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SERVICE HOURS MON., WED., THURS., FRI. 7:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. TUES. 7:30 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. SAT. 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. (905) 831-5400 www.p ickeringhonda.com Email: service@pickeringhonda.com 575 KINGSTON RD. The Pickering 48 PAGES ✦ Metroland Durham Region Media Group ✦ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2007 ✦ Optional delivery $6 / Newsstand $1 Call him a Brier champ Richard Hart will join Team Ontario at world championships Page B1 Up to the Challenger DaimlerChrysler to build new Dodge in Ontario Wheels pullout [ What’s in the paper ] Today’s paper includes the City’s Spring and Summer Guide, delivered to all Pickering homes. The guide is a great way to discover what Pickering has to offer its residents as we head into the warm months. [ Briefly ] Cops track hacker after website altered DURHAM — Durham police continue to investigate after a com- puter hacker managed to invade and alter the service’s website over the weekend. While the hacker managed to alter the website’s home page, there is no indication further dam- age was done and no major con- cerns about the security of the site linger, said Sergeant Paul McCurbin. “We’re trying to determine who’s responsible,” said Sergeant McCurbin of the breach, which was apparent to visitors of the police website on the weekend. “It didn’t affect anything secu- rity-wise; it just affected our front page,” Sgt. McCurbin said. “We’re satisfied with the secu- rity we have on our website. As far as the long term, there’s nothing of concern for us.” Alterations to the website www.drps.ca were obvious Saturday to visitors, who were greeted by an image of a wolf obscuring the page, along with several messages. The breach was corrected by later in the day. [ Index ] Editorial Page, A6 Sports, B1 Entertainment, B3 Classified, B5 [ Call us] General: 905 683 5110 Distribution: 905 683 5117 General Fax: 905 683 7363 Newsroom Fax: 905 683 0386 Pressrun 49,900 durhamregion.com Photos by Rob Mitchell MAX AND RUBY DRAW A CROWD IN PICKERING PICKERING — It was standing room only on the first day of March Break at the Pickering Town Centre as hundreds of children and parents crowded around the stage to watch Max and Ruby entertain. At right, four-year-old Mackieze Billings, of Ajax, watches the show in awe. The event kicked off the Pantry Raid Food Drive with all cash and food col- lected being distributed to those in need through the St. Paul’s On The Hill Community Food Bank. Last year, it raised 5,000 pounds of food. There are events all week at the Town Centre. By Erin Hatfield ehatfield@durhamregion.com DURHAM — Durham isn’t ready for public transit funding says Canada’s Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty. A recent funding announcement, met with disappointment by some local officials, wasn’t a slight against the Region, Mr. Flaherty said, but the start of the work needed to be done to bring Durham up to par with its neigh- bouring regions. Of the $952 million investment in transit funding announced by the fed- eral government on March 6, $5 mil- lion went to Durham for a rapid transit study, which Mr. Flaherty said will help Durham refine and tweak its transit plans. “I will fund them $5 million now so they can get some new equipment they need. Then they can work on the new study they submitted to the govern- ment of Canada, with the government of Canada,” Mr. Flaherty said. “When that is ready we will be in a position to fund Durham Region just like we did York Region.” Durham, at the end of February, applied for a $150-million investment to be split between the federal govern- ment, the Province and the Region under the Canadian Strategic Infra- structure Funding Program (CSIF) to accelerate the development of its tran- sit system. But, Mr. Flaherty said the Region was behind in it’s CSIF application process and the due diligence is not yet done. “Durham Region Transit is behind our neighbouring regions,” he said. “They are behind because amalgama- tion didn’t happen until January of 2006.” He said the government of Canada will work with the Region to ensure the due diligence is done, transit is costed