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IT NE tg TTT hy --_----_-- Tr . PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, April 12, 1988 -- 5 Viewpoint by John B. McClelland In his letter to the editor in this edition of the Port Perry Star, Neil DeShane of Prince Albert hits the nail right on the head when he talks about the gigantic mess left behind by so-called "sportsmen" who come to the Scugog area winter and summer to test the fishing waters. Like Mr. DeShane, | too am appalled at what | see littering the lakeshore, not just at this time of the year, but also during the summer months. owever, from my experience, | don't think it is the true sportsperson who is to blame for the un- sightly mess left behind. The people | know who have a real love of hunt- ing and fishing and the outdoors, would no more leave their garbage behind than they would their ri- fle or fishing rod. They know that if you spoil the natural environment in any way (be it garbage, over- fishing etc.) it won't be long before there is no envi- ronment left to spoil. Those styrofoam worm containers seem to be a particular blight on the landscape. Our lakeshore is littered with them, and who knows how many are simply tossed into the lake where they sink to the bottom. | have often wondered why the provincial gov- ernment allows worms to be sold in these contain- ers. One simple solution would be to force bait dealers to store worms in bulk, and the customer who wants a dozen worms must bring his own con- tainer to the store, one that can be used over and over again. | realize this would cause a bit of inconvenience for bait dealers if they had to count out a dozen worms, but it would sure spruce up the shores of our lakes and rivers. | guess you can't legislate against human stu- pidity. Like | said before, true fishermen who care don't toss away (or over-board) their empty worm containers. They take along a garbage bag and all their trash from the day's outing is placed there, for proper disposal when the outing is over. Anyway, Mr. DeShane's letter makes a lot of common sense. It's worth a read, if you haven't al- ready. NOVEMBER/88 It's still a long way to November, but | keep hear- ing a lot of talk about the municipal elections that will take place that month. So far, just one candidate has ubliely: stated what his intentions are in Scugog Township, and that's Harvey Graham who's going to take a shot at the Mayor's chair. | suspect there will be a lot of interest in the next local elections with several other members of the current council deciding it's time to make a move or get out. Incumbent Mayor Jerry Taylor will not be run- / hig again, although he hasn't announced that offi- cially or publicly. But Mayor Taylor hasn't kept it a se- cret that this is his last term. He's been mayor of this community for a decade, and that's a pretty good run for any local politician. In my view he's done a good job, not just in the "nuts and bolts" day to day municipal work, but as an ambassador for Scugog, which is a very important part of the job for any mayor. As for who may be running where come next November, speculating at this time can be hazard- ous and foolhardy. But keep your eye on the following local politi- cians: Yvonne Christie, Don Cochrane and Howard Hall. They are all ward reps at the present, and in my opinion are just itching to make a move "up the lad- der" so to speak. And don't take your eye off the Senator. You never know what he might do when an election rolls around. I'm referring, of course, to Lawrence Malcolm, the dean of Scugog councillors in terms of years of service,going back to his days on Carwright council, prior to Regional government. I've heard rumblings that Lawrence may retire this year from politics (he won't say at this time) but from my observations over the past few months, he looks anything but a guy getting ready to step own. And he seems to be enjoying himself in the po- litical arena, both at the local level and at the Re- gion, where politics is as thick as molasses on a cold day in January. Nobody knows the ins and outs (the process) of local government better than Lawrence. He knows when to put a motion on the table and when to sit back and keep quiet. He doesn't make many tactical errors and never gets stuck with his foot in his mouth. Will he run again? Lawrence will let us know some time in late August or early September. It's only a gut feeling on my part, but | would not take bets against it. | will bet, however, that the November election is going to be one of the most interesting in Scu- gog in a long time. We'll keep you posted. Yesterday's Letters Memories 70 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 11, 1918 Word has been recieved that Flight Lieut. George Howsam has been wounded in the shoulder in an air engagement. However, he was able to bring his airship down safley. Huge ice blocks are breaking up boat houses this spring due to heavy winds. The "Ouija Board" says the ice will be out on the 17th. (Note: this prediction was out by one day. Ice went out on April 16th in 1981). Mr. J. D. Robertson, formerly of Port Perry has joined the Royal Flying Corps. 