Created & Published by Observer Publishing of Port Perry
188 Mary Street - Unit 201 Port Perry, Ontario - L9L 1A2

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

JULY 2008

GENEROUS COMMUNITY IS WONDERFUL
Dear Focus
This letter is to let everyone know what a wonderful community we live in.
At a recent meeting of the Port Perry Artist Association, that meet every Tuesday at Reid’s, I mentioned to the members that our nursing home and villa had a limited supply of art related items for their art classes.
I asked if anyone had any spare paint, brushes, coloured or sketching pencils or paper, because it would provide a great help as our supplies were getting low.
Peter, I just love my friends!
The artists and their friends have come forward with an abundance of great supplies, enough so that my mother (Jean) and I can do up individual cases with supplies for each of the participants. This will enable them to draw and doodle even when we are not there to help them.
The supplies will be distributed this month and this will be wonderful for the great art work that’s to come. Karen Samson, activity director for the Nursing Home is even working on a gallery for the residents to display their ‘works of art.’
I’m so proud of the talent and enthusiasm they have created and it shows in their drawing and painting. I know this will mean a lot to them and we are truly grateful and can’t thank everyone enough for their generosity.
Thank you for being so wonderful!
Pam Henshall & Jean Smith
Port Perry

RELAY FOR LIFE WAS AN AMAZING EVENT
Hello Peter
I just wanted to let you know that we raised over $90,000 with Relay For Life on Friday, June 14.
There were 400 participants at this amazing event including 50 Survivors. With all the others present, we estimate 600 people were in attendance for the ceremonies, etc.
What an amazing community of people we have in North Durham with their support not only at the event, but in so many ways behind the scenes too, with help and donations.
I’m not sure what it is about Relay For Life, Port Perry and the weather. It was a shame that we couldn’t do some of the exciting things which had been planned for the night due to the torrential rain storm.
All of those involved decided that the storm was nothing compared to what people go through with cancer and there were brave people on the track throughout the storm totally committed to walking all night.
Thank you so much for all the support you have given us in the lead-up to the event and it was great to see you at the event too.
Best regards
Lesley Hancock, Port Perry

REMOVING OSPREY NESTS NECESSARY
Dear Editor
It was heartwarming to read of people concerned in the world of wildlife. As a retired Ontario hydro employee, I would like to clarify why Hydro One officials chose to remove the Osprey nest (with eggs) thus upsetting some Island residents.
If Osprey nests are built on transmission poles where the three lines of wire are close together, the birds with their wide wing span can be electrocuted.
If in flight, while building or tending their nests, the wings touch two of the wires, the electric current passes through the birds causing death. Hydro One tries to remove such nests when they pose this immediate danger.
Ospreys need high platforms away from dangerous wires for safe nesting areas and survival.
Ron Acheson
Scugog Island

APPRECIATED COVERAGE PROVIDED BY FOCUS
Dear Peter,
A huge ‘thank you’ and ‘kudos’ to you and your wonderful staff at Focus on Scugog for providing such an excellent publication in our community!
Every month you seem to touch on exactly the right pulse points of Scugog and surrounding area--precisely capturing the happenings and issues important to our community.
We at the Port Perry Villa are especially pleased with the quality of exposure Focus on Scugog has given us as we attempt to grow and better serve the community we have been a part of for nearly 30 years.
Both as an advertiser and as a business who has benefitted from inclusion as editorial in your magazine (June 2008), we are very pleased with the feedback that exposure has given us.
I can’t tell you how many people have come in to our Presentation Centre on Water Street just because they saw us in your magazine. You provide such a great service to the community. And it seems that you and your staff have a whole lot of fun putting the magazine together every month, reflected in the pages of the magazine.
Congratulations and thank you once again.
Liz Auston,
Marketing Manager
Port Perry Villa

BEV ODA COMMENTS ABOUT POST OFFICE
Dear Editor:
Re: Just a Thought (Focus On Scugog – June 2008)
Canada Post is a Crown Corporation that operates at arms length from the Government. Decisions regarding the upkeep of the Port Perry post office are the responsibility of Canada Post.
After discussing the condition of Port Perry post office with several constituents, I contacted Canada Post and was informed they are planning several improvements to our local outlet in the summer and fall of 2008.
Canada Post will be conducting brick and masonry work, resurfacing asphalt, and installing new windows. Canada Post will also inspect the roof of the building and will conduct repairs if the inspection demonstrates that they are required.
Thank you for raising this important issue.
Sincerely,
Bev Oda
MP for Durham

