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Home My WebLink AboutNA2009_06_17Pickering Town Centre (Upper Sears Wing) (905) 420-0744 Taunton and Harmony Plaza Oshawa (905) 438-0744 THE ROCKET MOBILE INTERNET STICK TAKE THE INTERNET WITH YOU! FREE with sign-upTM On 2 Year Activation with minimum $25.00 Monthly Service Fee * ™ Trademark of Rogers Communications Inc., used under license. © 2008 Rogers Wireless. *See in store for details. See in store for details moc.adnohgnirekcip.www 575 KINGSTON RD 905-831-5400 MULTIPOINT Factory-trained Honda technicians will perform an oil change, tire rotation, inspect your battery, brakes, tires, all fl uid levels, suspension components, lights, wiper blades and much more. NSPECTIONIWITH OIL CHANGE $74 88 With Coupon We will perform a complimentary Pre-alignment check with every service. Pressrun 51,400 • 60 pages • Optional 3-week delivery $6/$1 newsstand PICKERING Wednesday, June 17, 2009 NNews ews AAddveverr titisseerrTHE Special ‘K’ delivery Bundle of three delivered by ‘tired’ Pickering mom at Ajax-Pickering hospital BY KRISTEN CALIS kcalis@durhamregion.com AJAX -- Her first pregnancy resulted in one baby. The second brought twins. And the third was the most exciting of all, with triplets setting abuzz the birthing unit at Ajax-Pickering hospital. Two daughters and a son are the latest additions to the family for Kaydene Bromfield and her hus- band, Reggie. At 5:20 a.m. Thursday, June 11, Kalisha entered the world, followed by Kahleo and Keyarra, all three of them one minute apart. “I’m tired, but it comes along with it,” Ms. Brom- field said the next day in an interview from her hos- pital bed. “I’m good though.” The Pickering resident didn’t plan to give birth at Rouge Valley Health System’s Ajax and Pickering hospital since triplets aren’t normally delivered there, but the three were in such a hurry that she and her husband had no choice. “(The labour was) probably about three hours,” KRISTEN CALIS / METROLAND AJAX -- Kaydene Bromfield and her husband Reggie wel- comed triplets Kalisha, Kahleo and Keyarra to the family. KRISTEN CALIS / METROLAND AJAX -- The excitement in Ajax-Pickering hospital’s birthing unit was three-fold last week after Kaydene Bromfield gave birth to triplets. At 5:20 a.m. Thursday, June 11, Kalisha entered the world, followed by Kahleo and Keyarra, all three arriving one minute apart. See PICKERING page 19 COMMUNITY 2 Gardening naturally Pickering woman tends to her wildflowers NEWS 4 Playground closed City cites safety in shutting site down temporarily GALLERY 10 Dragons on the bay Check out the photos from the recent festival newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 20092 AP Orange poppies among the rare wildflowers BY KRISTEN CALIS kcalis@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- Although Barbara Rivett isn’t an artist per se, she feels like one in her garden. On 150 acres of land stretching along Old Forest Road in Pickering, the Lincoln Ave- nue Public School teacher continues to nat- uralize her garden, and this year, even more colour and wildflowers have emerged. “My dream was always to naturalize and have a small patch of grass where the chil- dren can play soccer,” she says. “I started it about four years ago. It’s evolving.” A few years ago, Ms. Rivett was thrilled to find orange poppies emerging, some- thing she’s never seen in other gardens in Durham. The rare flowers must have been brought to her garden by the birds that reg- ularly visit it, she says. She found enough seedlings to disperse across the 150-by-six- feet stretch, and this year, it’s quite remark- able. “To me it reminds me of a Monet where the paintbrush goes right across the gar- den,” she says, referring to the work of French impressionist painter Claude Monet, who often painted landscapes. The poppies aren’t the only gift the gar- den’s visitors have brought her. “I have other plants squirrels and birds have brought me as well,” she says, such as wild Forget-me-nots. Ms. Rivett attributes the rabbits, butter- flies, birds and squirrels that stop in her garden to keeping her garden natural. She stopped using pesticides and herbicides far before the provincial ban went into effect. Also, she used to cut the grass with a gas-powered lawn mower where the gar- den now sits, which would take about three hours until she decided to install a garden instead. “Now I have a push lawn mower,” she says, which she only uses on the small area she keeps manicured for her grandchildren to play on, and that job only takes about 20 minutes. This form of gardening has made the work a lot less intensive in other ways as well. “Because it’s so tight with the wildflowers and the perennials, it doesn’t take much care,” she says, adding wildflowers don’t require watering either. Because it’s good for the environment, invites wildlife, requires little work and looks beautiful, Ms. Rivett thinks “wild- flower gardening is the way to go.” Gardening, naturally, a Pickering woman’s delight PICKERING -- Barbara Rivett looked over her wildflower garden on Old Forest Road recently. The garden stretches over 150 feet and is made up of orange poppies and purple and white phlox. The natural, colourful flowers remind Ms. Rivett of the work of French impressionist painter Claude Monet. RON PIETRONIRO / METROLAND My dream was always to naturalize and have a small patch of grass where the children can play soccer. Barbara Rivett $$ .+ ! $ " " " !$ $ #! " ! " $$" ! #! !$ $! )-#&!',',(#% 3!! #%5! ! 5 %! # $ ! 0! (2"! !! $ " )! #3 #" #! * %# ! #! ##%# " ! # $#"" ! #! "#$ $ $ ! $! 63*!- "%#"# ## !! $%8 5! / % .%&+4%' 63" ! #$ !! 3"! !! ! %8$ / % $!$ $%" ,# $ 0$% / # * #$ $!# ! ! $( / " # ! "$6-- 3-%"$ $$%8 / ! # 7 # ! ! " % $ ,!% !### !61 $! $! %!5!$% # % " #!! " ! * + +"$/ $ +$/+/ " "* * +* *+ " + / +" :fd\Z_\ZbflkfliE<Nn\Yj`k\[li_XdgXi\ek%Zfd N_\i\GXi\ekj :fee\Zk newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 20093 AP More than 80 line up to speak BY KEITH GILLIGAN kgilligan@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- What’s expected to be an all-day meet- ing on whether to build an incinerator got off to a somewhat surprising start Tuesday. Within seconds of the Durham Regional Council’s committee-of-the-whole meeting starting, Clarington Councillor Charlie Trim asked that the lengthy list of delegations to be changed so the company selected to build the facility be moved to the end of the speak- ers. There are 85 listed delegations and Covanta Energy was to be the first speaker. However, Coun. Trim, the chairman of the Region’s works committee, said Cov- anta wanted to speak after all the other delegations had spoken so representatives could address issues raised by others. The committee will deal with a recommendation on whether to build the incinerator in Clarington. What- ever recommendation comes out of the meeting will be dealt with by Regional Council next Wednesday. Durham is proposing to build an energy-from- waste facility on Osbourne Road in Clarington. The first phase would burn up to 140,000 tonnes annually. The final phase, if needed, would be able to burn up to 400,000 tonnes. Kerry Meydam, a Clarington resident opposed to an incinerator, said, “We need to be more creative, more innovative and do what’s best for Durham.” People opposed to an incinerator are often asked what alternative method should be used to handle garbage, Ms. Meydam said. “My choice is to embrace zero waste and expand the blue box and green bin programs,” she said. “Zero waste is a philosophy, it’s a goal, a standard and an approach to reach that standard.” Dr. Aubrey Kassirer, a Clarington physician, said over the next 25 years, science will be discovering harmful emissions coming from incinerators. “Things we can only measure in 25 years we don’t know about now. Things will change that we will regret from a medical standpoint,” Dr. Kassirer stat- ed. Pat Irwin Lycett said, “We have the means to move toward zero waste, which is the best method. “It is my considered opinion that anyone who knows how much toxins escape and get into the mouths of citizens is dreaming. We can’t keep going on with our wasteful habits. We need to change our modus ope- randi.” Early in the day, Catherine McKeever said she sup- ported incineration. “The difference between mass burn and incinera- tion is 80 years of technology.” Ms. McKeever answered “yes” when asked if she felt the technology being proposed for the Durham facility would be “sufficient to protect your health.” Check www.newsdurhamregion.com for updates on the meetings. Over 200 Stores & Services pickeringtowncentre.com Goofy Adventurous Generous Perfect!✓ My Dad is...My Dad is... Goofy Adventurous Generous Perfect! Retail value: $20.99 Product may not be exactly as shown. Pamper your perfect Dad… shop for him, shop for you, spend $75 at Pickering Town Centre and pick up a FREE*Redken Men’s Hair Care Gift Set from Trade Secrets. *Spend $75 at Pickering Town Centre (same day sales, before taxes) and receive a coupon for a fabulous Redken’s Men’s Gift Set from Trade Secrets. Receipts must be dated after Thursday, June 11, 2009. See Guest Services for full details. Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21st Tuning up for a night of music AJAX -- Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School present- ed A Night of Music at the school’s auditorium on June 2. Kyle Simpson and members of the classical guitar group rehearsed before hitting the stage. RON PIETRONIRO / METROLAND REGION Durham incineration meeting draws dozens of speakers newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 20094 AP */463"/$&'*/"/$*"- '*345%63)". Finances Changing? Your Insurance Needs Change •Free no obligation review of your insurance and fi nancial plan. • Your best interest is our fi rst priority. • We work for you... let us start today. DURHAM’S INSURANCE EXPERTS Call 905 427-5888 1920 Bayly St., Pickering Call First Durham Insurance & Financial Today To Keep Your Finances On Track 965 Dundas St. W. Unit #201 (West Lynde Plaza) 905-665-3150 WHITBYWHITBYMARKHAMMARKHAM 905-294-1001 5762 Hwy 7 Unit #203A (Upstairs of No Frills) PICKERINGPICKERING 905-831-6464 1050 Brock Rd. Unit #10 (South of 401) 416-282-0160 8130 Sheppard Ave. E. Suite 205 (In the Homelife Building) MORNINGSIDEMORNINGSIDETORONTOTORONTO 416-750-0472 777 Warden Ave. Suite 211 (South of Eglinton) ACADEMY OF DEFENSIVE DRIVING www.petersacademy.com PETER'S MTO Beginner Driver Education Course Provider • 25 hours in classroom instruction • 15 private in-car lessons on automatic • FREE pick-up at home • Courses start every week • Defensive driving instruction Learn Life Saving Skills Skid Control Evasive Maneuvers Braking Techniques • FREE progress report card • EARLIER ROAD TEST CALL NOW, SPACE IS LIMITED HOURS: 7 DAYS A WEEK, 10 AM -10 PM Group Discounts Available (for 3 or more) Mini Package Available An Installment Payment Plan For Your Convenience GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE! 4 Day Summer Courses HURRY! REGISTER TODAY! $325 plus GSTonly June 22-25 • July 13-16 & 27-30 August 10-13 & August 24-27 September 1-4 RECREATION Popular Pickering playground closed temporarily Millennium Square area has rock problems BY KRISTEN CALIS