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bitin PIL i a Ya | eos co EI i I wa tei" _-- 6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, September 29, 1987 One Woman's View by Chris Carlisle Get set for tomorrow's youth, a generation of lost, empty souls North America's newest religion will be the culprit If one takes even a cursory look at today's society, it's plain to see that the Messiah has indeed been born. He circulates among us right now and his message to all is clear. Salvation is found in spending. Happiness and fulfillment lie in that new pair of acid-washed jeans. Spiritual enlightenment lives in the latest sale flyer delivered door to door. The truth shines in full color from that television car commercial. Our new God is money and his many disciples are material possessions. We worship by spending. Now each and every one of us can attain eternal harmony by simply buying the fastest speed boat. Or that tenth diamond ring, the one with a double layer of diamonds all around. Or, as the fashion priests are preaching this fall, the miniskirt. You will find peace, love and true happiness only if you outfit yourself in the very latest designer cocktail dress with matching shoes and accessories. And if you don't worship that glorious dollar and all the bless- ings it can bring you--if you dare to dress in last season's clothes, or drive last year's car, or listen to the latest songs on anything less than a brand new compact disc player-you are nothing and the kingdom of heaven will be denied you forever. You are without hope. Doomed. You'll walk the streets of an earthly hell in disgrace because you won't know the bliss and confidence this year's clothing styles can bring you. And you'll never find love because society's blessed will reject you. You'll be an outcast wandering forever in search of nir- vana and truth. 'With all the television commercials, with all the spending we do keeping up with the latest toys and accessories and household ap- pliances, we are teaching our children that the secret to life is spen- ding and acquiring. Forget any inner truths like honesty, charity or kindness. To be worthwhile you must spend. Daily. You must keep up. You must have the very latest. Forget spiritual development. Heaven forbid teaching a kid how to light a fire in the woods and how to enjoy the simple pleasure and inner peace that can be found all one's life by just watching those flames on a dark night. Forget teaching them how to do anything for themselves to gain any self-confidence or intellectual development. The only road to happiness is through the mall doors. And when that cash register rings out with the sale, another angel is being born- -and thrown into a plastic bag. But it's all hollow, isn't it? That new sweater can't reach out and wrap its arms around you. It can give you warmth; but it can't give you a happy, loving family. However, by our example, we seem to be teaching our children that the new back-to-school outfit and the new skateboard are Everything. Have those deities and you are an unconditional success. Developing inside modern growing children's hearts and minds. (Turn to page 8) Crossing guard for Queen-Rosa Councillors differ on need Is a school crossing guard need- ed at the intersection of Rosa and Queen Streets" Ward 2 councillor Howard Hall thinks so, but other Township coun- cillors are not so sure. The topic came up for a bret discussion among councillors Mon- day afternoon as the municipahty has received a request for a guard at the intersection from a resident who lives on Queen Street. Councillor Hall said he believes it's dangerous for young children to have to cross Rosa Street because of the large volume of traffic there in the mornings and at 3:30, especially school buses from Port Perry High School. But councillor Lawrence Malcolm replied that there isn't a serious enough problem to warrant a cross- ing guard. "I don't think children have any problems getting across that in- tersection," he stated. Councillor Hall disagreed saying there is the potential for a serious A mishap there. Crossing guards are the jurisdjc- tion of the municipality who bre them and pay their wages Group home approved for autistic children A by-law permitting a group home for autistic children was given the stamp of approval by Township council Monday afternoon. The by-law re-zones an existing house on the southwest corner of Simcoe and River Streets in Seagrave as Kerry's Place. It will be home for several autistic children and full-time supervisors. When the proposal for the group home was first presented to Viewpoint by John B. McClelland (From page 5) Personally, I suspect that Canada Post would like to shut down the Post Office in Nestleton. People would get their mail in those "super boxes," and if they want counter service for money orders, sending parcels, etc., they would have to travel to Blackstock. I don't know for a fact, but it's fair to assume that virtually all the small rural postal outlets in Canada are in the same boat as the one in Nestleton: they lose money. The fundamental argument in this issue is simple enough. Are the small rural postal outlets like Nestleton important enough to be subsidized by the taxpayers of this country? Or should the Postal Corporation apply bottom