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% \ ' » r f J [) LY ' os JEN y \ pio . v, J A Ag V ' % fp *5 4 A ¥ H LOY Si) Af) 3 Mag an C ' 3 Ll TE OH RN HLS ATI FNRI i) ) CEN SRT Wa she 3 FR ERAS aii win ben Ss hdd SAL EL AR A Se TENE Ma LUT LA Rh 13 a. ERA HAR FPR DF JE WTS TO AS OY Editorial Comments Real community spirit The game of hockey is really thriving in this community this season. The teams, from House League to the Flamingo Junior "C** team, are all having a busy and indeed successful time of it. It is quite evident, the men behind the many players, whether it be the youngest or oldest deserve a great deal of credit for all this success. The executive of Port Perry Minor Hockey Association, managers, coaches, secretaries, trea- surers of teams are all keeping this most popular sport alive and healthy in the Port Perry area. Not only do they spend uncountable hours administrating, coaching and training all these youngstersto become healthy in mind andbody, but they even quite frequently have personal, financial outlays in order that the hundreds of young hockey players may be able to enjoy the game. Another group of persons fhat share in this success are the many sponsors of teams. These are primarily business men in the area and the total cost of sponsorships run into thousands of dollars every season. ++ But when you attend an evening in the arena and see theexcitementand activities one can only conclude, this is community spirit at its best. Welcome to the Star Elsewhere in this issue of the Star, the readers will find an interview with Mr. Peterborough, Ontario. The management of this newspaper is indeed pleased to welcome Mr. Gast to Port Perry and as a member of the Star staff, he will hold the important and responsible position of editor. In the interview, you may read about his training and background which we feel can only assure you, the readers of the Star, Mr. Gast will be a great asset in the future publications of your local newspaper. We also extend a warm welcome to his wife and two children, when they hopefully, will join him in Port Perry, in not too distant a future. Give generously In the Province of Ontario, indeed throughout all of Canada, the month of January is traditionally March of Dimes month. March of Dimes is financed by public contributions through the efforts of 25,000 Marching Mother campaigns in some 450 communities in Ontario. The first drive in 1951 raised $11,616, while $767,668 was raised in 1973. Large amounts of money are badly needed in 1975 to provide adequate services to the many disabled persons in Ontario requiring assistance. John Gast of RAVI. 4 Happiness is a brush, paint, and an artistic freedom; Nancy Tobin, 5. | Li It's the End of Another Year As the old man with the scythe makes his exit we'll imagine he's scowling and muttering in his beard "Oh yeah, many of you are glad to have me go, but you'll see--things could've been worse!" Then over his shoulder he'll probably fling "Watch out for that little sey in the loincloth, coming on apace!" . And here, we proceed to pick up the scattered pieces of our 1974 finding, after some solemn contemplation we must concede. It truly could have been worse. Much worse. ' x } Our country was not at war. We didn't suffer a drought, a major hurricane or floods. We ate and drank regularly, usually too much for our health's sake. We managed to keep warm or cool depending on our need, had an adequate supply of raiment enjoyed holidays and put money in the bank. In fact, there was nothing more serious to worry about, enmasse, than the high cost of sugar, provocative procedures of government and increased taxes. In daring to compare--we had it made. On the other side we hear one of the younger generation say in all sincerity, "I've worked a whole year, my pay is good and my rate continues to rise, but I'm no better off than I was that whole year ago." Sad, isn't it? But of course he's speaking "moneywise". He has to be better off in other areas or, of what or how, can he justify his existence? One just cannot fill a year with "doings" and not be better equipped to meet the next year. No experience comes and goes without having left a lesson to be learned--growth in living. Even when the Grim Reaper comes close enough to break off a piece of our own life, there's a lesson in compassion. And it's only by taking advantage of these lessons one by one, that we are strengthened to carry on. OF FACTS AND FANTASY By Reta M. Berrill _ disposition resembles a ball of frayed-ends--can ~~ pretend not to notice, bear with us and, treat us Indeed, we find there has come to all whom we know, a share of hurts and disappointments, illness and set-backs, heartaches and times of joy. We've undoubtedly all known discouragement, loneliness of body or spirit, yet, great thankfulness. And in counting our private blessings--we're grateful for a home and independence, with enough stamina to cope. We're grateful not to have been endowed with a pessimistic outlook--that somehow through the darkest clouds we search for the first faint glimmer of light. And although the amount of time to find it may vary, we do find it. Meanwhile, in this possible interval we become increasingly proud of our loved-ones who, while our royally. - But so quickly now this year will be gone to join all of the others. The gaiety, horn-blowing and brave new resolutions will be formed or performed to usher-in another Fresh Start. Let us remember then, and pray for the many less fortunate countries and