PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 8, 2000 - 7 of the 'Week... period is over? Question Do you think the Durham Regional Police Service should continue to use a helicopter on a permanent basis after its current trial Kim Chrapek Yes, there's crime help we can get. everywhere these days and we need all the Charlie Packard No, | don't think we need one. What good is it, really? It's very expensive and the tax- payers get stuck pay- ing for it. Ann Hale Yes. It keeps crime down and it has worked really well. Connie Evans Yes, it gives officers access to places you can't get cars to. They had one in Hamilton on a trial basis and they didn't keep it. | think they should have one. Sandy Cooper Yes, every region should have one. Anything to help the police is a great idea. Snowarama raised $13,000 Hi To the Editor: On behalf of the Central Ontario Regional Snowmobile Association, and the Port Perry Rotary Club Easter Seals Committee | would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the many businesses and individuals who par- ticipated in this years Snowarama, a ride to raise money for children with physical disabilities. We are pleased to report that $13,000 has been raised. This success was made possible only through this generous support and the dedicated snowmobilers who collected the dona- tions from the businesses and individuals of Durham Region. They have always shown that they really care. We hope the people in Durham Region will contin- ue to support our Snowarama and help these extraordinary kids do the ordinary. Marion Lee, Chairperson for Snowarama 2000 Diners cards are already sold out To the Editor: The Scugog Shores Historical Museum would like to thank everyone who supported the Museum Diner's Card. Due to popular demand we are currently sold out. A heartfelt thank you also goes out to the par- ticipating Diner's Card restaurants: Emiel's Place, Jester's Court Pub and Eatery, and Captain George's Fish & Chips. Plans are already under way for our summer sea- son so watch for upcoming special event information. Elizabeth French, Fundraising Coordinator Man, it can't be easy being a - think: the long days, the paper cuts, the sore bum that's been perched on a government-issue chair fo years -- but lately! Well, let's just say that lately, this noble breed of human beast is | taking "more than its share of knocks. The latest shame is of course the craven excuse offered by the feds about the billion dollars -- or several hundred million, or a couple dozen million, or some pocket change and half a roll of Lifesavers, or whatever -- that's been piddled away by the federal Human Resources ministry, apparently with- out anyone really noticing all that much. They're "blaming it on their bureaucrats. Now, Jean Chretien said when he was in opposition that when he became PM, there would be no hanging the suits out to dry when things got sticky. No, sir. His ministers would stand tall and take responsibility for the foibles of their various departments. has happened with Ms Stewart's gang. She's not firing anyone, mind \ you, but she is taking action. Maybe circulating a memo about the hazards of issuing multi-million-dollar grants without paying attention to the details, which is to say, reading the application, if there is one. | think we should lay off bureaucrats. There are some real pros out there, and | should know, because | deal with them all the time. Why, just the other day bureaucrat at the best of times -- That is, until things went really badly, | | guess, as Page Seven A BRUSH WITH BUREAUCRACY by Jeff Mitchell | had an experience that renewed my faith. The Minister of Education, Janet Ecker, had that morning presented to the press in Toronto details of a financial boost for special education in Ontario. Wanting to write a story on the matter, | phoned the media contact at her Quéen's Park office around 2 p.m., seeking the text of her address. "Um.. . thje minister made some last minute changes to the speech," said the media guy, "so | can't send it out right now. Uh, do you need it today?" | told him that I'd love whatever he could send me, by fax or e-mail, as soon as humanly possible. "Okay," he sighed. Then added quickly, "But it won't be today." | laughed because | thought he was joking. When | only silence was returned, | suggested that if | were to receive something the following morning, that would be much appreciated. "Hmmmph," sighed the bureaucrat, and | heard him grunt slightly as he reached for a pen. "What's your fax number?" | gave him the number and said | appreciated anything he could do to help me out. "All right," he said. Then: "But I'm not promising anything." | never got the speech, of course. That's not the point. It's the effective and prompt manner in which my request was received, evaluated, and dealt with, 'which is to say, disposed of. The feds could really learn something from that guy. Random Jottings by ). Peter Hvidsten SHE'S 'QUEEN' OF THE FUNDRAISERS When it comes to fundraising, Marion Lee is "Queen." Almost everyone in Scugog either knows, or has heard of Marion, who at an age when most people are sitting back letting the "younger generation" lead the way, is not content to do anything less than be a leader. For years, she has been involved with Easter Seals, and has raised countless thousands of dol- lars through the annual Showarama and other events. Last week, she put her head on the line, so to speak, offering to have her head shaved for the benefit of the kids. Before the night ended, she had raised more than $5,000 and still had her curly locks. Of course without the generosity of the bidders, this wouldn't have happened, but there is no doubt, Marion was the catalyst for the fundraising drive. We congratulate Marion for her enthusiasm, energy and commitment to this community. Well done! And speaking of fundraisers, don't forget that February is Heart and Stroke month, and can- vassers will be out in the community looking for your support. Last year the local canvas raised $28,000, and organizers are hoping to equal that amount again this year. It always amazes, the generosity we witness week after week in this community. Whether it's people donating to cancer research, Heart & Stroke, Remembrance Day, Operation Scugog or any of the other dozens of groups who look for help within the township, it almost always seems that people meet and often beat the objectives of these groups. Congratulations to the organizers, volunteers, canvassers and especially the Scugog residents who give so freely to help others. REMEMBER WHEN You may have noticed the past few weeks that the Remember When column, carried on the opposite page, has been featuring photographs from about three decades ago. After featuring photos from the early parts of last century for the past few years, we thought it might be time for a change. So, for the next few months we'll be digging back into our archives and pulling out photos that ran in The Port Perry Star about 30 - 35 years ago. We're sure many of our readers will remem- ber the faces and scenes in these pictures, and will get some pleasure in remember "how we looked", not so long ago. Hope you enjoy the change!