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LR a a iS letters Ex) Shana ace Nap A er ERs veil Se More drinking drivers Dear Sir: I thought I had seen the last letter on 'Drinking and Driving" a few weeks back, but they seem to be lingering on this year. Spending time pondering our Mr. R.W. Smith's letter as well as the many others this year, as years before was touching, but still lack- ing in real answers. Some columns and letters upset me quite a bit this year when they let their emotions do the writing with no apparent after thought. Gathering the people to- gether who wrote most of the letters this year would in- evitably give you a sizeable crowd capable of lynching.. So you don't get me wrong I am totally against drinking and driving. When personal injury, crippling or even death becomes related to it, then the more sickening the problem. I refer to drinking and driving as a problem not a crime. You see I believe someway, sometime a problem will eventually final its solution. If people continue to look at drinking and driving as a crime, then their final solution is ended when some- one is either fined or jailed. Is that the solution? As proven it just doesn't work! People then say increase the fines te the maximum and have mandatory jail sentences. This is where 1 veally get upset. Judges in our courts are capable with present laws, to do these things but they are intelligent men, not stupid. They hear the tragedy in (Turn to page 6) has | ; vt, IRR! PWIA SF le a PORT PERRY STAR -- Tues. January 25, 1983 -- 5 2 IY * mF. 07, ? ¢' /.3 2a) Tey - ag ot ART .s yy i et a a ee. Nl El the sto PORT PERRY STAR CO. LIMITED J. PETER HVIDSTEN Publisher Advertising Manager J.B. MCCLELLAND Editor PANADIAN COMMUN Cn A w \O Apegs p5s0CiAe 235 QUEEN STREET. P.O. BOX 90. PORT PERRY ONTARIO. LOB INO a (416) 985-7383 | oO) (549) =) ) Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association and Ontario Community Newspaper Association. Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Ltd., Port Perry, Ontario. Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for cash payment of postage in cash. Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Subscription Rate: In Canada $15.00 per year. Elsewhere $45.00 per year. Single copy: 35¢ Dill smiley "'TWERE THE 'FLU Sorry if my eight or nine faithful readers missed a column. 'Twere the fault of the flu. I can usually belt out a column regardless of weather, wife, or nuclear explosions, the latter two being much alike, but this time I'was laid lower than a grasshopper's anus, right from before Christmas through the New Year. Must be get- ting old and soft. It's hard to turn out a column of deathless, sometimes desperate prose when your brain is like put- ty, your fingers are like dough, and your legs like clay sticks, while your stomach is making like a cement mix- ture and producing something much like cement. I can usually find a topic this time of year; a savage attack on the Canadian winter. But I can't even do that. Christmas was warmer than August, warmer than England, according to a colleague who was there, and superior to Puerto Rico, where it rained and rained and blew the palm trees horizontal, according to another col- league who went off for a "week in the sun." And serves her right. Despite my decrepitude, I tried to struggle through. Have you ever played chess or Monopoly with a bright eight-year old who can beat you at either, even when you're in top shape? Have you ever tried to repair broken toys on Christmas morning with a sharp six-year old when your hands are shaking with the ague and your mind is fix- ed on your next spurt to the bathroom? Have you ever coped with a wife who moans, "But you always make the dressing and help me with the gravy!", when all you want to do is crawl into a hole, cover yourself with something, even dressing, and quiet- ly expire? I compromised. In the shape of an octogenarian leper who has just had a massive stroke. I stuffed the ruddy beast, trussed it, and jammed it into the oven before collapsing. But I got my revenge on those who had frittered around making cups of tea while I laboured over the creature. Told them I'd spit on my hands before I mix- ed the stuffing. That almost, but not quite true, threw them off their Christmas dinner. I nibbled a bit of 'flu- filled stuffing, proclaimed it excellent, and they ate like pigs. It was only through the greatest fortitude that I was able to get a little brandy down, now and again, to keep Death at His distance. But it wasn't all bad. It never is, if you keep your pecker up. No small chore in these days of economic and political gloom. Because of my condition, I let the old girl make all the Christmas telephone calls to old friends and relatives. That probably cost me about $200, as she has a propensity to believing that long-distance calls are made to somebody just around the corner, even when they're six hundred miles away, and can chat amiable for half an hour about sweet fanny adams. And I managed to totter to the telephone New Year's Eve and talk to a couple of old turkeys who joined the air force the day I did. I could have saved my breath, what was left of it, on the one. They were in worse shape than I was. And they didn't have the 'flu. Got some cards from old friends: Don McCuaig, asking me to come and help him dig a hole in the ice for fishing, up in the Ottawa Valley; the Cadogams of New Brunswick, telling me to get that book published. Exactly the kinds of activities I felt like. But don't worry, chaps. We'll get some of those trout yet, McCuaig, even if we have to use dynamite. And we'll get that book written