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J "Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, August 21, 2001 - 7 of the Question Week... Are you excited about retuming to "school next week? Cole Luchka No, I'm having too much fun on my summer holidays. Brook-Lynn Luchka Stephanie Taylor Yes, | have a nice Yes, | want to go teacher this year back and see all and | like school. my friends. Kellie Quantrill Yes, because it's Jordan Larmer No, I'm having a lot of fun this summer. fun. | Don't treat all teens the same From Page 6 press sees the problem and have helped and | venture to guess that there are young people out there who do not wish to be associated with those who cause the prob- lems. Don't lump all the kids into one category and neither will I. Rick McCoshen, Port Perry Volunteers sought by ND Hospice North Durham Hospice is getting set to begin a program for prospective hospice palliative care volunteers or anyone looking to increase their awareness of the issues surrounding the topic of death and dying. The course will take place beginning September 25for 10 ses- sions. Hospice palliative care volunteers offer individu- als with a life threatening illness and their families' companionship, emotion- al support and practical assistance including non- medical tasks. The course will look at emotional responses and attitudes when facing death; communication skills; understanding fam- ily dynamics; spirituality and the care of the dying; an overview of pain man- agement and symptom control; rituals of funeral and burial arrangements and care for the caregiver. For more information or to register please call 905-852-4461 or 1-800- 903-6999 (if long dis- tance.) You can e-mail the editor: editorial@portperrystar.com Keep Asking Questions So neighbour, are you going to the meeting on the Oak Ridge was in the newspaper. The govern- ment's drafted a plan. People have to speak up. Come on friend, we have to stay informed. Did you ~ know Canadians score low in newspaper readership -and watch too much television? So says a new study from the Montreal- based Institute for Research in ; "Public Policy, ~~ Let'snot dumb down to American levels of ignorance and voter apathy. We have to ask questions, demand _.answers and make our voices heard if we want good 2 democratic government. "7 Look around Port Perry. There are lots of questions. Why, for instance, are there no'sidewalk on Reach Street so kids can safely travel to the schools-and com- 'munity centre there? Does someone's daughter have: to get crushed by a gravel truck before we do something? Why, in the age of couch-potato kids, are students in Kent Estates bused one kilometre to school? Is it idewalk? Surely busing and unfit _- children cost more in the long run? And why does the: otherwise excellent Port Perry library spénd our money on junk magazines such as, to 'name but a few, Teen People, Good Housekeeping, - Vanity Fair, and' Chatelaine, (which used to have a social conscience but is now a preening guide for wealthy Toronto matrons). We can read these rags for free in'any waiting room or grocery lineup. Where did the government get the gall to put a First Nation on Scugog Island and not grant its people any waterfront? " Moraine in'Uxbridge tonight? It Over the fence Keep asking questions by Kay Langmuir Why can't we get a public indoor pool in this town? Council can't do it alone. Isn't there a g oup of 'savvy citizens who could organize local fund-raising as well as pitching for grants from government and non-gov- emmental agencies? Can't we sell this as an investment in the health of our community? And why are people upset about geese crapping on waterfront parks and properties? If you want to raze the natural bushy vegetation and install glowing green turf, aren't you willingly ringing the dinner bell for these winged cows? Why are people so down on weeds when they were the only bits of pretty green left in our lawns dung | the drought? _ Shouldn't we place a large garbage bin down on Ghost Road alongside a large billboard reading, "Have fun, but please pick up your garbage, practise safe sex, take your beer bottles home with you and remember, a soybean field is not an-appropriate resting place for -your old dryers and stripped snowmobiles." | mean shouldn't we? And are there any taxpaying parents out there who think it's a good idea to let schools sit idle and kids go soft-headed for eight weeks in the summer? Why doesn't the Good Lord send down 'a polite little tornado to hoover up that bloody windmill on Scugog Island? Why do Harley Davidsons have such a mystique about them when that god-awful noise only covers up a woefully underpowered, outdated sow of a tractor? And why... Where are you going neighbour? I'm not finished yet! Gee, was | being too cranky? The Council Table By Chris Hall A potential mess Residents just north of Port Perry near the Canterbury Common subdivision have expressed their opposition in the past week towards a plan that could see the development of up to eight new homes or even a golf pro-shop on a small parcel of land near the southwest corner of the golf course there. Most were informed a little more than a week ago through a notice in the mail. They were notified that an application to sever more than 7,000 square- metres was presented before Durham Region officials, and that a public hearing would be held on Sept. 10 on the matter. Some shrugged their shoulders at the letter. Others, such as Gerry Connolly, a resident on Waterbury Crescent, took a deeper look at the situa- tion and uncovered some intriguing information on the property and those who own and operate it. In his search, Mr. Connolly unearthed documents showing where an option had been included for the sale of the property for the sum of $2. Now, the sale of the land isn't what has Mr. Connolly up in arms. It's the fact that no such option was men- tioned when he purchased his house more than four years ago and that the proposal calls for a portion of the golf course to be eliminated. ~ Granted, it's a small portion -- the plans call for the blue tees on the eighth hole to be cut off -- but the course is already less than regulation length. The small parcel of land in question was supposed to be a nursery for the golf course, but it appears now that ideas have changed and the new owner is looking to create some more residential housing. And, that's their right. There's still some hurdles to pass at the municipal and regional levels, but such a development could become real in the near future. We're not knocking the development of homes in the area, it's just that most of the people who currently reside in the area there were led to believe through sales brochures that the land in question would remain open for the most part. Some believe that they were lied to when they signed on the line to purchased their homes, and when it comes to pro- moting the subdivision and the developer in the future, chances are current residents may not have a lot of good things to say. School's in A week from today and students from across the township will have returned to the classrooms, ready (or not) to resume classes this fall. While returning to school always gives people a sense of renewal and optimism, perhaps this year comes with a little more positive outlook than usual. For the first time in four years, both elementary and secondary school teachers have contracts in place, and an agreement has been reached which will see those all-important extra-curricular activities resume as well. While they certainly haven't benefited from a full slate of activities, students here at both Port Perry High School and Cartwright High School have at least had the opportunity to take part in some after-school music and sports programs. There is much optimism in the air this autumn by students, their parents and even local teachers, who all will finally benefit from a year of peace.