Whitby service "discriminatory" short term, they agree that "anything is better than nothing." The problem for many of Durham Region's new homeowners is that they work in Toronto and are not free to pick up mail during the post office's current hours of operation (8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.). There aren't any private post office boxes available either, which means that those who can get to the post of- fice, often have to wait in long lines to pick up their mail. The Christ- mas mail has made a wait of 20 minutes not uncommon and after such a wait, there's always the possibility one will be told there are no letters today. Reverend Dr. Ian MacRury is one of the town's growing number of residents who are forced to retrieve their mail at the post office. He calls the municipality's spotty home delivery "discriminatory". "I'm annoyed that we're being treated as second class citizens when we're paying the same for our stamps as everybody else," he said in a telephone in- terview. MacRury, lives on Gien Hill, only one street away from Elizabeth St. where residents do get home delivery. He says there's no reason, the mailman couldn't stop at the houses on his street enroute to Elizabeth. "If we'd known we couldn't get home delivery, we'd have had second thoughts about coming to Whitby," he said. Drumm fears that door-to-door mail delivery may be a thing of the past. "That's the kind of crazy thinking that's going on at Canada Post, he says. "While this country is growing at a great rate, mail is still in the 18th century." A spokesperson for Fennell says mail is one of the MP's main con- cerns. "We have thousands of names of people who can't get delivery and every let- ter we get, we forward on to Canada Post and Michael Cote (minister responsible for Canada Post). Letters go out at least once a day, she says. Details about the Ajax post office's extended hours are still not available, but P.O. manager David Jackson said he expects to hear which evenings the of- fice will be open "anytime now". Postal Hours All Canada Post of- fices in the greater Metropolitan Toronto area will remain open until 3:45 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24 and New Year's Eve Day, Dec., 31. Postal stations and of- fices will be closed and there will be no letter- carrier delivery on Christmas Day, Dec. 25; Boxing Day, Dec. 26 and New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 1986. Special Delivery, In- telpost and 'elepost services will be provided until 3 p.m. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and Priority Post Courier pickup service will be available until noon on those two days, for delivery on Dec. 27 and Jan. 2. Gus Brown, owner of Gus Brown Pontiac Buick Ltd. brought his company's United Way donation over $5,200 last Friday as he pitched in an extra $1,000 of his own. His staff of 95, raised more than $4,000 on their own. The additional corporate donation makes Gus Brown Ltd. the leading auto dealer Whitby United Way campaign chairman accepts the cheque. come with the donati in the Oshawa-Newcastle- Campaign. Above, Whitby Mike Amber smiles as he No, Mike the car doesn't on. Free Press Staff Photo Private school funding reconmended but with strings attached Fro m page me schools. It also recom- mends the creation of a third category of school: the associated school. For independent (private) schools the commission recom- mends only minor fun- ding in recognition of their contribution to educating some Ontario children. This funding would cover transportation by combining school busing for all area schools under one system to be ad- ministered by the local school board. It would also cover some learning materials. The com- mission recommends giving independent (private) schools the opportunity to purchase public school buildings made surplus through declining enrolment - an option they haven't had. In line with the "commission's inten- tion to increase parental choice and deal with discrimination" it recommends the for- mation of associated schools. These schools would have an agreement to work in association with local boards and to offer "satisfactory instruc- tion." To qualify as an associate school, which would then receive sub- stantial funding, there are a number of con- ditions it would need to fulfill. It would have to em- ploy only Ontario cer- tified teachers; charge no tuition; and offer en- rolment free of discrimination as to race, ethnic background, or religion. It would be non-profit and would have to offer more than special education programs. Also it would report annually to its associated school board on finances and instruc- tion and be operated by a board of governors, half of which must be parents of its students. Shapiro said he didn't know whether there would be a single private school in- terested in becoming an associated school. The commission has broad-sweeping recom- mendations for all schools, public-funded or not, Those include compulsory minimum schooling standards which schools would have to meet to be con- sidered legal.T'Fhere are also standards for "9satisfactory instruc- tion" and for qualified teachers. The commission also recommends respon- sibilities to the Ministry of Education which private schools would have to meet before they could be registered and further operating responsibilities after registration. Private schools, like all other schools, would have to have qualified teachers. Ruth Lafarga, chair- man of the Durham Board of Education asked Dr. Shapiro how much credibility the government would give his report. He replied that would depend on how the separate school funding works itself out. "My own view is that commissions never get adopted, but the recommendations seep in. It takes time and modifications," he said. Whitby trustee Ian Brown said he didn't think the $75 million estimated for funding was insignificant when public boards were having so much dif- ficulty getting adequate funding. Shapiro said, "I'm sure.you don't, but I believe it, in any case." There was concern by some members of the audience that if the recommendations were followed, private schools would lose some of their character and identity. Shapiro said, "It is unrealistic to expect funding won't change private schools." Shapiro, a director at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education is a former ' vice-president and dean of education at Western University in London. He received his early education at Lower Canada College, a private school in Mon- treal, but he said his children attend public schools. A high note The Whitby Senior Brass Quintet and the West Lynde Junior Choir were the guest artists at last Thursday's Whitby Brass Band concert. Above, 8th grade trombone player Shawn Mills sounds a low note in the ensem- ble's arrangement of Silent Night. Free Press Staff Photo Quintet entertains Board Five young Whitby students brought the mellow sound of brass to the board room of the Durham Board of Education, Monday night. The brass quintette from Whitby Senior Public School under the direction of music leacher Bruce Court opened the publie session of the Dec. 9 meeting with early Renaissance music. Grade eight students Jeff Hilliard, on first trumpet; 'Katie Maynard, second trum- pet; Shawn Mills, trom- bone; Robin Cyr, tuba; and Robyn Grant, Fren- ch horn were then joined by their teacher to per- form three Christmas carols, among them the minor Coventry Carol. After the board ap- plauded the students', Court invited trustees to attend the school's Christmas concert Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. to hear the school bands as well as the quintette. Checkers Hit Police investigate rash ofbreak-ins There was a rash of break-ins in Whitby last week. According to Durham Regional police at least three businesses and two residences were broken into. Thieves made away with $600 in cash and a quantity of cheque and credit card receipts af- ter climbing in the second story window of the Waterbed Gallery sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. After ransacking a desk, filing cabinet and cash box, they left by a door on the north side of the building. Jerry's The Drug Warehouse was also broken into by (an) unknown person(s) who smashed the front win- dow of the store to get in. The incident occured at 1:20 a.m. Thursday morning, but so far it appears that nothing was taken. Damage to the store window is estimated at $300. Almost $800 worth of cigarettes were stolen from Checkers Variety Ltd. Tuesday night after the Dundas St. W. con- venience store was broken into. Similar to the break-in at Jerry's, entry was gained by smashing the front door. Police say there are two suspects: a white and a black male, both in their early twenties. The culprits were said to be driving an older model light blue car at the time of the break-in, which they parked in the lot outside the store. While police say two in- dividuals have been questioned, no charges have been laid as yet. Two private apar- tments - one on Brock St. S. and one on Craydon Rd. were also broken into last week. Residents reported $600 in cash and a stereo and' microwave (valued at $1,000) stolen, respec- tively. In the former in- cident, entry was gained by prying the front door open, while in the latter police say there was no sign of entry.. Way to go