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Vol. 131 Number 23 PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1997 cory 65¢ (610+ 2¢ GST) 32 Pages sot i gfe Vig: va owe, rr JEFF MITCHELL / PORT PERRY STAR PREPARING FOR THE BIG DAY: The folks at Scugog Animal Hospital on Simcoe St. in Port Perry are holding an open house this coming Saturday, May 3, and they've got plenty planned to keep you entertained. Here, April Brown (left) and Liz Drebit prepare Blaze the dog for the big day. Diseased trees posed a safety problem "Trees had to go": Mayor Some township residents have expressed anger towards council after several large trees were cut down near Nestleton over a | week ago. | Despite the angry reaction to the felling of the mature maples along Nestleton Rd., | Scugog Mayor Howard Hall said the action was necessary. According to the mayor, the nine trees Winter's tough on your car! were cut down on April 18 because they were diseased, and posed a safety problem. "Those trees that were cut down were definitely diseased. We had Uxbridge Tree Service come in and assess them and they told us that the trees had to go," said the mayor. "We don't just cut down whatever trees Please Turn to Page 12 =x PHYSICAL ELECTION CALLED By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Brace yourself: It's election time again. Canadians are going to the polls for a federal vote June 2, and for the next five weeks, candidates here in Durham riding will be trying to woo you to their side. Incumbent Liberal MP Alex Shepherd has two opponents so far: Colin Argyle, the candidate chosen: Sunday afternoon by the local New Democratic Party riding association, and Ian Smyth, the Reform representa- tive who gave him a run for his money in the October 1993 election. The Durham Progressive Conservatives, meanwhile, are losing ground. An internal struggle over the nomination process has left the party without a candidate, and no hope of selecting one until another nomination meeting is held May 9, almost two * weeks after the election call. The delay could be a serious setback in a campaign that's just five weeks long. Riding association members -- and the two men fighting for the nomination -- worry that the fight looks bad to the voters, and will cost them valuable cam- paigning time. Sam Cureatz, a lawyer from Newcastle and former MPP, and Llewellyn Jones, a teacher from Scugog Point, faced off in February for the Tory nomination. When they were tied after a first ballot -- and it was found no one had brought enough ballots for a second vote -- the chairman running the meet- ing broke the deadlock by casting his vote for Mr. Cureatz. Candidates off and running Mr. Jones appealed, and was granted another nomination meeting, which was to be April 26 and involve only those who were at the February meeting. Mr. Cureatz took the party to court over that ruling, and had the decision thrown out. So the Conservatives are back to square one. That's much to the delight of Mr. Smyth, the Courtice man who finished second to Mr. Shepherd in the 1993 vote that saw a Liberal majority sent to Ottawa. He called the infighting "old-style" backroom politics, and predicted the battle will "turn people off" in Durham. Please Turn to Page 10 Star's coverage kicks off today Parliament has been dissolved, and voters in Durham and across the coun- try are going to the polls to elect a new government on June 2. Locally the race is shaping up, with candidates for the Liberal, Reform and New Democratic parties selected, and on the campaign trail. Their signs are popping up, and soon, they'll be knock- ing on your door. In today's Star, we've got the up-to- date information on how things are shaping up in Durham. On page 4, you'll find profiles on the three candi- dates selected so far, as well as other information on Election '97. 'By Angela Drew Port Perry Star Do you know an outstanding ind- vidual in Scugog who has gone the extra distance to make our township a better place to live? If so, get your nominations in for Year Award, to be announced this year during the 'Canada Day celebrations in Palmer Park. . The award will honor a Scugog res- The search is underway for a Citizen of the Year The Port Perry Star's Citizen of the ident who has volunteered time, or made outstanding achievements. The nominees must have performed their community act within Scugog Township during the past year. Nominees could also be individuals who have performed acts of heroism, or have overcome great physical and physiological odds to exceed their peers. Our readers will act as the nomina- Please Turn to Page 10 SePeEeCeleAcL Includes: * 50 Point Safety and Maintenance Inspection * Front End Alignment Check * Tire Rotation *» Radio Cassette and Antenna Service * Fill Windshield Washer * Lube, Oil and Filter PONTIAC BUICK LIMITED 10 Vanedward Drive, Port Perry