesssssssrssrs sess sre sens 2 country who are waiting to adopt a child into a caring and loving home. In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling last week, the debate over the abortion issue is far from over in Canada. In fact, it may just be starting. It is an issue that will touch the conscience of all thoughtful Canadians, no matter what course the courts and lawmakers follow. NEED PHOTOCOPIES? We can do them for you! Letter, Legal & Ledger. Reduced & Enlarged. Patrick BG. Deegan DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC PORT PERRY STAR | | NEW LOCATION: 174 Water Street -- Port Perry R35 ion Sires BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! Phone: 985-2916 or 623:4473 couiccn CASH & CARRY BULK FOOD & DISCOUNT DAIRY PRODUCTS At MYERS CASH & CARRY we 'will meet or beat any local competitors" advertised bulk items! iTRus COFFEE WHITENER PUNCH SAGE litre AVE 14¢ 31 J | 75 4 litre bag Ib. 45 . SPECIAL Moist Beef $ Fresh or Chicken . McCormicks CAT FOOD JU-JUBES '1.19. »'1.29 Sale Items in effect until closing Monday, February 8th, 1988 or while quantities last. We reserve the right to limit quantities. M2 SCUGOG STREET -- PORT PERRY STORE HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday -- 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Thursday and Friday -- 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM