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eu pL \ d ' ' i : : ve VL Oear 6 pareM ahaa. GTP YENTIO Te 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 31, 1992 "orn BOY ar Antigone BY "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" [The Port Perry Star 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - L9L 1B7 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: 1Year-$32.10 6Months-$18.72 Forelgn-$90.95 includes $2.10GST includes $1.22GST includes $5.95GST EDITORIAL Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten News Editor - Scott Anderson Features Editor - Julia Dempsey Sports Co-ordinator - Kelly Lown ADVERTISING Advertising Manager - Anna Jackman Advertising Sales - Jackie Metz Production - Pamela Hickey, Barbara Bell BUSINESS OFFICE Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby Billing Department - Louise Hope PRODUCTION Robert Taylor, Marlene Moore Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Lynda Ruhl Annabell Harrison, Trudy Empringham WwCNA Member of the Co Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Lid. Port Perry, Ontario * GST included in price TRE AWW Editorial Comment | A Healthy Life On the heels of Active Living Month in Durham, a recent Statistics Canada survey presented Canadians with a good news/bad news scenario. The good news is that Canadians are living healthier lives, which includes less smoking and drinking. The bad news is that more Canadians are overweight. The study found that 26 per cent of Canadians aged 15 and over smoked daily last year. This was down from 41 per cent in 1966. This amounted to approximately 5.4 million smokers in 1991. A further breakdown of the figures show that women be- tween the ages of 15 and 19 accounted for 20 per cent of the smokers. This is unchanged from five years ago and almost double the number of men in the same age group. The same survey also determined that the number of drinkers is decreasing. In 1991, approximately 11.6 million Ca- nadians (55 per cent) age 15 and older drank alcohol at least once a month. This number is down from 65 per cent in 1978. It was also determined that heavy drinking was relatively rare. Among the drinkers, only four per cent of the women and 15 per cent of the men had 14 or more drinks per week. That's the good news. The bad news is that more Canadi- ans are overweight. Last year, 3.7 million people between the ages of 20 and 64 were overweight. The survey further deter- mined that men were more likely than women to be over- weight. These figures seem startling as more people are exercis- ing as well. Approximately 32 per cent of the poll participants described themselves as "very active." This is up from 27 per cent in 1985. So what can be done about this alarming trend? The sim- ple solution is exercise and proper eating. It is relatively safe to assume that the 32 per cent that termed themselves "very active" are not the ones that are overweight. According to a local fitness consultant, the secret to a healthy and trim body is not dieting but exercise. Through reg- ular and moderate exercise, the battle of the bulge can be won. Setting realistic goals and achieving the results slowly and consistently is the key to success. An exercise program of 15 minutes in duration, three times a week is recommended for a healthy body. By taking a more positive attitude with our bodies, we can all live a more healthy and productive life. Gambling In Ontario As lottery fever sweeps the country, Ontario's NDP gov- ernment is considering a plan to establish gambling casinos across the province. According to reports, the government is planning to set up two gambling houses in Toronto, one in Niagara Region, one in Windsor or Sarnia, one in Sault Ste. Marie and one in Otta- wa. It is estimated that these "Las Vegas" style gambling casi- nos could raise the cash-strapped Ontario government as much as $150 million a year. But there are downfalls to this scheme. It is estimated that as many as 50,000 jobs could be lost across the province when these gambling palaces go head-to-head with the horse- racing industry. Studies have found that the racing industry loses out to casinos. There is also the real fear that once these establishments are set up, organized crime would move in. Despite the need to raise money in the province and turn the economy around, gambling is not the way to do it. Govern- ments preying on the weaknesses of the general public is no way to raise funds. By profiting from public gambling, the gov- ernment is taking the easy way out of the problem. It must find ways to stimulate the economy and create jobs instead of looking for get rich quick solutions. Isn't it rather odd that the same government that is a staunch proponent of a common rest day, would ban Sunday shopping, but allow us to gamble on Sunday. Where