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NSPECTIONIWITH OIL CHANGE $74 88 With Coupon We will perform a complimentary Pre-alignment check with every service. Pressrun 51,400 • 52 pages • Optional 3-week delivery $6/$1 newsstand JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND AJAX -- Elie Ghannoum exchanged a few words with Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty after an informal meeting Dec. 14 to hear the pub- lic’s thoughts and ideas for Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Pleased to invest in GM: Flaherty FINANCE MINISTER FIELDS QUESTIONS AT AJAX MEETING BY REKA SZEKELY rszekely@durhamregion.com AJAX -- He was there to listen, said Finance Minister Jim Flaherty at a town hall meeting in Ajax on Monday night. The town hall, held at the Hilton Garden Inn, was the first in a series of pre-budget consulta- tions Mr. Flaherty will be conducting across Can- ada in anticipation of the 2010 budget. “I can tell you when we started, I didn’t think we’d be doing five budgets as a minority govern- ment,” he said in his opening remarks. The Whitby-Oshawa MP went on to describe the importance of public consultation. “When we listened last December and Janu- ary, I can tell you it made a huge difference in our recognition of the need for large stimulus in the Canadian economy,” he said. The government will continue to implement its two-year economic stimulus plan, but there are no plans for big new expenditures. “We will stay the course because our economy is not out of the woods yet,” said Mr. Flaherty, adding there are some encouraging signs in Can- ada’s economy and a few encouraging signs in the American economy. Following the meeting, he was asked if he See FLAHERTY page 21 COMMUNITY 5 Helping hands Volunteers deliver Santa Fund packages NEWS 10 Devastating church fire Historic Whitby building goes up in flames SPORTS 24 Pressure’s on Panthers Every game a must to make junior playoffs PICKERING Wednesday, December 16, 2009 NNews ews AAddveverr titisseerrTHE newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 20092 AP 1801 Valley Farm Rd., Pickering 905-420-3369 PARKWAY retirement residence 1645 Pickering Pkwy., Pickering 905-426-6603 May this holiday season bring you happy memories to cherish through the years. FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS Visit us online at www.chartwellreit.ca A predator is confronted with his past BY JEFF MITCHELL jmitchell@durhamregion.com This is the first of a two-part series. The names of the women have been changed. DURHAM -- Their recollections of their tormentor are child-like. Eerie. One remembers sharp, dark eyes and bushy eyebrows. He loomed above the child, manipulating her. Another recalls, of all things, his habit of incessantly snapping his fingers; the sound would precede the arrival of the man who touched her. Both remember the smile. No one knew but them what was behind it. “He had a leer behind that smile,” said one. “Because we had a secret.” *** It was the beginning of a new decade -- the 70s -- when Bill and Carol Schofield arrived in Oshawa, moving into a brand-new subdi- vision in the city’s south end, the neighbourhood so freshly minted, some yards were muddy expanses devoid of grass. It was a neighbourhood of young families -- the Schofields had two adopted children themselves -- and it wasn’t long before a sense of community took hold. There were parties -- lots of parties -- with residents taking turns doing the hosting, celebrating Christmas, Halloween and any other occa- sion that warranted getting together, hoist- ing a few and relaxing. Pictures from that era almost invariably depict youngish couples, smiling and clutching cocktails and stubby beer bottles. Bill Schofield was also well-known as a talented musician, perform- ing in those days with a band they called Denim. He and Carol had a cottage where they’d host get-togethers and drinks flowed. It was the 70s. That’s what people did. But in addition to the good times, some remember an unsettling side to Bill Schofield’s character. Friends, acquaintances and co- workers remember a man whose lewd (some would say crude) com- ments and behaviour are memorable, even now, all these years later. One Uxbridge resident, a retired cop, remembers a well-lubricated Mr. Schofield making comments about women and young girls that frequently crossed the line. A co-worker at Chrysler, where Mr. Scho- field worked as a data processing manager, recalls a man seemingly obsessed with sex and oblivious to the discomfort his inappropriate comments caused. Mr. Schofield is now a four-time sex offender, his most recent con- victions for molesting two young girls in south Oshawa in the early 70s. When his trial occurred in Whitby earlier this year, courtroom benches were consistently filled with people who’d known him decades before. One co-worker from Chrysler was present every day. When asked why he’d invested so much time in the trial, the Oshawa retiree replied: “I wanted to see Bill get his.” *** It happened in different ways. Carrie was one of the dozens of kids who would spend long summer days dashing about the neighbourhood, from house to house to house -- enjoy- ing the freedom that now seems such an anachronism, when youngsters would fly out the door after breakfast, returning only when their mothers called them in for supper. One of the occasional stops on Carrie’s itinerary was the Schofield house, where kids would gather to splash in a wading pool. It was there, she said, she was subjected to touching and oral sex by Bill Schofield. Acts occurred in a tent in the backyard and in the garage, among other places, she testified; she was four years old. She said now she remembers the bad feelings that accom- panied the activity. But Mr. Schofield would reassure her everything was all right, she said -- normal. “He used to say to me, ‘All daddies do this’,” Carrie recalled. Anne’s parents were friends of the Schofields and spent a lot of time with them, including regular Friday night card games. Anne would join the Schofield kids on those nights, relishing the fun of being allowed to stay up late and watch TV. Some of the assaults, she said, would occur during those card nights. Other acts, including oral sex, occurred, it seemed, when Mr. Schofield saw the opportunity. “I can see the dark eyes, the hair, the moustache -- and that leer,” Anne said now. But in spite of what she said hap- pened, she didn’t see Mr. Schofield as some kind of monster. “He was nice; he was gentle,” she said. “He would joke around. I think he liked me.” *** Carrie went first. After decades of torment, she did what she had vowed for years she would do: She phoned the Durham Regional Police in the fall of 2007 and told them about the man who had molested her. It wasn’t her first disclosure: That had occurred many years earlier, when she was still a child. She told her father about Mr. Schofield and her belief that that’s what daddies and lit- tle girls did. Carrie’s dad was enraged. But he never called the police. And he never acted out on his desire to confront and destroy the man who had hurt his little