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-Opinion How long 'til Spring? Back to normal, now, after another hary-scary Christmas-New Year season. The schools, businesses, politicians, arts groups and everyone in- between will settle down to a routine for the next few months. Everyone likes routines, whether they'll admit it or not. A routine is a comfortable thing and most of all, it's secure. Security: that's the ticket. Sure, we'll gripe and complain about the February blahs, when the sun doesn't shine and the thermometer doesn't climb above -15 for weeks on end. But mostly we'll endure the cold and the grey and wait for spring. Oh what a thrilling thought that is. Spring. Think about it: it's only another 100 to 125 days until the warmth of that season returns. Maybe if we're good we can prolong winter a few weeks. The flame is alive Hey, thank you Budd Watson and Councillor Bob Sullivan for 'your efforts in getting the Olympic Flame to pass through Penetanguishene. Originally the flame wasn't going to pass through Penetanguishene. Imagine that!! : Here we are sending two of our best to the Olympics next month - Angela Schmidt Foster and Brian Orser - and we weren't going to receive a visitation from the flame. You've probably already read the story in this paper about how it all happened and it really does show what obstacles can be over- come when dedicated people work together with such enthusiasm and swiftness. There really wasn't much time but now Penetanguishene is going to share in the Olympic spirit. Thanks must also be extended to the principals of ESPSS, Le Caron and MSS and of couse to the students of each respective school. Everyone in Penetanguishene should try to get out and watch the ceremony. Remember our athletes and share in the Olympic spirit. Besides in this dreary period between New Year's Day and the first day of Spring, we're going to need some of that spirit. Horticultural Society meeting Dear Editor: On behalf of the Midland Horticultural Society I would like to express our sincere thanks for your work in publishing of our events during 1987. We meet at Calvary Baptist Church on the fourth Monday of the month at 8 p.m. and with your advertising the people of the com- munity are reminded of our meetings to which they are always welcome. May we wish you the compliments of the season, Sincerely yours, Midland Horticultural Society Heleana Cheatley Corresponding Secretary 1987 Broken lights a hazard Dear Editor: Sunday night driving from Barrie to Penetanguishene, I counted 17 vehicles with only one headlight. One was an OPP cruiser. A police warning about this problem would at least draw attention to the driver and Media play Dear Editor: The Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to you in the media com- munity for your excellent co-operation in helping us to make the Simcoe County and District of Muskoka community aware of the Crime Stoppers program. We are just completing our first year of operation and have been very pleased with the results our program has contributed to helping the police in their endeavors to solve crime. Without your continuous support our efforts would not be of any significance to the police or the community. January 1988 is being proclaimed as Crime Stopper Month throughout North America. The municipalities in Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka have likewise proclaim- ed January as Crime Stopper Month. The pur- pose is to heighten the public's awareness of Crime Stoppers in their community. Throughout January our board members as well as the police co-ordinator will be involv- ed in many projects to enhance the Crime possibly avoid an accident. In any other province in Canada, the Mounties make you go to the nearest service center. Budd Watson Midland a crucial role in Crime Stoppers Stopper program. Displays will be set up on a rotating basis in McDonald's restaurants throughout our area; a fund raising dinner and dance; a full page public service ad in the newspapers, etc. We believe that our efforts in January will significantly increase the public's awareness of Crime Stoppers. Along with these efforts we are asking you as our communicating link to the community to assist using your par- ticular media form to bring the Crime Stop- per message to your viewers, readers and listeners. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers, we wish you continued suc- cess in your endeavors throughout the new year and pledge to your continued co-operation. Thank you for being such an important partner in Crime Stoppers. Sincerely yours, George Taylor Chairman Board of Directors Crime Stoppers Premier congratulates Dear Editor: On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I am pleased to extend warm greetings to our citizens across the province who are com- memorating the month of January as Crime Stoppers Month. The Crime Stoppers program has achiev- ed outstanding success throughout Canada and the United States as a source of com- munity awareness and as an effective instru- ment in the struggle against crime. I take this opportunity to congratulate your founder, Greg MacAleese, as this month marks the inauguration of the Crime Stoppers program in Picton, his place of birth. And I commend the many volunteers who have given their time and energy to organizing the program in their communities over the recent years. Please accept my sincere best wishes for the success of Crime Stoppers Month and for continued effectiveness in the important civic function which your program performs. Dayid Peterson Premier Province of Ontario As I See it by David Krayden ter admit failure. What, does nothing happen between Christmas and New Year's Day? Anyway, your lonely columnist drove down to the wharf, always comforted and stimulated by the magic which is water: the power in its movement, the large noise it makes, the feeling that it might overtake us all in one motion, swallow our struggling spirits in one ferocious gulp. So I parked down by the dock and even rolled down my window! Yes, I know it was cold but the sun was shining. There's something about sun shining in January -Penetanguishene Citizen-- Published by Bayweb Limited every Tuesday at 74 Main Street, Penetanquishene, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 2327 Year Subscription rate $39.00 Page 6, Wednesday, January 6, 1988 : : | Public always welcome at | which is so irresistibly antinomial: the ex- pression of ice concomitant with sun. Oh the forces of nature do battle as sun threatens ice and snow with ultimate obliteration. Yes it is cold for a while, but it will be hot again. But it wasn't just the sun that made me roll down that window. It was the wind. That wind was the sort which blows right through your body and brain, whisking out the stale thoughts of yesterday's moribund ex- pressions, blowing in the secrets which the winds seem to scream on days like this. Yes, but you've got to listen. The dock was reasonably still when I ar- rived. There was a solitary couple walking near the boats; they were obviously in love. An old man was warming up his old wathorse of a boat, the whole structure jostl- ed and heaved and creaked a little and seem- 549-2012 Publisher: Andrew Markle Life on the water I was driving around Penetanguishene last Sunday, trying to find some pictures with which to fill the pages of this edifying newspaper. Oh, your diligent columnist found some pictures but reasoned that if he didn't have enough pictures by Sunday after- noon for Monday's production, he had bet- ed to make more noise than the motor. There was something rigidly independent about this slightly hunched-over figure. He was tinkering with the engine, moving heavy buckets around, the elements just bouncing off his weathered skin. I have always found it easiest to think while watching the water kick back and forth. That Sunday reminded me of a day near another body of water with quite different results. The scene was similar; the waves were crashing a little more feverishly since I was next to the ocean but the atmosphere contain- ed the same volatile mixture of calmness and uncertainty. Until the arrival of my nemesis. There came the kill-joy, the walking corpse who lived on ketchup and twinkies, a lethargic creature who belched the sickness of civilization. A truck had driven up. I don't remember what kind of truck it was, some sort of 4x4. | | But junior had a fine stereo system. He was so proud of it that everone had to hear it. So he rolls his windows down and the crazed moans from our collective funeral bellowed from his truck. He got out of the truck, unwrapped a can- dy bar, threw the refuse on the ground and stuffed the 300 calorie plug into his large mouth. He squinted and looked around with the caution which accompanies near im- becility; he was not used to this. Hey, this is bad news, man!! The ghosts of a thousand dead sea captains must have been telling this insufferable lout to turn down the music and listen to the real entertainment but his face wore a sad, stupid expression which confessed an incapacity to comprehend anything while eating. Bloody shame. I rolled up my window. Manager: Judy French Member Managing Editor: Tim Kraan Editor: David Krayden Reporter: Murray Moore ®#CNA Member Sports: Arnold Burgher | The Penetanguishene Citizen welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be legible, signed (by hand). and carry the writer's address and telephone number for verification. Pen names are not allow- ed and anonymous letters will not be published. Letters published by this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this newspaper. its publisher or editor. aR SER AT CARTE rade eamtiaal Te"