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I am oom vv ew 10 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 19, 1989 Letters ca Meant to be an honest criticism To the Editor: In response to Sharon Jones' letter regarding the high school's anger at my criticism I would like to say that my "P.S." was not meant as a "nasty insult' nor do I believe that I put in "rudely." You can't even blame my com- ment on "misplaced frustrations" because I wrote my original let- ter five days after the parade. 1 was simply adding an aside to be taken as a bit of honest criticism. Before I say anymore I must apologize. I did not realize that "The Jungle" was a float from the high school. Although I only saw the back end of it as it passed by, the costumes I had the chance to view were lovely. I'm sorry. However, my opinions of the re- maining two floats has not chang- ed. The 0.S.A.1.D.'s smashed car and Christmas tree was inap- We are too trusting To the Editor: Referring to the article on the woman whose wallet was stolen from her grocery cart. On my numerous trips to our local grocery stores I've come across so many people who leave their purses and wallets unattend- ed. Some even go so far as to leave their purses wide open as to attract a thief. This type of person is far too trusting. There is also the kind who leave their young children in the car unattended while they just pop into the nearest convenience store. Yes, they've been lucky when they come back out that their child is still in the vehicle. These people never give it a se- cond thought, they just expect their children to be there. But as this woman has learned it only takes once for a thief to strike. It would be nice to be able to trust everyone in this world but we do have to be realistic. Be trusting but be protective at the same time. There are a lot of angels here on this earth but some do have black wings, even here in Port Perry. Yours truly, Carol E. Sturman, Seagrave - Second hand smoke kills 100's each year To the Editor: Re: Random Jottings 'Dec. 12th" I don't enjoy the prospect of disagreement with you over the "Smoking Mad" comments made about Ontario's new legislation on smoking in the work place -- but I must to clarify a situation which may force you to alter your views about what's really wrong with it. Let me advise you that second hand smoke not only "stinks" as you point out, but that its risk to non-smokers is 250-1000 times Premier says thanks Paul To the Editor: Dear Mr. Saulnier: Please accept my heartfelt thanks for the hospitality extend- ed to me during my visit to the Scugog Shores Museum recently. I was very impressed with your association's display, and in par- ticular, your obvious commit- ment and dedication to your association. Your service to Canada is one we should not forget and your display serves as an important reminder of the role Canadians played in Korea. Please extend my thanks and appreciation to the members of your association. Sincerely, David Peterson, Premiere of Ontario Clarification The Star would like to clarify a point in a story carried last week about the 10th anniver- siyertiie ia : AA Centre. yone ca Scugog Crises Centre at 579-8006 wil have their call answered by an "answering service", (not an an- swering machine). Your call will then be transferred to the volunteer on duty. $i. PPI NTS RAL L ELLER EAH higher than what is considered ac- ceptable for environmental car- cinogens in air, water or food and that 500 non-smokers die of lung cancer per year in Canada as a direct result of being exposed to it in the workplace. That's a fact! What is wrong with the legisla- tion? One: there is no definition of a "designated smoking area." Employees, like yourself, will be able to comply by putting smokers and non-smokers on separate sides of a room. What good is that? Two: the law does not require smoking and non- smoking areas to be independent- ly ventilated. Great -- non- smokers end up breathing recir- culated smoke-polluted air -- What good is that? In my view, contrary to your statement about fairness: I ad- mantly believe that "Smokers should not have rights." The ad- diction is unhealthy for everyone within breathing range and the sooner we all quit the sooner we will begin returning to good health everywhere. The company for which I work- ed some 40 years permitted im- aginary lines around desks of non- smokers who posted their little . signs -- a ridiculous comedy. I am much better off at home now that I am retired -- the entire house is a "designated area." Our real friends have learned a long time ago that when they visit, they don't light up. Maybe our gesture will add some years to their lives by preventing them from suicidal- ly smoking them away. That is what I call being fair. Yours respectfully, Leslie A. Parkes, Port Perry, Ont. RUBBER STAMPS Fast Delivery PORT PERRY STAR propriate for such an uplifting oc- casion as the Santa Claus Parade. I agree the message was strong but I'm afraid it was also lost on the pre-schoolers and younger elementary school students at whom the parade is directed. Say- ing no to drinking and driving should be a message that is push- ed at the public constantly but it should also be pushed where it will be the most effective and not destructive to non-drinking events around it. It will just end up hav- ing an opposite effect on some ple. Congratulations to the in- termediate band for entering a float in the parade for the first time. I really mean that. Your music was great and yes, that takes a lot of talent. I didn't com- ment on your music; I com- mented on the float. I can't recall seeing even one Christmas decoration on it. I know your budget is limited. Isn't everyone's? The