yet, Cadogams. Even if we have to use a computer, a ghost writer and a team of doctors. : Missed my usual card from Major McEwen, who teaches playing the bagpipes in California, if you can imagine anything more incongruous. He was a mere 84 last Christmas, so he may be slowing down. But my old pal in Westport didn't fail me. He signs his cards only, "Your TV Repairman," but they always come through. Here's this year's: "Merry Christmas Smiley and lots more. Thank you for another year of your cheerful wit. I can't imagine anyone enjoying your column more than I do. Don't you dare retire. The world needs you and you can do a lot of good. Some day when I get over being silly and the swelling goes down in my head, Ill let the air out of my ego and write you a bragging let- ter that will make B.S. smell like roses. In the mean- time, stay just like you are and I'll keep buying any paper that carries your column." Earthy but uplifting. It almost ended my 'flu. One of these days I'm going to hire a private eye and track the ould divel down. My Christmas tree, erected in fifteen minutes by a friend who arrived suddenly and cheerfully, while ceiebrating an anniversary, didn't fall down. My grand- children still love me . . . T haven't been fired, despite due cause. My wife hasn't left me, despite due cause. All in all, despite the 'flu, not too bad. I even got a refund from National Revenue. It took only from April to late December to find their error. I'm almost healthy again. The only thing I'm dreading at the moment, is the arrival of the Chargex account for December. remember when? + 60 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 25, 1923 Reeve George Gerrow, who has attended Country ~ Council for four years as the Uxbridge representative was elected Warden of Ontario County. The annual meeting of the Port Perry, Reach and Scugog Agricultural Society was held here. Officials elec- ted were: President - George Smith, 1st Vice President - R.M. Holtby, 2nd Vice President - L. Honey and 3rd Vice President - F.A. Kent. The Winter Carnival was held at the rink and was at- tended by a large crowd. Prize winners included: Rex Thomas - Historic Costume; Lorne Beare - Character Costume (boy), Arnold Roach as The Turk, Miss Grace Davis and Mr. Wm. McKay - Best Couple Skating and Jos. Naples - Best in the Boys' Race. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 22, 1948 The Agricultural Society met in the Public Library. President Fred Christie brought forward the matter of building a new skating rink for Poret Perry, suggesting it might be built at the Fairgrounds. Mr. Armour McMillan spoke in favour of this project. The afternoon Auxiliary of WMS held its first meeting of the new year in the Sunday School room with the President, Mrs. Thompson presiding over the opening worship period. Mrs. Koch then made a presentation, assisted by Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Jeffrey. The followoing officers were elected at the Annual meeting of the Port Perry Lawn Bowling Club - president A.C. Heayn; Vice President - F. DeNure; Secretary- Treasurer - Jos. Allen. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 23, 1958 A Service Club meeting was held at the United Chur- ch, during which Mrs. Elmer Lee presented Mrs. Bruce Beare with a life membership. Mrs. Bill Taylor Jr. ad- dressed the group; then the new president, Mrs. Frank Honey took the chair. Mr. Ray Cook, employed at the J.J. Gibson Poultry plant was involved in an accident while working on a discarded refrigeration unit. Ammonia gas in one of the valves exploded in his face. Maybelle Rebekah Lodge was host to members and friends at Port Perry Public School. Noble Grand Sister Grace Love presided. Sister Joan Aldred and Sister Florence Fralick, accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Braham, sang a lovely duet. 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 24, 1963 Members of the Port Pery Curling Club took part in the Muskoka International Mixed Bonspiel. Those par- ticipating included Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kenny and Mr. and Mrs. Stan Bruton. More than 1000 fans turned out for Minor Hockey Night at the arena to see Maurice (The Rocket) Richard who officiated at the game. 15 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 25, 1968 The total circulation of books in the Adult Section of the Public Library shows an increase over 1967 with a total this year of 12,986. There were 614 registered adult borrowers, including 61 non-residents. The old Town Shed on Mary Street collapsed under the heavy weight of snow last week. The shed was used for storing a town tractor and other maintenance items. Construction of Burns Presbyterian Church in Ash- burn is progressing well. Rev. Wm. Black, minister of the Church anticipated an Easter opening and dedication ser- vice if construction managed to stay on schedule. The *'Roybrook Trophy', annually awarded by Roy Ormiston of Brooklin went to Nelson Reader of "Islehead Farm", Scugog Island. 10 YEARS AGO Wednesday, January 24, 1973 A meeting of interest to residents of Port Perry will be taking place next week in an attempt to form a Residents & Ratepayers Association. Mr. Ed Kolodzie of Oshawa Ratepayers will be guest speaker. The Historical Society's campaign to save the old Post Office has received nearly 1,000 signatures on a petition. A small token of appreciation for 20 years of con- secutive employment at Community Memorial Hospital was received by Mrs. D. Watson and Mrs. E. Mackie. The presentation was made by Mrs. Grace Love, Chairman of the Board of Governors. RY - we Ny a ed hz NA a 2 cartel