kcalis@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- Millennium Square’s playground is currently closed due to safety concerns, but it should be up and running by the end of the month, says a Pickering official. There have been no injuries, but staff has noticed the recurrence of large stones being washed up into the playground area at the foot of Liverpool Road over the past couple of years, and it’s now been closed since the beginning of May, said Richard Hol- born, Pickering’s division head of municipal proper- ty and engineering. The stones could be troublesome for kids, he said, especially when they should be landing in sand when coming down a slide, for example. Last year, the City rented a beach groomer to help with the problem, but the rocks would wash up so often that keeping on top of the situation became almost impossible. Now, the City has hired con- tractors to remove the stones, add in new sand and move the play- ground slightly within the park. “It’s going to be shifted away from the lakeshore and a little closer to the boardwalk,” Mr. Holborn said. “We’re trying to be at or higher than that high-water line,” he added. A new armour stone break-wall will also be part of the project to combat the high water level. The City projects the relocation and the new wall will cost about $70,000, which was approved in the 2009 capital budget, and is being funded through a provincial grant. The plan is to have the park open for the summer season so kids will be able to fully use it once school’s out. So the park should be in full swing by the end of June, as long as everything runs smoothly. “We’re trying to meet that target deadline,” he said. Ward 1 City Councillor Jennifer O’Connell, chair- woman of the Waterfront Committee, said it’s unfor- tunate the park is closed because a lot of kids use it, but it’s been costing the City too much time and money to maintain, so she’s glad the problem’s being solved once and for all. We’re trying to meet that target deadline. Richard Holborn MICHELLE GAUDET PHOTO PICKERING -- Beachfront Park’s playground is currently closed. A fence surrounded the play area to ensure the safety of children on June 12. The City is concerned the equipment is unsafe for children to play on due to this spring’s weather. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 20095 P We are also grateful to the following organizations for helping make this year’s dragon boat festival a success. G&G Electronics ALKAME Dragon Boat Services City of Pickering ThankYouThank You The 2009 Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge Organizing Team: Pickering Dragon Boat Club West Rouge Canoe Club Scotiabank Ontario Power Generation TABI Visa Momentum Pickering Nuclear Corporate Citizenship Program Simply Classic We would like to thank the following corporate sponsors for their generosity and support for the 2009 Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge. Photo by Andrea Rataj Wayne Arthurs, MPP Pickering-Scarborough East 300 Kingston Rd. Unit 13 • 905-509-0336 Northeast corner of Altona Rd. KINGSTON RD. HWY. 401 ROUGEMOUNTALTONAN. www.arthurs.ca E: wayne@arthurs.ca NEW OFFICE LOCATION UTSC recognized at Provincial Legislature June 3, 2009 On June 3rd, Wayne recognized the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) in the Legislature. Wayne addressed the signifi cance of the recent investment from the provincial and federal governments for UTSC’s new instructional centre. Th rough the “Knowledge Infrastructure Program”, UTSC has received $70 million to fund the development of a new Instructional Centre. Th is development will result in the single largest expansion at the UTSC since 1966 and will increase the teaching and research space at the school by 25%. It will be complete by 2011 and will have a dramatic impact on the quality of the student experience. UTSC will be recognized, not only in Toronto and Ontario, but throughout the whole of Canada and the world as one of the leading institutions of our time. MICHAEL JURYSTA PHOTO One cool jazz cat PICKERING -- Lauren Barnett, of Pickering, saxophone player for the Pickering-based group Jace P and the Big People belted out some cool tunes at the recent Pickering Village Jazz Festival. Played ‘mentor’ role with boy, he testifies BY JEFF MITCHELL jmitchell@durhamregion.com WHITBY -- He acknowledges their rela- tionship went beyond the gym, but a former Durham gymnastics coach has flatly denied he engaged in sexual activ- ity with a young student. Taking the witness stand in his own defence Tuesday, Ray Collingham testi- fied he grew close to a 10-year-old gym- nast when the child opened up about his difficult home life and his parents’ divorce. Mr. Collingham said that in addi- tion to coaching the boy, he began to accompany him on outings and once arranged for counselling when the child expressed thoughts of suicide. “I guess I was his mentor,” Mr. Colling- ham said. Under questioning by defence lawyer Graham Clark, Mr. Collingham denied a sexual relationship with the boy, whose identity is protected by a court order. “Was there anything sexual about your relationship with (the boy)?” Mr. Clark asked. “Absolutely not,” Mr. Collingham replied. Last week, the complainant, who is now 18, testified Mr. Collingham sub- jected him to abuse that began with touching and escalated to sex acts. Mr. Collingham has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation. Superior Court Justice David Salm- ers has heard allegations spanning a number of years, during which the boy and his mother were close with Mr. Collingham and his partner, at times sharing homes in Bowmanville and in Newcastle. Mr. Collingham testified that the boy’s mother asked him to spend time with the boy to get him to open up and at times left the child with him when her home life became tumultuous. The trial continues in Whitby. COURTS Former Durham coach denies sex assaults BREAKING NEWS: ALL DAY, EVERY DAY >>newsdurhamregion.com WE THINK... email responses to newsroom@durhamregion.com & A Metroland Media Group Ltd. Publication Tim Whittaker - Publisher Joanne Burghardt - Editor-in-Chief Mike Johnston - Managing Editor Duncan Fletcher - Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak - Classiﬁ ed Advertising Manager Abe Fakhourie - Distribution Manager Lillian Hook - Ofﬁ ce Manager Janice O’Neil, Cheryl Haines - Composing Managers News/Sales 905-683-5110 Fax 905-683-7363 Classiﬁ eds 905-683-0707 Distribution 905-683-5117 130 Commercial Ave., Ajax ON L1S 2H5. Publications Mail Sales Agreement Number 40052657 Member: Ontario Press Council, OCNA, CCNA, SNA. All content copyright Editorial Opinions THANKS Widow appreciates emergency responders To the editor: On April 25, my husband suffered his last heart attack. The EMS, fire services and police responded within minutes and immediately went to work trying to save my husband. I cannot say enough about their efficien- cy, caring and compassion: the EMS per- sonnel, who, explained to me, so gently, that they had done all they could but would now have to call the coroner; the firefighter who so kindly led my weeping daughter in to see her father; the young constable who patient- ly took the relevant information, phoned the funeral home and remained with us until all that was necessary was done. We so often hear of the deficiencies of the system, but we received only understanding and compas- sion. To these people and to all the others who responded to our call that fateful night, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks. Their kindness and understanding went beyond the call of duty, we will be forever grateful. Yvonne Dumont Pickering AUTO SECTOR GM employees should start paying into pension plan To the editor: Maybe GM employees should start pay- ing into a pension plan like Hydro. My hus- band worked for Hydro and their union had to fight for years to keep their contributions and the employees’ money in the fund. Kathleen Zwaigenbaum Ajax SCHOOL WORK Putdown of educational assistants not necessary To the editor: Re: Best employees needed for special needs children, Sylvia Tompkins letter, June 1. I am an EA 1 with the Durham District School Board and I have been for 25 years. All EAs in the Durham board, whether 1 or 2, upgrade their education regularly through courses and workshops. Most EA 1s also set up and implement programs for the students they work with. Actual- ly, most EA 1s are qualified to do an EA 2s job, through upgrading and experi- ence, but we choose to be EA 1s as we are happy and enjoy the positions we hold. I am also the parent of an autistic child who is in a Grade 6 class with support from an EA 1. I could not ask for a better person to be guiding my child through his education. I am totally confident that he is getting the best possible assistance he can get. I am very disappointed that Ms. Tompkins would put down the abili- ties of the EA 1s and make us appear to be inadequate when we are as capable as EA 2s to perform these duties. Cheryl Cooper Courtice Both types of educational assistants needed To the editor: Re: Best employees needed for special needs children, Sylvia Tompkins letter, June 4. I cannot agree more that Educational Assistants Level II, are not only needed in classrooms, but also are the founda- tion for students, but in response, Edu- cational Assistants Level I not only have good hearts and high-school diplomas, the majority of us have a post-secondary education. We have a formal education that make us knowledgeable profession- als. Both levels of Educational Assistant are much needed in our school board. All professional educators and most parents would agree. Tanya Gordon Whitby Time to say so long to yesterday’s school testing measures The latest round of provincial Grade 10 lit- eracy tests are out and, once again, school boards that failed to make the provincial average -- such as the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board -- are expected to explain why their students didn’t quite make the grade. The provincial average was 85 per cent -- the board came in at 81 per cent. But examining test results over the past five years for both that board and the Peterbor- ough Victoria Northumberland and Claring- ton Catholic School Board, which tied the provincial average, it’s evident neither board is making much headway. The Catholic board hit 84 per cent in 2004 while the public board came in at 82 per cent. The Durham District School Board came in at 84 per cent this year, while the Durham Catholic District School Board had the high- est regional score at 87 per cent. Why the disparity in results from one board to another and from school to school? There are so many reasons and none of them has anything to do with quality of edu- cation or the teachers in the classroom. The number of students in a board who have learning disabilities and the number of Eng- lish-as-a-second-language kids are just two reasons for differences in literacy scores. Testing students in Grades 3, 6, and 9 and again in Grade 10 is a left-over from Ontario’s Mike Harris years. It was a time when boards were amalgamated and when school board budgets were ravaged. At that time, the gov- ernment insisted Ontario kids were academ- ically lagging way behind their