out correctly and that the business plan is up to standard, all to ensure tax Durham not ready for transit funding: Flaherty Man faces prison for shooting at stranger Gunfire in Pickering neighbourhood By Jeff Mitchell jmitchell@durhamregion.com DURHAM — A report card and a pic- ture in a high school year book helped identify a man who fired a shot at a stranger on a Pickering street nearly two years ago, a Superior Court judge has heard. Shamal Harris is to be sentenced next month by Justice Alex Sosna after pleading guilty Tuesday to firing a gun with intent to injure. Mr. Harris, who entered the plea just before his jury trial was to begin in Whitby, faces a minimum of four years in prison. Jim Flaherty Roger Anderson ‘Durham Region Tr ansit is behind our neighbouring regions.’ ‘Minister Flaherty isn’t going to give you money just because you ask for it.’ ✦ See Feds, Page A2 ✦ See Sentencing, Page A2 Spring Fever! Stay Your Way with more than 25 hotels to choose from… We’ve Got You Covered! Plan a short escape to visit family or friends; tour fun attractions with the kids; experience a change of pace! Book a Spring Fever package & Stay Your Way by adding: breakfast for 2 OR 2,000 bonus reward points. For reservations, call the hotel directly, visit their website or contact your travel agent. For additional information on participating hotels, special offers and for on-line reservations, visit www.gotucovered.ca Nova Scotia Rates From: Holiday Inn Harbourview Dartmouth $124 902-463-1100 Holiday Inn Select Halifax Center $129 902-423-1161 Québec Holiday Inn Select Montréal Centre-ville $144 514-878-9888 Radisson Hotel Laval $132 450-682-9000 Ontario Holiday Inn Barrie Hotel & Conference Center $135 705-728-6191 Hilton Garden Inn Burlington $145 905-631-7000 Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel & Conference Center $135 905-639-4443 Homewood Suites Burlington $149 905-631-8300 Holiday Inn Guelph $139 519-836-0231 Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront $141 613-549-8400 Radisson Hotel Kitchener $125 519-894-9500 Delta London Armouries $139 519-679-6111 Radisson Hotel & Suites London $119 519-668-7900 Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Markham $120 905-474-0444 Holiday Inn Select Oakville @ Bronte $139 905-847-1000 Holiday Inn Oshawa $129 905-576-5101 Holiday Inn Select Hotel & Suites Ottawa Kanata $149 613-271-3057 */**Les Suites Hotel, Ottawa $142 613-232-2000 Holiday Inn Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront $119 705-949-0611 Holiday Inn On King - Toronto $169 416-599-4000 Holiday Inn Toronto West $129 905-890-5700 Holiday Inn Toronto Airport East $139 416-240-7511 Radisson Suite Hotel Toronto Airport $139 416-242-7400 Manitoba Hilton Suites Winnipeg Airport $135 204-783-1700 Alberta Holiday Inn Macleod Trail Calgary $119 403-287-2700 British Columbia Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa $387 604-932-1982 * Continental breakfast option only ** Bonus point option n/a *This offer is time limited. Not applicable to groups and tournaments and not available with any other discounts or offers. Applicable from Feb 18 – April 8, 2007 and subject to availability. Blackout dates may apply. Rates shown may fluctuate, based on availability. Hilton properties are offering a $20.00 Food & Beverage credit per occupied room per night (in lieu of breakfast option) which may be used during any meal period. Breakfast option is defined by full hot breakfast for 2 persons or continental breakfast for 2 persons (where indicated *). Bonus point option is not available where indicated**.Hotels listed in the advertisement are managed by Westmont Hospitality Group. The information contained herein is provided “as is” based on information from individual hotels and is made without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied. The accuracy, currency or completeness of the information, including, without limitation, any information relating to prices or availability, rests solely with the individual hotels. All rights reserved. Copyrights © 2007 Westmont Hospitality Group. With more than 150 hotels from the most respected brand names, Westmont is Canada’s largest fully integrated hospitality company. Westmont Hospitality Group 5090 Explorer Drive, 7th floor, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4T9 Tel: 905-629-3400 Fax: 905-624-7805 healthycanadians.ca 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) Physical activity. It’s for life! When you start them off with a healthy, active lifestyle, kids have more energy and self-confidence to pursue their goals for the future. Contact us today to get a Physical Activity Guide, to learn about the benefits of physical activity and sport participation, and how the new Children’s Fitness Tax Credit can help you keep your child moving. 