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_ is +o wo gia nm | a ------ a -- - " . er pt RTI 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 4, 1992 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 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: 6Months-$18.72 includes $1.22 GST 1Year-$32.10 Forelgn-$90.95 includes $2.10GST includes $5.95GST Features Editor - Julia Dempsey Sports Co-ordinator - Kelly Lown ADVERTISING Advertising Manager - Anna Jackman Advertising Sales - Jackie Metz Production - Pamela Hickey, Barbara Bell EDITORIAL B The Port Pe ry Star Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten Olen ES EL CE exicy 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - LoL 187 News Editor - Scott Anderson Accounting - Judy Ashby Billing Department - Louise Hope PRODUCTION Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Lynda Ruhl Annabell Harrison, Trudy Empringham Robert Taylor, Marlene Moore ow ([@ 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 included in price Editorial Comment Not Without a Fight Hooray for Oshawa's mayor Nancy Diamond who had enough foresight and good judgement to do something about a potentially devastating situation. Mayor Diamond called a meeting of the mayors in Dur- ham Region as well as the mayors from surrounding areas to devise "a common strategy to convince General Motors of the benefits of retaining full employment at its Oshawa Plants and of the vital role General Motors plays in the life-blood of their communities." The mayor was reacting to General Motors' Dec. 18 an- nouncement that it was planning a major restructuring of the company. Among the company's plans will be an idling of a number of U.S. and Canadian assembly and manufacturing plants over the next four years. This includes six vehicle as- sembly plants, four powertrain facilities and 11 component plants. Although the specific plants weren't named in the an- nouncement, -officials at GM said Canadian plants could be among those that are downsized or closed. There has been fear for sometime that an Oshawa plant could be one of the plants affected. During this announcement George Peapples, president of GM Canada, told reporters that "GM is taking into considera- tion the effect on local communities" before making a decision as to which plants will be closing. Mayor Diamond knows the effects that any closures could have not only on Oshawa but on the surrounding municipali- ties as well. The cost of losing General Motors, or even a por- tion of the manufacturing capabilities in Oshawa would be dev- astating as the lay offs would have far reaching effects. It is estimated that if 4,000 people were to get laid off from General Motors alone, approximately 16,000 employed in related in- dustries would eventually lose their jobs. Further calculations reveal that if one-quarter of the 4,000 people were to collect General Welfare Assistance, it would cost the region an addi- tional $30 million a year. It is estimated that in Durham and the surrounding munici- palities approximately 40 per cent of manufacturing employ- ment is in the automotive sector. It is estimated that for every car assembly job, three jobs are created in the automotive parts industry and related firms elsewhere. There are approxi- mately 110 automotive related firms employing an estimated 9,300 people. The effects of a General Motors plant closing would not just be felt in the job loss category. Residents would be out of work therefore they would have less money to spend, sending a ripple effect through the service industries as well. Less dol- lars being spent in the community would see store closures and a mass exodus to other communities. Some communities could become ghost towns. The local communities are up against stiff competition to keep the plants operating in their towns. Communities such as Arlington, Texas have offered General Motors tax incentives and land deals in an effort to keep the plants. But Oshawa doesn't have the same luxury due to existing provincial legisla- tion. Instead Mayor Diamond and the others must point out the positives of the community and the need for GM to remain in the area, as well as the negative impact such a closure would have. By calling together a meeting of all the Durham Region and area mayors, Mayor Diamond has proven that she is not content to just sit and wait for the axe to fall. Mayor Diamond believes the argument will be a lot more convincing if the ef- fects of the entire area were outlined instead of just Oshawa's concerns. A well thought out and documented plan has always been more effective than just singing the blues. Mayor Diamond should be applauded for the initiative she has taken. While others could have sat and fiddled while Rome burned, she has chosen to take action before it's too late. Whether the actions taken by the group will alter GM's thinking in any way won't be known for sometime. But whatev- er the outcome, Durham Region should be satisfied that it wasn't without a fight. wu " AN) Port AR 4 i PROPOSED CHANGE FOR BVEN WL ae uch (ol ¢) HERREMA WANTS E> aHER EDUCATION MM Nor BE Too ©AR ouT oF REACH. Random Jottings MIRACLE OF LIFE Wow! What an experience! Last Thursday morning I was given the privi- lege of in one of life's most joyous events. The birth of a child. I wasn't there as a father, an observer or an assistant, I was there as a photographer to docu- ment the excitement and joy of a mother and father as their child was brought into the world. Through a pictorial account of the event, found elsewhere in this issue of the Star, we are attempting to inform area residents of one of the many important services Community Memorial Hospital provides for the community. This fea- ture is the first in a series of photographic looks at the inner working of our local hospital. Accepting the possibility some readers may not approve of the subject matter, the Star per- mitted the parents (Cathy and Allen Loyst), medi- cal staff and administration personnel editing privilege before the final piece appeared in the paper. All those who saw, and approved of the pictorial were extremely pleased and excited about the quality and pleasing effect achieved. The following is an account of this exciting and educational photo assignment. Arriving at the hospital, I was directed into a small, claustrophobic room (o change from my street clothes into full operating room garb. Aller disrobing and pulling on my "OR greens," [ went into an adjoining room where I scrubbed my hands and arms with a disinfectant soap. put on a head cover and surgical mask. Drs. Bob Allin, Bill Cohoon and Tony Brown arrived shortly before surgery time, pulled on their "greens," scrubbed up and generally tried to make me feel welcome for the proceeding. I couldn't help but think to myself there must be some intrepidation about allowing a layman into their inner sanctum to photograph them at work - but if there was any hesitation they gave no sign of it as I was treated graciously. In fact, I think the only thing that dislin- guished me [rom the three doctors was my wide eyes and (wo cameras hanging around my neck. As the operating room door opened and one of the RNs inviled me in, my eyes immediately focused on the centre of the room where the doc tors stood over their patient, who was draped in green cloth as she lay on the operating room table. Around the brightly lit room were various pieces of electronic monitoring devices, and two large lights hung directly over the table. When I first saw Cathy it was apparent she was in some discomfort, as the epidural she had been given to keep her awake for the birth, had caused her to become nauseous. This situation made me feel uneasy about © taking photo- graphs but thankfully it wasn't long before she was feeling more comfortable and even managed to flash a smile in my direction. Cathy's husband Allen sat calmly by her side during the entire proceeding holding her hand, and occasionally standing up to peek over the cloth and see if the baby was on its way. It was very apparent throughout the operation that Cathy, who is a nurse at the hospital, enjoyed a good rapport with attending nurses and doctors, as numerous light-hearted comments made dur- ing the operation created a joyful and pleasin atmosphere in an otherwise serious surrounding. The operation went smoothly and quickly, my camera shutter clicking off frame after frame and the auto winder purring as it advanced after every exposure. For more than half an hour, I photographed almost every aspect of this miraculous event. But the most most exciting photos were as Dr. Cohoon [reed the wrinkled body of this newborn baby from the warmth of its mother's womb into the cool air of the operating room. It was truly an experience that I will never for- get, even though I've been through it before with my own children. I'd like to take a few lines here to thank the hospital administration, who were cautious about my initial request, for their co-operation. Also to Drs. Cohoon, Allin and Brown, and nursing staff Sharon, Mary and Joanna for their assistance. And most important, a special thanks to Cathy and Allen Loyst, who permitted me to be with them for this special event and approved the photographs seen in this edition of the Star. Witnessing the beaming smiles on their faces when Dr. Cohoon announced "it's a boy," will be bumt into my memory forever. And last, but not least - welcome Nicholas! i RN ER MR Nl ESTER og