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

fa a ed EE NY: YY MI Nl Ml YN I NN NYY rr: 6- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 24, 1998 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 4 Tr | BUSINESS OFFIC Member of the J | Ga BL Mgr £ Gayle Stapley (3 | Canadian & Ontario Newspaper Assoc. -- -- -- 1998 | Accounting iw aunts Ki A CN A cn Published every Tuesday by the Nin + udy Ashby, Janet Rankin "3 Port Perry Star Co. Ltd. - 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONT. - LOL 1B7 | RIBBON Retail Sales......Kathy Dudley, Heather Callan 188 Mary Street - Port Perry, Ont PHONE (905) 985-7383 FAX (905) 985-3708 | | EBTORAL by E-Mail: port.perry.star@sympatico.ca : Publications Mall Registrations No. 07881 Publisher................. J. Peter Hvidsten PRODUCTION a IsING Don MacLeod Publications Mail Agreement No. 1389068 General Manager ....Don Macleod Trudy Empringham, Pam Hickey, Sales: Deb McEachern. Ginn Todd, Subscription Rates: Managing Editor..... Jeff Mitchell Rhonda Mulcahy, Robert Taylor, Barb | aurie Thompson Cindy Jobin. Gail Morse 1 Year - $32.10 6 Months - $17.65 Foreign - $90.95 a News Reporters .....Chris Hall Bell, Richard Drew, Karen Dynes Deborah Tin Includes $2.10 GST Includes $1.15 GST Includes $5.95 GST bio dido Freelance - Heather McCrae, John B. McClelland ' ' eborah Tiffin Trustees should stick to the plan You have to hope that trustees with the Durham District School Board aren't bullied into abandoning a plan to close some schools to make needed upgrades at others. They've already been bombarded by angry parents, and even had Oshawa Mayor Nancy Diamond muscling her way to the microphone recently, as they consider a plan that would see them receiving $5 million in provincial funding. The hitch to receiving the money is that under- used and obsolete schools will have to be closed. The benefit is upgrades and new devel- opment where they are needed. Among the projects is a new library at Port Perry High School. Its construction would mean a better resource centre for students, and create better facilities for the school's much- praised music program. The money that would be spent here is but a small portion of the funds - designated for schools throughout the region, where kids are cooped up in portables and learning in less-than satisfactory environments. It's understandable that parents are protesting the closure of their kids' schools in Oshawa. People feel an attachment to the places in which their kids learn; they develop a sense of ownership and participation. But their protests ought not to be heeded at the expense of other schools, in other areas. The trustees have a duty to serve the region as a whole, and not let parochial battle cries carry them away from addressing the greater good. It's always a shame when a school is forced to close. But in this situation there is a redeeming factor, that being the improvement of learning environments throughout Durham. Trustees should vote for the whole system. You FELLOWS HERE FOR MY SEMINARY J---- I' PATTY Speak out now on environment To the Editor: Ontario will look very different in years to come if the recent recommenda- tions from the Lands for Life Round Table are accepted by the provincial govern- ment. And the process is moving very fast. The report came out Oct. 30 and your last chance to influence the fate of Ontario's wilderness is Nov. 30, 5 p.m. We shared our views with Premier Harris in the following letter: Dear Premier Harris: The Round Table recommendations to the Lands of Life process are a sellout of Ontario's natural heritage. When Lands for Life began last year, your objectives to complete the parks and protected areas system, to provide securi- ty for resource-based tourism, to enhance hunting and fishing opportunities and to ensure sustainable management of our forests were commendable. I support you in these objectives and I would like to see all of them realized. The Round Tables Consolidated Report proposes to increase protected areas by 1.6 per cent leaving 92.4 per cent of Ontario open to logging and mining. Does this seem like a fair balance to you? These recommendations fall far short of compelling Ontario's parks and protected areas, and reflect only industrial interests. In fact, most of the protected areas are seen David and Helen Chow wrap up 25 years in the restaurant business, and last fall Gord Lewis called it We'll.try and find out more about the bus service and let you know shortly. bl iii saa, bb. Hi hui sietibaii lL. aia eaeskablssbB sisal dS Cll Sa SUE SE aE Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten CHANGING OF THE GUARD It's inevitable: the longer a per- son remains a member of the local business community, the more often you get to watch as your business colleagues 'pack it in' in favour of a more leisurely life. Just last week, Don and Carol MacKinnon, own- ers and operators of Port Cleaners for the past quar- ter century, announced their retirement. For me it seem almost like yesterday when they opened their doors... but 26 years has sped by quickly, and last week the cleaning equipment and fles of "what was." Ithappens all the time. In the past year weve new enthusiasm and ideas. racks were moved out, leaving nothing but memo- quits at his garage after more than 30 years fixing cars and changing tires. | While we all extend our best wishes for health and happiness to those who retire, it's a constant reminder to those of us left that nothing stands still. We are in a constant state of change. But this changing of the guard is essential to maintain a strong, healthy community. Filling the gaps left by our senior merchandisers come younger, more energetic people, bringing with them Sometimes we resist change, but in most cases it's good for everyone. GO, GO, GO | hadn't noticed until Nancy pointed out to me last week a series of signs posted along Simcoe St. and parts of Durham #8. The signs suggest that GO ser- vice is coming to Scugog, effective January 2, 1999. I'm sure GO service from Scugog to Toronto would most certainly be greeted warmly by those Who commute to the 'Big Smoke everyday, especial- ly after losing the commuter train a few years back. NEED YOUR HELP I'm looking for information to complete some his- torical research I've been doing this past year. I've been able to find little information, and almost no photographs, about the A.R. Wilson family and their estate home on Seven Mile Island. The Wilson family -- | believe their names were Al (Allan) and Marie -- purchased Seven Mile Island in late 1911 and lived there until at least the early 1930s. While residents of the area, they became very involved in the community. Their beautiful prop- erty was opened to the public for garden parties, they donated uniforms to the local band, money to help improve Lake Scugog, and I'm sure many more things yet to be discovered. I'm looking for any information that can lead me to possible family connections. Did they have any chil- dren?. Did they move back to Toronto? Are there any living friends who might know more about the family? ; If you have any information or can help, I'd appre- ciate a call at 905-985-7383.