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4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, July 4, 1984 Hmmm, THAT'S FUNNY, I musrve Besn OUT-OF-TOWN N\A WHEN HE DROPPED BY,' chatterbox by John B. McClelland, Just when ih almost ready to give up on the human race, a little incident happens that goes a long way in restoring the faith. A week ago Friday, as a last day of school outing for my three kids, we took them to see the movie "Ghostbusters" at the Hyland Theatre in Oshawa. This film is billed as a comedy and carries a "'paren- tal guidance' rating, so we figured it would be suitable for the youngsters. Well, some of the scenes proved to be a little too frightening for a four-year old, so we all agreed to leave after about an hour. On our way through the lobby, a young lady came out of the theatre and asked if anything was wrong. I explained why we were leaving. To my surprise she said, "if you still have your Hokely, stub, I'd be glad to give you a refund." I fished through my pockets and found that I had not thrown the stub away. I signed the back and she handed over the money: $14.50 (three kids, two adults). I was dumbfounded. These things just don't happen, do they? I mean, you pay your money, you take your chances, right? While I thanked the young lady, I neglected to find out if she is the manager. Anyway, it was a nice public relations gesture, one I'm not going to forget. In fact, I noticed that Walt Disney's "The Jungle Book' is coming to the Hyland in the near future. I will make it a point to take the fami- ly to that movie. But I still appreciate the gesture. She didn't have to refund the money and I didn't ask for one. She was so nice about it. Thanks. THE OLD BALL GAME There was a time not too many years ago when it was fun to go to a ball game at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. You could leave Port Perry at 5:30 in the evening and an hour or so later would have the car parked within an easy walk to the ticket office. Most games you could buy one of the better seats in the house, make a stop at the snack bar and still have time to watch the warm-ups. Of course, the Jays were hardly a contender a few years ago and 20,000 fans was considered a "good crowd." I'm afraid those days may be gone forever. Right off the bat, the better seats in the place have been snap- ped up by season subscribers. OK, that's a good sign for the team. Baseball fever has caught in Toronto and I can't quibble with that. But it seems that just getting to the park by car has become a major under-taking. A couple of weeks ago, four of us left Port Perry at 5:20 p.m. to take in a game that starts at 7:35 p.m. One would think that more. than two hours would be plenty of time to drive to the stadium, find a parking spot and get inside for the first pitch. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Thinking we had plenty of time, we didn't drive at break-neck speed. But even at a leisurely pace, we were within sight of Exhibition Place by 7:00 p.m. And then the traffic on the Lakeshore ground us to a halt. By 7:30, we were still within sight of the stadium, driving around looking for a parking place, listening to the game on the radio. We couldn't find a parking spot (and a lot of other people looked like they were in the same pickle). Final- ly, with the game about 15 minutes into play, we decid- ed to take a chance and park in a "no stopping' zone against the back of one of those grungy buildings that clutter up the exhibition grounds. It was still a ten-minute hike to the ball park, so by the time we finally got seated, the Jays were batting in the bottom of the third. Granted, there was a good crowd (about 32,000) but surely they weren't arriving at the same time as us. And obviously, the parking facilities are not adequate for a crowd that size. Not everyone wants to TTC the better way. It was the same story trying to get away from the stadium after the game. The traffic was horrendous, moving at less than a crawl. Any enjoyment I may have had from seeing a ball game on a fine summer's evening was negated by the hopeless traffic situation. What do you have to do, leave home at 3:00 in the afternoon? Take a cab from Scarborough? I have talked to a lot of people from Port Perry and area who simply have given up trying to fight their way to Exhibition Stadium for a baseball or football game. They say it's just not worth it anymore. And I agree. My only wish is that when and if the politicians ever get their act together and build that new stadium, they come to their senses and not put it anywhere near the Exhibition Grounds, or the CN Tower. Putting a new 60,000 seat stadium on the Lakeshore would be a travesty for the people who are going to patronize it. Sure, the Mayor of Toronto likes the idea, but then he gets chauffered right to the VIP entrance Give us a break. Put the stadium anywhere north of Highway 401 and maybe getting out to the ball game would be a little more enjoyable. Oh, yes, one little foot-note to this story. When we parked in the "'no-stopping" zone, we returned to find a $20 ticket on the windshield. All the parking lots were full, our car was not block- ing traffic in any way, yet the Metro Police were out there issuing tickets. Yech. Metro Toronto, affectionate- ly yours. Balderdash. / - Lake Scugog Lake Scugog is a mess. There is no other way to describe it. This beautiful lake, right on our doorstep, which offers so much in recreation and enjoyment for residents of the communi. ty and visitors, is choking on aquatic weeds to the point where any kind of pleasure from boating or fishing becomes a hopeless exercise in frustration. Standing on the shorelines, one can look out across the-lake and see a red-coloured hue on top of the water. That is the top of the weeds poking through the water. But one gets a grimmer picture from a boat. The weeds are everywhere. Thick and heavy, thay get tangled in the props of even the most powerful'in- boards. | Residents who are very familiar with the lake say the weed condition this year is worse than in 1983, and that was considered pretty bad. Last year, the theory was that the mild winter and lack of snow on the ice had acted like a 'greenhouse' all winter, promoting the weed growth. Well, this past winter was cold with lots of snow cover on the ice. And the weeds are back in strength. So much for that theory. Can anything be done about the weeds? We're not sure. This week, Scugog Township is paying $2000 to have an area in front of the Port Perry waterfront sprayed with chemicals to kill the weeds there. That may help, and we hope it does. But it doesn't get anywhere near the root of the problem of what's causing this horren- . dous growth. in Lake Scugog weeds. ! We all remembered what Lake Scugog looked like last summer when the weeds poked their way through the surface of the water. Now, it is just the first week in July. Another couple of weeks of warm weather and we shudder to think what the lake is going to be like. Recognizing what Scugog means to the local economy, not to mention the residents who use the lake, Township council has tried to tackle the problem. Last year, a weed harvester was used for a month in August. ~The results were so-so. The problem obviously is far larger than the resources and the funds available to the local municipality. . Finding out what is causing the weed growth and taking steps to correct it may require a lot of money, time and expertise. It is a job for either the federal or provin- cial governments, or both. They have the experts in their ministries of the en- vironment and natural resources. They are the ones who are supposed to protect and enhance the physical en- vironment, including the lakes of this country. Where are they now? Aside from the fact the weeds are a giant-nuisance, hurting the important tourists trade in this community, what are the long term implications for the lake? What affect are the weeds having on the fish and bird popula- tions? What is causing the weed (growth? These are some of the questions that must be answered. Finding a way to get rid of the weeds, or at least control them must be a priority. Or are we going to sit back and watch this lake choke to death? The Spoils In one of his last acts as Prime Minister of this stoic nation, Pierre Trudeau handed out patronage plums to a long list of his friends and political supporters. Seven, including four former Cabinet ministers were appointed to the Senate, a nice cushy and well paid spot for life, or 75 years of age. ~All right, patronage is a fact of life in this country, something which all parties practise when they come to power as a way of rewarding the faithful. But in handing out the patronage plums, Trudeau assured an ambassadorship to Portugal for Bryce Mackasey and another to Ireland u. Eugene Whelan. We were always under the impression that these kinds of jobs should go to skilled and seasonal diplomats; men and women who have learned the international ropes through long ser- vice in embassies and missions overseas. Mackasey and Whelan? Not so in the mind of Mr. Trudeau. He doesn't give a hoot for the loyal diplomatic corps of this country. These appointments at the 11th hour are just one more sad way for the country to remember the man.