ALEX HAS BEEN PADDLING FOR 40 YEARS
Dear Focus
It was with interest that I read the Canoe the Nonquon article in the June 2008 issue of Focus on Scugog and with pleasure to see that Bill Brock still remembers our efforts together at the first event in 1969.
While we may well hold the record for the slowest trip ever recorded I still have pleasant memories of a great day on the water, and the amazing picnic lunch we consumed on route.
Bill noted that I had continued to participate for 35 years. Actually, I completed my 40th race on June 7, 2008 and celebrated by finally getting my name (along with longtime partner Paul Seaman of Pickering) on a trophy by coming in about two minutes faster than the only other canoe in the over 40 class.
Many thanks to all the volunteers over the years who have made this event such a success. While tempted to quit while we’re at the top Paul and I will probably be there again next year and, hopefully, for a few years after that.
Alex Lawrence
Scugog Township

APRIL 2008
Dear Editor:
How fortunate am I?
This is a question that I have been asking myself many, many times over the past few months.
First, let me say I think I speak for a great many wives, mothers and sweethearts of our young men and women who are serving in Afghanistan, as well as our boys and girls who are in a combat zone where there is a fine line between life and death.
A place where these proud Canadians stand up and are counted on daily to defend what each and every one of us holds dear, “freedom and dignity for all.”
I wonder and am amazed at how women ever went on with their lives during WWII, when their loved ones were serving overseas. Weeks and indeed months could go by and they wouldn’t hear from their son, husband, brother, sweetheart or daughter.
They carried this burden of not knowing whether their loved one was missing in action, dead, or alive.
Today thank God, times have changed. We hear from our son on a regular basis, we see him on our computer and we share his pride in serving our country. How fortunate am I indeed?
The Canadian Army has been so helpful and kind. They take the time to phone Larry and I to make sure we are well, and to ask if we have any concerns, to make sure we are hearing from Mark.
They care!
The Canadian Armed Services have programs for the young families, they have special programs for little children, teenagers and get togethers at the various bases where families can get together and share.
They have special councillors for wives and mothers to help them understand their feelings. For example, when the media reports the loss of one of our own, I know 2,500 mothers, or wives, girlfriends sit and their minds and bodies are frozen with fear and dread, they fear for their son or loved one.
Their hearts seem to stop beating and they wish the world would just stop. Stop the hatred, stop the killing and then you wait and wait for what seems forever.
You’re afraid to answer the phone or the door and you wait. Finally after what seems an eternity the name of the fallen soldier is released. Then, and only then, do you breathe and feel happy, and once again thank God your loved one is okay.
In saying this, after your relief and joy there is guilt. Guilt that you feel joy when another mother’s heart is broken and the love and pride that she must feel is saddened with grief. We all share this pain, as do our soldiers overseas.
The Military Resource Centers have been so kind to Larry and I. They arranged for a video link to Afghanistan and our family went to the Base and had a 40-minute visit with our son by way of a large screen monitor.
How fortunate am I?
Our granddaughter could show her daddy her wiggly tooth and for a few brief moments we could forget that Mark was in a war zone, in harms way, proudly serving our country.
As the national anthem says “We Stand on Guard for Thee.”
Doreen & Larry Kendall
Utica, Ontario

Editors Note: Doreen and Larry’s son Mark has been serving in Kandahar province, Afghanistan since last November. Mark is pictured above with his daughter Sarah before heading off to Afghanistan last fall. We all look forward to Mark’s safe return home later this summer.

Dear Peter
What a joy to have read your article on the students from Port Perry High School who received the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement.
As soon as the article and pictures came out, students were running to their teachers showing us what they had achieved. The students enjoyed the whole experience from beginning to end.
The students were happy to be able to participate in a project which gave them pride in their community. They worked diligently to do research on former students who gave their lives so they could live in freedom.
On November 9th, the students hosted the Remembrance Day ceremony and met over 40 family members related to the soldiers we were honouring that day.
If this was not enough, the students were nominated and won the prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement.
We can tell you that this was a life changing event for these students. They were in awe of the people they met and the lavish surroundings they were hosted in. Imagine the impact of meeting the former Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander and the present Lieutenant Governor David Onley individually.
They felt like celebrities as the pictures were taken and the flashes blinded them. Students have told us that this was as important to them as their graduation and they felt compelled to study our history further and do what they could to help preserve it.
Fact is, they have had a positive experience doing something for their community. Port Perry High School is proud of these students. We look forward to providing them with the tools to help them continue to protect our wonderful local heritage.
Nancy Hamer Strahl,
Harold Williams,
Port Perry High School teachers

