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Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, August 22, 1995 -- 9 f_--:a VIEWPOINT by John B. McClelland i LETTERS TO EDITOR|¢ RUN WITH IT, DICK I never watch David Letterman and his late night talk show on the tube. The hour is just too late for me and frankly I don't especially "Tike talk shows, period. So, when Dick Assman surfaced a couple of weeks ago I had no idea who he was or how and why Letterman had elevated him to celebrity status of sorts. It's all in his name. Letterman, it seems, noticed Assman's name in a newspaper ad, found it amusing, called him on the phone and one thing led to another. Letterman continued to poke fun on the air at the name Dick Assman who in real life works at a service station in Regina and the next thing you knowy-Assman, 61, is touring around the country doing ~ publicity appearances. He's been at the Janetville Jamboree, Kotya Peekin' lingerie shop in Port Perry, furniture stores and elsewhere. I've never met the guy. At first I thought this is a crazy publicity stunt all because some late night talk show host in New York started poking fun at his name. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that in this crazy, zany world we live in, Dick Assman has as much right as anybody else to cash in on the pubfcity. Hey, if he can make a few bucks plugging this or that and have some fun at the same time, more power to him. So to Dick Assman, run with it, milk this for everything you can. Have a good time and keep things in perspective. What was it the late Andy Warhol once said about everybody in his or her life will have 15 minutes of fame on a stage somewhere. LA BELLE PROVINCE Ah, lovely Quebec, place of my birth, home of the Canadiens and the heart-breaking Expos, and Montreal, at one time the most feu turally interesting and dynamic city in North America. What is going on in Quebec. I have tried to follow the news this summer about the up-coming referendum, but frankly after so many years of this stuff, I have lost interest almost completely. Maybe it's the heat of the summer. I just can't get my brain in gear to really concentrate on the pronouncements of Messieurs Parizeau et Bouchard et Johnson et Chretien. Perhaps I should not admit that I am suffering from referendum fatigue. After all I am a Canadian and damn proud to be one, too. Perhaps once the cooler weather arrives as the October referendum vote draws closer, my brain will kick back into gear. But right now, sad' to say, I wish the question would be answered for good, one way or another. If the people of Quebec want a divorce, fine, get on with it. If they don't, put this issue away for the next century. 1 suspect a lot of Canadians outside Quebec are starting to feel the same way I do. Get the vos over with, then get outta my face. COINCIDENCE? Last. week in this column space 1 mentioned the fact that we have not had one shred of information from Durham East MPP John O'Toole since his election ten weeks ago. . No sooner was the Citizen out'on Tuesday when a fax arrived from John O'Toole's office. It's a letter to the editor (actually to his Durham East constituents) re-printed in this edition, by the way. Nice to hear from you, John. I know it's summer and all that, and thes Legislature is. closed. "til September 26, but even @' press réleasq would have beef welcome. Afiyway, O'Toole tells us in his letter he plans to start writing a* weekly column for publication in the newspapers in the riding. Good, can't wait to see the first one. IN CLOSING: Some tips on how to get along with the Editor (that's me) I am by nature an easy-going guy. After nearly 25 years in the newspaper business, not much surprises me or gets my dander up. Since the Citizen started more than four years ago, our philosophy has been to provide our readers with local news, interesting features and columns and as much community information as possible. Our community calender offers space free: for non-profit and charitable groups and organizations to get their message to our readers. The calendar is not, repeat not for commercial businesses that operate for profit, no matter what kind of business they are. We do accept paid advertising. As for news and press releases, follow these guidelines and you will have a much better chance of seeing print rather than ending up' in the X-file in the corner of my office. *Type the news release, or at least write very legibly. *Say what you have to say in sentence and paragraph form. Keep it short and to the point and do not expect me to re-write your release. *The deadline is noon on Monday, but if you want to make the editor smile, get your press release to our office on the previous Thursday. *If the press release is about your for-profit company, call me ahead of time to discuss it. Dont walk into my office with an obvious advertorial and then get upset when it doesn't get published. * Write on white paper using black ink. A press release that hurts my eyes won't go too far. If you spill coffee (or chili sauce) on your release, re-write it on a fresh piece of paper. *Hand deliver your press release to the Citizen office (or mail it) but don't burn up