3TeZgV\ZUdRcV f_de`aaRS]V For information on the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, call 1 800 959-8281. √ At Fault Accidents √ Tickets √ No Prior Insurance √ License Suspensions Insurance Problems? Getting No Respect or Response? Call MANDY(ext. 117)or LAURA(ext. 120) Registered Insurance Brokers WIN 2 LEAFS TICKETS Call us for a no obligation quote to be entered in the draw 905 427-9973 or 416 281-6880 Brown Pineo Insurance and Financial Brokers Ltd. PAGE A2 ◆ NEWS A DVERTISER ◆ March 14, 2007P dollars are spent effectively. “The government is not a banking machine that you can push a couple of buttons and $50 million comes out,” Mr. Flaherty said. The application is still being re- viewed by Transport Canada. Although Mr. Flaherty said he will advocate for transit dollars for Durham there is no immediate funding on the horizon. Nicole McNeely, a spokeswoman with Transport Canada, explained a timeline for the review is subjective because it depends on how long the review steps take. There are a number of steps and she said it could take some time. “But, we do look forward to work- ing with them to help them refine so they can better prepare for future tran- sit needs and develop future transit plans,” she said. Regional chairman Roger Anderson said Durham is ready to make strides in its transit system and is making the necessary plans for it in the 2007 bud- get. “We will make the necessary com- mitments if transit dollars flow this year to start implementing transit plans if possible,” Mr. Anderson said. “I would like to see it announced as soon as possible but, I understand they want to ensure it meets all their requirements,” he said. “Minister Fla- herty isn’t going to give money just because you ask for it. They want to make sure what we say we will do, we can do and will do.” He added that he hopes the Prov- ince plans for it as well in its budget. Transit aside, Mr. Flaherty said what the Region is ready for is for work to be completed on Hwy. 407 and Hwy. 7 and that positive assurance came out of the March 6 announcement. “What we have for Durham now is a firm commitment for highway con- struction and the Province is going to spend more than a billion dollars doing that,” he said. “It is a good thing for Durham.” Hwy. 407 will be extended eastwards by 67 kilometres from Brock Road in Pickering to Hwy. 35/115 in Claring- ton, and Hwy. 7 is being widened from Brock Road to Hwy. 12 to alleviate traf- fic congestion. He said he is sure the residents of Brooklin, north Oshawa and Claring- ton will be happy to know that the completion of Hwy. 407 is going to be expedited. Highways are a provincial respon- sibility, but Mr. Flaherty said the fed- eral government was able to push the Province to get this work done on the highways. “My position with the Province is we will put money into transit but you have to put money into highways,” he said. “If they want funding for transit then they better fund the highways.” Reading from an agreed statement of facts, Crown counsel George Hen- dry told the judge Mr. Harris, then 18, was a passenger in a car driven by his friend Stephen Miller on Alwin Circle on the evening of April 11, 2005, when they encountered Derek Rogers. Mr. Rogers, who lived in the neighbour- hood, was on his way to a convenience store when he saw a vehicle being driven by an acquaintance stop briefly beside Mr. Miller’s Honda, Mr. Hendry said. Unbeknownst to Mr. Rogers, the friend had been involved in an alterca- tion with Mr. Harris sometime earlier and when they met on Alwin that eve- ning Mr. Harris had flashed a handgun at the friend, the prosecutor said. Mr. Rogers pulled alongside Mr. Miller’s vehicle as his friend pulled away and asked, “What’s up?”, Mr. Hendry