is the ra- tionale? -- OF COURSE THERE AVY 15 S0ME DISAGREEMENT = Ye MEMBERS ON-THIS AND DEsceNSToN AMONG =~ = . . . ON MANDIR) OVERTIME SUE. "IMIWe ovat ALL MORNING ly gu iN THE END Wo 'M CONPIDENT ... NY shill / iyi : po-- Now that the ice fishing season is over, all the huts are off the lake, the snowmobiles have been put away and the Ice Palace is closed, it is amaz- ing how empty the downtown area seems on a weekend. A lot of area people complained all winter that they couldn't find a spot to park downtown because of the cars, trucks and trailers -becoming a nui- sance along the sidestreets. Now that the activity has subsided for the time being the complaining has stopped. This is the only time of year Lake Scugog doesn't see a bustle of activity. As soon as the ice thaws the activity will once again begin and thus the annoying cars parked every which way at the lakefront. Long line- ups begin again for ice cream, gas, and novelties. | agree that all the visitors can make driving in downtown Port Perry confusing and frustrating to say the least, but let's remember the following be- fore we complain come summer. After receiving end of the year statistics from the Ministry of Natural Resources, | think we all should take a look and see just what visitors did for this community this winter. According to the Ministry the fishing activity has doubled on Lake Scugog over the last four years resulting in a lot of fishermen coming to the area. On Lake Scugog this year there were a reported 809 huts at one time on the ice. In 809 huts there are no doubt a lot more than 1,000 people using the lake for fishing alone. Of course the Ministry reports 66 per cent of these fishermen are local. But what they term as local are residents of Victoria County, Peterbo- rough County and not just Scugog Township, but the remainder of Durham Region. That many people a week coming into town has got to have a positive effect on the economic con- dition of the community. These people visiting Scugog over the winter months very well may be the sole reason some businesses were able to survive tough months. Not only do they keep local tackle shops in busi- ness, but fishermen stop for food, gas, equipment and odds and ends they didn't bring from home. This is only counting the ice fishermen, to say nothing for the snowmobilers and the visitors to the lce Palace. And if they enjoyed themselves, no doubt they will be back in the summer months to spend more money. In the summer, these same people can bring FEI 6 & ssing Sire NER > their families for a day in the park, stopping for more gas, ice cream, and stroll through the town. Scugog Township may have the same people to thank, that they have been cursing all winter. Afterall is it not worth parking a little further away and walking an extra block to the store if it means that the township will remain as it is today? Other towns have big business to rely on, we have water activities to help the economy survive. House league Is for fun i The hockey season has been coming to a close this past week with most teams finishing out their season, but it isn't a happy time for all involved. This week | received a letter from an eight-year- old boy after his final house league game. From a boy who cried himself to sleep that night after see- ing only two minutes of action in the match. Dear Coach: This is Darryl. You know number 9 on your hockey team. The one who never got to play hardly in the playoffs. How would you feel if you were eight- years-old again and | was the coach and you hard- ly ever got to play in the playoffs? | can play good, you just don't give me enough time on the ice. I've scored 14 goals, and 16 assists in floor hockey at school. And | tried my hardest every time | was on the ice. This letter sums up thousands of kids feelings everyday across Canada as they sit on the bench as their teammates take the glory. The problem is this type of coaching does not belong in a house league team. Rep teams are those made of the better players of their age group and it is understood that the bet- ter players will inevitably see more ice time. Every- one knows at this stage and understands the bet- ter players play more, that is why the team holds try-outs and cuts. House league hockey is a recreational league where the kids who are less experienced learn the sport and master their skills. It is not supposed to be a competitive league. Team is defined as two or more players on the same side of a game, a group working together. Many a kid over the years has started in house league acquiring the skills, in a less competitive nature before finding his nitch in the advanced leagues. But they have to be given a chance. It is hard to become a better player if they are handing out water bottles and receiving splinters from all the time spent on the bench.