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6- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, September 21, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Membe . Canadian BUSINESS OFFICE: Judy Ashby, Kathy Community Newspaper Association PUBLISHER - J. Peter Hvidsten GENERAL MGR. - Don Macleod MANAGING EDITOR - Jeff Mitchell REPORTER - Chris Hall OFFICE MANAGER - Gayle Stapley ADVERTISING MGR. - Deb McEachem Dudley, Janet Rankin, Heather Callan. ADVERTISING: Ginni Todd, Cindy Jobin, Gail Morse, Heather Mack, Linda Clarke, Janet Archer PRODUCTION: Trudy Empringham, Pam Hickey, Daryle Wright, Robert Taylor, Richard Drew, Scott Ashby, Aocna fai udiPoventSiacy 3 ¥ CNA 3 mY Publications Mail Registration No. 07881 Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Company Limited, 188 Mary Street - Port Perry, Ontario - LOL 187 FAX (905) 985-3708 SUBSCRIPTION RATES E-MAIL: port.perry.star@sympatico.ca 1 Year - $37.45 (includes GST) Six Months - $19.79 (includes GST) ~~ Foreign 1 Year - $96.30 (includes GST) EDITORIAL POLICY: Opinions expressed by columnists, contributors and letter witers are not nacessariy those of The Port Perty Sta. Letters must be signed and the telephone numbor (which wil not be published) included. Requests that a nama be withhald wil bo honoured only hare is a competing reason 10 do $0. Effors wil be corrected if brought 1o he editor's attention. We reserve the right to edi o refuse publication of any material submitied. ADVERTISING POLICY: The publisher is not abl for sight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the vakue of an advertisement The publisher is not able for ofher errors of oissions in connection with any advertisement in any subsequent issue of the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. All claims of error in publication must be made by Wednesday, noon, prior to the next week's publication, and, if not made, wil not be considered. No claim will be allowed for more than one insertion. PHONE (905) 985-7383 a uo as SA is Fo ic a a Editorial comment Council should take the lead There are a couple of efforts being undertaken by citizens' groups in town right now which, although well-intentioned and potentially benefi- cial to the community, will suffer from a lack of 2 municipal support. . <A A group has been formed to pursue the - fundraising for and construction of an indoor pool, which was pitched recently to Scugog Township council with a price tag of more than $3 million. Very expensive. Meanwhile, another group is raising money for what it says will be a $50,000 skateboard park, where youngsters can pursue their hobby off the streets. Very, very expensive. Both efforts have been given the endorsement of the municipality, but neither has secured a promise of any funding. We would suggest that it is the township's responsibility, upon giving its okay for the efforts to proceed, to offer more than lip service. Money is tight, we know. But this hands-off approach to such significant.community projects WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT EDVTH - CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ALREADY! WHY T'S PREPOSTEROULS! 17'S OUTRAGEOUS! T'S RIDICULOVS! VT'S... -~ : a % CJ" Tn | Ww ry Roorh: Por PERRY STAR A Ks Wp Thanks to all who helped effort | { Is inappropriate. If the township is going to endorse such pro- jects as a pool, or a skateboard park, or both, it is up to the council to make them municipal pro- jects. The municipality employs the people with the know-how to analyze proposals and decide what's realistic and viable. And they know where the money is, too, in the form of government assistance and reserve funds. ~ What happens if a pool fund reaches, say, $500,000, then fizzles? What if this skateboard park is built, and in a few years is sitting unused because the skateboard fad has passed? If endorsement is given, leadership must be provided. It's a council's responsibility. To the Editor: Well, I've met my goal for fundraising and by the time this letter is published I will be on my way to Costa Rica, with the Youth Challenge International program. I don't think I will ever be able to express enough gratitude to everybody that helped beside saying that I will do my best to always put forth 110 per cent and proudly represent not only our country but our community. These past couple of months have been a wonderful experience. The help I've received from everyone in every way, shape and form are very much appreciat- ed. I'm not much for writing letters, but I felt it imperative to get my endless thanks across to all of you. I look forward to all this adventure has to offer and when asked just where in Canada I'm from I'll announce with pride the greatest com- munity in the world, Scugog Township. A special thank you to my dad Rick, my mom Lynda, my brother Scott and Tom Keeble, Matt Caldwell, Mike Hamilton, Mark Delaney, and Tyler Wooton. Without your time, energy and support none of this would be possible. Thank you all so very much. Grant McCoshen Port Perry by J. Peter Hvidsten * THANKS FOR THE GRAND KICK-OFF IY like to start out this week Bl with a special thanks to all those #8 who attended the launch of my Random Jottings changed. In other words... not in my back yard! Over the years that I've been associated with The Port Perry Star, I've witnessed time and time again emotional arguments about proposed developments, and most often it's the same four or five reasons.... Some of the most comprion are: - a negative impact on the water table - a threat to the safety of the children "= using up valuable farm land - increase of traffic and noise - loss of the rural setting Fact is, in most cases, people are resistant to changes that will affect their little corer of the world, What hasn't changed in the past two decades? | would venture to say that every hamlet in Scugog Township has run into similar situations, where growth threatened atmosphere. Just look at the relatively new subdivisions in Blackstock, Greenbank, Utica and Seagrave, just to name a few. The official plan designates growth will take place within the small hamlets of the township, and anyone living in or adjacent to one of these villages, could be in the path of future development. | guess they call it progress. CHRISTMAS IN PORT PERRY Christmas came to Port Perry in September this FETA, book Out Of The Ashes last week: After more than two years researching and writing the local historical document, it was a relief to finally - see it in print and available to the public. Thanks to everyone who, in any way, contributed to the book and to the success of the evening. Out Of The Ashes is now available at the following locations: Books Galore & More, Settlement House, Shoppers Drug Mart and The Port Perry Star. NIMBY SYNDROME Here we go again! Attempts to stop development because people don't want the aesthetics of their community to be regardless whether the plan is good or not, and their arguments against development are often emotional. The latest of these issues comes from residents of Prince Albert, who are concerned about the develop- ment of 21 new homes at the west end of the village. One resident suggested that the village is no longer the same rural hamlet it-was 20 years ago when her family moved there and considered themselves to be living in the country. That's probably all too true, and losing the charm of a small rural village may be unfortunate, but it's also a reality that we all have to live with. year as a film crew moved into town last Saturday and turned Queen St. into'a winter wonderland for the film- ing of a made-for-tv movie. One has to wonder if there's any real benefit for the town being turned into a movie set for a day. Most always, the names of the stores are changed and the street becomes a setting for a small American town, with no indication the scenes were shot in Port Perry. The only winners are those who are paid for the use of their stores. The losers are those who have their business interrupted and watch their customers leave town to avoid the chaos. SR eal a SEE co Gi Seal SER Se lll' wen A IT TORT CEN --