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OW" IA sb i mg sng hi Lima a v Ee Ahad anid M Yesterday's Memories 60 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 24, 1925 Among the students of Port Perry who are at home over the Christmas holidays are Mr. L.. McLean, Mr. John Brock, Miss Isabel Lucas, Miss Miriam Harris, Mr. Grant Rundle, Mr. Alex Woods, Miss E. Peters, Miss M. Jackson. All are university students. Some of the winners of students at the Port Perry High School ~ this year were for Household Science Ethel Dodd, First, Irene Barker second in Form 1, in Form II, Grace McMillan and Marian Farmer. Miss Edna Cook of Epsom has taken a position as nurse in Albany City Hospital, Albany, N.Y. Mr. Norman DeShane has been appointed caretaker of the Port Perry rink. The lady teachers of the United Church Sunday School gave a shower at the home of Mrs. George Jackson for Miss May Coultis prior to her marriage to Mr. James Harvey Real. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 28, 1950 The Canadian Legion Branch 419 opened its new hall for the first time, some 15 to 20 veterans and friends enjoyed a social evening. Maurice Fralick was elected Superintendent of the Scugog United Church Sunday School this year, with his assistant being Mrs. Net- tie Aldred. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hedges are re-opening the grocery store at Manchester that was formerly operated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Coombe. Public School children tried out the ice at the new Arena this week for the first time. The first to skate on the ice was Bobby Carnegie. Mr. Jack Green has resigned as Dairy Herd Supervisor of Durham County. A position he has held for one year and a half. His successor is Mr. Black of Bowmanville. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 29, 1960 Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Hunter of Prince Albert celebrated their 55th Wedding Anniversary. The president this year for Seagrave W.A. is Mrs. Lola Bruce, and her vice, will be Mrs. Ralph Reynolds. The five County appointments made by County Council to District High School Boards in the County were Walter Beath, East Whitby High School Board; Charles Hadden for Brock; Harold Holtby for Central Ontario; Arthur Robertson for Whitby District High School Board and Mrs. Lois Wheeler for Pickering District High School Board. Mr. Jack Beare has been appointed manager of Eaton's store in Kitchener. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. M.T. Beare of Port Perry and a brother of Lorne of Uxbridge, and attended school in Port Perry. Members of the Public School Board in Port Perry elected by the voters this year were Robert V. Archer, Stanley Bruton, Frank Godley, Gordon Goode and William Taylor. 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 23, 1965 Mr. Charles Brignall was installed as Worshipful Master of Fidelity Lodge, Port Perry. (Turn to page 6) Letters PORT PERRY STAR -- Monday, December 30, 1985 -- § Enforce drinking, driving laws Dear Sir: Yes! I attended the SADD infor- mation meeting held at the Port Perry High School, Thursday, December 12th, 1985. | believe there should have been twice as many If the people of Scugog are really con- cerned about the SADD program I find it very gratifying that the government has finally realized the seriousness of drinking and driving, and introduced tougher laws. However, the big question still re- mains. Will these laws really be rigidly enforced" All too often in the past, the court's view of drunk driving seems to have been much more tolerant than that of the public in general The penalties imposed have been Need for affordable housing Dear Sir: Among the issues raised in the local election recently was that of affordable housing for young and old alike in Port Perry and Scugog. This is an urgent need for our community. It should be addressed with vigour by the new Council. Scugog could be in danger of becom- ing a ghetto for the privileged developing a damnable fortress-like mentality. Damnable theologically because in Christian terms a just and equal society is measured by its treatment of the poor and powerless. Scugog ought not to become a community of and for the advantaged in this favoured part of Ontario. Sincerely, The Rev. Stuart McEntyre Port Perry, Ontario merely a shght slap on the wrist kven when the drunk driver has been responsible for someone's death, the sentences imposed have been ridiculously lenient I cannot help having the feeling that crimes involving the loss of money are considered by the courts to be more reprehensive that loss of Ife caused by drunk drivers Quite often, too, the courts seem to care more about the rights of the perpetrators of crime, than about the rights of the victims This perception will not change much unless these new laws are en- forced by the courts to the very maximum Once again, at this time of the (Turn to page 6) Funding of education Dear Sir. In discussing the cost of education you must be conscious that there 1s a vast difference between what seems good in theory and what is feasible in practice. When seeking funds, from whatever level of government, you cannot escape the reality that they come