counterparts around the world. In came a revamped cur- riculum that would assure Ontario students could compete academically with the rest of the world. Standardized testing would be proof posi- tive that the curriculum changes were work- ing. However, it’s time to ditch these tests and allow classroom teachers to assess their stu- dents’ progress as was done in the pre-Har- ris years. A new system that will still compare academic standings and allow school boards to report to parents, can surely be devel- oped. The toll this testing takes on many students is great. While some kids -- generally in the academic stream -- take it in stride, a great many more get anxious about writing a test that, in the case of the Grade 10 literacy test, will determine whether or not they graduate from high school. Some kids who aren’t comfortable in a test- ing environment even get physically ill at the thought of an all-day test. Whether parents across the province believe it or not, they have the power to end this practice. It’s time for parents to band together, march into their children’s respective school principal’s office and refuse to allow their lit- tle ones to be subjected to provincial testing. Only then will this practice be abolished. e-mail letters to newsroom@durhamregion.com / max. 200 words / please include your full first and last name, city of residence & daytime phone number / letters that do not appear in print may be published @ newsdurhamregion.com newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 20096 P WE ASKED For the past few months, we’ve been in the planning stages of a move. As a result, we’ve spent an enormous amount of time pouring through MLS, scrutiniz- ing real estate listings and, finally, going through other people’s homes. As anyone who has been through the process will tell you, it’s about as much fun as a wet toilet seat. For starters, you have to get up to speed on realtor-ese, a language more com- plex than Mandarin and very similar to Inuktitut in that, whereas the Innuit are reputed to have more than fifty words for snow, realtors have upwards of one hun- dred for fixer upper. And frankly, I don’t blame agents for getting creative. Have you seen some of the stuff they have to peddle? Norman Vincent Peale would be hard-pressed to find anything positive to say about some of these places. And of course real estate listings, as comprehensive as they are, can only tell you so much. That lit- tle piece of heaven with the immaculate gardens and spacious nine-foot ceilings sounds out of this world until you actu- ally go there and see the uranium mine across the road. The adorable side-split with the exceptional open kitchen and breath-taking view looks like just the ticket until you realize that the view is of the rendering plant and unless you like to sit on your deck wearing a Haz-Mat suit, it certainly will take your breath away. Likewise, some places look like abso- lute duds on paper, but when you get there, you can be wonderfully surprised. I can only explain this by saying that some houses just have a good vibe. And how I wish this factor could somehow be represented in the listing. It would save countless man-hours and untold disap- pointment. If you think this is too “woo-woo,” ask yourself how many times you’ve walked into a home, either while house-hunting or just visiting and, within seconds, been either delighted or completely repulsed. At some places, I’ve actually felt the vibe before even getting out of the car. And it’s got nothing to do with style or décor. It’s an energy and it’s good or bad. I can walk into a home and, complete- ly blind to the orange velour recliner, the purple vinyl wet bar and the framed Scarface posters, fall in love with it. I’ve also walked into houses so spotless and artfully adorned that they might well have fallen out of the pages of a style magazine, and yet I could never get past the creeping feeling that the huge walk- in closet was actually a portal to hell. It’s the vibe. Our house, I am happy to say, has a great vibe. And it’s not just me or us, although I certainly hope we’ve done nothing to decrease the vibe. The vibe was here before we moved in. I felt it the minute I stepped through the doorway. It was so hypnotic that I com- pletely overlooked the kid jumping up and down on the hood of the car parked next door. That kid, thankfully, is long gone, but the vibe remains, powerful and positive. A good vibe is a precious and elusive commodity. But for me, it’s everything. Some homes, after all, are like an old pair of jeans. You step into them and you immediately feel good. You feel relaxed, you feel ... at home. You can keep your lavishly manicured grounds, your mas- sive foyers and your over-sized soaker tubs. Give me the vibe every time. Durham resident Neil Crone, actor-comic-writer, saves some of his best lines for his columns. CELIA KLEMENZ / BEHIND THE LENS I have covered the Greenbank Public School Air Bands competition for a number of years an always enjoyed the student per- formances, costumes and the accompanying light show. It’s like attending a concert but all the musicians are lip-synching the words to the popular tunes. Plenty of photo opportu- nities of the students doing their rockstar- best for their peers. This year was the usual -- cute kids, dancing on the stage, entertain- ing as always until the Grade 2/3 class band hit the stage. The song was More than a Feel- ing, an old Boston tune. What caught my eye was Cole Rutledge, the lead singer. He truly made the song much more than a feeling as he belted out the tune, head thrown back and wailing into the microphone. Knowing all the words, he made the song come alive for me to capture that special moment. Some homes just have that special vibe NEIL CRONE Publishing news online is an editor’s dream -- it’s immediate, there’s unlimited space and it’s interactive. The reader becomes part of the process in online news by sending in his own news tips, suggestions and photographs. Just as impor- tant, readers are quick to point out any factu- al errors that might appear in our stories. The ‘Report typo or correction’ feature associat- ed with any article on newsdurhamregion. com sparks an immediate e-mail to an editor who will quickly take a look at the problem. Most of your e-mails are positive and help- ful, often sharing some piece of information about the story that we were unaware of. Sunday, we received a ‘correction’ report from Belinda who, in reading our online story about a new school recently approved for Bowmanville, noticed the related Google map pinpointing the location of the new school was slightly off. We double-checked with the school board, which confirmed Belinda was correct, and we adjusted the latitude in the Google descriptors: prob- lem solved. All mistakes that make their way into a news story are human error: either the reporter or editor interpreted the infor- mation incorrectly, or the source delivered incorrect information. It happens. It’s regret- table. And fixing it as soon as possible is a high priority. But occasionally the nasty fac- tor makes its way into error reporting and that’s disappointing. Saturday we posted a brief story about shots fired in Oshawa ear- lier that morning. We made a mistake and reported it happened July 13; it should have read June 13. The good news is our read- ers monitor the website closely and within an hour we had eight error reports point- ing out the mistake. Seven were very polite and helpful, clearly recognizing it as a brain cramp; the eighth got nasty. Thanks to our readers, the error was cor- rected and life went on, but I suspect Mr. Nasty, oblivious to Saturday’s sunny skies, went on to yell at the grocery clerk, the fast-food cashier and the student driver he encountered that day. Joanne Burghardt is Editor-in-Chief of Metroland Media Group’s Durham Region newspapers. We rely on our readers JOANNE BURGHARDT Should public money be spent during a recession to buy land on the Pickering waterfront? (from left) FRAN MORRISON --‘If it’s for public use and it’s public money, that’s good.’ MATT LENIX --‘Now is better time than any. As long as services are met and land costs are so low.’ MATT SINCLAIR --‘Probably not. We could use it on infrastructrure rather than land by the water.’ TONY POIRIER --‘It depends on what we have to spend. If it’s for the future, I guess it’s good.’newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 20097 P newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 20098 P newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 20099 P Direct Access 905.420.4660 TTY Access 905.420.1739 Service Disruption 1.866.278.9993 cityofpickering.com Customer Care Centre 905.683.7575 ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS AT CITY HALL June 17 Committee of Adjustment 7:00 pm June 22 Mayor’s Town Hall Meeting 7:00 pm June 23 Heritage Pickering Advisory Committee 7:00 pm June 24 Accessibility Advisory Committee 7:00 pm June 25 Library Board 6:30 pm All meetings are open to the public. For meeting details call 905.420.2222 or visit our website DATE MEETING TIME Monday, June 22 at 7:00 pm Pickering Civic Complex, Council Chambers Mayor Dave Ryan invites Ward 2 residents to attend this public forum. Discuss concerns or suggestions you may h id fh ii d hll Speak withMayor Ryan Ward 2 - Town Hall Meeting DaveDave CANADA DAY HOLIDAY OPERATING HOURS Closed Wednesday, July 1, 2009 ALL CITY FACILITIES 905.420.4666 Canada Day & Fireworks @ Kinsmen Park “Free Transit” from GO Station and OPG on Brock Road South from 12 noon to 11 pm. After-Hours/Emergency Line City of Pickering After Hours/Emergency Line 905.683.7575 If you have not received your Tax Notice, please telephone the Civic Complex at 905.420.4614 (North Pickering 905.683.2760) or Toll Free 1.866.683.2760. Our offi ce hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Questions regarding your property assessment? • Please note that property assessment is the responsibility of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) and that all assessment related inquiries should be directed to them at 1.866.296.6722. • Additional information regarding property assessment can be found on MPAC’s website: www.mpac.ca Tired of standing in line to pay your taxes? Please note that the City of Pickering off ers the following payment options and encourages you to try these convenient alternatives. You can pay your taxes: • At participating fi nancial institutions. Please allow fi ve days before the due date for your payment to reach our offi ce. Note: Your tax account is credited when payment is received at our offi ce, not the day funds are withdrawn from your bank account. • By mail. To avoid the late payment penalty fee, please ensure that your tax payment is mailed fi ve days before the due date. POST-DATED cheques are acceptable. Note: Your account is credited when payment is received at our offi ce, not the post-marked date. • The “outside” drop box during or after business hours at the City municipal building on or before the due date. • By telephone/computer banking. Your fi nancial institution may ask you for your account number – please use your roll number. Please allow fi ve days before the due date for your payment to reach our offi ce. Note: Your tax account is credited when payment is received at our offi ce, not the day funds are withdrawn from your bank account. Failure to receive a Tax Notice does not reduce your responsibility for the payment of taxes and penalty. A late payment fee of 1.25% is added to any unpaid taxes on the fi rst day of default and on the fi rst day of each month, as long as the taxes remain unpaid. The penalty and interest rates are set by City by-laws, pursuant to the Ontario Municipal Act. The City does not have the authority to waive penalty and interest charges. 