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10 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, July 7, 1987 For Festival Days Miss Bahamas flies in Thursday Port Perry will be overwhelmed with stars this weekend, Festival Days, when two international beauties pay us a visit. Miss Canada 1987, TinaMay Simp- son, 23, will be making an ap- pearance, and in all probability, get- ting to know Miss Bahamas 1987, Betty-Ann Hanna, 20. It's a distinct honour to have both women participating in Bahamian Festival Days activities, especially in Betty-Ann's case. . Miss Bahamas has travelled to various points in the world upholding her title duties, but she has never been.to Canada, and her three or four day stay in Port Perry will mark her very first time. Needless to say she's excited about the trip -- almost as excited as Festival Days organizers are about having her visit here. Thieves make off with loot Three homes in rural areas south of Port Perry were burglarized dur- ing the afternoon of July 3, Durham Police report. About $3,000 worth of goods in- cluding two TV sets and a VCR were taken from a home on Concession Two after thieves forced open a rear door. The owngrs were away at the time. That same afternoon, also on Con- cession Two, thieves walked into an un-locked home while the owner was away and made off with $1,000 worth of cash, jewels and a VCR. Another home on Concession Three was entered that afternoon and Police say $30 in rolled coins and a .22 cal hand-gun were taken. Drawers were ransacked in several rooms throughout the house. VCR's stereos and television sets were not touched. -- Bahama F ~ Cyprianna McWeeney, a public relations officer for Miss Bahamas, says Betty-Ann, a Nassau resident, will be Tying in to Toronto with former Miss Bahamas Darlene Davis (rumour has it she resembles Whitney Houston! ), where they will be picked up by Festival Days organizer Larry Emmerson on (Turn to page 9) Chatterbox (From page 5) It reminds me of the story of a woman with a face so disfigured she never went out of her house. Finally, after years of therapy and confidence-building, she got up the nerve to actually take a bus across town. The experience was a freeing one. No one said anything to her, although many stared openly. However, the short trip, which was so terrifying for her, launch- ed a new life for this woman. But I wonder what would have happened if somebody had made a wisecrack about her face. Pro- bably, it would have been devastating. Which reminds me of another story. An acquaintance of mine once knew a university student who was so "ugly" she was almost beautiful. Rather like a goddess in a Medusa kind of way. Anyways, this girl was the brunt of many cracks, including this one: "If I was that ugly I'd kill myself and put everyone else out -of their misery." A really awful remark, but no worse than calling someone a blimp. : What this whole column comes down to is people's nature to be cruel. To look at those who don't conform to our society's vision of beauty, and to condemn them. Whether disfigured, handicapped, old or overweight, we have a habit - of wanting to hide those people who don't fit into the standard mold of beauty. Hide them, or at least make fun of them. And while nobody dares make fun of people in wheelchairs anymore, we once had the gall to call them "crips."" And while racism has come a long way and we don't hear about "niggers at the back of the bus," we are still inundated with predjudicial at- titudes about obesity. People, no matter what size they are, should be allowed to wear whatever they want, as long as they don't walk around naked and break obscenity laws. A skinny person in shorts should be looked at no differently than an obese person in shorts. And by all means, they should not be told to "take a peek in a mir- ror' and not wear revealing clothes -- or anything tighter than a sack. As for John's last statement, "They would be doing my eyes a favour if they exercised at least a semblance of modesty," I say, "To hell with your eyes!" Nobody has to do you any favours John. If you don't want to show off your cellulite in a Speedo, fine. If others do, more power to them. I mean, what do you want to do, create a by-law saying obese peo- ple have to wear chin-to-ankle clothing on Queen Street? Come on. Surely to God, in this day and age, we can grow up enough to see through a person's outer shell, to not judge people by what they look like, and to respect people for what they are.' Regardless of race, sex, creed, colour. Or size. Goodwill Ambassadors Phylis and Morley Feasby have been managers at the Railroadhouse Motor Hotel for the past 7 years, but will soon be relinquishing their positions to the new owners. They were honoured last week by many friends and relatives who gathered to wish them farewell. Above, Scugog Chamber of Commerce president Elgin Knopp presents a plaque on behalf of the business community for their dedication to promoting the area as a great place to visit. (See story). SHELLS . Freeport. Bahamas FESTIVAL TENT township. Random Jottings (From page 6) A vote of thanks should be given to the organizing com- mittee of the Scugog Chamber of Commerce, the council of "the Township of Scugog and the Federal Government for making this fireworks display possible. It cost just over $6,000 to stage the entertainment and fireworks this year, and if it were not for the co-operation of the above mentioned parties, it is very doubtful that any type of Canada Day celebrations would take place in the That's it for this week -- hope to see you during Festival Days this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Letters Welcome spectators (From page 7) sponsors, both businesses and private individuals, who have helped me along the way. Arm wrestling is not, as yet, a sport which pays huge prizes and this is why, in order to travel and par- ticipate, the local sponsors are so important. If I didn't have those good people "in my corner' I would never be able to enter the contests and improve my skills and standing in the sport. Over the last several months, at tournaments all over Ontario, I have invited fellow participants to come to the Festival Days contest, and it is certain to be a good turnout, with excellent competition from the visitors. If anyone is interested in joining the 'home team," I will be happy to hold a practice session on Wednesday evening, 7:00 p.m. If you are seriously interested, call 985-3534. A successful arm wrestler wins on technique as well as strength and I can promise anyone joining this sport that, with the right attitude and training, they will en- joy feeling in peak physical condi- tion while, at the same time, getting to meet other enthusiasts and mak- ing new friends, while promoting our community. Thanks to the generous sponsor- ship of the Chamber of Commerce, Saturday's contest should be a big attraction. There will be an entry fee of $10, with weigh-ins from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Chamber has donated the cash prizes and Labatt's has provided trophies. I have also arranged to have the tournament video-taped, and the resulting films will be available to anyone interested. Even if you are unable to enter, come and support the event and learn a little about arm wrestling; I can promise everyone a day of good clean fun and entertainment. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday. Mike Haigh, Scugog Township. BLA Lik a