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~ VIEWPOINT CREDIT WHERE IT'SDUE......... Too often these days, young people get a bad rap. What we hear about are the bad things--the fights, the drugs, the gangs, the drop-outs and so on and so forth. Obviously, it is grossly unfair to paint all young people with the same brush. What sometimes gets over-looked is the way young people can set goals and reach those goals. Often, they surpass them and come up with an achievement that is truly astounding. "I have had the pleasure in the last few days to be associated in an in- direct way with two very different groups of young people. And both did themselves, their parents and their community proud. accomplishments that won't soon be forgotten. I'm referring first to the Port Perry Midget Merchants fastball team and the Northern Explosion Choir. First, the Merchants. In winning their end of season League tournament on Saturday, this talented group of young men really did put the icing on the cake. Just the previous weekend, they had won the all-Ontario championship, a feat that had not been accomplished by a Midget-age team since 1975. Make no mistake about it. This is a superb team: well balanced with great pitching, superb defense infield and outfield, and some guys who really know how to hit for power and average. * And watching this team play several games last Saturday en route to the League Crown, I was impressed with that "intangible" so important in sports or just about anything in life: a desire to win and the ability to "dig down deep" when the chips are down. I have known many of these kids since they first started playing sports way back when. I have watched them grow up, have followed them along in hockey, baseball, basketball, volleyball, and this is not the first time some of them have won league and provincial championships. About the only "downer" the team had this summer was the failure to represent Ontario in the National Midget championship. However, I would put these guys up against any team in the province. I know that the management of Bob (Stats) Vander Slagt, Ron Redman and Wayne Venning are pretty proud of these guys. Ron and Wayne have been with many of the players since they were nine-year olds, so ending this season with a provincial and league title has to be most satisfying. And the fact that these guys are of such high calibre bodes well for fastball in this community down the road a few years. Many of the Merchants can be expected to continue playing competitive fastball with the Gamblers or the XL Eagles. Anyway, my sincere congratulations to everyone connected with the Merchants this summer. You worked hard and it paid off in big dividends. Secondly, there was a lump in my throat, even a tiny tear in my eye last Thursday evening as I watched the curtain come down on Northern Explosion when this girls choir performed for the last time in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at Toronto's Elgin Theatre. It was an emotional mc.aent for parents and the Choir members. I think I am correct in saying that these 25 young girls have put their hearts and souls into this musical for the last several months. The opportunity to perform on stage in this show, which became the hit of the summer in Toronto was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hundreds of people from Scugog and area saw the show and raved about it. This choir was first formed by teachers Dawn Taylor and Harvie Friede last winter and was selected from over 100 other choirs who auditioned for the chance to perform on stage. Once selected, the girls spent countless hours in rehearsals that demanded dedication and discipline; then there was the jitters of preview week and the gala opening with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber in the audience. Then it was four shows each week (more than 40 in total) countless miles on the old school bug. The girls were part of the North American premier of this show, and though there will be other shows and other choirs, Northern Explosion was with the first. And the girls along with the choir from Bayview Glen was selected to perform for recording the North American version on CD and tape. (Circular Sounds on Watet St., Port Perry has both in stock now) To those 25 young Tadies, thanks for being part of a great show, something very special. No matter what it is; scholastics, athletics, music, drama, achievement of any kind, today's young people are out there getting things done. The "achievers, be they a group of girls who sang their hearts out all summer or a bunch of teen-age guys who won a provincial fastball title, or anyone else who goes just a bit beyond the ordinary, can take pride in their accomplishment. Rightly so. B= UNSILVED MYSTERY te Li -- "HI Dadl Hope you come home soon" This sure looks like a photo taken especially for father. Is the missing dad behind the camera, or off to war? Recognize this family. If you do contact the Scugog Shores Museum at 985-3589. ios issst so ScuGoG CITIZEN | Carolyn Firlotte This | week's Citizen likes a good | especially creative with a | eint brush, Having estab- i herself as a ar, she is now prod-ucing painted T-shirts for fun. Christmas is her favorite time of year, in fact, decoration's go a TS -- HOT OF "When you gotta go, you gotta gol' No number needed