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"A Family Tradition for 130 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 4, 1996 -7 I _ETTERS Liberals failed to stop the bleeding To the Editor: Everyone knows enough to stem the bleeding first when rendering first aid to a bleeding accident victim -- apply a tour- niquet. There is a direct parallel 'between an injured victim who is bleeding to death and our na- tion's state of financial affairs. Premier Harris has recognized that and has cut spending. He has applied the tourniquet, pro- vincially. Apparently, this kind of first aid strategy 1s not sophisticated enough for our federal govern- ment. On May 21 I attended a "Town Hall Meeting," held by Reunion planned To the Editor: June 1997 is the date set for a 25th Reunion of all former stu- dents, teachers, and education- al support staff of G.L. Roberts C.V.I. We are planning an en- tire weekend of events, which includes a dance at the Oshawa Civic Auditorium. We are asking any former students, teachers, and educa- tional support staff to please contact the school. We need to find you. We are seeking names, addresses, and telephone num- bers. It is our goal to have as many students names as possible by June of this year, so we can set the plans and at least anticipate the number of people interested in attending this gala event. Please contact the school ASAP: 399 Chaleur Ave. Oshawa, Ontario. L1J 1G5. Tel- ephone: (905) 728-7594 or Fax: (905) 728-7760. Reunion Committee, G.I. Roberts CVI Ivan Grose, Liberal MP for Oshawa, to discuss federal bud- get matters -- particularly the GST. Jane Stewart, Minister of National Revenue, was the guest speaker. She wasted no time in confusing us with daz- zling rhetoric and financial wi- zardry. She explained that the GST would have to stay because once you imposed a tax there was no way back -- it was a fact we might as well get used to -- sort of like becoming a drug addict, I guessed. The problem, appar- ently, is not the tax itself but the name of it -- the visibility of it -- which is the Conservatives' fault. She assured us the Liberal government cannot reduce it, but will rename it, do every- thing to make it less visible, more compatible, more fair, and more friendly. It's a comforting thought -- sort of like being as- sured of getting killed by friend- ly fire. The Federal government isn't looking for a tourniquet; they are demanding more blood, for an endless transfusion. Jann Flury, Oshawa To the Editor: While on the face of it film crews descending on' Port Perry might seem glamour- ous, I am still waiting to hear the benefits that negate the disruption to local business- es. Your opinion column stat- ed that we would reap the benefit of "publicity." Let me Where's the benefit? see: For the "Father Goose" shoot we masqueraded as a town in North Carolina, and for this latest one we were a town in Georgia. By what stretch of imagi- nation is this "publicity?" Yours sincerely, Bill Minors, Port Perry Fundraiser is Saturday To the Editor: The Durham Region Sexual Assault Care Centre is holding a fundraising clothing and yard saleon June 8 from 9 to 3 p.m. in the Cuddy Place parking lot (the corner of Byron and Col- 'borne Street West) in Whitby. The rain date for the sale is June 9. The clothing for the sale has been donated by Clothes Friends Fashions, a consign- ment store in Whitby. We would welcome donations of other items from the public as well. Anyone wishing to make a do- nation can contact the office at 668-3050 to arrange a drop off time. Sincerely, Andrea Adair, Volunteer Co-ordinator Fax your letters to the editor: 985-3708 47 by Jeff Mitchell THE FUTURE LOOKS BLACK MR. BLACK ON LINE ONE: With any luck at all, we'll be able to proceed from here to the end of this column, down there, without my having been purchased by Conrad Black. That's no joke if you're involved in any way with the huge Southam chain of dailies, particularly as one of the directors who were invited by The Chief to tender their resignations, so as to save themselves the embarrassment and inconvenience of being canned. Come to think of it, it's no joke if you're someone who thinks an independent and vital press is of any importance at all. Monopolies are bad news, period. And Hollinger Inc.'s track record so far -- look at Saskatchewan -- is to buy up everything in sight, fire half the employees, and then put out a product that.... well, that looks as though it was produced by half as many people as before. You don't like it? Tough. It's the only game in town. | remember having a Geography teacher who theorized that the head of one mega-chain was an agent of the Devil, if not The Antichrist himself. It was his feeling that no one should have so much control over what so many read and learned from and believed, and he had a point. Things have changed since then, of course, with so many new methods of relaying information and exchanging ideas. But one man having such an enormous share of the dailies market is disconcerting, for the same reason that overwhelming control of any | industry should cause uneasiness. + THE END IS NEAR: Here it is June 4, and | know where I'll be at some point tonight. Yep: Sitting in the glow of the tube as the summer evening shadows draw long... watching hockey. Yes, itis ridiculous to spend the warm evenings indoors, watching a winter sport. Yes, it's preposterous that the season which began before Halloween now has Canada Day in its sights. But -- help! I can't stop watching. There's something about the playoffs this year that's irresistable, and it has only a bit to do with fans throwing rats on the ice after goals. | believe it's the volatile nature of the the competition, and the fact that nothing's predictable (says the guy who picked Pittsburgh over the Panthers.in five). This has got to be good for hockey; at last, the parity the league poobahs have said they are creating. Go Panthers! Go Avalanche! Who needs the Red Wings, anyway? Eh Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten Since that weekend | have become more aware of the signs and it's apparent they are beginning to spring-up along many streets in Durham Region, including Port Perry. tremendous amount of planning and preparation leading up to the event and even more to make sure it runs safely and smoothly race day. We tip our hats to all the dedicated volunteers and SIGN OF THE TIMES? Anew generation of roadside advertising billboards have exploded onto the scene recently, making the familiar old black metal signs with yellow plastic backboards and colored stick on letters rather bland by comparison. It was while driving through Kitchener-Waterloo recently that | first became aware of the new fluores- cent signs. The large sign boards with monstrous red, yellow and pink fluorescent letters lined the street leading into town in front of dozens of retail establishments. The sheer number of signs gave the entrance to Kitchener a chintzy, carnival-like appearance. The signs are large and unsightly, and do nothing to beautify or enhance the streets in this town. We can only hope it won't be too long before the township enforces its sign by-law and rids our pictur- esque streets of these obtrusive monsters. GREAT DAY FORA. CANOE RACE Canoe the Nonquon has come and gone for anoth- er year, but officials were more than pleased with the turnout and the incredible weather which greeted the participants Saturday morning. More than 90 canoes plunged into the Nonquon for the 28th running of the race and Scugog Shores Museum will benefit tremendously from the efforts of both organizers and participants. Canoe the Nonquon is one of the oldest races of its kindin Canada and in close to three decades has become a tradition in this community. But events like this don't just happen - they take a congratulate everyone who contributed to the suc- cess of this years eventin an way. AND THE BEAT GOES ON I'had an opportunity to catch alittle bit of The Millars and Friends in Concert held at Town Hall 1873 last Friday night. Wow... what a show! The hall was sold out for performances on three consecutive nights and the appreciative audiences did not hesitate to give standing ovations to this group of deserving and talented people. | continually find myself amazed by the energy and performances of Tom and Catherine Millar and am equally impressed by the amount of talent this com- munity continues to develop. Scugog is indeed blessed with an abundance of energetic and talented people who continually pro- vide first class entertainment - equal to, and often bet- ter - than many productions in larger centers.