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Mrs. Joe Redhead shows off the unexpected Christmas present she and her husband received this year. They wona trip to Florida Local couple win Florida trip Mr. and Mrs. Joe Redhead of Penetanguishene had an unexpected gift on their Christmas tree this year. Some 20 Penetanguishene merchants sponsored a lucky draw for a seven-day Florida vacation and the Redheads won it All the participating merchants had ballot boxes in their stores, and Mrs. Redhead placed her winning entry in Egon's Danish Bakery on Main Street. That 's some present in a lucky draw sponsored by a group of the merchants of Penetanguishene. Staff photo Mrs. Redhead said she had never been to Florida, and looks forward to the vacation with great anticipation. She also said she and her husband would like to go as soon as possible after January 15. We congratulate the winners on proving once again that it pays to shop in Penetanguishene and that Redheads have more fun Victoria Harbour loses bid to roll back area board fee Victoria Harbour last week lost the first round in efforts to have its portion of the Tiny-Tay Planning Board's operating budget reduced. An Ontario' Municipal Board decision handed down Tuesday, December 21, ruled that the OMB did not have the authority to alter levies imposed on member municipalities by a planning board The village had as early as November 1975 stated it would not accept a TTPB budget in excess of $30,000 and in June 1976 told the planning board it would agree to a levy of $678.00, not the more than $1,000 levied by the TTPB Thompson, chairman of the OMB hearing held in Victoria Harbour, pointed out the Plann®2 Act permitted him to rule only on the fairness of the metaod of assessment and therefore had to dismiss the case. * Victoria Harbour Reeve Theo Bernard declined to comment on the outcome of the hearing and on the village's possible plans to appeal the decision. 'I won't comment on the ruling until I have it in writing,' Bernard said, referring to the oral decision handed down the same day of the hearing. In its brief to the OMB, the municipality's council pointed out it had never approved the TTPB's budget figures. The planning board's original $52,120.00 budget was reduced to $47,800.00 at the insistance of other member municipalities. According to TTPB calculations, $1080 of this would have to come from Victoria Harbour. The village however based its assessment The year 1976 is about to pass into history, and in Penetanguishene, it was a year of achievement, and a year of frustration; it was a year of triumph and of tragedy. In early January, a group of citizens who wished to establish a multipurpose bilingual 'centre, later to form the Pen Glen Cor- poration, received a shot in the arm when the Commissioner of Official Languages, Keith Spicer, expressed his approval for the project. Latdi7m the month, the Penetanguishene Planning Board ran into stiff opposition to its controversial zoning bylaw, from residents of the Brule Heights area. The board decided to ask the complainants to submit briefs outlining particular objections, and the board's secretary, Paul Hodgins, suggested that an Ontario Municipal Board hearing should be held as soon as possible on the zoning bylaw. At the end of January, negotiations were under way between the owners of High Points Mall and three major department stores, who were considering renting the space at the opposite end of the mall from the I.G.A. At that time the owners of the mall thought it could be completedly rented and out and officially opened by May 1. on the $30,000 budget it had stated would be acceptable and therefore asked its levy be dropped to $678.00. According to the Victoria Harbour brief, the planning board had not lived up to its commitments in that "it has not provided an approved document for the Planning Area or specific studies which could be used by a particular municipality." The village had already spent $41,000 for planning and zoning, the brief read, and would, at its ex- pense, have to draw up an official plan and zoning by-law. In view of these expenses, Victoria Harbour Council felt the planning board levy was too high. "T can understand their arguments and I sympathize with them," planning board co- ordinator Mike Ufford said after the hearing. *'But the budget was approved by a majority of the member municipalities and the levies are based on that budget." Half (50 per' cent) of the member municipalities have to accept the TTPB budget before individual levies can be assessed Levies are each year based on the in- dividual municipality's ability to pay, that is on the tax base of that area. The Planning Act however does not make provision for appealing the amount of the levy because a majority of the planning area members have to approve the budget before it can be passed. An individual municipality's only recourse is to opt out of the planning area, an option that Reeve Theo Bernard had already declined before the OMB hearing. Penetanguishene in 1976 At the same time a dispute was beginning to brew between the Church of Scientology and the Mental Health Centre regarding the treatment of patients in the maximum security section of the hospital. In the first week in February, the town was in a deep freeze as the mercury hit record lows all over the county, and area residents were gearing up for the annual Winterama. Friday, February 13 was a lucky day for Giselle Robitaille, who was named Win- terama Queen, and when the carnival got under way, a good time was had by all. Meanwhile, the residents of the west end of town held a meeting to finalize plans for the Neighbourhood Improvement Program project in that area. Towards the end of February, the Midland police started an "anti-porn'" campaign, in which they asked