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Vol. 128 No. 32 PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1994 Provincial funding cut Some roads put on hold By Scott Anderson Port Perry Star Some roads projects in Scu- gog will be put on hold this year as a result of decreased provin- cial funding. The township learned recent- ly proyincial funding for roads projects in the township was down considerably from last year's level. The subsidies and supple- mentals are down by $115,000. Last year, the township re- ceived $1,000,096 in various provincial subsidies, but this year the level dropped to $981,000, including $871,000 in Local ball diamonds 'busy this weekend By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star Seventy teams are set to take to the ball fields throughout Scugog Township this weekend, as the long-awaited Fields of Dreams Slo-Pitch Tournament kicks off. Games will get underway at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, July 1 and again at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 2. Most of the diamonds in the township will be hosting the event, sponsored by the Scugog Turn to page 5 subsidies and $110,000 in sup- plementals. "We certainly appreciate the funding the province gives us, but one must take exception to the way roads funding is done," Mayor Howard Hall said. The mayor said subsidies have been steadily decreasing in the past five years, and dur- ing this period $160,000 has been the maximum for supple- mental grants. But he noted the level provid- ed for 1994 "was the lowest we've received in the past five years for subsidies and supple- mentals." According to the mayor, the township submitted plans for $931,000, in which half would be financed by the grants. As a result of this shortfall, the township will be forced to shelve some roads projects it had planned for the township. "If we're going to do all we in- tended to do, we must find $230,000. It's pretty obvious some of the things won't be dope this year." : \ The township has been frus- trated in recent years by the lev- el of funding it receives to main- tain the municipal roads and as a result has been hard pressed to maintain the level of service required to care for the roads. "This is just another reason why the roads are going down because we don't get the fund- ing warranted," Mayor Hall said. The mayor estimated it will cost the township $2.8 million to operate the Roads Department in 1994. raat by Pa Dirt Bike Races in Scugog Greg Streti and Doug Macmally were just two of more than 100 riders who took La ab KELLY LOWN / PORT PERRY STAR part in the Motocross competition held behind Scugog Arena on the weekend. The event was well attended despite the inclement weather. Residents pack hall to voice concerns By Scott Anderson L Port Perry Star Personalized care is an important component of health care in Scugog, residents told a Durham health committee. More than 250 people packed the Latcham Centre in Port Perry on Thursday to voice concerns over the Durham Region District Health Council's proposed changes to area hospitals. The discussion paper, released last month, recommended changes to the six hospitals in Durham Region. The recommendations included changes at Port Perry's Community Memorial Hospital. The report suggested the facility would retain "some emergency and inpatient capacity while exploring new roles in relation to ambulatory outpatient and community- "based modalities of care." The meeting was part of the DRDHC's public consultation process to receive input into the direction in which the public sees the region's hospitals taking in future years. And the message that was sent loud and clear to members of the health council was to not ruin the personal attention provided at the 46-bed hospital in Port Perry. Barry Oke, a resident of Port Perry, heaped praise on the hospital staff and the care which he receives. Inflicted with multiple sclerosis for the past 12 years, Mr. Oke has come to rely on the personal care he receives at CMH. "This hospital provides me with programs I could get nowhere else in any community." "A bigger hospital is not always better" v--- Barry Oke He praised the nursing staff for looking after his needs as an individual and not as just another patient. "The nurses know you and look after your problems because they know you," he said. Mr. Oke cautioned the committee and members of the community that "bigger is not always better." A member of the local clergy also pointed out the personalized attention which his congregation and members of the community have enjoyed over the years. "One thing Community Memorial Hospital gives to a community in birth, life and death is dignity," said Reverend David Shearman. "We want to preserve it, save it and enhance it. It will cost us, but I think we're prepared to pay for that as taxpayers. Without dignity, we don't have the good health care system we've come to know and love." Members of the medical staff in the area also expressed the need to retain the personal care enjoyed in the community. Dr. Bill Cohoon said the medical practitioners have created "a level of care which should be celebrated." In an impassioned speech, Dr. John Stewart expressed fear this attention to personal care would drop if some services were discontinued. "I don't think that if we had limited care, we would have the same success in attracting that level of dedication." Mayor Howard Hall also took up the cause during the two-hour debate and reflected on the tone of the meeting Turn to page 5