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Says o’og population boom prob/em cause The only other time I was there. we were running late. The entire province was a thin strip on either side of a not- so-super highway. The rest of the population looks on us as a temporary plague that comes, like the black flies, with the good weather. But I still wanted to se_e Nova Scotia this summer. For once we get there, we find the only people who ever really wanted us to leave our own comfortable beds are the ones smiling behind their cash registers as we pay for a night in their lumpy beds. I consider my neighbor a model dog owner who takes good care of his dogs and absolutely forbids them to wander the streets. Pei'haps, with a little more public praise of good owners we may get more of them. l have no sympathy for the irresponsible citizens who allow their dogs to run loose. They obviously have no idea of the danger they pose to the health and well belng of our community. Soine of the obvious dangers are children bitten and garbage littered. Two not so obvious ones are perhaps We have been led to believe travelling about is a lot less effort and more fun than getting up in the morning and going to work. I suspect that depends on your job. Besides, the people who have sold us on the joys of travel are the people who own the planes. boats, and trains that take us to all these delightful places. I am glad to see the strong response you have received regarding the “dog” problem. 7 I agree completely with responsible dog owners who keep their dogs well in hand. I believe this kind of owner should be recognized more often. Being a tourist is not as easy as a lot ofgeqple would have you think. Dear editor Particularly welcome are steps to increase the flow of af- fordable housing. Dear editor: As a member of the town Civic Improvement Committee for the past two years and chairman of the Beautification Awards Program (the Liberal 2nd Annual Rose Awards), I find it very difficult to believe there are only a handful of properties in Rich- mond Hill that would qualify for an award. The long fingers of the province's municipal board should reach into local council chambers much less often. The old Planning Act is creaking at the joints. The Comay recommendations cry out for speedy action. It's high time there was more decentralized decision making and more local autonomy in town planning. Comay planning reform needed The housing cost crisis and the almost complete lack of middle income economy homes here and elsewhere are proof enough that the Comay reforms are necessary. CommL'nity planning and housing policy reforms long badly needed in this area are advocated in the June 28 report of the Ontario Planning Act Review Committee headed by Eli Comay. Letters Rose awards need support Thfs timé the-plan was to meander Temporary plague Dino Salvatori ...awards chairman PUBLISHER ROBERT MAXWELL PAGE A4 The Libeval is published evew Wednesday by Metrospan Community Newspapers Limited Norlh Division, which also publishes The Banner in Aurora. Newmarkel, The Woodbridge Vaughan News, and the Bolton Enterprise‘ By Sharon Brain sharon's sunshine film “ifihtral 10101 Vonge Sueel, Rmhmonrfliill LAC 4Y6 Omano / went touring I flew out of Toronto full of en- thusiasm. Even the faulty air conâ€" ditioning unit that dripped on my head all the way there did not dampen my spirits. ’I didn‘t even ask the stewardess for an umbrella. In short, I was in an adventurous mood. My friend met me at Halifax Airport We drove to her sister’s home. He and his ancestors from time immemorial have been stalwart residents of Dartmouth, the city across the harbor, which we were now in. I tried to hide the fact I did not know there was a city across the harbor. but I think they guessed. along the old roads, see all the old towns, take in the sea coast. and generally give Nova Scotia a thorough going-over. In’these days of doubtful national unity. I thought Thornhill and Ontario owed the Maritimes at least that much. I immediately disgraced myself by asking the host if he had lived in Halifax long. Toxocara Canis (dog roundworms) have been linked to polio, deaths, brain daEage and other serious illnesses Years later dormant larvae can surface and hatch. I‘m sure no one wishes to infect a child. I, for one, would like to hear some positive proposals from our municipal politicians. PETER DeVITA, 255 Elka Dr., Many children are frightened and emotionally scarred by bad ex- periences with stray dogs. The§e worms are carried in dog excrement, left in the soil and not washed away by rain. The exploding dog population has compounded these problems. It is time we recdgnized the hazards to humans and began a more effective form of control. The facts have been stated and now it is up to you to determine whether the annual rose awards shall continue or not. This Friday, July 15, at 5 pm. is the deadline for the awards. Countless hours of volunteer help have been spent putting into effect a program of this nature to benefit the citizens of Richmond Hill. In my opinion, I think it is a very good community-oriented program. I would hate to see it abandoned. It takes a very little effort and only a few minutes of time to fill out a nomination form, thereby insuring the continuance of the annual rose awards. more damaging Through their work they are, directly contributing to civic pride and an improved appearance of “our town”. Countless hours of volunteer help This program was set up last year to give recognition to the people of Rich- mond Hill who have taken the time and effort to beautify and improve their property. But that seems to be my conclusion as a result of the nominations that have been sent it. Provisions allowing a cabinet minister to prevent or eliminate abusively high housing standards can’t come too soon. Also to be welcomed are ministerial regulations to eliminate density limits, servicing requirements and engineering standards that aren’t in the general public interest. The same goes for the outlawing of zoning and planning discrimination against certain age or income groups. The only thing wrong with the Comay reforms is that we’ll have to wait another 10 years before we know whether or not they go far enough. Selfish municipal tax grabbing shouldn’t play any part in residential planning. Health, safety and amenity needs should be the only basis for standards, as Comay recommends. So much, for promoting national Myself disgraced Richmond Hill, Ont DINO SALVATORI, Chairman, Awards Program Committee EDITOR HAROLD BLAINE ASSOCIATE EDITOR RON WALLACE WEDNESDAY, JULY 13. 