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.The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville. February IS, 1998 Paste 4 She Catiabtatt Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev'. John M. Climic and VV. R. Climic 1854 - 1878 M. A. James, 1878 - 1935 • Norman S. B. James, 1919 -1929 G. Elena James, 1929 - 1947 • Dr. George VV. James, 1919 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 Tel: 905-623-3303 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Fax: 905-623-6161 Internet - statesman@ocna.org Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 For 144 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Rick James Plant Manager - Rick Patterson Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Supervisor - Ralph Rozema, Suzanne Bennett, Tim Bowers, Kevin Britton, Sharon Cole, Laurens Kaldeway, Barb Patterson, Tyler Sellick, Jim Snock, James Stephenson, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Lavcrne Morrison, Wanda Partrick Brad Kelly', Lorraine Manfrcdo, Laura J. Richards Office Supervisor - Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Plcasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford, Libby Smithson Editorials Olympic Spirit, Eh? If anybody seriously doubts the differenee between Canadians and Americans, they should lake a good look at the TV coverage of the Olympics. Take, for example, curling. The Americans scarcely cover the sport because, no doubt, it lacks the kind of drama they need for good ratings. If the teams were to start hurling those rocks at each other, curling would probably find itself with prime-time coverage. But no such thing is likely to happen. So, the telecasts arc left to the Canadians who know that although curling may not offer its viewers lightning speeds or bench-clearing brawls, it holds the interest of Canadians in small towns and villages all across the country. There are a heck of a lot more people in Canada curling than driving bobsleds or riding the luge. Therefore, it seems appropriate to give the sport a chance on the airwaves. Then there is the Elvis Stojko story. Americans have been known to chide their own athletes for earning anything anything less than a' gold. Canadians', on the other hand, understand the importance of doing one's best under difficult difficult circumstances and arc willing to declare Elvis to be as big a hero as lie would have been if he had captured the gold. Finally, Americans arc notoriously chauvinistic in their outlook towards sporting endeavors. Their coverage coverage will spend far more time extolling the triumphs of the American team than celebrating Olympic excellence regardless of the country on the podium. In general, they'd rather cover a 29th place finish by an American than a first place finish by somebody from Finland, Russia or Canada. Canadians aren't afraid to wave their own flag any more. But, they don't see the Olympics as a spotlight for their superiority. And, considering the fact that the Olympics are supposed to be a celebration of athletics, not nationalism, that's the way the Games ought to be covered. Give the CBC a gold medal for Olympic spirit. Ranking College Programs The province of Ontario is looking at posting career success rates for various forms of college and university education. In other words, when you sign on for a particular program, program, you'll have an inkling of the number of graduates from that course of studies who have found work. It's a concept which may offend purists who see education education as.being valuable for its own sake. They might ask: Why must everything be justified by its value in the marketplace? Rather than seeing this as a philosophical issue, why not consider the proposal as simply a matter of providing providing more information to students looking into their postsecondary postsecondary choices? Unlike the sixties, there arc fewer jobs available today. In the sixties almost everybody with a university diploma could snag a well-paying job, but things arc different now. One of the facts students need to know is the job outlook for the course of studies in which they arc prepared to invest their time, energy and money. Job prospects may not be the only goal of a university university education. But, at least those entering post-secondary programs should know the batting average of these fields. If you're making an important decision, you just can't have loo much relevant information to back up your choice. Or, to put it another way, graduates of high schools may have to borrow up to $40,000 to achieve their educational educational goals. Shouldn't they have these facts? Literacy Week It's a little-known fact that literacy continues to be a social challenge in Canada. Perhaps, the challenge is greater now than ever because so many jobs require basic skills in reading and writing. There just aren't many manual laboring jobs available to folks who hadn't mastered their ABCs, but can put in a good day's work all the same. The Literacy Council of Durham Region advises us in Literacy Week that there is a strong connection between low literacy levels and poor health, highcr-lhan-avcragc unemployment, low income, and poor academic achievement by children. Even problems such as low self-esteem and incarceration in Canada's prison have been linked to literacy shortcomings. It seems to us that one of the best ways to encourage literacy is to read to your children and grandchildren, or to other people's children. We know of few avid readers who didn't come from families