store owners to remove copys of Playboy and Penthouse from racks and display counters. Penetanguishene police followed suit in early March. On Webruary ,25, the Penetanguishene Brule Garrisons were eliminated from contention in the Intermediate 'C' playoffs, as they lost their playoff series to Bracebridge On March 8, the town gave final approval The Christmas weekend was a iday for most, but for the ene' uishene police department, it ty well business as usual. onstable Claude Monroe is still 'igating a hit and run accident occurred on Highway 27 near the about 2:10 Friday morning. jowmobile being driven by Bruce id of 41 Sheridan Street in nguishene was struck by an ied vehicle and $300 damage s done to the snowmobile. + Aecident ridf@y mrorning, at about 11:40, as a two-car collision on 'Street near Sheridan. ash involved Howard Aker- f 11 Victoria Crescent, jshene, and Herman f 39 Viel Street. Akerman's ned $75 damage, and car was damaged to the Police kept busy - _. by the Penetanguishene police force ~ tune of $100. There were no injuries, and no charges were laid as a direct result of the accident, although Constable Michael Brady charged Desroches with failing to wear his seatbelt. Theft Brady is also investigating the theft sometime over the last few weeks, of an alr compressor at the Mental Health Centre. The air compressor, which was reported missing Friday afternoon, "was valued at about $1,100. Drunk . _ Only one drunk charge was laid over the weekend, and no one was charged with impaired driving. Chief John Geere said there were a couple of Warnings issued, but charges weren't laid because of the Christmas season. y as Advocates public ownership LEP OS OF FESSOR County reverses on CNR land County Council has reversed its previous position on the future of the Canadian National right-of-way and has recommended it be sold to the municipalities through which the line runs. : "Our primary concern is that the land not be sold to individual larid-owners and lost forever," Midland Reeve Moreland Lynn explained. "We're concerned with retaining the right-of-way for future development purposes." The County Agriculture and Reforestation Committee had previously favoured the landowners along the line acquiring the land but reconsidered its position after a Tiny-Tay Planning Board delegation pointed out the advantages of public ownership. "We feel that a 32 mile stretch of land under single ownership is a real resource," Mike Ufford, planning co-ordinator for the TTPB explained. 'Given the population targets and area growth projected, at some time a link like this could be very valuable."' The TTPB is in favour of some level of government acquiring the land but has in- dicated land should be turned over to far- mers for a nominal rental charge where the line cuts through a farm. According to Reeve Lynn, the CN line could be used for by-passes through or around existing hamlets as Perkinsfield, for recreational purposes and could be held as a right-of-way in areas where it runs parallel to existing roads. ; Individual municipalities have not yet responded to the county's change in position, although it is known that both Tiny Township and Perkinsfield are interested in acquiring parts of the CN land within their municipalities. Cost of land deciding factor Future ownership of the Canadian National right-of-way is still very much up in the air because of the costs involved in purchasing the land. Midland Reeve Lynn, has said it is unlikely the county will make an offer to purchase the 32 mile stretch because of the $110,000 price tag put on it by CN and because of the annual costs of maintaining fences and drainage on the property. The extent of interest of municipalities along the line will not be clarified until new councils have had a chance to study the possibilities; Penetanguishene had been interested in acquiring its share of the land but could not afford the price set by CN. Whether or not CN is willing to negotiate prices remains to be seen and will likely what parties are interested in the Stores closed for New Year's holiday weekend Most of the stores in Penetanguishene will be closed on New Year's Day, and will close at 5:30 or 6:00 on New Year's Eve. For those shoppers who get caught short on the weekend, Ken's Esso will be open 24 hours a day as usual all weekend, and Mikes Milk will be open from 10:00 to 10:00 on New Year's Day. Both the Liquor store and the Brewers Retail will be open Thursday night until 9:00, and will close Friday at 6:00. All stores will be open for business as usual Monday morning. The Citizen will be open Thursday as usual and will be closed Friday and Monday Some councillors make resolutions With the coming of the new year, many people make resolutions. Some vow to quit smoking, some to quit drinking, and some save more money. Procrastinators vow to do things on time, and compulsive worriers resolve to slow down and relax a bit. The Citizen asked a number of the mem- bers of Penetanguishene town council if they planned to make any New Year's resolutions, and got some interesting responses. Mayor Vince Moreau said, "I don't make New Year's resolutions. I just play it by ear." He added, "I don't smoke, I drink very little, and I don't play around with women, so what else is there to do?" The town's new reeve, Art Stewart, said he did not have any particular New Year's Resolutions this year, except to carry on with the things he has been pushing for on council over the past few years. The town's new deputy reeve, Clarence Lomas said he isn't making any particular New Year's resolutions this time. He said, "'I just do the job as it comes along." Councillor Mary Rogers said she planned "to serve to the best of my ability, to keep an open mind, and to serve all the people, not just the chosen few" during