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6- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 23, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 10 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONT. - LoL 187" PHONE (905) 985-7383 FAX (905) 985-3708 E-Mail: port.perry.star@sympatico.ca Publications Mail Registrations No. 07881 Publications Mail Agreement No. 1389068 : Subscription Rates: 1 Year - $32.10 6 Months - $17.65 Foreign - $90.95 BUSINESS OFFICE Office Mgr. Gayle S tapley Accounting.......Judy Ashby, Janet Rankin Gia Qocna Member of the Canadian & Ontario Newspaper Assoc. Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Lud. - Retail Sales...... Kathy Dudley, Heather Callan 188 Mary Street - Port Peny, Ont. EDITORIAL: Publisher................. J. Peter Hvidsten PRODUCTION ADVERTISING General Manager .... Don Macleod Trudy Empringham, Pam Hickey, Advertising Mgr. .......... Don Macl.eod Managing Editor ..... Jeff Mitchell News Reporters .....Chris Hall Freelance - Heather McCrae, John B. McClelland Rhonda Mulcahy, Robert Taylor, Barb Advertising Sales: Deb McEachem, Bell, Richard Drew, Daryle Wright Ginni Todd, Cindy Jobin, Gail Morse Includes $2.10 GST Includes $1.16 GST Includes $5.95 GST Editorial comment Punishment for impaired drivers Impaired driving, and the sentences given those found guilty of it, are 'hot-button' issues. They're bound to prompt emotional responses. So when it's suggested that sentences for impaired driving be made tougher and more consistent, it's not hard to find agreement. Just last week, all five respondents to our Question of the Week feature agreed with the notion of handing out stiffer sentences to those convicted of drunk driving. There is a perception that, even though it is now universally agreed that drunk driving is an unacceptable, criminal activity, some people persist on getting behind the wheel after they've tied one on. And statistics which show us that over all, deaths caused by drunk driving have been on the decline are cold comfort. As long as people are driving drunk, there is a need to clamp down on them. So what's apt punishment? We would suggest that the punishment should fit the crime. So in addition to losing driving privileges and facing stiff fines, first-time offenders ought to be required to see first-hand what their behaviour can bring about. They should meet families dev- astated by drunk drivers. They should be made to contribute in a positive way to the community they have offended. : And repeat offenders? .--- Throw the book at 'em. A second conviction should mean jail time, every time. No exceptions, and no excuses. Our society is founded on humane principles, so if you mess up once, you should be made to pay, then get on with your life. Mess up twice, and you lose your freedom. We should all be able to live with that. WHY 1S THE GROUND SHAKING MOM7?ISIT AN EARTHQUAKE? 1 BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE HAROLD BALLARD SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE Port PerRY STAR "2% Star To the Editor: It is with great appreciation that I write this note to the Port Perry Star. The full page article which appeared in last Tuesday's paper last week, written by Heather McCrae, was well done. She has been very willing over the years to support my efforts, whether it be in the field of edu- cation and awareness, or in the area of patient support. It was, in fact, through Heather's efforts that the Scugog Support Group found a home at the Port Perry United Church. There is a reason why I feel so strongly about the lack of new medications available to seniors and those on assistance through the Ontario Drug Benefit Program. Many osteoporosis patients respond dif- Osteoporosis article was well-done ferently to the various treatments. Where some gain bone mass with a particular medication, others will lose bone density. Therefore, a choice must be made available to the attending physician. I have had good response to the article, and an added benefit that was not expected. Last week a memorial donation was made to the the Osteoporosis Society of Canada (OSC) through a local funeral home. I appreciate the donor's interest in a very worthy cause. I sat on the Board of Directors for a term, and know first hand how much donations are needed and of course are tax deducible. This is another alternative available to donors. Marjorie Wilson Port Perry SH by J. Peter Hvidsten THE BLANK SHEET SYNDROME This is one of those days, when | Zl turned on the computer to get RHA. ready to put some thoughts on paper, only to find I'm really not in the mood for thought provoking prose. It happens occasionally to all column writers...the blank page syndrome. In the old days, about 15 years ago, it was sitting in front of an old Underwood typewriter with a blank piece of paper, where today, it's a computer with a blank screen. End result is the same.... blank mind! | tried to talk editor Jeff Mitchell into using this space for someiextra letters to the editor... but he wouldn't let me off the hook, so here goes.... Today, I'm going to relate some news items from Random Jottings around the word, which we could categorize under the heading "news of the unusual." SPILLED BEER That old saying "don't cry over spilled milk" was given a whole new meaning over the weekend, relating - to beer. In Switzerland there was a head-on collision along the road to Zurich between two large trucks, and the entire load of beer from one of the trucks cascaded onto the road following the accident. Police were forced to close the highway toward Zurich while the froth was cleaned up. . Bet there were more.than a few tears shed after this mishap! SOUR MILK Did you hear about the woman in Hamilton who was ejected from a public swimming pool for breast-feeding her baby in the pool area? Apparently, the reason for her being ejected was not because of her public display, but because they do not allow food or drink allowed inside the pool area. Yeah, sure thing! WHOLE LOTTA COLA Surf City, California has become the first city in the USA to adopt a soft drink as its official beverage. The beach town of 194,000 about 40 miles (64 km) south of Los Angeles will receive $600,000 from Coca Cola for the rights to splash its name around the city and have exclusive rights to sell non-alcoholic drinks on city property. The soft drink giant plans to put 150 to 180 vending machines in city parks, beaches and even fire stations, and will also get to plaster its logo on lifeguard towers, street lamps and boards that list tide and water temper- atures. The 10-year partnership between 'he bottler and the city was conceived by city officials who were seeking a way to fund public works in the city without raising taxes. The money will be used to pay for beach, park and facilities improvements, and the bottler has agreed to pick one park per year and paint basketball back- boards, replace playground equipment and install drinking fountains. Talk about tacky! ON THE HOME FRONT Just a little reminder to our ice fishing friends, that winter is just about over. This Sunday, ice fishing huts must be removed from the lake in accordance with the ministry guidelines. Failure to do so results in a stiff fine... so it's best to get 'em off in time!