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VIEWPOINT by John B. McClelland a Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, November 16, 1993 -- 9 dm LETTERS TO EDITORE JUNIOR G HOCKEY You may have already noticed the letter to the editor in this edition of the Citizen from "Snipers," noting the fact that the number of fans attending Junior C hockey games in Port Perry is on the decline. This is a fact that has not gone un-noticed in this corner either And I know the management and directors of the team are trying to figure out where the fans have gone and what they must do to bring them back. The Port Perry MoJacks are not in a boat by themselves in wondering where the fans have gone. The same thing is happening in other arenas in the Central Junior C League. The number of fans at games has been on the decline for the last couple of years at least. In fact, from my somewhdt un-scientific observations, it started at about the same time the economy went into a major swan dive ~ There no doubt is any number of reasons why fans are staying away from Junior hockey games. In the case of the ModJacks this season (or the last several seasons, for that matter) it is certainly not for lack of a decent product on the ice As | write this the team is sporting an impressive record of five "vins, two ties and one loss, and the players are full marks for this record This is a talented, well balanced squad with plenty of speed and scoring ability on the forward lines and a group of defensemen who get the job done. Indeed, the MoJacks in their first eight games, have given up just 25 goals, a tribute to the defense and the netminders Spectators who do show up for the games see hockey that is fast, crisp, hard hitting, entertaining and (most games, anyway) without a lot of fighting. The League has also adopted a get-tough policy on dangerous infractions like boarding, checking-¥rom-behind and high sticking All this, in my view, has resulted in a brand of hockey that is as good as you'll find in any small town in the land. The Scugog Arena is an excellent and comfortable facility in which to watch a hockey game. There is ample free parking, the seating area (which is heated) provides a great view of the ice surface, there is a complete snack bar where the quality of the coffee is much better than in many other arenas So there you have it--a highly competitive team, a quality brand of hockey played in a first class arena I think that as the winter progresses, the seats on Sunday nights will start filling up for Junior C hockey in Port Perry. The baseball season is (finally!) over and with the mercury falling day by day, it is starting to feel like hockey season Word will start getting around that the MoJacks are more than competitive this year and people will start getting out to games to see for themselves. And if they like what they see, they'll be back the following week, or maybe even travel to watch the club "on the road." To the "Snipers" who wrote the letter this week, I can only offer the following advice. Strive each game to give the fans the best quality hockey possible. Plug yourself in the community whenever you can. Be patient, and remember that once the fans find you, chances are excellent that they'll stay with you. This 18 my 17th season coverthg Junior hockey in this community. Sure, it's part of my-jéb, but I'm also a fan. Naturally, I like to see the home tow team win, but more impogtantly, I like to see hockey the way it should be played. Not many times in recent years have | been disappointed. The MoJacks have a grand tradition in Port Perry that goes back more than 20 years. I feel confident this tradition will survive. But there are times when I look around a rather vacant Scugog Arena on a Sunday might and wonder People thege days are fond of talking about all the rewards of small-town living. A night out to watch the local hockey team is, in my view, just as important a part of small town living as everything else we cherish. HOW HIGH CAN THEY GO! Have you noticed that Labatt and Molson are in another head-to- head battle, this t over higher alcohol suds. Just afew weeks ago, Labatt's hit the market with Maximum, a befr with 7.2 per cent alcohol content. Malson has countered with Triple xy with 7.3 per cent content. -- Some anti-drinking and driving organizations are less than pleased with this latest in the brew wars as they think these beers are aimed at a younger crowd who want "more kick for the buck." Where will it end? Will the next brand on the market pack a ten or 12 per cent alcohol content? Who knows. But wasn't it just a couple of years ago that "light" beer was all the rage--the stuff with 4 per cent alcohol and less calories? They were after the boomers who, approaching middle age, wanted less fat, less calories, less everything except money. Molson says it will adhere to stricter guidelines in marketing its new Triple X, such as no TV ads before 9:30 