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8 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 22, 1999 "Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" The adorable dogs and cats featured on this page are all Uxb currently ridge/Scugog Animal Shelter and are waiting for a loving family. If you've been looking for a pet, call the shelter today. at the Many thanks to the businesses listed for their CT OF ( - kind sponsorship SRE TL p-- 32 of these furry friends in need! a 73 elk ou J 1 Orange male and 2 Tortishell female kittens. 8 weeks old. - Very cute and cuddly. This orphan sponsored by HAIR EXPRESSIONS Street 176 Perry Port Perry 985-2532 Black & white male kitten, 4 months old and 1st shot. Very cute and playful. This orphan sponsored by RALPH TAYLOR FUELS 190 Wentworth Street E. ON FEI R IR YL) VA SRR Really cute female puppy about 12-14 weeks old. Rotty & Shepherd mix. This orphan sponsored by MORIFIC KENNELS REG'D BOARDING, TRAINING & GROOMING Judy Belesky 852-5883 H.. bi € 1 year old, Maine Coon type, female, spayed. This orphan sponsored by DIO] N30] Opening at 230 Queen Street June 23,1999 ¢ 985.9611 ot + Black and beige tabby, male, neutered, 1-2 yrs. old | German Shepherd purebred This orphan sponsored by DORIS SHOES Opening at 230 Queen Street June 23, 1999 ¢ 985-9611 female, 2-3 years old. This orphan sponsored by PET PEEVES 292 Hwy. #47, Goodwood (905) 642-1444 LETTERS To the Editor: I don't believe in ghosts ... but then I don't not believe in them either. How else can I explain the weird goings-on at the fairgrounds? I live just across the road from the grounds, often I walk there at night. I enjoy the open space, the old buildings, even the long oval track of clay and gravel where my footsteps crunch quietly in the silence. There's something haunting about it, like an unfilled cathedral or a forest grove of tall pines. The place resonates with the whispers of crowds long depart- ed. The fair's buildings are locked tight most of the time, white painted anony- mous structures left like a bride waiting. Unexpectedly, recently, quite late at night I noticed a door to one of the build- ings half open as I passed, the inside lit only by distant street lamps. I put my head in and called out softly (for it was past midnight), and to my surprise there was an old man sitting at a table in the shadows. He looked up at me and then kicked a stool toward me. "Have a seat," he said in a voice wispy, thin as paper. "I think it's time I spoke to someone ..." There was a long pause and I waited. (Does he speak to no one then? I thought, or is it only about a subject bothering him too long?) "What do you know about bees?" he asked. That confused me ... "Bees?" I said, "as in honey, pollen, black and yellow that can sting you if you get in the way? Ordinary bees or bumble? ...Not much." "I want to paint a huge bee on the side of this building, but 'm not sure I'm | Ghostly encounter at fairgrounds strong enough" he said. "Good Lord! Why?" I asked, my question ambiguous. "Look at the place," he said, "all closed up and white like a jilted bride still at the church long after everyone has left." (That was my metaphor ... how had he chosen the same one?) He went on: "The bee is the oldest symbol for agriculture in the world. And it stands for hard work-to-useful-purpose. The Pharaohs used it, Charlemagne, even Napoleon." There was another pause, then "It's how we describe a group of people getting together to do something challenging, worthwhile .. a barn raising bee, a spelling bee, a sewing bee ..." The thin voice whistled a bit as he said the words with esses in them, as if his mouth now held too few teeth. I felt a chill run down my neck. "I think that's a good idea," I said, "a great idea." In fact there is to be a work bee this Saturday taking one of the cement block walls apart..." (I know that from talking to a fair board member, and I rose and went out the door to point) "..over there." Pointing, I turned my head to peer into the gloom, and when I looked back, the door had closed behind me without a sound, as if it had never been open. I pressed my face to the win- dow and called out to him, but he was no longer there. . Later at home in my bed that night the image of a giant bee on the side of the largest of the fair buildings stayed in my mind. I even dreamt of how to do it. How very curious! David Foster, Port Perry To the Editor: The controversy over the Lord's Prayer in schools is reaching new heights with Regional Councillor Ken Gadsden and Ajax Major Steve Parish against it. For the record, the Canadian Bill of Rights says in part one "The parlia- ment of Canada, affirming that the Canadian Nation is founded upon prin- ciples that acknowledge the supremacy of God, etc." The Lord's Prayer is non-denomina- tion. The Ten Commandments are a guideline for law abiding responsible citizens. The excuse that we cater to dozens of multicultural factions should not What's wrong with school prayer? deny those of life-long Canadian her- itage their God-given right to recite the Lord's Prayer. In the census a couple or so years ago you could not put down your status as Canadian. You were forced to state your ethnic background. Canadian her- itage and culture were demeaned. Divisive multiculturalism ruled. Little wonder Canadians have no visible coherent culture. . I phoned Ottawa to find out why I could not list myself as Canadian, a fifth generation in fact. I was told that the census was, for multicultural grants from Ottawa. Dean J. Kelly, Port Perry Regatta organizers say thanks To the Editor: Through your letters to the editor col- umn we would like to express our deep appreciation to the following people for their assistance in making the Scugog Invitational Rowing Regatta a success: o to all the boaters who were on Lake Scugog, who,without exception, boat own- ers and renters, by keeping their wake down, or avoiding the regatta course dur- ing the races, gave us the opportunity to have a very successful regatta. o to the homeowners on the shores of Lake Scugog, adjacent to the regatta course our thanks and apologies for any noise, (race start/finish horns) encoun- tered. o to the staff of the Township of Scugog and the Port Perry Marina our thanks for all the little extra services and effort that made the first Scugog Invitational Rowing Regatta a success. o to Mayor Doug Moffatt, of the Township of Scugog, who awarded the winning crews with their medals. On behalf of the over 250 rowers, and their families who participated and attended the Invitational, we thank you. Michael Maher, President Durham Rowing Club Seniors centre to celebrate Canada Day Canada Day Celebration at the Whitby Seniors' Activity Centre, 801 Brock St. S., will be held on Thursday, July 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The centre is open on this holiday to everyone in the community to cele- brate Canada Day and to promote the International Year of Older Persons 1999. The Jubilee Choir will begin the festivities and following this there will be a barbecue for a cost of $3 per per- son. During the afternoon, The Whitby Seniors' Activity Centre Band, The Melotones will entertain us for an afternoon of music and fun.