2009 FINAL TAX NOTICE First Instalment of the 2009 FINAL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX BILL is due for payment June 26, 2009 Mayor Dave Ryan invites Ward 2 residents to attend this public forum. Discuss concerns or suggestions you may have in regard to some of the opportunities and challenges facing Ward 2 and our community. TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the City of Pickering intends to designate the property and buildings at the following municipal address of historical and architectural value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 0.18 Greenwood Schoolhouse 3540 Westney Road, N 1⁄2 Lot 11, Concession 5, Pickering, Ontario Reason for Designation: The Greenwood schoolhouse is probably the best preserved of the old one-room schoolhouses in Pickering. While similar in style to other buildings of its type in the province it maintains its classical proportions and fi ne workmanship combined with local variations and local materials. Restorations have been carried out sympathetically and it is a landmark for the community. Historically the schoolhouse has been associated with a number of persons of note, especially “the Chief”, John George Diefenbaker, the 13th Prime Minister of Canada. Any person may, within 30 days of the publication of this Notice send by registered mail or deliver to the City Clerk, notice of his or her objection to the proposed designation together with a statement of reasons for the objection and all relevant facts. If such a notice of objection is received, the City of Pickering will refer the matter to the Conservation Review Board for a hearing. A copy of the Historical/Architectural Designation Report CS 13-09 is available in the Clerks Division, Pickering Civic Complex, One The Esplanade, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or by calling 905.420.4611 or by email at dwilcox@cityofpickering.com DATED at the City of Pickering this 17th day of June, 2009 Debi A. Wilcox, CMO, CMM III, City Clerk, City of Pickering One The Esplanade, Pickering, ON L1V 6K7 The City of Pickering is seeking energetic, enthusiastic individuals for Aquatic Instructor and Lifeguard positions for Fall 2009 Aquatics Instructor $20.01/hour Current (within two years) Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Lifesaving Society Instructor and Bronze Cross or NLS certifi cation. Lifeguard $14.99/hr Current (within two years) NLS certifi cation. Both positions also require: Current certifi cation in Standard First Aid (current within 2 years) and Basic Rescuer CPR-C (current within 1 year). A satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Search is a condition of employment. Prior to applying, candidates are strongly encouraged to visit cityofpickering.com for further details on position requirements. Detailed resumes outlining current certifi cations should be received on or before Tuesday, June 30, 2009 by 4:30 pm. Drop off or Mail to: Human Resources Division Online: cityofpickering.com City of Pickering Email: hr@cityofpickering.com One The Esplanade Fax : 905.420.4638 Pickering, ON, L1V 6K7 Notice of Intent to Designate 3540 Westney Road, Pickering In January 2003, a Fill and Topsoil Disturbance By-law No. 6060/02 was passed by Council to control fi lling operations and land disturbance activities within the City of Pickering. Prior to doing any works within your property that alters the grade, or requires placement or removal of material that will exceed 20m3 (2 truck loads) please contact the City of Pickering Planning & Development Department at 905.420.4617 for information and/or a copy of the by-law. By-law No. 6060/02 is also available on our website at cityofpickering.com by selecting Planning & Development Department, Application Forms, Fill & Topsoil Disturbance. Building a pool this summer? A Pool Enclosure Permit may be required Municipal Operations is responsible for an exceptionally wide range of vital services that ensure a high quality of life and safety throughout Pickering. These responsibilities include the repair and maintenance of roads, curbs, sidewalks, streetlights and storm sewers. It also includes winter control operations, and the maintenance of playgrounds, parks and sports fi elds, boulevard and parkland grass cutting, the maintenance of street trees and managing the City’s municipal fl eet. The City of Pickering Fence By-law No. 425/76 was passed by Council to regulate the requirements for residential fences and Swimming Pool Enclosures in the City of Pickering. For more information please visit our website at cityofpickering.com, by selecting Planning & Development Department, Application Forms, Pool Enclosure Package or contact the City of Pickering Planning & Development Department at 905.420.4617 Municipal Operations - an integrated service We are here to Serve You For general inquiries or to report dangerous conditions, or any other operations emergency, please call our 24 hour line at 905.683.7575, toll free at 1.877.420.4666 or email: customercare@cityofpickering.com Animal License Fees Are Changing ~ July 1, 2009 Category Current Fee New Fee Unsterilized Dog/Cat $40 $50 Unsterilized Dog/Cat Microchipped* $35 $40 Sterilized Dog/Cat * $20 $20 Sterilized Dog/Cat Microchipped* $15 $15 Replacement Tag $5 $5 Reduced fee for Medical Aid Dogs* *proof required to qualify for discount go online to cityofpickering.com/animals or call 905.683.7575 Reminder .... a Fill & Topsoil permit may be required @ KINSMEN PARK WEDNESDAY, JULY 1ST THE FUN STARTS AT NOON cityofpickering.com/greatev ents EXPLOSION FREE FUN of It’s an for newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200910 AP MICHAEL JURYSTA PHOTOS PICKERING -- Clockwise from top, a group of boats vie for the lead during one of the races at the annual Dragon Boat Festival on Frenchman’s Bay in Pickering recently. The view from the shore as the dragon boats race past. Paddles pierce the water during one of the races. “Missing limbs are no barrier to racing,” says Mike Scholte of the Collingwood Side Launchers crew, which competed at the Dragon Boat Festival. Jaclyn Wong of the Victoria College Paddling Club shares a laugh while waiting for her turn in the boat. take over bay newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200911 AP “When you’re with people who have similar interests and experiences, it’s easy to make good friends.” In our caring,relaxed atmosphere,friendships develop naturally. 1645 Pickering Pkwy.,Pickering Call 905-426-6603 www.chartwellreit.ca parkway Retirement Residence THE FRIENDSHIPS I VALUE BBQ Dinner Wednesday, June 24th at 5:00pm We’re firing up the grill! Winter is finally over so no more chillin’, come on over and join us for some outdoor grillin’! Call Susan for more information! • Learn about the Petticoat Creek Watershed and how to develop a Watershed Action Plan. • Share your experiences, concerns and ideas for the future of the watershed. • Open House from 6 p.m., presentation and informal discussion beginning at 7:30 p.m. You’re Invited to an Open House and Presentation! Tuesday, June 23, 2009 • 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Petticoat Creek Watershed Action Plan Altona Rd. Community Church, 1367 Altona Rd., Pickering, ON For more information, contact Andréa Dubé-Goss, 416-661-6600 ext. 5633 or adube-goss@trca.on.ca Casey Sandy Wins All Around Title At Canadian Gymnastics Championships www.planetgymnastics.ca 905.839.7669 1755 Plummer St. Unit 8 See Casey at Planet gymnastics in Pickering tonight from 4:30 to 8:30 signing autographs and taking pictures. Sandy, who left the Canadian Team over three years ago for an athletic scholarship at Penn State University, delivered a steady performance on all six apparatus that carried him to his fi rst all around Canadian title. Sandy has one more semester to complete at Penn State before returning to Canada full time to focus on helping the men’s team qualify for the London Olympics in 2012. “One of my goals growing up was to go to the Olympics, so it defi nitely is a big motivator for me.” said Sandy. LEFT: Shawn Campbell, owner of Planet gymnastics, coached Casey in his early years, and is one of his biggest fans! JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND Taking a wild ride at the Home Week midway AJAX -- Cody, left, and Nicholas Wong got a little more than they bargained for while riding the Avalanche ride at the Home Week mid- way on June 10. AJAX -- Riverside Drive in Ajax is now closed for more than a month. The closure runs from June 10 to approximately July 22 while workers install sanitary sewers to service the Marshall Home development. During this time, only local traffic and emergency vehicles will be allowed access. The developer will coordinate construction activity with resi- dents on the street and staff at the Riverside Golf Course. For more information: CALL 905-619-2529 ext. 3256 Russ Corby, site plan coordinator CONSTRUCTION Riverside Drive in Ajax closed until late July Funding provides some increases, but decreases as well BY CRYSTAL CRIMI ccrimi@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- In nine years as a public school board trustee, Marilyn Crawford has never voted against a balanced budget -- this year she made an exception. The Durham District School Board approved its $623-million operating bud- get June 15, but without the support of Ajax Trustee Crawford, Ajax Trustee Lisa Hill and Oshawa Trustee Michael Barrett. “I just simply cannot support a budget that doesn’t support our students in their learning,” Trustee Crawford said. When she looks at the pictures of stu- dents hung up around the board room and reviews the board’s strategic plan, Durham Directives, she can’t throw her support to the budget, even though it’s balanced, she said. Textbooks and computers are among items hit in this year’s budget. Money for those areas was reduced because of $900,000 less provided in provincial grants directed toward textbooks and learning materials. The same amount was taken out for classroom computers. Special education also took a hit, with cost increases outgrowing revenue enhance- ments, according to previous staff budget reports. The budget includes cutting 39 level two education assistants and replac- ing them with lower-aid level one educa- tion assistants. At the elementary level, 40 teachers also received lay-off notices because of declin- ing enrolment. “I have difficulty with a budget that takes away numeracy and literacy coaches,” Trustee Barrett said, adding, but it can find money to satisfy “other parts of our pro- cess.” At work, he would be hung out to dry if he supported a budget that didn’t support the company’s strategic plan, Trustee Barrett said, adding his comments have nothing to do with the efforts of board staff who put together the budget under financial chal- lenges. But not all trustees felt the same, land- ing a five-to-three approval for the budget passing. Whitby Trustee John Dolstra was absent and Oshawa Trustee Kathleen Hop- per declared a conflict of interest, as she has throughout this year’s budget process. “I have an obligation to support the bud- get as presented,” Uxbridge Trustee Joe Allin said. The confusion for him surrounds the board’s ability to have flexibility with its funds, Trustee Allin said. During the next budget process, he would like the ability to better study how grants are packaged, he added. A $2.4-million temporary transfer of working funds helped balance the operat- ing budget. The budget includes salary increases allowed for through the Ministry of Edu- cation salary framework, more elementa- ry prep time, a provision for more teach- ers to reduce class sizes for grades 4-8 to an average of 24.9 students per teacher, more secondary teachers to support additional programming, more custodians, and more funds for increased utility costs. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200912 AP WE’VE GOT YOUR SIZE Sizes 4-15 Widths AA-EEE PICKERING TOWN CENTRE • UPPER LEVEL • SEARS WING TREAT YOUR FEET In Comfort and Style EDUCATION Durham public school board budget cuts pass I just simply cannot support a budget that doesn’t support our students in their learning. Ajax Trustee Marilyn Crawford newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200913 ...WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED! REGISTER NOW! ATTENTION PARENTS • Elementary students build skills in mathematics and language arts in a fun learning environment. • High school students can catch up or get ahead with our high school credit summer programs. • Get ready to start high school in September. This program is a real conﬁ dence booster. • Did you know that we offer driver education? Your teen will learn to drive safely and may qualify for up to 30% insurance discounts. 120 Centre St. S., Oshawa As school finishes... Register online today at www.dce.ca Or in person at the EA Lovell Centre, 120 Centre St. S., Oshawa Extended hours until 8:00 p.m. for in-person registration on June 17 & 23 SummerSummerSchool School 2009!2009! SECONDARY Summer school provides an opportunity to catch up or move ahead with a variety of courses. ACCELERATED Full Credit Program 2009 Thursday July 2 to Thursday July 30 (No Friday Classes, except July3) Designed for students wishing to earn a credit not previously attempted, the available courses can be viewed on-line at www.dce.ca or at your high school guidance ofﬁ ce. COOPERATIVE EDUCATION 2009 Tuesday June 30 to Wednesday August 5 Attend a full day placement and earn two credits toward your diploma. UPGRADING COURSES 2009 Semester 1: Thursday July 2 - Wednesday July 15 Semester 2: Thursday July 16 - Thursday July 30 (No Friday classes, except July 3)) Upgrading credit courses are recommended for students who, during the preceding school year, have been unsuccessful or who have not achieved satisfactory marks in one or two courses and wish to upgrade their marks. Locations: Oshawa: RS McLaughlin CVI; Pickering: Pine Ridge SS; Scugog: Port Perry HS; Whitby: Sinclair SS ELEMENTARY Language Arts and Mathematics Upgrading Thursday July 2 to Thursday July 23 (No Friday classes, except July 3) This upgrading program provides support for students currently in grades 7 and 8 who want to improve their skills in language arts and/or mathematics. Language arts sessions will run from 8:30 am to 11:15 am and mathematics sessions will run from 11:40 am to 2:30 pm. Locations: Oshawa: RS McLaughlin CVI; Pickering: Pine Ridge SS; Scugog: Port Perry HS*; Whitby: Sinclair SS *Ends July 16. GET READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL Monday, August 24 - Thursday, August 27 Open to all students entering grade 9, this program provides an introduction to high school, including a brief overview of English and mathematics curriculum, as well as study skills, time management, and steps to success. Ajax: Ajax HS; J Clarke Richardson C; Brock/Uxbridge: Brock HS, Uxbridge SS; Oshawa: Dr FJ Donevan CI, O’Neill CVI, RS McLaughlin CVI; Pickering: Dunbarton HS, Pine Ridge SS; Scugog: Cartwright HS, Port Perry HS; Whitby: Henry St HS*. *Please check website for alternate dates. DRIVER EDUCATION Learn to Drive Safely 4-Day In-class Sessions This driver education program combines in-class and in-car instruction to prepare students for the Ontario G2 driver’s test. Upon successful completion, participants receive a Ministry of Transportation approved Beginner Driver Education Student record. Only students currently enrolled in a secondary school are eligible for the program. EA Lovell Centre, Oshawa July 6 to 9 and August 24 to 27 8:30 am to 3:15 pm AP CRIME Ajax Wendy’s robbed AJAX -- Police are looking for two men who robbed Ajax Wendy’s early Fri- day morning. At roughly 1:20 a.m., two men entered the Wendy’s on Kingston Road and accosted three employees. They were forced into the office where the manager was forced to open the safe. The suspects stole cash and the manager’s personal cellphone. The employees were told to remain face down on the floor while the suspects fled the store on foot. Using the K9 unit, police tracked the suspects to an area of the parking lot, but the dogs lost the scent after that. Police believe the men entered a waiting vehicle and drove away. The first suspect is described as black in his mid-20s and approximately six foot two inches with a large build. He was wearing black clothes and a black bandana. The second suspect is black with a lighter complexion, also in his mid- 20s. He’s six feet tall with a medium build and was wearing dark clothing with a blue bandana. If you have information about the investigation: CALL 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5355 Major Crime Robbery Unit Crimestoppers: Anonymous tips can be made to Durham police at 1-800-222-8477 Five arrested in Whitby for bank fraud WHITBY — A number of Thickson Road banks were hit in a debit scam this weekend, leading to the arrest of five men. Just after 6 a.m. on June 13, Dur- ham Regional Police were called to a Thickson Road South plaza when a wit- ness reported seeing several men run between the TD and CIBC banks there. TD Bank security contacted police shortly after, saying fraudulent debit cards were being used at the plaza’s automatic teller machines. Police located four men in the Bank of Montreal parking lot at the Whitby Mall, across the road from the Thick- son Road South plaza, with a makeshift safe and two locking devices inside their vehicle. Another man was found in the kiosk of the TD Bank. All five had large sums of money on them, police report. White plastic cards and some cash were found in the garbage can at the TD ATMs. Officers seized a total of $5,980. Facing charges are Luxmanan Bal- akrishnan, age 21, of Toronto; Anton Sooriyakumar, age 23, of Scarborough; Srimaloj Srianandan, age 22, of Toron- to; Pirathees Subramaniam, age 22, of Scarborough; and Patrick John, age 22, of Scarborough. They’re jointly charged with fraud under $5,000, unlawful use of credit card data, use credit card obtained by crime, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and possession of proceeds of crime. Mr. Sooriyakumar also faces three additional counts of breach of undertaking. National pageant being held in August BY PARVANEH PESSIAN ppessian@durhamregion.com WHITBY -- Kristen Fernandes has already nabbed one crown and now she’s hoping to garner another. The 16-year-old student at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School in Whitby will be battling it out to become Miss Teen Canada Globe in a pageant taking place this summer. Kristen entered the race in January, apply- ing for the position of Miss Teen Central Ontario out of 70 applicants from the area. She was named Miss Teen Durham Region 2009 in March. “It just looked like a lot of fun and a new experience so I wanted to try it,” said Kristen, who has been busy making appearances at local events across the region including several youth dances and the mul- tiple sclerosis walk in April. Miss Canada Globe is a pageant-produc- tions company founded in 2000 to encour- age Canadian women, ages 18 to 27, to take pride in their individual beauty while sup- porting various charity causes. Kristen has been heavily involved in volun- teering since age 10 and estimates that she has already racked up double the 40 hours of community service required for all Ontario students to graduate from high school. Most of her time has been devoted to local nursing homes, as well as the Rose of Dur- ham, which offers support for young parents through programs. “I’m hoping everyone can realize that they can serve a purpose if they just put in the effort,” Kristen said. “I know that teenagers especially don’t often do as much as older people so I’m hop- ing to act as a role model, showing them how they can become more involved in charity work and make a difference in their commu- nity.” As part of her participation in the pageant, Kristen has chosen to become a spokesper- son for the Canadian Cancer Society and act as a champion of the organization with a goal to raise $500. She chose the organization after witnessing first-hand the effects of cancer on the lives of her loved ones. Her best friend Andre, 17, has battled leukemia since last year and her grandfather Larry was diagnosed with can- cer two months ago. Kristen will represent Durham Region at the Miss Teen Canada Globe 2009 competi- tion in Toronto on Aug. 9. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200914 AP The All New Kinsmen Homeweek Dance & BBQ Serving the Community’s Greatest Needs Since 1948 Saturday, June 20, 2009 6pm - 1am New Venue: The Ajax Community Centre featuring New Music: 3 Sheets 2 The Wind New Food: All-optional grilled souvlaki and sausage* (*Menu pricing inside the arena) New Price: Only a $10 cover charge Tickets available at: Ajax Community Centre McLean Community Centre www.ajaxkinsmen.com $$10.0010.00 GREAT GOLF GREAT VALUE! 650 Lakeridge Rd. S. at Bayly St. Ajax (905) 426-4653 • www.carrutherscreekgolf.ca Tournament & Dinner starting at only $29.99 $17 All You Can Play on Whistling Wind Course *some restrictions may apply Jr. Golf Full Day Camp $379 per week *all prices subject to applicable taxes FATHER’S DAY GIFT CARDS Limited Time Offer 20% Off Current Membership Rates! 2-4-1 with cart Mon - Thurs *not valid with any other offer ANNANDALE Call 905-683-3210 DON’T GIVE UP GOLF JUST HIGH PRICES DON’T GIVE UP GOLF JUST HIGH PRICES www.toronto.com/annandale TWILIGHT 1/2 OFF REGULAR PRICE AFTER 2:00 P.M. DAILY *Weekday Special 2 rounds & power cart $88.00 (tax incl.) *Weekend Special 2 rounds & power cart $105.00 (tax incl.) Recession Buster Golf/Cart Tournament & Dinner Pkgs. Weekdays: $75.82 Weekends: $82.12 (includes taxes & gratuities) Daily Rates Weekdays: $41.00 Weekends & Holidays: $46.00 (includes taxes) Weekday Membership: $395 +gst 7 Day Full Membership: $945 +gst REGIONAL NEWS Whitby girl vying to be Miss Teen Canada Globe MICHAEL JURYSTA PHOTO WHITBY -- Kristen Fernandes, 16, was selected as Miss Teen Durham Region 2009. She will represent the region at the Miss Teen Canada Globe 2009 event in August. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200915 AP JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND A Heart to Heart Walk PICKERING -- Fairport Beach Public School students, including Jayd Davis and Danielle McLeod, front, participated in the Heart to Heart Walk at the school. Students raised funds for hospital cardiac services while learning about heart health. Still time to get early-bird rate PICKERING -- A local organiza- tion is offering families in Ajax and Pickering a chance to send their kids to a high-quality but afford- able sports camp this summer. Ignition Sports Camp will offer 10 different one-week sessions between Monday, July 6 and Mon- day, Aug. 24. The camp offers a rotating sports schedule that’s intended to give kids more confidence, better self- esteem and a greater appreciation for sports as they’ll play and learn in a caring and supportive environ- ment. Each session will run Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. out of either David Farr Memorial Park (Dixie Road and Glenanna Road) or Glengrove Park (Fieldlight Bou- levard, north of Glenanna Road). The early-bird rate, which will be valid one week before the start of each session, is $25 per week per child. After that, it’s $35 per child. Registration does not include lunch; children can take their own or go home for lunch. Limited camp scholarships are available for those in economic need. Before and after care is also available for an extra $25 a week per child. For more information: CALL 905-231-3269 EMAIL ignition@thesanctuarypickering.ca VISIT www.thesanctuarypickering.ca RECREATION Affordable, fun sports camp for kids in Pickering newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200916 AP FOOD PREPARED BY INTERNATIONAL CHEF We specialize in catering for parties of 15 to 1500 people Mon. - Fri. 11:30 am to 3:00 pm • 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm Sat. - Sun. 12:00 pm to 10:00pm FINE DINE IN • TAKE-OUT • CATERING COOKS NEEDED 10 % Off Any Dinner Menu Item Limited Time Offer. Limit Of One Coupon Per Table. All Dishes Served with Choice of Rice or Naan Exquisite Indian Cuisine Licensed Under LLBO 375 KINGSTON RD PICKERING • 905-509-7539 CAFÉ SUMMER HOURS: Monday to Saturday 7 am-6 pm Sunday 8 am-5 pm GRILL HOURS : Monday to Friday 7 am-3 pm • Saturday & Sunday 8 am-3 pm Father’s DaySpecial Menuincluding ..ALL DAD’S RECEIVE A FFreeree DESSERT(with meal purchase)Steak &Steak &EggsEggs BenedictBenedict CrepesCrepesHamHamwithwith & & Brie CheeseBrie Cheese Plus many other delicious dishesPlus many other delicious dishes Rougemount Grill & Espresso Café Give Dad A Real Father’s D a y Treat! 2008 Platinum RESTAURANTMasseyMassey’’ss SERVING THE AJAX PICKERING COMMUNITY SINCE 1965 Come and See Why We’re #1 774 LIVERPOOL RD. S. PICKERING 905-839-5758 S omewhere between when Father’s Day was ﬁ rst established in June of 1910 and present day the tie has become synonymous with the holiday. One may never know just who introduced the tie into the picture. It certainly wasn’t the person credited for making Father’s Day a mainstream holiday. Sonora Dodd, of Washington, came up with the concept for a “father’s day.” She thought of the idea while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909, and realized there should be a similar day set aside to honor fathers, most especially her father, William Smart. Smart was a Civil War veteran and also a widower, who raised his six children all on his own. When Dodd became an adult, she realized how selﬂ ess her father had acted and how difﬁ cult it must have been to raise such a large family. In his honor, she held a father’s day in Spokane, Washington on June 10 -- her father’s birthday. The idea of the holiday was supported by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924. But it wasn’t until 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day, and subsequently when President Richard Nixon signed the law in 1972 that the holiday became permanent. Since then Father’s Day has been celebrated annually worldwide. And, the sale of ties spikes considerably at that time of year. After all, could there possibly be a gift There’s More to Father’s Day Than Just Ties... that ﬁ ts Dad more perfectly than a tie? The answer is a resounding yes. By now your father may have enough ties to ﬁ ll his closet. So this year, consider a gift that may be more heartfelt and unique. Here are some ideas: * Music and movies: Research Dad’s favorite musical artists or actors and put together a care package ﬁ lled with DVDs or CDs. If he’s a high- tech sort of fellow, download MP3 tunes that he can use on his iPod or similar player. Dining Out newsdurhamregion.com600 LIVERPOOL ROAD SOUTH, PICKERING • 905.422.0300 11:00 am & 1:00 pm LIVE JAZZ Featuring the Patricia Duffy Trio RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED 2 SEATINGS AVAILABLE BRUNCH ON THE BAY WITH DAD THIS FATHER’S DAY THELakeHouseLake House ENJOY CELEBRATING 15 YEARS IN PICKERING 705 Kingston Rd., 905.420.3334 | lonestartexasgrill.com JUNE 21 st !News Advertiser • June 17, 200917 AP Fine Authentic Indian Cuisine The Mount Everest BESTBEST INDIAN INDIAN RESTAURANT RESTAURANT 12 YEARS12 YEARS IN A ROW!IN A ROW!2008Diamond Ottawa By Night Journal Ottawa By Night Journal and Toronto By Night Journaland Toronto By Night Journal Five Star RatingFive Star Rating 905-686-5553 OPEN TUES - SAT For Daily Lunch Buffet OPEN SUN For Lunch & Dinner Buffet **REGULAR MENU ALSO AVAILABLE** 611 Kingston Rd. W. In Pickering Village At Church,S.W. Corner Buffet At Lunch Buffet At Lunch Daily & Sundays 5-9pmDaily & Sundays 5-9pmEat In • Take Out • Catering • Fully Licenced Balti, Handi & Mughali Dishes, Biryanis, Tandoori Chicken in Real Tandoor Clay Oven & Much More! Happy Father’s DayHappy Father’s Day * Food: It’s often been said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Play upon this notion by cooking Dad his favorite foods or treating him to a restaurant he’s wild about. * Family portrait: What Dad doesn’t like to brag about his kids? Set up a photo opportunity with a local photographer or enlist another family member to take a picture when the gang is all together. Enlarge the image and frame it for his desk, workshop, or any place Dad loves to hang out. * Detail his car: Give dad a gift certiﬁ cate to a car wash or auto spa. He’ll leave with his prized set of wheels sparkling clean. * Novelty ties: If giving a tie is a family tradition, try any number of novelty ties that might ﬁ t Dad’s personality. Or better yet, purchase a light-colored tie in a solid shade. Design a greeting or picture on your computer and print it out on iron-on transfer paper. Adhere to the tie with a warm iron and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind personalized gift. This Fathers Day newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200918 AP McifYldYf]YbWYVY[]bgUh9ldYX]U7fi]gYG\]d7YbhYfg" 42)0 7ESTNEY2D.!JAX WWWCRUISESHIPCENTERSCAAJAX 5*$0¥"FSPQMBOJTBSFHJTUFSFEUSBEFNBSLPG"FSPQMBO$BOBEB*OD 0õFSTBQQMZUPTFMFDU1SJODFTT$SVJTFTTBJMJOHTCPPLFEPO+VOF $FSUBJOSFTUSJDUJPOTBQQMZ >IB9 &$ %gU`Y85M FYWY]jYcbVcUfXWfYX]hg fYXiWYXXYdcg]hg WcidcbVcc_gUbX6cbig5Yfcd`UbA]`Yg" D`ig Ug_UVcihgdYW]U`X]gWcibhgZcfDf]bWYgg7UdhU]b·g7]fW`YAYaVYfg 8CB·H89@5M =H·GCIF 6=;;9GHG5@9C:H<9 M95F G5J9 IDHC +$ G5H 75@@BCKHCDF9!F9;=GH9F" 7ESTNEY(EIGHTS0LAZA HEADING OUT FOR THEHOLIDAYS? HEALTH-RITE PHARMACY HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR TRAVELS. FROM TOILETRIES TO VACCINATION INFORMATION WE ARE YOUR ONE-STOP FOR ALL YOUR SUMMER NEEDS 75 BAYLY ST. W., AJAXBISHOY HOLDINGS INC. (905)428-1711 Experience Cruising! CARNIVAL VICTORY Nov. 01, 29 From $1349. plus tax ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS Nov. 01, 29 From $1399. plus tax SUMMER SPECTACULAR July 6, 12, 19 Toronto – Las Vegas From $399.pp Hurry! Sale Ends Soon! 1000 EXTRA RBC BONUS POINTS! Call Today! Carlson Wagonlit Travel 905-420-6799 750 Oklahoma Drive, Pickering, ON L1W 3G9 Proudly Serving Durham for 20 Years! Special Offer To RBC Card Holders – Book & Earn W ith so much emphasis on the economy, many wonder how the cruise industry is doing. The cruise lines know how to weather the storm. They divert hurricanes all the time and this storm is no different. Cruise lines have always been masters at capacity control. A price of a particular cabin is established when inventory becomes available. Then, generally, the price increases after initial sales levels are met. However, since cruise lines are so reliant on sales to American passengers, this past year has been very different. They have pulled all the stops in marketing and Canadian travellers are some of the biggest benefactors. Many cruises are selling unseen price points, especially to more exotic locations. Luxury cruises have never been cheaper and their value is huge. With offers of free airfare, free shore excursions and/or huge shipboard credits the luxury lines are ﬁ lling their ships. Even the premium and mass market lines are offering bargains galore. If you ever thought about cruising in Europe or Alaska, this is the year. Lead in cruise prices to Alaska can be found for $60 per day for July sailings - your dinner is worth more than that. However, prices are deﬁ nitely on their way up as is evident with the steady price increase in European sailings. But with lots of inventory in the $120 per night range, it is still equivalent to two people staying in a shady hotel with no meals or entertainment. And best of all, the cruise is your means of transportation with a new city and a new experience available almost every day. Christmas and New Year’s space is still available at pricing lower than previous non- holiday sailings. Now is the time to book for March break and with cruise prices so low, now is the time to book that family cruise! You may never want to do a land vacation again. Don’t worry about your price dropping after you have deposited your cruise as cruise specialists will watch the price points and offer you the savings should that happen. So you have nothing to lose by booking early. Whether you are a seasoned cruiser or someone who has only dreamed of cruising, now is the time to capitalize on the abundance of savings available. Cruise News TRAVEL Ms. Bromfield said. Her first daughter, Yollanda, is 18, and the twin boys, Kayden and Kadelle, are now 11. “I was in shock,” she said of hearing the latest birth would be triplets. But the family is wel- coming the additions. “I’m excited to have two extra sisters and another brother,” Yol- landa said, adding it’ll be hectic -- and they will take up some of the attention -- but she plans to help her mother. The nurses were ecstatic about the newborns, taking plenty of photos and sharing the good news with the rest of the hospi- tal staff. Helen Careen, resource nurse of maternal newborn ser- vices, was stunned to get a call at about 4:55 a.m. to help with the delivery, but she quickly made her way to the hospital. “When you get a call at that time in the morning, you know it’s important,” she said, adding in the nine years she’s worked at the hospital, she hasn’t seen triplets there. The delivery went well, but, as with all deliveries, “when you hear that cry, you let out a sigh of relief.” The triplets were of healthy weights: between four and 5.7 pounds. Triplets are usually around two pounds each, said postpartum nurse Sue Scott. “Everybody’s bonding and cop- ing real well,” she said. “The babies are great actually.” Ms. Bromfield never had an idea of how many children she wanted, but admitted Kahleo, Keyarra and Kalisha are prob- ably the last she’ll have. As for running the household, on top of her job, she doesn’t have any specific plans. “We’ll just take it one day at a time,” she said. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200919 AP LOOK for great June savings in Flyer delivered to your door by Friday June 19th, 2009 Wait & Watch For Details on Total Appliance’s Saturday, June 20th Truckload Sale in your Thursday June 18th News Advertiser. www.totalappliance.ca 905-686-3200905-686-3200 Unit 36 - 1755 Pickering Parkway, Pickering PICKERING from page 1 COMMUNITY Pickering mother ‘in shock’ to have triplets after twins DURHAM -- After a distinguished career spanning more than three decades with Durham Regional Police, Deputy Chief Chuck Mercier has announced his inten- tion to retire. The deputy chief made the announcement at a recent meeting of the police services board; he plans to call it quits at the end of the year. The announcement prompted board chairman Terry Clayton to praise Deputy Chief Mercier and the accomplishments he’s accumulated over a 32-year career with the Durham police. “Chuck is a man of great integrity,” Mr. Clay- ton said. Deputy Chief Mercier began his career with Durham police in 1977 after graduating from Loyalist college in Belleville, ascending through the ranks from a general assignment cop to work in the major crime, sexual assault and homicide units. He attained the rank of inspector in 1997, leading the community policing office in north Durham, was named superintendent in 2000 and became deputy chief in 2001. Honours bestowed on Deputy Chief Mer- cier included being named Durham’s Police Officer of the Year in 1982, and becoming a member of the Order of Merit of Police Forc- es in 2008. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200920 AP * Bank of Montreal Ajax * Bouclair Ajax/Pick. * Free Topping Pizza Ajax * Golf Town Ajax/Pick. * Home Depot Ajax/Pick. * Home Hardware Ajax * Lowes Ajax * Mark’s Work Wearhouse Ajax/Pick. * Master Bedroom Pick. * Millwork Building Supplies Ajax/Pick. * Nevada Bob’s Ajax/Pick. * Party Packagers Ajax/Pick. * Real Estate Ajax/Pick. * Rona Ajax/Pick. * Sherwin Williams Ajax * Sisley Hyundai Ajax/Pick. * Sport Chek Ajax/Pick. * Sport Mart Ajax/Pick. * Wheels Ajax/Pick. Wednesday June 17, 2009 Today’s carrier of the week is Jassica. Jassica enjoys swimming and computers. Jassica has received a dinner voucher from Subway & McDonald’s. Ajax and Pickering Locations 255 Salem Rd. S. D#1 42 Old Kingston Rd., Ajax 465 Bayly St. W. #5, Ajax Congratulations Jassica for being our Carrier of the Week. Flyers in Today’s Paper If you did not receive your News Advertiser/fl yers OR you are interested in a paper route call Circulation at 905-683-5117. Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 6:30 Sat. 9 - 1:00 Your Carrier will be around to collect an optional delivery charge of $6.00 every three weeks. Carrier of The Week Remember, all inserts, including those on glossy paper, can be recycled with the rest of your newspaper through your blue box Recycling program. SAVE TIME, SAVE MONEY View Flyers/Coupons At * Delivered to selected households only 1899 Brock Rd. #24, Pickering 300 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax 6 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax POLICING Durham Deputy Chief Chuck Mercier announces retirement newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200921 AP New bill would ban flavours, create package requirements BY JILLIAN FOLLERT jfollert@durhamregion.com OSHAWA -- Oshawa MP Dr. Colin Carrie waves a mini, cherry-flavoured cigar wrapped in bright pink plastic. “Does anyone honestly think these are being mar- keted to adults?” he asks. “No. These are being mar- keted to children. And it can’t happen anymore.” Mr. Carrie and his fellow members of the House of Commons standing committee on health and safety are making it their mission to take “kiddie cigarettes”, with candy flavours and brightly coloured packaging, off the market. Bill C-32, an Act to Amend the Tobacco Act, would prohibit tobacco manufacturers from adding fruit fla- vours and other tempting additives to little cigars, ciga- rettes and blunt wrap rolling papers, and ban those fla- vours from being depicted on tobacco packaging as pictures or graphics. The bill would also cre- ate minimum package requirements for cigarel- los, little cigars and blunt wraps, which, unlike con- ventional cigarettes, can be sold in singles or small packs of three or five. Under the new rules, they would have to be sold in packs of at least, 20, like ciga- rettes. “A 12- or 13-year-old might not be able to afford $7 or $8 or $9 for a whole pack, but they could afford to buy one or maybe five,” Mr. Carrie said. “This would make it much harder for kids to afford them.” The standing committee is inching towards approv- ing the amendments. From there, the bill would need approval from the House and the Senate, before becom- ing law. At a recent media conference, Mr. Carrie and local physician Dr. Mark Taylor, who is also vice-president of Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada, unveiled an assortment of tobacco products they believe are being marketed to children. The spread included five-packs of flavoured cigarellos with brightly coloured tips resem- bling a box of markers and small cigars and blunt wraps with flavours such as cotton candy, mint chocolate, pea- nut butter and tropical punch. Up to 400 million units of these products were sold in Canada in 2007. “People don’t start smoking as adults, POLITICS Durham MP attacks tobacco ‘being marketed to children’ they start smoking as children,” Dr. Taylor said. “It takes a very small amount of nicotine to addict a child for life.” Studies indicate if a young person reaches age 20 without smoking, the likelihood of becoming a smoker is extremely low. Dr. Taylor said this statistic, combined with the fact that many adults are quitting smoking or reaching old age, means tobac- co companies are rapidly losing market share and looking for the next wave of customers. “As a parent, I was shocked to learn about how they’re doing this marketing,” Mr. Carrie said. “If a parent was looking in a knapsack, these would look like mark- ers or crayons, they wouldn’t even know what their child was doing.” It takes a very small amount of nicotine to addict a child for life. Dr. Mark Taylor RON PIETRONIRO / METROLAND OSHAWA -- Oshawa MP Colin Carrie wants these candy-flavoured small cigars, packaged very much like markers, banned as he feels they are being marketed to children. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200922 AP More than 80 per cent of students pass the Grade 10 provincial test BY CRYSTAL CRIMI ccrimi@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- Literacy won’t be standing in the way of graduation for more than 80 per cent of Dur- ham’s Grade 10 students this year. According to school-by-school Grade 10 literacy test results released by the Education Quality Accountability Office June 10, the Durham District School Board had 84 per cent of its fully-participat- ing students succeed, matching the year before. The Durham Catholic District School Board had 87 per cent pass, up slightly from 85 per cent reported in March 2008. Of the public schools, Cartwright High School in Blackstock had 100 per cent of its students pass the test, followed by Whitby’s Sin- clair Secondary School which saw 91 per cent succeed. Alternatively, the board’s Grove School finished with a 46-per cent success rate, and G.L. Roberts with 64 per cent. Most schools had similar results to the year before. “From the district perspective, we work with all our schools so we know they’re all at different stages,” said Luigia Ayotte, a Durham Dis- trict School Board superintendent. “For us, it’s really important to ana- lyze that data and provide the sup- ports required so they keep moving forward.” When asked specifically about G.L. Roberts results, Ms. Ayotte said it’s not about comparing schools, but at looking at individual results and making sure students are suc- cessful for graduation. Passing the test is a requirement for secondary school graduation. “I really believe it’s an unfair com- parison,” she said. “We’re working hard with all of our schools. Ulti- mately the school is the one that is going to be addressing their results and figuring out how to move them forward, but all of the schools are going to be doing that.” G.L Roberts’ programs has lots of strengths, she added. When asked about its lower literacy results, she said she hasn’t looked at the school- by-school results in detail and will be doing that, as will the schools, and coming up with recommenda- tions for improvement. At the Durham Catholic Dis- trict School Board, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic School in Whitby had the highest success rate in the board with 91 per cent, up from 83 per cent the year before. Its low- est finisher was Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School in Ajax, with 83 per cent, compared to 86 per cent the previous year. Page 6 - Today’s editorial EDUCATION Durham high schools show literacy success Grade 10 literacy test results Percentage of students who successfully completed the test. DURHAM DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD SECONDARY SCHOOL MARCH 2008 APRIL 2009 Province 84 85 Durham District School Board 84 85 Ajax 79 84 Anderson 94 87 Brock 81 79 Cartwright 95 100 Donald A. Wilson 85 90 Dr. F.J. Donevan 78 71 Dunbarton 88 83 Durham Alternative Secondary 81 76 Eastdale 81 87 GL Roberts 66 64 Grove School 57 46 Henry Street 82 87 J. Clarke Richardson 79 83 O’Neill 86 84 Oshawa Central 79 80 Pickering High School 88 85 Pine Ridge 80 75 Port Perry 85 90 RS McLaughlin 85 90 Sinclair 89 91 Uxbridge 94 90 DURHAM CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD SECONDARY SCHOOL MARCH 2008 APRIL 2009 Durham Catholic District School Board 85 87 All Saints 90 89 Archbishop Denis O’Connor 86 83 Father Leo J. Austin 83 91 Monsignor John Pereyma 83 85 Monsignor Paul Dwyer 84 86 Notre Dame 85 86 St. Mary 86 88 newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200923 AP BY STEFANIE SWINSON sswinson@durhamregion.com OSHAWA -- She stops her bike at every catch basin she sees. Kristen Pile’s job for the next eight days is to ride a specially-equipped bike around Dur- ham Region, administering larvicide treat- ments in municipally owned catch basins where mosquitoes breed. Ms. Pile and her group from GDG Environ- ment Ltd. were hired by the Durham Region Health Department as part of its ongoing West Nile Virus surveillance program. “We are taking a preventative approach against West Nile,” Laura Freeland, manager of environmental health said. The larvicide