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"A Family Tradition for 125 Years", PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, August 7, 1991 - 7 « m------ ~~ YR ------ mac PRESSING MATTERS John James "POINTS TO PONDER IN THE DOLDRUMS" Dog Days of Summer are coming. Amityville grinds to a halt. Even the dogs don't move. However, 1991's Doggy Days may provide a pleasant respite instead of the normal Bake 'n Flake hothouse experienced by southwest Ontario in mid- August. Thanks to this year's early hot spells, where Amityville never left home (other than to buy more Fre- on cartridges), the Law of Averages sez better lies ahead. Okay by us. It's been too hot, too muggy, too long. Heck, we're always hot down here in the summer, but even the old- timers say this year has been nastier than necessary. People are funny. Usually tempers climb in tan- dem with temperatures down here, and August brings out the best in Family Feuds. Contrary to what we ex- pected, a chat with the Chief of the local gendarmoury revealed no increase in domestic disputes. (Probably 'cause it's too darned hot to bother getting bothered.) There's a couple of things kicking around in the noggin for this week, Neither fills a full column, so we'll do 'em together. 3s No groaning. the first is one more visit to the Que- bec Crisis (or Non-Crisis, in our opinion). This was prompted by a recent Peter Newman article: "At last, a bold alternative for Canada", published in Maclean's. - The key to Canada's survival, in Gospel according to Newman, lies with ideas formulated and published "by a few 'prominent' Canadians Newman identifies as "The Group of 22", Ta daa. "Obviously we can deduce how many people are in the group, but "22 what?" begs asking. For starters, we suspect they breathe air at a high- er level than most of us. The group may be comprised of 22 people who never have to rent a tux for Les Occasions Beaucoup Snooty.., because they all own one. In addition, although most are of high social and/ or intellectual ranking in the nation, a hint of "Let them eat cake" peeks through the 'bold' ideas they developed in concert. Not too surprising, when names of the Group are revealed. We can't figure out why Newman foams at the mouth over these folks. For example, here are the "political heavyweights" within the group: Jean-Luc Pe- pin, Maurice Sauve, John Roberts, Celine Her- vieux...,and Bill Davis. Whoal Hold 'er right there. The first four may have been 'Somebody' at one time, but not many people today ever heard of them. "Has-beens', at best, and that's probably too flattering. And as for Bill Davis: if you're talking about Onta-. rio's ex-premier, your chances of saving Canada with him are Zippo. Yup, we remember him alright. He's the gutless wussy who dumped Full Funding on us. If Bill Davis walked into any meeting hall in Ontario today, he'd risk a 50/50 chance of being lynched on the spot. The other 50% would insist on boiling him in oil. No matter. All the reader needs to know about this Group's "bold solution" to save Canada is contained in one sentence within the Newman piece. Astonishing as it may seem, these people want the federal government to shift federal immigration powers from Ottawa to Que- bec. Anyone coming to Quebec wouldn't even see, let alone be interviewed by a CANADIAN government repre- sentative. Figure that one out. Then tell us Canada has been "saved". Enough. In the middle of summer, nobody in Que- bec, or any other part of the country, is terribly concerned about chances of the nation falling apart. Last Thursday we trotted out the driveway to pick up the Globe. The front page photo stopped us cold, for two reasons. A'news' photo of a grieving family at grave-side is an odious, self-serving abuse of 'press freedom' by the media. More on that in a moment. Also occupying our thoughts on the matter was a wave of disgust directed at the leniency in Canadian courts. (The family's 14 year old daughter was raped, murdered, dismembered, encased in concrete and bur- fed underwater.) Even if the killer is found, convicted and sentenced: the way courts run today, the punishment could never equal the incredible horror and suffering inflicted upon the victim and her family. More "eye for an eye" clout is needed in the judicial system, even if limited to situations such as these. Some argue that pain or punishment never prevent depravity from happening. Maybe so friend, but if that was my daughter I'd be more than happy to participate in addi- tional research on the question...with the perpetrator as guinea pig. Back to the media. If their outrageous behaviour in these situations doesn't improve, perhaps the same brush applied to perpetrators might assist them in reaching a better