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L 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 9,1993 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" EDITORIAL The Port Perry Star Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - L9L 1B7 PHONE (416) 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 =1[z1sfOIVR Sports Editor - Kelly Lown News Editor - Scott Anderson Features Editor - Julia Dempsey BUSINESS OFFICE Accounting - Judy Ashby, Lo Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Post Office Department, Ottawa, for cash payment of postage. | CCNA 4 Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Advertising Manager - Anna Jackman Annabell Harrison, Subscription Rate: Advertising Sales - Jackie McDonell, Trudy Ei piingham, = ° 1 Year - $32.10 6 Months -$17.72 Foreign - $90.95 Advertising Sales - Paul Hillier usan Milne, CINCY ATI includes $2.10 GST includes $1.22 GST includes $5.95 GST Production - Pamela Hickey, Barbara Bell Robert Taylor, rm Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Retail Sales - Marlene Moore Sed Published every Tuesday by the uise Hope (Cha | Member of the io Canadian Community Newspaper Asso n Ontario Community Newspaper Association Port Perry Star Co. Ltd. Port Perry, Ontario * GST Included in price Editorial Comment Tricks Were No Treat Fingers are being pointed in a number of different directions following a messy Halloween night in Port Perry last week. According to Police, more than 300 youths gathered on Water Street and the crowd began throwing bottles, rocks, bricks and eggs. A picnic table and newspaper box were set on fire, a car was damaged and gar- bage bins were also tipped over. But the brunt of the damage was sus- tained on a downtown restaurant and vid- eo arcade, which ironically enough, was opened to provide the area youths with some form of entertainment. The damage sustained to the three windows facing the street cost approximately $4,000 to $5,000. The owners of the restaurant, township officials, parents and even police officials have criticized the men in blue for the way the incident was handled that night. Many complained that the youths were given a free reign on the downtown area, free to destruct property without threat of prosecution. But while blame is being directed and - re-directed around the township, we must all take responsibility for what happened. It is too easy to criticize the police who are often put in difficult situations and are handcuffed by the laws that prevent them from taking action. Criticism was also heard about the number of officers in the area. Inspector Dan Matthews said 17 officers were on patrol in the area that night. Some will argue that 17 was too many that night and a waste of tax dollars, while others argue that 17 was not enough. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Had the officers been all stationed in Port Perry, inevitably the rowdiness would have occurred elsewhere. The youths must also take considera- ble blame for the incident. The damage sustained was not the work of 300 youths, but was the doing of a few agita- tors. The youths who stood by and watched the wanton destruction should be held accountable for the damage. And lastly, parents and guardians should share in the blame as well. Par- ents, mindful of the problems in past years, should question what their children were up to when they were out of the house on Sunday night. 'We must all share in the blame for what happened last week and together we must see that this type of activity does not happen again. 'Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten SEASONS KEEP MARCHING ON It's hard to believe, but in only six weeks the jolly old elf himself will be arriving at homes around the world. The fact that Christ- | mas is not far off 5 _---- had the Halloween decorations been taken down and put away in boxes, than local merchants began preparing their stores for the Christmas season. too quickly, but we must remember that Santa comes to Toronto in about two weeks. Whether we agree with it or not, Christmas is in the air, and the local BIA and Chamber of Commerce are preparing for their events. For the directors of the Scugog Chamber of Commerce this means making preparations to hold their annual Santa Claus Parade. This year's spectacular will be held on Sat. November 27 at 2 p.m., and in order to make it a success for the kids, the Chamber is ask- ing for the help of the community. hey are asking service clubs, organiza- tions, individuals, businesses and groups to contact them immediately to sign up their floats or offer assistance. It's no easy job getting the Santa Claus Parade organized, so if you have some time and would like to help, contact Alissa Smith Pictured above is the school ph 100 years ago. at 985-2635. She'll be glad to hear from you. Remember, the parade is organized for the kids, and is looked forward to by thousands of area families every year. Also in the heat of preparation is the Port Perry Downtown BIA which is going to repeat its very successful "Dickens of a Christmas" theme from last year. . The BIA outlined their program to mem- bers last week, which will feature the popu- lar Victorian Christmas. Returning this year are the popular horse and buggy rides, hot mulled cider, roasted chestnuts, costumed merchants and attractively decorated store fronts throughout the downtown area. And once again, the BIA will bring Santa Claus back to town during December to visit with the kids on the weekends. The jolly old elf will visit with the youngsters at his newly refurbished house located near the Laurentian Bank Saturdays and Sundays throughout December. In addition to Santa, plans are still in the works to have Scrooge strolling the streets offering discount coupons, the Borelians staging impromptu performances in the downtown core and the Scugog Choral Society Carolers entertaining shoppers dur- ing business hours on the weekend t's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Port Perry, and there is no doubt, -the Scugog Chamber of Commerce and the Port Perry Downtown B.LA. are doing their part to make it an enjoyable one. SENSELESS DESTRUCTION Once again this year, Halloween was marred by senseless vandalism in Port Perry. It's a scene that's repeated year after year in communities around the country, and Letters to the editor Fire, the end of an era for family To the Editor: Ten years ago, Oct. 31, 1983, some pranksters, out to have some "fun, burned the house in which I was raised in the community of Greenbank. While it had not been lived in for a number of years, it still housed many valuable an- tiques all of which went up in flames. t was determined that the fire had been deliberately set but no charges were ever laid. This year, Oct. 31, 1993, the barn on the same property met the same fate. Do these pranksters ever stop to think of the anxieties and emotions they have caused the owners of this property, who are not youngsters, and are affected by these nonsensical actions? The owners have three children and seven responsi- ble grandchildren of their own who would not consider causing the grief that has befallen them. Where are the par- ents of these pranksters? Is it necessary for the owner who has now reached the age of 80 years, to sit in his car all night as he has done every year for many years to protect his property from going up in flames? I am writing because it seems sad that Turn to Page 7 there seems to be little authorities can do to control these mobs of pranksters intent on reeking havoc on their own communities. Fortunately most of those responsible for this years destruction will grow up and become responsible citizens on day. But as fast a they mature, another crop of thoughtless youngster will replace them. I's become an uncontrollable cycle. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Port Perry Star encourages our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column to express their opinions and viewpoints on just about any subject, as we feel a lively letters column helps make us a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that all letter writers sign their name and include a phone number for verification. Sorry, no anonymous letters will be published. The Port Perry Star also reserves the right to edit with respect to libelous comments or length of letter. became evident this past week. 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