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ap ---- 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, July 23, 1991 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" The Port Perry Star 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO PHONE 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 The Port Perry Star is authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, for cash payment of postage. Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Subscription Rate: In*Canada $26.75 per year * Elsewhere $74.90 peryear. * Single Copy 65¢ EDITORIAL Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten News Editor - Scott Anderson Features Editor - Julia Dempsey Sports Co-ordinator - Kelly Lown News/Features - Gillian Barfoot BUSINESS OFFICE Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby Billing Department - Louise Hope ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Advertising Manager - Anna Gouldburn Annabell Harrison Production - Pamela Hickey, Deanne Petts Barbara Lachapelle Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Lynda Ruhl, Tracy O'Neil Trudy Empringham Robert Taylor Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Ltd. Port Perry, Ontario 'GST induded in price Editorial Comment Festival Days The organizers of last week's Festival Days '91 should be very pleased. According to the majority of the people who attended the three-day event, it was a huge success and enjoyed by all. In fact many are referring to the week end party as "one of the best in recent years." Not only did both the participants, as well as those in- volved in the festivities have fun, but it was a financial suc- cess, unparalleled the last few years. In fact after last year's unprofitable event, any sort of fiscal gain is being looked at as a blessing. Although Secretary-treasurer Bill Barr would not disclose the exact amount that the Chamber raised as a result of Festi- val:Days '91, he did say it would help in covering some of the $36,000 debt incurred from last year. Perhaps Festival Days has finally turned the corner, after a less than stable past. ..« AN' GIVE MY / BesT TO Pop RAE . The task ahead for next year's Festival board is to keep pl the momentum going, in order to realize another successful year. This is where the problem begins. At present there is no- body to assume the lead role as director. Whoever assumes this position is in for quite a year, as the pressure to follow this year's act is going to be great. With a debt looming over a person's head, it is not the most desira- ble position. But at the same time, some very encouraging results came out of Festival Days. The fact that 1991's event could re- alize a profit, at least a small one, in these recessionary times, says a lot for the potential of a similar venue in good times. Also with the momentum moving in the right direction after this year's, it may not be hard to equal this year's. But the onus is on the merchants to see this thing work. Many kindly swallowed some of last year's debt or chipped in to keep 1991 afloat. It is this kind of support that is needed in the future to ensure continued success. You can blame the weather, the poor crowds, or reces- sionary times, but when you come right down to it, the decid- ing factor which judges the success of this sort event is in the hands of the merchants, the business people, the pillars of the community. If they aren't willing to put in that little extra to help the event stay successful then it is time to shelve the idea alto- gether. What better way is there to prove the community spirit of Scugog than to work together towards an even better time in 1992. Development Charges Last week Durham Regional Council heard public reac- tion concerning the new proposal to increase Development charges by 22.1 per cent. And judging by the response, the public is not too pleased. Under the Council's new scheme the fees on lot levies for any new development will increase from the current $6,759 for a single detached unit, to $8,253 as of November 1, for the same unit. Agencies and developers argue that if this plan gets the go ahead from the region that the housing market will be af- fected negatively. At both the public hearing last Wednesday, as well as at a public meeting the following day, developers said the increase would ultimately affect the new homeowner, as any new charge would be passed on to the purchaser of the home. What better place to pass on the lot levy than on the price of a new home. Existing homeowners should not be required to pay for an expansion of services, as they are not the ones that are needing these. It is only as a result of more building activity that there is a need for further infrastructure. Perhaps it's not the homeowners the developers are real- ly looking out for. Maybe. Just Maybe. It's really themselves that they are looking out for. With less people buying homes, won't it be the developers who will suffer the most His comma musE Day 3 HAS TURNED US INTO A DESIGNATED JURIST AREA TIME TO ACT Sas Wook the Star reported that council is looking for ways of making 7A highway safer through the town and along the causeway. While we applaud their initiative, one can't help but think, especially in the case of fishing along the causeway, the problem is not the Township's, but one the Ministry of Transportation should address. People fishing along the causeway has been a two-fold problem for years. First, and most important there's the pro- blem of safety for both pedestrians and motorists. Accidents have already happened along that stretch, due partially to fishermen running from one side of the roadway to the other, but also because the fishing along the roadway distracts motorists. Just recently two cars collided head-on to avoid hitting a pedestrian as he darted, with hstung rod in-hand, across the road. Fort- unately nobody was killed this time. Next time, and you can be sure there will be a next time, it could be more serious. The second item of contention along the short stretch is the unsightly mess. Garbage strew all along the shoreline and in the water makes this area an eyesore. Attempts by the Township to improve the situation, by placing garbage containers, have had little effect. There are either not enough containers, or the people fishing there can't be bothered using them. It would appear that many of the people using this area are no better than pigs, wal- lowing in their own garbage. Many of those using the area are from out of town, and spend the entire day fishing from the cause- way. They come with their lawn chairs, picnic baskets and fishing poles and leave with eve- rything except their waste. The issue of the causeway will continue to get worse until the province (that's Bob's team) recognizes the problems and does something to rectify the dangerous situation. Although it's a noble gesture by the Township to assist with this mess, taxpayers in Scugog should not be expected to be bur- dened with more tax dollars to rectify a pro- blem which is the responsibility of our Provincial government to remedy. Scugog's recent efforts and expenditures in parks throughout the township, most noti- ceably Palmer Park, shows we can keep our parks clean. There's no reason why we should e asked to pay for fishing piers, parking lots or garbage cleanup in another governments jurisdiction. While banning fishing might not be a pop- ular idea, the suggestion that it be limited to the north side of the highway is a good alter- native. This idea would immediately reduce the danger to pedestrians and molorists caused by running across the road. The parking of cars along the inside of the guard-rails could be very easily stopped, simply by erecting barriers so vehicles could not gain access to the dirt path. Of course this partial solution creates another problem. Where do the cars park? The suggestion of a parking lot at the west side of the causeway is a good one, but also expensive and should not be picked up by local taxpayers. If the MTO is wi to pick up the tab, great. But if the cost falls on Scugog ratepayers shoulders, no way. There is no doubt, the time for talking is over. Something should be done immediately. Unfortunately, like most projects that fall under the umbrella of government, the red tape, buck passing and stalling tactics should keep anything from being done along the causeway for many years to come. In the meantime, the garbage and litter will continue to be an eyesore for local resi- dents, and a health threat to those using the area for the recreational fishing. But even worse, the threat of someone being killed, either motorist or pedestrian, will be ever present until something is done. Like so often happens, it takes a tragedy to get the attention of our decision makers. We can only hope the recent near disaster on 7A was enough to spur the proper authorities into recognizing the problems and doing something about them ....... now! --