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: : : : i "A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, July 11, 1995 - LE ITE R S from our readers Waterfront woes reflect on town To the Editor: Herewith some waterfront ob- servations. First, the usual: gar- bage floating among the rafts of water plants, especially by the docks. Occasionally I see rakers unclogging the marina mooring areas, but along the park banks there is always some clutter - and not always in the water. Perhaps more garbage con- tainers might be in order. We know how people hate to walk ten feet to deposit their junk! Just drop it or leave it; someone will pick it up. I do. ~ Secondly, if the marsh area is to be contained safely, perhaps bigger, stronger and more signs might help. I saw three men in a canoe the other day actually fishing in the middle of the la- goon. They disturbed a feeding heron but seemed totally uncon- cerned. I and another gentle- man present on the boardwalk yelled at them. Fortunately, they complied and left the area (slowly). Per- haps a sign right in the water would be beneficial here since boaters cannot see the land signs that are ineffectual any- way. > Thirdly, the boardwalk itself. In spite of warnings - it is pre- carious even walking - people still ride their bikes on this wavy, rickety pathway through the swamp with attendant dan- gers to themselves and others. It is obviously stupid. What kind of brain power are we dealing with here? Even a school teacher was seen riding her bike, followed by her class. Whoah! One day, two boys with buckets had two turtles plucked from the marsh (where they rightly belong). When asked what they were going to do with them their only reply was "My dad said it was O.K." Right! How do you fight that kind of ignorance? I could go on about the boat Here's hoping shore is To the Editor: (Copy of a letter to Scugog Mayor Howard Hall) When my husband and I first bought our house here, we knew that we were moving to a spe- cial town, but we didn't realize what a gem it really is. And this is the reason that I am writing to youtoday. We have watched with dis- tress during the past three years the ongoing struggle re- garding the proposed plans for a shopping centre at the south end of Lake Scugog along High- way 7A. Our waterfront is a precious commodity which should be handled with the greatest care. Once it is sold to a developer, it is gone forever. Without a doubt, the view of the lake from the south end is absolutely beautiful, the best view of all I think. That view will disappear when a shopping mall is built there. The south end should be incorporated into the parkland, so that we and fu- ture generations will continue to have this special holiday feel- ing - a feeling that is absolutely unique. Port Perry is noted for being a beautiful town. This property would only enhance that per- ception. I realize that council is anx- lous to increase the tax base, but it is letting this gem of a property fall through our hands. Not forward thinking, the way I see it. The need to broaden the tax base should not come through the loss of a parkland site. There are sites for small indus- trial development on the pe- riphery of town still sitting va- cant. Surely, with the success of fundraising in this community, along with other sources of funding, and some philanthrop- ic endeavours, this dream of jam at the municipal launch pad. Bigger boats, even bigger motors. Just what the lake needs! We could save a lot of problems now and in the future by excluding all water craft ex- cept canoes, kayaks, rowboats and rafts. Yeah, I know! Unthinkable. It's like waiting for the last tree to be cut down in the forest. Then we'll do something. Right! And are we going to pave some more of the marsh? Shades of Joni Mitchell! What are we look- ing for really on our waterfront, money or serenity? We could have both with some coopera- tion. Possible? Maybe. In general, for now, we might be well served with more super- vision in the park to guide pub- lic behavior and consideration. We pay for cleanup anyway. It's too bad, but you know how peo- ple are. Owen R. Neill, Port Perry. preserved mine could become a reality. I urge the residents of this community to voice their con- cern. Tell the council how you feel. I know that there are many that agree with me. Marjorie Wilson ~ Port Perry Support hospice To the Editor: Hospice Uxbridge Scugog will have dedicated volun- teers out "tagging" this week- end during Festival Days. Hospice offers supportive care and practical assistance to individuals and families living with a life threatening illness. Our supportive care volunteers are available to help in the home or hospital. Anne Wanninkhof, President. n | Editor's Notepad ANOTHER PHOTO FINISH NOW YOU SEE IT.... The debate over photo radar began again in earnest last week, but it was, of course, all moot; Premier Mike (Iron Mike) Harris has scrapped the peek-a-boo technology that for the last several months has allowed the coppers to nab you without taking the trouble to chase you down and stand there by the roadside, writing out a