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Te A Sand i ----- Ee Ea a i Ev | PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 21, 1992 - 7 I quite like the city of Buffalo - its chicken wings, its clam bars and above all its Grand Canyon style pot holes which U.S. archeologists now believe swallowed up the Lost Continent of Atlantis. {It has since quietly resurfaced under the assumed name of Cheektowaga with no known survivors). If you watch Buffalo television news as I do, you come to understand that the two largest growth industries in the Greater Buffalo Area are Canadians coming over to buy their own beer back and industrial arson. Buffalo is known as a city with heart, and it is with this in mind that I would like to dedicate today's col- umn to the conscientious people of that city who have a healthier respect for drinking and driving laws than any other city in America, indeed the world. Buffalo citizens so rigorously, so relentlessly, so religiously refuse to drink and drive that they will actual- ly...well, let's go the police blotter for a more detailed account. "Kevin Ford and Donald McNair were charged with various driving- by William Thomas BUFFALO - CITY OR MIDWAY RIDE? related offenses in June in Buffalo, N.Y. after Ford's brother, Montgomery, drove Kevin's car up a utility pole guide wire, causing the car to flip over. Kevin explained that he had been drinking and turned the keys over to Montgomery, who is blind, but who "always wanted to drive." Well, far be it from me to stand in the way of another man's dream but I think letting blind people operate moving vehicles, no matter how good the verbal communication skills of the drunk in the passenger seat, is a very bad idea. And it's especially dangerous when you consider there could be young children out on those Buffalo streets...also operating motor vehicles. Back to the police blotter for another item: A City of Tonawanda woman was arrested after police said she had her 11 year-old niece take the wheel of her car because she was too drunk to drive. Deborah Hallam, 38...apparently decided she was too drunk to drive and instructed her niece, whom she was babysitting, how to drive the car. (Boy, this must be the accelerated version of Young Drivers Of Canada). The car was spotted by Officer Robert Clontz driving erratically down Delaware Street where it nearly struck a utility pole at 1 a.m. {1 a.m.? I suppose now that they have the kid up on a dangerous driving rap, they're willing to overlook the fact that she was up past her bedtime). I'm all for teaching children to mas- ter skills of dexterity early in life and driving may be one of them but cer- tainly not in a city where blind people are prone to make lane changes with- out signaling. The options facing the citizens of Buffalo are obvious! 1. Remove all utility poles in the city. 2. Enact prohibition laws within city limits. 3. Include a co-pilot with the sale of every vehicle in the city. 4. Publish a very strict list entitled: "NO MATTER HOW DRUNK YOU ARE -- NEVER GIVE YOUR CAR KEYS TO..." THE LIST: * blind people including those with a highly developed sense of hearing * any person who can still travel free on airlines by sitting in their par- ent's lap * inanimate objects * Iraquis who hold a grudge * any cat under 4'2" and not in pos- session of a valid New York State driv- er's license * people on the thruway driving alongside of you, including the soon-to- be arresting officer * dead people, even those still able to sit up and grip things * people who only become life-like when you inflate them with an air hose * illegal immigrants hiding in your trunk * any domesticated animal that barks and drinks from the toilet * imaginary or invisible friends * real Buffalo including those with acting credits from Dancing With Wolves * any person still hooked up to an intensive care IV system in a local hospital * Canadian hitch-hikers with army haircuts and bulges in their pants' pockets It's a pretty safe bet that our own symbol of safety, Elmer The Safety Elephant would not only be a popular cartoon figure in Buffalo, New York, he'd also be a much sought-after desig- nated driver. If you drive in Buffalo, please show compassion for blind guys and small children by giving them very clear and helpful driving tips like: "Holy #%@&! You just missed that utility pole!" Remember When "? HISTORIC PHOTOS COURTESY SCUGOG SHORES MUSEUM iE A George Sweetman, Wellington Sweetman, John F. Gerrow, Will Jackson (reeve), Tom Graham (clerk), John Ploughman, and John Jackson sat on the Port Perry council in 1909. 