PAGE 6, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1988 fe LA> VOICE OF THE COUNTY TOWN Published every Wednesday By 677209 Ontario Inc. Phone: 668-6111 Doug Anderson Publisher The Free Press Building 131 Brock Street North, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ort. Maurice Plfher Editor Peter Irvine Advertising Managçr Alexandra Simon Production Manager Mike Carroll Circulation Manager The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. Durham Board of Education trustees can justifiably complain about the decline in the provincial share toward local education spending after approving a budget which contains few, if any, frills unless they were those mandated, but not adequately funded, by the Province. And Tuesday's announcement by the Province of funding for much needed construction in Durham Region is welcome news but may yet not go far enough to address the real need locally. The frustration was well stated by trustees at Monday night's board meeting during which the budget was passed that will hit region ratepayers Frustrating with an increase of almost 10 per cent. Oshawa trustee Ruth Lafarga noted that previous provincial promises of support for education were "just words." Whitby trustee Ian Brown, who plays a leading role in the budget process, hinted that the trend in current government policy does not bode well for education or Ontario's future. However, trustees in a growing region have now become accustomed to difficul decisions on what programs or activity must be phopped or put off. And the board prudently resistec further proposed additions at the last minute that, would have further boosted an already hefty tax incfease. After painstaking work on the budget, itrustees must now resume another difficult chore - continued appeal for more funding, or at least more understanding of need, that may someday pay off in taxpayer relief. LETTERS FROM OUR READE RS Durham plowmen will try again next year for match To the editor: "We'll try again next year!" This was the positive attitude exhibited by a disappointed but optimistic delegation from Durham Region at the annual convention of the Ontario Plowmen's Association held recently at the Constellation Hotel in Toronto. This group was representing the Regional Municipality of Durham and the Durham Region, Rama and Mara Plowmen's Association in their To the editor: I am pleased ta see The Free Press agreeing with concerns expressed about the inadequacy of parkland in Whitby. Recent polls have shown that Canadians rate environmental issues as their number one priority. There is no reason to believe that citizens of Whitby are any less concerned. In fact a great many of us have come here because we value the woods, fields and valleys and the clean air. We don't want wall-to-wall houses, factories and malls displacing the last vestiges of nature. We have lived under those conditions and have moved te Whitby because we believed it offered something better. Environmental concerns are even higher on our list of priorities. The problem may be that we have not fullfilled Our responsibilities as citizens by letting our elected representatives know how vitally important these concerns are. We have the right, indeed the responsibility, to decide what kind of town we want te live in, not the politicians or the town staff. If we are willing to exercise those rights bid to convince the Ontario Plowmen's Association that the international plowing match and farm machinery show should be held in Durham Region at the Robert Jibb and neighboring farms at Sunderland in 1991. Speaking for Durham were Hugh Baird of Sunderland, provincial director for the Durham Plowmen's Association; Norm Leigh of Oshawa, manager of business development for the Region of and responsibilities, we can have the kind of town we want. I believe there is a vast unrepresented constituency in Whitby of people who are concerned about the environment. Any politician, or would-be politician who is willing, not just to pay lip-service to our concerns, but to work actively to promote them, would have sufficient support to. get elected to any office he or she aspired to. This is an election year. By-the time the next municipal election comes around in 1991 it will be too late. This is our last chance. If we as citizens of Whitby don't tell our elected representatives what kind of town we want, those who stand to gain financially by destroying what we treasure will tell them for us. Write a letter to your local paper. Phone your councillor and the president of your local ratepayers' association. Question candidates and promote those who will fight for what's important to you. If we don't, we will lose by default. Sincerely, Dennis Barry RR 2, Whitby Durham; Ted Smith of Sunderland, chairman of the international plowing match steering committee for the Durham Plowmen's Association; and Don Hadden of Sunderland, pinch-hitting for Gary Herrema, chairman of the Regional Municipality of Durham. Also bidding for the 1991 match were the associations from Victoria County, Bruce County and Lambnton County. It was the decision of the Ontario Plowmen's Association that the 1991 match would be held in Lambton County just outside of the City of Sarnia. On behalf of the Durham Region, Rama and Mara Plowmen's Association, I would like to thank the following people for their support and encouragement in formulating our presentation at the convention: Gary Herrema and the council of Durham Region, Norm Leigh and the development department of Durham Region, Mayor Allan McPhail and Brock township council agricultural representative Bill Baxter and the OMAF staff of Uxbridge, and the Jibb family and all of their good neighbors at Sunderland and all other interested people who were able to attend the convention in our support. Thanks also to the To the editor: We would like to publicly thank the following individuals who once agan volunteered their time to assist Whitby seniors in completing their income tax returns. Sixty tax returns were completed at the Whitby Seniors' Activity Cen- tre between Monday, March 21 and Wednesday, March 23 by: Stan Clayton of Stan Clayton Bookkeeping Services; Lloyd Fenemore, Jim Grady, Randy many businesses in Durham Region who were so generous in their' financial support of our bid. Thank you very much and as I said earlier, we'll try again next year! Yours truly, Ted-Smith, RR ', Sunderland, Ontario Hickey, Tom Hill, S. Meek, John Newhouses, Erle Sexsmith, all with Ward Mallette Chartered Accoun- tants; nd Howard Smith, with Davidso & Smith Chartered Ac- countanf. The service was co- ordinatèd by Howard Smith. This service was very much ap- preciated by all concerned. Sincerely, - Sheryl Gofton Seniors' Centre Assistant Elect the fighters Volunteers appreciated LETTERS The Whitby Free Press welcomes letters to the Editor on any subject of concern to our readers. Letters should be brief and to the point - rarely more than 300 words. All letters must be accompanied by the name, address and phone number of the writer; however, on request, your name may be withheld from publication if we agree that there is a valid reason. The paper reserves the right to reject or edit all letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free* Press, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LiN 5S1 or drop through our mailslot at,131 Brock St. N. t'el