Hi Peter
I’ve just received the latest issue of Focus and have only had a chance to browse through it. Your magazine seems to be getting bigger with each issue, good work.
My heartiest congratulations for your prestigious award, it is richly earned and certainly well deserved. High five to you.
I’m enjoying the magazine and have every issue here at the ranch, keep on keeping on, as my youthful compatriots might say.
  Just one quick question, do you have any idea of “what in the hay” is happening at the intersection of Reach Road and Bigelow Street, the hydro location? The crews have been digging, removing dirt for more than a year. Are they removing nuclear waste perhaps?
Keep up your great work.
Don Mitchell
Port Perry

Hello Peter
  The latest edition of Focus on Scugog features my family (Aslings) and their maple syrup business near Epsom. Since I live in Uxbridge now I do not get the magazine except when dad and mom give me their copy. Of course, they want to hang onto this one.
Would it be possible for me to get a couple of copies? Thanks in advance.
I really do enjoy the magazine each month. I especially like the articles on historical homes as I have been doing a lot of genealogical research and several of the homes featured have belonged to “relatives”.
Dr. Pat Asling
Uxbridge, Ontario

MARCH 2008
Dear Focus
Thank-you for allowing Physiotherapy Associates of Port
Perry the opportunity to advertise in the Medical Associates section for the February edition of the Focus on Scugog.
Your creative team created a fantastic eye-catching advertisement for us that promoted a huge amount of positive feedback. It’s nice to be recognized and visible within a publication that is so highly regarded in our community.
In particular, we were honoured to be included in the highlighted section for Port Perry’s “Partners in Health Care”.
We would not hesitate to advertise again, and look forward to working with you in the future.
Stefanie Vander Slagt, Bkin, BscPT, CAFCI
Physiotherapy Associates of Port Perry

Dear Editor
As many readers of this publication may know, my father Peter Hvidsten was recently given a life time achievement award from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
My father not being the kind of man who would boast about an achievement of this magnitude did not wish to publish any sort of article about it. (Apparently he was forced to!)
After I received the news that he was going to be accepting this award, it got me to thinking about my first memories of my father working on his books, and all the work that he has done for the heritage of Scugog.
I remembered how he would spend hours making phone calls, researching, and interviewing people on topics that had not been touched on all that much. I thought to myself “my dad is going to make a lot of money with this book.” Little did I know that all the work my father was doing then, and still continues to do to this day, was not for fame and not for profit. It was done solely for a passion and an interest in his work.
He has now put out many historical books, to remind the community of where it came from. With his latest venture, Focus on Scugog, he is letting us know where we are going into the future.
His dedication and hard work has shown me direction in my life and is helping me realize the potential that he always knew that I had.
So on behalf of his family and friends, I just wanted to say
thank you for inspiring me for my future, and awing a community about its past!
Matt Hvidsten
Sudbury, Ont.

Dear Editor
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Scugog Chamber of Commerce for organizing a fabulous Santa Claus
parade for Scugog’s kiddies and families again this year.
I’m sure we speak for all those who enjoy this annual event when we say thanks to the directors, participants and volunteers for the time and effort they generously give to make this such an exciting event for our community.
Not surprising, many people noticed that Scugog’s familiar Santa of the past 18 years was not on his sleigh and commented on his absence. We were disappointed he was not in the parade, but it was reassuring to see him, and hear his jovial “Ho, Ho, Ho” as he greeted young and old from his house in front of the post office.
As former presidents of the Scugog Chamber of Commerce we would like to express, on behalf of the entire community, our sincere thanks and appreciation for the wonderful service this special man has provided our community for so many year’s.
Thanks so much Santa! We hope you had a Merry Christmas and look forward to your return next year.
Sincerely
Bill Barr, Ted Griffin
Howard Hall, Debra Jones
Peter Hvidsten, Elgin Knopp
Warren Strong, Don MacLeod

Dear Editor,
In December’s issue you printed a story about our family’s Christmas Olympics and you should know that the response from the story was far-reaching!
While my daughter Shanna and a friend were working out at a gym in Guelph, her friend’s phone rang. It was her dad who lives in Port Perry calling to tell his daughter how much he loved the article! I heard from an old friend on Vancouver Island, one person in the Philippines along with loads of people from all over Scugog!
I’m so glad you’re producing the Focus because it covers all areas of interest and it encourages excitement about all the positive things so many people are doing in our area!
Thumbs up to you!!!
Monique Howat
Nestleton, Ont.
Editors Note: Wow!! Thanks Monique you are too kind.

