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rapt ARERR og a I SP INI TTD Lp EAN pt pe ---------------------- a aA NaS yon a tpt. ------ ~~ no matter how hard you try. It's up to the public to make an effort 6 - "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2001 telephone numbor (which wil not be published) included. Requdsts that a name be witiheld wil be honoured only if here is a corpeling . Ron tr Publisher a not abl for slght chenges or typographical rors tha do not lessen the valu of an advertisement, The publisher i not abl fo her Sor or Grisso iy PUBLISHER. SEN. McK. NN Don Macleod 5 ing Ri ym SENIOR RE m:.......... Chis Hall TTY TOWN TT Oh B " Member OFFICE MANAGER .......... Stapley A AV ili) 1IN |] ) S \ [+ Canadian ADVERTISING MANAGER ... Deb McEachem oCna -- I i; NEN L JLAR Al \ community (oe CNA REPORTER................ .........Rk Davie Member Ontario Community "= NN Association Freelance : Heather McCrae, John B. Newspaper Assoc. x ON 2958s in Published every Friday by the Port Perry Star Company Limited, 188 Mary Street - Port Perry, Ontario - LoL 1B7 EMAIL: editorial@portperrystar.com Distributed free in the following communities: _Port Perry - Uxbridge - Sunderland - Little Britain - RR Lindsay Janetville advertising@portperrystar.com Oakwood - Manilla - Seagrave - Greenbank - Brooklin - Ashbum - Columbus - RR Oshawa ; : Zephyr - Udora - Leaskdale - Sandford - Caesarea - Blackstock - Raglan - Nestleton - Yelverton - Prince Albert EDITORIAL POLICY: by columnists, contributors and letter writers are not necessary those of The Port Penty Star. Letters must be signed and the wil be corrected if brought to the editor's attention. We reserve the right to edit or refuse publication of material submitted. coriecton with any advertisement in any subsequent issu of 1a round of any maries paid for the advertisement, All clams of orn publication must be nade by Wednoese BUSINESS OFFICE: Judy Ashby, Kathy Dudley, Janet Rankin, Lesley West ADVERTISING: Ginni Todd, Cindy Jobin, Gail Morse, Linda Clarke, Janet Archer, Lisa Monk, Lori Bradbury PRODUCTION MANAGER: Pamela Hickey Production Staff: Trudy Empringham, + "Daryle Wright, Arlene Cheel Don't paint all teens the same The subject of teens and what they do -- or should be doing -- in their spare time continues to be a hot topic in the township. Weighing in on both sides of the argument are two Star readers who both make good, and valid, points. It must be pointed out that you can't paint all of the young men and women in this town with a single brush; they're not all bad, and they're all not... well, angels, either. Walking along the streets of Port Perry you'll see them walking - and talking and hanging about; working in stores throughout our town or enjoying some spare time in someone's backyard and even at the library. And, yes; you will find them killing time in front of the Water St. plazas. Merchants on that particular street have banded together in an effort with the pplice to rid themselves of the "young punks", but face it folks, they're always going to be there no matterwhat. ©~ =~ ; Perhaps the best way to curb this dilemma would be take one reader's suggestions into consideration. If you take the time to listen to them and talk and not immediately get your back up when coming into contact with them; people may find that the majority of teens are good at heart. Yes, there may be a lack of recreational activities here for them, but school's soon returning and a brand new skateboard park and pool are being constructed as we speak. Perhaps those facilities will help as well. As for the other section of teens... well, you hate to label them at a young age, but some people just don't get the right message before writing off each teen you see walking down the street. one of the beautiful days we've had this summer. If Nicole Shadorsky of Port Perry sent in this photo of Katie and Samantha Pashko enjoying the sunshine on [ you have an int the Week, please drop it by The Star office, or give us a call at 985-7383. LETTERS eresting picture we could use for Photo of © A 2 He To the Editor: First off, congratulations Rik Davie for | telling it as it is, as always. | Ms. Truax apparently does not have a | problem with teens, and I agree that most of us do not either. But there is a group of "teens that'deserve the attention of this. town. You can see this group at the south end of Water Street any day or night of the week. These teens must come from decent families, as they all appear to have the newest clothing styles and ride new bicycles, scooters and skateboards. Most of these teens strangely enough can afford to smoke. Maybe Ms. Truax should _invite this group to hang around her resi- ~ dence or work. | am sure she would welcome the language and the litter. Maybe she could bake. them a pie or cookies too. + Sorry, | can't remember having fun SEAL RR BRE RE 2 SAAR A eS mae ES SERS SEE Re SRS SARE EXE Sa 2 HN SRN RPE Sod Water St. teens are the problem here destroying people's property and being a basic pain in the arse (and I was not an angel by any stretch either). There was always something better to do than loiter in parking lots, upsetting merchants and resi- dents equally. Ms. Truax; times have changed. Kids are smarter today and they know how the system works. So wake up will ya. I also think it would be an interesting idea to print these teens photos in the local paper just to make mom and dad proud. 'Good paper and keep it real. I'have been in Port Perry all my life, and this town is not what it used to be or even close to what it could be. But I still stay here, loyalty or stupidity? Hmmm. - Jon Waite, Port Perry To the Editor: Concerning Mr. Davie's sad perspective on the 'youth' of our town, | would be inter- ested to know exactly how many parents of these 'so-called youths' have excused acts of vandalism and intimidation, with a comment like: it's okay because "there's nothing to do." Don't j udge all teens on one group's actions Apparently, Mr. Davie, along with some other myopics in this town, are missing the base problem; in today's society it is no longer tolerable to judge and subsequently ridicule a group, based on the actions of a few. Period. At this moment, in my backyard are Turn to Page 7