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Sc Si diac ia TT lap -- 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 17, 1992 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice' ' - The Port Perry Star 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - LOL 1 B87 PHONE 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 The Port Perry Star is authorized as second class mail by th Post Office Department, Ottawa, for cash payment of ---- Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Subscription Rate: 1Year-$32.10 6Months-$18.72 indudes $2.10GST includes $1.22GST Foreign -$90.95 includes $5.95GST EDITORIAL - Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten News Editor - Scott Anderson Features Editor - Julia Dempsey Sports Co-ordinator - Kelly Lown ADVERTISING Advertising Manager - Anna Jackman Advertising Sales - Jackie Metz Production - Pamela Hickey, Barbara Bell BUSINESS OFFICE Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby Billing Department - Louise Hope PRODUCTION Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Lynda Ruhl Annabell Harrison, Trudy Empringham Robert Taylor, Marlene Moore Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Port Per SX) Co. Lid. Port Perry, Ontario 'GST #2) 2a) Editorial Comment Spring Is Here Spring is almost here! All the usual signs to indicate that this magical time of year have started to appear. Sightings of robins, the perennial beacon of warmer weather, have been reported. The temperatures are slowly rising, the days are get- ting longer and the ice huts are disappearing. March Break has also begun. With spring in the air, people's minds tend to wander to thoughts other than the task at hand. To thoughts of warm weather activities and blissful events. Young and old, we are all guilty of being caught up in the hypnotic spell that Mother Nature can cast over us when the ground begins to thaw and the flowers begin to bloom. Spring is also a time when youngsters, after months of apparent hibernation, are eager to get out and explore nature and test their wings, but it can also prove to be a tragic time of the year. Many are drawn to the waters of the lakes, creeks and rivers in the area, but this can prove fatal. The cold, rush- ing waters from the spring thaw are much too dangerous for the youngsters. In order to prevent a tragic occurence during spring, par- ents should take a couple of minutes to point out the potential dangers lurking in the community. Children should be told of the dangers of the rushing wa- ter and the thin ice. The rules of traffic should be reviewed to prevent a tragic traffic accident, and they should be cautioned about the dangers of associating with strangers. Adults should also realize that it is their responsibility to make the March Break and the rest of spring a safe and enjoy- able time for all. Care should be taken while driving to ensure youngsters don't dodge between parked cars into traffic, extra caution should be taken around playgrounds and school are- as. Adults are also as guilty as children when it comes to fool- ish acts on the water. Care should be taken on the water and both water levels and ice conditions should be adhered to be- fore partaking in activities around the waterways. Spring is the most beautiful time of the year, but for so many it can also be a tragic time of year. Take your time, be careful and alert, and spring will remain pleasant. Canada's Identity The United Nations has proclaimed March 21 a ternational Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination." The intent of this day is to send a strong message across the world in support obthe fight against racism. The theme of this year's day is "Together we're better." It is ironic that as we prepare for this event on March 21, the white minority in South Africa representing only eight per cent of the total population, will be voting on March 17 in a ref- erendum that will ultimately affect the black majority. A "Yes" vote will give the blacks a chance to govern, while a "No" vote will allow the white minority to continue its medieval Apartheid system. Perhaps even more ironic is the theme of this year's cele- bration -- "Together we're better," as it aptly applies to the situ- ation in Canada at the present time. Natives, French Canadi- ans and English speaking Canadians are at loggerheads over the constitutional talks, creating a potentially volatile situation ready to ignite. But what all the parties fail to realize is that the theme "Together we're better," is the solution to all the problems. Since 1867, Canadians have attempted to find Canada's iden- tity, which separates it from its neighbor to the south. What Canada has failed to recognize is that what makes Canada unique is that it has many cultures, races, creeds and national- ities