ticket. ...I think Iron Mike jumped the gun a bit on this one. I've never been a fan of the technology -- it's the notion of being busted for something without them actually catching you that's stuck in my craw, | guess. But according to some of the fall-out commentary in the wake of the Preem's action, photo radar may actually have been starting to achieve its purpose, which was to slow down some of the knot-heads who endanger themselves and everyone else with their break-neck freeway antics. I'm not a speed demon, but in the past I've locked in at about 120 for my 401 cruises. Since photo radar, I've slowed down. So have the cars around me, notwithstanding a few exceptions. Even with the radar technology, though, it has remained apparent that we need more coppers on the highways. Radar doesn't nab the tail-gaters, lane-weavers and head-on chicken enthusiasts out there. And they're the ones who really worry most of us. A case in point was the horrendous crash over by Schomberg last Monday. Some hyped-up bozo rushing back to the city after a peaceful weekend of camping just can't stay in his own lane and -- Bang! -- five people dead. Just like that. A terrible shame, but a fact of life, it seems: People will always drive badly. But the more we catch, and convict, the fewer their victims will be. GREAT IDEA OF THE WEEK: Down yonder in North York, Mayor Mel Lastman has pulled the plug on voice mail, a modern-day scourge that has left most all of us pulling out our hair when we try in vain to make contact with officialdom. Mayor Mel got frustrated while trying to phone the city lawyer and making contact only with his damned answering machine. He told a radio program Friday morning that when people -- he calls them customers -- call the city, they ought 10 talk to a person, not some automated garbage can into which their requests, inquiries and complaints will fall, never to be seen or heard again. Great move. | We don't have that problem in Scugog -- calls to the municipal offices are always answered by front office staff, and inquiries are quickly directed to the proper people -- but how many out there have drifted off into voicemail limbo when they've called the region? O~ the school board? Or any provincial government office in Toronto? Work-saving technology run amok. Here's to the counter-revolution, and a call for people to answer their phones... is anybody there? EE -- Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten panty hose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes, and before man walked on the moon. We got married first and then lived together. How quaint can you be? In our time closets were for clothes, not for "coming out of." Bunnies were small term "making out" referred to how you did on your exams. Pizzas, McDonalds and instant coffee were unheard of. We hit the scene when there were 5¢ and 10¢ stores, you actually bought things for 5¢ and 10¢. The corner store sold ice cream cones for a nickel or a dime. ODE TO THOSE BORN BEFORE 1945 | found the following piece stuck in my megsage file last rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagens. Designer Jeans were scheming girls named Jean, and having a relationship meant getting along well with our cousins. We thought fast food was what you ate during Lent, and outer space was For one nickel you could ride a street car, make a phone call, buy a Coke, or enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards. You could buy a new Chevy coupe for $600. and gas was 11¢ a gallon. In our day cigarette smoking was fashionable. [2 office by Gordon Moore. Since I'm very close to falling into the category of "before 1945," the article struck a nerve with me, and | thought there might be others who would also | week, which'wastdelivered to the the back of the Colonial Theatre. We were born before house-husbands, gay rights, computer dating, dual careers and computer marriages. Before day-care centres, group therapy and nursing homes. Grass was mowed and Coke was a drink. Pot was something you cooked in. Rock music was a Grandma's lullaby; and AIDS were the teacher's helpers. We were certainly not born before the dif- ference between the sexes was discovered, but we "find this item of interest. | "Consider the changes we have witnessed: We were born before television, before penicillin, before polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, plastic, contact lenses, F risbees and the Pill. We were born before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and ball point pens; before We never heard of FM radio, (ape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt and guys wearing earrings. For us, time- sharing meant togetherness - not condominiums. A "chip" meant a piece of wood, hardware meant hardware, and softwares wasn't even a word. In 1940, "Made in Japan" meant Junk and the were surely born before the sex change. We made do with what we had, and we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think you needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder we are so confused and there is such a generation gap today." Author Unknown