said. “After that very brief exchange, Mr. Harris pulled out a handgun,” Mr. Hen- dry said. Mr. Harris fired a single shot that penetrated the driver’s side door of Mr. Rogers’s vehicle. Mr. Rogers followed Mr. Miller’s vehicle and memorized the licence plate number, which he relayed to Durham police. About half an hour after the 6 p.m. incident Durham police stopped Mr. Miller, who by then was alone in his car. A search of the vehicle led police to seize a knapsack that contained a report card from Pine Ridge Secondary School with Mr. Harris’s name on it, Mr. Hendry said. Later in the evening Mr. Rogers got a call from a woman who told him the man who’d shot at him was named Shamal, and that he was a student at Pine Ridge. Mr. Rogers got hold of a school yearbook and found a picture of Mr. Harris inside, Mr. Hendry said. Also entering a plea Tuesday morn- ing was Mr. Miller, who was busted for carrying a Canadian citizenship card with a false name. Mr. Hendry said the young man used the ID to gain entry to bars. Justice Sosna gave Mr. Miller a sus- pended sentence and three years pro- bation, and also admonished him for using the document in such a frivolous manner. “That piece of identification, unfor- tunately, people have died for,” the judge said. “It’s a privilege you were abusing.” Mr. Harris returns to court for sen- tencing April 24. AJ Groen/ News Advertiser photo Enjoying the sun and cool winds PICKERING — Despite the cool wind coming off the lake, Horst and Hanni Kuether enjoyed the sunshine at Millenium Park on the weekend. Feds take care of transit while Province handles highways ✦ Sentencing from page A1 Sentencing set for April 24 ✦ Feds from page A1 Just one more way to get your news thanks to the PICKERING NEWS A DVERTISER newsdurhamregion.com Sales of phoney films ‘rampant’: Crown By Jeff Mitchell jmitchell@durhamregion.com DURHAM — A former im- migration lawyer has been sen- tenced to a term of house arrest and ordered to forfeit more than 2,000 counterfeit DVDs seized from a booth he operated at the Pickering flea market. Gerald Kearney, 47, pleaded guilty to a single count of fraud over $5,000 before Superior Court Justice Alex Sosna last week and was sentenced Fri- day. He was given a nine-month conditional sentence to be served in the community, the first six months of which will be under house arrest. Mr. Kearney will serve 18 months of probation and 200 hours of community service and will forfeit the 2,131 DVDs seized by Durham police when they raided his booth at the flea market in October 2004. Mr. Kearney, who has been suspended by the Law Society of Upper Canada, apologized for his behaviour before being sentenced. “I accept full responsibility,” he told Justice Sosna. “I can’t see me getting into trouble again.” The judge heard Mr. Kearney operated his booth at the flea market for several months in 2004, offering Asian-produced pirated versions of popular Hollywood films for $9.99. Titles offered for sale in- cluded a number of films, such as Shrek 2, that were running in theatres at the time or had not been officially released on DVD, said prosecutor Mitchell Flagg. “This was not a lemonade stand,” Mr. Flagg said. “He was running an organized, ongoing store within the confines of the flea market. “He was selling unauthorized DVDs that were known to him to be unauthorized for months.” The judge heard that Durham police, acting on a tip from the public, visited Mr. Kearney’s stall at the flea market Oct. 2, 2004, accompanied by Jim Sweeney, an investigator with the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association. Te stifying in a voire dire prior to what was scheduled to be a jury trial for Mr. Kearney, Mr. Sweeney said he immediately identified DVDs being offered for sale as counterfeits. Mr. Kearney abandoned plans to challenge the charge at trial and pleaded guilty after that hearing. During sentencing Mr. Flagg called video piracy a pervasive and costly crime. “The effects of pirated DVDs are substantial in the market- place,” the Crown said. “It is rampant. It is wide- spread.” The sentencing came just a week after Durham police seized more than 750 coun- terfeit DVDs from two Oshawa convenience stores owned by an Ajax couple. That case has yet to go to trial. Event Ac tivities Monday, March 12th ‘til Saturday, April 7th Kids Flicks Watch cool movies at Centre Court! 