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6- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 19, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" * 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONT. - LOL 187 PHONE (905) 985-7383 FAX (905) 985-3708 E-Mail: BUSINESS OFFICE Office Mgr. i Gayle Swoiey Accounting.......Judy Ashby, Janet Ra Retall Sales...... a Dudley, Heather Callan cha Qocna Member of the Canadian & Ontario Newspaper Assoc. Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Lud. - 188 Mary Street - Port Perry, Ont. port.perry.star @sympatico.ca Publications Mall Registrations No. 07881 Publications Mail Agreement No. 1389068 Subscription Rates: : 1 Year - $32.10 6 Months - $17.65 Foreign - $90.95 Managing Editor..... Jeff Mitchell News Reporters .....Chris Hall includes $2.10 GST Includes $1.16 GST Includes $5.95 GST Freelance - Heather McCrae, John B. McClelland Ea EDITORIAL: Publisher................J. Peter Hvidsten ~~ PRODUCTION ADVERTISING General Manager .... Don Macleod Trudy Empringham, Pam Hickey, Advertising Mgr. .......... Don Macleod Rhonda Mulcahy, Robert Taylor, Barb Advertising Sales: Deb McEachem, Bell, Richard Drew, Daryle Wright Ginni Todd, Cindy Jobin, Gail Morse Editorial comment Whether we weather the weather... or not How many news stories do you reckon you've read, heard or watched in the last seven days that dealt with winter weather? How many anec- dotes about aching backs, snow-clogged drive- ways, or worries about laden roofs have your friends and colleagues regaled you with? Yes, winter in Canada is filled with dreary days, long, dark nights and times when it's impossible to go anywhere, but at least the weather gives us something to talk about. We speak of the skill and courage required just to make it to work in the morning, and the industriousness with which we have removed all the white stuff to have fallen from the sky. We marvel at temperatures that dip far below zero, and speak in hushed tones about ominous starm forecasts, as if our land is about to be invaded by a rampaging foe. Also heard of late has been "This is just the way it used to be, all this snow and such. Yes sir, a good, old fashioned winter. Why, when | was your age..." and so on. Our fascination with and connection to the elements here in Canada should not really be that hard to understand. It's always with us, and upon us. Rarely, it seems now, do we enjoy benign and unremarkable weather; it's either snowing, spewing freezing ice pellets, raining, sweltering, brewing up a big thunder storm, dropping to minus 40, or flooding. - We all have our own ways of dealing with it, and take a certain pride in riding out the roughest, nastiest spells it throws at us. If there is honour to be had in stoicism, we are indeed a noble people. But May sounds nice right now, eh? pERRRROARRRRRoARRRRR RRL, pf RE Rong 0] 0, R ARTHUR! I DON'T SEE THAT GESTURE ANYWHERE \N THE HANDBOOK! Revo" PoRT PERRY STAR Scouting seeks new presi a a eS 52: a SSR . To the Editor: As governments and industry have found in the past, the best way of improving and refreshing ones self is to look outside for help. At a recent Pine Ridge District Scout meeting this is exactly what the council decided to do. Our current president has decided to step down and take a break after serving as District Commissioner and then District President. Although we have many qualified people in our district, no one was able to take on this extra task. It was felt that some one from outside, would bring new ideas and a new perspective to the council. The idea was that there would be someone in the communities that Pine Ridge serves that would be interested in getting involved in one of the largest youth organizations. Pine Ridge District serves the communities of Uxbridge, Cannington, Sunderland, Beaverton, Scugog Island, Cartwright, Prince Albert, Seagrave, Zephyr and Port Perry. The District President meets with the next level of Scouting and communicates the information to the district and the groups. If you would be interested in inquiring about this volunteer role please contact Ellen at 985-8047. Lloyd Greenough, Port Perry by J. Peter Hvidsten SNOW JOB this week? What else, SNOW! It's been a number of years since Scugog has been hit with this much snow in a two week period, and the effects of the "Winter of '99" will be felt for some time yet. Estimates vary from area to area throughout southern Ontario, but it's fair to say we've had in excess of 60 cm of snow since 1999 arrived. That's about two feet for those who still need to convert. it's been good news for snowmobilers, skiers and anyone who finds pleasure romping in knee-deep stuff' it's been a nightmare. Random Jottings Now, what should we talk about snow, but for those less enthusiastic about the 'white Snow covered sidewalks, clogged streets, parking lots shrunk by mountains of snow, pushed aside by one of the dozens of eager snow plow operators; climbing snowbanks along the main street and school cancellations are just some of the inconve- niences we've encountered. It almost seems like shovels have become an extension of our aching arms. "While individually we've all wrestled with clearing off our sidewalks and driveways, we must take heart in the way the township's works department have tackled the job of snow removal. They've done an amazing job of keeping not only our main thoroughfares cleared, but most of the township's miles and miles of sidestreets and con- cession roads as well. Each and every one of the men/women who worked the long, tiring hours over the past two weeks should be congratulated on the jobs they've performed. Thanks for a job well done! With temperatures finally reaching the freezing mark and above over the past couple of days, the next problem begins. Flooding and leaking. Roofs packed high with slow melting snow have already become a problem, and | along with many other township residents have attempted to relieve the roof from the tremendous weight of the snow. Eavestroughs chock full of snow have begun to overflow with the milder temperatures, creating gigantic, dripping icicles. The result of this slow melt- ing and backing up of water is leaking roofs. Anyone attempting to break away the ice, or clear your roof of snow, please use extra caution. In Toronto, where they're digging out from the worst storm in a century, many have fallen from their roofs. So, if you really need your roof taken care of, call someone to help. ROBIN SIGHTINGS Normally we get our first reports of robin sightings about mid-February, but this year we're about a month ahead of schedule. And what makes sightings of robins most unusual in mid-January this year, is the extremely cold weath- er and the large accumulations of snow we've been experiencing. That aside, last Thursday (Jan.14), Nancy said she'd seen a big, fat robin sitting at one of our bird feeders. | found it difficult to believe, but this past weekend seven of the red-breasted beauties returned and we enjoyed watching them as they frol- icked in the cold water by the edge of our neigh- bour"s pond. Honest!!