awareness of what they are dealing with. Letters io the editor Hardball diamond needed To the Editor: After reading the Port Perry Star article on the proposed reconstruction of the hardball dia- mond at the fairgrounds, my response has to be: "What ab- solute bunk!' Mayor Hall and Council seem to think that mere- ly saying "not in the best interests of the community' covers all bases. Not so -- by about ninety feet. Platitudes like this just won't keep us quiet anymore. As a veteran hardball player and current softball coach, I can say with absolute certainty that there is tremendous interest in hardball in the Port Perry area. Many softball players are involv- ed in this version of the sport on- ly because there are many soft- ball fields in the area but not one for hardball. Even the briefest "survey among active players at many levels proves there would be a long lineup for tryouts to make just one Port Perry hard- _ ball team. Simply because the mayor hasn't heard about it doesn't make this interst any less real. Perhaps he should actually "spend some time trying to find out ' before making such wildly inac- curate statements. : Port 'Perry is a:ve - ball diamond would not only pro- "vide a much neéded, : much . desired facility, it wouldn't cost . Council or municipal taxpayers "anything. Rather, it would bring. : more people and more revenue to : the town. For all these réasons, it 'seems to me bo and small minded for Council to . deny such a simple request for ap- {proval from the Fair Board. It really is 'time for the 'residents of the Port Perry area- '_not politicians who seem badly Tee ET anaes eh eran ETE Ta EY 'sports "minded community, and a hard- th wrong headed out of touch--to determine what is in whose best interests. If Coun- cil has political or developmental reasons for denying the Board's request, voters should be told about them plainly and directly, so they can determine who they want on Council in future. If this is the case---and it certainly seems to be--then hardball players are denied their sport for the wrong reasons and the community as a whole is ill served. Canadian baseball fans are justly proud of the fact the Ferguson Jenkins was recently Turn to Page 8 Thanks Star for coverage To the Editor: Thank you for the coverage your paper gave our On-Farm Child Care Program during your Farm Safety Week Feature. However, 1 want to bring atten- tion to the fact that although we greatly appreciate the support we have received from the East Cen- tral Agricultural Services Office, Durham West Farm Child Care Program is a separate organiza- tion with its own Board of Direc- tors. It is this Board of Directors 'that has done the fundraising and program planning necessary to -offer a Child Care Service to the Durham Region Fatm . Community. Sincerely, Miriam Reesor, Program Director, Durham West Farm Child Care Program pupea---- EE CS BIE IE I RE I IR Remember When 2? HISTORIC PHOTOS COURTESY SCUGOG SHORES MUSEUM Looking south, an arch of cedar trees over what is thought to be either Perry or John Street ad ois near Queen St. about 1889. Building at left is Cook's Restaurant. 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, August 8, 1946 A memorial service was. held at the Library this week and a presentation of gifts were made to the Port Perry members of the Armed Forces in World War II. Eight veterans paraded from the Armouries to the Memorial Library, under the command of Flight Sgt. J.L. Sweetman. Mr. Ted Jackson who presided, read the Honour Roll, and it was deposited with the Book of Remembrance of World ar 1. Mr. and Mrs. S. Farmer spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. M. Boyd in Toronto. Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Ledch, Scugog, members of the choir and a few friends enjoyed a wicner roast at Stephenson's Point one evening last week. 35 YEARSAGO Thursday, August 2, 1956 Seventy members of the Canadian Legion, including Branch Padre Major Rev. B.D. Armstrong, D.D. and Comrade Dr. M.B. Dymond, M.L.A. attended the Farewell Ceremony in honour of Reg Moorehead, "Mr. Legion" who was moving to Toronto. Branch President Frank Godley presented Mr. Moorehead with a farewell gift on behalf of the branch. Mrs. H. Walker was the lucky winner in the Appreciation Day Draw. Jackpot is now up to $6503.83. The recent dry weather has cleared the Lawn Bowling greens from the flooding experienced two weeks ago and has. permitted the bowlers to proceed with their Doubles Tournament. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, August 3, 1961 The Port Perry Rod & Gun Club recently assisted the Ontario Dept. of Lands and Forests in PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 Ll - e-em. EWS eA WT TO ATE em