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905-683-6074 Full & Partial Dentures BPS® Dentures Same Day Relines & Repairs Soft Liners Implant Dentures Complimentary Consultations DentureClinics we’ll give you a reason to smile... Deegan Michael Deegan DD 134 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax (In the Ajax Plaza in the corner by Home Hardware) PERSONAL INCOME TAX RETURN INCOME TAX All-Canadian Tax Service $59.95*only * Most returns *GST extra 100 Westney Rd S (Ajax Go Station) (905) 426-4860 Pressrun 51,400 • 56 pages • Optional 3-week delivery $6/$1 newsstand PICKERING Wednesday, December 9, 2009 NNews ews AAddveverr titisseerrTHE RYAN PFEIFFER / METROLAND PICKERING -- Area residents, from left, Gerd Untermann, Mary Delaney and Gabrielle Untermann, members of Land Over Landings, stood outside a home on federal lands along Sideroad 32 Dec. 1. The group hopes the government will maintain the house so it can be lived in.Taking a stand on Pickering home RESIDENTS FEAR FATE OF HISTORICAL HOME ON AIRPORT LAND BY KRISTEN CALIS kcalis@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- A north Pickering home, rich with history on land designated for a possible air- port, has been emptied and boarded up. In 1972, 18,600 acres of Class A farmland was expropriated by the federal government with plans to build an international airport. In 1975, when century-old homes were being demolished to pave way for the airport, Brenda Davies, Anne Howes and Frances Moore, from a group opposed to the airport, People or Planes, illegally occupied the mid-1800s era Bentley- Carruthers farmhouse. They stayed there with- out heat, hydro and water for two weeks to keep it from being bulldozed, and remained there until they learned the airport had been shelved. Many credit their actions as influencing the govern- ment’s decision. “The house is an icon because this is where the last stand was made. This is where the airport See PICKERING page 23 FEATURE SERIES 2 Voting method Does it make a difference to voter turnout? NEWS 3 Pickering house fire Quick action by neighbour minimizes damage SPORTS 24 Panthers rally for win Juniors defeat Peterborough, look for consistency Ajax Nissan Parts/Service Open 7:00am - 6:00pm Wednesdays 7:00am - 8:00pm Saturdays 8:00am - 2:00pm 500 Bayly Street West, Ajax (Between Westney & Church) 1-800-565-6365 905-686-0555 newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 20092 AP Find your new home with OPEN HOUSES 905.683-5110 VIEW ON-LINE AT... WWW.HOMES.DURHAMREGION.COM Marilyn Brophy 905.683.5110 ext.233 • mbrophy@durhamregion.com Barb Buchan 905.683.5110 ext. 292 • bbuchan@durhamregion.com Featured every Friday in the News Advertiser PICKERING TOWN CENTRE • UPPER LEVEL • SEARS WING WE’VE GOT YOUR SIZE Sizes 4-15 Widths AA-EEE COMFORT FROM ITALY How Durham votes: by paper ballot, mail, phone, Internet, or a combination BY JENNIFER STONE jstone@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- In 2003, Markham went to a new method of municipal voting, leading the charge onto the Internet in an effort to make casting a ballot more accessible and increase voter turnout. And it did, to a certain extent --- well enough that the York Region municipality used the system again in 2006. “The Internet was quite successful,” said Frank Edwards, of the Town of Markham, noting about 10,000 people chose to go online to cast their ballot in the last election. But even at that, only 36 per cent of Markham’s eligible voters chose to have a say in the make-up of their local council. So, does the method of voting really increase turnout? Some would argue no. When Clarington looked at moving from mail-in voting to online balloting --- eventu- ally eschewing both in favour of a return of the traditional pencil-and-paper-at-the-poll- ing-place method --- resident Jean-Michel Komarnicki said no matter the form, people will either vote or they won’t. “I suspect the choice will be if they’ll go online or to a poll, not whether they’ll vote or not,” he said. Still, most Durham municipalities took a look at increasing turnout via voting meth- od as decisions were made on how the 2010 election will be held. But none have chosen to go the online route. Even though Oshawa staff recommended exploring the idea, council there opted not to go the Internet-voting route, citing a num- ber of concerns, including security. Whitby, too, looked at the idea, with council eventu- ally agreeing with a staff recommendation not to move online. Ajax’s clerk’s department has indicated that municipality won’t be using the method, but might reconsider in 2014. Durham’s north- ern municipali- ties, where, for a variety of reasons, turnout has tradi- tionally been relative- ly high, will stick with the method they’ve used fairly successfully for the last several years: vote-by-mail. Clarington looked long and hard at the idea of Inter- net voting, after staff recom- mended making the move. “Internet voting provides a vote anytime, anywhere solution,” said a staff report to council on the matter. “It may be used by all elec- tor groups, including seniors, the visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, homeless, those away from home and (the) mobility impaired. Electors are provided an opportu- nity to vote at their convenience, in the com- fort of their home or anywhere they can con- nect to the Internet.” The Markham experience seems to support that supposition, with snowbirds and other travelers taking the Town up on the offer to vote from afar without appointing a proxy. “We had people vote from England, New Zealand, all over the world,” Mr. Edwards said. In places where Internet voting hasn’t gone forward, security has almost invariably been raised as a potential pitfall. But, a two-step process helped ensure security was tight for Markham voters, Mr. Edwards said. Online voting systems are “battle-tested” and have been used in a variety of applica- tions, for both the private and public sec- tor, around the world, said Larry Fran- schman of Evote.ca, a provider of such services. In 2006, 18 munic- ipalities in Ontario used either a straight Internet or a telephone- Internet hybrid approach to balloting, he noted. “Even those who don’t have it in place for this (election) cycle are look- ing at moving,” Mr. Fran- schman said. “For so many different reasons, the writing is on the wall.” Security really ought not be an issue, he said. “If you have a sufficiently robust sys- tem, you can use this,” Mr. Franschman said. The issue of ballot-stealing and vote influencing, given the unsupervised nature of online, and even mail-in or telephone, voting has also been raised by those who prefer the traditional method. “Those concerns are valid, but they’re probably low- level concerns,” Mr. Franschman said. The frequency with which such chicanery would occur would be so low that “it’s not going to affect the outcome” of an election. Though using alternate voting methods may seem one way of increasing turnout, there are many anecdotal accounts indicat- ing the most effective method of getting more people out to vote is to have an interesting race. For example, in Clarington, when vote- by-mail was used for the first time in 2000, voter turnout jumped by 13.5 per cent, to 41.5 per cent, compared with the previous elec- tion, in 1997. But, in 2003, it was back down somewhat, to 35.07 per cent. The jump in 2000 can’t be entirely attributed to the move to the more convenient vote-by-mail meth- od: the 2000 election in Clarington saw three sitting councillors and the Municipality’s for- mer CAO vying for the mayor’s chair. “The race had a lot to do with it,” Clarington’s clerk, Patti Barrie, said. Similarly, moving voters online didn’t have a dramatic impact in Markham. “It didn’t real- ly increase voter turnout,” Mr. Edwards said. “Voter turnout really depends on the race.” READ the Special Report @ newsdurhamregion.com Page 6 - Today’s editorial SPECIAL REPORT Does voting method increase participation? FAST FACTS What do the various methods cost? When the Municipality of Clarington consid- ered moving to Internet voting, the clerk’s depart- ment produced a report which estimated the costs for the various methods of holding an election in the Municipality of about 80,000 residents. In 2006, Clarington used vote-by-mail and the total cost was $238,673, said clerk Patti Barrie. Here’s how the other methods stacked up: Method Estimated cost • Traditional paper ballot, using vote tabulators $192,000 • Mail-in ballot with central count tabulators $202,000 • Internet and telephone ballot combined $221,600 • Traditional paper ballot with poll count tabulators, combined with requested mail-in ballots $193,000 • Traditional paper ballot with poll count tabulators combined with Internet $198,875 2006 voter turnout Municipality Per cent turnout Ajax 23.2 % Brock 49 % Clarington 40.34 % Oshawa 25.1% Pickering 28 % Scugog 44 % Uxbridge 49.9 % Whitby 24 % SOURCE: Statistics Canada A year-long series looking at improving voter turnout for municipal elections newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 20093 P Blaze contained to first floor due to quick 911 call BY REKA SZEKELY rszekely@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- Flames visible through the living room window of a Pickering home Friday morning alerted a neighbour, who called 911 in the home- owner’s absence. Nicole Molnar discovered the fire at 1932 Lodge Rd., a detached, single-garage home. “I came out for a cigarette, I think it was 10 or five to 11 (a.m.) and I smelled something so I looked around and saw flames coming out the front window,” she said. Ms. Molnar rushed inside and called 911 and said police arrived at the scene first. “The police knocked down the front door and yelled in to see if anyone was home,” she said. The homeowner’s car wasn’t in the driveway, Ms. Molnar added, and she attempted to contact him. Greg Abbott, acting platoon chief for Pickering Fire Services, confirmed no one was home. “When we arrived, smoke and flames were visible,” he said. “The first crew in did a quick search and then began fire suppres- sion at that time.” The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. “At this time, we believe it was isolated on the first floor,” said Mr. Abbott, adding that it was the quick 911 call that pre- vented the fire from spreading further. “We got good information very quickly.” Firefighters removed the home’s front window as they searched for smaller spot fires and Mr. Abbott said once that was done, they would try to salvage what they could from the home. “People like to keep pictures.” Though the fire was contained to the first floor, the smoke spread throughout the home and it could be seen billowing out upstairs windows. Meanwhile, Ms. Molnar said she feels badly for the homeowner, whose son plays with her kids. “It’s very scary, very sad,” she said. This was the second fire on Friday for Pickering firefighters. They also responded to a grease fire at the Pickering Town Centre’s Kentucky Fried Chick- en. Mr. Abbott said it didn’t reach ignition temper- ature and the extinguishing system did its job. The food court, however, was closed for a time while the health department checked it out. WATCH the video story @ newsdurhamregion.com EMERGENCY SERVICES Neighbour spots fire in Pickering home I smelled something so I looked around and saw flames coming out the front window. Nicole Molnar CELIA KLEMENZ / METROLAND PICKERING -- Pickering fire- fighters responded to a house fire at 1932 Lodge Rd. on Dec. 4. Neighbours reported flames could be seen through the home’s front window. A fire- fighter used a thermal imaging camera to detect hot spots as others worked to remove the front window after the fire. We’re open at 8:00am this Saturday, December 12th so you can shop - and park - before the crowds. The first 250 customers at Guest Services receive a FREE Pickering Town Centre Gift Card* worth between $5 and $250! Over 200 Stores & Services H&M Gap La Senza Sirens ROOTS Zellers American Eagle Outfitters Urban Behavior Sears Holly’s Aéropostale La Vie en Rose Ricki’s Suzy Shier boathouse Dynamite Nygård Reitman’s Payless ShoeSource Costa Blanca Tabi TRISTAN the Bay Bluenotes’Fairweather Garage Clothing Co.pickeringtowncentre.com Gets a free Gift Card Enjoys a free photo Is happy to start at 8am!