1977 : Fall campaign to save manse We visited old apple orchards and old farms, and craft shops full of new things that looked old. We visited an- tique shops full of old things that looked suspiciously new. We bought post cards and souvenirs. We stopped at information huts and read maps and brochures. On our way through the Valley, we visited every historic plaque, historic house, and historic church. When we were not historic, we were scenic, and followed the Glooscap or (you guessed it) the Evangeline 'I‘rail. We'knew we had reached it when we started seeing signs for the Evangeline Motel, the Evangeline Canteen, the Evangeline Campground, and the Evangeline Mall. Evangeline is very big in the Annapolis Valley. If you are wondering who Evangeline is, you were never bedridden at the cottage with nothing to read but the Collected Works of Longfellow. unity Eérly next morning we started off. We drove north towards the Annapolis Valley. 7 These are just two of many proposals for higher density in ‘new’ com- munities. The cost of the move itself is probably around $5,000, with the new foundation, etc., at another $5,000 or so. What you did not mention was that in giving evidence on behalf of a ratepayer’s group, I also stated the; town of Markham recognizes the need for a mix of housing units. The route the building probably will take while being moved to Pioneer Village will be along Yonge Street to Major Mackenzie Drive, along Dufferin Street to Langstaff Sideroad. along Keele Street and Steeles Avenue. Dear editor Our Richmond Hill architectural advisory committee has decided it will be best to organize a concerted drive for funds for saving the Presbyterian manse in late August or early Sep- tember. At the moment people are away and probably during the early summer their thoughts aren’t turned to that topic. The Liberal, if it is really following Markham‘s development program at all, will know we are looking at higher density development in Riseborough, with an expected population of some 19,000. Your editorial of June 29 was ac- curate in stating I submitted evidence at an OMB hearing as to the tax generated from townhouses, and detached units. In 1975 Markham issued permits for 1,518 multiple units, but only 221 building permits were issued for detached homes! Another new development of higher density is Markville, with an estimated population of 6,000. [also pointed out Markham is in fact, providing a great number of multiple units. Dear editor "I’m really one of York Region’s wealth/"est housing developers. ” Housing need realized We saw Annapolis HE’5 WRAVFED U P IN RED TAPE I’m just not the kind of stuff of which real tourists are made. Four days later, we paid our bill and drove directly back to Halifax â€" I mean. Dartmouth. We found a place for the night. It was a cabin, at the end of the row, far from the main buildings. We dragged ou_r suitcases out of the car and fell into bed. We looked at 'the water, and then at each other. We looked for washrooms. In short, we were tourists. When we finally reached Digby, we were exhausted. We had come 233 miles‘ The hills were green. the sky blue. the segigulls noisy, the rest silent. _ we got out 'the guidebook and read about the things to see nearby. They soglded finteresting. We looked at thé map. If we left in half an hour, we could do the French Sllgg'epeforg nightfall. Next morning, I went out and stood on the porch. There in front of me was Digby Gut. (Voluntary contributions to a fund started by readers of this newspaper to save the old manse now total $273 from 16 contributors. Anyone wishing to support the project now can receive an income tax receipt by sending donations to the following address: Richmond Hill Historical Society (Manse Fund), 00 The Liberal, PO Box 390, Richmond Hill, Ont. IAC 4Y6. â€" Editor) I will follow up on‘the fund drive aspect when I return from holidays. I am surprised to see The Liberal view townhouses as “affordable' housing, when price tags on most new units coming on the market today having price tags of $60,000 and $80,000! Regional Councillor Moran ...Markham providing mix At Digby Gut DAVID FAYLE, Chairman, ACAC, Richmond Hill, Ont Agency oligarchy The distance, indifference and im- personality of present government would not be possible without such belittlement of the individual. Listening while the Toronto Area Transit Operating Authority professionally and cold-bloodedly I have talked to some residents in the 554 unit Johnsview Village. Many raised the same concerns about more townhouses going in at the northwest corner of John and Bayview. They weren‘t opposed to townhouses, but rather to the impact on the com- munity of more high density development in their immediate area. These are very reasonable concerns. The OMB hearing I mentioned was a perfect example of this type of error in planning. “Tsk. tsk”, you may say; passing it off as one of the prices of ‘progress’. Yes, perhaps there are too inarly of us too close together to allow the full exercise of each individual’s freedom. But we should never . . . I repeat never, feel justified in giving an in- dividual less than his or her full measure of