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wp B--Beugog Cifizen -- November ¥ = re 3 3 Za FET Pa 5 ek 2 EATS RR 1071993 " Our waterfront diamonds The reference came up rather innocently Monday afternoon as hip council ting in i was plowing its way through a lengthy document called "Port Perry Urban Design Guidelines." There was a reference to an earlier study that suggested the sports facilities in the waterfront parks be moved to make way for facilities more in keeping with water activities. "The sports facilities of course are the two baseball diamonds and the tennis courts. Ward 3 councillor Ken Gadsden asked that council delete any fe in the guideline d t to moving the diamonds and the courts. And the rest of council went along with his request to delete that sentence from this weighty document. Let us be very clear here. The document in question in no way states categorically that the diamonds and courts be moved from 'their present location. And there is (to our knowledge, anyway) no move underway by this council to even consider doing away with those facilities. And that's exactly how it should be. Any suggestion that they be moved would cause a hue and cry in the community the likes of which have not been heard for years. It would be a political minefield for any council to even contemplate the idea in the abstract. From early May to the end of October, those diamonds and courts are used extensively by the people of Scugog Township. And they are focal points for others on any warm evening or weekend who just watch the games in what has to be one of the most beautiful natural settings anywhere. Taking that away from the people of Scugog would be a travesty. And besides, just as an aside, it would cost some $300,000 just to replace the two diamonds elsewhere. Scugog doesn't have that kind of spare change in the cash box : Baseball has been played on the waterfront for several decades. "And it should continue to be played there for several more decades. That's why it was important Monday afternoon for council to delete the reference (oblique as it was) from that document. Any reference that hangs d in an official or even semi-official document, guidelines or ise, could be used someday by somebody to "get the ball rolling." The waterfront parklands belong to the people of Scugog Township. The ball diamonds and tennis courts are actually used by the people. They are the envy of communities everywhere, and they must stay right where they are. Take time to remember Every year as November descends upon us with its gloomy, cold and damp days, Canadians everywhere take time to stop and remember the men and women who served their country in two world wars and the Korean War. The weather invariably fits the sombre mood of Remembrance Day, November 11. It is a time for reflection, a time to think about the more than 100,000 Canadians who paid with their lives and the hundreds of thousands who served and came home. It is close to 75 years since the end of the Great War, nearly 50 years since the last World War, almost 40 years since the Korean War came to a close. With the passing of each year, it is inevitable that the ranks of the veterans are thinning. Badly, in 1992 the prevailing mood seems to be that society or the country owes something to anyone who stands up and demands it. And those that shout the loudest get the most. What a contrast to the spirit of self-sacrifice for the common good that a many carried with them overseas so many years ago. Indeed, times have changed so much that the veterans no doubt take a look around them and wonder if it was worth it. Of course it was worth it. By stopping on November 11 for a few moments, by wearing a poppy, by attending services we show them that we care and that even though many of us were not yet born when they were paying the price, the sacrifice of their fallen comrades was not in vain and never will be in vain. Canada in 1992 is a country with its share of problems. But they are. minute when compared to what is happening elsewhere on this planet: minute indeed. We enjoy a standard of living, personal freedoms and a way of life that is the envy of people everywhere. We should never forget that. Nor should we ever forget what we owe to those who didn't flinch when called to serve 75, 50 or 40 years ago. J. MAHONEY publish editor : John B. McClelland * LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Military being run into ground by Defense Minister To the Editor: If there is one thing in this country that wrenches my gut it is Marcel Masse, the national minister of defense. He has to be the most egotistical, pernicious being to live in Canada today. This "closet separatist" has all but closed every military base in Canada today--from coast to coast-- and has placed everything military in his home province of Quebec. He has made a gigantic sweep right across the country using Quebec as his dumping bin. And it has come to light this month this same man is telling our military brass they should put some distance between ourselves and the American and the British and align with France????? Are there no English speaking politicians left in Ottawa to stand up to this Napoleonic mimic? As long as Prime Minister Brian Mulroney keeps this pompous, inflated individual on the "big payroll," he will remain because he thrives on making English waves across the land. He thrives on power and glory and will stay in the portfolio until he gets the boot. The latter is not likely because we all know it was the Masses and the Bouchards who helped put Mulroney in power with their votes. One has already bolted to the Bloc Quebecois, and in the next couple of months we are likely to see many more "bolters" in the same direction. At one point in Canada's history, our Armed Forces were run by men who knew the military inner thinking, by respected generals, et al. Today our military is run by a Quebec nationalist who will stop at nothing until he has made a complete fool out of all Canadians. Our military today is overseen by one who would make us fools on the world stage while at the same time he is stock-piling armouries in Quebec. This guy needs a good kick in the backside and sent packing back to his "nation" where he too can run under the "block" banner. This too may come to pass very soon. Mrs. Pat"Stevenson, Oshawa, Ont. Literature at meeting was totally inappropriate for the occasion To the Editor: On October 27 of this year I took my daughter and her friend (both age 15) to a presentation by the group "Scugog Women" titled "Healthy Lifestyles for Teens." The presentation included speakers addressing three topics: Teen-age stress, sexual assault and AIDS. The presentation by the three speakers was interesting, informative and enjoyable. by Scugog Citizen Publishing : The Scugog Citizen, an independ After the presentation, those present had a coffee break, which was also an opportunity to look at or pick up various brochures available on AIDS and sexual assault. As well, there were condoms available for those who wished to take them. Following this break we returned to our seats and there was an opportunity for all present to ask questions of the panel of speakers. There were tly owned and OCNA Member CCNA Member several questions from a group of people seated directly behind us concerning the safety of condoms in protecting against §AIDS and other lly itted di the possibility of acquiring AIDS through deep-mouth kissing, and concerns about how the HIV positive member of the panel had become infected (through a Please turn to Page 11 d weekly advertising manager ; Valerie Ellis 36 WATER ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1j2 Phone : (416) 985-6397 Fax : (416) 985-1410 feature writer : Heather McCrae "Proud Canadians proud to call Scugog Township home." ccna BNAOIAN COM p Bs, En Rs" 'conTROLLED Rotts A550 om paper, is delivered free of charge to 10,000 homes and businesses in and around Scugog Township. Subscriptions sold outside Scugog. RIBBON NIT 1992