Peter and staff:
For the last few weeks I’ve had an idea for an article that I think would be of interest to many, and well suited to your magazine.
Partly in light of  the proposed WalMart store I’ve been thinking back over the last 25 years or so about some of the many commercial proposals that have been presented to council, then most just faded away.
My suggeston would be to enlighten the masses and make them think about what might have been.
For example, would WalMart be building here today if Sobey’s, Swiss Chalet, etc. were already established at the west end site.... and would Reid’s Independent exist if the property had been
developed into retirement condos, and a lakefront hotel?
Also I’m somewhat amused about the “Big Box” paranoia on main street. Think back to 1975 when the huge new Canadian Tire and Dowson’s Red & White stores opened in the Port Perry
Plaza, replacing their smaller main street versions. How many times
bigger were they at that time?
Another issue could be the potential of a “super” Shoppers Drug Mart replacing the Railroadhouse Motel. I would much rather see a new, quality motel there instead. This looks like another traffic disaster for Port Perry on 7A.
In closing, thanks for having the guts to print “Thumbs” and “Changing Faces.” We usually just see the pictures of the ribbon cuttings, not the departure news. 
Keep up the great work. Most of the people I’ve talked to on “this side of the causeway” enjoy it and consider it an interesting and classy publication. We always look forward to your next issue and the old one is still usually here when it arrives. 
Sincerely,
Craig Larmer
Blackstock 
Editors Note: Thanks for the comments and suggestion Craig. We hope our readers will turn to page 10 of this issue, where we’ve done a little
research on your suggested topic. Very interesting to say the least!!! Thanks for the idea and keep in touch.

Hi Peter,
Recently something very nice happened in our neighbourhood, within our community of Caesarea.
We came home late on Wednesday and found a large gift bag between our front doors. Inside were a number of items relating to Halloween. There were jellybeans, a fake red nose, a small mask for children, a stuffed Raggedy Ann type witch on a broom, and many other small inexpensive items.
There was a sign printed on paper indicating that we had been “Boo’d” and we were instructed to place it in our front window to notify others that we had been “Boo’d”. Next we were asked to arrange to place similar bags at two other homes located in our community.
There was also a note asking us to drive around our community and look for  homes that had also been “Booed”. In our immediate area of just a few blocks, we counted 30 homes that had these signs.
Such a novel idea. Makes one appreciate the closeness of our small community.
Bruno & Darlene Gauweiler
Caesarea, Ont.

Dear Editor
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the emergency staff at the Port Perry Hospital, Dr. Steve Russell, Dr. Nassar-Sharif, their lab and office staff for the quick, efficient care they provided during my recent cardiac problems.
The locally co-ordinated, testing and diagnosis quickly led to my admittance to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto for further tests and ultimately heart by-pass surgery, which was performed successfully.
Throughout the last three months following surgery, appointments have been kept with Drs. Russell and Sharif and required tests and procedures co-ordinated and already booked. You just could not ask for better care - but there is more!
In mid-September, about a month after my surgery, I was advised by Paul Sawyer, clinical leader of the cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program (Lakeridge Health) that I was referred to the program by my doctors here in Port Perry. I have since been participating in all activity and testing on a regular basis (at no charge) both at L.H. Oshawa and at the Scugog Recreation Complex in Port Perry.
What more there to say except that we are all so very fortunate to have access to our Port Perry health team? So well
organized, care and accessible, and connect to the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario.
Thank you for allowing me to express my sincere appreciation to all involved.
Kindest regards
Malcolm Lennox
Port Perry

