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Bp Re... "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 11,1994 188 MARY STREET - PGRT PERRY, ONTARIO PHONE (905) 985-7383 Subscription Rate: 6 Months -$17.72 includes $1.22GST 1Year-$32.10 includes $2.10 GST The Port Perry Star 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 Foreign-$90.95 includes $5.95GST EDITORIAL LoL 187 RIBBON AWARD 1993 ADVERTISING Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten News Editor - Scott Anderson Features Editor - Julia Dempsey Sports Editor - Kelly Lown Advertising Manager - AnnaJackman Advertising Sales - Jackie McDonell, Advertising Sales - Paul Hillier Production - Pamela Hickey, Barbara Bell BUSINESS OFFICE Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Retail Sales - Madene Moore w PRODUCTION Annabell Harrison, Trudy Empringham, Susan Milne, Robert Taylor, Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby, Louise Hope Member of the oo Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Ltd. Port Perry, Ontario * GST included in price Editorial Comment Politicians Wanted There are a number of job openings at Scugog's municipal office. And although the positions won't be filled for another 11 months, the application process has be- gun. January 1 marked the date that poten- tial candidates could register for the mu- nicipal election slated for November 14. All positions are up for grabs including mayar, regional councillor, ward council lors, and both Separate and Public School Trustees. With little or no previous experience re- quired, the successful applicant would garner a salary of $19,100 for the job as mayor, and $12,500 as a councillor. An additional $21,840 bonus is given to those serving as regional councillors. Although the job as a municipal coun- cillor or school board trustee is not as glamorous as that of a provincial or feder- al politician, these elected officials are probably the most important of the three levels of government. These are the people who fight in the trenches each day for their communities and the constituents in the community. While the federal and provincial politi- cians are often out of the communities for weeks at a time, the municipally-elected officials live and. work in the community and are easily accessible. Municipal politicians are also given the opportunity to shape their communities by determining the planning of commer- cial, residential and industrial develop- ment. While tax dollars are taken from all lev- els of government for programs and ser- vices, it is the local projects and expendi- tures which the taxpayers see the most. It is estimated that approximately 58 per cent of the tax levy goes towards educa- tion, 18 per cent to the region and the re- mainder to the municipal coffers. Municipally-elected - officials are per- haps the most underrated of all levels of government as well. They must have their fingers continually on the pulse of the community and must be aware of all issues in the community. They are also at the beck and call of their constituents night and cay. Too often we complain about the ac- tions of our politicians but do little about our discontent. Now is the chance to do something. By becoming involved in poli- tics you can shape the community and steer it in the right direction. But if you don't make the move, your voice will not be heard. REGISTRATION FOR ELECTED MUNICIPAL 0 Be ELIGIBLE SIR, Jou MUST BE A CANADIAN. ciTizeN , NOT IN JAIL AND OVER 16 yes. OF AGE. © -- Are You SURe YOU'RE OVER 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 13, 1949 There were no casualties in the fire which destroyed a business block in Sunderland. The block housed Mr. Geo. Clay's restaurant, Henderson's pool room and barber shop, McPhadden's Grocery and Post Office, and several apartments. A former Port Perry man, Alf Andrus, is now the owner of a Studebaker car. Mr. Andrus, Exeter, won the new car in a Legion Club draw which took place on New Year's Eve. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 8, 1959 Turn out was 39 per cent of Scugog electors, who voted the council of 1958 back in office for 1959, hcaded by Recve A. Gerrow. The issuing of bicycle plates was passed by town council. Heavy drifting of snow caused Highway 12, north of Myrtle, to be closed for some time. ' 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 9, 1964 Anna Forder and Richard Stevens % placed second -in the Central Ontario Sectional Championships, stepping from Novice to Senior in one year. The first New Year's baby for 1964 was Robert Blair Felstead, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Felstead of Blackstock. He was born January 2 at 11:45 p.m. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 16, 1969 Port Perry Council granted a request from Trailways of Canada to have their buses stop in front of LaSalle Restaurant on Queen Street. Hospital Administrator B. A. Bohen announced that visitors are still not permitted inside the hospital. This precautionary measure went into effect because of the many cases of flu reported in the area. 20 YEARS AGO Wednesday, January 9, 1974 After a request last month to curb clectricity consumption, reports by Ontario Hydro say that only one third ' of the hydro expected to be used for Christmas lights actually was used. Turn to Page 8 Letters to the editor To the Editor: It seems barely a day goes by we don't hear of another plant closing or major layoffs. A Canadian Press report says the 1994 future is "scary." High unem- ployment, slow growth, flat incomes with price increases, big government deficits and food banks. Polls suggest 41 per cent of Canadians who have a job worry about losing it. The chief economist at Bank of Montreal | says "The economic environment 1s frightening." With 1.6 million unem- ployed and over 300,000 bankruptcies since 1988 we face a dim future. CP says Canada 1s undergoing a change as drastic as Britain's industrial revolution. To get unemployment down to the pre-recession rate of 7.5 per cent by the end of the decade we'll need to generate about 2.4 milhon jobs. The Canadian Manufacturers Assoc. - Almost half of Canadians fear for their jobs 1ssued one of the strongest warnings yet on the escalating national debt. A shock- ing cash crisis -- that Canada's debt will reach almost $1 trillion by 2001. The as- sociation represents 2,500 companies. If it were not for the $40 billion worth of automobiles produced here, most of which are exported -- 1n some cases 85 per cent or more, along with brisk lum- Turn to Page 7 | about any subject, as we feel a lively letters Random Jottings 'by J. Peter Hvidsten COMPLACENT CANADIANS! Have you ever noticed how com- placent Canadians are? It seems no mat- ter how upset we get, our rage lasts only for a short time before we put it behind us. Example: For the past few years we've been paying as high as 59¢ per litre ($2.69 gal) for gasoline and although we grum- bled bitterly at first, in that typical Canadian way we got used to being gouged and stopped complaining. In the past few weeks prices have plum- meted to as low as 42.9 cents per litre ($1.94 gal). Everyone was happy and chat about gas prices became almost as com- mon as talk about the weather. But this past weekend, prices inched, there way back up to about 49.9¢ per litre. In gallons, that's about 32¢ a gallon more, but there has been little complaining because 49.9¢ still seems like a deal com- pared to just a few months back. At last week's low rate the consumer was paying about 75¢ less per gallon than last summer. Based on a 20 gallon fuel tank, that calculates into a $15.00 savings on every tank of gas. So keep your tank filled and enjoy the low prices while you can, because you can be sure it won't be long until prices creep back up into the high 50s again. But being Canadian, we'll just accept the bad news and pay the price! WEATHER TALK Canadians have two traits which make them recognized worldwide. The use of "eh" at the end of every statement, and talking about the weather. In summer we talk about the heat and in winter we talk about the cold. It doesn't matter where we go, someone can always ~ be heard complaining about the weather. It was only a few weeks ago, before the cold snap, we heard people complaining about the cold, and this was when the temperature was still hovering above the freezing mark. For the past three weeks temperatures have been registering well below freezing and -40°C, with the wind chill factored in, has not been uncommon. And talk on the street, is still about the cold weather. Ironically, when the temperatures begin to moderate and temperatures rise close to freezing, talk will be about how nice the weather is. The same weather that before the cold snap wus considered too cold! GET OUT AND ENJOY WINTER Speaking about winter, January promis- es to be a busy time around Port Perry's lakefront with preparations well under- way for the Snow Flake Festival and the Open Air Ice Palace ready for skaters. We're already half way through January so there's only about six more weeks to enjoy the winter activities. Whether you like skating, ice hockey, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing or just going for a brisk walk why not enjoy a family day on the lake. Living with this natural winter facility right at our doorsteps, we sometimes for- get how fortunate we are. Get out and enjoy a Scugog winter! LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Port Perry Star encourages its readers to make use of the letters to the editor column to express their opinions and viewpoints on just column will help make this a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that all letter writers sign their name and include a phone number for venfication Sorry, anonymous letters will not be published unless The Star believes it to be in the best interest of the public We also reserves the right to edit letters with respect to their length, content or libelous comments i a - .. wiih