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REAR RAT Ow IS of J io-- Bo 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 25, 1992 The Port Perry Star 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - LoL 1B7 PHONE 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 The Port Perry Star is authorized as second class mall by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, for cash payment of postage. Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 1Yoar-$32.10 Bes Ar * Forelgn-$90.95 or- - . A includes $1.22GST includes $5.95GST indudes $2.10GST EDITORIAL Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten News Editor - Scott Anderson Features Editor - Julia Dempsey Sports Co-ordinator - Kelly Lown ADVERTISING : Advertising Manager - Anna Jackman Advertising Sales - Jackie Metz Production - Pamela Hickey, Barbara Bell BUSINESS OFFICE Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby Billing Department - Louise Hope PRODUCTION Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Lynda Ruhl Annabell Harrison, Trudy Empringham Robert Taylor, Marlene Moore Editorial Comment Proudly Canadian It appears the patriotic feeling is alive and well in the Township of Scugog. During a meeting at the township office last week concerning celebrations for Canada's 125th birth- day, more than 30 residents, most representing the various service groups in the community attended. Equipped with ideas, these tireless volunteers outlined what they are planning for the country. And from all accounts, it's going to be one great celebration. Although Canada's birthday is on July 1, the groups have been encouraged to stage the: celebrations throughout the year and to tie them in with annual events.Therefore the feel- ing of celebration, and the good feeling towards the country would not just be for one brief moment but throughout the year. \ This is the hope of organizers like Ken Gadsden, Ward 3 Councillor, who believes there is so much doom and gloom being spoken about at the present that we need a break from == the bad, and start focussing on the good. Mr. Gadsden looks back on the celebrations for the country's 100th birthday and believes we can equal or better the feeling that was here in 1967. The feeling certainly was in the room while the many clubs outlined the details of their events that will see almost every weekend covered from April until November. These are just the events that clubs have planned to date, there are pos- sibly many more still being planned. More than 20 events were outlined during the meeting. ) It is essential for the Township of Scugog to put on a good patriotic showing as we will be in the spotlight at the end of April when the Kinsmen Club's "Proud to be Canadian" flag tour rolls into Port Perry. National media will be documenting the flag tour celebrations as the club's national president and brainchild behind the flag exchange is from the Township. Being involved and having everyone participate is the key to the success of the celebrations. Without the support of the community and the volunteers, the events cannot be carried out. If you wish to get involved, one of the many clubs would be more than pleased to have you. Community involvement is the key to the celebrations, and the whole purpose of the year. Time and time again the Township of Scugog has proven to itself that it can rally to- gether and put on first-rate events that send out a good feeling ° throughout the community. Let us do it again this year and prove-to the rest of Canada that we are "Proud to be Canadi- ans." After all Port Perry is "The home of the Proud to be Cana- dian Tour." Gypsy M oth 5 The Ontario government has just cancelled an essential program that could prove to be a very costly environmental mistake. On Feb. 13 the Ministry of Environment informed the mu- nicipalities that it has decided not to proceed with a program of spraying for spruce and jack pine gypsy moths which it intro- duced only last year. In explaining the cancellation, Natural Resources Minister Bud Wildman said the government was reallocating the $3.8 million to "other higher-priority initiatives in its forestry pro- gram." h Further defending the decision, the department argued that the insects had very little effect on the tree population and that the damage the moths were doing was similar to natural mortality in forest stands. But others don't agree. Many are concerned that with the cancellation of the program, it will leave the insects to feast freely on the trees in Durham Region, permanently harming the forests. Over the past number of years the damage inflicted on the forests by these bugs has been wide-spread and well- documented. To risk the well-being of the forests by cancelling this program