✓ This Early Bird:This Early Bird: Gets a free Gift Card Enjoys a free photo Is happy to start at 8am! Wake Up and Shop! *One Gift Card per customer, while quantities last. Must be 13 or older to qualify. **FREE 5 x 7 photo from 8:00am - 9:30am. One per customer, while quantities last. © 2009 Harry’s Bucket Inc. and Harry’s Dinosaur Limited. All rights reserved. www.sphereentertainment.com Kids can have their picture taken with Harry, from Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs**. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 20094 P 1801 Valley Farm Rd., Pickering,ON The Retirement Option Of Choice To find out more call Chartwell Select Pickering City Centre at 905-420-3369 or visit www.chartwellreit.ca. Spend Your winter with us! It’s getting cold outside! Why not spend your winter with us? Enjoy the warmth of our fireplace while in the company of new friends.Call today for more details! “Internet Gaming” December 10 2009, 6-8pm The nature of internet role playing games and how to determine if you’re teen is becoming addicted to gaming will be discussed. “Drugs and Alcohol” December 17 2009, 6-8pm Learn about the risks associated with drug and alcohol use and discover ways of talking to your youth about this topic. Parent Forums Pickering Central Library Auditorium 1 Esplanade, Pickering, ON. Gift Cards for first 20 parents registered. Light dinner will be available. To register call The Youth Centre at 905-428-1212. Register and Receive a Gift Card for the Pickering Town Centre! JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND AJAX -- A school bus carrying three children crashed into a home on Peacock Crescent shortly after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Three children on board, no reports of injuries AJAX -- A school bus carrying three children slammed into a Peacock Crescent house in Ajax on Tuesday morning. Durham police say there are no reports of major injuries, but a parent whose son was on the bus said the kids were taken to hospi- tal to get checked out. Neighbours reported one of the homeowners was shaken up and also taken to hospital. It happened shortly after 8:30 a.m. Dec. 8 in a neighbourhood just south of Taunton Road and Harwood Avenue. Jean-Claude Bukasa lives next door to the home that was hit and his six-year-old son was on the bus bound for Notre-Dame-de- la-Jeunesse school. Mr. Bukasa was watch- ing the bus from his office window and saw it glide past the stop sign. “It tried to stop and it couldn’t stop, you could see the wheels lock- ing and it just went into the house.” He called 911 and then went outside and opened the bus’s back door to let the children out. The bus knocked out a porch pillar and damaged the home’s patio. Police are investigating the incident, but several neighbours report the road condi- tions were icy and it wasn’t salted until after the crash. ACCIDENT School bus crashes into Ajax home newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 20095 AP 905-723-0282 • 62 Russett Avenue, Oshawa, ON • oshawalittletheatre@rogers.com Taunton Rd.Somerville St.Russett Ave.Simcoe St.OSHAWA 62 N Celebrating 60 years of Playful Memories GIVE THE GIFT OF ENTERTAINMENT WITH GIFT CERTIFICATES BIG SHOWS! Little PricesBIG SHOWS! Little Prices SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST Coming events include... Date Night at OLT with The Brian Rose Quintet; Sat. Jan. 23rd The Cemetery Club January 28-30 & Febru a r y 4 - 1 3 Richard Forget Canada’s Best Magician!; Sun. Feb. 21st World Renowned “The Nylons” and much more on Sat. April 24th Popular Demand brings Celtic Blaze and Cape Ceol to OLT Sun. May 2nd Grease March 18-28 & April 1-10 ABBA GOLD on Mother’s Day! Sun. May 9th Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka May 27-30 & June 3-5 For show times, box offi ce hours, prices and tickets contact www.oshawalittletheatre.com Learn English. Start Today. Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) LINC Day Classes: • All LINC levels run Monday to Friday • Childminding and transportation assistance available to those who qualify • Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering ESL Day Classes: • All levels at various locations LINC Evening Classes: • LINC Levels 1 – 6 run two nights a week • Transportation assistance available to those who qualify • Oshawa, Ajax, Pickering ESL Evening Classes: • Basic to advanced, TOEFL, Conversation at various locations Register now for day or night classes! Permanent Residents, Convention and Government Assisted Refugees are eligible for LINC. All residents are eligible for ESL. Learn English. Start Here. Call 1-866-550-5462 Visit www.DurhamLINC.ca Citizenship and Immigration Canada Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada Assessment and Classes provided byFunded by PICKERING -- A 23-year-old Markham man has been charged with careless driv- ing after his vehicle rolled over into a swamp at 9th Concession Rd. and Sideline 6 in Pickering on Sunday. Police arrived on scene at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 6 to find a Ford Cougar upside down after having sheared several wooden posts off a guardrail. According to a witness, the driver was trav- elling at a high speed and lost control of the vehicle after hitting black ice, police said. The driver had minor injuries and was assessed by emergency officials on scene. Several guardrail poles were damaged on the north side of the road, resulting in large amounts of debris in the area. CELIA KLEMENZ / METROLAND PICKERING -- A tow truck driver prepared to remove a vehicle that rolled over on Durham 5 at Sideline 6 around 8:45 a.m. Dec. 6. The lone male occupant escaped with minor cuts and bruises. The vehicle sheared off a number of wooden posts of a guardrail, flipped over and plunged into a swamp on the north side of the road. ACCIDENT Vehicle flips over in Pickering DURHAM -- The snow has arrived, so come learn how it got here. Durham families are invited to come out to the Pickering Nuclear Information Centre on Dec. 12, at 10 a.m. to noon, or 1 to 3 p.m., to learn where the fluffy stuff came from. Activities include making your own snowflakes, cookies and snowman orna- ments. Space is limited, so register early. All family members are welcome to join, though activities are designed for five- to 10-year-olds. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Parents should note that products being used may contain, or have come in contact with, peanuts, nuts, wheat and soy. Pickering Nuclear Information Centre is at 1675 Montgomery Park Rd. (south on Brock Rd.), in Pickering. For more information or to register for the Winterfest program: CALL 905-837-7272 VISIT www.opg.com/community COMMUNITY It’s all about OPG snow activities in Durham 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 FEDERAL POLICY Canadian government’s inaction on climate change an embarrassment To the editor: Today there was a news story about polar bears in the Canadian Arctic which are eating their young due to starvation. The story broke my heart. I couldn’t help but wonder what my own local MP, Colin Carrie, or Prime Minister Stephen Harper were feeling when they heard the same story. I will never understand what it is like to actually have the means to make a signif- icant change to prevent such things from happening. I do my small part, but it is the govern- ment that must step in and do the right thing. Most surveys and opinion polls show that Canadians care about the environ- ment, yet people are protesting in Lon- don, wanting Canada to be removed from the Commonwealth because of our assaults on the environment. The tar sands and “our” climate change inaction are an embarrassment. Seeing those ads was incredibly frus- trating. Our reputation around the world is tar- nished, and rightly so. The sad thing is that most Canadians would have our government leading the way, instead of sticking its head in the sand. I would ask that our government please do its job and accept our obligations among the nations of the world. Ashleigh Henderson Oshawa Government inaction is criminal To the editor: The Canadian government is behav- ing criminally, not climate justice protest- ers. Since Nov. 22 more than 29 people have been arrested by holding peaceful sit-ins at the offices of Conservative cabinet ministers to demand the Canadian government sign a just, fair, and binding treaty at the climate change negotiations to take place in Copen- hagen, Denmark, from Dec. 7 to 18. Sits-ins have taken place at the offices of ministers Jim Prentice, Rona Ambrose, Jim Flaherty, Andrew Saxton, Gary Lunn, and John Baird’s office. More acts of civil disobedience are expected in the coming days. As is typical of these actions, the police arrest people and charge them with crimi- nal offenses, like trespass and mischief. But the real criminals are not these brave people who understand the consequences of inac- tion on climate change. The real criminals are the governments of heavily polluting nations, like Canada, who, despite the public cry for action, are refusing to meaningfully address the global climate crisis. It’s time the Cana- dian government does the right thing on cli- mate change and makes us proud. Jessica Bell Whitby FIREARMS LAWS Registry not effective in stopping gun crimes To the editor: Criminals do not register guns. The registry is a joke, always has been, and always will be a money pit. The guns that are used in crimes are, for the most part, brought into this coun- try illegally from the United States. The peo- ple committing the crimes are not hunters or sport target shooters, they are criminals, and criminals don’t follow the rules. If guns kill people, then pencils cause misspelled words. Think about it. What about banning cars? They kill a lot more people in a year from drunk drivers than guns