Dear Editor
Since publishing our recipe for Canada Goose in the November issue of FOCUS, the Scugog Lake Stewards received several calls questioning whether Canada geese were a protected species and that perhaps the Lake Stewards were encouraging unlawful activity.
Yes, Canada geese are a “protected species” as many other animal and bird species are in Canada, with specific hunting seasons. Canada geese are protected specifically by Federal law under the Migratory Game Bird Act, with the province enforcing the Act. In Southern Ontario, this year, the lawful hunting season is from September 22 to the 5th of January, 2008 with another season open for one week in February. Appropriate permits and gun licences are obviously required and regulations regarding bag limits, retrieval of all birds, and hunting by-laws must be followed.
The story of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) is most interesting. There are about six sub-species, and a number of what Bill Lishman calls “in-betweeners.” The one we see most in Scugog is the “giant” Canada goose, (Branta c. ‘maxima.’) which can reach about 20 lbs. and can have a wing span of 6 ft.
Unbelievably, the “giant” Canada goose was thought to be hunted to extinction until a group was found in 1962 near Rochester, New York. Eggs from this small group were shipped across North America to replenish stocks.  But then problems started to occur.  As Bill Lishman puts it, “Birds only migrate for food and water. In the sixties when the Giants were re-introduced, it was the beginning of corn and soybean high-production farming.  This allowed the geese a lot of leftover food in the harvested fields, and the lower Great Lakes weren’t freezing over -- so a non-migratory population bloomed!”
That aside, these geese are major survivors. Here in Scugog we have a perfect environment for them.
Because of their urban habitat, man is their only real predator, but very few are hunted by comparison to ducks. This is because they are exceedingly tough unless they are first year birds or are cooked with care, hence, our recipe. As stewards we feel it is better to sincerely enjoy the fruit of the land than thrown it in the garbage because when it is cooked it doesn’t meet expectations.
However, if you find the geese a nuisance rather than a pleasure (they may leave droppings every seven minutes), the best way to keep them from overwhelming your lawn space is to naturalize your water edge with tall aquatic plants and shoreline grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees. If their vision for predators is obscured, geese will not come ashore to feast on your succulent lawn.
Barbara Karthein
Editor, “Life on the Lake” section

Hi Peter.
Since this response is very quick after the September 2007 issue, you can ascertain that I read this great publication very quickly after I picked it up at the super box.
I must make a correction to your Time Warp, 1988. In 1988, the Dairy Bar was completely renovated and refurbished to become the home of Port Perry Pizza Delight. (not Pizza Hut as you published)
Port Perry Pizza Delight was owned and operated by Don Mitchell and family, opening in March of 1988 and operated under this ownership for almost 10 years.
We enjoyed and met many, many wonderful people from our community. Our employees, all local residents, were the best, particularly Linda Faichney and Teresa Joudrey.
  We are extremely proud of our days of being Pizza Delight. Our employees, most of whom became friends, were the absolute best, great permanent staff and absolutely wonderful kids earning money to move on to bigger and better things, I think most of them have.succeeded and have done well.
I would suspect that most small business owners in our community have the same pleasant experience.
Cheers,
Don Mitchell
P.S. - I read and enjoy your magazine and have every issue here in the homestead.
EDITOR: Thanks Don... we apologize and stand corrected.

Dear Editor
Congratulations on a quality publication. I enjoyed the feature "We salute our Volunteers". These people are very important to our community. However there are countless others that make up the true fabric of Port Perry.
There is Charley down the street who takes his neighbour to appointments and shopping.
There is Rita next door who looks out for the same neighbour every day. There is my daughter Cathie who gives her time to scouting and soccer and Operation Scugog and her friends who are involved in the same programs and hockey and so on...
There is my friend Beth who donates her time to teaching Tai Chi to others so that they can improve their health. I am only one person in this community. I know that there are many more people out there who give selflessly to others. This is what makes our community thrive.
How about a feature on these people? I know that they don't want to be singled out. They derive their satisfaction from helping others. A feature listing what is done by volunteers would show everyone what a great community Port Perry is!
How about inviting people to share their experiences?
Susan Dutton
223 Bigelow Street
Editor's Note: You're absolutely right Susan. There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of caring people in this community that deserve recognition. We know we've only scraped the surface. The people that were featured in last month's issue were chosen by businesses and individual sponsors. Hopefully the next time Focus on Scugog "Salutes our Volunteers" we can highlight a few more.