girl. Carrie’s dad carried that smouldering guilt with him until the end of his life; it wasn’t a constant topic but now and then, especially when he was drinking, his rage would resurface anew and he would rail against the bastard who had molested his little girl -- and got away with it. “It totally consumed him,” Carrie said. “I think one of his greatest regrets was that it wasn’t taken care of before he died.” Carrie’s father passed away in 1995. Next month Mr. Schofield is to be sentenced for sexually assaulting her. Carrie can’t help but feel her dad will be watching. COURTS The secret behind the smile DURHAM -- Bill Schofield is to be sentenced for the sexual assault of a minor. Here, he’s pictured in snap- shots taken in the 1970s at a number of parties held in the Oshawa neighbourhood where he lived with his wife Carol. He had a leer behind that smile. Because he had a secret. Victim newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 20093 AP A Gift That Gives Warmth! Support Operation Winter Warmth and receive a plush “Mr. Frost” snowman Here’s how it works: Purchase:$150 or more in Pickering Town Centre Gift Cards Donate:$5 or $10 to Operation Winter Warmth Receive:a medium or large snowman as a special thank you! For more details and to purchase your Pickering Town Centre Gift Cards, please visit Guest Services on the lower level, near Centre Court. While quantities last. 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 gift cards that give back a cuddly reward keeping kids warm this winter ✓ I believe in...I believe in... gift cards that give back a cuddly reward keeping kids warm this winter warmth O P E R A T I O N Operation Winter Warmth provides new winter coats for local kids in need. Officer’s assault charge goes to jury BY JEFF MITCHELL jmitchell@durhamregion.com WHITBY -- Durham police officers came to court and told “a pack of lies” to protect a fellow cop accused of assault, a prosecutor alleged Monday. In a closing address to a Superior Court jury, prosecu- tor Paula Thompson said a number of Durham cops -- called by Ms. Thompson as Crown witnesses -- were not truthful in their testimony during the trial of Constable Glen Turpin. “The common thread ... is the thin blue line of lies that has been woven around Const. Turpin’s conduct,” Ms. Thompson told jurors in a Whitby courtroom. “They were telling you a pack of lies.” The incendiary comments came after a week of testi- mony in the case of Const. Turpin, 40, a veteran Durham cop who was charged with assault after a complaint of excessive use of force was lodged by Ryan Schwalm. Mr. Schwalm, 37, said he was assault- ed on the night of June 4, 2007, after Const. Turpin responded to a report of a disturbance at his Dundas Street East home. Mr. Schwalm testified at this trial he was subjected to the abuse after he was belligerent and pro- fane in his dealings with the offi- cer. He said he was handcuffed and punched in the face in his driveway, then later had his face smashed into a wall at the 18 Divi- sion station in Whitby. Testifying in his own defence, Const. Turpin said he was investigating a report of a vio- lent domestic incident when he was confronted by a drunken and menacing Mr. Schwalm, who ignored orders to let police investigate and became aggressive when the cop tried to get him to move away. Both men agreed Mr. Schwalm had bashed his own head against a plexiglass barrier in a police cruiser; Const. Turpin said that’s how Mr. Schwalm got the two black eyes and facial abrasions depicted in photos shown to COURTS Cops’ testimony a ‘pack of lies’: Crown the jury. Mr. Schwalm said his injuries were the result of Const. Turpin’s actions, particularly an instance in which he was swung with his hands cuffed behind his back face-first into the wall of an 18 Division holding cell. Several officers called as Crown witnesses described Mr. Schwalm’s aggressive and profane behaviour, particularly when he was brought to the station for booking. But they were able to provide few details about the incident in the holding cell, saying for the most part it was out of their line of sight. Ms. Thompson alleged the officers’ lack of detail was designed to protect Const. Turpin, and themselves. “They failed to docu- ment possible criminal conduct ... because the perpetrator was one of their colleagues,” she said. “They came here and tried to sell you a load of nonsense aimed at justifying their conduct. “Their vagueness and uncertainty is essentially an effort to cover up.” Defence lawyer Bill MacKenzie said in his closing address Const. Turpin used appropriate measures in dealing with an aggressive and irrational man. Quoting from a report filed after the event by another Durham officer, Mr. MacKenzie said, “Const. Turpin acted reasonably ... and demonstrated restraint and patience in dealing with Mr. Schwalm.” Jurors are scheduled to begin deliberations in the case Tues- day. CONST. GLEN TURPIN BY JEFF MITCHELL jmitchell@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- Durham police have re-arrested a man in the decades-old slaying of a 22-year-old Raglan woman, charging him with murder almost 35 years to the day after the killing. Alan Smith, 57, of Cobourg, remains in custody fol- lowing his arrest Dec. 10; he is scheduled to appear by video in an Oshawa court Thursday. The arrest came four and a half months after it appeared he had been cleared in the murder of Beverly Smith, no relation, who was found shot to death in her Raglan home Dec. 9, 1974. Durham cops aren’t commenting on what led to Mr. Smith being re-arrested, or why the charge has been upgraded to first-degree murder; the charge implies investigators believe the killing was planned and deliberate. “As this case is now before the courts, the DRPS will not be making any further statements,” police said in a statement. CRIME Neighbour arrested again in Raglan cold case newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 20094 AP 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 Call 905 427-5888 1920 Bayly St., Pickering www.fi rstdurham.com FIRST DURHAM INSURANCE & FINANCIAL The Staff & Management of First Durham Insurance & Financial Wish You and Your Family a Merry Christmas, a Safe and Happy Holiday Season and a Prosperous 2010! Durham sex assault trial nears end BY JENNIFER STONE jstone@durhamregion.com WHITBY -- Stanley Tippett told an array of stories , all in an effort to ensure no one could place him at the scene of the sexual assault of a young Peterborough girl in Courtice, says the Crown Attorney on the case. Mr. Tippett completed a day-and-a-half long cross-examination Tuesday afternoon. The once confident, details-oriented defen- dant indicated he couldn’t remember many of the specifics and was confused by lan- guage used by Crown Attorney Jim Hughes. In August, in his own defence, Mr. Tip- pett recalled precise details of the evening on which he is accused of having kidnapped a 12-year-old Peterborough girl, sexually assaulting and abandoning her near Cour- tice Secondary School. But, when the trial resumed in Whitby Monday, it was an entire- ly different story. “I’m having trouble