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Editorials Information-honestly, openly and freely shared- is the hallmark of democracy Frowns and smiles- THE SENSE OF SADNESS felt over the demise of the Rhinoceros Party, caused by the death last week of the party's founder, is somewhat lessened by the hope that the true spirit of the Rhinos is alive and well--and living even here in Simcoe Centre. ; You will recall that for the last several federal election campaigns, the Rhinos have provided a sometimes useful measure of comic relief during otherwise sober exercises of electing a new national parliament. A news item last week reported the death of the party's founder and the decision by party stalwarts to bury the party along with its founder. Well, Simcoe Centre Independent Green party candidate i tomorrow's provincial election, Steve Kaasgaard, does a pretty mean impersonation of a Rhino. He performed witha flair at Monday night's all-candidates meeting at Ecole Secondaire Penetanguishene Secondary School that would do any Rhino proud. . There he was up on the stage sticking out like a sore thumb amidst the candidates running for the three mainline political parties. During his platform speech, Kaasgaard blew up three balloons and menaced them with a burning cigarette he carelessly held beside them, all to prove a point he was trying to make. Kaasgaard's seated opponents at different times wore looks betraying their feeling of both amusement and disgust during the performance. Their frowns and smiles, in equal measure, seemed appropriate. Amusement at seeing someone who brings to bear during a campaign by those who would dare to lead us an element of down to earth humour; disgust that a policial greenhorn (pardon the pun) threatens to trivialize serious issues that require sober thought by voters who probably don't really appreciate having their political fare served up on a plate containing more than its fair share of stunts and gags. Good humour and good sense. We need both in our lives, including during election campaigns. The Rhinos provided us necessary comic relief. The message for those who would ape them is, You tell us that by entering the policital process, you do so, ultimately, to uplift us. Don't you! ? Time to send amessage really deserve to be easily returned to power. We don't argue change for the sake of change, although its a potent factor when you are considering renewing one party's leasehold: on power for close to the half-century At its mark. We think maybe it's appropriate to send the Tories a message by voting for one of the opposition parties. In Simcoe Centre, there is a sense that the race is coming down to a tight race between the PC candidate and the NDP candidate. The Liberals have suffered from some lack of organization, not locally but across the riding. Liberal Ross Whiteside runs gamely, but the sense is he runs third riding- wide. On the other hand, his leader, David Peterson, is coming on pretty strong. Liberal Ross Whiteside and NDP candidate, Paul Wessenger, deserve close consideration. Wessenger has waged an impressive campaign. He is no Do the voters of Ontario want to install another Progressive Conservative majority government? Are they enamored enough of Frank Miller to give him free reign at Queen's Park for the next four or five years? Have they seen enough of Frank Miller's government in the last several weeks and months to give him a strong mandate to lead a small-c conservative administration for a full term? There seem to be some doubts about the questions posed in the above paragraph. Election campaigns rarely stay static from the day the election is called to election eve, but the 1985 Ontario campaign is likely to be remembered as being noteworthy because of how the steam started to escape from the Miller machine by mid-way through the campaign. It's no wonder there are doubts. The Conservatives (who needs to be reminded?) have run Queen's Park for the last 42 years. With this longevity comes some smugness. That's no tired cliche - it's true. The new premier thought he could go to the people soon after he took over the reigns of government without really demonstrating which direction he would take the province in. Miller hardly even had time to do himself a favour, to convince all the non-believers that he really wasn't a cold- hearted right winger. As well, he decided to avoid meeting the other party leaders in a head to head debate. Few argue that a TV debate is an ideal forum in which to toss around the issues, but they manage to show up leadership qualities of contenders under fire. By refusing to debate, the new premier implied he was far enough ahead he could afford to duck it and get away with it. One senses that the Tories in this campaign were banking heavily on complacency among the voters all the way up to election day. Well, they've found the Liberals are coming on stronger than most anticipated. The NDP hammers away and holds its ground. And people wonder whether the Tories fa Boas Fr Ras IF YOU DON'T WOTE MAY 2 -- Questions Smiley's column Dear Editor: In regard to a recent (Wed. Apr. 10 / 85) column by Bill Smiley in which he describes an experience with the local T.V. Studio. Surely your proofreader could not have read this article or he_ she would have realized that it was at least 12 years old, and while it was typical of almost any Community Channel of that-period, it bears no resemblance to the modern Community Channel. During the period referred to, community television was relatively new, equipment was poor and hard to come by and what staff was available did stumble along, doing the best they could with what they had. Not so today, community television has come a long way and is now guided by professional programmers and staffed by dozens of well trained volunteers who are equally at ease behind a camera, or on a switcher or sound board, or handling lighting or one of the myriad other skills needed to produce the average program. The half hour you see on television may take many hours to produce, all of it volunteer work. Equipment, too, is vastly superior to "'the old days" as I am sure it is in your trade as well. You have done a great disservice to community television in general and to the many volunteers in particular, who give countless hours of their own time to produce local programs they think you and the community might appreciate. Many of these programs have won awards and some have even gone national. You would do well to come and see what com- munity television is all about, you might even find an interesting feature for your "community"' newspaper. The C.B.C. we are not, bul we are damn proud of what we have done over the last few years. Regards, Victor P. Denise A longtime volunteer. Aileen Denise Volunteer. Board socialist firebrand either. Earl Rowe has faithfully defended the government's record. There is a sense that a few times he maybe should have domonstrated a little more independent-mindedness by saying he doesn't always agree with his party. Minority government has its pros and cons. Sending the Tories a message in '85 may just be good for Ontario-- and good for the Tories. It's a pleasure Dear Editor: Please find enclosed a cheque for renewal of The Citizen for one more year. Thank-you for another year of pleasant reading - pictures of interest, etc. Will anyone ever write a book some day about the other side of the bay? I believe it's called Highland Point. I grew up in that area and went to school at North West Basin. Maybe some day it will happen? Thanks again, Mrs. Edith McBride Burnaby, B.C. Publisher: Andrew Markle Penetanguishene Citizen Editor: Peter Spohn Production Foreman: Editorial Staff: ae Pye 3 Published by Bayweb Limited every Wednesday at lees ie Angie Grasic 74 Main Street, Penetanguishene, Ontario / 549-2012 prareuieees Elizabeth Clark Second Class Mail Registration Number 2327 ae erson Kelli Baguley Page 6, Wednesday, May 1,.1985 gives okay monthly meeting, Monday night, Huronia District Hospital Board gave the green light to allow Simcoe County District Health Unit to operate an '"'Infant Development Program"' in the Health Unit's new building at HDH. May7 Meeting of the Simcoe County branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society at Parkview Centre, 189 Nelson Square off Blake Street, Barrie. Richard Rollins will speak about uses of maps in genealogy, and family registry. Eight p.m: Letters The Penetanguishene Citizen welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be legible, signed (by hand), and carry the writer's address and telephone number for verification. Pen names are not allowed and anonymous letters will not be published. Letters published by this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this newspaper, its publisher or editor. Advertising Manager:Bob Finch Advertising Staff: Linda Ladd, Dawna Crosby Circulation Manager: Arnold Burgher Administration: June Robbins Cathy Dupuis