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8 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 30, 1990 Letters to the editor EY Worth more than we can pay? To the Editor" Itis true what Mrs. Kent has to say (letter, Jan. 23)? Why do peo- ple such as teachers believe they are worth more than we can pay them? Not only the teachers but too many others employed by tax- payers as well. In all my life as a worker I was only given what I was thought to be worth and I tried to make my bosses feel I was worthwhile. Then by working hard I got more and was so happy. I would come home to my wife and children with a cake (a small one) and we would have a party to honour my and my family believing that --- nobody owes you a living. (Mrs. Kent's comment). But I got a raise. Our son is now happy and work- ing in a good job in Edmonton --- our daughter will graduate from university this year and the good and happy thing is that we did it. Is not this the way to do it -- is not this the meaning of show what you can do by yourself --- believe in yourself ---- but also believe that if you come to think of yourself as something special --- that those others looking at you may not think so. I will pay our taxes this year. Hope we will --- can pay next, too. Excuse my language also my writing. I know you will not print this but my thoughts are what I and my family believe. God bless this wonderful country. E. Waddelmeyer, Port Perry. Life's Like That by Julia Ashton My boyfriend is a klutz My boyfriend is a klutz! This is a pretty risky comment to be maki with Valentine's Day just around the corner-- was hoping for a big "haul" this year -- so | - hope my dear, darling Clay will forgive me, because if the truth is to be known, he is the biggest klutz in the world. Let me prove my point. He hurts himself Clay is an excellent carpenter, but I'm amazed he hasn't nailed himself to a piece of drywall or magically sawed himself in half. He has, however, free-fallen off a fifteen foot high roof and landed smack dab on his face. The impression of his nose is still em- bedded in the ground. it happened easily enough. He had been shingling a roof during a hot, fall day in Octo- ber, when dusk started to fall (fall being the operative word throughout this sentence). - Since his stomach is bigger than his ambi- tion, he decided it was time to come in for something to eat. But before he did, he want- ed to make sure what he had accomplished during the day was okay. So he took a step backwards. Yes, the shingles all seemed to be lined up properly. Another step back. Yep, Je: yep. Nice work indeed. Another step back....this is where he decided not to use the ladder, but instead take the quick route off the roof. The poor guy landed in the hospital forthe weekend, and didn't get to eat until early Sunday afternoon. He's absent-minded Last weekend, Clay, his aunt Shari, and myself ventured to London, Ontario to see his sister Carla. I should mention that Clay has put his ham- mer away (thank goodness) and has gone back to school. Anyway, Clay had Friday afternoon off (while Shari and | had to work) so to make sure we got off to an early start, he said he would drive to Cambray to pick up his aunt af- ter work, then drive to Port Perry, load my car up, and off we would go. An easy enough plan -- until you realize that Clay is the most absent-minded person in the world. (The cliche about forgetting your head if it wasn't screwed on just about sums up my beloved.) Home to Greenbank he goes after school, packs his bags and heads for Cambray. All is ine until he realizes he's forgotten his wallet at home. (Clay and wallets just don't have a ood relationship. He misplaces his wallet at east 10 times a week, and lost every piece of identification this summer when he forgot to take his wallet out of his pocket before going water-skiing.) Finally, he and Shari arrive at my door and we start unloading his car to put everything in my car. "Oh darn," he says just like that little kid in the McDonald's ad, "I forgot my cowboy boots - at home. We have to go back. He drives me crazy Clay has eyes but they must be focused out of the back of his head. Two recent cases in pont On the way to London he notices the 401 cutoff to London is five kilometers ahead, but then he drives right past it. Oops. But an even better case to prove my point: He parks my car on the street side Carla's house and lands me an $8 parking ticket. Sign? What sign? He has the biggest heart of anyone | know Another London story, I'm sorry. Clay, a superjock, insists | do all those sports he loves so dearly and this weekend it was skating. My philosophy is that if God wanted us to skate we would have been bom with detatch- able blades. it's not that | hate skating, but as soon as | {Turn to page 20) by Lynn Johnston : NA bf - 80 MUCH FOR THE kan A ; Denke Sex! KILLA BETTER Growth will benefit everyone in Scugog To the Editor: I would like to respond to a Jan. 9 letter entitled "Small is Beautiful."" In this letter, area resident Donald Tansley asks, "who will benefit?" from growth in Port Perry and Scugog. Quite frankly, almost everyone will benefit from growth. The initial impact will be felt by Port Perry and area businesses. Business is the life-blood of any community. Local growth results in demand for local goods and ser- vices. As local business grows to meet this local demand, local jobs are created. These local jobs will be filled by local people -- the cur- rent youth of our community. Growth gives the youth of the area the opportunity to stay in the Defends teachers position To the Editor: I address these few but sincere words to Mrs. P.W. Kent (letter to the editor, Jan. 23). She ap- peared terribly upset over Durham Separate School Teacher's contract negotiations. Although I am not a separate school teacher, I feel obliged to defend their position. Yes, you and your husband pro- bably did labour long and hard raising your three children. Isn't that what parenthood is about? But, because of teachers, parenthood isn't as hard as it once was. Besides teaching the "3 R's," teachers have now been asked to take on the responsibili- ty of sex education, consumer education, religious education, values education, etc. Why? Isn't that part of parenting? Teachers provide supervision and direction for a wide variety of after school interests, clubs, ex- cursions, etc. Shouldn't offering and supervising these activities be a part of parenthood? If all the benefits of teaching are so attractive to you, why didn't you choose this career? John Bardeleben, Prince Albert. area and contribute towards mak- ing Port Perry the type of com- munity we, as a whole, can be proud of -- a strong community built and maintained by people who grow up here, or move here to build families here, and who understand the community and can satisfy its needs and give it proper future direction. If those against local growth have their way, our youth (our future) will continue to flee the area in search of the satisfying progressive lifestyle which they have every right to strive for. Lack of growth (stagnation) can only lead to the death of a community. As in biological life, once we no longer grow mentally and physically, we age and die. Is this what we want for the future of Port Perry and area -- an aging, and dying population? It's unfortunate that there are people in this community so selfish and narrow-minded that they would throw away the future of our youth and our community for fear their property taxes might increase. Even this fear of property tax hikes is largely unfounded (other than inflationary increases) as growth in business and employ- ment provides a wider and stronger tax base from which im- proved and increased services can be paid for. I came to this community because I saw a future here for me. I saw the opportunity to be active in local business, which I am; the opportunity for personal growth and success and satisfac- tion from being involved; the op- portunity to contribute to the area; and the opportunity to see those who follow me enjoy the same personal fulfillment. If this community does not grow, the smart young business minds who have come here and who grew up here will have no reason to stay. Unless they want Port Perry to become the retirement capital of Canada, those against growth had better wake up and realize that there is need for a future beyond them. As usual, it seems time for the silent majority to make themselves heard to ensure the only logical course for the future. Respectfully, Mark Hamilton, Port Perry. etter spoke volumes To the Editor: To add to Mrs. Kent's com- ments, your paper of January 23, 1990. Mrs. Kent, your short words covered volumes. Simply ex- pressed, how much more can we, the under siege taxpayer, afford to accommodate the "gimmee- gimmee syndrome." To all who occupy elected of- fice, - "'enough is enough.'"' Take a stand. In doing so you will en- joy greater support than ever imagined. Jessie Brown, Port Perry. EMMERSON INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED 193 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. LIL 1B9 (416) 985-7306 ALL LINES OF GENERAL INSURANCE * HOMEOWNERS - FARM - AUTO COMMERCIAL *» * ~~ RE ed TP I I Td IR ow I Pr ry Sf A A TP ease