10:30am, 12:30pm & 2:30pm Mastermind Toys Craft Day Create your own sculptures with soft, squishy modeling material! Centre Court 10:30am, 12:30pm & 2:30pm Have your photo taken with the Easter Bunny. Lower Level, near The Body Shop. See website for hours. Visit the Easter Bunny pickeringtowncentre.com Come sing your heart out… everyone’s a winner! Centre Court 11:00am – 3:00pm Sing for Your Dinner Karaoke March Break Food Drive Make a non-perishable food donation (no glass, please) this March Break at Pickering Town Centre and make a difference in your community. Please give generously to those in need. Did you know that 40% of food bank users are children? Max & Ruby™ and © Rosemary Wells. NELVANA™ Nelvana Limited. CORUS™ Corus Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. “CAREER OPPORTUNITY” RESUME TO WHITBY STORE 1550 VICTORIA ST. E., WHITBY 905-665-8581 OR FAX TO 905-665-5949 2 Full-Time Cashiers-Whitby #22 Store Mission Statement: Through innovation, Royal Service, communication and a positive team environment, we will pro- mote a culture where team members are challenged. We are looking for innovative, energetic, and enthusiastic indi- viduals who have the initiative and ability to grow with us. Qualifi cations: • A passion for providing Royal Service to our Customers • Enthusiasm • Initiative • Loves being a part of a team • Ability to work weekdays, evenings and weekends Duties Include: • Operating cash register • Process accounts • Paperwork and fi lling • Maintenance of till areas • Helping our customers with purchases and produce returns • Merchandising of product WHITBY STORE ONLY! Carrier of The Week If you did not receive your News Advertiser/flyers OR you are interested in a paper route call Circulation at (905) 683-5117. Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 7:30 Sat. 9 - 4:30, Sun. 10 - 1 Remember, all inserts, including those on glossy paper, can be recycled with the rest of your newspaper through your blue box Recycling program. For information on delivering your advertising flyers, call DUNCAN FLETCHER at 683-5110. IN TODAY ’S News Ad vertiser ADVERTISING FLYERS * Delivered to selected households only We dnesday March 14 , 2007 News Advertiser * City of Pickering Pick. * Classico Pizza Ajax * Formula Ford Ajax/Pick. * Giant Tiger Ajax * Home Depot Ajax/Pick. * Home Outfitters Ajax/Pick. * Marh’s Work Ajax/Pick. * M illwork Building Ajax/Pick. * National Sports Ajax/Pick. * Panago Pizza Pick. * R eal Estate Ajax/Pick. * Sport Mart Ajax/Pick. * Square Boy Pick. * Staples Business Ajax/Pick. * Unique Salon & Spa Pick. * Wheels Ajax/Pick. Chris Today’s carrier of the week is Chris. He enjoys hockey & guitar. He will receive a dinner, pizza and movie voucher compliments of McDonald’s, Boston Pizza and Cineplex Odeon. Congratulations Chris for being our Carrier of the Week. Ajax 10 Cinemas 248 Kingston Rd. East Ajax and Pickering locations Your Carrier will be around to collect an optional delivery charge of $ 6.00 between Feb. 28 - Mar. 4, 2007 NATIONALNATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEKVOLUNTEER WEEK APRIL 15 - 21, 2007APRIL 15 - 21, 2007 Is your organization assisted by volunteers? Show you appreciate your hardworking volunteers! On Wednesday April 11, 2007, The Ajax Pickering News Advertiser is printing a special feature for volunteers. To involve your organization contact Michael Briggs at 905-683-5110 ext. 238 Email: mbriggs@durhamregion.com WE’VE GOT YOUR SIZE Sizes 4-15 Widths AA-EEE PICKERING TOWN CENTRE • UPPER LEVEL • SEARS WING IT’S SALE TIMEIT’S SALE TIME Removable insole for orthotics Cool and Light Treat your feet to an incomparable feeling of freedom and freshness. PAGE A3 ◆ NEWS ADVERTISER ◆ March 14, 2007 A/P House arrest for lawyer caught selling pirated DVDs in Pickering SUDOKU Now online at 48 1 7 8 6 7 3 576 1 86 9 5 6 7 687 3 91 4 19 24 durhamregion.com 48 1 7 8 6 7 3 576 1 86 9 5 6 7 687 3 91 4 19 24 Pickering man, 107, receives Chinese head-tax compensation By Kristen Calis kcalis@durhamregion.com PICKERING — March 10 was not only special for Pickering resident Ralph Lung Kee Lee because he turned 107; he also received a $20,000 cheque. The cheque