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i RE ---- vr ---- | 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 18,1994 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 4 | The Port Perry Star 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO PHONE (905) 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 The Port Perry Star is authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, for cash payment of postage. Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 LoL 1B7 EDITORIAL Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten News Editor - Scott Anderson Features Editor - Julia Dempsey Sports Editor - Kelly Lown ADVERTISING Advertising Manager - AnnaJackman Subscription Rate: - 6Months-$17.72 includes $1 22GST 1Year-$32.10 includes $2.10 GST Foreign-$90.95 includes $5 95GST Advertising Sales - Jackie McDonell, Advertising Sales - Paul Hillier Production - Pamela Hickey, Barbara Bell BUSINESS OFFICE Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, PRODUCTION Annabell Harrison, Trudy Empringham, Susan Milne, Robert Taylor, Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby, Louise Hope ¥CNA | Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Ltd. Port Perry, Ontario * GST included in price Retail Sales - Marlene Moore Editorial Comment Driving Home Common Sense Durham Regional Police were hoping to send a message out to motorists over the holiday season. This message was "If you drink, don't drive. Period! But the response was not what they, were expecting. It appears this message was all but ig- nored by the festive-minded motorists on the roads around Durham. Although the number of cars stopped this year was down dramatically due to manpower shortages, the percentage of roadside screening tests and charges is- sued to these drivers increased substan- tially. According to statistics, a total of 25,007 cars were stopped on Durham roads be- tween mid-November and January 7. Of that total, 306 roadside tests were issued resulting in 81 twelve-hour suspensions. Eleven motorists were subsequently charged with impaired driving, while 22 were charged with exceeding the .08 le- gal blood-alcohol limit. Another 45 charges were laid under the Highway Traffic Act, Liquor Licence Act and Narcotics Control Act. The number of cars stopped in District 2, which includes Scugog Township, was 6,348, compared to 17,469 last year. De- spite the drastic decrease in the number of vehicles stopped this year, only 67 fewer breath tests were administered. Durham Regional Police cannot ex- plain why there was a dramatic increase in the numbers charged this year. Ser- geant Charlie Green, who is responsible for the RIDE program, said there is no real pattern to the statistics. Police de- partments across the Greater Toronto Area experienced similar results. The disappointing fact about this sud- den change in the number of drunk driv- ers is that police officers and other agen- cies were beginning to notice a real change in the public's attitude. Last year police officers were commenting on the decline in charges and praising the driv- ers for their common sense. Police officers are in a Catch-22 situa- gion when it comes to impaired drivers as it's both good news and bad news when an impaired driver is caught. The good is the driver was caught, the bad is that - people are still driving impaired. There is no simple answer to the prob- lem and no reason why the numbers jumped so dramatically this year. But there is a simple solution to the problem. If you have had too much to drink, don't drive It's as simple as that Ny a SHUCR SR [Race or 00 Race , all of Jou CQO this stop Sign and all of You Random Jottings WINTES nd WRAL Lon \ e a cate Ine TE by J. Peter Hvidsten THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT Shopping in Scugog 1s too expensive! That's a statement spoken far too often these days, and as a business person it's rather distressing. While I agree some products independ- ent merchants offer are slightly higher, I find it hard to believe the majority of our stores do not offer competitive pricing. As consumers we all like to get the "best deal" possible when spending our dollars, but personally, I refuse to drive 20 miles or more to save a couple of dollars. Having been brought up in a family that insisted on supporting local business, shopping locally is something I've tried hard to do all my life. That isn't to say I don't slip off to the city occasionally, but for the most part we try to shop in area stores. To my way of thinking, if price conscious consumers calculated time and travel expenses into their purchases, most pro- ducts sold locally would be competitive. Even if we have to pay a little more it's worth it. People living in this community benefit a lot by supporting local business. For instance - do you see many Oshawa stores sponsoring local children's hockey, baseball or soccer teams in Scugog? No! But you'll find the names of dozens of local merchant sponsors on the backs of team sweaters worn by our children and 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 20, 1949 About $400 was raised in the Box Social held by the Brooklin Shuffleboard Club. All proceeds went to the Arena Fund. : A new furnace was installed at the Head School. Mr. Lester Beadle returned to his parents home in Ashburn after a busy year in construction work. The Utica Young People's Group held a skating party at Jimmy Wilkinson's. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 15, 1959 The Hon. M. B. Dymond, Minister of Health in Ontario, performed his first official act when he officiated at the opening of the Uxbridge Hospital. He cut the cord with a scalpel. Douglas Edenborough, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fdenborough, Port Perry, was chosen tHe a Page Boy for the Legislative Asscinbly. After an absence of several years, Port Perry will be represented by an ORHA Senior Team this vear The team will be composed entirely of players who have graduated from Port Perry Minor Hockey Associations. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 16, 1964 Douglas Hogg, Port Perry, was clected president of the Ontario Riding Young Progressive Conservatives at their annual meeting. Five Blackstock Guides received their All-Round Cords, Guiding's highest accomplishment. The Guides were Elizabeth Thompson, Judy Cochrane, Margaret Carnaghan, Nancy Dorrell and Sheila Tomchishin. Port Perry's Inaugural Meeting was attended by Reeve J. J. Gibson, Deputy-Reeve John Orde, Councillors Robert Kenny, Bruce Beare and Ivan Parkinson. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 16, 1969 Adult Education Night School classes which were to have started this week were cancelled due to a lack of response In registrations. George S. Stone, local representative for H. Keith Limited, won his third Turn to Page 8 grandchildren. That costs money! Did we see any of the large chain stores provide funding for our latest $5 million hospital expansion? No! But this community was blessed by the generosity of a large number of local busi- nesses who donated hundreds of thou- sands of dollars towards the project. Ask yourself who continually supports the work of local service clubs, churches, lodges and children's programs? [t's your local merchants! A few years ago one of our local food stores was approached to donate a number of items for a local organization's beef din- ner. The owner did so willing. Following the dinner, the generous busi- nessman found out the same people who asked for a donation had gone out of town to buy the roast beef because they could get it a "little bit cheaper." Shortsighted decisions like this frustrate local store owners and make them less likely to give in the future. It's time we all think before jumping into our cars to head out of town. What may seem like a good deal elsewhere won't seem so good if we lose the tremendous support this town receives from our local business people. Local businesses can only continue to give back to the community if they receive the support of the people who live here. We can't expect small store owners to Lelters to the editor Optimist meeting an informative event To the Editor: [Last Wednesday evening I attended the Optimist Club dinner and meeting at the Brooklin United Church. It was a very informative event with a good mix- ture of ages from young people to middle age to seniors. 'These people truly care about the "kids." They would love for the "kids" also meaning "teens" to come out and ex- press their ideas of what they would like for activities in their community. After all "kids" its yourideas that count. These people are fun, enthusiastic and a real pleasure to be around. They care about you and what you want and they're willing to get you started; to be there for you, should you need their ad- vice. In other words, you set the goals and you make the choices. If you are interested in getting an Op- timist Club going in Scugog, then by all means please come out to their next meeting. Bring along your girlfriend or boyfriend or your neighbor if you wish. And any caring adult, parent, grandpar- ent are also welcome to attend, to listen to what these "kids" have to say. It's their voice that counts, they are tomor- row's adults. You do not have to be an Optimist Turn to Page 7 provide scholarships at our high schools, support arts groups, sponsor teams, don- ate to community projects and provide prizes for numerous organizations unless they get your support as well. So, the next time you need help from a local business person, you might want to think if you've supported them recently? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Port Perry Star encourages its readers to make use of the letters to the editor column to express their opinions and viewpoints on just about any subject, as we feel a lively letters column will help make this a better community newspaper We insist, however, that all letter writers sign their name and include a phone number for venfication Sorry, anonymous letters will not be published inless The Star believes it to be in the best interest of the public. We also reserves the right to edit letters with respect to their length, content or libelous comments