out of the one and same pocket, that of the taxpayers. Each year with your tax bill, the Township provides information showing from whence the money v comes. A comparison of the last five years is of interest. Provincial contributions applied to reduce the taxes imposed for municipal, regional and school board purposes; 1981 $6,718,725 1982 $6,337,681 1983 $7,273,425 1984 -- $7,686,743 1985 -- $8,173,496 ta 21.6 percent increase over 1981) (Turn to page 6) "1 HATE TO BE A KILLJOY BUT DO YOU REALIZE [T'S NOW 4:30 A.M. JANUARY 3RD?" ~ A eum nm THE WORLD OF Bill Smiley CHRISTMASES PAST } # 5 E) foe Ah, Christmas! Ug, Christmas! Aggh, Christmas! One's enthusiasm seems to drain as one grows older. I don't mind the first carols beginning before the Grey Cup game. I don't mind a big turkey dinner, after eating frozen turkey diners all year. I enjoy a Christmas tree, if somebody else will pick it up, make the dam' thing stand up and decorate it. I love a big fire in the fireplace, if somebody else will fetch the wood from the cellar. Otherwise, it's about as exciting as Labour Day. And you don't have to sweep out the needles on that holiday. However, there are remembrances of Christmas pasts And some of them are great ones. My childhood Christmases were all anyone could want, although during the Depression, gifts were pret- ty scanty But there was always an apple, an orange, and some nuts in the stocking. Maybe a book under the tree But usually a new set of long-johns I remember a Christmas at an RAF station in North Wales We rookie officers were introduced to an old custom; the officers served dinner to the "other ranks We did it with a certain elan, considering that all the WAAFs were giggling and trying to pinch or pat our bums as we weaved, and I mean weaved, among the tables We had fortified ourselves before the meal Some officers were so well fortified that they slept through the officer's dinner in the ni, afterwards I remember another in prison camp We had sav. ed and scrounged from the last Red Cross parcels to get through. It began, as I recall, with cocktails (potato whiskey), went through creamed salmon on toast and wound up with a vast cake, unleavened, made of ground Graham wafers, chocolate, and dried milk, beaten with water. Anyway, we lay around and groaned for the last time in six months. Another Christmas dinner was in a sanitorium. That was a real gasser. Lukewarm turkey, lukewarm everything, and five other guys coughing their guts out. However, we got our plum pudding, which looked suspiciously like the usual tapioca pudding, with a sprig of holly, or pine needles, on top. Then it was great Christmas dinners at Granny's, for a few years Five hours frantic preparation in the kitchen, one hour to eat, then the women back in the kit- chen for two hours, washing up, while the men stretch- ed out like pythons, just fed. Jolly good. However, those great dinners were not without in- cidents. On one occasion, my brother-in-law and I went in on a television set for the folks on the farm With great secrecy, we put it on a toboggan, and slip it 200 yards up the snowy lane to the house. We hoised the great box into the kitchen. Kim, about three, said, 'I hope you like the TB, Gran." The 'vhole clandestine surprise busted by a kid. Anyway, ¢ ran liked it On another occasion, my wife decided to do the honors It was the first real home we'd had --- half a house She spat and polished, even the stoves, and in- vited her parents and a favourite aunt f,r the big Christmas dinner She was like a whirling dervish, mak- Ing gravy, mashing potatoes. while I stood around be ing helpful Finally, she handed me the platter with the turkey on it I headed for the table, and the dang turkey ---- you know how slipper they are -- -- shd right off the platter and onto the fresh-polished floor I have never been closer to death However, everyone was great, and they had a good turkey dinner, except for Tiny Tim yours truly who spent the rest of the dinner washing the floor Another big flop was the time we invited Gran and Grandad out to a hotel for Christmas dinner. Gran was a bit past the getting of a gargantuan meal. It was my idea last of the big time spenders. We all got dressed up, which we didn't do at the farm The dinner was third- rate, and we were all embarrassed, even the kids. Limp, cool turkey, dressing made from old running-shoes, gravy from a can The only thing I could think of was, "well, no dishes to do" This cheery note was greeted by stony silence Last two years haven't been so bad Auntie Iris in- vited us all for Christmas dinner, and it was the good old style Last year, after about thirty seconds dialogue, we agreed to go out to a restaurant, and it turned out to be first-rate No turkey, but all you could eat. My grand- boys put away about twice as much as any adult My only real regret is for the time my mother cook- ed a great turkey dinner, to be served about three o'clock My older brother and sister and a friend went out skiing and arrived home at five, full of themselves My kid brother and I sneaked off to the matinee, and arrived home, guilty, about the same time My mother didn't say a word, but the dinner was ruined, and I've never felt so guilty since ----