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2 i, SEE a . R TA Thr Cae Sn hs Sad a ote) RLS -»' V oC 4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday October 19, 1982 \ ¢ L¢ A SF LI ve . 3A TO 2A 7c o8 v ia\ y X ANAL NAP IRE 301 1) . HELIN "od . \ Cipe S ah ce RIITIGFAY JN PRT EFT RE RN J SUSI NALS gis | SPF XPT NON J BEST REL FTN Pa Shi ditorial comments chatterbox by J. Peter Hvidsten SPITBALL I'm not an avid ball fan, but I must admit that when World Series time rolls around each year, I do plunk myself down in front of the television set to watch some of the games. If you asked me who is the best hitter for the Cardinals, or who is the starting pitcher for the Brewers next game, I wouldn't be able to tell you. In fact I doubt if I could name six players on the two teams. To date I have enjoyed the games that I've been able to watch. There has been plenty of hitting, good pitching and some good infield and outfield plays. The camera crews that are so important in bringing the action into the rec rooms of millions of American and Canadian households do a superb job. They keep us abreast of the action by means of their numerous camera locations, and split the action at crucial times so we can see both the runners and the actions of the pitcher on the mound. But if there is one thing about the World Series and the camera crews I don't like is the close-ups they give us of the managers and coaches puking on the field and in the "dug-outs. The disgusting practice of spitting many of the players and coaching staff have is sickening to say the- least, but when we get a close-up of this practice it is just too much for my stomach. When the action is slow, why don't they give us more shots of the crowd, the cheerleaders or some of the celebrities on hand at the game. This would be far less nauseating than the site of a grown man gnawing on a .large hunk of chewing tobacco and splattering it on the ground at his feet. All this in living colour over our TV set. I don't suppose my comments in the column, many hundreds of miles away from the action will help to alleviate the disgusting practice of spitting on the field, so I guess I'll just have to get used to seeing this if I want to continue watching the games. ELECTION FEVER 4:10 P.M. Monday October 18, 1982. As I write this column, the cast-of-stars in our up-coming election continues to grow. With less 'than an hour remaining until nominations close there are nineteen candidates trying for seven spots on council and one to represent us at the school board. The office of the Port Perry Star has been buzzing with action this week as many of the candidates arrived to announce their intention to run for office. There were interviews to do, pictures to be taken and advertising to design as the race for a seat on the next council or school board heats-up. We at the Star feel very strongly that each and every resident of the Township of Scugog has an important part to play in this and every election. It is the voters who decide who is going to run their government for the next three years, and it is therefore very important that they know the candidates and what they stand for. In an effort to make this information available and easy to understand, you will find on page 17 of this weeks Star, a page outlining the four Wards, and who is running in each of these areas. In addition to this page, there is an advertisement and articles relating to the election of your next council. r Next Wednesday, October 27, the Star is sponsoring a Meet the Candidates night at Latcham Centre, Port Perry. Here the voters will get a chance to hear and meet * the candidates running for office in the November 8, 1982 election. We urge everyone to take advantage of this forum and make an effort to meet the men and women running in your Wards and for Regional and Area seats. It's hard to vote for someone you don't know or have never had any contact with, so if you want to be an educated voter, make it a point to drop by the Latcham Centre and meet your next council members. It is great to see that this time around there are a number of local women becoming interested in the municipal election. We congratulate these ladies on taking the initiative to file nomination papers and wish them good luck in their campaigning during the next three weeks. It is not an easy decision for a man or woman, to place their name in front of the public on an election ballot. Although the individual feels that they can do a good job for the township, it'is ultimately up to the public to decide who is best for the job. And in every election, there are those who do not win. I did not use the word loser, because in my books anyone who is willing to run for office is not a loser. But for those who don't win a seat, the loss is sometimes disheartening and feelings become bitter. It is at this point a candidate really knows how they are accepted by the electorate. Sometimes the electorate do not vote on the ability of the person running, but because of a friendship, a dislike' for someone or because of rumours. ' : We hope this election will be run cleanly by all the candidates. There need be no personality clashes and name calling. Let's hope they will all step into the ring, shake hands and show us a clean and honest campaign. And may the best man (woman) win. IN CLOSING While putting out the garbage on Monday morning a neighbourhood youngster named Freddie walked by the end of my driveway. Freddie is a bright little fella about 6 years old and loves to talk. He asked me what was in the pen at the back of the garage, and I replied 'it's my dog Sam." "I used to have a dog," he said, "but .iow all I've got is a dog house." I didn't have time to talk any longer, but I wondered as I headed back to the house, "what happened to his dog." But I'll bet that is another long story. Countdown Underway With the close of nominations on Monday of this week, the real countdown is underway leading to municipal election day on November 8. Every election year small-town weeklies (and big city dailies) go to great lengths to impress upon their readers the importance of knowing who the candidates are, what they stand for, and getting out to vote on election day. We sometimes wonder why newspapers even bother when year in and year out, a voter turn-out of 50 per cent is considered extraordinary in a munici- pal election. The norm is more like 30 to 40 per cent, especially in an election when there is no so-called "hot issue" in front of the electorate. Quite frankly, we cannot understand why half the eligible voters decline to cast ballots in an election, be it municipal, federal or provincial. _ Nevertheless, we are again going to suggest strongly to our readers that they do take the time to get out and vote on November 8. Those who have never voted will find it is rather painless and really quite simple. It might take all of ten minutes from the timé you walk into the polling station until when you walk out. As for who is running for election this year, the names and photos of all candidates, including a map of the ward boundaries of Scugog Township are being carried in an article in this week's Port Perry Star. If you want to know where candidates stand on certain issues, give them a call. Over the next three weeks, all of the candidates will be out door- knocking. Ask them what they think of certain issues, why they are running for office, how they will spend your tax dollars. And if you'd like to meet the candidates on an informal basis, the Port Perry Star is sponsoring an all-candidates meeting on October 27 at the Latcham Centre in Port Perry, starting at 7:00 P.M. If you are interested as a voter, there is no excuse for not knowing who the candidates are in your ward, etc. We are not going to say that you must vote simply because it is an obligation to exercise your franchise in a democratic system. We are not going to say you must vote because this particular election is crucial. All elections are crucial. One is not more or less important than any other. But look at it this way. How would you feel if somebody said "Sorry, your right to vote this year doesn't exist.' For those 50 or 60 per cent of eligible voters who usually stay home on election day, we urge you to make the decision to vote this year, and at the same time make a decision to find out who is running for what and why. Election Day is November 8. Bomb Blasts Car bombs exploding on street corners may be a way of life in some countries, but not in Canada. Last week, however, 500 pounds of dynamite were detonated in a stolen van parked in front of the Litton Systems factory in west Toronto. Damage, as might be expected was heavy. And although the blast did not kill anyone, several people were injured, three of them seriously. By the beginning of the week, the police investi- gation had intensified and the F.B.1. has been asked to assist. The Litton plant in Rexdale makes sophisticated guidance systems for the American Cruise missile. Obviously, at this time there are many un- answered questions about who set the explosion and why. Hopefully, the investigation by police will come up with the answers. . When and if those responsible for this act are tried and convicted, they must face the full weight of Canadian law. Canada must show a hostile world that acts of urban violence will be dealt with in the sternest possible way. And if necessary, the laws of this country should be beefed up to let the courts hand down long terms in prison for those who carry out these kinds of violent acts.