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6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, September 11, 2001 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" BUSINESS OFFICE: Judy Ashby, Kathy Dudley, Member Janet Rankin, Lesley West PORT PERRY STAR [EES G3 SNA PUBLISHER, GEN MGR =. Don Macleod SENIOR REPORTER . = Chns Hall oCcna OFFICE MANAGER RR Gayle Stapley New i -s a= spaper 3 T C ADVERTISING MGR... Deb McEachern © io C . ETE. 201 _§ Are ADVERTISING: Sinn) Tod, Shndy Jobin, CREATIVEMGR . =. Pam Hickey oli ami 4 TN / Lisa Monk, Janet Archer Lon Bradbur REPORTER .. Rik Davie Publications Mail Registration No. 07881 ' ' y PHONE 905-985-7383 FAX 905-985-3708 E-MAIL: editorial@portperrystar.com advertising@portperrystar.com Six Months - $19.79 (includes GST) We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) towards our mailing costs Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Company Limited, 188 Mary Street - Port Perry, Ontario - L9L 187 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 Year - $37.45 (includes GST) EDITORIAL POLICY: Opinions expressed by columnists, contributors and letter writers are not necessary those of The Port Perry Star. Letters must be signed and the telephone number (which will not be published) induded. Requests that a name be withheld will be honoured only if there 1s a compelling reason 10 do so. Errors wall be corrected brought to the editor's attention. We reserve the right to edit or refuse publication of any material submitted. ADVERTISING POLICY: The publisher is not kable for sight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertiserent. The publisher ts not kable for other errors or omissions in connection with any advertisement in any tissue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. All daims of error in publication must be made by Wednesday, noon, prior to the next week's publication, and, if not made, will not be considered. No dam wall be allowed for more than one insertion. Foreign 1 Year - $96.30 (includes GST) Trudy Empningham, Daryle Wnght, Arlene Cheel Freelance Writers: Heather McCrae, John B McClelland PRODUCTION: Editorial Comment Something's not right in Scugog It is with a little disappointment that we hear from township and regional officials the news that a number of fire hydrants in the Blackstock area are essentially inadequate for use by local firefighters. Officials within Scugog Township, its fire department, and even those at Durham Region have all clearly stated that they in fact knew that the hydrants weren't in proper working order -- low pressure prohibits firefighters to hook their hoses up to the hydrants, which in turn requires them to use a portable reservoir each and every time they come to battle a blaze in the Blackstock area -- and that they have not been up to par for many, many years. In fact, one official with the Region noted that at least some of the hydrants haven't been in proper condition since the mid-70s. So, with this information, two questions come to mind. First, if close to 25 years have passed why hasn't this problem been fixed. Sure, it may take some time for the region and the township to finance large projects such as this, but 25 years? And, secondly, if the hydranis weren't operating prope:.y, why weren't residents in those areas told? It would seem to be only common sense for someone -- be it from the region or the township -- to tell these folks that the little yellow thing in front of their house they're expecting to help save their home and belongings in the event of a fire doesn't really work too well. To their credit, the proper officials have admitted that the hydrant system is a dud, and they have stressed repeatedly that at no time were any residents in danger. Fire crews knew of the situation, and came prepared, The Star was told. Okay, that's good. But, shouldn't officials have been forward with the public in the first place, and let them deem how important upgrading the system was themselves? Meanwhile, mn Blackstock. .. OKAY. WELL ... HMMM. DO You HAVE A GARDEN HOSE? NAN NNN ; 3 LETTERS In its time of need, local hospital's quick to turn away therapy dogs To the Editor: The article in your Aug. 28 issue "Therapy Dogs in need at Port Perry hospital, homes," needs to be responded to. | am the owner/trainer of a Papillon breed, therapy dog weigh- ing 10 lbs. soaking wet. Gizmo is his name and he has his C.D. title in obedience with CKC, his Canine Good Citizen award with AKC, and is a trained registered therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International. We are insured for $2 million while doing therapy work and | carry proof of insurance with me. Gizmo's full title is Gizmo, C.D, TDIA, TDIAO. He has earned the highest award available from TDIA (his outstanding award) for therapy work both in Canada and the U.S.A. Gizmo was the first dog ever permitted on a regular basis to visit the children's ward at Oshawa (LHO) and visits several floors on a regular basis. Over a year ago and | believe just before Maggie started we were authorized at Port Perry hospital. My doctor asked me to see some of his patients there. We called there on a regular basis as well as Port Perry Nursing Home and Port Perry Villa. Following our move to Oshawa we found it increasingly difficult to set up visits with the therapeutic TR people and finally gave up. We call on LHO Oshawa on a regular basis, on our own, as well as Port Perry Nursing Home and Villa (not as often). However, we find the TR staff at Port Perry hospital impossible to deal with. We were made to feel unwelcome and unappreciated by the TR staff. Perhaps this is why they are looking for visiting dogs now. Howard Parker, Oshawa A 3 - I]