The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

LE 4% 00 To FUR WY Jas YEE y DI FO EN dist AT ih PAW DVR J § ETRY H at chotterbox .... " ' emember se when ...? an nga, Pes BA LEA gp RESEYTERAN CH, R This photo shows the Port "Perry Presby- terian Church sometime prior to the year 1910. Photo courtesy of Mr. Wilf L. Anthony letters PORT PERRY STAR -- Tues., December 30, 1980 -- § Reader defends council's actions Dear Sir: I write this in defence of our council's action in appointing Mr. Joel Aldred to the library board in place of Mr. Preston. Of the nine person library board membership council has the privilege of appoint- ing only three members to that board on a staggered basis of one appointee each year. It just so happens that Mr. Preston's appointment term of three years expired this year. Also, it should be borne in mind that council's appoin- tees are representatives of council on the library board and therefore be expected to voice the council majority opinion at library board discussions. Mr. Preston's seemingly unswerving posi- tion on the Water Street library location made it quite obvious he was not the one torepresent the majority of council opinion at library board meetings. Mr Preston should not be condemned for holding firmly to a position he obviously feels is correct; on the contrary he should be congratulated. However when, as a representative of council, he found himself to be in an untenable position to defend the majority of coun- cil"s views he should have discretely resigned. That not being the case council was obliged to replace him with someone who would express their majority view- point. Our council is to be commended for their action in accepting the responsibil ity thrust upon them in the appointment of Mr. Joel Aldred and by doing so reconfirming their commit- ment to the ratepayers who elected them. That is an instance of democracy at work and for that they deserve an apology for some of the uncomplimentary remarks directed at them in the November 24th issue of this paper. Yours very truly, Roy Grierson, Caesarea, Ontario Forward thinking leaders Dear Sir: I feel I must comment on the report last week that the Scugog Arena is in the red (by various amounts of money depending on which report you use.) Mr. Hunter and Mr. Espey - does your concept of the arena being "a money- making" venture mean that we who contributed (in some cases substantial) sums for its construction are in reality shareholders who must then have a say or share in its operation? 'Well then - indeed, raise the rates to the appropriate sum to put this "business" in the black! I'm certain that even though local registra- tion has dropped consider- ably this year, perhaps because of inflation, or higher rates, or unemploy- ment, or soccer or whatever, we the shareholders could entice even more rental dollars from Oshawa teams. Our rates and availability of ice times are sought after on a year round basis. That's what we need - more forward thinking leaders. Stop the library and discourage young skaters who won't keep in mind that Those who can't keep up are left behind in this world. Think Money - Have a prosperous New Year! Yours truly, Andrea Jones R.R. 2, Port Perry Wait you turn Dear Sir: All this talk about a new library. in: Port Perry- and - improving services is fine but don't you think Port Perry can wait its turn for its next share of money (New main street, McMaster property, Lilla Street). Roads in former Cartwright are terrible, ditching needs to be done, and culverts need replacing. I can't see where they can find funds for the library so quickly but none for the roads. All these services we are already paying for but not getting. Let's try improving services to surrounding areas instead of Port Perry for a change. If roads aren't fixed, cars will never make it to a library. Sincerely, Dave Malcolm HAPPY NEW YEAR? As 1980 winds down, looking back over the past 12 months doesn't exactly lift the spirits in a feeling of peace, joy, and goodwill towards men. As things seem to go from bad to worse on this shrinking, over-populated and over-polluted planet, it is harder and harder all the time not to be a cynic about our chances of reaching the end of the 20th century. Yet, as bad as things may be, hope for the future is renewed, especially at this time of each year, and if one can sweep aside all the rotten and the evil in the world, there are flowers growing in the dust and the muck. Here in Canada, I don't think there is any question that the "good-news" event of the year was the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope. Who was not touched by the spirit, courage and determination of one man who defied all odds to overcome his own personal tragedy and in doing so, literally captured the hearts and imaginations of an entige country? The Terry Fox phenomena, and all that sulfounds it, helped me to maintain my deep-rooted belief that humankind is essentially good, rather than evil, and that given the right circumstances, human kindness will actually triumph over evil and adversity. As the world lurches from crisis to crisis, I find myself