was a result of the head tax compensation that came after the federal government announced it would apologize to and compensate the Chinese immigrants who were re- quired to pay a head tax until it was abolished in 1923. Mr. Lee, who moved to Canada at the age of 12, was one of them, and he is now the longest-living head-tax contribu- tor. At the time, he had to pay $500, which was the equivalent of two years’ salary. The News Advertiser wrote a story on Mr. Lee’s trip to Ottawa to hear the Prime Minister’s official apology last June. Now, at 107, Mr. Lee finally re- ceived his cheque at his birthday party, which was presented by Oshawa MP Colin Carrie. While it was meant as a day of cel- ebration, Mr. Lee’s granddaughter, Landy Anderson, said she felt mixed emotions. “For every positive emotion, I have a reciprocal negative emotion,” she said. “Here we are celebrating because he’s alive and his apology is complete be- fore he passes. But I can’t help but think of the other 81,000 head-tax pay- ers.” Ms. Anderson said her grand- father originally wanted to return to China to visit his deceased son’s grave, but “now at 107, what can he do with the money, really? “How do you replace that time?” she said. “You can’t put a price tag on the separation of men from their families.” But Ms. Anderson said although Mr. Lee was not feeling well last week, “he perked up for the party on Saturday.” She does feel proud the government recognized that her grandfather par- ticipated in a strong part of Canada’s history. From 1917 onward, Mr. Lee worked on the Canadian Pacific rail- way, which she said “contributed to Canada’s strong economy and made it the country it is today.” The abolishment of the head tax was announced on July 1, 1923, but most Chinese immigrants were banned from Canada until 1947 due to the Ex- clusion Act, Ms. Anderson explained. As a result, she said many Chinese Canadians could only look at July 1 as “Humiliation Day.” She was happy that the day in 2006 was finally celebrated as Canada Day in the community after the government apologized. And, she was happy her children could see her grandfather’s achieve- ments and said “they’re pretty happy and proud.” Ms. Anderson said normally speech- es come before the actual cheque pre- sentation in ceremonies like the one for Mr. Lee on Saturday. But, her chil- dren insisted their great-grandfather receive his cheque first, “since he’s been waiting 95 years.” And he did. pickeringtowncentre.com VISIT THE EASTER BUNNY Mo nday, March 12th ‘til Saturday, Apr il 7th Lower level, near The Body Shop Easter Bunny Hours Monday to Friday 10:30am to 2:30pm 3:30pm to 8:00pm Saturday 10:00am to 1:00pm 2:00pm to 6:00pm Sunday 11:00am to 2:00pm 3:00pm to 6:00pm FREE! Kids Easter Activity Sheet with every visit! THE RESPECT I DESERVE “The personal contact I have with the staff is warm and genuine. I always feel like they’re glad to see me.”1645 Pickering Parkway, Pickering, ON Call 905-426-6603 www.chartwellreit.ca parkway Retirement Residence The people you encounter will ensure your dignity in every aspect of daily life. JOIN US FOR ANOPENHOUSE Saturday, March 17th • 2:00pm - 4:00pm Enjoy delicious refreshments and a personal tour! Buy 1 Passport and receive another Passport for 50% off. Buy 2 Passport and receive another Passport for free. PASSPORTS CURRENTLY ON SALE: •Dairy Queen • Salon Chic • Pennello Bistro/22 Church Street • Al Dente • Denny’s Call or check website for complete details The News Advertiser has acquired terrifi c deals from leading local merchants offering discounts at between 10 and 20 times the original value. We package them in a unique format we call the Passport to Savings. A limited number of Passports are produced for one merchant every three weeks. They are available while supply lasts. 