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"A Family Tradition for 130 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 18, 1996 -3 Co PORT PERRY STAR MMUNITY By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Erica Van Harten has a new way of looking at the world. The Port Perry woman, who is blind, has taken a step toward more inde- pendence with a sophisti- cated computer, pur- chased with funds raised by Port Perry Lions and the Scugog firefighters. The $8,400 IBM com- puter has numerous capa- bilities, not the least of which is a scanner that can read printed material, sized voice, read it back, out loud. The technology will allow Ms Van Harten access to print, where pre- viously she has read braille, and counted on others to read her mail for her. "It's different," said Ms Van Harten last week, as she took a break from instruction sessions with the new computer. "Now I'll know right away what's junk mail," she quipped. Jim Grosvenor of the Port Lions Club said the local portion of the funds were raised through a number of initiatives. Al and through a synthe- Lions, firefighters contribute toward computer Those included the annu- al Christmas light display at Kay Hilton's house on Scugog's Line 3, where a donation box is set up, and a fundraiser held last year by Scugog firefight- ers with the Ice Owls, whose players are visually impaired. The Lions are staunch supporters of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, but thought that in this instance, they would look to spend their funds local- ly. "We decided to give it to somebody in the imme- diate area instead of send- ing it down to adminis- tration," said Mr. Grosvenor. "When we found some- body we could help out here, why not?" The computer, for which the Lions con- tributed $2,400, was also funded by the governmen- t's assisted devices pro- gram. Ms Van Harten said the computer will be a huge addition to her life. "I'm taking a computer course right now, and I'm way," he said. Erica Van Harten, a blind woman living in Port Perry, is the recipient of a sophisticated computer planning to get a job that that performs several functions, including scan- ning and reading printed material. It was bought Donation broadens horizons for blind woman JEFF MITCHELLPORT PERRY STAR with funds raised by the local Lions Club and fire- fighters. With Erica last week were Central Seven residential counselor Christine Taylor, along with Lions Jim Grosvenor and Reid Stainton. a a all ate . Feral tl de 2. fairgrounds in Blackstock. There are plenty of Country artists Montana Sky will perform when activities planned along with the dance, and there | the annual Outdoor Party is held July 27 at the will be beverages and food, too.Tickets for the event are on sale now; see the story for details. Blackstock bash has a Western theme this year Blackstock's fourth an- nual Outdoor Party is go- ing Western. On Saturday, July 27 from 8 to 1 p.m., all ages are invited to dance under the stars to the unique country music sound of Montana Sky. The Out- door Party takes place at the Blackstock Fair- grounds, which will be transformed this year into a Western Saloon. Montana Sky has ap- peared several times on CITY TV's 'Breakfast Tel- evision' and has opened shows for Blue Rodeo, George Fox, and Farmer's . Daughter, among others. They give energetic live performances combining original songs with a good selection of always cur- rent cover tunes. In addition to the live music of Montana Sky, there will again be activi- ties for the children, and prizes for best dressed Western girl, Western boy, Western family, and Western couple. Food and bar privileges will be available. Tickets may be pur- chased at Blackstock Country Hardware or Masterson's Country Con- venience Store in Black- stock. Admission is $10 in advance or $12 at the door, 'with public school chil- dren admitted free when accompanied by a parent. For more information about the Outdoor Party contact Jodie Duff at 986- 0845 or Jan Van Camp at 986-1249.