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6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, March 13, 1990 The Port Perry Star 235 QUEEN STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO PHONE 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 The Port Perry Star is authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, for cash payment of postage. Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Subscription Rate: In Canada $20.00 per year Elsewhere $60.00 per year. Single Copy 50¢ EDITORIAL Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten Editor - John B. McClelland News/Features - Julia Ashton News/Features - Kelly Storry PRODUCTION Annabell Harrison Trudy Empringham Darlene Hlozan BUSINESS OFFICE Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby Billing Department - Louise Hope ADVERTISING Advertising Co-ordinator - Valerie Ellis Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Linda Ruhl, Tracy O'Neil Advertising Sales Representative - Anna Gouldburn Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Ltd. Port Perry, Ontario Editorial Comment JUNIOR CITIZENS Just when you think the country is on a slippery slope to nowhere. Just when you're getting fed up reading about the youth of today and all their problems: gangs, drug abuse, trou- ble in the schools, trouble with the law, etc., etc. Something comes along that makes you stop and think. It warms your heart and goes miles to restoring one's faith and confidence in the young people of today. That something was a very special moment last Friday af- ternoon in a crowded banquet room in a hotel in downtown To- ronto, as 12 young people from every corner of the province were honoured as Junior Citizens of the Year by the Ontario "Weekly Newspaper Association and Canadian Air Lines. It was a special moment and a very emotional moment as these 12 young people ranging in age from seven to 19, were called to the stage in front of the head table where Ontario's Lt. Governor Lincoln Alexander presented them with their plaques. Some like Debra Surman of Nestleton were being hon- oured for individual acts of courage and heroism (see story in second section) and others for their courage in overcoming physical dis-abilities caused by accident or disease. : In his address to those present, Mr. Alexander, himsel deeply touched and moved, likened them to Rick Hansen, an- other incredible Canadian, who called out to the world: "Don't look at my dis-abilities, look at my abilities." One, Jessie MacDougall, a 17 year-old from Amherst- burg has battled cancer. But she's also a counsellor in training with other cancer patients, helping them in hospital and through chemotherapy. Andrea ou-Hingwan, a 16 year old Don Mills girl has lu- pus, a serious and potentially fatal disease. She is working with others who have the disease, and with coruage, compas- Shen and humility is working also to educate the public about upus. Kerrie Ann Slesser of Tiverton is seven years old. She has the very rare disease Progeria, advanced aging. Tiny, per- _ haps three feét tall, she refuses to let this stop her. Courage, determination, and a sense of humour are her trademarks. And she openly discusses this disease, helping to raise public awareness. She is the only person in the country suffering from Progeria. Talk about the spirit and the will. Or Crystal Lavigine, 17, of Val Caron who campaigns endlessly against the perils of drunk driving. She lost a friend and cousin to drunk drivers. She motivates her peers and adults. Courage in the face of danger and tragedy? Kurtis Arnold, 11, saved the life of his friend who had fallen through the ice. Eric Larocque, 12, or L'Original, kept his wits when fire broke out in the family home. He escorted his brothers to safety though the exterior of the house was engulfed in flames. And Debra Surman of Nestleton, who seeing that the car she was riding in was about to crash, un-buckled her seat belt and shielded her young nephew from the crash. Her nephew suffered minor injuries, Debra spent weeks in hospital and months recovering from serious and painful injuries. The accomplishments, the bravery, the acts of courage by these 12 young people are truly incredible. It's little wonder that a lot of people were moved to tears when their names were read at the ceremony and they were called to centre stage to receive their plaques from Mr. Alexander. It's no wonder he called them the "future of the country," with the implied message that young people like these and others who work for the betterment of all, and who react in the face of personal danger, can make for a better society, coun- try and world. The Ontario Community Newspaper Assocation has been holding these awards ceremonies for the last nine years. In 1989, there were more than 100 nominees. What a positive way to recognize courage in all its forms; dedication, ideals. What a positive statement about today's young people. All of us should take a page from their books. " WHAT Are You DOING TO MY HOUSEKEEPING ALLOWANCE p= " Bur, HONEY, WERE $30 BILLION BEHIND IN MORTGAGE PAYMENTS / g NAMES ARE VARIED | found a recent article in the Canadian Community Newspaper Association News very interesting and humorous as it talked about names given to community newspapers. The article explains that the early newspa- pers were as varied as the Canadian terrain, and named after things that shine - like bea- cons and lighthouses; things that wash up on shore - like driftwood and logs; and natural phe- nomena - like echoes, the sun, the stars the breeze, crags and canyons. They describe an outlook - like examiner, gleaner, herald and en- terprise; or an attitude, like vanguard, promoter, watchman and advertiser. There is no doubt, the names of newspa- pers across this country are varied. Even within a small area surrounding Port Perry there are a large variety of newspaper names. There's the Times Journal (Uxbridge); Canadian Statesman (Bowmanville); Tribune (Stouffville); Economist and Sun (Markham); Express (Beaverton) and the Gleaner of Cannington. But we have to go a little farther afield to find some of the real strange, but treasured, newspaper names. Take Wakefield, Quebec as an example. This town is located halfway between Hull and the tiny village of Low. When Arthur Mantell and his wife started a newspaper in Wakefield about 16 years ago, the name they came up with was "The Low Down To Hull And Back News." The paper which was staited out of sheer despera- tion, now has a circulation of 2,000 each week. An unusual name for sure, but one that is sure to catch the attention of its readers. | suspect, that the locals must just call this paper "The Low Down," although that's just a guess. Another msresiing, and equally unusual newspaper name can found in the town of Morris, Manitoba. The former name of Morris, Scratching River is said to have come about due to two of the more annoying facts of life for early fur traders. They were the mosquito infest- ed waters and thornbushes. Although the name of the river and the town (Scratching River) have long been changed to Morris, when Doug Penner got an "itch" to start his own newspaper Random Jottings about 12 years ago, he decided to revive the historic old name. Thus was born the Scratch- ing River Post. - But possibly one of the strangest names for a community newspaper can be found in Anti- gonish, Nova Scotia, where the oldest continu- ing newspaper in Canada can be found. It was in 1852 a former schoolteacher, John Boyd, starting publishing a newspaper under the name, the Casket. Unlike today, "casket" had an entirely differ- ent meaning in the mid 1800's, being that of a jewel box, or treasure chest, in which women kept their gems. It is said that Boyd chose the name because he felt the articles of his newspa- per were like the baubles in a jewel box. In any case, after continually being published for close to 140 years, the front page banner on this his- toric paper still reads to this day, "The Casket. The fairest gem of the old world; most beautiful flower of the new." While not quite as old as "The Casket" the Port Perry Star will commence its 125th year of publication later this year. Since the publication of the newspaper's first edition in 1866, it has undergone one name change. During the first 40 years of publishing, Port Perry's newspaper was known as the "Standard," and then in the early 1900's the name was changed to the Port Perry Star. Community newspapers have been record- ing the history, events and lives of rural Canadi- ans for close to 150 years, and no matter what the name of the paper, they will continue to be one of the most valuable historic documents to be published. : SPRING FEVER With the smell of Spring in the air, after a much warmer weekend, there will be plenty of people thinking about cleaning the cobwebs off the golf clubs and hiking out to the back lot to limber up with a few practice swings. For those of you who enjoy taking time off during the week to hit the wee white ball, here's a saying that might be appropriate: "Show me a man who is a good loser and I'll show you a man who is playing golf with his boss. Forell! a As pa ry § i i ¢ i i