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 8, 1943 Messrs. Johnny and Geordie Raymes, twin brothers, celebrat- ed their 91st birthdays recently. As far as known, these men are the oldest twins in Ontario. Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Anderson were honoured by a large num- ber of members of the St. John's Presbyterian Church on Wednes- day. The reason being, for faithful service to the church. A.C. Bill Leahy, RCAF enjoyed a week-end leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L, Leahy. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 9th, 1953 Albert Cawker, a member of the district's oldest business, Cawker Brothers Butchers, was elected president of Port Perry Business Men's Association at the annual dinner last week. Three persons from Ottawa were hospitalized when the car they were driving ran into a Silverwood's truck driven by Donald Geer, 19, Port Perry. While delivering a stimulating speech to the Port Perry Lions Club, Dr. M.B. Dymond stated that Canada needs more publicity. He said that too few people know so little about Canada. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 10, 1958 Mr. Donald Freeman almost bowled a perfect game at the Couseway Lanes last Thursday. Don ended up with a score of 12. 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 11, 1968 An estimated 2,000 spectators filled the Port Perry Arena for two performances of "Fantasy on Ice", the best ice show since the Port Perry Figure Skating Club was organized. In charge of chore- ography and general staging was club professional, Marilyn Ruth Take. (Turn to page 8) Needs environmenal cleaning To the Editor: Well another season of ice- fishing and snowmobiling has come and gone, and while I'm sure that at least a handful of fishermen took home a certifiable "wallhanger" of a walleye, I for one believe that the remainder of the residents of Port Perry and the surrounding area will be the recip- ients of the rest of the leftover booty that seems to go hand in hand with our outdoor sporting ac- tivities nowadays. Testimony to this can be found by simply taking a stroll down to the main pier at the foot of Queen St., a streeet that has been de- scribed as one of the most beauti- ful areas of this region of Ontario. Our local roads, especially the causeway that links Port Perry with Scugog Island, are at this time of year a grave sight. The marsh grasses and bullrushes at this time of year have yet to grow to a length at least suitable to ca- mouflage the embarrassing mess that is strewn about them. Don't get me wrong, for I my- self am an avid hunter and fisher- man, but I try my best to pick up any of the disposable packaging that is left over after a day of en- joyment in and about our areas of natural resources. If you'd like some proof of that statement I'll show you the trunk of my car sometime. We live in a society where everything these days seems to be disposable, and many of our sport- ing goods seem to follow suit, whether it be styrofoam worm containers, or plastic and brass shotshells. We have to remind oursclves that many of these arti- cles aren't bio-degradable, and therefore shall be haunting our recreation areas for many years to come. While I'm not trying to unleash a onc man vendetta on my fellow sportsmen, perhaps we should practise a little better housekeep- ing the next time we venture out and about for a day of fun and en- joyment in an area which we all have inherited. We all like to think that we are the first to stand on that irresista- ble runway, or cast to that sub- merged log, so it kind of puts a damper on things when you miss that shot because you're standing ankle deep in coffee cups and cig- arette packs, or you reel in an old boot instead of that elusive mu- sky. Perhaps my opinions may irk a few people reading this letter, and some of you may laugh at my views on this subject, but next time look while you are out and about and you'll see what I mean. Here's hoping we'll all try a little harder to keep this quiet and enjoy- able area of Ontario clean. : Yours truly, Neil De Shane Prince Albert [Last Phantom letter! To the Editor: I read with great interest, the letter to the editor in the April 5 cdition of the Port Perry Star, un- der the heading "Phantom is up- set." I more than agree with the Phantom, so this letter is not to criticize him, but rather to criti- cize the letters to the editor policy which is clearly printed each week. My question is this. How come on more than one occasion, the Phantom has been able to (Turn to page 6) to the editor. Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newpspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. ny TE