where the-printed word was held in high esteem. Another way to promote literacy is to volunteer for one-on-one literacy tutoring of the sort offered by the Literacy Council of Durham Region. And, since finding people who cannot properly read and write is a difficult process, you can help by promoting promoting the fact that literacy programs arc available and suggesting suggesting them to those who might benefit. Help in reading and writing skills is free and confidential. It will open up new opportunities in a world which is not always kind to those who lack these abilities. Letter to the Editor Lishman Project Means More Jobs Dear Editor: I feel the approval of the Lishman project would be of great value to this community. It will put to work a piece of land that lias been idle and unused lor many years as well as putting much needed tax dollars in to our area. There would also he the opportunity of jobs for people who must now travel long distances distances to get work. As for the environment -1 know of no two people other than Paula and Bill Lishman who have shown the community just how very concerned they are to keep, preserve and improve our environment and natural surroundings. They and their business would lie a great plus for our community in many ways, Sincerely, Sandra Milne, Waller IX Milne A Look at Port Granby Letter to the Editor A youth curfew bylaw? bylaw? What's next, a 'granny' curfew by-law for the disaffected grandmothers grandmothers in our community? When I first read about a proposed youth curfew by-law a few weeks ago, I thought the new Council was just flirting with the idea. However, I noticed in the most recent edition of your newspaper that a curfew curfew is being considered further. The idea of a youth curfew curfew by-law was last raised in 1994 following Hallowe'en disruptions in Bowmanville. Instead of pursuing the curfew option, the Council of the day commissioned a citizen citizen taskforce to investigate investigate the root causes of problems among some of our youth. The work.of that task- force and others eventually resulted in the formation of the Youth Council and the opening of the Youth Centre this past weekend. In its reports to Council, the taskforce members made it very clear that there was no 'quick fix' to the problems of some of the youth in our community. It is a long slow process that requires generous volunteer time, preventative measures and active support from the rest of the community. This process is not helped by suggestions of a Draconian by-law to restrict the civil liberties of all our youth. If there arc specific behavioural problems problems on our streets, perhaps perhaps they should be addressed by more proactive proactive 'on the street' community community policing activities, rather than a simplistic solution to a complex .problem. I am confident our new Council will consider the bigger picture and take the appropriate action. In the meantime, watch out for those raging granny gangs! David Scott Letter to The Editor Bursary Fund for Talented Orono Skater An Open Letter to the Community: Most people in Orono and the surrounding community community arc probably aware of the very talented figure skater Adam Colville. This year he made it onto Canada's national team by his excellent showing at the Canadian junior men's competition. This means he may represent Canada in international competitions; competitions; one of which is in April in Slovenia. What a lot of people will not know is that Adam is one of eleven people allowed on the ice at the Mariposa Club in Barrie when Elvis Stojko is practicing. Adam has most of the triple triple combinations under his belt, something that many seniors still don't have. He has the potential to go a long way. The cost of financing an amateur skater is enormous enormous at this level. A lot of communities across this country help to case the financial burden of the families involved. With this in mind a bursary fund has been launched at the C.I.B.C. in Orono. People can donate at their local branch in Bowmanville as well. This needs to be an ongoing effort and any amount would help if many contribute. contribute. To maintain his amateur status, there is no tax writeoff for donations. Please help out if you can. I know our community community could make a very big difference. Just ask the C.I.B.C. tellers about the fund and they will be glad to help. Douglas Lycett Stop Tinkering with Health Care Re: Closing of Psychiatric Beds Dear Editor: ' I read, with interest, Health Minister Elizabeth Winner's statement about the 1996 moratorium on the closing of psychiatric psychiatric beds until adequate community services were created. "This moratorium remains in effect". Well, on February 10, 1997,1 had the opportunity to meet with the Local Presidents of the Ontario Public Service Employee's Union, representing the ten Provincial Psychiatric Hospitals. In consultation consultation with them, I find the Minister's statement not quite accurate. While they may not be closing psychiatric hospital beds, they may not be filling the bed when patients arc discharged. Or, in some cases, you can make the bedroom an office. Docs it mean the bed is closed? There have also been instances where General Hospital Psychiatric beds have been closed to redirect psychiatric bed dollars to other areas of the General Hospital. It is time the Government faces the responsibility of providing Health Care to the Mentally 111. It is time that tinkering with the health care system is stopped. It is time the