The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

"A Family Tradition for 132 Years" Rad as _-- py - fies 4 PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 22, 1998 - 7 The Pout Perey Sha Question of the Week... Do you think the Crown Attorney should appeal the sen- : jf © 3 £1 JN tence given Mitchiel "Mickey" John Richardson Larry Mabley McArthur? Definitely yes. He's a Absolutely. He's gone dangerous offender; it's ahead and shot people Do you have a suggestion that you think would make a good question of the week? Call us at 905-985-7383. that simple. I'd support an appeal. Not many peo- ple get that sentence, but I think he deserves it. here and other places and [ think he's a dangerous offender. He's just going to do it again; the courts are way too lenient. Connie Arcari Most definitely. It's ridiculous that he can do what he did and be out that soon. If what he did is not dangerous I don't know what 1s. Charlie Purvis _ Yes. McArthur did the crime and now he should do the time. The sentence was too light for what he did. I really think the judge was too lenient on him. Steve Trowan Yes, definitely. The sen- tence was too light; to only be sentenced to 14 years and be able to get out in nine.... the judge 1s not sending a message to the community. LETTERS Act restored reader's faith in home To the Editor: Today my belief that Port Perry is truly a great place to live was reconfirmed. After spending the morning with my three-year-old daughter having "Breakfast with Santa" at the YMCA, we ventured off to complete a list of errands in Nestleton, Lindsay and Sunderland. Our last stop was to the bank machine at Shoppers Drug Mart and then to the IGA. At the bank machine I made a with- drawal for a large sum of money ($120 to be exact) and then proceeded to the IGA to quickly shop for a few things before picking up my older daughter at school. After a few minutes in the grocery store, I realized, to my horror, that I made the withdrawal from the bank machine, however, I had not actually put the cash into my purse. I then quickly gathered up my daughter and hurried back to the bank machine (never dreaming of course that my cash would still be there). Upon entering Shoppers, a lady approached me after notic- ing me looking around the cash machine. She asked me if I had left some money in the cash machine. I told her I had and the amount. She then told me that she had just found it and had turned it in to the cashier. I don't think this wonderful lady realized how much her kindness did to restore my faith in the human race. In my haste, I didn't get the lady's name, but I wanted to publicly thank her. Gestures like this one are few today, but I believe they are a lot more common here in the small town I was raised in and am proud to call home. Merry Christmas! Cathy Murczek, Port Perry E-mail us at port.perry.star @ sympatico.ca e freq: ent excursions from Ling Tar to Jp the Esturlan by - Editor's Notepad by Jeff Mitchell STARTIN' TO LOOK LIKE IT... The Santa sightings are adding up, the letters asking for Furbies, Barbies and cell phones are pouring through our mail slot, and, today at least, there's snow on the ground. Yep. It's startin' to look a lot like Christmas. The childrens' nerves are jangling as the Big Day approaches, and who can blame them? Since Halloween they've been bombarded with messages of the importance of acquisition (unless they're isolated from the television, radio, print media -- including the Christmas Wish Book, which ought to have pretty much fallen apart by now -- and other children), and Santa Claus, damn him, has noted with frequency that all they have to do is be good -- try to be good, even -- and they'll have gifts showered upon them. Who can deal with all that pressure and not go off like a bottle rocket every now and again? They deal with it in interesting ways though, huh? My son, for instance, enjoys sneaking up on the cat as she lies sleeping comfortably, screaming her wide awake and then chasing her through the house, right to the top of the Christmas tree. It terrifies the cat, but it delights him, and he's able to cope with his stress for a little while. Adults, too, are susceptible to this holiday anxiety. How many of your friends, when asked lately how it's going, have launched on a ceaseless and uninvited list of things that must be done before Dec. 257 How many Moms do you know who would kill for a Furby? (What's with these things, anyway? Is there really some appeal among chil- dren, or are we seeing in a horrible way just how easily we can be manipulated? Can | not live without it just because someone says so?) How many dads are steeling themselves for Christmas Eve toy construction projects by stashing scotch in the tool box? Funny how it all ends up being worth it, how pleasure is snatched from certain disaster. Happiness cannot be bought, never forget it, but it can be bestowed upon those we love. Comfort and Joy. Long after everything is broken and we've had our annual Boxing Day bonfire of wrapping, cardboard and unfathomable instructions -- years from now, even -- the memories will linger. The cat will come down from the tree and resume her slumber. Peace and contentment will return to the land. And so it is we wish you all the best for the holidays, and say thanks for your contributions, interest and support over the year. Have a very Merry Christmas, indeed.