high school has shown the public that it contains many good artists behind its walls. We have seen the fantastic work you can do on play sets and costumes. Why can't you do work like that on your floats? Finally, please remember that it's not the quantity, it's the quali- ty of your entries. Obviously this is reflected in their prize for the student council entry. The judges must have found it more pleasing than the other floats you entered. Perhaps next year you could put the Christmas tree from 0.S.A.1.D.'s float onto the band's float, add a few carollers, decor and walk away with another prize. Sincerely, Cindy Rudkin, Scugog Township =] - windshield vital for - safe winter driving Drivers who neglect to com- pletely remove all snow and ice from their vehicles may be play- ing one of the most dangerous winter sports of all. "Peep-hole driving" is a game much like Russian roulette. The players must accurately navigate around other vehicles and avoid both animate and inanimate ob- jects while peering through a small hole created by a quick sweep of the wipers. "Good drivers know they must be able to see in all directions," says Pat Curran of CAA Toronto. "Expert drivers don't play the "peep-hole game" and are justly intolerant of those drivers who do." Be sure to take the time to com- pletely remove all snow and ice from the entire car -- hood, roof, trunk, lights and windows. Snow left on the hood may blow back onto your windshield. Snow left on your roof orrtrunk may blow back onto the windshields of others. Make winter driving less of a risk -- see and be seen. A few minutes spent with the snow brush and ice scraper will not on- Viewpoint by J. B. McClelland (From page 7) Night" under my breath last week reading through all the submissions the Star received for the "Memorable Christ- mas" story contest. Gosh, there were some mighty good stories; personal, down-to-earth, yet so eloquent expressions of this lovely time of the year. I'm only sorry we were not able to print them all this week. My thanks to all who submitted a story. May you ex- erience the spirit of Christmas in the purest sense, and ive a long life to cherish the joyful memories. THE JITTERS Hate to end this last-before-Christmas column on a bit of a sour note. Is it just my imagination, or is there a sense of the jitters in the air. } General Motors has laid off workers for a couple of weeks because of bulging inventories of un-sold cars. Cobi Foods in Whitby recently handed about 100 workers the pink slip and more may follow, The reason? Production costs are too high. Well, of course they are too high. But does Cobi think it can pay full time workers $6 or $8 bucks an hour? This is Durham Region, remember, where "starter" homes start at $150 G's, and a decent apartment will set you back $750 per month at least, if you can find one. As for GM's bloated inventory of new cars. What do they expect, with interest rates on the climb and a creeping uncertainty about whether the job will be there next Monday morning. : More than one merchant around Port Perry has told me that people are "hedging" a bit this Christmas, especial- ly on "big-ticket" items that might require a consumer loan. | hate to say it, but there are enough signals in the air to strongly suggest that 1990 is going to be a tougher year than '89. Hopefully, we won't slip into the near catastrophe that hit at the start of the decade now winding down. IN CLOSING Contrary to what some of my friends and acquaintanc- es may think, | am not (repeat not) a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas. | truly enjoy the sounds and the sights of this season, the expression of anticipation on the face of a child; shoppers on Queen Street with parcels under arm; the music, the lights, the decorations; and of course, the knowledge that Christmas will be spent with family, and my three children won't be disappointed when they check un- der the tree on the morning of Dec. 25. : | trust that all of you, friends, acquaintances, readers, feel the same, and that your Christmas this year, is exactly what you want it to be. Editorial Comment (from page 6) Granted, $2.5 Billion is a lot of money. But that's about what the cigarette makers spend yearly to advertise their products in the United States. It's what the Russians spend each year on vodka. And to drive the point home, UNICEF says the $2.5 billion is what the world spends each day on weapons and defense. Guns or children. That's one of the choices the world must make in the decade to come. But really, do we have such a choice. Speaking in Toronto last week, Stephen Lewis, our former ambassador to the UN asked not for pennies, but for our outrage at the fact 100 million children will die when they could be saved if the world would give up its guns for ten days. Expressed in those terms, it just seems so gosh darn simple, doesn't it? The choices are there to be made. And the right ones will be made when the ordinary citizens of the world are fi- nally successful in poking and prodding the decision- makers into action. The incredible events in Eastern Eu- rope did not start from the top; they began from below, on the streets, in the factories, when enough people finally said to those at the top, enough is enough. The same kind of action must be taken if we are to save the planet from enviornmental disaster, and save 100 million from death and suffering. LOOKING FOR R PLACE TO RDUERTISE YOUR BUSINESS? LOOK HERE... WHERE THE CONSUMER LOOKS 235 Queen Street ly give your vehicle a chance to THE PORT PERRY. STAR - PHONE 985-7383 985.7383 warm up, it may also save a life. -- TALLEST FER CELE AA AN AA ER NON NNT a Le RPE SHE | SE SIRE 3S Nr LAR OR sin VS na Lar,