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Focus on Scugog learned, just as it was going to press for this issue, that Port Perry has been indentified as one of the top 10 historic downtowns in Ontario. Scugog Chamber of Commerce general manager Kenna Kozak was the communi Downtown Port Perry one of Ontario’s ten best notified of the recognition August 17, and asked to provide pictures of the downtown for a short feature about The report, containing the list of communities, in alphabetical order, can be seen on the Ministry of Economic Department and Trade website in the “Ontario Business Re- port,” at: http://ontariobusinessreport. com/en/index.asp . Congratulations to the entire Port Perry business community for this important recognitio1 Vandals destroy Caesarea memorial Dear Editor: My home was vandalized over the Caesarea Regatta weekend and I can only hope the damage wasn’t done by anyone who resides in our village. There were quite a number who wreaked havoc Sat- urday night (Aug. 6) and early Sunday morning - smash- ing a car window and smashing our cement statue. This was no childish prank and I have to ask, “what in God’s earth were you hooligans thinking?” The statue had just been refurbished, with countless hours of toil, in time for a “Celebration of Life” which we held for my husband Reg, on June 25 this year. The statue had been up for only five weeks before some van- dals decided it would be fun to destroy. It may have only been a statue to you, but the heart- aches you caused by destroying this statue in my late husband’s memory will never go away for his family. It was a good thing I calmed down before writing. Rene Renouf Caesarea our cover Scugog Township has two excel- lent fall fairs, one held last week in Blackstock and a repeat perfor- mance this Labour Day weekend in Port Perry. So as summer be- gins to wind down, this is a great way for the family to get together one more time before the kids head off to school. Photo by J. Peter Hvidsten Practising in Durham Region Since 2002 174 Mary Street, Port Perry 905-982-2650 ¢ www.mcmurtrylaw.ca 4 FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 2011 Church is not to blame for balloons Ihave read the ‘Thumbs’ in your August 2011 Focus issue. I understand the concerns of the writer regard- ing the balloons and the environment. Unfortunately the church is not to blame here. The fault is from lack of education and also perhaps the neglect of the seller of the balloons and the helium provider. Asa balloon artist, our company educates our con- sumers about balloons. Most balloons available today are from Qualatex. If the balloons used for this event were not ‘made in China’ then they are completely safe for the environment. Qualatex balloons are biodegradable and when left behind they do not leach anything into the environment, rather they disintegrate from the sun and atmosphere, just like an oak leaf. Here is an informative link — http:// ‘ouncil/facts.html#litter Qualatex is a Canadian/ American company that makes their balloons right in Canada and United States. Helium in a balloon, accidentally released, will go up into the atmosphere, freezes and explodes into tiny pieces, not a risk to an animal if they eat a piece of the balloon. Most healthy animals will not eat the balloon. Balloons in the right hands, can be a great asset to any event! Cynthia Hiatt Big Eddies Balloons LETTERS CONTINUED ON PAGE |4 HARVEST FESTIVAL September 17 & 18, 2011 Sat: 10 am-S pm + Sun: Noon-5 pm “4 ‘View the fruits of the orchard and vineyard by ¢-% guided wagon tour, Lear how to determine when the fruit is ready to pick... and more. A brief winery tour and wine tasting are inch (Non- alcoholic, - juice sampling for the children, wine tasting is open to those Winery 971 High Point Rd., persons 19 years of age or older) Port Perry * 905-985-9924 An OCALA, family event. (West at Scugog Line 2, follow the signs) NO CHARGE www.ocalawinery.com