PM. That's no big deal Their market is those who want more punch from the suds The truth of the matter is that both the big breweries are slowly losing their crucial market share to the smaller brew companies, not to mention the ever growing number of imported drafts on tap in the pubs Personally, I think a beer war over alcohol content is a dangerous thing in this day and age Snipers ask 'Where are all the Junior C fans?! To the Editor: As players and forever fans of the Port Perry MoJacks Junior C Hockey Club, we have noticed the decline of local fan support on hohe game nights. As players, the presence of noisy fans enables the players to rise to the top of their game. Therefor, with extra coverage and pr ion from the newspaper, the local citizen will say "why don't I take my family to a MoJack game tonight?" This question should be asked by every citizen of Port Perry and surrounding suburbs. With more fans in the arena, the more fun it is on the ice for the players The thought for the day should be "what is a MoJack?" Just sign us, sincerely yours, "Snipers" "Letter writer's identity To the Editor: I am writing to stress my concerns over recent letters from E. M. Gilbert. I would like to make your readers aware that E.M. Gilbert is none other than Marion Cook. Why might this outspoken, religious woman want to go by her maiden name "Gilbert?" I don't know. Maybe she could tell us. Her constant embarrassment and misrepresentation of her church may have something to do with her need to change her identity Denise Cook, Courtice Fight against dump has only just begun To the Editor; I'm frustrated and I'm really angry! Three years ago Bob Rae stood in a field in Pickering and said "Elect me and there won't be a dump in this field". He didnt lie; the Durham site Mr Rae, the NDP and their interim waste authority picked is less than two miles from that field My anger and the agger expressed by many Pickering residepts today isn't a "not in my backyard" reaction. Why? Our backyard is full! We have had the Brock North, South, West and Beare Road Landfill Sites. We have 8one our part Simply on the baais of common decency and fairness, Pickering should not be the site for more garbage Landfills are archaic and obsolete as a means of dealing with garbage near built residential areas. We are not simply saying "Get the dump our of Pickering and move it somewhere else in Durham" We are saying,"Open your eyes and look at alternatives to landfill." Is the Rail haul to Kirkland Lake viable? We don't know! the IWA didn't look at it!!! Can recycling and composting cut down on the for landfill? We don't know! The TWA ditin't look at it!!! What about exporting? Some landfills in the U.S. actually want our garbage and at cheaper rates than in our own landfills. Is private sector involvement a viable option? Again we don't know! They didnt look at it! The flawed IWA process did not look at options or fairness in ite site selection. But rest assured that | am going to be looking at many options and fighting for fairness in the coming months and years I have spoken to Gary Herrema, the Regional Chairman, Wayne Arthurs, the Mayor of Pickering, and Enrico Pistritto, the local councillor from my ward, and have strong commitment form each of them to keep this dump out of Pickering It is not fair planning and it does not make sense. The residents of Pickering will not tolerate it, the Town and the Region will not tolerate it, and collectively we will use every last 'egal avenue to stop the dump being put here full and open environmental assessment hearings «court challenges to the legality of the TWA -the hiring of a consulting firm to work with the private sector to create an alternative to landfill This site is supposed to open in 1997. we know that Bob Rae, Ruth Grier and Bud Wildman won't be in office then, but we cannot allow them to leave another dump in Pickering as their legacy. This will be an expensive fight, but the cost to our town, our children and our way of life, if we don't fight will be horrendous. The costs cannot be borne entirely through the tax system. | urge every resident and community association to get involved vocally and financially in their fight. We will be having a fundraising rally soon Any ideas or help will be welcomed Rick Johnson Regional Councillor, Ward 3 Tgwn of Pickering David Suzuki film on at local Video Night Port Perry's third Video Night of the fall season is coming up ongfhursday, November 26 at Port Perry High School at 7:30 PM Co-sponsored by the Light-On film Group and the PPHS Environment Club, Video Night is free and open to everyone Come and see the David Suzuki show "Trading Futures," and learn how some new ways of thinking about the economy, jobs and the environment could lead us into a world better equipped to sustain us all, now and in the future. Bring along a mug for coffee or tea For more information about Port Perry's monthly Video Night, call 985-3225 or 986-4524