do. Now, slap the criminal with a life sentence when he or she uses a firearm in a crime, and they might just think twice about doing so. Or alternatively, we could just get him or her to register it first. Chad Scriver Newcastle Increase voting methods to boost turnout on election day If you want to be fully inclusive and boost voter turnout at election time, it only makes sense to make it as easy as possible to vote. That’s why a voting system that would allow electors to make their choice with a click of the mouse from the comfort of their own homes is a 21st-century answer to flag- ging poll participation. It allows those who can’t get out on elec- tion day to vote with convenience. Weather is not a factor. And seniors, those who have a disability or anyone who might not be able to get to the polls can log on and be counted. Mail-in voting also has its pluses and should be included in any discussion about increasing voter turnout. Such a system has been used in Durham’s northern municipal- ities where voter turnout has ranged from 44 to 49.9 per cent in the 2006 municipal elec- tion, well above the numbers achieved in Durham’s southern municipalities. That’s why it’s tough to understand Clar- ington council’s decision to drop mail-in vot- ing in favour of the traditional show-up-at- the polls-to-vote method. That follows three straight elections of vote-by-mail where the turnout was 41.5 per cent in 2000, followed by 35.07 per cent in 2003 and 40.34 per cent in 2006. In the last municipal election that followed traditional voting methods, 1997, the Clarington turnout was just 28 per cent. There will be an estimated cost-savings of nearly $50,000 with scrapping mail-in voting and, yes, there were concerns raised about vote-by-mail methods. However, the turnout was improved, though good mayoral races in 2000 and 2006 probably boosted voter turnout in the municipality. It’s worth ironing out the prob- lems to maintain voter turnout. In south Durham, voters have been scant at the polls during municipal elections. Less than a quarter of those eligible bothered to cast a ballot in Ajax and Whitby and just over 25 per cent bothered to mark an X in Oshawa and Pickering. That’s a sad reflection on local government. It’s incumbent on municipal leaders to find ways to get more people involved and engaged in the process. More participa- tion results in more accountability and that means better decisions are made with our tax dollars. Anything that can boost the turnout at the polls -- and guaranteeing tight, exciting races is out of the hands of the voters -- is worth pursuing. The best way to do that is to look at voting alternatives, not just to stick with the old-fashioned way of doing things. While there is no question a blend of voting methods will come at a cost to the taxpayer, the improvement in voter turnout will mean better government. And that’s what we all ultimately want. e-mail letters to newsroom@durhamregion.com / max. 200 words / letter writers are obliged to back up statements with verifiable facts / 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 • December 9, 20096 P WE ASKED I’ve been wrestling with Christmas this year. For most of my life the holiday season has meant nothing but joy, family, laughter and belonging. As a child, I was blessed to feel safe, loved and when our ever-expanding clan gathered noisily around the Christ- mas dinner table, a part of something larg- er than myself. As an adult and a parent, I have been lucky enough to bestow upon and share those same experiences with my own children. As I have moved through life, my Christmas joy has morphed into some- thing subtler and more vicarious, but none- theless potent. It has always been there when I needed it. Happily and generously offering its healing balm and, like a family lodestone, drawing us together, if only for a little while, and reminding us that, in spite of everything, our similarities still outweigh our differences. I still believe that. I still believe in that. I think most of us do, or want to. Which makes family estrangements all the more difficult to get our heads and hearts around. The reality is, however, that people change, families splinter and grow fractious. Some- times they grow back together and some- times they don’t. And as much as we might like to keep things the same, we cannot. And we should not. Life is growth and some- times growth is painful. However, life is also finite. A few days ago, I was fortunate enough to visit with John and Jo-Ann Bolger and their beautiful daughter Lindsay. From the min- ute I crossed the threshold into their home, I was struck by how much love there was in that place. The house was beautifully deco- rated for Christmas, John and Jo-Ann were smiling and kind and attentive to me, a rel- ative stranger, and all the while their pre- cious Lindsay lay dying in a hospital bed in a room just off the kitchen. After a remarkably inspiring, half-decade battle with brain cancer, an exhausted Lind- say is finally flagging. Medicated, asleep and under the watchful care of a smiling, pal- liative nurse, her labored breaths were the counterpoint to one of the loveliest encoun- ters I’ve ever had. Above the deep and abiding sadness that I knew both John and Jo-Ann must wres- tle with continually, there burned a much brighter emotion. Love. They talked about Lindsay with nothing but love. They stroked her withered, blanketed legs and thinning hair with love. They talked about the love she had shown them and continued to show them through her courage and humor. They glowed with it. And it was infectious. I found myself looking at the wasted angel in the bed and not fretting over or lament- ing her struggles, not cursing the disease that was claiming her. But simply loving her. Loving her spirit, loving her lessons, loving her legacy. And silently thanking her for reminding me of what, after all, we are here for and how brief our time here is. And as I drove home, and indeed for many days since, I have been thanking John and Jo-Ann for helping me with my Christmas this year. If they, faced with the inexplica- ble loss of a daughter, are still able to see the blessings in their lives, are still able to exist with such love in their hearts, then perhaps there is yet hope for the rest of us who are muddling our way through our own family issues. Lindsay Bolger passed away peace- fully, surrounded by her wonderful family, the day after my visit. Whatever happens within my own wonderful family this holi- day, I know that on Christmas Day I will spend at least a moment or two thinking of Lindsay and all the Bolgers and thanking them for their gift. Durham resident Neil Crone, actor-comic-writer, saves some of his best lines for his columns. Do you think the RIDE program helps to reduce drunk driving? SWETA JANI --‘Yes. It gives the incentive to think before they do anything.’ DOUG MACRAE --‘Absolutely. It scares people who have had too much to drink and take a taxi. They know police are out there more so than at other times of the year.’ PHYLIS MILTON --‘Yes. Absolutely. It makes people think twice because they know the consequences if they get caught.’ MARSJOSE VILLANUEVA --‘Yes, because there are some people who are driving that need proper thinking.’ RYAN PFEIFFER / BEHIND THE LENS I took this photo during the Little Rock Bonspiel at Annandale Curling Club on Nov. 7. I find curling to be a difficult sport to photograph. Unlike hockey or football, there isn’t very much high-impact peak action to shoot. It’s really a reaction sport, trying to get good facial expressions from the curlers. In this circumstance, I had a few things working for me to allow me to make this frame. First off, the game I was shooting was one of the last ones going on so there weren’t other curlers on the rest of the ice surfaces. My game was also in a good position to use the sheets behind it as a graphic element. When I had these elements all lined up, it was just a matter of timing the shot so the curler was nicely centred. MIKE JOHNSTON Girl’s death led to naming debate It’s the one phone call or e-mail I hate get- ting more than any other. When a young per- son dies there are no words to express the sadness the community feels. There are no words available to console the parents, broth- ers or sisters, extended family and friends. All a community can do is come together to show how much that child was loved. Such was the case a few weeks ago when we got word a 12-year-old Bowmanville girl had died in a tragic accident. Alexsey Joi Gotell was killed while crossing King Street near Simpson Avenue. After the initial shock, we still had a story to write. After getting pictures of the memo- rial at the accident scene and talking with a member of the Durham District School Board as to how it was handling the news at the school Alexsey attended, we had one more decision to make. Should we use her name in the story? We had the name from a letter the school board sent home that day informing parents about the tragedy. The decision led to one of the best debates we have had in the newsroom. The parents, through the Durham Regional Police Ser- vice, had made it clear they did not want their daughter’s name used. A lot of staff in the newsroom sided with the parents, arguing if they didn’t want it made public, we shouldn’t go against their wishes. I wasn’t leaning that way. It was nagging at me that many people in the community knew her name while others didn’t and they had a right to know. A call to editor-in-chief Joanne Burghardt, who was on holiday that week, confirmed she felt the same way. But we both felt this was a call the publisher had to make. After a quick conversation with publisher Tim Whittaker it was decided we would wait for the death notice to arrive. If it had the girl’s name we would use it in the story. It arrived moments later with her name and a sentence saying she had died as a result of an accident. It made no sense to have a story on the front page with no name and an obituary in the back of the paper with her name. We used her name and didn’t receive any complaints. Managing Editor Mike Johnston writes a column every second week about life in the newsroom. A special gift brings Christmas into focus NEIL CRONE newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 20097 P Jan de Vries, 85, filled with pride over honour BY AL RIVETT arivett@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- A decorated Second World War veteran will be among the torchbearers assembled in Pickering for the 2010 Olympic torch relay this month. Jan de Vries, 85, will carry the Olympic flame through the city on Thursday, Dec. 17 at approximately 8:14 a.m. when he will begin his run near City Hall. With a smile on his face, the Pickering resident was hoping to carry it longer than his 300-metre allotment. “I would rath- er carry it for a mile,” laughed Mr. de Vries who, in 2004, was awarded the Legion of Honour from France, where it was present- ed by then-president Jacques Chirac. Mr. de Vries says he’ll carry the Olympic torch with pride, noting he’ll do it in honour