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4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1983 editoria 7 2 DT he DU ESE PR ERE IA MSE WARNS CSSEAL AIRS WAU comments / "Look att this way 25; ™ ~~ an uppercut to 54 aN Jims the chin should be i it a piece of cake ! " Ea lg NY chatterbox by Cathy Robb When I was in high school they were called shiner niners. They were an unusually short, gangly species with more zits than the average teenager, cute in their own hapless grade nine way, but unworthy of the older grades' attention. Except on one special day of the year. A day that continues to shoot cold fingers of fear into every adoles- cent's heart, from the time he or she graduates from grade eight until THAT DAY arrives. Initiation Day. What a horrible day. All summer % long the niners-to-be worry about the day they become 2 initated. Older siblings don't do anything to alleviate ed their concern either, only increase it with wild tales of slave auctions, pushing peanuts down dusty halls with noes, doing dead horses in front of the principal and lap- ping up drinking fountains headfirst. The whole point of the day is to make the shiners feel at home in school, to welcome them through tor- tuous games, sheer ego-blowing intimidation and mind- shattering embarrassment. Good clean fun. I was lucky. I went to a huge high school (good old Markham High) where initiation day had become a pro- blem. Too many people were getting hurt. The year before I started grade nine the day was at its worst, so the principal pulled the day to a screeching stop and banned it from the school for years to come. So when I first entered the hallowed halls of high school, I did it without the terror usually accompany- ing the average grade nine student. I knew I was safe, free from the ravages of older bullies. And was I disappointed. Here we were, a fresh- faced group of nifty niners just waiting for some atten- tion in a school that housed some 2,500 students, atten- tion we never received. Instead of starting school with adrenalin flowing, we just sort of melted into the crowd. A friend of mine is in her late thirties now with a husband and two kids who themselves are nearing the grade nine syndrome. Just the other day she was recall- ing the rigours of initiation day, a day she'll never forget. After being forced to dress as crazily as possible, she was kidna along with several other niners and forced to stand on a street corner in downtown Oshawa, selling peanut butter sandwiches (peanut butter slap- ped between two sheets of toilet paper) to unsuspecting motorists. I've never been so humiliated in my life," she recalls. But humiliation is the name of the game during in- itiation day. Just ask Norma Jean Newbold, the new stu- dent council president at Cartwright High School. Last Friday was THAT DAY for the shiners at Cartwright and what a day it turned out to be, "It's sheer terror!" she says with obvious delight. Five boys and 21 girls were subjected to garbage bag costumes, lipstick and cheap perfume as well as the onslaught of protozoa culture that had been floating around the science room until it landed on the bodies of several shiners. It that wasn't enough, at 11:30 a.m, they were herd- ed into the french room to be auctioned off as slaves to the conniving arms of senior students. The shy, inhibited shiners went most cheaply but the ones who danced, did push-ups or snorted on cue were more valuable. A few went as high as $11. After the auction they were sent out into the streets of Blackstock to sell toilet paper by the sheet. That night they were rounded up for a dance, where they entered a hairy leg contest (for girls) and a hairless leg contest (for boys). You'd think they would want to make a run for it, or better yet, just be sick on initiation day and spend the day safely tucked in front of the TV. Surprisingly, nobody does that. It's only the anticipation that frightens -- the day itself is so much fun the shiners can't seem to get enough of it. "Last year they asked if they could have another initiation day," laughs Principal Gord Paisley. You never can tell with shiners. The Star would like to extend a hearty thanks and congratulations to the 57 men, women and children who took part inthe annual Terry Fox Run last Sunday mor- ning. Through your efforts over $3,500 was raised locally for cancer research. This was the Star's first attempt at organizing the Terry Fox Run for the Port Perry area and had it not been for the enthusiasm of both the volunteers and those tak- ing part in the run, it might well have been less of a success. Even Mother Nature's attempt at raining-out the event could not dampen the spirits of the runners and walkers as they set out along the 10 Km (6 mile) course. Some participants who were unable to get away early were confronted with much rain, and one family con- sisting of a mother and three children actually ran the entire distance in a downpour. Itis this type of inspiration and spirit that has helped to keep alive Terry Fox's dream of a cure for cancer. Everyone across Canada who ran, walked or jogged last Sunday were doing it to make sure that dream becomes a reality. In their.own little way, everyone who sponsored a runner, or who participated in the actual run, was help- ing Terry's dream come true. For every dollar collected will be used towards finding a cure for this devasting disease that affects one in five Canadians. We at the Star thank those who participated in any way, and look forward to even bigger and better results next year. "It's Been 20 Years Monday this week, marked another milestone in the long history of the Port Perry Star. This newspaper, which was first started over 117 years ago was celebrating the 20th anniversary of its ownership by the Hvidsten family. ; t= ' The Port Perry Standard, which was the for-runner of the Port Perry Star was established in 1864 by Mr. E. Mundy. Then, in 1907, the Standard was purchased by Samuel Farmer and was renamed the Port Perry Star. Mr. Farmer commenced publication of the Star in October 1907 with a total circulation of 300 subscribers, and successfully published the paper for 40 years, until ~ his death on April 30, 1948. Following his death the Star was operated by his family, the Boyd's. The Port Perry Star celebrated its' 50th Anniversary in September 1957 with a special edition and a circula- tion of about 1,200 copies. It was six years later, in September 1963 that the Hvidstens purchased the Star, modernized both the paper and equipment and hired Mr. Bill Harrison as editor. Since that time the paper has grown to a circula- tion of 5400 copies per. week and has won numerous awards in both National and Provincial competitions recognizing the Star as one of the top tabloid publica- tions in its class. : Twenty years is not particularly a long time, but to those of us working at the Star it is a milestone we did not want to slip by unnoticed. So Monday afternoon, right in the heat of produc- tion of this issue of the Star, we took time out to reflect and celebrate. Present for that brief celebration was former publisher/owner Per Hvidsten, who was given the honour of cutting the cake. Aside from Per Hvidsten (who still works part time even though he has retired) Annabell Harrison is the only employee to have been with the Star for the entire 20 years. In recognition for valued and faithful service to the Star, Annabell was presented The Canadian Com- munity Newspaper Assoc. Bronze Quill certificate by Publisher J. Peter Hvidsten. There have been many management changes over the past 117 years, but there is no doubt that the sole purpose of each was to serve and inform the people of this community. It is most definitely our intention to keep this tradition alive for years to come.