peoples. That this New Year may bring to these war-torn and hungry a lasting Peace and a greater, deserving share of our world's abundance. With it a renewal of hope and courage to the individual. Then, for everyone everywhere, a keener awareness of those things and values that are immune to change. Yes, it could have been worse. But to start our personal New Year with a clean slate we'd like to add--if we have hurt anyone in any way it was without intent, and we're sorry. And for those who have hurt us we'll assume that that too was without intent and we're sorry for letting it hurt. So very wise was the one who said, "Life is too short to be small, let's try to be big." ---- Bill Smiley My Merry Christmas This is being written in that pre-New Year hiatus. And I am writing it in the pre-natal position, the hiatus between being happy and being alive. It's rather awkward, as my elbows keep hitting my. knees, and vice versa. However, I'm alone, with the lights out and the doors locked, so it's worth it. My wife has been away for three days, so that life has been rather peaceful in the domestic confrontation field. On the other hand, we are plagued with that infernal, eternal thing invested by Alexander Graham Bell, and at any moment I expect to leap with nerves at its shrill, and hear the belived but expected voice on the other end, pleading, "This house is an absolute mess, isn't it?" As a matter of fact, the house looks as | though a ship-load of Vikings had spent the weekend, before going on to loot and rape somewhere else, but I am equal to these occasions and reply firmly, "I've just finished the dishes, dear." : Brunhilda, at the other end of the phone line, doesn't know that this means I've just dropped and smashed a huge trayful of Beleek, Spode, Worcestershire and fine old Woolworth's Japanese. But she senses something. Some people have a great sense of smell, or taste. My wife has a great sense of sensing. "You sound funny," she'll say. "What are you up to?" "Well," I chuckle, "it depends on what you mean, dear. At the moment, I'm up to the phone. In the fairly recent past, I've been up to the bathroom, and up to the dairy to get some milk." This goes over like a ton of feathers. "Just as I thought," she'll say. "The house is an absolute mess." She seems to get some strange, vicarious satisfaction out of this idea. If the house is a mess, our marriage is good and solid and I am to be trusted. "You are quite right," I retort, knowing the formula. "Your daughter and your son-in-law and your grandchild have just left and your son has just arrived, and he is. going to Paraguay to pioneer the faith and Paraguay is full of snakes and tortillas and , enchiladas arid Mennonites and the Green Hell and he wants money." "Don't give him a cent, until I get home," she commands. This is what is known as intercourse, between married people. Both parties know what the next move is, and there is no confusion, clumsiness, or frustration. 1 shudder to think what it must be between single people. : 'Well, that was an imaginary, if verisimi- litudinous, conversation with my wife. The _ rest of this column is cold fact. pe 24 . My daughter was home with Pokey and that other fellow she hangs around with. I changed his diapers six times (Pokey's), while his father slept and his mother played contemporary music (slabs and cords) on the piano. The kid and T had our usual super time. 1 must be getting old and sick and stupid and queer because he's the only person I have any fun with any more. We wink solemnly, smile gravely, crawl under the dining room table and bump our heads, and hold out our arms to each other when everything else palls. He likes whisker-rubs and I like satin cheeks. - According to his grandmother, he and I have the two sets of most beautiful eyes in the world. His are like two huge, dark grapes with a devilish light in them. Mine are blué, blood-shot, fallen-angel type. We also share an affinity for doing things other people think we should not do. He rubs the cat the wrong way. I riffle my wife's feathers. I'd like to have had him for Christmas but his other grandfather was apparently pacing the floor, hitting his head against things, 'and threatening to call out the Mounties if he didn't see his grandson, so I had to let him go. However, I was not to be left alone and lonely loitering, as I had so much looked forward to, during the holidays. My son Hugh arrived. My son is a bird of paradise or a bedraggled sparrow, depending on how you feel. I was a bit in the sparrow mood, following the receipt, a few days before, of his bag and baggage, to the tune of $46.60, express, collect. Yes, he is going to Paraguay to spread the faith. Yes, last year he went to the Holy Land. The Arabs didn't get him. Neither did the Jews. Yes, he is broke. Yes, there are enchiladas and Mennonites in Paraguay. The enchilada is a corpulent scorpion. If you step on one while he is resting in your shoe, and squash him, you . must eat him, and this results in a disease - called enchiladitis, which calls for the roof. of your mouth to cave in. Be And, of course, if you step on a Mennonite in the course of spreading the faith, you get Mennonitis. This does not cause the roof of your mouth to fall in, but the front, including teeth. \ There are shots for the former, but not for the latter. At any rate, Hugh and I dined in lonely state on Christmas Day, from a capon. We weren't lonely, but he was. He was the only castrated rooster in the joint. The Argyle Syndicate Ltd. Ld