consideration. We are nearly at the hands of an oligarchy. The only exception is measured in the degree of autonomy still allowed such bodies as Richmond Hill council. It seems obvious the days of strictly local government are drawing to a close. _ It‘s no great secret our provincial government controls our regional governments. _ And it’s becoming clearer every day that regional government controls our municipal government. When If speak of ‘control’, I’m referring to the provision of dictates rather than advice or consensus. The Robarts Commission has suggested what amounts to a fifth level of government. _ The current federal government has demonstrated its ability to control our provincial government. Take a moment to consider the im- plications. - By all means, let’s continue to provide a mix of housipg gni_ts. But with the tax load becoming almost unbearable, especially for present residents on a fixed income, I believe it is time for the provincial government to share some of the load. They may well have to provide some tax grants to those municipalities who are providing higher density units, such as the town of Markham has been doing these past six years! RON MORAN, Regional councillor, Town of Markham. The present community facilities were never designed for this density of development. Present residents have some rights too! When ‘infilling’ with multiple units is permitted in established neigh- borhoods, overcrowding of school facilities often takes place. Then too, traffic flofi/s in the area are altered. Parks and recreation facilities become overburdened. Elected officials have a responsibility to present residents, as well as being responsible to those wishing to move into our town. What I have opposed, and still op- pose, is the rezoning of small parcels of land in older neighborhoods from ‘detached’ to ‘multiple’ designations. By Tom Gale Our servants have become our masters. Consider the two chairs as used at TATAO hearings, pictured here. decimated the opposition of ratepayers concerned with waste of public money, one must admit the truth. It practically guarantees the ultimate expansion of Toronto to Lake Simcoe. Perpetual han dicap in my case Robarts’ new ‘agency’ joins together the government of Toronto with the governments of its surrounding regions. V And it practically ensures the demise of truly local councils. That’s right. I glanced at the riddle of the ages sitting on the arm of a chair where I had left it. And suddenly the whole room lit up, a thousand-voice choir sang in the background and the answer floated across the ceiling in foot-high letters: “You put in the wrong end, stupid.” So I patched up the splintered pieces and after they dried, I deftly inserted the metal ends. Only a fool could ignore the signs: local calling privileges, transit systems, sewage services, the scrap- ping of plans to decentralize, the parody of the Parkway Belt. Oncé that happens. . .democracy in Richmond Hill will be dead. So I sat down and wrote some letters that I had been owing for a long time, juggled a few figures to see just how much money I would have to put in the bank before they hauled me off, wat- ched a little TV, showered, tried a few push-ups, but quit when my nose hit the carpet and I started to doze off, got up, veered over toward the bed and â€" and â€" and â€" . And. yes sir, by golly, that’s how it’s done. all right. Perceptual handicap? Perpetual handicap, in my case, I think would be more apt. It’s only recently they‘ve defined that previously indefinable inability in children to see circles. squares and such in perspective, as a perceptual handicap. However. had the term been in vogue when I was a lad, I'm sure I would have qualified for the title. In fact. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were people such as I who provided the first few inklings in the matter. I used to get lost in my crib and still can't follow directions unless they‘re accompanied by flashing lights overhead. Woodworking classes in public school presented their own special nightmare, where things had to be out just so and join up with other just so cuts. None of which I could fathom. My lack of quick apprehension in putting it all together, as it were, was driven home again last week when I brought home a pair of “easy-to- assemble" bookends. So easy, in fact, that they came without directions. Obviously the manufacturers thought only someone under the age of two months would need directions. And he would have to have someone read them to him anyway, so why bother? The teacher was a cantankerous old guy with grey hair and an inability to smile, even in the face of complete absurdity, such as one of my projects. And I always got the impression that, even though he would speak to me and I would answer, he was probably con- vinced I didn’t speak English at home, but some other strange tongue, which I was obviously still thinking in when I came to class. After I wiped the blood off the wallfi and taped my finger back on, I left the pieces there, wondering if I had any legal claim to returning them as defective material. However, at 77 cents (sale price) I must admit I had little heart forsuch an enterprise and I failed to convince myself that I had been the victim of some nefarious scheme. But I only succeeded in going through one side of the wood and slicing my finger halfway up to my elbow. This Solomon-like puzzle consisted of four pieces â€" two wood and two metal. The wood had slits in the bottom, so that one end of the metal piece could be inserted to provide support and to form the standard L-shaped bookend. However, I just couldh't ram that damn end in the slot. So I got a knife and tried to make the slit bigger. Obviously the glue had dried in there, I reasoned. Old cantankerous for ratepayers Took time out Only 4 pieces regional viewpoint By Jim Irving the voice of one ..for officials