for the sake of slashing costs is not consistent with the policies of a government that claims to be consultative and environmentally concerned. Good -- THEY'vE GoT months. Yum. MY VoTE Sf 8 Se So = ISS F, 4 ELL edd 7s « llrs SOR \¢ Ragan i "HH Ad } % 3 XRNS 0d XN 2a . + AND £VERYB0DY OD RARER SAYS THis J JORRRX GOVERN MENT 1S NO 5 More oan GOVT OANCELS PRAY FOR fhvesy Mois -- [ Hl "a I | Al pu i) RA en 1} = ~~ N NN 3 | == x =~ RN -- raw. DEANE C= - -- \) 3 SSSA CROSS AS ON * 2 = =e / JoTttinm = ee a a 3 - GREAT ATTRACTION IDEA For as long as | can remember, Port Perry and Scugog Township have been trying to attract industry to the area, with little success. As a member of the Scugog Chamber of Commerce in the 1970s, I can remember indus- trial committees formed with the precise intent of working with the council of the day to attempt to persuade some light, clean industries to the area. Most of those efforts, met with little or no success. It seems like only a few years ago, talk began to shift from industry to tourism. With Lake Scugog the hub of activities in this cornmunity there became a realization that Scugog's greatest attraction was its historic, charming downtown business section, located only steps away from a beautiful, picturesque green park overlooking the waters of Lake Scugog. About 15 years ago some progressive merch- ants began an unplanned facelift of the down- town. One by one property owners started refur- bishing old store fronts, brightening them with a new coat of paint and period signage. At the time, I suspect that nobody was aware they were doing by themselves, what planned efforts of the past had been unable to achieve. Then groups like the Chamber of Commerce, Council and BIA began to coordinate the efforts of the business community by adding lights, park benches and improving parking, etc. Today, Port Perry has become a major tourist attraction in southern Ontario, attracting thou- sands of visitors to the community every year. Weekends in Port Perry are now busy. Gone are the Sundays when you could stroll along Queen Street and not bump into a soul. We should all be thankful that the business- es in the community have been able to ward off the fate of so many communities reeling from the current recession. The community has not gone unscathed, but compared to many other loca- tions, Port Perry remains bind I secure, The reason for this is "tourists." Last week while attending a meeting of the Scugiog Chamber of Commerce a delegation was made by local artist /sculpture Bill Lishman. Mr. Lishman suggested that lourism is important to the area, and he would like to see his Autohenge reconstructed and promoted as a local tourist attraction. For those unaware of Autohenge, (see story page 10) it was a replica of England's Stonehenge constructed out of old vehicles. Mr. Lishman built Autohenge in a farmer's field south of Port Perry as the background for a commercial introducing the 1986 line of Chrysler products. Autohenge has sat quietly rusting away for the past seven years and this past summer was taken down as a safely measure. While dominating the landscape along the Shirley Road, Autohenge attracted hundreds of inquisitive visitors and a number of directors used the site for commercials and rock videos. Mr. Lishman suggests that Autohenge should be reconstructed, as a more permanent struc- ture, and with some promotion could become one of the major tourist attractions for the area. While some may feel 40 or so vehicles banded together and erected on their tail gates doesn't sound like much of a tourist attraction, take light in the fact that a similar structure in Nebraska is attracting thousands of tourists each year due to the publicity it is garnishing. Mr. Lishman has asked the Chamber of Commerce for some support for the project. Other groups, and indeed council should consider get- ting involved. He says the structure could be reas- sembled in about one month if he gets support lor the project. With a sagging economy and people losing their jobs, Mr. Lis healthy. It's worth more than just a passing thought. ICE PALACE In just two more weeks Port Perry's Open Air Ice Palace will close down for another winter. The eflorts of the many hard working organiz- ers have not gone unrewarded this year, as the Ice Palace has attracted over 20,000 people to the ouldoor facility over the past eight weeks. Anyone who has ever worked on winter activi- lies knows unpredictable weather can sometimes disappoint the efforts of organizers, bul this win- ter, the weather has co-operated reasonably well. Our congratulations to all the volunteers who helped make this project such a success. man's Autohenge might just be the attraction needed to help keep our community ro Je SE ma TEBE