1.www.passporttosavings.ca 2. Call 905-426-4676 ext 222 3.In person/or mail to: 130 Commercial Avenue, Ajax ON L1S 2H5 c/o Durham Passport to Savings 3 EASY WAYS TO BUY Proud Sponsor $19.99 + TAX Italian Cuisine One Passport. Tw o Great Restaurants! $19 .99 4!8 1SPV E4Q P OTPS $19.99 4!8 1S PV E4Q POT PS $19.99 4!8 1SPVE4Q POTPS $24.99 + TAX Proud Sponsor Salon & Day Spa LIMITED TIME OFFER PAGE A4 ◆ NEWS ADVERTISER ◆ March 14, 2007A/P ‘Bittersweet’ birthday celebration March Break fun at Maple Syr up Festival DURHAM — This March break, the Central Lake Ontario Conserva- tion will be hosting the 3rd Annual Food Drive/ Maple Syrup Lollypop Exchange at the Maple Syrup Festival at Purple Woods Conservation Area. The annual family festival features horse-drawn wagon rides, historical displays, face painting, a colouring contest and, of course, maple syrup. As in past years, the public is asked to support the community by bring- ing a non-perishable food item to donate at the admission gate from March 14-16. In return, donors will receive a voucher for a free maple syrup lol- lypop (one per family member) at the Sugar Store. The Maple Syrup Festival runs daily during March break and the weekends of March 24-25 and March 31-April 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children under 12 and seniors and $5 for a family. General admission does not include pancakes or horse-drawn wagon rides. No pets permitted at the festival. Purple Woods Conservation Area is located on the southeast corner of Coates Road and Simcoe Street at the Oshawa/Scugog boundary. For more information Maple Syrup Festival information call 905-579- 0411 or visit www.cloca.com. AJ Groen / News Advertiser photo Ralph Kung Kee Lee celebrated his 107th birthday on Saturday at the Village Retirement Centre. Mr. Kung Kee Lee was a railway maintenance worker beginning in 1912. On Saturday, the Canadian government gave him $20,000 as redress for the head tax put on Chinese workers from 1895 until 1923. For more on this story PICKERING — It’s walking and window shopping for a good cause. Girls Incorporated of Durham is hosting a Mall Crawl Walk-A-Thon at the Pickering Town Centre, with walk- ers raising money for Girls Incorpo- rated, Sunrise Youth Group, Helping Hands and the Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre. Reg- istered ‘crawlers’ receive a warm up from Taoist Tai Chi Society of Whitby and free East Side Mario’s pizza after the walk. The event is on Sunday, April 1 at 8 a.m., with registrants meeting at the East Side Mario’s restaurant en- trance. Contact Girls Inc. for more informa- tion at 905-428-8111. Call 1-800-905-0270 www.russellhockey.ca Year Round Game of the Week 30+ Recreational Hockey League Average & Lower Level Players Register Now For Spring/Summer Season Limited Space Oshawa, Pickering, Brampton, Milton, Mississauga, Windsor, Guelph, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Bradford, Orangeville, The Beaches GOALIE & REFEREES Inquiries Welcome A social relaxed, fun recreational atmosphere Paid for by the Government of Ontario Call 1-866-351-5655 or visit ontario.ca/consumerprotection KNOW YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS CONTACT ONTARIO’S CONSUMER HOTLINE THOUSANDS OF NEW BOOKS GREAT KIDS TITLES, COOKING, HEALTH & MORE!! 570 Kingston Rd. Pickering Across from National Sports in Old Payless Drugs Bldg. West of Whites Rd. 1/2 PRICE OR LESS LTD. To Register Call 905-434-2010 www.welcomewagon.ca WELCOME WAGON BRIDAL SHOWCASE Showcase feature: www.bridalshowcase.ca Industry Experts with advice & information • Display • Demos • Door Prizes • Fashion Shows • Gift Bags & More Sunday April 1, 2007 Carruthers Creek Golf Club Doors Open at 1 p.m. PRESENTATION CENTRE NOW OPEN! www.chartwellreit.ca Presentation Centre 1525 Pickering Parkway Pickering, ON Call 905-420-3369 THE RETIREMENT OPTION OF CHOICE Retirement Living Just Got Better We’re very pleased to announce that Pickering seniors will soon have a new option in retirement living. The thoughtfully designed suites, amenity spaces and services of Chartwell Select Pickering City Centre are created to match your lifestyle, now and in the future, in a setting you would be proud to call home. Our presentation centre is now open!Be among the very first to select the premium suite that’s just right for you.Call today to book your personal appointment. PAGE A5 ◆ NEWS ADVERTISER ◆ March 14, 2007 A/P Photo by Rob Mitchell Waiting for a clear sheet of ice AJAX — Christian and Mercedes Cheung anxiously wait for the Zamboni to finish clearing the ice. They spent the first day of March Break, not soaking up the mild temperatures, but on the ice at the Pickering Town Centre’s free skate. 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