the New Year. She said she was not in the habit of making New Year's resolutions because, "New Year's resolutions are like political promises. They're hard to keep." to the West End Redevelopment Plan, the first step in the West End NIP project. In mid-March, the Penetanguishene Juveniles took Bowmanville right down to the wire, as they went the full five games against them in the playoffs only to lose the last one 4-1. Murder On Sunday, April 4, the town was shocked at the news that a 68-year-old Don Street woman, Emily Dorsey, had been brutally murdered in her home. The criminal in- vestigation branch of the Ontario Provincial Police joined the Penetanguishene Police Department in the search for the killer. In the second week in April, Sylvanus Jefferson was released from the Mental Health Centre by Ontario Ombudsman Arthur Malony. Jefferson had been placed in the institution in 1957, after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity, of a charge of wounding. The same week, York University an- nounced that Sister Angeline Moreau would receive an honourary doctorate for her contribution to French and English language and culture in the area. She received it at the June convocation of the university in Toronto. ; On April 26, Penetanguishene town council voted to sign a contract for the installation of the lights in McGuire Park. Frances St. Amant volunteered to head up the fund raising campaign to pay for them. In the first week in May, a charge of murder was laid against Ronald Buttineau in connection with the murder of Emily Dorsey. Buttineau lived at 24 Don Street, just up from Dorsey. Later in May, the members of the Pen Glen Corporation asked council for $15,000 for the establishment of their facility. Council agreed to give one dollar for every two dollars collected from the public, up to a maximum Of $15,000. Towards the end of the month, the group began looking at the White House as a potential location for their centre. At about the same time, tenders were put out for work in the west end NIP area, and Mike Ufford took over as Tiny Tay Peninsula _ Planning Board Coordinator, admist protests * over the fact that the board had imported an 'American planner from New York City to fill Ithe job. In the first week in June, Penetanguishene's Lucie Maurice won a gold edal for shot put in the All Ontario track eet. Several other athletes from Penetanguishene Secondary School also The newest member of council, Ray Baker, said "I plan to keep all my bad habits."" He said the only resolution he will attempt to keep will be to carry out his campaign promise, to work hard and keep the people informed. Frances St. Amant said she hasn't made any New Year's resolutions, but she does plan on staying away from cigarettes in the New Year. She said she stopped smoking the day after the election, and has managed not to smoke since then. She said she stopped once before as New Year's resolution, and did not smoke for three years. This time, she said, she wants to quit for good. Town councillor Hubert Charlebois said his resolution for the coming year is to relax a bit. He said he plans to "'live life a little more, and live it for my family." He said, "I see too much of the family unit breaking up." With respect to his job on council, Charlebois said he had been seriously con- sidering not running again on December 6, but he received so many requests that he run again, he felt he had to. "However,"' he said, "Tm going to give it the full two years." Charlebois said he also wants to get the ball rolling on a solar house this year. He said he had already bought the land for it, and he figures if he begins it this year, it could be finished within 10 years. . distinguished themselves at the meet. In mid-June, the Pen Glen Corporation announced .it would build a facility from scratch rather than buy the White House, as they had earlier planned Tennis Champion In early July, Penetanguishene's Anne Merkley won the under-16 category of the Cambridge open tennis tournament, and later in the summer, she followed up with a second place showing in the national championship. In the second week in July, the area was stunned by the disappearance of Cindy Knowlton of Midland, and the subsequent suicide of Kenneth Cordes ot Penetanguishene, the man who was questioned in connection with the disap- pearance. Knowlton was found in Killaloe Station five days later, suffering from am- nesia. Meanwhile, the town celebrated its annual summerfest. In mid-July, Pen Glen hired a full time secretary and researcher, Jeanne Robillard, to get the ball rolling on its fund raising campaign. At the same time, the McGuire Park Light Fund was doing well as the American exhibition fastball team Jack and the Jesters came to play a team of all-stars from the Georgian Bay Fastball League to help raise money. At the end of July, surveying started on Poyntz Street for the west end NIP project, as another grant was announced for a NIP project in the east end of town. The Knowlton-Cordes affair was kept alive as information came out which cast some doubt on Cindy's claim that she had amnesia, and Kenneth Cordes' mother demanded an inquest into his death. The biggest news at the end of July and the beginning of August was the fire on the evening of July 27 at the Midland arena. The -arena was completely destroyed, and the Penetanguishene arena immediately began assessing the ice-time requirements of local teams to see how many of the Midland teams dislocated by the fire could be ac- commodated in Penetanguishene. In early August the town received a grant to help pay for its housing policy study, the Establishments guard went on a march to Fort York in Toronto, and a giant armada of boats from the Great Lakes Cruising Club vis' Penetanguishene as guests of the Ch.amber of Commerce. later