under- standing,” he said at one point. “I don’t speak this lawyers’ language. You’re almost talking to me, it seems, like it’s Japanese.” Mr. Tippett has contended he first thought he had run over a drunken 12-year-old who was lying in the street in Peterborough’s south end. After stopping and assessing the situation, he said he loaded the girl and her slightly older friend into his van and attempt- ed to get the younger girl to safety. But, the older girl then pleaded to be taken to a down- town Peterborough park, Mr. Tippett testi- fied, and so he complied. But then, he said, he was carjacked at knife- and gun-point by two men near the park, taken on a wild ride down Hwy. 115, then dumped in a Durham ditch. His assailants carried on, taking the girl with them, Mr. Tippett said. The girl was later found, partly naked, injured and borderline incoherent, stum- bling out of a wooded area near Courtice’s high school. Police engaged in a chase with Mr. Tippett’s van -- which he contended he was no longer in by that point -- at the school, ending it due to public safety concerns near the Clarington-Oshawa border. It was later found in south Oshawa. Mr. Tippett said he spent the time from when he was dumped out of his van until about 6 a.m, when he was picked up by Clar- ington cabbie Don Cheeseboro near Mill- work on Baseline Road, walking along train tracks he can’t identify now, attempting to figure out where he was, and trying to find a cellphone signal. Mr. Hughes used cellphone records in an attempt to show Mr. Tippett was in the vicinity of where his van was dumped, near the time it was abandoned. Mr. Tippett had Mr. Cheeseboro drive him to the end of the road his uncle lives on, just off Porter Road at Hwy. 115, near Manvers. “You’ve been walking all night, you’ve been beaten and your head was cut, and you decided you’d walk the rest of the way (from Porter Road) to your uncle’s house because you felt sorry for the cab- bie?” Mr. Hughes asked incredulously. Instead, Mr. Hughes suggested, Mr. Tippett didn’t want his uncle to see him get out of a cab, as that would contrast with a story the accused had already told his mistress and, in a later conversation from his uncle’s house, a Peterborough police officer, indicating he had been dumped from the van close to his uncle’s home. The trial was expected to wrap up Wednes- day, after the News Advertiser’s press time. COURTS Crown suggests Tippett’s story full of contradictions CASH In Your Old and Broken GOLD CASH In Your Old and Broken GOLD WE WILL PURCHASE ITEMS SUCH AS: CHAINS • EARRINGS • RINGS • BRACELETS MEDALLIONS • DENTAL GOLD • BROOCHES DIAMONDS • EMERALDS • RUBIES • BROKEN CHAINS CLASS RINGS • GOLD CHARMS We Pay CASH on the SPOT!! (Not cheques like many competitors!) We Beat All Quotes! Check with us before you sell! 905-903-0258 AJAX Onsite at Cash Converters 95 Bayly St. W. (Just West of Harwood) PICKERING Onsite at the Comfort Inn 533 Kingston Rd. (West of Whites) International Go & Jewellery Broke International Gold & Jewellery Brokers DAYS ONLY!! Thursday, Friday & Saturday December 17, 18, & 19, 10am - 6pm 33 newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 20095 AP From our family to yours! Authorized by the CFO of the Ajax-Pickering Conservative Association At this special time of year when we are celebrating with family and friends in Ajax-Pickering, my wife Hedvig and daughter Selma join me in wishing your family warm season’s greetings, a very merry Christmas and a joyful New Year. We invite you and your family to join us for a New Year’s Levée on Sunday, January 3rd 2010 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Rotary Room at the Ajax Library Main Branch. Chris Alexander Federal Conservative Candidate - Ajax-Pickering www.chrisalexander.ca • Phone: 905-231-1579 Chris AlexanderChris Alexander Donations needed for next year’s gift boxes BY REKA SZEKELY rszekely@durhamregion.com AJAX-PICKERING -- Santa’s elves have deliv- ered boxes of Christmas cheer to deserving fam- ilies this year, but they need help from the com- munity to do it again. As a result of donations to the Toronto Star’s Santa Claus Fund, more than 600 gift boxes were delivered to Ajax and Pickering families this month with most of them going out on Dec. 5 and 6. About 45 volunteers including local Scouts, Girl Guides, Ajax and Pickering News Advertis- er employees and members of the community helped deliver the boxes. “Saturday morning at 9 o’clock some 60 volunteers, youth and adults, arrived en masse and bedlam ensued as gift boxes were sorted out into manageable delivery routes and then transported to the many wait- ing cars,” said John Earley, Scouts commissioner for the 2nd Bay Ridges Group. The boxes were delivered form the News Advertiser’s Ajax warehouse and Mr. Earley said the spirit in the room was enthusiasm, excite- ment and pride. “When the youth came back to pick up more parcels, they told of the smiling welcome they received when they delivered the parcels.” The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund was estab- lished in 1906 by Toronto Star Founder, Joseph E. Atkinson, who experienced poverty first-hand as a child. Jodi Raymond, assistant distribution manager at the News Advertiser, said Santa Fund boxes have been distributed in Ajax and Pickering for the last six years and local Scouts and several other volunteers have been involved since the beginning. Each box contains a hat, mitts, socks, a sweat- shirt, a book, candy, toothbrush and toothpaste and an age-appropriate toy. Babies receive sleepers and crib sheets. Ms. Raymond already had a thank you note from a child waiting for her when she came into the office the Monday after the deliveries went out. “We really need the community to keep supporting this so we can continue to do it each year,” said Ms. Raymond. The donations collected this year will go towards purchasing gifts for next year’s boxes. For secure online donations, visit www. thestar.com/santaclausfund. For more information, contact the Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser Santa Claus Fund at 905-683- 5110. The Star absorbs all administrative costs so all proceeds go directly into buying the gifts. Tax receipts will be issued. The Santa Claus Fund does not allow anyone to solic- it on its behalf. COMMUNITY Santa Fund boxes reach happy hands in Ajax and Pickering JODI RAYMOND PHOTO AJAX -- Ajax Scout Evan Wyatt brought some Christmas cheer to local families by helping deliver Toronto Star Santa Fund gift boxes. & 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 WATER RATES Steps need to be taken to reward conservation To the editor: Re: Durham taps users with high water, sewer costs, Dec. 9. After reading the article in the New Adver- tiser that once again in the facing of fall- ing demand, the Works department wants to raise rates I feel compelled to write. I do not fault the elected members of the Works committee. They are simply presented with options offered by Works management. And clearly, present Works management is not up to the task. Why are we not reducing capacity by mothballing plants? Why are we not reduc- ing