looking at my own three children and wondering just what the future holds in store for them. And although it is hard at times not to be pessimistic, I honestly believe that the world is capable of solving the horrendous problems it faces in the ~§f-- waning years of this century. Humankind has within its grasp a wealth of knowledge and understanding unsurpassed in the history of this planet. Advances in technology, electronics, science, computers and soon, have literally made it possible for man to do just about anything. The problems facing the planet today, in my view, are not so much the result of some kind of inherent evil, but a failure to mesh together the advances of science and technology with the desire and the need to use these advances for the common good of all people. The crisis is not that we will blow ourselves to smithereens in a nuclear war, or run out of food because our land, air and water are polluted, or freeze in the dark because we have run out of oil and gas. The crisis is the lack of human will to prevent all or any of the above from happening. For the past 100 years or so, technological advancement has been running a parallel course to man's development in a spiritual and humanitarian sense. Bringing these two courses together without sacrificing the interests of one over the other will be the task facing the next generation, the generation of my children. : And frankly, I think it can be done. What scares me a little, is that mankind has a history of waiting almost until it is too late. I fear that it may take a large catastrophe that will have devastating results in terms of human suffering before the world comes to its senses and the survivors pick up the pieces and resolve to make it right once and for all. One need only look at the example of modern Europe. For several hundred years, the people of Europe went at each other hammer and tong, twice in this century. From 1939 to 1945 they did their utmost to bury each other once and for all, but out of the ashes of that war came the will to co-operate rather than compete. Although western Europe is far from political integration at this time, the amount of co-operation is greater there than in any other part of the globe. It may not be perfect by any means, but the situation is certainly better than during the first half of the 20th century. Keep in mind, of course, that the current crisis in Poland is because of outside influence from the Soviets. One of the things that maintains my belief that the world can solve its problems before it is too late, however, is that almost all of these problems are man-made. War, pollution, over-population, running out of resources. The solution to these is known right now in 1980. History tells us that time and again, man the master of -innovation, finds -new technology to solve the problems created by earlier ones. But man is also a procrastinator, often refusing to act until forced to the brink. In 1980, we have the technology at hand to clean up the environment; the planet is capable of producing more food than its people need; weapons systems produced by man can just as easily be dismantled by him. However, unlike world crises of the past which had serious but not cataclysmic consequences, if any of the three get out of control now, the results could be the unthinkable. We simply must not allow it to happen. But can we put our faith in the decision-makers around the world to provide the stimulus for positive action? Again, history would say not likely. I feel that must come from the individual, people like you and me who take a look at our kids and say they deserve better. A guy like Terry Fox did it on his own. His will came from within, and he didn't go looking for any help from any government or politician. Had he done that, he probably never would have got out of Newfoundland. At this time of year, it is customary for people to make a McClelland lot of resolutions about what they are going to do or not do in the coming 12 months. ~ Ihave none; don't believe in New Year's Resolutions. Besides, if you have made up your mind to do something, why wait til 11:59 on December 31 to start? I'have found over the years that the brave words made in the spirits of New Year's Eve celebrations always look a little different in the cold, gray light of New Year's morning. Nevertheless, it is that time of year, and I want to truly extend my best wishes for 1981 to all my friends and acquaintances, all the readers of the Port Perry Star and their families. There are better times ahead. Just believe it. ( port perry star 3) Company Limited Ph wo Zs one 985-7383 Jam, | Gc + (oun) = oul Serving the Township of Scugog J.PETER HVIDSTEN Publisher Advertising Manager J. B. McCLELLAND Editor Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association and Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association Published every Wednesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Ltd., Port Perry, Ontario Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Subscription Rate: In Canada $10.00 per year. | Elsewhere: $30.00 per year Single Coply: 25¢ ~ i ~ 3 A REE