of all the soldiers who didn’t make it back from major conflicts where Canadians were involved and for Canadian veterans every- where. “I feel very proud to represent the fellows we lost in the wars and for the ones who are still around today,” he said at a special cere- mony to raise the Olympic flag at Pickering City Hall on Sunday, Dec. 6. “It’s nice to be picked out to do this.” Mr. de Vries’s name was put forward by National Council of Veterans Association and by Veterans Affairs and he’s very appreciative for the honour. And, when Mr. de Vries embarks on his run with the Olympic torch, he’ll have some support from the Canadian military as mem- bers of the Queen’s Own Rifles reserves from Toronto will be there to support him on the torch route. Mayor Dave Ryan also announced at the flag-raising event several others who’ll carry the torch through the city, including Pickering resident Molly Mutiisa and Olympic figure skater Brian Orser, who’ll be an honourary Pickering resident for that day. The torch itself will arrive in Pickering City Hall at 7:43 a.m. on Dec. 17, a “break stop” for the torch en route to Toronto where an offi- cial celebration will be held that night, said City of Pickering event co-ordinator Jesse St. Amant. The City’s urging all Pickering residents to come out to greet the torch when it arrives and to assemble along the torch route to sup- port the torchbearers. The torch arrives at Canadian Tire on Brock Road at 7:23 a.m. and then proceeds north to Kingston Road and down Valley Farm Road to The Esplanade where it will stop at City Hall for a brief cer- emony. At approximately 8:15 a.m., the torch run will head up Glenanna Road to Kingston Road en route to Liverpool Road where it will proceed north to Finch Avenue to Fairport Road. “We’re trying to make it as big as we can, but we have to have the people out. To have it be a success, we need lots of people lining the route,” he said. BEYOND CALL OF DUTY • Mr. de Vries served with the 1st Canadian Para- chute Battalion. Parachuted into Normandy on D- Day and later parachuted over the Rhine River into Germany on March 24, 1945. • 35 years as a member of the 1st Canadian Para- chute Battalion Association, secretary for five years and president for the last 12 years. • Founding member of the Living History Speak- ers’ Bureau and a member of the Dominion Insti- tute Memory Project. Source: Veterans Affairs Canada newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 20098 P H LIDAY FR ZEN L G CAKE On Sale ‘til December 31st GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS! STOCK YOUR FREEZER. NO LIMIT. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. Sale $999 NO TAXNO TAX Reg. $15.99Reg. $15.99 DRIVE THRU PICKERING LOCATIONS Pickering Town Centre 905-839-7727 1099 Kingston Rd. 905-831-2665open regular mall hours PICKERING LOCATIONS Pickering Town Centre DQ GRILL and CHILL® 905-839-7727 1099 Kingston Rd. open regular mall hours 905-831-2665 ROAD CLOSURE Feeder Watermain on Brock Road (Reg. Rd 1), in the City of Pickering The Regional Municipality of Durham Works Department 605 Rossland Rd. E., Whitby ON L1N 6A3 Telephone 905-668-7711 or 1-800-372-1102 www.durham.ca WORKS DEPARTMENT CONSTRUCTION NEWSLETTER #2 Residents and businesses are advised that a section of 3rd Concession (Rossland Road), in the City of Pickering will be closed for watermain construction. WHERE:3rd Concession from Brock Road westerly to Clearside Court WHEN:Friday, December 11 at 5 p.m. to Monday, December 14 at 6 a.m. WHY:To ensure construction of a watermain crossing at 3rd Concession and Brock Road is completed in a safe and efficient manner. NOTE:Brock Road and 3rd Concession east of Brock Road will remain open to through traffic. The closures is required to install a large diameter feeder watermain and to complete the associated roadway restoration. Local area residents are asked to use alternate routes for the duration of the road closure and should expect traffic delays. The Region realizes that the road closure will be disruptive to you, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding in this regard. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of the following staff members from the Regional Municipality of Durham Works Department. Project information is posted on the Regional Municipality of Durham’s website (www.durham.ca/studiesandprojects) After hours, construction emergency calls should be directed to 1-800-372-1104. Eric Lamain Roger Beynon Senior Project Co-ordinator Site Inspector 905-668-7711 ext. 3472 289-928-0703 eric.lamain@durham.ca roger.beynon@durham.ca COMMUNITY War vet to carry Olympic torch in Pickering JAN DE VRIES I feel very proud to represent the fellows we lost in the wars and for the ones who are still around today. Pickering war veteran Jan de Vries newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 10, 20099 P the streets makes it difficult for the snow clearing operators, who are out in the worst conditions. “(The cars) are there,” he said. “We’re working around them as best we can.” Bylaw enforcement will ticket cars that are parked on the street during snow clear- ing operations, and those that are parked on the road between 2 and 5 a.m. between Dec. 1 and March 31. Fifty trucks were out on the road from Durham Region’s five depots and several staff schedules were switched around to coincide with the amount of work needed to be done. “We’ve got people on shift and some of the schedules were juggled to make sure that we had folks who could go the full 14 hours once they started,” said Uldis Siks- na, the Region’s manager of maintenance operations. Snowfalls over the past three years have wreaked havoc on the Region’s road- clearing budgets, which sits at about $6 million but has been pushed to an aver- age of more than $8 million each year. This year’s mild weather conditions throughout November saw major relief for many operations staff workers as snow- plow trucks weren’t required until now. “We did have a few trucks go out just for some minor icing up north so we did have a few events in November but not down south, which has helped us a lot,” said Mr. Siksna. The snow tapered off with rain by late morning on Wednesday in most areas while northern parts of the region will likely see more snow before the end of the day. CITY Pickering road crews kept busy during first major snowfall PICKERING from page 1 JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND PICKERING -- Clayton Lee dodged the splashes while walking down Valley Farm Road in Pickering during the first major snowstorm of the season on Wednesday. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200910 AP Is a new Whitby hospital in the cards? This is the second in a two-part series looking at the town’s long-time struggle to open a full-service hospital BY PARVANEH PESSIAN ppessian@durhamregion.com WHITBY -- What first arrived as a sign of relief for hundreds of residents who heard of the Province’s recently declared 10-year invest- ment in Lakeridge Health Whitby, would soon turn into a painful realization that the waiting game was far from over. It had already been a long two-and-a-half years since the Gordon Street facility was forced to shut its doors following an electri- cal fire when the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care made an announce- ment in September that $7.4 million will be poured into the reopening. “You immediately get goosebumps every- where when you hear something like this because it’s all so very positive for us and we’re very grateful that it’s come,” said Dr. Jim Park, medical director of specialty ser- vices offered to about 80 patients at the hos- pital prior to the blaze. “But there’s also a tincture of disappoint- ment that it didn’t come sooner because, as a front-line worker, you wonder why does something that is so important take so long?” That’s the question people have been ask- ing for decades as the battle to land a new, full-service hospital in Whitby rages on. “While the funding from the ministry to reopen Lakeridge Health is wonderful, the challenge with it is that it’s an aging building and so the clock is already tick- ing,” said Reverend Christopher White, chairman of the Whitby hospital task force assembled about two years ago. The group works to tackle some of the ongoing issues sur- rounding the Whitby hospi- tal, including how to improve conditions at the existing site and the need for a new facility to accommodate the rapidly growing popula- tion. “We need to have a 21st-century type of facility to serve the needs of our wider com- munity and not simply Whitby but I think there’s an opportunity to do something that will serve the needs of Durham as well,” Rev- erend White said. The possibility of establishing a facility through a partnership with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology has been proposed as a creative solution to assisting the Province in training more medical pro- fessionals. “If there’s going to be the investment at the university level to do this medical teach- ing facility, then they will ultimately need a teaching hospital or a research hospital that will go with that,” said Whitby Mayor Pat Per- kins. “We propose that they start considering that as possibly the replacement for what it is we’re ultimately going to be losing in Whitby.” A decade is also the mini- mum length of time officials expect the process of constructing a new hospital will take, considering the extended periods between plan- ning and actual building. Under ReNew Ontario, the government’s five-year plan for infra- structure investment for public facilities, any major projects in the hospital sector require extensive planning for health-care programs be undertaken to determine if the project is appropriate for expanding health-care ser- vices. Put in this position, the task force must whittle its objectives down to addressing the most crucial areas of need, inevitably forc- ing emergency services to take a back seat to long-term complex continuing care services, said Lakeridge Health president and CEO Kevin Empey. “Our communities aren’t only growing but our communities are going to age faster than the Province will age, which means there will be more demand for this type of service,” he said, highlighting the importance of the long- term care offered at the Whitby site, which he described as the middle ground between an acute- care facility and a retirement home. “Everything that we’ve stud- ied says that as much as every- body would like an (emer- gency hospi- tal), Whitby and Durham Region is going to real- ly need expanded complex continuing care and specialized rehab facilities.” Still, the need for emergency care in the long run can’t be ignored and Lakeridge Health has submitted a report for a new hospital to the Local Health Integra- tion Network, which is currently working on a business case to present to the ministry, Mr. Empey said. One of the locations already offered to the Province to build a hospital free of charge is a parcel of land located near Hwy. 407 and Baldwin Street in