staff? Where are the savings from reduced processing costs? If management says that upkeep and maintenance merit a seven per cent rate increase, then something is flawed in the way our system is being operated. New construction should be capped within fixed financial limits to flat-line rates. New projects should be deferred to stay within these caps. We are already one of the few municipalities that offers no rebates for the purchase of conservation devices. I would suggest if present Works manage- ment cannot find ways to reward consumers for conservation, they are probably bereft of other more innovative ideas as well. Works management should have the choice of reducing rates, or given a letter of recommen- dation for their next area of employment. David Barwell Pickering Higher rates hard to take To the editor: A few years ago, Durham Region ran an extensive campaign warning residents that if they didn’t take serious measures to reduce the consumption of fresh water, the existing water purification facilities would have to be expanded or new ones built. This would result in a major increase in our water rates to compensate for the extra costs. According to the newspaper, the cam- paign was so successful, consumption dropped from 71,000 gallons in 1994 to an expected 55,000 gallons for next year. So, as a reward for the successful co- operation of the citizens of the Region, we are being rewarded with, wait for it, an increase in water rates to compensate for the drop in consumption! Beam me up, Scotty. Joe Vranic Ajax FIREARMS LAWS Canadians consider long-gun registry ‘useless and wasteful’ To the editor: Re: Keep The Gun Registry To Ensure Safety, Lynda McCarthy letter, Dec. 8. Lynda McCarthy makes mention that because the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police supports the gun registry as a useful tool, that means it should be kept. However, she fails to realize the laws of Can- ada are democratically made by the people of Canada, not by the police. Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms con- tains many sections (Sections 7 to 14) explic- itly laid out to protect Canadians from over- zealous police, such as guarantees against arbitrary imprisonment and detainment (Section 9), and unreasonable search and sei- zure (Section 8). While I am certain many police organiza- tions would also call the ability to search any- one for any reason or to detain someone on mere suspicion a “useful tool,” such powers are the antithesis of a free country. The police have their vote as individuals, just like every- one else. The votes made by individual police offi- cers and regular Canadians have spoken and a clear majority, at best, consider the long- gun registry useless and wasteful and, at the worst, an affront to Canadian freedom. Travis Shaw Pickering Time to light the torch for Canadian Olympic pride Durham’s brush with Olympic torch relay glory will be celebrated in style with an outdoor party in Oshawa today. It’s a nice way to end what has been a very tough year economically for the region. Hit by the worldwide economic tsunami that has seen jobs slashed and consumer spending reduced, we could all use some cheering up, especially at Christmas. The ceremonies from 5:45 to 8 p.m. will involve former Olympians Ron “Bucky” Richards Sr., Ron Richards Jr., and for- mer Olympic coach Randy Richards. There will be plenty of entertainment and interactive displays as excitement builds towards the Feb. 12 opening of the Olympics in Vancouver. The torch run received a heartwarming boost when 1948 gold-medal winner Bar- bara Ann Scott, 81, ran into the House of Commons with it on Thursday to a rous- ing ovation from MPs. till the only individual female Canadi- an figure skater to stand atop the podi- um, Ms. Scott looked great as she carried the torch. Yet all the sponsorship associ- ated with the torch run has left a slight blemish on the run. Too often it seems those who have paid for the privilege to put their logo on the run have also placed employees along the route with torch in hand. That takes away somewhat from the true Olympic spirit which would see more ordinary, everyday Canadians run- ning with the torch and having the thrill of a lifetime. We have had several touch- ing stories of torchbearers who remind us of what it means to be Canadian. Jan de Vries, decorated Second World War veteran, will run in Pickering. Brent Clemens, of Courtice, captain of Canada’s amputee hockey team, will carry the torch today in Oshawa. And Elio Artunes will get the chance to pass the torch to 13-year-old son Adam when the pair runs in Pickering. In the end, the torch run is a reminder we are all a part of an Olympics in Cana- da. This is just the third time this has ever happened and it’s not likely we will host the Olympics again for many decades. So, this is worth celebrating. Durham has an athlete, Clarington snowboarder Matt Morison, who has legitimate medal aspirations, and he is a young competitor we can all get behind as we count down the days until the flame is lit in Vancouver. 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 16, 20096 P WE THINK... email responses to newsroom@durhamregion.com WE ASKED Shortly after midnight on Oct. 7, 1998, 46-kilogram 21-year-old gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was robbed, pistol-whipped, tortured, tied to a fence in a remote, rural area and left to die in freezing temperatures. He was discov- ered 18 hours later by Aaron Kreifels, who initially mistook him for a scarecrow. Mr. Shepard suffered fractures to the back of his head and in front of his right ear. He had severe brain stem damage, which affected his body’s ability to regu- late heart rate, body temperature and other vital functions. There were also about a dozen small lacerations around his head, face and neck. His injuries were deemed too severe for doctors to operate. He never regained consciousness, remaining on full life support, dying a few days later. On July 19, 2005, homosexuals Mahmoud Asgari, 16, and Ayaz Marhoni, 18, Iranian teenagers from the province of Khuzestan, were publicly hanged in Edalat (Justice) Square in Mashhad, northeast Iran. The executions are a violation of the UN Con- vention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Polit- ical Rights (Iran is a signatory to both), which prohibit the execution of minors. The case attracted the attention of the international media because of deeply disturbing photographs of the two as they were taken to be hanged. On the weekend of Nov. 14, 2009, the brutalized body of gay teen George Steven Lopez Mercado was found on an isolated road a few miles from the town of Caguas, Puerto Rico. He was a very well known person in the gay community of Puerto Rico, and very loved. His body was par- tially burned and decapitated; both arms and legs as well as the torso dismembered. The police investigator suggested that he deserved what he got because of the “type of lifestyle” he was leading. This is akin to saying a woman deserves to be raped for wearing a short skirt. During the week of Nov. 23, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced the Anti-Homosexuality-Bill. Its proposed legislation includes life imprisonment of homosexuals; the death sentence for any- one engaging in homosexual acts under the age of 18; and three- to seven-years impris- onment for failing to acknowledge some- one known to be homosexual and/or con- doning homosexuality. In 2007-2008, Can- ada contributed approximately $24 million to Uganda, much of it for the advancement of education. I don’t frankly know what to say or think when I read these announcements. Grow- ing up gay was incomprehensibly diffi- cult (and still is) for me, but for the afore- mentioned, it is beyond the unimaginable. Ignorance is humanity’s most formidable opponent. Durham resident Louis McPherson is a frequent contributor to this space. Last night I travelled to a seniors’ residence to watch my son’s high school band perform a Christmas concert. I don’t know whether it’s because I’m just naturally an inordinate suck-up or that now, at 49, my golden years no longer seem so far away, but I really like hanging around my “elders.” I think a big part of my affinity for the blue- rinse set is they seem to be the last generation to whom manners meant something. I don’t mean to say that all people currently over the age of 70 are Emily Post cut-outs. Bombast, after all, is the well-earned privilege of the elderly. My dad makes Rush Limbaugh look like a shrinking violet. But even their cranki- ness and anger stem from an innate sense of fair play. Remember, these are people who came from a time when disputes were often settled man-to-man in the schoolyard ... or woman-to-woman, under a hair dryer. They’re people whose moral codes and values were shaped largely by two of the most catastrophic events the world has ever known; the Great Depression and the Sec- ond World War. They’re people who remem- ber what honour and dignity are all about. A person from mom and dad’s generation knows how to take an insult with grace. They can hold a grudge longer than the Hatfields and McCoys, but they’ll still be able to greet the transgressor with a polite, if glacial, smile. Don’t ever underestimate how much strength that takes. Retaliation is easy, rising above an offence takes real moxy. There’s a reason you never hear about random shootings in seniors’ homes. You never read about old Gus Lar- son wheeling by Wilf Patterson’s room and putting a cap in his wrinkled ass because Wilf “dissed” him by taking the last bowl of tapioca pudding. It’s tough to “diss” a senior. Almost impossible. Because most of these people are studies in respect and manners. It’s how they were raised. When the band arrived last night, most of the residents were still at dinner in the cafeteria. The room had to be cleared before the band could set up and play. With only one elevator and doz- ens of walkers, strollers and wheelchairs, the scene in the lobby should have been pande- monium. The crowd was thicker and greyer than the ticket booth at a Bobby Vinton con- cert. And yet there was no jostling, no push- ing or shoving, no frayed nerves or lost tem- pers. There were a lot of “excuse me’s,” “thank you’s” and “pardon me’s.” And things moved along just fine. The other delightfully notable absence was cellphones. Not once during the concert were we treated to someone’s annoy- ingly cute and oh-so-personal ring tone. All heads, silver and otherwise, were up, focus- ing on the band and the music and the event, not down in their laps ... tweeting and twitter- ing. Lord, what an ironically apt word that is. As I read these words now, I’m a little star- tled to hear the “old fart” voice of my father coming through more and more as my own. Startled, but not necessarily displeased. Times change, no question, but I still believe some things should remain timeless. Things that represent the best of us. Things like man- ners and grace and respect. You can still find these things. They usually come in a small, wrinkled, silver package. And they’re pre- cious. Very precious. Durham resident Neil Crone, actor-comic-writer, saves some of his best lines for his columns. Do you think Canada is doing enough to curb global warming? LAUREN GREGORY -- ‘No, they are not because they are allocating resources where they shouldn’t be.’ DON MEEKER -- ‘Yes. They have programs like Recycle Your Ride.’ FEISAL RAWJI -- ‘No, they should be spending more on research or just about anything.’ LESLIE SLOVICK -- ‘No, because the issue would be more in the forefront if they did.’ It’s still a brutal world for gay people LOUIS MCPHERSON BE OUR GUEST -- Each week in this space This Week runs submissions from our readers. E-mail your submissions, maximum 350 words, to newsroom@durhamregion.com or mail to This Week c/o Tim Kelly, 865 Farewell St., Oshawa, ON L1H 7L5. For further information call Tim Kelly at 905-579- 4400 ext. 2293 or email him at tkelly@durhamregion.com. Get grace and manners with senior set NEIL CRONE Durham Regional Police are playing silly buggers with the press and ultimately with you, the readers. Police rearrested Alan Smith sometime Thursday, charging him for the second time in less than two years with the 1974 murder of Beverly Ann Smith. The 22-year-old, no relation to the accused, who was her neighbour at the time, was shot to death in her Raglan farmhouse 35 years ago, her killer never brought to justice. There was a big difference between Smith’s first arrest by Durham police in 2008 and this week’s arrest. After the first arrest, Dur- ham police held a grand press conference announcing details of the crime and the arrest, even bringing the victim’s surviving twin sister and her now adult daughter out for the photo op. A couple of months later. police suffered an embarrassing blow when the charges against Smith were dropped with “no reasonable prospect of conviction” and Smith’s ex-wife was arrested on accusations of obstruction of justice. Friday was a very different scene. Durham police, who have typically been anxious to let the world know about their progress in this high-profile cold case, instead withheld news of the event until a full day after the arrest. The result, and I suspect the successful out- come of their ploy was to keep the media and ultimately the public from hearing details of why charges were dropped previously and why Smith is now facing a new charge of first- degree murder. The fact Durham Regional Police are inten- tionally making the media’s job difficult is not your problem: it’s ours. We’re in constant discussion with Durham police about the difficulty we have obtaining basic informa- tion from them about crime in this Region - - information you and I are entitled by law to have. What I do believe every citizen should be concerned about in this latest scenario is the lack of transparency in the justice sys- tem and how apparently easy it is for police to manipulate the chain of public disclosure to suit some undisclosed end. -- Joanne Burghardt, Editor-in-Chief of the Metroland Durham Region Media Group, began her career as a crime reporter covering the city of Oshawa. Durham police have much to learn about transparency JOANNE BURGHARDT newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 20097 P newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 20098 PSpectacular light show in Pickering Tree lighting ceremony highlights holiday season SABRINA BYRNES / METROLAND PICKERING -- (Clockwise from bottom left) Linda and Dave Flowers watched the fireworks display at the annual tree lighting cer- emony at Esplanade Park recently. Many guests gath- ered to watch the fireworks display light up the sky. Chad Parrott and Christine Wood watched the fireworks display. Thousands to be repaired, at $7,000 each BY KEITH GILLIGAN kgilligan@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- Years, decades even, and mil- lions, tens of millions, of dollars. That’s what it’s going to take to replace the approximately 25,000 polybutylene water service connections in Durham Region. Polybutylene, or poly, piping was used from the late 1970s to the early 1980s, connecting water mains from streets to the shutoff valves near property lines. Made from plastic, it was a cheaper alternative to copper piping. However, the chemicals in the plastic are breaking down and causing water leaks. Dur- ham, along with other municipalities that used poly, has to replace the connections. During a meeting of Regional Council’s works committee, John Presta, the director of environmental services, said it will cost about $7,000 to replace each connection. About $10 million in federal-provincial stimulus money was used to replace 1,520 connections, Mr. Presta said. In 2010, the Region is budgeting about $3.6 million to replace even more connec- tions. Under its own program, Durham has replaced 256 connections, with 255 to be done in Oshawa this year. Durham Chairman Roger Anderson noted the Region has spent $2.1 million so far to fix 500 connections. “We’ll have work for the rest of our lives, yes,” works commissioner Cliff Curtis said. “I have three crews working full- time to fix breaks.” At the current pace, it could be 120 years before all the connections are replaced, Mr. Anderson said. “All of us in this room will be dead. All our kids will probably be dead.” “We’re fixing the worst of the worst right now,” Mr. Curtis noted. “You’re right. It’s going to take a long time to fix the problem and it will take a lot of money. And, the costs keep going up,” Mr. Curtis said. “We’re severely restricted in our budget.” Meanwhile, other costs are increasing, he said. “We simply can’t afford to do this is a big way, unless you want a larger-than-recom- mended (water) rate increase.” The Region isn’t responsible for the poly on private property, Mr. Curtis said. That is the property owner’s responsibility. Most plumbers used copper, so there isn’t a lot of poly on private property, he said. “The leaks we attend to are usually out on the road,” Mr. Curtis said. Mr. Curtis said he had one crew working on the problem, but it’s since grown to three. “If it continues to break, I’ll have four or five crews. We’re trying to stay ahead.” The cost to replace a connection had been about $5,000, but has risen to $7,000, Mr. Cur- tis noted, because contractors weren’t mak- ing a profit at $5,000 per connection. PUBLIC WORKS Replacing water connections will cost Durham millions newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 20099 P %JSFDU"DDFTT (FOFSBM&ORVJSJFT 4FSWJDF%JTSVQUJPODJUZPGQJDLFSJOHDPN 5 )PVS-JOF 5PMM'SFF 55: DVTUPNFSDBSF!DJUZPGQJDLFSJOHDPN DJUZPGQJDLFSJOHDPN Public Meetings At City Hall December 21 Council Meeting 7:30 pm January 4 Planning & Development Committee 7:30 pm January 7 Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity 7:00 pm January 11 Executive Committee 7:30 pm January 13 Committee of Adjustment 7:00 pm All meetings are open to the public. For details visit our website or call 905.420.2222 DATE MEETING TIME Holiday Operating Hours December 24 6 am - 12 pm December 25 & 26 CLOSED December 31 6 am - 5 pm January 1 CLOSED December 21 - 24 & 28 - 31 Call Rec Complex for swim times December 27 & January 2 & 3 1 pm - 4 pm & 7 pm - 9 pm December 25 & 26 CLOSED December 31 7 pm - 9 pm New Year’s Eve Free Swim January 1 CLOSED December 24 8:30 am - 12 pm December 25 & 28 CLOSED December 31 8:30 am - 12 pm January 1 CLOSED January 1 2 pm - 4 pm Mayor’s New Year’s Day Levee Civic Complex (City Hall) 905.420.2222 Recreation Complex 905.683.6582 Recreation Complex Pool 905.683.6582 Dunbarton Pool 905.831.1260 December 21 - January 2 CLOSED Inclusive Public Skating Schedule December 21 - 23 & December 28 & 29 1 pm - 3 pm Tim Horton’s Free Skate December 25 & 26 CLOSED December 31 7 pm - 9 pm Family New Year’s Eve Free Skate Recreation Complex Arena Central Branch & Petticoat Creek December 20 CLOSED December 24 9:30 am - 1 pm December 25 - 27 CLOSED December 31 9:30 am - 1 pm January 1 CLOSED Claremont, Greenwood & Whitevale Contact branch for Holiday Hours Pickering Public Libaries City of Pickering Emergency Telephone Number 905.683.7575 24 - Hour Line December for FREE & A Spa Gift Certificate! with the purchase of any, New, Full Annual Membership.Members may purchase a “Gift Membership” for the Renewal Rate and receive a $20 Wellness Spa Gift Certificate. Keep the Torch Moving! Join our cheering section on Dec 17 at 7:30 am to welcome the Olympic torch and receive a BOGO pass for group fitness. Gift Certificates Always available ... any activity, any denomination: $10, $25, $50, you choose - it’s your gift! Some conditions apply, ask for details. 1867 Valley Farm Road located just south of Kingston Rd. between Brock Rd. & Liverpool Rd. T. 905.683.2760 TTY 905.831.8604 reccomplex@cityofpickering.com cityofpickering.com/recreation New Year’s Eve Family Countdown Dec 31 from 7 - 9 pm Pickering Recreation Complex Free event! Swimming, Skating, Family Movie & more! Mayor’s New Year’s Day Levee Jan 1 from 2 - 4 pm Pickering Civic Complex Celebrate the beginning of another New Year at this free family event featuring: live entertainment and a chance to win some great prizes! cityofpickering.com/greatevents The Olympic Torch is Coming to Pickering! December 17, 2009 · 7:30 am Route Map at cityofpickering.com/greatevents Show Your Olympic Spirit! Join us along the route to welcome the torch! Route map online or in City facilities. Groups can register for a designated cheering section. Apply online or email kferguson@cityofpickering.com. Can’t be there in person ... post your welcome message online! Or become a Fan on Facebook, search “City of Pickering Great Events” Smoke alarms don’t last forever. Pickering Fire Services recommends that battery powered and direct-wired smoke alarms be replaced every 10 years. This holiday season, give a gift to save a life. Smoke alarms – the perfect gift. Smoke Alarms: The Perfect Gift Are you a full-time student looking for a March Break or summer job? The City of Pickering is currently recruiting for 2010 student positions. Opportunities include the following: Camps(March Break & Summer) Camp Counsellor (Full-time & Back Up) Camp Counsellor, Special Needs Assistant Camp Director Camp Director Coordinator, Special Needs & Volunteers *(summer only) Museum (Summer Only) Camp Counsellor (Full-time & Back Up) Assistant Camp Director Camp Director Museum Guide/Receptionist Coordinator, Museum Summer Tours Parks (Summer Only) Student Labourer Please visit our Employment Opportunities page at cityofpickering.com (found under City Hall) for information on required qualifications, mandatory training dates, and details on how to apply. Incomplete applications will not be considered for employment. Applications are due Monday, January 11, 2010 by 4:30 pm. Boards and Committees Vacancies The Council of the City of Pickering is inviting applications from residents to fill a vacancy on the Accessibility Advisory Committee, the Heritage Pickering Advisory Committee, the Public Library Board and the Waterfront Coordinating Committee. If you are interested in being considered for appointment to fill the vacancies on any of the above committees, please submit an application form which is available on the City’s website to the undersigned setting out a brief description of any job or community-related experience. The deadline for submitting your application is January 8, 2010. Complete information regarding the committees is available on the City’s website at www.cityofpickering.com or by contacting Linda Roberts at 905.420.4660, extension 2928. Linda Roberts Committee Coordinator City of Pickering One The Esplanade Pickering, ON L1V 6K7 fax: 905.420.9685 email: lroberts@cityofpickering.com newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200910 AP BY PARVANEH PESSIAN ppessian@durhamregion.com WHITBY -- Shock and disbelief washed over Helen Collins as she stood watching the walls of her beloved church being rav- aged by flames. As a member of the All Saints’ Anglican Church for more than 50 years, she never thought she would see this day. “I just can’t believe this has happened to our home,” she said again and again. as tears streamed down her face. A fire broke out at the 143-year-old church, which sits at the corner of Dundas and Centre streets in downtown Whitby, in the early hours of Monday morning. Doz- ens of people gathered in an area adja- cent to the church to watch the destruction unfold slowly as fire crews did their best to douse the hot spots. “This church means so much to so many people and not just the people who live here and come to the church but it’s a his- torical landmark and it’s our home,” said Heather Goodford, who has sung in the church’s choir for the past 33 years. The first witness report of the blaze came in to Whitby fire from snow removal staff just before 5 a.m. Twenty-seven Whitby firefighters fought the flames and an addi- tional 10 members from the Oshawa and Ajax departments were called in to assist. No civilian injuries were reported but one firefighter did sustain minor injuries. Crews were on the scene Tuesday circling the area and working on removing portions of the building to gain easier access into the structure. “They did remove a partial wall on the north end of the church in order to access the point of origin in a safe matter for the investigators and heavy equipment was used to remove a lot of the rubble,” said Shawna Coulter, public education offi- cer for Whitby fire and emergency ser- vices, adding the cause of the fire remains unknown and the investigation is ongoing. An engineer who surveyed the building has deemed the church’s four walls and its steeple as structurally sound but the charred roof will have to be removed. Over- all damage is estimated at between $2 mil- lion and $3 million. Ninety Christmas hampers packaged by church members to be distributed to local needy families this week were destroyed in the blaze but have since been replaced with the help of generous donations from the community. Durham Regional Police have deemed the fire suspicious in nature and officers are currently canvassing neighboring busi- nesses and residences for information. Speculation began early on among those gathered outside the church that the fire may have been deliberately set after many spotted a red gas can placed against the side of the building. “It’s very upsetting to think that some- body would do this intentionally because it affects a tremendous amount of people in so many ways,” said Roy Allam, former church warden, as he recalled a string of recent vandalism incidents the site has seen in recent months. Just two weeks ago, the church’s sign was ripped off its hinges overnight and about two months prior to that, vandals heaved large chunks of concrete through two of the building’s front windows, shattering valu- able stained glass. “Somebody has clearly been target- ing the church for a while,” said Whitby- Oshawa MPP Christine Elliott, who joined the crowd early Monday with her husband, federal finance minister Jim Flaherty -- both visibly shaken. “When my grandparents came here in 1927, they joined this church and my par- ents were married here ... this is just terri- ble,” she said. If you have information about the fire: CALL 905-579-1520 ext. 1832 CRIMESTOPPERS: Anonymous tips can be made at 1-800-222-8477 REGION RON PIETRONIRO / METROLAND WHITBY -- A distraught MPP Christine Elliott stood with her husband MP Jim Flaherty, both of whom represent Whitby-Oshawa ridings, as they watched fire- fighters battle a fire at the All Saints Anglican Church early Monday. SABRINA BYRNES / METROLAND WHITBY -- Firefighters were on the scene of a fire at All Saints Anglican Church in down- town Whitby Dec. 14. The fire destroyed the historic 143-year-old church. Community shattered by historical Whitby Anglican church fire FAST FACTS Recent Durham Region Fires Friday, Nov. 20 • House fire at 5250 Sideline 4 (Balsam Road) in Pickering. Monday, Nov. 30 • House fire at 22 Eric Clarke Dr. in Whitby. • House fire at 1 Ribblesdale Dr. in Whitby Monday, Nov. 30 • House fire at 254 Beatty Ave. in Oshawa Thursday, Dec. 3 • Garage fire at 5245 Langmaid Rd. in Clarington Friday, Dec. 4 • House fire at 1932 Lodge Rd. in Pickering Wednesday, Dec. 9 House fire on Essa Cres. in Pickering. • Monday, Dec. 14 • Church fire at All Saints Anglican Church in downtown Whitby RON PIETRONIRO / METROLAND WHITBY -- Firefighters checked the structure of the All Saints Anglican Church in the aftermath of a fire that ripped through the 143-year-old structure. WATCH the video story VIEW the photo gallery @ newsdurhamregion.com newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200911 AP H&M |LULULEMON ATHLETICA |SONY STYLE |SPORT CHEK |WEST 49° |FRUITS & PASSION HOLIDAY HOURS Monday to Saturday 9am to 10pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm • North of Hwy 401, intersection of Stevenson Road and Hwy 2 • 905.728.6231 • oshawacentre.com We’re staying open later to make your holiday shopping more convenient than ever. Monday to Saturday 9am to 10 pm Sundays 10 am to 6 pm Christmas Eve 9am to 5 pm Christmas Day closed Boxing Day 9am to 6 pm December 27 10 am to 6 pm December 28, 29, 30 9am to 9pm New Year’s Eve 9am to 5 pm New Year’s Day closed Extended Holiday Hours DURHAM -- Durham daily and rotating vaccine clinics for the seasonal flu and H1N1 are to be closed. As of Dec. 19, the Durham Region Health department is