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"A Family Tradition for 133 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 20, 1999 - 7 Question | of the | Week... Do you support Canada's con- tinued involvement in the NATO || military action in Yugoslavia? ------ Sue Wilkinson Yes, I think we should be involved in any actions to Lynn Mollin Yes, because I don't believe anyone should be Jason Frost Yes, because Canada has to do its part to end the Sheila Kerr Yes. 1 don't think anyone should be allowed to kill Amanda Lachlan No, because it's none of Canada's business what keep world peace. treated that way. Itis a war and keep the peace. goes on in other countries. people, even if their par- Do you have a suggestion that travesty in any country. ents killed their parents. you think would make a good question of the week? Call us at 905-985-7383. LETTERS Thanks for boosting 'Intercede' To the Editor: Our purpose in writing is to thank the Scugog Township Council for their moral sup- port of the work of the Intercede Diversion Program. We would also like to thank your staff for a fine article offering a synopsis of the work of Intercede. (Page 9, April 6 edition of The Port Perry Star). Your readers would likely feel drawn to supporting an agency whose mission is to redirect persons from the path of criminal behaviour toward healthy social integration. Up until March of 1998 financial support for Intercede came solely from community dona- tions. In April of 1998 a grant of $35,000 was received from the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services. This money was used for a youth project within the Intercede model. (Thanks to Mr. John" O'Toole, M.P.P. and Mr. Jerry Oeullette, M.P.P. for their support for this grant). In 1999 the United Church of Canada from its national mission fund is giving Intercede $7,500 over the course of the year. Also in late 1998 and the first quarter of 1999 the federal government's Department of Justice has sup- ported Intercede with a contribution of $60,000. (Thanks to Mr. Alex Shepherd, M.P., Mr. Ivan Grose, M.P,, and Mrs. Judy Longfield, M.P. for their support for this contribution). Intercede anticipates on-going support from both the fed- eral and provincial governments in the area of short-term projects. However, achieving the "core funding" target continues to be a challenge for Intercede. Contributions of office space and furniture, printing services, computers, and filing cabinets would be very much appreciated. Other areas of support are court donations, community organizations and perhaps township councils, and Durham Region Council. Interested indi- viduals can volunteer their time, and offer tal- ents and donations. Those who wish to work with youth in the area of skills-training on a short term basis are welcome to inquire further at the Intercede office (905) 728-8208. It is good to know that by this resolution Mayor Moffatt and the Scugog Township coun- cillors are friends of the Intercede mission. Mr. Neil Hunter and The Rev. Ross Carson, Intercede Directors, Greenbank TR ber When? CAESAREA The Kenosha House Hotel, located near the dock in Caesarea, burned to the ground in an early morning fire during July 1952. Eight tourists escaped the inferno unharmed, but Mrs. Tilley Harran, 67, wife of the proprietor, died in the fire after rushing into the hotel to save some valuables. | § you have any interesting old sail call The Star at 985-7383. ow Editor's Notepad by Jeff Mitchell THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES So. Now we know for certain, and the world can resume its business. The planet can go back to spinning like mad and orbiting the sun. We can get cracking with bombing Yugoslavia again. Hollywood can go back to cranking out crappy films. It's official. The Great One is hanging them up. While | thought it was a bit silly for us all to be holding our collective breath all week until Friday's press confer- ence, | was there Sunday, watching Wayne Gretzky's final game. And | have to admit to feeling somewhat misty as the game clock ticked down, and the moment neared. The outpouring of love and respect with which Gretzky has been greeted upon the announcement of his retire- ment, however, is not surprising. Here is a living, breathing icon, who has done everything to earn our esteem and nothing to disappoint us -- except that Game 7 in 1993, maybe -- during the course of a career that spanned two decades and involved intense, unblinking scrutiny. We can hold him up to our kids as an example of hard work and level-headedness, along with respect for self and others, and the success it can bring. And what a piece of Canadiana, eh? Coming from a town with a forgettable name like Brantford, here is a scrawny, kind of funny-looking kid who became the best there ever was at a game that is much, much more than a sport to us -- even people who claim not to like hockey are familiar with its rules, dynamics and curiosities -- and how? ...By working endlessly on a back yard rink built by his dad, a Joe Lunchbucket guy named Walter. Out there after dark, in the back yard, skating and shooting and skating and shooting and skating and shoot- ing...... All of us have our Gretzky memories too, huh? Like that first cup win for the Oilers, or the tearful press confer- ence to announce the trade to LA, or, damn it, Game 7 in 1993. Personally, | recall one night watching from the greys as he single-handedly led his Kings to a whupping of the Leats, scoring twice -- once on a nifty breakaway that paralyzed Grant Fuhr -- and assisting on two others. He beat the bejeezus out of our team but we watched, in awe, and cheered with all our hearts when he was named the game's First Star. | deeply loved Bobby Orr when | was a youngster, but | never saw him in the flesh, doing what he did so well. He was always an image on TV, magical, but still just an image. Gretzky, | saw. And | will never forget it. So long, big guy. Thanks for the memories.