across this vast continent. Each individual may retain their beliefs, their customs and their traditions, while still call- ing themselves Canadians. Each are given the same rights and freedoms, and are all governed by the same rules. This is what makes Canada unique. Once we realize this there will be no more need to public- ly declare days such as "The International Day for the Elimina- tion of Racial Discrimination." Jer liono 650 &t Patcick Soved yr he leprechauins £ com heir King yw x tH J ALY ' Ny: f= ®t OV " 0 2) fi nl? USI A od EES NG SS TN 1% a A Ga, Wo ASS Ned Y SS ana ly oY, iP er Si ter 1, ams Es DORGAN : STINTRICK PRAY Fokus of Ranmdorm Jottings INTRODUCING A NEW STAR The Port Perry Star is pleased to introduce this week a new publication for the area. Quite simply known as Star Marketplace, the free dis- tribution paper will be available every Thurs- day when you pick up your mail. We have already been questioned as to the need for another newspaper in Port Perry, as the area Is already service by two newspapers. The answers are simple. First, Star Marketplace is designed to in- crease our ability to satisfy the growing demand by our advertisers for larger market areas. The only way possible to increase the area we cover, because the Port Perry Star is a paid circulation newspaper, is to introduce a second publication to respond to the market conditions. Star Marketplace will help address these demands as it will be initially distributed to just over 12,500 homes, with the potential of being expanded if required. According to the latest PMB Study (Print Measurement Bureau) each home translates into 2.7 readers, which means Star Marketplace has the potential of being read by more than 33,000 people. This should imme- diately address the needs of our advertisers. But advertisers are not our only concern. The second reason for the introduction of Star Marketplace to the community is to better provide our contributors and columnists with additional space for their reports and to be able to provide more "general interest" articles and news than we are now able to do with just the Port Perry Star. Beginning this week, in Star Marketplace, our readers will be able to enjoy the popular fea- ture "Crime Flashback" by Max Haines, a cross- word puzzle, cartoons, weekly political columns and an assortment of consumer and local inter- est items. And as Star Marketplace grows it will also give us a vehicle in which to publish items which now are unable to be published due to lack of space. These are but a few of the things we hope to be able accomplish with the publication of Star Marketplace. While it will take a few weeks to iron out the wrinkles and respond to the requests and sug- gestions we expect Lo receive, we are sure in a very short time Star Marketplace will become a welcome addition in your home. For those who are subscribers of the Star, you will find no discernible difference in the content of your weekly newspaper. The Star will remain Port Perry's flagship newspaper and will continue to carry the news, features, correspondents, letters, editorials, sports coverage and other articles you have been accustomed to receiving each week. So now, area readers have "two Stars" to watch for each week. We hope you enjoy both but are open to any comments you might wish to make, positive or negative. Watch this Thursday for your first copy of Star Marketplace in the mail. GETTING THE SHAFT Initial response to the inclusion of Farming Today into our rural subscribers newspapers each week has been positive. Unfortunately our short-lived love affair with Farming Today is over, as we have been informed it will not be available to subscribers of the Star after this week. We were contacted by General Manager Ken Seguin last Thursday explaining he had receiv- ed a complaint from the publisher of the Osh- awa Times who was upset because the Star was carrying Farming Today. (Both the Times and Farming Today are owned by the Thomson Newspaper Company Limited). Mr. Seguin said he was extremely sorry, but had no choice but to cancel Farming Today from our publication, due to pressure from the Times publisher. I believe his apolgy was sincere, but unfortunately it doesn't help. An appeal to Times publisher Garnet Cowsitll to reconsider his decision fell on deaf ears as he abruptly informed me, "we shouldn't even be having this conversation." We are extremely disappointed at this turn of events and apologize to our subscribers, but can assure you we've attempted everything pos- sible to convince Mr. Cowsill we are no threat to the Oshawa Times. Unless Mr. Cowstll has a change of heart in the next few days it appears Farming Today will no longer be available to the Star. But we will continue our efforts and hope- fully can reinstate Farming Today at a later date.