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6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, October 10, 1990 Subscription Rate: InCanada $25.00 per year - Elsewhere $70.00 per year. Single Copy 60¢ Darlene Hlozan subject © publisher's spprovel. Note: No ads accepted If any balance owing over 45 days. All advertising En Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Lid. Port Perry, Ontario EDITORIAL BUSINESS OFFICE The Port Perry Star Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Editor - John B. McClelland Accounting - Judy Ashby 235 QUEEN STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO News/Features -Julia Ashton Billing Department - Louise Hope PHONE 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 News/Features - Kelly Storry Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Lynda Ruhl, Tracy O'Neil The Port Perry Star is authorized as second dass mail by the Pos Office Department, Oawa, for gash payment of posage PRODUCTION ANG nator - Valerie Ellis Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 ain Advertising Sales Representative - Anna Gouldbum Comment SAY THANKS Dear, oh dear. Whatever shall we do. Stop the presses, ho sky is falling and so are the fortunes of the richest of the | : | |Editorial Forbes magazine, which follows the fortunes up and down of the cream of America's most wealthy citizens (you need $100 million at least just to get a mention) has an- nounced that 53 of the Forbes 400 actually suffered a net loss in personal fortunes this year. Their losses ranged from $800 million to a paltry $100 mil- lion, and the much-debted Donald Trump doesn't even make the list after estimates that his worth nose-dived from $1.7 bil- lion to "nearly zero." ; Yes, indeed, times are tough in the land of the Eagle, the last great bastion of free enterprise left on earth, where any- one can make or lose a few hundred million selling widgets or junk bonds, or masterminding the takeover of trust companies and leaving the US taxpayer to foot the bill when the deals col- L) Hil ' i i J in | ' { Ii ' | 4} (a |" Ny 1 RT ug "WELL, | wAS HERE AS PART OF THE BUCHANAN INVESTIGATION, AN" | -- TL WA, ol) = I TL UR -- ol I Lit ld | i | T SOR UL RE ra 111 | I | ~~) MN i >) i "y : | J Lai > fi lapse. Interesting that this story of the America's troubled rich would appear the day after Thanksgiving in Canada, a day that most Canadians met with mixed emotions this year. Thanksgiving, a traditional time for celebration, not for what we would like to have, but for the actual blessings we en- joy, no matter how small or humble they may be. And no doubt, a lot of Canadians did just that, getting to- gether with family and friends over a dinner of roast turkey and all that goes with it. But there are troubling signs in this country this year. In- credible to think that in the city of Toronto, close to 100,000 people are forced to rely on food banks just to get food, the most basic of life's necessities. That's 100,000 people in Toronto alone who somehow have "fallen through the cracks" in the network of publicly funded social assistance programs. To put that 100,000 in perspective, think of the entire city of Oshawa (almost) lining up each week for groceries at a food bank. And that's just one city. There are food banks in every Canadian city and town. Even in Scugog Township, where we may like to think that poverty is as scarce as hen's teeth, there is a busy food bank that struggles to meet the needs of more and more people each month. Politicians, including newly elected Premier Bob Rae, like to say that food banks should not have to exist in our society. Nobody should have to rely on the generosity of volunteers who donate bags of groceries, or the army of volunteers that sort and distribute the fare. The argument goes that in any modern, caring society, the function of providing the basic necessities for those in' need, should fall to the state. They are right, of course. But didn't they say the same thing about the Soup Kitchens during the "Dirty Thirties?" Sure they did. But the sad fact of the matter is that the state these days (read federal, provincial and municipal governments) are stretched to the absolute limit when it comes to welfare pay- outs. There isn't enough money to do anything more. Food banks are filling a gap for hundreds of thousands of people of all ages in this country. And it's fast becoming a national disgrace that a country like Canada, rich beyond the dreams of most citizens of this planet, can't provide even the basics for so many of its people. Just as the soup kitchens of the 30's were symbolic of something gone terribly wrong, likewise the food banks of the 90's. Not quite so grim in appearance, perhaps, but equally as devestating, simply by their very existance. Forbes may document the tribulations of the rich, but for millions of North Americans, the food bank has become a way of life. Just how much trouble is the vou in as we clean away the scraps of another plump Thanksgiving turkey? a I Pa Ar Jottin SAL FF NO MORE TWINS FOR US! Not sure how many peeps around here got hooked last year on TV's blockbuster series "Twin Peaks", but'| sure did. : In fact, Nancy and | made sure we didn't miss an episode as the characters tried to unrav- el a web of mystery surrounding the murder of beautiful Laura Palmer. | can still remember the opening scene in which a man discovers the blood-covered body of Laura Palmer wrapped in plastic, lying on a sandy beach. There's no doubt that opening scene caught us, but what held us during the next few months was the constant intrigue created by the bizarre events that unfolded week after week. But by the end of last winter, we were start- ing to lose our interest, and when the final epi- sode aired last April or May we were almost re- lieved. But when Twin Peaks returned on Sunday night, two weeks back, we found ourselves rush- ing the kids off to bed, so we didn't miss one minute of the first super-hyped season opener. And hype it was. In fact, it was a struggle to watch the entire two-hour premier. As a matter-of-fact, the plot was so weird, complicated and ridiculous that | doubt that we will continue to watch the show. | really don't care, at this point, who killed Laura Palmer and I'l bet there are thousands of other viewers who feel the same way. From the start, Twin Peaks has not been an easy show to understand. And unless you saw the first episode, over a year ago, there's little chance of figuring out the many characters in addition to the twists and turns in the plot. In fact, it's so complicated, | feel there is lit- tle chance of the show attracting new viewers as the series goes on. Tuning in to Twin Peaks without having seen a few of the first year epi- sodes is pointless, so you might be better off watching "The National" as an alternative. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to see this show actually lose most of its audience in the next few weeks, and be taken from the air by the early part of next year. There are probably devotees to the show who would shudder to think of it being taken off I-A PAPE air, but I'm sure, unless they identify the killer of Laura Palmer quickly, Twin Peaks will be as dead as she, and its death will be no mystery to anyone. EXCITING SEASON The birds of summer have finally flown off after giving their fans some of the most exciting, yet frustrating sporting moments of the past seven months. The inconsistent Blue Jays lost their bid to take the Eastern division title last Thursday night, when a controversial catch-in the ninth in- ning by a Red Sox outfielder quashed the slim hope of a sudden death playoff game. But speaking of being inconsistent, the me- dia have been as inconsistent as the Blue Jays were this summer. They were happy to heap loads of praise on the team and players when things were going good, but as soon as the team or a player fell into a slump, these same writers and broadcasters churned out veno- mous copy. | enjoy watching the Jays, and I'm as dis- appointed as anyone when they lose. But just because a player falls into a slump, doesn't mean they don't want to do better. | would sug- gest that every player on the team would like to be at the peak of his performance for the entire 150 games, but that's asking too much. Some days you've got it, and some days you don't and it doesn't matter how you'd like to perform, body and mind just won't co-operate. Use yourself for an example and tell me your ready to take on the world every day. If I'm anything like the majority some days I'm ready and others | might as stay home. Nobody is arguing the fact the Jays were extremely inconsistent this past year, and may- be they should have taken it all. But they did take it down to the ninth inning of the last nail- biting game of the season and should be given credit for what they did achieve. They've been in the running for a division championship for the past five years, succeed- ing on two occasions. I'll bet there are many teams and players who envy that record. Thanks Jays for a great season. Ls