my fax paper. *If you have any questions, call me at 985-6397. Contrary to popular belief, I really am a nice guy. But my deadline is Monday noon. About that time each week I get ugly, very ugly. Get the message? Back to the real world To the Editor: So, former NDP MP Lafry O'Connor (Durham West riding) has returned to General Motors td®uild cars. Welcome back to the real world, Larry. It seemed to me that the NDP catered to many self interest groups and went on a spending spree like a drunken sailor with their "political correctness" nonsense that turned many of us off. ay is a good guy to work beside in eral Motors as I was one of his former line workers, but he has to realize that people are faél up with politicians who only follow the agenda of their political party instead of the well being of their constituents who put them there. We have a very 'volatile electorate who A do not like to be used by any party and get angry when told how to think as was happening with the NDP. The proof of that was when members of CAW Local 222 voted 84 per cent against financing any political party with out union dues. Union brothers or anyone you work beside might have a different view than you give them credit for, but we have to respect those views so we can all get along in harmony and respect. Respect: for other people's opinions goes a very long way. Herman van der Veen. GM retiree Oshawa. Letter from our MPP To the Editor: Dear constituents of Durham East Riding. As Your newly elected "mmember of the Provincial Parliament, I wish to express my thanks for the vote of confidence you have given me and our Progressive Conservative government on June 8. I will work hard to deliver on the promises made during the election. You may have read or heard about some of the issues we are dealing with on your behalf. Our Caucus has met several times and we have been given the opportunity to express concerns we are hearing from you, our constituents. Over the next few weeks, it is my intention to continue the tradition of having a regular article published in local newspapers. Thanks to the local press, they are an important part of the communication process. Please feel free to write or phone me with your concerns or comments. We have had our office open in Bowmanville since: July 4 and have been receiving about 50 calls per day. We are here to serve you Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The office is at 75 King Street East, Bowmanville. Phone 1-800-661-2433, 905-697-1501 or Fax 905-697-1506. Over the past few weeks we have established contact with our partners in each municipality, the Region, school boards and other boards. It is our intention to work together to bring a "common sense" accountable "and ible style of rep on your behalf. Please keep in touch. John O'Toole, MPP Durham East Thanks from the 'Heart' To the Editor; Thanks to the generosity of those who attended the Musicians Corn Roast and the many wonderful donations the day was a huge success. Thank you to special people, Paul and Charlene Wasson, for organizing and opening their home, to Tom and Laura Mark, Stew and Pat Ford, Art Neil our famous corn cooker, Rosie and Sandy our clowns and all of the many volunteers and Musicians that made this day the best ever. The best ever meant that over $1500 was donated to The Heart and Stroke Foundation Special thanks must go to Long & McQuade of Oshawa for the donation of the acoustic guitar, and the many other wonderful donations: Framers Gallery , Doors, Bill Lishmans print framed by Photo Stop, Settlement se, Country Afghan "From the H framed by Classic Arrangement A, Scooters Popcorn, Puckrins Corn, Algoma Apple Orchard, Erin Acres, T & S BBQ, Neil Johnson, Scugog Rentals of Port Perry, Whitby and Oshawa. Thank you also to all of the businesses that sold advanced tickets for this great day. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you all again next year. Put it in your calendar so as not to be disappointed and join us for a great day of old fashioned family fun on Sunday August 19, 1996. Anne Capon , Area Coordinator Durham East Heart and Stroke Foundation September 4, starting at 1:00 PM. between 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM. Consignment Auction at Port Perry Fair There will be a consignment auction at the Port Perry Fair on Monday, This auction will be hosted by John Pearce Auction Services and items on the block will include art, crafts, produce and much more. Everyone is welcome to take advantage of the auction. Those wishing to put items into the auction must contact Bill or Whitney Cohoon prior to September 1 at 985-8044, or Shirley Hunter at 985-3819. Just a reminder as well for those wishing to enter exhibits at the Port Perry Fair, _entry forms must be submitted by August 30. Exhibits are to be delivered to the Craft House on the Fairgrounds September 1 For more information on how to enter exhibits or for special arrangements, contact Shirley Hunter at 985-3819. The Port Perry Fairgrounds are located on Durham Road, just west of Simcoe Street. Watch the Citizen next week for a full schedule of exciting events coming up this year at the Port Perry Fair September 1-3. --_-- ['