Brooklin while another site in north Pickering has also been considered. With a timeframe of a decade already assumed, the mayor insisted that the eventual location doesn’t weigh on residents as much as actually securing the stamp of approval for a new hospital. “If they want to put it down by the lake, they can; If they want to put it in the north, they can -- I just want the facility,” she said. “The ministry have to make the deci- sion on where it would be. It’s their choice, nobody can make that choice for them so all I can say is, any- where.” We need to have a 21st-century type of facility to serve the needs of our wider community and not simply Whitby but I think there’s an opportunity to do something that will serve the needs of Durham as well. Reverend Christopher White, Whitby hospital task force SABRINA BYRNES / METROLAND WHITBY -- Home hemo nurse Tracey Burton helped clamp a protective cover on Margaret Fowler, while she was being con- nected to a dialysis machine at Lakeridge Health Whitby’s modular dialsysis unit. PAT PERKINS THE LONG ROAD TO HEALING Emergency department data 2008-09 12 %4 % 22 %62 % Lakeridge Health CorporationRouge Valley Health System Markham-Stouffville Hospital Other newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200911 AP Picture your child in the care of a compassionate person who has passed the most rigorous screening and training standards set by Legislation. She loves children and is focused on their growth and environment. Welcome to Wee Watch. Welcome to affordable, dependable, enriched home care. Exclusive “Wee Learn” Educational Program AJAX/PICKERING 1-866-333-3299 www.weewatch.com The Happiest Children The Happiest Providers DutchClean Call Sonya Today 905-259-6620 We don’t cut corners, We CLEAN them! 16 years experience. Get your home SPARKLING for the Holidays! AJAX -- Police want to speak to a man who frightened a girl with a threatening gesture. Durham police said a 13-year-old girl was walking on Ravenscroft Road about 9 a.m. Nov. 26 when she encountered a man who appeared to be taking items out of recycling boxes and placing them in his white pick-up truck. The man, in his 20s, laughed and pointed to an object the girl thought was a gun, but police said it might have been a tool or some other item. If you have information about the investigation: CALL 905-579-1520 ext. 2529 CRIMESTOPPERS: Anonymous tips can be made to Durham police at 1-800-222-8477 POLICE Suspicious man sought in Ajax incident DURHAM -- Newcomers to Canada can take advan- tage of a free seminar to help secure funds for a small business. The Durham Region Unemployed Help Centre is run- ning a workshop about starting a small business and securing financing for new or existing companies. The event is free for immigrants to Canada. The seminar will feature Zach Shanks, a small busi- ness advisor from TD Canada Trust talking about the process of obtaining small business financing in Cana- da for a new or existing business. The workshop takes place Dec. 10 from 10 am to noon at 5-1400 Bayly St. in Pickering. To reserve a seat call Shashi at 905-420-3008. COMMUNITY Small business start up advice for immigrants NEWSDURHAMREGIONCOM.EWS !DVERTISER s $ECEMBER !0 Hjwf!uif!hjgu pg!mvoh!ifbmui uijt!ipmjebz tfbtpo/ ! -0$"5*0/4'0326"-*5:$)0*$& GPS #JMMEJSFDUUP.PTU *OTVSBODFTBOE 4PDJBM4FSWJDFT "+"9015*$"- )FSJUBHF.BSLFU4RVBSF ,JOHTUPO3E& 6OJU "+"9015*$"- )BSXPPE"WF4"KBY1MB[B 1*$,&3*/(015*$"- ,JOHTUPO3E1JDLFSJOH )VC1MB[B (-"44&4'03 5)&8)0-& '".*-: 26+$:$ " DBSFMFTT ESJWJOH UJDLFU IBT CFFO JTTVFEUPBZFBSPME0TIBXBXPNBOBGUFSIFS WFIJDMFHPUTUVDLPOBCSJEHFBUUIF)BSNPOZ$SFFL (PMG$PVSTF 5IFJODJEFOUPDDVSSFEBUBCPVUQNPO'SJEBZ BUUIF#MPPS4USFFU&BTUHPMGDPVSTFXIFSFUIFESJWFS UPMEQPMJDFTIFMPTUDPOUSPMPGIFSWFIJDMF i4IFUIPVHIUUIFUSBJMPOUIFHPMGDPVSTFXBTB EJSUSPBEBOEUIFOTIFDBNFUPTUPQPOUIFCSJEHF CFUXFFOUXPIPMFT uTBJE4FSHFBOU/BODZWBO3PPZ PG%VSIBN3FHJPOBM1PMJDF 1BSBNFEJDTXFSFBMTPPOTDFOFBOESFQPSUFEOP JOKVSJFTUPUIFESJWFS %BNBHFUPUIFWFIJDMFJTFTUJNBUFEBUNPSFUIBO BOEUIFCSJEHFBUUIFHPMGDPVSTFXJMMBMTP SFRVJSFSFQBJST 32/,&( 8SPOHXBZ ESJWFQVUT %VSIBN XPNBOJO UIFSPVHI newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200913 AP Huge Christmas SaleHuge Christmas Sale Everything In-Store on Sale! We have the perfect gift idea for any budget. Hurry in for best selection! Limited time offer “May the peace and love of “May the peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ Shineour Lord Jesus Christ Shine Upon You and Your Loved Upon You and Your Loved Ones All Year Long.”Ones All Year Long.” This Christmas Find That Unique Gift for the One You Love! 15 Westney Rd N, Ajax in the Westney Heights Plaza beside Rogers (Hwy. 2 & Westney) 905-426-4700 • www.rafaeljewellery.com Rafael Jewellery Merry ChristmasMerry Christmas HolidayHoliday ShoppingShopping GuideGuide • Gift giving ideas • Recipes • Dining out during the holidays • Warmest wishes ADVERTISING FEATURE Go green with a real tree. While an artifi cial tree is indeed reusable, the energy it takes to produce this petroleum-based, non-biode- gradable product may outweigh any environmental benefi t it provides. This year, opt for a potted tree that can be replanted in your yard or garden. Deck the halls with LED lights. They last longer and use 80%-90% less energy than classic bulbs. If everyone did this, the savings could power 200,000 homes for a year! Trim your energy bill by turning off lights and electronic devices when not in use. Even in standby mode they still use 15% of house- hold electricity. Create a festive atmosphere with soy, vegetable or beeswax candles...all made from renewable and biodegradable sources. Display your holiday cheer with an online greeting card. Send family photos and add your own holiday music to create a one-of-a-kind greeting. Not your style? Choose greeting cards made up of recycled paper instead. Wrap it up by recycling. Go for brown paper grocery bags that the kids can have fun decorating, magazine pages or old posters. And if you’re careful, you can save gift wrap from presents you receive for holiday giving next year. Gift bags are also easy to reuse. “Tis the season for giving wisely. Do they really need more stuff? This year, consider treating someone to a gift of service such as a salon treatment, a show or an experience. Too pricey? You can offer to babysit, walk dogs or cook a meal for a friend. A gift of your time is sure to be appreciated.newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200914 AP ACADEMY OF DEFENSIVE DRIVING $$3753750000 CALL NOW, SPACE IS LIMITED HOURS: 7 DAYS A WEEK, 10 AM -10 PM PETER'S ONLYONLY Beginner Driver Education Course Provider Plus GSTPlus GST • 20 hours in classroom instruction • 13 private in-car lessons on automatic • FREE pick-up at home • Courses start every week • Defensive driving instruction Learn Life Saving Skills • Skid Control Evasive Maneuvers • Braking Techniques • FREE progress report card •EARLIER ROAD TEST Group Discounts Available (for 3 or more) Mini Package Available An Installment Payment Plan For Your Convenience CHRISTMAS SPECIALCHRISTMAS SPECIAL 4 DAY COURSES4 DAY COURSES December 21December 21 --24 & December 28 - 3124 & December 28 - 31 965 Dundas St. W. Unit #201 (West Lynde Plaza) 905-665-3150 WHITBYWHITBYMARKHAMMARKHAM 905-294-1001 5762 Hwy 7 Unit #203A (Upstairs of No Frills) PICKERINGPICKERING 905-831-6464 1050 Brock Rd. Unit #10 (South of 401) 416-282-0160 8130 Sheppard Ave. E. Suite 205 (In the Homelife Building) MORNINGSIDEMORNINGSIDETORONTOTORONTO 416-750-0472 777 Warden Ave. Suite 211 (South of Eglinton) at Pete’s... More time on the road Less time in the classroom GIFT CERTIFICATESGIFT CERTIFICATES www.petersacademy.com We’re Dreaming of a Green Christmas! Concerned about surplus waste this holiday season? These eco-friendly tips can help ADVERTISING FEATURE Holiday Shopping Guide newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200915 AP Hours of Operation Mon - Wed . 10-6pm Thurs-Fri. 10am - 7pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 4pm Only at 1400 Hopkins St., Whitby (just North of the AMC Theatres) 401 to Thickson, North on Thickson, left on Consumers, Right on Hopkins Bring in this ad and save an ADDITIONAL $5 OFF your purchase.* On items over $25, valid on purchases made between Dec. 9 -22, 2009, no cash value. * While quantities last *this location only, no exceptions. Prices valid until Dec. 23rd, 2009. $$5959..9999 SAVE UPTO 50% SAVE 20% SLIPPERS $$5599..9999 SAVE SAVE 330%0% SAVE SAVE 550%0% Ladies Cougar Boots SAVE SAVE UPUPTOTO 550%0% Holiday SaleWarehouse SALE REG. REG. $99.99$99.99 ALL NOWNOW MAMMOTH ADVERTISING FEATURE Holiday Shopping Guide newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200916 AP Fine Authentic Indian Cuisine The Mount Everest BESTBEST INDIANINDIAN RESTAURANT RESTAURANT 13 YEARS13 YEARS IN A ROW!IN A ROW!2009Diamond 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 We will be closed from Fri. December 18th to Wed. January 6th, 2010 and we will welcome you back to our newly renovated restaurant on Thursday, January 7th. FFrom all of us, rom all of us, MMerry erry CChristmas, Happy hristmas, Happy HHolidaysolidays & & a safe and prosperous a safe and prosperous NNew Year!ew Year!✃250 Bayly St., West Ajax Tel.Tel. (905) 683-3535 (905) 683-3535 Between McDonalds & Dairy QueenBetween McDonalds & Dairy Queen Mon-Sun 6 a.m - 3 p.mMon-Sun 6 a.m - 3 p.m Buy 1 CLUBHOUSE sandwich Buy 1 CLUBHOUSE sandwich with caesar salad, homefries, with caesar salad, homefries, soup and coffee - All for $5.95* Buy 3 Buy 3 EGGSEGGS with choice of meat, with choice of meat, homefries, fruit, toast & coffeehomefries, fruit, toast & coffee or Buy EGGS BENEDICT or Buy EGGS BENEDICT - get a 2nd for half price*✃*Offer valid until Jan. 1/10 (with coupon) (with coupon)(with coupon) Mon. - Fri. 11:00am-3:00 pmMon. - Fri. 11:00am-3:00 pm OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY, BOXING DAY & NEW YEAR’S DAYOPEN CHRISTMAS DAY, BOXING DAY & NEW YEAR’S DAY BREAKFASTBREAKFAST SPECIALS SPECIALS FULL MENU ALSO AVAILABLEFULL MENU ALSO AVAILABLE *Offer valid until Jan. 1/10*Offer valid until Jan. 1/10 ✃Eat, Drink and be Merry! Get Your Holiday Gift Certi fi cates Now! 1900 Dixie Rd.1900 Dixie Rd.(at Finch) in Pickering(at Finch) in Pickering T:905 839 2506T: 905 839 2506 www.burbsbistro.com Book your holiday part i e s today! Kids Eat FREE Everyday!* applebeescanada.com ©2009 Applebee’s International, Inc. 9B9P)--Caf_klgfJ\=YklLg?g1(-%,*.%.,,( Coupon must be presented to redeem offer. Valid at Ajax Applebee’s gfdq&ImYda^qaf_kh]f\ak *(Z]^gj]lYp]kYf\_jYlmalqYf\]p[dm\]k alcohol. Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer or \ak[gmfl&=phaj]kG[lgZ]j+)$*((1& * One free kids meal per adult entrée purchased. Available at Applebee’s Ajax for a limited time only. Enjoy $5 OFF when you spend $20 Limited time offer. www.makimono.ca • Sushi - Sashimi • • Tempura • Bento Boxes • All-You-Can-Eat Now Available At All Locations PICKERING 1790 Liverpoorl Rd. (Just North of Hwy 401) 905.831.0355 AJAX 50 Kingston Road East RioCan Durham Centre (Just East of Harwood Ave) 905.427.2726Vaughn Location Now Open! DINING OUT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON ADVERTISING FEATURE Celebrate the season in their stylishly appointed dining room featuring clean lines and contemporary elegance. The knowledgeable service staff are discretely attentive, your guides to a culinary journey unlike any in Durham Region. Fresh, eclec- tic, urban cuisine is prepared in classic bistro style. Everything is prepared from scratch, using only the highest quality ingre- dients, with a focus on seasonal freshness. Angus beef, fresh pasta, the best seafood, and lo- cally baked bread are compli- mented by a large and reason- ably priced wine selection and a decadent selection of desserts made on the premises. Whether for a business lunch, a perfect cocktail at the bar or an elegant dinner, Burbs provides you with the perfect suburban restaurant experience. Call to reserve your holiday parties at (905) 839- 2506. www.burbsbistro.com Burbs Bistro and Bar is Pickering’s premier dining venue newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 2009FOOD PREPARED BY INTERNATIONAL CHEF Lunch Buffett $8.99 ~ 7 Days A Week! We specialize in catering 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 619 KINGSTON RD. E. AJAX 905-239-4077 www.thebombaygrill.com COOKS NEEDEDCOOKS NEEDED CALL SHYAM AT 905-239-4077 OR 416-818-2527 10 % Off Any Dinner Menu Item Limited Time Offer. Limit Of One Coupon Per Table. All Dishes Served with Choice of Rice or Naan Licensed Under LLBODurham’sBest IndianRestaurant2009Gold 7E ARE HERE SREPPOH3 NAIDANA#ERI4 416 283 3474 65 Rylander Blvd, Abbey Lane Shopping Centre, East of Shoppers Drug Mart PORT UNION FISH & CHIPSPORT UNION FISH & CHIPS L.L.B.O.L.L.B.O.Lunch Special Lunch Special Every DayEvery Day $5.99$5.99 22PC. Fish & ChipsPC. Fish & Chips 11PC. Fish & ChipsPC. Fish & Chips Tea or Coff ee includedTea or Coff ee included $3.99$3.99 Senior Special Senior Special Every DayEvery Day Tuesday SpecialTuesday Special $8.99$8.99 All You Can EatAll You Can Eat Chef’s Fish & ChipsChef’s Fish & Chips 17 AP Historic Pickering Village 60 Randall Drive, Ajax 905-619-2636 | www.safaribarandgrill.com Book Your Holiday Party at Safari Bar and Grill Specializing in customized cocktail parties and set dinner menus for up to 300 guests, Safari suits all your Holiday party needs. Book for New Years featuring Live Music from Straight Shooter DINING OUT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON ADVERTISING FEATURE newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200918 AP 103 A Old Kingston Rd.103 A Old Kingston Rd. Ajax Ajax 905.231.1101905.231.1101 www.elleng.comwww.elleng.com We Promise... you will love your hair and bring a smile to a child’s face this Christmas * new clients only* new clients only Sunday, December 13, 2009 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday, December 13, 2009 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (toys to be distributed by Ajax/Pickering Fire Dept.)(toys to be distributed by Ajax/Pickering Fire Dept.)CHURCH ST.KINGSTON RD/HWY 2ELIZABETHLINTONOLD KINSGTON WINDSORCome and celebrate our 2nd Anniversary ellengelleng Hair DesignHair Design We invite you to bring in a new unwrapped toy and receive a Hair cut & Blow dry* FREEFREE 1725 KINGSTON ROAD PICKERING, ONTARIO (Corner of Brock Rd and Hwy 2) Steve & Peggy’s Warmest Wishes for a Happ y Holiday Season! Dickson PRINTING LTD. 220 Harwood Ave. S. Ajax 905-683-7940 2009 Diamond With glad tidings to you and yours during this festive season, and a round of thanks for your loyal support this year! Royal Men’s Hairstyling & Barber Shop 750 Oklahoma Drive at Whites Road Pickering, ON (905) 831-1221 Merry Christmas to our valued customers!Merry Christmas to our valued customers! ADVERTISING FEATURE Holiday Shopping Guide No-Bake Chocolate Cookie Squares 1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, chopped 1/2 cup butter 8 DAD’S Oatmeal Cookies or OREO Cookies, coarsely broken 1/4 cup chopped nuts CHOP 1 pkg. (8 squares) Baker’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate; place in medium microwaveable bowl. Add 1/2 cup butter. Microwave on MEDIUM 2-1/2 minutes. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. COARSELY break 8 Dad’s Oatmeal Cookies or 8 Oreo Cookies. (You should have about 1 cup broken cookies.) Add to choco- late mixture along with 1/4 cup chopped nuts; stir until well blended. SPREAD into foil-lined 8-inch square pan. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until fi rm. Cut into 16 squares to serve. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. by Alev Cicek Joe Dickson, MPP Ajax – Pickering jdickson.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org www.joedickson.onmpp.ca 905-427-2060 Merry Christmas It’s been a privilege and a pleasure serving Ajax and Pickering this year, thanks. Christmas Breakfast Cinna-buns 1/2 cup margarine 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup chopped pecans 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 (4-ounce) package butterscotch instant pudding 1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed and cut into 12 pieces Grease a pan and arrange rolls at the bot- tom. Sprinkle pudding mix over rolls. Cook margarine and sugar over low heat until bubbly. Add cinnamon and pecans and stir. Pour mixture over rolls. Cover tightly with foil wrap. Allow to rise overnight. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes in pan. Invert onto a dish and serve. Delicious when served warm. Makes 12 servings. by Melanie D’Cruz Warmest Holiday Wishes newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200919 AP Visit www.Basketballbasics.ca for more info.or call 416-567-2844 for more details Ages 6 ~ 8 10 am to 12 pm athletic 5yr olds welcome 9 ~ 12yrs 12 pm to 2 pm & 13 ~ 15yrs 2pm to 4 pm Also introducing Basketball Fit. A basketball oriented workout for women 20+ The Most Comprehensive House League Durham has to Offer Early Bird S p e c i a l ends Dec. 1 9 t h Bring the ga m e c h e c k the attitude $85 Fundamentals for life through sport. www.planetgymnastics.cawww.planetgymnastics.ca Come see our Super clean, child friendly gymnastic facilities. We are dedicated to recreational Gymnastics W h i t b yWhitby G y mGym 1755 Plummer St.Unit 8 &91755 Plummer St. Unit 8 & 9 Pickering,Ontario,L1W 3S1Pickering, Ontario, L1W 3S1 (905)839-7669(905) 839-7669 105 Industrial Drive Unit 4 &5105 Industrial Drive Unit 4 & 5 Whitby,Ontario,L1N 5Z9Whitby, Ontario, L1N 5Z9 (905)665-1990(905) 665-1990 P i c k e r i n gPickering G y mGym “B i r t h d a y“Birthda y P a r t i e s ” Par t i e s ” “C h r i s t m a s “Christm as C a m p ” Cam p ” •P a r e n t &T o t • Parent & T o t •K i n d e r G y m • Kinder G y m •R e c r e a t i o n a l • Recreati o n a l G y m n a s t i c sGymnastics •T e e n G y m n a s t i c s , • Teen Gy m n a s t i c s , T r a m p o l i n e C l a s s e s Trampolin e C l a s s e s A special Winter Camps Feature brought to you by: holidaycamps & winterregistration, play days, parties & more Call Cori-Ann at 905-683-5110 ext. 228 ADVERTISING FEATURE Holiday Shopping Guide Dear Santa, Our Nana is helping us with this letter. My name is lsaiah, I am 5 years old and my brother’s name is Jacob, he is two years old. Nana has told us that this year we have been really good, l help do things around the house, like making my bed, cleaning up all the toys my brother and l play with and doing what we are told. My brother Jacob loves to play with cars; lots and lots of cars; that’s all he does, all day long. l like to play with my DS games, and l love to watch Arthur on TV. Sometimes my brother likes to watch it with me. We cannot wait till you come to our home on Christmas. We will leave you some cookies and milk. We hope you like them! lsaiah and Jacob Paul Letter to Santa newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200920 AP FREE CLASSES! t:PHBt.FEJUBUJPOt1JMBUFT t#FMMZ%BODJOHt)JQ)PQt+B[[ 4)011*/( t+FXFMMFSZt)FBMUI1SPEVDUT t'BTIJPOT.PSF XXXXPNFOTXFFLFOETIPXDPN +0*/64'035)&/%"//6"-41"8&&,&/%'03$)*$,40/-: WHAT? New for 2010! Now offering a choice of 1 day spa packages at $99*ea. Includes 3 spa services & all the FREE bonuses OR 2 day spa packages at $149*ea. Includes 5 spa services & all the FREE bonuses 'PSJOGPSNBUJPOBCPVUUIFTIPXUP QVSDIBTFUJDLFUTWJTJU WHEN? February 6th & 7th, 2010 WHERE? DURHAM COLLEGE The NEW Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre 21 Avenue of Champions, Oshawa (Corner of Conlin Rd. & Simcoe St. N.) WHY? Because itÊs FUN & FABULOUS!!! Licensed 19 yrs. + FASHION SHOWS & MOVIES FEATURED DAILY! * plus applicable taxes. GRE A T X-M A S GIFT IDEA! Welcome to the second annual Women’s Week- end Show, A Spa Weekend for Chicks Only, Saturday February 6th and Sunday February 7th 2010. Our show has moved to a new larger wheel-chair- friendly facility at Durham College in their new Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, located at 21 Avenue of Champions at the Corner of Simcoe Street North and Conlin Road in Oshawa Ontario. www.campusrecreationcentre.com. Our Show will now off er a one day or two spa day package for your convenience! Your one day rate on either Saturday or Sunday is now only $99 and includes 3 spa services plus a number of bonus services and dance classes at no extra cost. The cost for you to join us for the two day spa show is $149 and that will in- clude 5 spa services plus a number of bonus services and dance classes at no extra charge. Taxes are extra. You can wear your own robe (bring it from home) or you can rent one from us for only $10. Like last year, we will feature one fashion show each day at 12 noon to enjoy while you enjoy your lunch break. See the greatest styles of hair and fashion brought to you from the runways of New York. As well, view movies at 3pm each day as you wait for your toes to dry or while you are getting your hair done. In between your scheduled appointments (new as well) shop ‘Rodeo Drive’ for all the great deals on jewel- lery, fashion, cosmetics, ladies accessories and more. Take a dip in a hot tub or simply relax with a mar- tini while you unwind and laugh with your friends. If you are coming from out of town, why not consid- er staying at the Holiday Inn Oshawa Whitby Confer- ence Centre in Oshawa located at 1011 Bloor Street East. www.hioshawa.ca. Conveniently located off the Harmony Road in Oshawa, the Holiday Inn can provide for you that true weekend away feel that you deserve or, consider the Travelodge at 940 Champlain Avenue in Oshawa www.travelodgeoshawa.ca which off ers compli- mentary deluxe hot and cold breakfasts for their guests. Learn more about spa services available by visiting the website. Tickets can be purchased on-line only! www.womensweekendshow.com. Become a Spa Service Provider! Vis- it the website for information on how you can provide services or call us today. Want to be a retail exhibitor selling your fash- ions, Jewellery or products to these wonder- ful women? Visit our web site for information on how you can exhibit or call Monique Lea 905- 579-4473 ext 2318 or Jennifer Reesor