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Fr 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, August 27, 1991 The Port Perry Star 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO PHONE 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 The Pont 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 $26.75 per year *Elsewhere$74.90 peryear. "Single Copy 65¢ EDITORIAL Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten News Editor - Scott Anderson Features Editor - Julia Dempsey Sports Co-ordinator - Kelly Lown News/Features - Gillian Barfoot ADVERTISING Advertising Manager - Anna Gouldburn Production - Pamela Hickey, Deanne Petts BUSINESS OFFICE Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby Billing Department - Louise Hope PRODUCTION Annabell Harrison Barbara Lachapelle Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Lynda Ruhl, Tracy O'Neil Trudy Empringham Robert Taylor Mm wCNA | =) Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Associaton Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Lid. Port Perry, Ontario * GST included in pce Editorial Comment Striking Out When it comes to hardball, council cannot win. And its lat- est decision has more than a couple of people calling foul. With two out in the bottom of the ninth in a match versus the Port Perry Fair Board, council was forced to make a deci- sion; one in which no matter how it swung, the end result would be losing fan support. The fair board was asking council for a letter of support which it could present to the Ontario government, along with a grant application, in order to secure a grant. Council was not being asked for any financial commitment. It would not cost the municipality any money. But council turned down the request stating it did not be- lieve there was sufficient call for a hardball facility, and felt it could be better utilized as a softball complex. Although two councillors, Glenn Malcolm and Neil Hunter, voted in favor of the letter for the ball diamond, the request was denied. Later, councillor Malcolm admitted even he had some reservations about granting an extension to the fair board's lease on the property, a request which the board made at the time of pro- - posing the diamond. it was the opinion of the majority of the councillors, that they were acting in the best interests of the community. Mayor Hall said he didn't feel there was significant call for such a fa- cility, and believed there was more of an interest for a softball complex. This complex has been in the works for quite some time, and will see completion in a few years. But judging from the number of letters concerning this is- sue, perhaps there is significant interest in a hardball dia- mond. But one must ask where these people were before the decision was made. Had they expressed a need before the fi- nal pitch was thrown, the outcome may have been different. This also shows what a no win situation council is con- stantly placed in. Had council given the approval on this pro- ject, it could have been criticized for wasting money on some- thing that the people didn't want, or weren't going to use. On the other hand, by refusing to endorse the project it has also lost. No. matter which way council turned it lost the game. On The Right Road The Insurance Bureau of Canada is on the right road with its recommendations for placing restrictions on new drivers. Last week, the bureau recommended a number of changes to the present drivers license policy and if accepted, would place restrictions on a newly licensed driver. Under the graduated license system, new drivers would be given full driving privileges gradually, as they gain driving experi- ence. The system would restrict new drivers from driving after dark or after drinking any amount of alcohol. It would also place restrictions on the number of passengers a teen would be al- lowed to carry in the vehicle. The bureau has some hard facts supporting the need for gradual restrictions. Pointing to statistics borrowed from Austra- lia and New Zealand, which is currently using this system, it not- ed the injury rate of drivers and passengers aged 15 to 17 dropped by 25 per cent after the program was introduced. Also, closer to home, the number of new drivers over the age of 20 who were involved in accidents rose by 30 per cent between 1983 and 1988. A further figure reveals that approximately 32 per cent of teen deaths are the result of a traffic accident. It argues by restricting the number of passengers in a younger driver's vehicle, the temptation of thrill-seeking or risk-taking will be lessened. It is clear there is a need to impose these restrictions on new drivers of all ages. Skill is gained only by experience. With these sweeping new changes being contemplated, per- haps it is time to introduce mandatory testing of all drivers every five years. Driving is a habitual endeavor, and there are many drivers on the roads of Ontario operating with bad habits. A man- datory test would catch the problem and remedy the situation be- fore it's too late. ee. GAB BE A ea \ \ a SAN. (\ TF, ho! dg RA 7, nS PE ok ,50 IT's ----0 BUS OR TRAIN-BUT WE DID PROMISE SOME THING. -- Random Jottings OUT OF THE DARK I've spent quite a few hours the past couple of weeks in a musty, dimly lit room in the basement at Scugog Shores Museum. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed every minute and intend to return to my perch again this week as I continue my research. : My reason for spending some time in the base- ment of the museum is to compile articles and photographs for the Star's Historic issue due out sometime in the early part of October. Museum staff, Gayle, Kim, Heather and the others have all been more than helpful, even though my being there ads another dimension to their already cramped quarters. No question asked seems inconvenient, and any reasonable request is granted without hesita- tion. The red tape of larger museums or archives is not present, as I am allowed to sift through boxes of invaluable records of the history of Scugog. But there is one thing that bothers me. This museum, with the thousands of artifacts, records and photos is really inadequate for the needs of our community. The entire history of this area is stuffed into cramped facilities and staff must con- tend with dampness, heat, and inadequate room to display, store and record our exciting history. It became obvious to me very quickly that the needs of the Museum have been forgotten when it comes to funding. There is no doubt that the town- ship can not afford large sums of money to operate the museum, but there must be others ways. The Historical Society helps raise funds through their Canoe the Nonquon and Triathalon efforts, but they can only raise enough to help with the day to day operations. When emergencies crop up, like the foundation caving-in under the log cabin this spring, other fund raising efforts must be made. Perhaps the Museum could be set up in such a way that it can receive charitable dona- tions, much like the hospital, the heart foundation or the cancer society. Whatever the method, there is no doubt the Museum needs help, so they can provide a safe place for the thousands of records and more ade- quate administrative and research facilities. Working out of the basement of the old Mus- eum schoolhouse may not seem so bad, but I can't image any unionized employee anywhere accept- ing the conditions these dedicated people are sub- jected to. While most of us enjoy the amenities of the 1990s in our places of work, museum employees are subjected to something far less. It's one thing to work with the historic past, but there is no reason to expect them to work in conditions of the same by-gone days. With this all said, I doubt there is one of the women or men, either paid or volunteer, who wor- ries too much about the conditions. They're all too busy making sure that Scugog Shores Museum is the best little museum in part of Ontario. And believe me, it is! REGULATION, NOT ELIMINATION- Scugog Township began its crackdown on advertising and store signage throughout the busi- ness district a few weeks ago and it has met with some resistance and resentment. There are still a few business people who are ignoring the by-law which prohibits signs on side- walks and in parking areas Seng busy streets, but for the most part the merchants have removed their sandwich boards and mobile signs. Personally, I feel the enforcement of the bylaw has been too extreme. Complete banning of signs was not necessary, although there is a definite need to regulate size and placement. Business has had a tough year, and the ban- ning of signs at a time when many businesses are having trouble making ends meet seems a little to severe. Possibly it's time for the BIA and the Scugog Chamber of Commerce to sit down and make some recommendations to council which would allow advertising signs back on the streets as long as they conform to a certain size and location. One suggestion might be that signs can be no larger than 18" wide by 36" high and must be placed against the wall of the business displaying the sign. This would eliminate complaints from drivers who can't see when exiting from plazas, and pedestrians who have to weave around signs on downtown streets. Nobody wants a return to the mess we had pri- or to the bylaw, but I'm sure everyone, including council, doesn't want to see any stores closing. Regulation of signs is better than elimination.