Dear Editor,
I commend you on the very interesting, well organized and well documented website (www.focusonscugog.com) featuring the history of Port Perry. Every town in Ontario should have such a resource for their residents and visitors like me. (The 'past and present' page is excellent!)
I visited your town recently because someone had told me that the Port Perry train station had been saved and converted into a book store worth seeing. Since I am interested in books, history, trains, Ontario, etc, etc, I decided that this was a 'must do' item.
Unfortunately, the numerous residents that I asked regarding the train station location had no idea that there was a train station or that there ever had been a train line through Port Perry at all. I want to stress here that your residents were truly concerned to help me; unfortunately, they just didn't know anything about the subject. So: can you tell me if the train station was in fact saved and moved - to what location? And, is it a book store?
Incidentally, the former War Museum is a treasure, although I didn't notice if you still had lawn bowling in operation adjacent to the site. Best wishes to Port Perry. My wife and I had a lovely afternoon - although we missed the girl's softball game during our search for the station.
Lorne and Rita MacDonald
Etobicoke, Ont.
Editors Note: The old Port Perry train station is now located on Water St. across from Palmer Park and is occupied by Ive's Florist.

Dear Peter
The Focus on Scugog is "Numero Uno" in my books! I have enjoyed it since its inception (which I know I have told you in person) but a recent experience necessitated this letter. I ran an ad in the last issue regarding my "Retirement Sale" and the response was beyond my wildest expectations. I needed my message to reach people quickly and it certainly did. The day after Focus came out in August, my store was "invaded" and the majority of customers said... "I read about your sale in the Focus." I must admit I have been skeptical about the success of my advertising dollars in the past. However, I would certainly encourage any and all businesses to utilize your magazine in the future - there advertising dollars will bring results. Thanks to you and your amazing staff Peter, for a job well done. I also appreciated the fact that I didn't have to spend time "designing my ad." Everyone made the job easy for me and obviously the ad caught the readers attention. I wish you continued success - your magazine is definitely popular.
Carol Phee
Where Angels Gather
Queen St., Port Perry

Dear Editor
Congratulations Peter and staff of Focus on Scugog. Catherine and I scramble to be the first to read your fine home town magazine. I particularly enjoy the "Thumbs" and "Did You Know?". Catherine enjoys the "Sunleite" articles. Keep up the good work!
Ed Daigle,
Port Perry

Dear Editor
Thanks for the very nice remarks you made in the last issue in the Thumbs Up section about the Stewards. It is just the kind of little remark that not only justifies our work, but also makes us really consider that our work is worthwhile. Unfortunately, it is such an enormous project that we have taken on! Thanks again for that.
Barbara Karthein,
Port Perry

Dear Editor
The editorial in your June edition of Focus on Scugog seems to suffer from the same condition as the Township's Council - that is, wanting to have your cake and eat it too. Let me see if I understand the combined arguments.
1. Council has opted for the Wal-Martization of Port Perry and only time will tell what the effects of that decision will be on our community. The skeletal remains of downtown core areas in small and mid-sized towns across Canada and the United States exhibit what has occurred in many cases, yet Council believes that Port Perry will be spared this fate. To that end, Council legislated that no drug store will be allowed to build in the new plaza, thus precluding Shoppers Drug Mart (or any other large drug store), from locating near Wal-Mart (which will, however, be allowed to operate its own pharmacy). How nice for them!
2. To compete with the new retail giant, Shoppers Drug Mart wishes to purchase the Railroadhouse Inn, tear it down (thank God), and build a large store on that site. But your editorial says absolutely NO - "this is not the time for one of the BIA's largest members to abandon the downtown". This logic was not applied to Canadian Tire nor is it being argued for the L.C.B.O. which seems poised to move to the new plaza. The irony is that Shoppers is the only large operation that is staying in the downtown area - just moving to a new location. Change is not necessarily bad - but when Council permits a major change for a newly-arrived American company, it should not handcuff an established local businessman and Canadian company in trying to compete on a level playing field.
3. The editorial predicts traffic problems on Highway 7A if Shoppers moves (conveniently ignoring the traffic problems which will be generated by a plaza more than ten times the size of the proposed new drug store). The article goes on to say that Council should not rezone the Railroadhouse site in the hopes that a "new, larger" (and presumably busier) motel complex will be built there (magically, I suppose, without its own increase in traffic volume). In any event, this is a pipe dream - there has been no line-up of suitors to build such an establishment.
4. Finally, the editor praises Shoppers Drug Mart owner Doug Brown for always being "a generous and supportive member of the community and the downtown...". He rewards this generosity with the suggestion that Shoppers should renovate and expand its present building (including the addition of an underground parking lot!), all to save the downtown "cake" from being ravaged by "progress".
Unfortunately, Council "left the cake out in the rain" when it approved the Wal-Mart plaza, thus ensuring that, like it or loathe it, change will come to local businesses and the downtown. Even legislating Daphne out of retirement and re-opening the Settlement House would not alter that.
Hugh Meyer,
Port Perry

