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6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 11, 1990 _ The Port Perry Star Fuvisher-o. Gn Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten Editor - John B. McClelland 235 QUEEN STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO News/Features - Julia Dempsey PHONE 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 News/Features - Kelly Lown The Port Perry Star is author Member of the Post Office Os red tor cash, hd dase ipo i Canadian Community Newspaper Association Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Onika Commilpily Newspaper Association Subscription Rate: InCanada $25.00 peryear Elsewhere $70.00 per year. SingleCopy 60¢ BUSINESS OFFICE Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby Billing Department - Louise Hope Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Lynda Ruhl, Tracy O'Neil ADVERTISING Advertising Co-ordinator - Valerie Ellis Advertising Sales Representative - Anna Gouldburn Note: No ads accepted If any balance owing over 45 days. All advertising subject Ib publisher's approval. PRODUCTION Annabell Harrison Trudy Empringham Darlene Hlozan Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Lid. Port Perry, Ontario Editorial Comment GET IT DONE Frankly speaking, when we first heard about the plans, we were highly skeptical. Of course, the concept is a marvel- lous one, an idea just waiting to be developed. On further reflection, the initial skepticism disappeared, well, almost disappeared. Because no matter how admirable the concept, the nitty-gritty logistics of taking the plan from the drawing board to reality are large. We are talking about the plans put forward in the last week or two by a group of local business people to construct a large open air skating rink on Lake Scugog this winter. Make no mistake, this is a massive under-taking. Building and properly maintaining an open air natural ice skating rink on frozen Lake Scugog will require a huge effort on the part of a lot of people, if the thing is to be done successfully. However, having said, let us stress that the idea is a darn good one, and we would urge people in this community to get behind this project, pitch in any way they can to get it off the ice, so to speak, this winter. A meeting called last week to discuss the plans was not especially well attended, but hopefully, a second meeting Dec. 13 in the council chambers will see more people out to throw their support behind this project. And we can't stress enough just how important commit- ments are to making this project fly. It's not enough to simply say "oh, sure, give me a call if you need something and I'll do what | can to help." It has become a cliche in this community that Lake Scu- gog is our most treasured natural resource, 12 months of the year. A large open air skating rink on the lake would certainly help tap this resource. It would be marvellous for the people who live here as a health form of recreation and enjoyment. But the group behind these plans, who are all business people, are not motivated strictly by altruism in providing a fa- cility for local residents. They are as well motivated by eco- nomics. An important part of the rationale behind the concept is that if done right, it will become known as an attraction for Port Perry, and will draw visitors to the community. And hopefully, if the visitors come here to enjoy this facility, they will also spend some time here, patronizing local shops and businesses. In this tough winter (and it's going to get tougher, eco- nomically speaking, in January and February) anything that will help give the community a shot in the arm is more than worth the effort. Just ask anybody who's been to Ottawa in the winter months what the skating rink on the Rideau Canal means to that city. Of course, the plans for Scugog are not as ambitious as the seven-mile long Rideau rink. Still, the potential to develop something very positive on Scugog exists. Those now working on the plans recognize the potential, but have taken it the next step. There are not just sit- ting on their hands wishing it would happen. They have taken the bull by the horns and are determined to make sure that it happens. And for that, we support them and wish them well. But we repeat, even a modest, scaled down first year rink will be a big, big job, and wishful thinking won't get the work done. And of course the whole thing will be at the mercy of the weather, which as we all know can be cold and wintry one day, mild and balmy the next. The logistics of it all can be worked out. The people in- volved are used to problem solving (they do it every day in their own businesses) They have a super idea and they are prepared to work hard to see it fly. If it doesn't fly, it won't be for lack of effort. But they are going to need all the help and support they can muster. And that's where you come in. Want to get in- volved, or do you want to sit on your hands? WouLD YoU LIKE FROM YOUR COUNTRY ? * TRIP OF TRIPS Just returned from a week with the family in Florida. The first vacation we've taken as a unit since the twins arrived, and if it was any indica- tion of things to come, it may well be the last. The whole idea of a Florida vacation came about as we were sitting over a cup of coffee one morning towards the end of last winter. Hav- ing been cooped up for most of four months, it seemed like a good idea to plan a break for the coming winter. So we began our plans immediately, and before we knew it, we had booked flights and accommodations for (you won't believe this folks), myself, Nancy, Matthew, Jamie, Katie, mother and father in-law and aunt Susie. The only thing we left home was a stray cat which we picked up over the summer (not m idea) and our dog Dolly who went to board wi her original owners near Saintfield. She prob- ably had the best time of the whole crew. The day finally arrived and we scooped the kids out of bed at 4:00 a.m. one morning last week. They were still barely awake as we took them out into the cool morning air and strapped them into their carseats. A good friend had offered to drive us to the airport, and although we resisted at first, this was the best idea that came out of our trip. He dropped us off at 6:00 a.m. for our departure and was there to pick us up at 10:00 p.m. when we arrived back home. There was no hassle with parking cars, jug- gling kids and baggage while trying to find a shuttle bus to get us to and from the airport. It worked like a dream, and we are very grateful to him for his help. All of my airplane fears - the kids running up and down the isle, breakfast being spilled on our laps, crying from being confined too long, and screaming caused by aching ears during our descent never happened. They were great! After an hour and half drive from the airport we pulled into our home away from home along the Gulf of Mexico. The hot sun beat down on the surf as it rolled onto the sandy, white beach, a gentle breeze blew making the palms wave a welcome and the pool glistened under a beauti- ful blue sky. It was like paradise. In fact, after nine hours of driving, airports and flying, it looked like a little piece of heaven. CrCl Ores Jottings But the calm and peace of our new found home was short lived. Two days after we ar- rived Jamie started to break out in spots. That's right folks, Chicken Pox!!! Anyone who read this column a few weeks ago knows that Matthew went through his bout with Chicken Pox just recently and cleared up just in time for our trip. We had been expectin the twins to come down with them before we le for our trip, but it never happened. We thought Matt had a pretty bad case of the 'pox', but when Jamie broke out we realized he had gotten away lightly. She broke out every- where. Her face, body, arms, legs and bottom. The next day Katie started to show a few spots and before we knew it we had two sick kids, who were not able to sleep nights and de- .manded continual comfort. As the 'pox' developed over the next couple of days, it was apparent that even Jamie's case was not as bad as Katie, who broke out every imaginable spot on her body. She was so bad we eventually took her to a doctor, who pro- claimed "it's the worst case of chicken pox I've ever seen", and said there was nothing he could do, so just keep up with the treatment we were giving her. That treatment was a continual rub-down with Caladryl, and a lot of tender loving care. Needless to say, our nights proved to be very long as one or the other was up almost constantly for about three nights. By the time we left for home last Saturday, although the girls looked like a walking disease, (we were not sure if the airline officials would let us on the plane) they were beginning to feel bet- ter and they travelled home quietly. Would | do it again? | don't think I'll answer that question just yet, but I'm sure after we get a few good nights sleep the answer will be yes. In the meantime, Nancy and | will probably plan a brief get-away weekend sometime in the next couple of months in a quaint little hotel somewhere far from the cries and demands of the kids. But until them, we'll work away at trying to et the twins faces cleared up so we can bring them out into public. And that could take a while yet!