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Matt Morison glides to a gold finish in Japan Snowboarder Matt Morison surprised everyone, including him- self last month as he swept to a first place and top of the podium during a Word Cup Snowboard competition in Furano, Japan. Matt was featured on the cover of the December issue of Fo- cus On Scugog and since then has competed in more than a dozen events across the U.S.A., Austria, Switzerland, Russia and Japan. In his last three snowboarding competitions, Matt has placed 3, 2 and 1, defeating Olympic silver medalist Simon Schoch in the Japan final on Feb. 16. The 19-year old snowboarder, who hails from Burketon, earned a birth on the Canadian National Team late last year and has been very impressive during his rookie year. Since his success in Europe and Japan, Matt competed in Korea and will return to Canada this month for competitions in Quebec and Alberta before heading back to Austria in April. e\ - NAPOLEON ») Acolumn devoted to recognizing events and decisions affecting the residents of Scugog Township, and rating them with a “Thumbs Up, or Thumbs Down!” Thumbs Up to Lake Scugog Lumber for flying a huge Canadian Nn its storefront. We only wish more people would take the lead of the Griffen family and show their pride for their country by raising the big red Maple Leaf for all to see. We could leam a lesson about patriotism from the Griffens, and our southem neigbours. Thumbs UP to 16-year-old Cali Tanner of Blackstock, our reign- ing Miss Teen Canada, who is preparing for the Ss Teen World competition in Australia in April. Cali was first discovered while purchasing a snack at Tim Hor- tons. Good Luck Cali... we'll be cheering for you. humbs Down to the persons who left a beautiful dog, which had tangled with a porcupine, tied to the rear of the Port Perry Animal Hospital and then took off. With a face full of quills and temperatures near -20C, the dog would quite likely suffered all night, or died, had it not luckily been found by staff before they closed to go home. artes tc Dr. Nancy Silverberg and staffat the Port Perry Vet- ry Hospital for returning to her clinic later that night to Gash the dog and remove the quills. She and her staff then proceeded to find a loving home for this beautiful German Shepherd. A sad story with a happy ending. Thumbs vow to the mindless people who use the clothing pins ide Reid’s Independent for their personal dumy QO The eee around the bins, placed around town to cok for often look like a a furniture . compound. C'mon guys... spend $10 and take your junk to the dump, like everyone else. Thumbs Down to conditions inside the local IGA store, which has been under renovations for more than a year. Ce- ment floors, plastic sheeting and wires hanging from the ceiling are not condusive to a good shopping ex- perience. Closing for a few months would have made more sense and would have caused less grumbling. ORT PERRY OPTICAL eyeglasses * sunglasses 6 FOCUS - MARCH 2007 focus@observerpub.ca