at ext. 2334. Women’s Weekend Show set to be a big hit again at new location in Oshawa!! WWS January 24th WWS January 24th 20082008 NiNikki Henderson Modelling kki Henderson Modelling for her store, Strut for her store, Strut NoveauNoveau Claudia Gaviria, our Yoga Instructor, showing the correct pose at the WWS January 24th 2008 Shopping on ‘Rodeo Drive’ at the WWS January 24th, 2008 WWS January 24th 2008 Taking a dip in a Beachcomber Hot Tub WWS January 24th & 25th WWS January 24th & 25th 20082008 Ladies relaxing between Ladies relaxing between spa sespa sessions watching ssions watching Sex in the City!Sex in the City! Our new friend from Ottawa Our new friend from Ottawa celebrating her 50th with her celebrating her 50th with her Mom from Durham Mom from Durham at the at the WWS January 24th, 2008WWS January 24th, 2008 Getting a facial from Getting a facial from Allure Salon and Spa at the Allure Salon and Spa at the WWS January 24th WWS January 24th 20082008 Some of our new friends enjoying a few giSome of our new friends enjoying a few giggles over a ggles over a martini at the martini at the WWS January 24th WWS January 24th 20082008 ADVERTISING FEATURE newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200921 AP FIRST MONTESSORI SCHOOL IN PICKERING “Knowledge with Understanding” ~ Infants to 14 years. QUALITY EDUCATION IN ONE LOCATION FREE Trashology Clinic every Wednesday @ 5:30 All Ages Welcome! Come help us turn trash into “bedmats” for those in need. 401 KINGSTON RD. PICKERING (Rougemount & Hwy. 2) P: 905-509-1722 • montessorilearningcentre.com GREAT REPORT CARDS Motivation Confidence Better Grades Ajax 905.683.6660 | Pickering 905.420.3141 | Whitby 905.668.6800 Reading | Writing | Math | French | Study Skills | Homework Support | JK to Grade 12 oxfordlearning.com Results Today Skills for Tomorrow www.gradeexpectations.cawww.gradeexpectations.ca • Diagnostic assessments • Individualized programs Reading • Writing • Math • Study Skills ® AAJAX/PICKERING 905-420-9930 • Ontario Certifi ed Teachers • Grades 1 and up Education ADVERTISING FEATURE Your child may have just received a disappointing report card. You may have known that your child was having diffi culty, but did not realize the extent of their troubles. Or maybe you were hoping that this time it would be different, and he or she would do better. The report card is part of a larger support strategy that makes you an active participant in your child’s education. Let’s get the most out of your child’s report card and learn exactly what to look for so you can help them get on track for success at school now, and for years to come. Read all comments carefully. The comments written for a given subject may give an explanation for the grade received. If your child seems to have an unexpected grade, a missed assignment or a high number of absences, rather than a difficulty with the subject itself, could be the reason. The comments can sometimes be technical and difficult to understand since they speak to specific curriculum objectives so be sure to write down any questions you have and ask your child’s teacher to clarify. Look for clues in language skills to get to the root of a reoccurring problem. Language skills need to be strong in order to think about all other areas of curriculum. If reading and writing grades are low, all other class marks will likely follow suit. If reading comprehen- sion is weak, for example, your child will most certainly have trouble understanding what is being taught in Science or History. If this is the case, building language skills should be a goal for your child. Discuss with the teacher how you can work together to help your child develop these skills. Once language skills are at an appro- priate level, your child should experience more success in all other classes. Carefully consider your child’s learning skills. Like language skills, learning skills are crucial for school success. Look to the ‘Learning Skills’ sec- tion at the end of the report card for indica- tions of deeper prob- lems. Skills such as independent work, use of information, prob- lem solving or goal Making the Best of a ‘Bad’ Report Card From Oxford Learning setting will be necessary for success regardless of the subject. A ‘needs improvement’ or ‘satis- factory’ score in any of these areas implies a bigger problem that will need to be addressed. Once you have identified why your child is struggling to get higher grades, you can move forward to get them the help they need. Speak with the teacher to see if support can be offered through the school. If reoccurring difficulties have been holding your child back year after year, it may be time to consider help from a good supplemental education program outside of school. Oxford Learning can help you interpret a report card, figure out the root of a child’s difficulty and help your child build the academic and learning skills they need to succeed in school. Call Oxford Learning today in Pickering 420-3141 or Ajax 683-6660 to get the help you and your child may need. oxfordlearning.com newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200922 AP NE122G309 © 2009. Sears Canada Inc. Tuesday, Dec. 8 to Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 17 SHOPPING DAYS LEFT!HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN SALE ON NOW *These savings offers exclude items with prices ending in .97 and currently advertised items. **Second item must be of equal or lesser value and must accompany any returns. †Excludes Christmas trees originally ticketed with prices ending in .97 Buy 2, Get the 3rd for a Loonie on already reduced clearance-priced Men’s, Women’s & Kids’ fashions, Women’s hosiery and Men’s & Women’s footwear Third item must be of equal or lesser value and must accompany any returns. Offer valid on in-stock items in our Sears Department stores only. Selection varies by store. While quantities last. Excludes walking and athletic shoes, kids’ footwear, luggage, handbags, women’s accessories, women’s intimate apparel, jewellery, watches, cosmetics & fragrances. Offer ends Dec. 8, 2009 40% off *All men’s reg.-priced Dockers®, Haggar®& Nevada®/MD fashions 40" LCD 20,000:1 contrast 1080p 849 88 SONY 40" LCD FULL HDTV •3 HDMI®inputs #KDL40S504. While quantities last SPECIAL PURCHASE 50% off Sears original ticketed prices of †All Christmas trees! While quantities last 40%-50% off All reg.-priced Christmas decor and ornaments! Sale prices end Sun., Dec. 13, 2009. $70 off 179 99 Breville®‘Café Roma’ espresso maker. Sears reg. 249.99. Sale price ends Thurs., Dec. 24, 2009 Tuesday, Dec. 8 only Buy One, Get the 2nd FREE** Men’s reg.-priced Point Zero® fashions, including denim Buy One, Get the 2nd FREE** All women’s reg.-priced Alfred Dunner ® fashions 49 99 each *All reg.-priced Timex®, Casio®, Cardinal®, Caravelle® by Bulova, Columbia®, Jessica®/MD and Nevada watches Sears reg. 59.95-$100 Look for the ENERGY STAR® logo. It shows that the product meets ENERGY STAR specifications for energy efficiency. PICKERING TOWN CENTRE 905-420-8000 newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200923 P stopped,” said Mary Delaney, of Land Over Landings, which replaced People or Planes. Land Over Landings focuses on preserving the farmland for future generations. Since expropriation, homes have been rent- ed to tenants by the landlord, Transport Can- ada, which is also responsible for repairs. No final decision on the airport has been made. Last week, the tenants of the historical home, which sits on Concession Road 8 and Sideline 32, moved out after receiving a notice from Transport Canada, and the house was boarded up. David Zangari, 50, who rented the four- bedroom home for close to 30 years with his wife Michelle and their children, said they were shocked when the notice came about two months ago. “It hurt a lot when they first called, but we also expected it, knowing this is the airport (land) and we’ve been here a long time, a lot longer than many people.” Locals hope the federal government will save the home. “A house like this should be lived in,” said Gerd Untermann, Land Over Landings member. When homes are empty, they’re often dam- aged by animals, water, vandals or fire. Five hundred homes, businesses and barns have been demolished, destroyed by fire or board- ed up and vandalized since expropriation. Around 300 homes remain. Ajax-Pickering MP Mark Holland is work- ing to get the house saved. “The fight to save Bentley-Carruthers house isn’t over -- nor is protecting north Pickering lands from a gov- ernment whose clear bias is to clear the com- munity to build an airport,” he said. Jeremy Link, Transport Canada communi- cations advisor, said in an e-mail the agency will explore and consider an alternate use for the building. “Transport Canada is fully aware of the federal heritage significance of the Bentley-Carruthers House and will take this into account when considering a future use for the building,” he said. Mr. Holland noted Transport Cana- da restored the other Bentley house in Brougham, which is where the Greater Toron- to Airports Authority set up shop. He accuses the agency of slowly depopu- lating the remaining community by evicting tenants and destroying historical homes. “The reality is we don’t have a lot of heritage buildings left,” he said. Mr. Link said the Bentley-Carruthers ten- ant was not evicted, but relocated to another property on the federal lands. He added the tenants agreed to move, and Transport Canada helped them do so. He said Transport Canada’s first priority is the safety and health of residents, but keeps fiscal responsibility in mind. Mr. Holland’s office, after hearing the move was due to mould, called Transport Cana- da and asked for proof, which it hasn’t yet received. So Mr. Holland visited the home himself. “My opinion is that it’s a beautiful building. There’s no doubt that the govern- ment’s done a horrible job maintaining it and it needs some work.” Mr. Holland compared the situation to Tul- lis Cottage, another historical building, which would have been demolished due to mould in 2005 if he and the Liberals didn’t demand a third-party review, which found the claims were false. The home was saved and desig- nated as a heritage property. -- With files from the Torstar News Services And Still Much More! Subject to additions and deletions. FURNITURE & MATTRESS AUCTION s 3 PIEC% SOFA SETS 3%#TIONALS ). M!.9 D%3)'.%2 #/L/523 LEATHER MICROF)"2% s OAK, MAHO'!.9 CHERRYWOO$ 9 0C. D).).' 