Dear Editor
On one of my frequent visits to Port Perry I happened upon a copy of your publication, finding it very interesting reading not only concerning the history but also about the people who came from Scugog. In today's world there is so much negative news therefore it is nice to read a magazine that is both informative and positive.
Since then I have tried to catch up with past issues of Focus on Scugog and I am looking forward to future articles posted on the internet. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the editor regarding the May 2007 article concerning my career with the Ontario Provincial Police.
It was an honour and privilege to be interviewed and I wish to express my appreciation for your dedication to the community.
Best regards,
Andy Hachinski

Dear Editor
I spent some time on your new website a few days ago, after noticing an ad for it in the last issue of Focus. I was procrastinating about getting back to work after lunch, but what was intended to be a fast diversion turned into a two hour session (thank you very much!) where I learned almost everything I wanted to know, but didn't know who to ask, about our local history.
There it was Ð the story of the Syndicate lands, something I had always wanted to know more about, and something I'd once again resolved to research, when I had the time. (So far, that good intention has been on the to-do list for about 10 years.) One item led to another and I was so impressed that I really had to take the time to tell you what an asset this is to the Township, and how much I appreciate the work you've done in amassing all this information.
Books are irreplaceable and museums give us that "up close" involvement Ð but digital data is easily shared, immediately available and has such a broad reach. I hope you continue to add to it, I'm sure there's a wealth of stories, photos, maps and documents still to post, opening up our past to thousands of new eyes, and I'm looking forward to seeing them.
Thank you so much for the work you've done to produce this website!
Deborah Tiffin,
Nestleton

Dear Peter
I am looking for information regarding my property at 13011 Mast Rd. but have come to a dead end in my search. All I know is that a saw mill was run on our land from about the 1840s to 1870s. I am told the mill built masts for the tall ships. This is where our street name came about. I know that our property was owned at one time by William Ward.
The mill was owned by Daniel S Way and run by George Currie. Other names associated with the mill are John Campbell and Thomas Paxton. Our home is located at Lot 5, Conc. 4 in the former Township of Reach. I have the land registry documents from present day tracing back to the 1840s.
Some of the former owners were William Ward, Samuel French, Daniel S Way, John Cade, Cyrus Mead, Nelan Reynolds, George Currie, George Walter Ward, Millie Evelyn Ward and Frances Kendall. I have contacted some previous owners and hopefully I will get more information.
I am writing in hopes that some of your readers will have information and ask them to please contact me anytime at (905)982-1400.
With thanks
Deborah Melin

Dear Editor
I don't complain much about tax increases, Wal-mart or a new $25 burn bylaw, but when I was told about a bylaw amendment for businesses to license farmer's markets and car shows, I knew it was time to voice my concerns.
Haugen's, and supposedly any other establishment, would have to get a special permit for allowing more than 50 vehicles on their premises for Car shows (Motorcycles) I knew it was time to voice my concerns loudly, and with great disdain. I found out it was amended to 100 plus vehicles so as not to effect the Car Cruise-in at Reid's Independent parking lot which gets fewer cars gathered. And, that this was mainly directed at the motorcycling community.
How soon they forget that the motorcycling community is made up of people from all walks of life that bring large amounts of cash flow into the township whenever they come here.
Haugen's will never accommodate all the riders for their needs and will visit other local establishments including restaurants, gas stations, etc. To me, this just seems like a cash grab that the township wants to impose mainly on Haugen's restaurant.
If complainers of these Cruise-Ins have never been to Haugen's and walked among the crowds they will never realize that the riders are nice people. Years ago there used to be a commercial put out by Honda, which stated, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda." This is still true, and applies to all makes of motorcycles and their riders.
Bruno Gauweiler,
Caesarea, On