in August, the lights in McGuire land. Both the provincial and federal governments have disclaimed any interest in acquiring the property and if the county decides it is not interested in purchasing the 66 foot right-of-way, the next move would be up to the municipalities. Land-owners along the CN line have already gone on record as_ opposing recreational use of the land and have asked 48 pages Penetanguishene Citizen Wednesday, December 29, 1976 that whoever does acquire the property be responsible for cleaning up accumulated" rubbish, and maintain drainage and the fences along the line. "T think we would look more favourably on the county buying the land than the province," Pat Stone, spokesman for Flos landowners said last week. "I think they would look after it (the CN land) better."' of Colour Comics Vol.9 No.52 20 cents The quest for the Silver Stick The Midland goaltender stops another Gravenhurst scoring attempt in Peewee action at the Silver Stick Tournament Tuesday morning. From this picture it looks this isthe way It was over the past year Park were officially switched on, and con- struction began in the west end NIP area. At the end of August, local businessmen invited representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism to tell them about downtown 'revitalization, and "Babe"' Marchildon was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in Toronto. "'The Babe"' pitched for a number of years with the American League Philadelphia Athletics. In mid-September, the McGuire Park light fund went over the top, and_ the Penetanguishene Intermediate Ladies won the Georgian Bay Softball League cham- pionship. The very next week, the Garrisons re-affirmed their dominance of the diamond as they won the fastball "super series" against the Wyebridge Warriers of the Simcoe Rural Fastball League. The same week, Lionel Dion announced his intentions to run for mayor, to make it a contest for the first time in years. In mid-October, the area planning board came up with a number of proposals for potential uses of the abandoned CNR right-of- way if it were retained in public ownership. A little later in October, a bid to erect an apartment building at the outskirts of town was rejected because the density was too high, and the plans for the waterfront park were discussed at a public meeting. The first public east end NIP meeting was held, and census figures released by the federal government showed Penetanguishene had actually shrunk since 1971. In early November, Glendon College in Penetanguishene had its first two graduates, and in Midland, the new Huronia District Hospital opened its doors. In mid-November, the Pen Glen organizers were nearly knocked off their feet by the news that a Toronto doctor had donated 13 acres of land in Tiny Township, on which they could build their facility. ' Near the end of November, the Midland- Penetanguishene Flyers ended a 13 game winless streak as they won their first game of the season 6-3 over Owen Sound. The Chamber of Commerce got the news that it had been awarded the old Post Office building, and Penetanguishene, witnessed its first Santa Claus parade. The parade was sponsored by the High Points Mali, renamed the Penetang Village Square, and still more or less empty six months after its scheduled opening date. The big news at the beginning of December was the election. Vince Moreau was returned to the mayor's chair, Lionel Dion was off as though he had a lot of help from his teammates. The Midland squad won the game 7-5. Staff photo council, and Ray Baker was elected for the first time as'a councillor. In the sports news, Brian Orser of Penetanguishene took first place in the novice event in the Central Ontario Sectional Figure Skating Competition held in Aurora. In the Middle of December, some of the people of the town voiced their disapproval of the town's zoning bylaw at an Ontario Municipal Board Hearing held in the Penetanguishene town council chambers. Seeds sown In 1976, the seeds were sown for a number of things which should happen in the new year. The results of the OMB hearing should become known some time in the early months of 1977. The Chamber of Commerce has been working hard to organize 1977's edition of the _Winterama, and sometime in the spring of 1977, they expect to come out with a town directory. Some thought is being given to the idea of holding a Wintario drav in Penetanguishene some time in J:...e, pos in conjunction with next year's Summerfest. The east end NIP project should be in full swing in 1977, with construction starting in spring or early summer. In the sports scene, the Midland Penetanguishene Flyers will be struggling to make the playoffs, but the Penetanguishene Brule Garrisons should have no trouble at all making the finals in Intermediate "'C" play, and the Penetahguishene Juveniles should do quite well in their league. Ina slightly less local context, construction should begin sometime in the spring on the widening of Highway 27 from Highway 12 to the Penetanguishene town limits. The curve at the bottom of the hill outside Penetanguishene will be straightened making access to the town a little easier and a little faster. The Pen Glen Corporation should begin its fund raising campaign some time in the new year, and some progress will certainly be made on plans for the educational- recreational-cultural centre. The new year is shaping up to be an in- teresting one, with a number of changes and improvements taking place in town. The main issues to watch for will surely be growth and housing, and to a lesser extent, bilingualism. And, througheut the new year, the Citizen will be here, continuing to try hard to report on and iyjterpret these and other issues and events. From the staff of the Citizen, Happy -- New Year. POM EPL POEL SOPOT FE oO RR all