used is methoprene, an insecti- cide that acts as a growth regulator. It doesn’t kill the adult insects and it is completely nontoxic to humans if inhaled or ingested. Attached to each bike is a funnel and a tube where the methoprene is placed; then the bike’s operator pushes a trigger and the larvicide is sprayed directly into the drain. Once the catch basin is treated, a latex- based paint is used to mark the drain so area residents know that larvicide has been used. There will be three treatments throughout the summer and three different colours of paint used to mark the area. Green paint will be used for the first treatment, which begins on June 15 and lasts eight days. They’ll spray orange paint in mid-July and blue paint in mid-August. In addition to the paint marking, each catch basin will also be noted using a GPS system attached to each bike to make sure all catch basins have been treated. “The progression will be from the east of the region, Clarington, over to Pickering then north,” Ms. Freeland said. “That’s based on the larva mosquito sur- veillance results we’ve had so far. We’ve found more larva in the catch basins in the east of the region.” She said the health department will no longer be collecting dead birds this summer as part of the WNV surveillance program. “We submitted approximately 50 birds for West Nile Virus testing and we had a total of nine positive West Nile Virus birds reported to us last year,” Ms. Freeland said. “We have had positive birds in Durham Region since 2001 and basically the West Nile Virus surveillance program was start- ed to establish whether or not the virus was present within a region, so after eight years it’s proven that we do have the West Nile Virus in Durham Region and it comes back year after year. Prevention is key.” WATCH the video story @ newsdurhamregion.com PREVENTING VIRUS’S SPREAD • Female mosquitoes usually lay their eggs in or around water that is stagnant or shallow. Elimi- nating potential breeding sites is the best way to reduce the mosquito population.• When not in use, turn over items such as wading pools, recy- cling boxes, wheelbarrows, etc. • Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. Cover if not being used. • Drain water that collects on pool covers, window boxes, flower pots, etc weekly. • Change the water weekly in bird baths, wading pools, dishes, etc. • Don’t wash grass clippings or leaves down road- side catch basins. • Clear roof gutters to prevent clogging. • Ensure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens and are in good condition. • Remind or offer to help neighbours eliminate mosquito breeding sites on their property. HEALTH Durham switches gears to combat West Nile virus STEFANIE SWINSON / METROLAND OSHAWA -- Kristin Pile, field coordinator with GDG Environment, administered a lar- vicide treatment June 12 in a catch basin on Oshawa Boulevard North to help stop the spread of West Nile virus by mosquitoes. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200924 AP One-Way Rental Special to Montreal C30’ Slide Deluxe Motorhome Latest drop off July 2nd Only $499* “Experience the Lifestyle” You’re in Owasco Country We won’t be undersold!!! GREAT SAVINGSGREAT SAVINGS ON ALL FOLD DOWN TRAILERS this weekend!this weekend! As low asAs low as $$98980000 per monthper month See them in the comfort of our indoor showroom O.A.C. *Taxes not included, kimited availability. Orchard Villa RETIREMENT RESIDENCE 1955 Valley Farm Rd. Pickering Community Lifecare Inc., Caring Since 1959 For more information or to book a tour and complimentary lunch call Bea Mueller at Orchard Villa 905-831-2641 toll free 1-866-471-9039 www.orchardvilla.ca Orchard Villa Retirement Living at its very best! Drop by anytime, we would love to show you our home! Please join us on Saturday, June 20, 2009 for our STRAWBERRY SOCIAL & OPEN HOUSE In our Victoria Courtyard at 2:00 pm Rain or Shine: If it rains we will meet in the Auditorium. Live Entertainment, Delicious Strawberry Treats, Tours, Prizes and more. JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND Walking for a better tomorrow AJAX -- Carley Avery, front right, Joan Moore, Rachel Moline and Tasia Stanois participated in Ajax High School’s Walk For A Better Tomorrow recently. The walk brought anti-racisim, eco-club and gay-straight alliance groups from the school together in support of their own reasons for a better tomorrow. Ewles to stay on DURHAM -- Durham’s top cop is going to be sticking around for some time to come. The Police Services Board announced Friday that the con- tract of Chief Mike Ewles has been extended for another two years, until May of 2014. Chief Ewles, 48, has been an officer with Durham police since 1982. He was named chief in June of 2007. The contract extension is an expression of confidence in the chief and the implementation of his vision for the service, police board chairman Terry Clayton said in a statement. POLICING Contract for Durham chief extended newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200925 AP HOW TO GET YOURS: call 905-426-4676 ext 222 or order online at www.passporttosavings.ca or drop in to the News Advertiser at 130 Commercial Avenue in Ajax. Experience 5 great restaurants on Brock St. Enjoy 10 fantastic lunch & dinner deals Offers valid until May 31, 2010 While supplies last. Base offers are buy 1, get 1 free See website for full details or call 905 426-4676 ext 222 NEWS ADVERTISER PARTNERS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BRING YOU AMAZING DEALS Get yours only $19.99 +GST A Taste Of Downtown Whitby $19.99 +TAX Proud Sp onsor A Taste Of Downto wn Whitby A Taste Of Downto wn Whitby GREAT GRILLING! AND MADE IN CANADA, EH! ONLY $799 Napoleon® Prestige l Series P450 * * FREE COVER & COOKBOOK • President’s Limited Lifetime Warranty • Patented stainless steel cooking system featuring 3 heavy duty burners and sear plates • Up to 42,000 BTU’s • Cooking area: 694 sq. in. • Electric Ignition GOURMET GRILLS Award Winning Products 905.426.4100 FATHER’S DA Y SALES EVENT On Until Jun 20, 20 0 9 WWW.TOPFIRE.CA487 WESTNEY RD., SOUTH, UNIT 13, AJAX JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND Belly dancing delights AJAX -- Erika Liswall, left, and Kendra Lee-Wade demonstrate the art of belly danc- ing at the Festival of the Arts held at the Village Community Centre recently. OSHAWA -- This week, nearly 150 golfers will tee off to help local kids go to camp. The third annual Ed Lupton Memorial Golf Tournament takes place June 18 at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club. Organizers are aiming to raise $50,000, enough to send 225 kids to YMCA summer camps through the YMCA Strong Kids Cam- paign. The sold-out event is being chaired by Sue Lupton, who brought the tournament to the YMCA as a way of honouring her father, Ed Lupton, who was known for his ability to connect with people. Since 2007, the tour- nament has raised more than $100,000. FUNDRAISER Durham golf tourney aims to send local kids to summer camp newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • June 17, 200926 AP Sports Brad Kelly Sports Editor bkelly@durhamregion.com newsdurhamregion.com RON PIETRONIRO / METROLAND Bearing down OSHAWA -- Andrew Ward, from J. Clarke Richardson, grimaced during a throw on the mound at Kinsmen Stadium as his team faced Denis O’Connor for the LOSSA Tier 11 Baseball Championship. Despite the efforts of Ward, Denis O’Connor prevailed 7-4. GYMNASTICS Canada’s top gymnast rolls into Pickering club Casey Sandy makes stop at Planet Gymnastics BY BRAD KELLY bkelly@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- It’s not often, if ever, that a club welcomes the top gymnast in the country. But that was the situation that presented itself to young mem- bers of Planet Gymnastics in Pickering last week. The best male gymnast in the country, by virtue of his winning the All Around title at the National Championships in Hamilton, was at the club to pro- vide some inspiration and show- case his talents on some of the apparatus. “I tell them to have fun and enjoy gymnastics,” says Casey Sandy, of the message he delivers when talking to young up-and- comers. “Gymnastics is an awe- some experience for them.” Sandy, 25, won the men’s national artistic title on June 4 in Hamilton, proving to be the most consistent of the gymnasts on the six apparatus, never finish- ing lower than fourth in the floor (2nd), pommels (2nd), rings (1st), vault (3rd), parallel bars (4th) and high bar (4th). His total score of 87.400 was more than four points better than second-place Ken Ikeda of British Columbia. The men’s national title follows a stellar four-year career at Penn State University, highlighted by winning the NCAA all-around title in 2008, and this year, the Brampton native was the recipi- ent of the Nissen-Emery Award, the highest honour presented in collegiate gymnastics. The award is the equivalent of earning the Heisman Trophy in football. “He is the only athlete I have ever had who has never uttered a complaint or spoke an ill word about anything we have done with our program. He has always been the consummate worker who brings out the best in those around him,” says head coach Randy Jepson in a press release on the Penn State website. While Sandy had the kids in awe with some of the things he could do while giving some demonstra- tions to the kids, he recognizes that all of the attention goes with the territory. “I like it,” he says of taking time out for young gymnasts. “Always having someone to look up to goes a long way. I think it’s very important.” He still has a semester to finish at Penn State before graduating, then plans to return to the area to train, with an eye toward a club in Mississauga or Burlington. Beyond that, if he can stay inju- ry free, he has designs on help- ing Canada qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. PHOTO BY MICHELLE GAUDET PICKERING -- Canadian gymnastics champion Casey Sandy stopped by Planet Gymanstics in Pickering last week. One of his responsibilities was to present Joshua Campbell with a gold medal. SR. B LACROSSE Rock still has some work to do Ajax-Pickering drops 12-7 decision to Owen Sound AJAX -- The Ajax-Pickering Rock found out it still has work to do. Hosting the undefeated and league-leading Owen Sound Woodsmen on Saturday night, the Rock stayed close until mid- way through the final period of the game before falling 12-7 in Sr. B lacrosse at the Ajax Community Centre. Tied 7-7, the Woodsmen main- tained their perfect record, scor- ing five unanswered goals to move to 10-0-0 on the season, while the Rock fell to 2-5-1. Mark Craig continued to find the back of the net for the Rock, scoring three times to lead his club offen- sively, while Bryan Johnson was just one behind with two goals on the night. Ryan Tower and Garrett Kikot had the other markers for the Rock, which was down 3-2 after the first period and 7-6 heading into the third. The loss leaves the Rock (5 points) in fourth place in the six- team league, 15 points behind the front-runners from Owen Sound, and just one up on Oshweken and Wellington which remain tied in last place with 4 points. The Rock will be on home floor again on Friday night when it hosts second-place Norwood (7-4-1) at 8:30 p.m.