L ASCO means1 The major expansion of the Lake Ontario Steel Com- pany's (LASCO) Whitby facility which should double their production potential is due to be completed sometime next month ac- cording to a company spokesman. The $100 million expansion is aimed at meeting the growing demand for export steel especially for the United States, the industrial relations manager for LASCO, Graham Wallace, said. He added that LASCO is more advanced in produc- tion methods and equimpent that more of its U.S. coun- terparts. "We're much more technically advanced and cost-effective," Wallace said. "With the steel in- dustry in the states, there's a lot of archiac equipment that's having trouble meeting the environmental laws. That hits into their costs." LASCO, which has been operating in Whitby since 1964, is the town's second largest employer (after Sklar Funiture), will have hired almost 300 new people because of the expansion. This will bring its work force to approximately 1,200. Wallace said that many of the new people are already on staff although the .company is still looking for skilled employees. LASCO's expansion is a reversal of. the trend within Durham Region which is suffering because o? the slump in the automotive in- dustry. "We're more than holding our own in a depressed en- vironment," Wallace said. "We're more than com- petitive with everyone else. Everyone is suffering in the steel industry, but we're suf- fering less than others." The expansion includes the installation of a new 150- ton melting furnace, casting equipment and warehouse and shipping facilities. It will eventually increase the plant's production to about one million tons of steel a year. LASCO also provides the Oshawa Harbor with the biggest percentage of its cargo tonnage which has in- creased by about 20 per cent since 1979. -Photo courtesy of the Whitby Theatre Company. W1 TC&stages"Recket" The Whitby Theatre Com- pany wants to take audien- ces back to the pomp and pageantry of 12th century England and the court of King Henry the Second. Their next production, which opens January 29 in the theatre of the Centennial Building, is "Becket," the story of the relationship between Henry and his Ar- chbishop of Canterbury (and later Roman Catholic Saint) Thoias Becket. History has well documen- ted the stormy friendship of this two fascinating men which finally ends in the death of Becket at the hands of three of the king's knights. The Whitby Theatre Com- pany production is being directed by Gail Cheyne and company spokesman Bert Heaver said that it was one of the hardest plays that the 24 year old group has tried to put together. The company for this play has 28 cast members playing some 40 roles. Above, the young prince (played by Darren Stevens) is getting the royal boot for his boldness from King Henry (played by Jim Gheyne.) Potrsd e nttlcd -n ot o "dwel" nverydayprolems chas sie al adse we cnstrucion Port Whitby residents should not "dwell" on the everyday problems of sidewalks and sewers. That was the message of Peter Walker of the con- sulting firm of McPherson, Walker, Wright Associates at the second in a series of public meeting on the Port Whitby study. In addressing about 50 people who gathered at St. John's Anglican Church, Walker said that residents should confine themselves to questions- on the three proposed alternatives for development in the southern-most area of town. However, having listened to Walker's proposals, the residents still wanted to know what was being done to solve present problems. Homeowners in the Port have been complaining ac- tively for the last year or so about backed up sewers and poor road and sidewalk con- ditions. They have claimed that the Port, which is the oldest area of the town has been turned into an "apartment ghetto" while the new sub- divisions springing up in other parts of town are get- ting high priced family homes. "The town has been kind of slow with us concerning sidewalks, sewers and parking," according to Port Whitby resident Jim Wat- son. "What about the problems now?" Henry Perry, another area resident, said that his main concern was the bridge on Brock Street South that crosses over the CNR tracks. "It's very fine and dandy to say we're going to do something about the bridge," Perry said, "let's get it into the budget. How do we get the wheels tur- ning, that's what we want to know." "We want the same treatment as the rest of the town for our tax money," Watson said referring to sidlewalk construction." However, Regional Coun- cillor Gerry Emm, chair- man of the meeting, said that, "Sidewalks are a waste of taxpayers' money if they're going to tear them up in five years." The long-time unofficial spokesman for Port residen- ts, Bert Mondria said that "I'm glad to see the town putting effort into changing things. We attempted before to get things changed and nobody listened." However, Mondria added that the basic concerns of the residents have not changed. "The people still want im- provements in sidewalks, roads, sewers, parking and enforcement of bylaws on Charles Street," he said. "I don't understand," he continued, "the town wants to call Whitby a town for the handicapped but they don't want to justify resurfacing of sidwalks in Port Whitby." Before any new develop- ment can begin in the Port Whitby area, Durham Region must complete a $4 million sewer extention. It is scheduled to be finished in 1982. Batten after reckless* snowmobïlers see page a