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EG Gl RR aie 6 - PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, MAY §, 2000 PUBLISHER................ J. Peter Hvidsten GENERAL MGRH.......... Don Macleod MANAGING EDITOR.. Jeff Mitchell OFFICE MANAGER.... Gayle Stapley ADVERTISING MGR...Deb McEachem REPORTER................. Chris Hall Freelance Writers- Heather McCrae, John B. McClelland PHONE (905) 985-7383 FAX (905) 985-3708 E-MAIL: port.perry.star@sympatico.ca EDITORIAL POLICY: Opinions Member Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc. Published every Friday by the Port Perry Star Company Limited, 188 Mary Street - Port Perry, Ontario - LOL 1B7 Distributed free in the following communities: Port Perry - Uxbridge - Sunderland - Little Britain - RR Lindsay Janetville Oakwood - Manilla - Seagrave - Greenbank - Brooklin - Ashbum - Columbus - RR Oshawa Caesarea - Blackstock - Raglan - Nestleton - Yelverton - Prince Albert expressed by columnists, contributors and letter writers are not necessarily those of The Port Perry Star. Letters must be signed and the telephone number (which will not be published) included. Requests that a name be withheld will be honoured only if there is a compelling reason to do so. Errors will be corrected i brought to the editor's attention. We reserve the right to edit or refuse publication of any material submitted. ADVERTISING POLICY: The publisher is not liable for slight changes i erors connection with any advertisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. All claims of error in publication must be made by Wednesday, noon, prior to the next week's publication, and, if not made, will not be considered. No claim will be allowed for more than one insertion. or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher is not able for other errors or omissions in BUSINESS OFFICE: Judy Ashby, Kathy Dudley, Janet Rankin, Lesley West ADVERTISING: Ginni Todd, Cindy Jobin, Gail Morse, Heather Mack, Linda Clarke, Janet Archer, Malcolm Lennox PRODUCTION: Trudy Empringham, Pam Hickey, Daryle Wright, Arlene Cheel, Robert Taylor, Richard Drew, Scott Ashby OPINION A glimpse at the future? Anybody curious about the future of regional governments in Ontario needn't to look any further than the soon to be former Victoria County. As of next year, the municipality will be governed by a single- tier government with 16 local representatives. That's a huge reduction in the number of municipal politicians, and an elimi- nation of local councils, such as the ones that now administer and answer to townships such as Mariposa, Bexley,Fenelon, and such. This is the model upon which future amalgamations will be based. The province demands elimination of duplication, streamlining of services, and fewer politicians. The single-tier model is the only one that guarantees those goals will be achieved. Whether or not this is a good thing is another question. We believe the County of Victoria experiment is paring municipal representation down far too much. The geography and demo- graphics of the county are too extensive and diverse for such a bare bones council. Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock residents can do well to learn from the Victoria experience. They'd better take notice of the process occurring around them and participate, rather than ignoring it and hoping it will just go away. It ain't gonna happen. If nothing else, participation at the local level now can help avoid the bestowing of another gosh-awful name. The City of * Kawartha Lakes? Come on.... N= Ji / ry © | MUNCH MUNCH Nd MUNCH CRUNCH LN --\ EN ~N C Hilti Wm 22) | . NUT 0) tet Sgiless no {0 ° MUNCH MUNCH CRUNCH ITEM HERE YOU MIGHT WANT To READ ABOUT A NEW MAIL-IN CONTEST! AND 1 THINK YOU'LL FIND THE NUTRITIONAL FACTS PRINTED HERE RNQUITE INTRIGUING! IT'S NICE. TO KNOW THAT \N THIS DAY AND AGE OF T.V. AND VIDEO GAMES THE MIDS STILL FIND TIME TO ENJOY FINE LITERATURE! id = S Pe DID You READ THE LIST] OF INGREDIENTS ON THIS FROOT LOOPIES Bow? IT'S HILARIOUS! |. This rambunctious fellow, photographed at the Uxbridge-Scugog animal shelter, has been adopted, but other dogs and cats are looking for loving homes. Call them at 985-9547. If you have an interesting picture we could use for Photo of the Week, please drop it by The Star office. Kitchen 'tore apart fabric of our lives' To the Editor: Let me start this letter by confessing that] am indeed prejudiced about this beautiful County of Victoria that I have cho- sen to live in. | have spent the better part of my life in Victoria County, and have a great love and affection for it. The feeling I had in the pit of my stomach when Prof. Kitchen presented his report on April 19 was like hearing that a very dear friend had died. He tore apart the very fabric of our lives, discarding without a second thought, the "things we hold dear. He left us in total dis- array, deserted by our elected representa- tives; and this was still not enough for Mr. Kitchen. He then literally wiped us off the map. Instead of leaving us a name that we could all identify with, one that might serve to unite us, he inflicted upon us one that is comical in its unsuitability. What were this man's motives in ignoring the obvious choice for a name - one which contains the name Victoria? One which has, to use his own words, "history, identity and emotional attachment" for the residents of this com- munity for another one which contains none of the above? Indeed, for Kitchen to call this area a "city" is confusing as it has none of the attributes one associates with a city. The name he has chosen concentrates on one aspect of our county, and completely ignores all the rest. On page 63 of his report, Kitchen states that "where the uniqueness, charm and his- torical importance constitutes an entire municipality, the commission feels com- pelled to recommend that legislation be passed to retain it." Our uniqueness lies in our magnificent lakes and rolling country- side, attributes that are fast disappearing in Ontario. Our historical importance manifests itself everywhere the eye can see ... Victoria Park, Victoria St., Victoria Park Armouries, County of Victoria Historical Society, Victoria County Museum, Victoria Rd., to only name very few. There has been a Victoria County for 139 years. Then, we come to charm. Perhaps this is where the citizens of Victoria County fell short. Perhaps we weren't charm- ing enough, and this has led to our downfall. We promise to correct this and try to become more charming in his future. (As if he gives a hoot about us). I believe Tony Clement, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, has the power to change this. I am writing to him personally and ask- ing him to intercede in this matter, and | urge all who agree with me to do the same. Perhaps if enough voices are raised on this matter we will not be ignored. You can reach Mr. Clement by phone at (416) 585- 7000, by Fax at (416) 585-6470 or by email at clement@titan.tcn.net. Let the members of the Transition Team, some of whom were elected by you, know how you feel. But please, do it now - time is of the essence. A Holden, Bexley Twp. ---- re. Pett, UP Appl srs Foo pi .