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PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, May 23, 2001 - 7 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" of the Question Week... What should be done to improve attendance at the Port Perry Fair? Rea Rennox Have a little con- cert or dance. Dave Harris Maybe they have to look at different venues or more advertising. Nan McGhee If they have a fami- ly deal, (then) fami- lies will come. Ed Brunet Rebecca Norman gins J Ay at night that's all and country music ages. for older folks so that they can par- ticipate. LETTERS Dreaming of a kinder Ontario To the Editor: We seem to have lost our way in Ontario. lam in my 50s and know that my parents wanted social nets for people in need. My grandparents lived through the depression, they told us stories about families living in cars, a friend or neighbour's garage, or just the street. Today if a person uses those same social nets, they are seen as drunks, drugies and stupid, something to be tested, to be told how to live and if they don't do what they are told, we will remove them from our social system. Where the hell is my gen- eration? Back in the 60s our heroes were ].FK. and King. We stood with America's black population and marched for human rights and equality. We were beat- en and gassed, some were killed, but we won. I have a dream. That my generation will open its eyes once again to see what is truth, what is right. That my generation will once again stand for human rights, equality and dignity. I have a dream. That my generation will tell Mike Harris and his conservatives - stop your attack on welfare. Dan Rysdale, Kingsville An Alliance imitating art? To the Editor: Could it be that the seven Alliance MPs who appeared to be responding to Tory wooing by attending the Joe Clark fundraiser were in fact, heeding the advice of Robert Herrick when he wrote: "Then be not coy, but use your time; And while ye may, go marry; For having lost but once your prime, You may for ever tarry." Another case of life imi- tating art? Bernie Gotham, Bowmanville In this space last week, | stepped over the line. In a vitriolic diatribe, | called MP Tom Wappel [| 2 jerk for sending an 81-year-old --_ == war veteran packing after the vet called Mr. Wappel's constituency office, seeking help with a pension matter. I know now of course that it was unpleasant and maybe even unfair to refer to Mr. Wappel as a jerk. He is, in fact, a schnook. What a lot of difference the choice of one's words makes. For instance, | could also have called Mr. Wappel a putz, an arse, or a flaming weenie. Jerk is so... pedestrian. The guy who cuts you off in traffic is a jerk. The check-out clerk who decides to close down the cash as you arrive is a jerk. The telemarketer who calls just as you're sitting down to dinner is a jerk. . But a guy who stiffs a vet because of the way he voted is definitely a schnook. See? A little creative use of language - a little word power, as they call it in the Reader's. Digest - can really singe those who cross you. Years ago, | used to drink on Fridays in a pub called the Irish House with a circle of friends. Among them was a cantankerous old Scotsman named Dave, whose invective could curdle the very blood of an unfortunate target. "Why, ya witless damned eejit," he'd scold, "yer nowt but a wee brainless stooge, that's what. A Page Seven IN THE COMPANY OF SCHNOOKS by Jeff Mitchell dim wee toadie. A silly, useless git. Now pony up, mon, and don't wank wi' us, 'cause it's you're round." Such a withering onslaught could cause palpita- tions for the victims, and convulsions of laughter for spectators. | wondered for the longest time how Dave could be your mate one minute, and then be scorching you and your family tree the next, then shift gears Four health when the pints arrived. and then | realized that, of, course, these scathing slander sessions were actually his way of showing affection. So the dimmer, fatter and uglier you were, the closer you were to his heart; the more he swore at you, the fonder of you he was. Strange, that. Of course, it is guys who do it. A woman would be mortified, or murderous, if a friend launched into a profane critique of her looks, intelli- gence, or wardrobe. For guys, it comes naturally. More than once | have come away from a visit with a friend in the company of my wife, who would wonder why we got together, seemingly for the sole purpose of insulting one another. Well, that's what we do. Drinking beer, watching hockey, insulting each other. These are pastimes, simple, pleasurable pursuits, that elude females, because of their sheer simplicity. Two guys can sit and watch a game and not exchange a word for 20 minutes without one wondering if the other's mad at him. It's simpler this way. The Council Table By Chris Hall TOUGH DECISIONS AHEAD Scugog Township is sticking to its guns, and holding on to the opinion that the municipality needs to maintain a slow and steady approach when it comes to com- mercial development. Fairly or not, it seems township officials are trying to keep commercial developers firmly in line while new subdivisions appear to be popping up all across the urban Port Perry area. In fairness, there's not too much the township can do when residential developers appear before them, waving around cash and promises in turn for permis- sion to build. - However, if there's one thing municipal leaders can control to some extent, it's commercial develop- ment. They've flexed their muscle now and again, and will no doubt have some tough decisions ahead of them in the future. While all councillors acknowledge that they're in favour of commercial development, municipal officials seem to have a pretty good idea of what is and isn't acceptable in the township, and they have numerous market and retail studies to back them up. Guidelines have clearly been set up for develop- ment in the downtown core of Port Perry, and various sites around the area have been designated for such purposes. One recent proposal before council calls for the demolition of three homes on John St. to make way for a parking lot, and the expansion of a nearby restaurant. To council's credit, they're giving the developer a hard time, questioning why there's a need to turn homes into a parking lot when there's plenty of com- mercial space in the Port Perry area. Councillors pointed out that perhaps there may come a time for such a proposal in the future, but that at the present time there's no need for the project. As well, the incredible amount of traffic passing by that location also has township officials questioning the safety of the proposal, which calls for anyone wishing to patronize the business to potentially cross a busy lane of traffic on a blind hill. Regardless of the outcome of this proposal, council has shown that they're willing to stand up against developers making questionable proposals. Perhaps their next biggest challenge will come with the proposal for a new Canadian Tire plaza just south of Port Perry. There are plenty of pros and cons for such a plan, and it will be up to council to study all the information and make a decision on the proposal. Using the information they are provided with, and following the guidelines they've set out for themselves and others when it comes to commercial development, township officials will have a tough choice to make when it comes down to finally deciding whether or not to let the proposal proceed. While some may or may not agree with the deci- sions council makes, and the reasons behind those decisions, these are the folks who have been elected to represent the township's residents, and to make the tough choices. Making decisions that will effect the future of Port Perry and its surrounding areas for years to come is not as easy as it may sound. Just ask any member of council.