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wu' 3g Seugon Cifiutn Tuesday, June 7, 1994 published by Scugosg Citizen Publishing Ltd. co-publishers : John B. McClelland, Valerie Ellis editor : John B. McClelland advertising manager : Valerie Ellis ®CNA advertising sales : Chris Hudson accounting : Sibylle Warren eternal optimist : Liz Drebit feature writer : Heather McCrae "Proud Canadians, prow to call Scugog Township home." CCNA Verified Circulation Controlled OCNA Member CCNA Member ccna THE SCUGOG CITIZEN an independently owned and operated weekly community newspaper, is distributed, free of charge, to over 12,000 homes and businesses conmeoLts in and around Scugog Township. Subscriptions sold outside Scugog Township. 36 WATER ST. PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1)2 ! Phone : (905) 985-6397 Fax : (905) 985-1410 Db EDITORIALS Worth keeping We are pleased to be able to say that Canoe the Nonquon is alive and well, for another year, at least. The 26th annual paddle held last Saturday attracted 97 entrants, and that put a smile on the faces of the organizers who feared this might be the last race if there was not enough support. : of But Paul Arculus, president of the Historical Society assured those present at the awards presentations that there will indeed be a Canoe the Nonquon on the first Saturday in June, 1995. . Last Saturday's event, for a change, was blessed with near perfect weather conditions, which no doubt played some factor in bringing out nearly 100 canoes and kayaks for the 16 mile paddle down the Nonquon to Lake Scugog and the finish line at Port Perry's waterfront. Obviously, an event like Canoe the Nonquon will be influenced by the weather--on fine days there will be a bigger entry, on foul days, some paddlers will forfeit the experience. | So be it. The weather is beyond the control of everyone. There are several good reasons why Canoe the Nonquon is worth continuing in the community. Firstly, it serves 'as a fund-raiser for the Scugog Shores Museum. We all know that places like the Museum can use every available penny these days as financial support from government is drying up. Secondly, Canoe the Nonquon has been a unique local tradition for better than a quarter century. We suspect there are few people in Scugog Township who are not familiar with the Nonquon. * Canoe the Nonquon is worth saving. It is good for the Museum, it is good for those who participate and it is a good thing for this community. To those who paddled, nice going, and to all who helped organize to keep this time honoured tradition going, you continue to do a valued service to your community. Your Hospital We can understand why officials at Community Memorial Hospital are less than thrilled with a 'discussion paper' made public last week by a Steering Committee of the Durham Health Council. of medical jargonese that would be incomprehensible to the average person. Yet, this discussion paper is supposed to gauge public reaction before a final report is submitted to the full District Health Council. Community Memorial administrator David Brown and board chairman Kent Farndale both 'said emphatically that the discussion paper released last week is vague and incomplete in its references to our hospital. They said the report does not describe-fully the services that are now available at the local hospital. And likewise the hospital's future role. The Health Council has called a public meeting for June 23 at Port Perry's Latcham Centre where local residents can have their say. We suggest that this meeting be well attended. Copies of this 'discussion paper' are now available for perusal at Community Memorial Hospital. We would suggest you take a look at the paper and the references to our hospital well in advance of the public meeting June 23. The paper suggest that Community Memorial will have as its "major focus ambulatory and out-patient care such as an emergendy department, same day surgery and out-patient clinics. The in-patient role of the hospital would involve a short stay unit to care for people requiring medical care." Is this what you want to see as the role of Community Memorial Hospital? Hardly. The 'discussion paper at this time is just that--a 'discussion paper.' But these things have a way of slowly and quietly moving along, unless people stand up and make their thoughts known. This 'discussion paper,' with all its flaws, needs to be dd d by this in terms of local medical services. BATTLING THE ELEMENTS -- You 5 AN HONOUR JUST 10 BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE! IT'S NOT WHETHER You WIN OR LOSE. IT'S THE CHALLENGE! AGAINST NATURE... YOURE JUST SANNG THAT BECAUSE IT'S TUESDAY AND WERE ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN The paper itself is confusing, difficult to read, vague and full , LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Opposition has nothing to do with racial bias To the Editor: I would like to state emphatically, that the opposition to the gaming facility on Scugog Island, has nothing to do with the fact it is a native proposal. It would seem however, that many of the politicians, press and native population would like to see it that why. It then makes it easy for them to put a smokescreen over the real issues by saying opposition is based on racial bias. More and more in Canada these days, it seems that concerns or legitimate importance are attacked and neutralized in this manner. Last Friday in the Ontario Legislature, the Hon. Marilyn Churley and Gordon Mills (Durham East MPP) both stated that the Township of Scugog had been told about the gaming facility in question. I believe that most people were under the impression that Bingo would be held in the $300,000 plus meeting hall then being built for the native community. [ do not believe anyone was provided with statistics or data to show the size and magnitude of the facility now proposed I would like to see any documentation from the government that shows they advised or consulted with the Township regarding a 'State of the Art" facility. (I do not believe any exists). The Hon. Ms. Churley stated in the Legislature "When | heard that these were some concerns in the community outside the Reserve, I did meet with the chief (Gary Edgar) and we discussed some of those concerns". Her answer to Scugog Township concern it seems, is to leave them in the hands of Chief Edgar. If the Hon. Minister knew there were legitimate community concerns, why did she not contact the Township of Scugog. The bottom line is this-no one has yet addressed the problems of excessive traffic, possible: water/hydro shortages and sewage disposal for this Casino. (I use this word because I personally have seen a document from Premiere Bob Rae whereby he referred to this very facility as a Casino. Robert DeFlorio Save Scugog Island Committee Keep on writing, Ken and happy birding, too To the Editor; Ken Carmichael's column "Nature's Corner" is both entertaining and enlightening. His column of October 5, 1993, was particularly interesting. | read it on the evening of October 8th, the only day of Indian Summer in 1993. With temperatures approaching 20 de C., I had spent the day outdoors doing a garden clean up. To my arhazement I found myself in the company of over a dozen monarch butterflies. They were sunning themselves and feeding on fall mums and the wild asters that I had allowed to grow in various parts of my garderr. They 'were no doubt fuelling up for their long journey south. Now I, like Mr. Carmichael, had wondered about the decreased amount of monarchs present during the summer. | realize that they are facing isnumerable obstacles in order to sutvive. We may not be able to affect much change on the destruction of their Mexican habitat, but we can certainly encourage them in their northern home. I write now because at this time of year many people are ° busy removing all traces of wild plants from their gardens. Instead I suggest that you allow a wild patch to grow on some part of your property and watch how it attracts both butterflies and birds. It will entertain you as well as providing nourishment for these creatures For those interested in specifically encouraging monarch butterflies, milk weed and New England asters are key host plants. To Ken Carmichael, I wish happy birding. May he continue to write both pleasing and thought provoking material. Yours truly, Sharon Creasor Scugog Island