Government moved to ensure that adequate, properly planned, inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services arc available across the Province of Ontario. Yours truly, Joan Gates, President OPSEU, Local 331s Whitby Mental Health Centre Thoughts Unlimited by Rick James Awesome Movie After repeatedly hearing how great a movie is, I'm usually disappointed disappointed after seeing it because my expectations have been set so high. But, after finally getting a chance io see "Titanic," I can safely safely say that all the hype and long line-ups were justified. It was simply simply spectacular. I'm not a movie reviewer, but just like art, I know what I like. Of course, being a computer junkie, I was impressed by the special effects and graphics wizardry. It's not easy to re-create the world's largest ship in real life and then sink it three hours later. Despite the length of the movie, three hours and 15 minutes to be exact, the flick was so good that I either never took my eyes off the screen or no one got up to go to the washroom or buy snacks. Even the expectant mother who asked to use my prized aisle scat stayed for the duration. I gave up the scat I had secured early for the benefit of my long legs when she asked if she could have it for her swollen ankles and frequent trips to the washroom. I was reminded how long the movie was when the final curtain dropped and it was time to leave. From sitting motionless for more than three hours, both knees were frozen solid. One of my hockey buddies reported the same sensation and we both hobbled out of the theatre with the assistance of our wives. Two Hours to Live or Die Once again, I was accused of being cold and callous because I wasn't teary-cycd during "Titanic." It wasn't that at all. In fact, the scene when the mother puts her children to bed and reads them stories stories while the ship is sinking would upset any parent. The reason 1 wasn't blubbering with the rest of the audience was that 1 was too busy trying to figure a way to save the ship and passengers. passengers. In other words, if I were the captain of the Titanic and 1 knew everyone had less than two hours to live, what could 1 do to minimize the loss? 1 came up with a number of ideas during the show and heard about a couple more after speaking with other people who were also trying to conjure a plan. My initial reaction would be to order everyone and everything to the stern of the ship to stop the bow from dropping any further. With more than 2000 people on board at an average weight of 150 pounds, that's 300,000 pounds that could help stabilize the Titanic if you were to open the watertight doors and allow the water to travel the length of the ship, Not being an engineer, I don't have a clue if it would work, hut my idea is to gel the ship to sit flat and sink slowly, buying time for the Carpathia to get there. My next plan includes using the very culprit that caused the dis aster. Somehow those floating icebergs have to be used as lilcrafts. If the ship were still maneuverable, simply pull up beside an iceberg, lower the gangplank and start unloading passengers. If not, have the lifeboats act as a transport back and forth. You run the risk of not being rescued and drift away to South America on an iceberg, but it sure beats the alternative. Other ideas I heard include using the giant cranes on the Titanic to lift the anchors onto an iceberg. In essence, you would be using the mountains of ice as waterwings. The ship will still sink, but all you're trying to do is buy more time. Considering the amount of wood, furniture and other items that float, why not throw all of it overboard, tic it together and create a huge floating boom? The water was calm enough to do it, but it would be difficult for everyone to jump from the ship and swim to it. Again, the idea was to buy more lime and minimize the loss. It's easy for me to sit here after the fact and guess what could have been done. I've had lots of time to think about it and can control 2000 panic-filled passengers from the comfort of my keyboard. No doubt, given the same situation, there's nothing anyone else could have done. But, We Can Save Our Editor We may not he able to save the Titanic, but we did manage to save our editor, Peter Parrott, from spending a week-end in the depths of our pressroom without food or water. With the number of break-ins and thefts occurring in the area, we have installed a stalc-of-thc alarm security system with laser firing missiles that would impress even Luke Skywalkcr. If you dare to venture in our building, you could be ripped in half by a light sabre. The security is so light now that we're even catching our own staff. Last Friday afternoon, Peter went to our archives to check some information from a hack issue. That was fine, until it was closing time and the security system kicked in. He was trapped behind a steel door with no other exit. Tap, Tap, Tap • T-a-a-p, T-a-a-p, T-a-a-p • Tap, Tap, Tap. Peter started his S.O.S. call against the steel door. Just like the Titanic, there was no one was el ose enough to save him. Fortunately, he was on the side of the hinges and had enough tools to start dismantling dismantling the door. He had all hut the last bolt removed when our plant manager, Rick Patterson, took one last check of the building and heard the S.O.S, We have since re-configured the system to prevent a similar incident. incident. And despite being slightly dehydrated, hungry and embarrassed, embarrassed, Peter did miss gelling eut in half by the light sabre.