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rv -- mee rr -- ate OY ASK TE Lote vars Fe" 4- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 14, 1998 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Distinguished Durham grads sought The Durham College Alumni Association annually recognizes Durham College post-secondary graduates who have successfully achieved career success and have shown commitment to the college and/or their community. Four awards are presented in the following program areas: Business, Technology, Health & Human Studies and Arts & Administration. Nominations will be accepted until April 24 at 4 p.m. Each nomination should have the nom- inee's name and a profile of the individual including how their contributions have positively affected others, along with any supporting documents. Awards will be presented at the convo- cation ceremonies on June 13 at the Civic Auditorium in Oshawa. For more infor- mation, call 721-3035. A joyful sound Local choirs come together in concert to raise funds for Canadian Foodgrains project By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star For several years now, volunteers within Scugog Township have volun- teered their time and efforts towards the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Those endeavors have helped to feed mal- nourished people around the world. This month the effort will be taken a step further, when a fundraising concert is held in Port Perry. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank relies on the donations of grains and other agricultural com- modities it collects from farmers and church groups across Canada. In recent years two churches in the area have been involved in the global project. Many people from the Epsom-Utica and Blackstock United Churches have either donated crop space, or their labor to grow fields of corn. Don Asling, a local coordinator of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank project (right), and Port Perry United Church organist Glenn Taylor look forward to a benefit concert in the church April 26. Asling, Ms Brock and Nadin. After harvest the corn went to the Foodgrains Bank, which either shipped it overseas or sold it here, earmarking the proceeds for its work abroad. CHRIS HALL/PORT PERRY STAR There were plenty of bunnies -- real and pretend -- bouncing around the Scugog Centre last week as the local YMCA hosted its annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Dozens of children were on hand to have a snack, play with a few real fluffy bunnies, and to meet and greet the infamous Easter Bunny es An, mgr ane himself. Patiently waiting his turn to meet The Big Guy was four-year-old Mackenzie Burrows of Little Britain, who passed the time coloring pictures at his table with friends... and wearing shades. Remember Diabetes Ass'n during your spring cleaning By Chris Hall Port Perry Star The Canadian Diabetes Association is asking people to think of them when they do their spring cleaning this year. Mike Rienstra, supervisor at the Community Collection Crew office in Oshawa, says that most people don't realize that some of the items they throw away could help find a cure for diabetes. "Sometime people get cleaning and throwing items out and they don't know that we can use that to hopefully find a cure," he said. Any unwanted clothing, dishes, toys, kitchen utensils and other household goods will be taken to Value Village in Scarborough, where they will be pur- chased by the store. The proceeds go to the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) for research, advocacy and chil- dren's camps. While the CDA has been involved in the program for close to 10 years now, Mr. Rienstra says that the opening of an office in Durham in June of last year has led to the introduction of the pro- gram in Port Perry. The association makes regular trips to the area to pick up donations. "'There are a lot of generous people in Port Perry; the first time we were there they were especially generous. I guess you could say it was overwhelm- ing," he said. While trips to Scugog are scheduled every four to seven weeks -- the last pick up was held March 25 and the next truck will be in town April 18 -- Mr. Rienstra says special or large orders can also be accommodated. "If there is a large load or something we think is different than we can get a truck there quicker, maybe in a week or two," he sdid. Telemarketers at the Oshawa office call up to 175 homes to solicit donations. Anyone wishing to have any household items picked up is asked to call 720- 3543. Epsom farmer Don Asling has been involved with the Foodgrains Bank for several years. He helped get the project start- ed in the two churches three years ago. Many people in the area are well aware of Mr. Asling's involvement in this project, as he's been a popular speaker for the cause at several churches throughout the Durham Region. Last November when a year-end meeting was held to discuss the annual project and future endeav- ors, Georgia Brock of the Port Perry United Church attended. What she heard and learned made her eager to help the millions of impoverished and starv- ing people around the world. "Suddenly, I was inspired to have our two churches (Prince Albert and Port Perry) host an ecumenical massed choir concert at Port Perry United Church and have all the proceeds go towards the Canadian Foodgrains Bank," she said. With help from Mr. Glenn Taylor, organist at Port Perry United Church, have worked together to organize such an event. Plans have been made and a night of gospel music 1s planned for Sunday, April 26, starting at 7:30 p.m in the Port Perry United Church sanctuary. Voices from half a dozen church choirs in Scugog and Uxbridge will be singing anthems and lead in favorite selections and hymns. Special guest will be Bev Foster, who will also con- duct the choir and play a medley of Gospel tunes. A newly formed choir from Greenbank, "Jubilation", will also entertain the audience with many favorite num- bers. To add another dimen- ston for music lovers, The Four Dads from Uxbridge -- Orvan Brethour, Jack Bigglestone, E. J. Wideman and Ted Croxall -- will be performing. Guest soloists Ryan Edgar, Rory Taillon and Bridgette Petric will all appear. Featured instru- mental soloists are Laurel Griffen and Graham RE as He ARN TE ES BATT BOT Gay Tn i A rt A ty WE SE Admission is free, how- ever a free-will offering will be taken to support the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. "We're elated the Port Perry and Prince Albert United Churches are going ahead with this," Mr. Asling said. "We need more exposure to this sort of thing. So many people are dying of starvation around the world, and this is a chance to help out." The concert is an out- reach project of the Port Perry and Prince Albert United Churches. Two years ago the two churches embarked on a project when they sponsored the Smardzics, a Bosnian refugee family of four for a year. The family now lives in Windsor but keeps in constant touch with mem- bers of the congregations, always giving their thanks for helping them start a new beginning in a new country. That project was very positive, organizers say and now they intend to con- tinue with their outreach work. One of their projects will be in the form of the massed choir concert.