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Pickering Recreation Complex PICKERING from page 1 AIRPORT LANDS Pickering group works to save historic Bentley-Carruthers house The house is an icon because this is where the last stand was made. Mary Delaney newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200924 AP Sports Brad Kelly Sports Editor bkelly@durhamregion.com newsdurhamregion.com Pickering rallies from three-goal deficit to beat Peterborough in shootout BY BRAD KELLY bkelly@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- The Pickering Panthers had a couple of qual- ity traits on display Sunday night that head coach Bill Brady would like to see on a more fre- quent basis. First, they showed some resil- iency against the visiting Peter- borough Stars, trailing 3-0 and 4-1 before rallying to win 5-4 in a shootout. Secondly, while the effort was certainly rewarded, it’s that type of consistent performance that has been lacking through 32 games in the Central Canadian Hockey League. “They didn’t give up,” said Brady of the end result. “We thought we played a good first period. We had a breakaway and didn’t score and they came down with two real quick ones toward the end of the period and we were thinking ‘Holy geez. We played well and we’re down two to nothing.’ “But the guys did well. They battled back, didn’t give up and were rewarded for that.” The surge to get back into the game came over a span of 3:18 in the second period. Trailing 4-1, Brandon Porco and Chris Gelencser brought Pickering to within one, then Brandon Parks scored on the power play to pull even. Justin MacDonald scored earlier in the period for Pickering. Following a scoreless third period and overtime, it took six shooters from each side before a goal was finally scored in the shootout. Rookie forward Kha- lid Alli, a draft pick of the Peter- borough Petes, served as the hero for the Panthers, beating Peterborough netminder Zach Fryia. Goaltender Brennan Knoblock picked up his first win for the Panthers after being acquired in a trade with Markham last week. He faced 45 shots on Sunday, the same number he faced in a 5-1 loss in Wellington on Fri- day. The win snapped a three- game losing streak for the Pan- thers, who won for just the sec- ond time in the past eight games as they search for a consistent level to their play. “It’s definitely not there for our liking,” said Brady. “We can’t put our finger on what makes them tick on a regular basis. I guess that’s coaching.” The win didn’t help the Pan- thers escape the basement of the 10-team East Division, six points back of the final play- off spot held by Peterborough, though the Stars hold three games in hand. At 11-19-2, the Panthers will have some work to do over the final 18 games of the season to make a move. “It’s not unrealistic if we could ever string together a bunch of wins we would be OK, I think,” said Brady. “We don’t expect to run the table, but if we get some consis- tency where we win three of five or something like that, we may have an opportunity to make the playoffs. “It all has to come together and it’s a long stretch to go and it’s not going to be easy. We just tell them to keep going at it and see where it takes you.” The Panthers will be home to Whitby on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The hockey club will be host- ing a toy drive in conjunc- tion with the Durham Regional Police for Friday’s game. Any- one bringing an unwrapped toy will receive half-price admis- sion and a free hot dog and soft drink. HOCKEY Panthers show resiliency, look for consistency RYAN PFEIFFER / METROLAND WHITBY -- Ajax Attack goaltender Adam Stein concentrated on a shot from Whitby Fury player Kris Faric during Central Canadian Hockey League play at Iroquois Park on Monday night. The Attack came up short, losing a 5-2 decision. HOCKEY Durant unhappy with Attack Ajax coach livid following Monday loss to Whitby BY SHAWN CAYLEY scayley@durhamregion.com WHITBY -- After Monday’s game, Ajax Attack head coach Carey Durant was livid with his hockey club. It wasn’t so much they dropped a 5-2 decision to the Whitby Fury at Iroquois Park, but more the man- ner in which it occurred as he was less than pleased with the lack of competitiveness shown by his players. “First off, too many guys have played for the former (Ajax) coach (John Winder) on their team and too many guys ... we have a couple of guys that came from Whitby ... they are all friends,” said Durant, who chose not to immediately address his 17-16-1 team following the game. “None of them want to go out and body check each other, they’d rather go out and shake hands instead of play a game of hockey.” When asked why he felt that was the case, Durant pointed to the ever-changing hockey culture. “I think that’s just the case in hockey these days. Everybody wants to be everybody’s buddy,” he said. While that may have been the case with a few of the players on each side Monday, there was no love lost between Whitby’s Matt Dunwoodie and Ajax’s Ian Mac- Donald. The pair were in each other’s face most of the night and finally, with under a minute to go and the game all but over, they dropped the gloves with each other in the Whitby zone and wrestled around a little before being sepa- rated by the linesmen. While on the surface the skir- mish appeared to be nothing more than two willing players getting at each other, Durant had a differing viewpoint of it all. “For them guys to even remotely start a fight when it’s 5-2, I think it just shows the classlessness of the coach on that side,” Durant said, referring to Winder, while also noting Whitby still has two games to play in Ajax before the season ends. For his part, Winder refuted Durant’s claim that Dunwoodie was sent out to scrap. “I have no idea what he is talking about. I put out my fourth line, my young guys. I have no idea what he is talking about,” Winder said. The two teams next play each other Jan. 16 at the Ajax Commu- nity Centre and again Jan. 24 in Ajax. Notes: Scoring goals Monday night were Hayden Perroni and Luke Laszkiewicz ... Adam Stein started in goal, but was lifted after allow- ing three goals on 23 shots through two periods. Branden Mann replaced him ... Leading scorer Blake Boddy missed Monday’s game to write a university exam ... Saturday afternoon the Attack reg- istered a 6-4 victory over Markham with goals from Boddy (2), Jordan Reed (2), Kord Miller and Brett Eagleson ... That win came follow- ing a 6-1 loss to Stouffville on the road last Thursday ... Ajax’s next game is Friday in Peterborough. Sunday they host Markham at 3 p.m. Fans are being asked to bring a donation of a new, unwrapped toy and non-perishablee food item to Sunday’s game. Fans will receive $2 off their game admission for each food or toy donation, up to a maximum of half price admission. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200925 AP JUNIOR “A” HOCKEY PICKERING PANTHERS VS. WHITBY FURYFRIDAY DECEMBER 11 7:30PM PICKERING RECREATION COMPLEX TOY DRIVE IN CONJUNCTION WITHDURHAM REGIONAL POLICE BRING AN UNWRAPPED TOY AND RECEIVE1/2 PRICE ADMISSIONAND FREEHOT DOG AND SOFT DRINK Trustee In Bankruptcy TrusteeTrustee In In BankruptcyBankruptcy James R. Yanch OSHAWA 215 Simcoe St. N. 905-721-7506 AJAX 50 Commercial Ave. 905-619-1473 Saturday & Evening Appt.’s Available FREE CONSULTATION www.jamesryanch.com Advice on Proposals, Bankruptcy & Alternatives “Lets fi nd solutions together!” Over 20 Years Experience BY APPT. ONLY 24/7 LOCAL BREAKING NEWS, SPORTS, PHOTOS, VIDEO AND WEATHER: ALL DAY, EVERY DAY WHEN YOU WANT IT.>>newsdurhamregion.comSWIMMING Top times set by Pickering Swim Club members OSHAWA -- A total of 15 athletes from the Pickering Swim Club competed with other teams from the GTA at the Oshawa distance meet at the Donevan pool. Swimmers took a total of 377.64 seconds off in their total events. The athletes swam 12 best times overall and Reed Burningham took the most seconds off in his event (96.9 seconds). Three swimmers, Brandon Nagy, Teagan O’Halloran and Sydney Vandersluis, all swam first-place finishes in their events. The follow- ing swimmers all swam at high levels to place well at the meet: Althaf Abdeen (13-14 male): 400 IM (6:20.65), 2nd place Reed Burningham (13- 14 male): 800 freestyle (11:33.67), 7th place Hannah Catterall (female 12): 400 free (7:04.42), 2nd place Rajin Dhillon (male 13- 14): 400 IM (6:23.43), 3rd place Nick Hase (male 13-14): 800 freestyle (13:33.23), 13th place Matthew Kastelic (male 11-12): 400 free (7:44.13), 5th place Megan Kastelic (female 15 and over): 800 free (11:04.77), 3rd place Kyle Koerth (male 15 and over): 800 free (10:46.65), 3rd place Calvin Liu (male 13-14): 400 free (7:21.07), 3rd place Brandon Nagy (male 13- 14): 400 freestyle (6:35.96), 1st place Teagan O’Halloran (female 12): 400 free (6:20.59), 1st Michael Taverna (male 15 and over): 800 free (10:50.73), 4th Sydney Vanderslu- is (female 13-14): 400 IM (6:12.02), 1st Diana Von Schwer- in (female 13-14): 400 IM (6:42.82), 3rd Meredith Warburton (female 13-14): 800 freestyle (11:32.47), 4th. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 9, 200926 AP Recipe Winner Compliments of South Ajax Thank you to all of our Readers’ who sent in Recipes. Merry Christmas to all! WHITE CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY BISCOTTI 1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cups sugar 3 eggs 3 squares Bakers white chocolate, melted and cooled 2 3/4 cups flour 2 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/4 cup orange juice 1 tsp almond extract 1/2 cup coarslely chopped almonds 1/2 cup coarsely choppes dried cranberries Beat butter with sugar and eggs. Beat in melted chocolate. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; stir into butter mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients until well blended. Dough will be sticky. Divide dough in half and spood onto 2 greased and lightly floured baking sheets, shaping each into a long log, about 2 inches wide. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes on upper rack of oven until golden brown. Romove from oven and cool 10 minutes. Cut logs into 3/4 inch wide slices. Return cookies to baking sheets, cut side down and bake 20 minutes longer, turning once during baking. Remove from baking sheets and cool on wire racks. If desired drizzle with melted dark chocolate(I always do). Gloria Nedanis Recipe Winner Gloria Nedanis Gloria was the lucky winner of a $200 Shopping Certificate to help with all of her holiday entertaining. Sobey’s store manager, John Elderkin presenting the winner Gloria Nedanis with her gift card. *No minimum purchase necessary. Discount not applicable to the purchase of Gift Cards. **Check local store for hours of operation. KINGSTON RD. E. PICKERING PRKWY.BROCK RD.PICKERING N E S W CANADIAN TIRE WAL-MARTEVERYONE IS INVITED TO MARK’S WORK WEARHOUSE’S FRIENDS & FAMILY EVENT ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28TH, IT’LL BE LIKE A ZOO DOWN HERE. ON EVERYTHING STOREWIDE, AT ALL MARK’S STORES. VISIT MARKS.COM FOR THE STORE NEAREST YOU. Help us welcome some furry, feathery friends from the Toronto Zoo as they visit us for Friends & Family at Mark’s. SAVE %20 * AV 5PM UNTIL 11PM** (INCLUDES REGULAR AND SALE PRICED ITEMS) 1899 Brock Rd. (905) 427-1866 CUSTOMER APPRECIATION EVENT ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12th, IT’LL BE LIKE A ZOO DOWN HERE. AJAX 40 Kingston Road East (905) 426-3534 Mark’s Work Wearhouse Kingston Rd.Harwood Ave.Help us welcome some furry, feathery friends from the Toronto Zoo as they visit us for our Customer Appreciation Event at Mark’s. ON EVERYTHING STOREWIDE, AT ALL MARK’S STORES. VISIT MARKS.COM FOR THE STORE NEAREST YOU.