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 17, 1947 Scugog Island, received the outstanding award from the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada, the Port Perry council set the tax rate at 48 mills. "Tom Long Boat Trophy." This medal is awarded to Division as to departments are County rate 7.6 the Indian student in Southern Ontario showing mills, high schools 4.57 mills, and public school the greatest proficiency in sports, leadership, 11.43 mills. This represents an increase over 1946 character and general proficiency. of six mills. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Colbear of Manchester have Mr. and Mrs. A. Hubbert and family of Ashburn moved to Blackstock. moved to a farm northeast of Manilla, formerly occupied by Mrs. Ivan Rodd. About 100 friends and neighbors in Seagrave and area gathered for a house warming for the new Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kerry of Utica were guests home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter King. of honor when their friends and neighbors Mrs. Paul Diamond was elected president of the gathered in Utica Hall for a party in their honor Honeydale Womens Institute. before their departure from their home in the community. Mr. and Mrs. Reyner of Whitby have bought the 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 10, 1962 Earl Gordon Bailey, graduate of McMaster home and grocery store of Mr. John Munroe, University and Osgoode Hall, is now associated in Prince Albert. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 18, 1957 the practice of law with Bruce V. Mackey, Oshawa. The ice went out this year on April 15. The Brooklin Lacrosse team will be minus three Port Perry High School student, Gary Edgar of PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 i p= an Letters io the editor Hysterical attacks don't help To the Editor: This is to set the record straight and counter recent letters from the Citizens' Coalition and others deter- mined to be ignorant, mean-spirited and simple minded. The deficit we're struggling with in Ontario was created by the previous government and swept under the carpet. The bills must be paid and the social safety net preserved. Taxes are the way we pay society's bills. Certainly the burden can be more fairly distributed but that hasn't been on the federal agenda. It is clearly a priority for the Rae government and our MPP Gord Mills. On proposed labor law amend- ments, it's about time Ontario caught up with other jurisdictions in North America. Obviously, manage- ment opposes moves to improve working conditions or the bargain- ing power of workers. But, rather than ignorance and dishonesty, we need a fair and balanced approach to social needs. The social democrats at Queens Park are try- ing to make good on their principles and their promises. Where's the To The Editor: This is a letter sent to Dur- ham East M.P.P. Gord Mills Dear Mr. Mills: Taking a look at the collection of addresses I have accumulat- ed may give you a hint as to one of the minor flaws in govern- ment in this country but, at your invitation, I would like to speak to you about a more seri- ous matter. I just finished read- ing a front page story in one of our local newspapers (which I enclose) and there are a few items I would like you to take back to, not only the treasurer, but the entire caucus. Firstly, the article con- It makes sense to oblige employers to honor contracts. That is the law now. It doesn't make sense to permit abrogation of legal obligations just because it's possible to find a worker at a lower wage than that agreed to in a contract. If workers strongly disagree with the reasons for a strike they can cross a picket line. True, they'll be shunned but that's their choice. As to hiring replacements or 'scabs,' that is already prohibited in other jurisdictions. We have a choice. We can give all the clout to industry or we can try for balance by giving some power to employees. We can have the labor and environment policies of a modern, caring socie- ty or we can adopt the laws of some southern states and Latin American countries where oligarchies rule and peasants suffer poverty; where workers and their families susbsist. Hysterical attacks don't help get us out of the economic mire other governments have created. And if we're going to have a debate about policy, let's get the facts straight. Sincerely, Bruce and Diana Rogers alternative? tained a definite tone that the problems facing this province were created by someone else, namely the federal government and provincial Liberals. May I remind you that your govern- ment was elected because it of- fered an alternative, a better plan, not to blame current and past government. We already know their shortcomings. Might I also add that shaving the debt back to 10 billion would put it at about where it was when you came to power. Secondly, inviting us to pre- view the budget-making pro- cess is not exactly what the peo- Turnto Page 8 I i A { | {