line principles and shut down the money losers? I suspect the scenario that is being played out in Nestleton is happening in many similar communities across the country. One hates to see yet another small slice of rural Canadian tradi- tion go down the tubes, yet on the other hand, it makes good business sense for the Corporation to do anything it can to reduce the sea of red ink. Across the length and width of Canada, there are probably thousands of small rural postal outlets like the one in Nestleton, each one losing money. Individually, it's an insignificant amount. Put them all together and it's a substantial amount. That's the bottom line in this issue. Township council about six weeks ago, there were strong words of sup- port from several residents of Seagrave. Kerry's Place already is operating a group home for the autistic at a farm east of Caesarea. The Seagrave group home pro- posal ran into a bit of a snag over well and septic systems, but the Department of Health has given its approval provided that a new well and septic system be constructed if the present ones are not sufficient. That stipulation will be registered on title of the property. Plates (From page 2) become popular Christmas gifts at $100 a set. In the past, the number of orders soared from 60 to approximately 150 a day by late October. However, these plates take six to eight weeks for delivery, so you should order early if you want a set ready for the holidays. This year, in response to the Christmas rush, MTC has designed money envelopes you can put under the tree in lieu of the actual plates. The recipients can then take the money to their local issuing office and choose what they want on their plates. The envelopes are free and available at all issuing offices across the province. Personalized plates may have from two to six characters arrang- ed in any combination of letters, or numerals and letters, except those combinations used on regular plates. Combinations which do not include any letters, may contain up to two numerals. Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten DOWITCHERS? Our thanks to Mrs. Pat Love who brought to our attention a sketch entitled "Dowitchers" on the back cover of the October 1987 Reader's Digest. Dowitchers, is a hand-printed etching of long- legged shore birds by Eric Nasmith (1916-1985), a former resident of Port Perry who attended school here. The etching is one of Mr. Nasmith's most popular prints, and is reported to hang in many private and corporate collections. Reader's Digest writes, that Mr. Nasmith's work, which includes oils, watercolours and draw- ing, has been widely exhibited throughout Canada. We are sure there will be many residents of the area who remember Mr. Nasmith and will want to see the sketch which graces the pages of Reader's Digest. THAT DARN CORNER Almost got 'creamed' at the corner of Water and Queen Street again last week, at the popular **U- Turn' intersection. Although I must admit making U-Turns at the corner is handy on occasion, it is also very dangerous for both pedestrians and motorists, who never seem to know who is going where. Port Perry has grown steadily over the years, and there is far more traffic along Queen Street and Water Streets now than there was ten or twenty years ago. And that traffic flow only ads to the potential danger of this corner. It amazes me that there has not been a very serious accident at this corner, but probably the reason is because vehicles are moving at a relative- ly slow pace going around the corner, and there is some time to react to dangerous situations. But my bets are that there is not another corner in town that there has been as many "near misses' with accidents at this corner. [ know it wouldn't be popular, and it may be in- convenient, but it is my opinion that the U-Turns at the intersection should be banned, before there is 4 serious accident. | STAND CORRECTED I meritioned last week in this space that the Con- certs in the Park Summer Series had cost the tax- EEE a payers of this township about $3,000 for the concerts, but this was not altogether true! Although council did give a grant of $3200 towards the summer concerts, through the efforts of Bill Barr, none of this money was used. All of the money spent to promote and provide the concerts was raised by Mr. Barr through his many business acquaintances and friends. Mr. Barr will be giving his report to council Mon- day (yesterday) and undoubtedly will be asking council for more money for next years' concerts, as he does not intend to solicit funds from the business community again next season. We hope council will be receptive to hig requests, as the Concerts in the Park are just another thing that helps to make our community one that is envied by so many visitors. ~ YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING Officials from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications who say that there is not enough traffic at the intersection of 7A highway and Port Perry Plaza to warrant stop lights, obviously don't have to contend with it every day. I can't believe that any traffic counts that the MTC did, could possibly indicate a lack of traffic. Anyone who lives in Scugog Township and fre- quents the Port Perry Plaza knows darn well there (Turn to page 8) LA ama es A"