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PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 18, 1986 -- § Vi ew P oO i a T by John B. McClelland NO BLURBS, PLEASE As editor of this newspaper, there is hardly a day goes by when I don't get a request from somebody to put "a little blurb" in the paper about some upcoming event or happening. I have absolutely nothing against papers like this one providing space in its columns each week to publicize things that are going on in the community. It's part of the job of the small-town paper. But I want to tell you that nothing turns me off taster than to hear the word "blurb."' W'ien someone uses that word in my presence, it will virtually guarantee that the information item might just get lost at the bottom of page 39, rather than in a more promi- eg spot in the paper where more people are apt to see it. Newspapers don't print "blurbs." They print stories, or items, or pieces, but never "blurbs." I hate that word. Anybody who works in the newspaper business hates the word. You will never hear a self-respecting newspaper editor or reporter use the word "blurb." : So please, don't use that word in my presence. In fact, I feel so strongly about this that from now on, peo- ple who walk into my office and say they want a little publicity for their group, organization, upcoming event Se, and use that word will be quickly shown the back oor. Call it an article, a story, a notice, an item, a piece, if you will, but never, ever a "blurb." NO READERS And while I'm on the topic of things that get my dander up in the newspaper business, I'd like to answer all those people who say with a wink and a nudge. "I don't know why people buy the paper because nobody ever reads it, anyway." If nobody reads the paper, how come my phone rings off the hook if we spell a name wrong? If nobody reads the paper, how come an advertiser will tear strips off my back if we make a tiny little mistake in an ad? If nobody reads the paper, how come I regularly get - phone calls on Monday morning from distraught mothers (and a few fathers) who say "my son Johnny was charged by the police on Saturday night, is it go- ing to be in the paper this week? Oh, please, don't print anything about the little angel. He's a good boy, really, his is the first time he's ever been in trouble with the aw. "" ~ If nobody reads the paper, how come there is a con- stant stream of people coming into the office of the editor each week asking (begging) for free publicity? If nobody reads the paper, how come a subscriber very upset over something that's been printed will phone me and shout in a loud voice: "Cancel my subscription, you S.0.B." Ah, yes, the joys of being in the newspaper business in a small town. Sure, there are lots of people who make a few jokes about the content of the paper from time to time. But you'd better believe, people read it, just like people in small towns everywhere read every word When people stop phoning my office to complain about spelling errors, Lypos, errors in fact, interpreta- li tion, and so on, then I'll eve that nobody reads the paper. : When people stop phoning to request a reporter or photographer to cover an event in the community, then I'll believe nobody reads the paper. When distraught mothers (and a few fathers) stop phoning to plead that a story of their son or daughter's scrape with the law not be printed, then I'll believe that nobody reads the paper. When people don't stop me in the grocery store, or the Post Office, or the local watering hole to say 'I read your column last week and it stunk," then I'll believe nobody reads the paper. Until that day, people ARE reading the paper, every damn word. Excuse me, I have to end this column. There's a guy on the phone and he's hopping mad, cursing and swear- ing because in a story in last week's paper, it said .......... that's printed in their weekly newspaper. Yesterday's Memories 60 YEARS AGO Thursday, Nov. 18, 1926 South Ontario Prohibition Union at a convention at Whitby on November 11, endorsed the stand taken by W.E.N. Sinclair, K.C., Liberal candidate in this riding and as Liberal Leader on the O.T A. Mr. Jos. Wright, Epsom, has gone to his daughter's, Mrs. W. _} Ashton of Oshawa, for the winter months. Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Vance and daughters, Mary and Marjorie of Millbrook, were weekend visitors of Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Taggart. Mr. and Mrs. Macquay, Mr. and Mrs. D. Nairn, Mr. Will Brown of Toronto, were in Seagrave for anniversary services. 35 YEARS AGO ' Thursday, Nov. 15, 1951 President Reg. Moorehead, Canadian Legion Post, opened the Remembrance Day Banquet with a prayer for our fallen comrades. Rev. Henry S. Swabey, Rector of the Church of Ascension then gave a very informative address on the effects the War had on the Cana- dian economy. Elaine Thompson and Jean Bowers, Peterboro Normal School students spent last week in Blackstock Public School with Mrs. Turner. Miss Ruby Wilson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wilson, Ep- som, returned from Nigeria, Africa on Friday. After serving three years on the Mission Field, she is home on a one year furlough. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, Nov. 16, 1961 - The Citizens Ball Park Floodlight Committee met Tuesday even- ing with Canvasser's reporting and tallying up the receipts to make a total of $3,299.30. : : Warden A. Gerrow of Port Perry attended a four-day conference of Ontario Mayors, Reeves and Wardens at the Canadian Civil Defence College, Arnprior, Ont. Misses Kay Poirer and Kathy Murphy, students of Toronto Teachers College were guests of Mrs. Medd, Manchester, last week. 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, Nov. 17, 1966 The Port Perry Bulldozers, Intermediate "C" Ontario Hockey Champions for the 1965-66 season are off to a good start this season winning their first two games. Meredith McKee (top scorer of the team), Jim Burnett and Dale McNenly composed one of the lines of last year's team and are all playing again this year. Members of the Port Perry Legion Branch and the Auxiliary net- ted no less than $448.60 from the sale of poppies and wreaths. Mrs. B. Smith and Mrs. A. Martyn, Prince Albert, attended the Handicraft Guild at the home of Mrs. Taylor, Bobcaygeon, last week. 10 YEARS AGO Wednesday, November 17, 1976 Monday was the final nomination day for candidates in the 1976 municipal elections in Scugog Township. When it was all over, there were 25 names on the list of candidates, all trying for the seven coun- cil and two education board seats. Eighteen tombstones in the Pine Grove Cemetery were toppled or broken in a weekend raid by vandals. Damage was estimated at $1,000. (From page 1) by virtue of a 1963 agreement bet- ween the City and the former On- tario County. This claim against the building was made by Mayor Pilkey more than two years ago. Durham Region says the claim is invalid and has threatened to take the ownership issue to court. But no court action has been started as of this date. What Mayor Pilkey offered last week is this. The city would provide land at the corner of Mary and Bond Streets for the new building as part of a Durham Region Centre com- plex which ultimately would see a major hotel and conference centre as well. If the offer is accepted by the Region, the City would wave its $2 million claim against the present building and wave a further $1 million in back rent owing the City. Moose on the loose! Blink twice, shake your head, and then take a second look! That's what Murray Jackson, a former resident of Scugog Island did while driving long 7A highway near the Rod and Gun Club's shooting range on Monday morning. Mr. Jackson was driving his truck about 10:30 a.m. when a large cow Moose pranced out of the bush, making her way across the highway and then disappeared in the Syndicate south of the highway. "People might think I'm mistaken, but I know what a moose looks like,"' he told the Star. Mr. Jackson had to stop his truck allowing the moose, which he figured weighed between 1000-2000 pounds to cross the road about 50 yards in front of his eyes. Did they die in vain?' Today it was a mixture of snow an rain falling. There was a slight haze hanging over the landscape -- it was the 11th hour of the 11 day of the 11th month. It was quiet. Silence everywhere. 1 stood before the Cenotaph remembering my friends who died at Dunkirk at Dieppe, in Normandy. There were times when 1 felt | was alone, although there were others all around me. Today I had those same feelings. In actual fact, I was alone -- not one solitary soul showed up at the Cenotaph. I can only assume they died in vain! Sincerely J.D. Holman Scugog Township EDITOR'S NOTE: Remembrance Day Services in Port Perry were held at the Legion Cenotaph on Sunday morning, November 9th. A similar service was held November 11th at the Cenotaph in Blackstock. helps make a better community We insist, however, that a letter writer sign hie or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter to the editor. While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must continue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column Offer merits more study Mayor Pilkey said the City's package offer would save Durham up to $5 million in constructing the new building, and he said over 20 years, the Region would wind up with a net saving of some $970,000, because all Regional departments would be "under one roof." Currently, the Region is renting office space in Oshawa and Whitby for such departments as finance, social services, works and planning. Bringing all the Regional depart- ments under one roof is important, said Mayor Taylor, from an ad- ministrative aspect, convenience to the public and to save money in ren- tal payments. Durham Regional chairman Gary Herrema reacted negatively to the proposal from the Oshawa Mayor, and accused him of using the media conference for political grand- standing. Herrema and Pilkey have been at logger-heads over the entire issue of the Regional HQ building for several years. Mayor Taylor told the Star he ex- pects the proposals will find its way into the agenda when the full Regional council meets this week (Wed. Nove. 19) in Whitby. It is estimated that a new Regional HQ building would cost in the neighbourhood of $7.5 million, no matter where it's built. The provin- cial government, which currently leases space in the Regional building in Whitby for courts and the assessment department has ex- pressed an interest in buying the building. and view- EAE TG a --