closing all daily and rotating clin- ics. “While our daily and rotating clinics are closing, in January we’ll focus our efforts on provid- ing pediatric second dose clin- ics throughout the Region,” said Durham Region medical officer of health, Dr. Robert Kyle. “Our data indicates that approximate- ly 7,000 children who received the H1N1 vaccine at our clinics will require their second dose to achieve full protection against H1N1 influenza.” It is recommended that all chil- dren six months to under three years receive two doses of the H1N1 vaccine. The shots must be at least 21 days apart. It’s also recommended for children six months to nine years who have weaker immune systems and chronic medical conditions. Cur- rently, only one dose is needed for children who are ages three to nine and are health. Another recommendation being made is that children under nine years of age, who are receiving their first- ever seasonal flu shots, receive two doses, four weeks apart. Pediatric second-dose flu clin- ics will open in January at various locations throughout Durham and require an appointment. To book an appointment, call Dur- ham Region Health Department at 905-668-7711, extension 3366, or 1-800-841-2729, extension 3366. Residents unable to access the vaccination through family phy- sician offices, walk-in clinics, community health centres or workplaces may call the health department to book an appoint- ment. For more information: VISIT www.durham.ca HEALTH Durham flu shot clinics to be shut down newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200912 AP Residents demand answers on spreading of ashes, crime, taxes BY KRISTEN CALIS kcalis@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- Whether it was about crime, taxes or the air- port, residents questioned Mayor Dave Ryan on a number of hot topics in Pickering at a recent Ward 3 town hall meeting. When questioned about high taxes, Mayor Ryan said noth- ing can be done to roll them back, but the challenge is ensur- ing they don’t go up higher or faster than they need to. The best plan is to attract a strong commercial and industrial base since they pay higher taxes and require fewer services, he said. The mayor added property taxes must be collected to keep Pickering running and improving. “Taxes are not a penalty, at least not at the municipal level,” he said. When the discussion of youth and crime came up, Mayor Ryan said crime statistics have been decreasing across the country, but they seem to be get- ting more violent. He said Durham Region is currently try- ing to change policing models to make it a more community- based and visible unit. He added high costs to run Durham Regional Police is a constant challenge. One woman said her neighbourhood has become plagued with youth dealing drugs and police never address the situa- tion. Mayor Ryan said he’d relay the issue to police, but said parks are meant to be enjoyed. Besides, he said, there are some kids that get into trouble, but most of the youth in Pickering are good and often participate in community events. “That’s 99.9 per cent of our kids,” he said. Resident Ava Jacobs disagreed that crime has come down and said she did research based on Durham Police statistics. She suggested the problem could be lack of jobs available for youth, which can often result in them loitering. She said police simply making them get lost is “just displacing the crime. “You’re not really solving the problem,” she said. Resident Mike Cappa said a solution could be more ice rinks available so kids can get involved in some extracurricu- lar activities. “We need more sheets of ice as our community grows,” he said. Mayor Ryan agreed, but stressed budget constraints, and said at the moment the priority will be on planning for that growing population since successive councils will have their work cut out for them when the time comes. Stephanie Wilson suggested look- ing for private companies to provide recreational centres, such as hockey rinks. Mayor Ryan said, “It’s part of our con- versation.” Another resident asked about the status of ashes from human remains being spread in Pickering, following news that a section of Duffins Creek will be dedicated to the Hindu ritual. Mayor Ryan said studies have shown nothing detrimental will come from the scatter- ing of ashes, and he’s waiting to hear back from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to decide the next steps. But he made it clear he supports it “wholeheartedly.” “My opinion is that accommodation is the right thing to do,” he said. When questioned on his thoughts about building height, Mayor Ryan said he feels buildings between 15 and 20 storeys along Hwy. 401 is appropriate for Pickering. Whitevale resident Peter Rodrigues asked for Mayor Ryan’s official stance on the federal government’s long-time plans for a possible airport in Pickering. “I accept the business case for an airport,” he said. “I think it would be beneficial for Pickering.” But he’s still waiting on studies that will show the social and envi- ronmental impacts an airport would have. He added if the majority of residents are opposed to it, the City will continue opposing it. WARD 3 TOWN HALL Pickering mayor grilled on hot issues METROLAND FILE PHOTO PICKERING -- Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan. Taxes are not a penalty, at least not at the municipal level. Mayor Dave Ryan newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200913 AP 799 88 Samsung®40" LCD TV. #LN40B530. #13272. 40" LCD 1080p 60,000:1 contrast † Look for the ENERGY STAR®logo. It shows that the product meets ENERGY STAR specifications for energy efficiency. 50% OFF Plus, 40% off *All men’s and women’s reg.-priced slippers. *All men’s and women’s reg.-priced robes. 40% OFF *All men’s reg.-priced suits, suit separates, sports coats, blazers, dress pants, dress shirts & ties. Choose from Protocol®/MD, Boulevard Club, Pierre Cardin® brands & more. 60% OFF *All men’s reg.-priced leather jackets. Offer ends Wed., Dec.16, 2009 Plus, 50% off *All other women’s reg.-priced outerwear. 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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 SABRINA BYRNES / METROLAND Pickering firefighters collect toys PICKERING -- Pickering firefighters Toni Richard, left, and Neil DeLory remind area residents that new toys for local families are being collected at all Pickering fire halls until Dec. 23 during the annual Pickering Firefighters Toy Drive. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200915 AP 15 WESTNEY RD. N., AJAX IN WESTNEY HEIGHTS PLAZA BESIDE ROGERS (HWY 2 & WESTNEY) Rafael JewelleryRafael JewelleryMay The Peace Of Our Lord Jesus Christ Shine Upon You And Your Loved Ones HUGE CHRISTMAS SALE Everything In The Store On Sale! 905-426-4700 • www.RafaelJewellery.com ADVERTISING FEATUREHOLIDAYGIFT GUIDE • GIFT GIVING IDEAS • COMMUNITY EVENTS • NEW YEAR’S EVE OPTIONS newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200916 AP 637 KINGSTON RD. Beside National Sports PICKERING 905-839-8399 www.diplomatpools.comServing the GTA over 36 Years Voted #1 in Durham for 10 years in a row 2009 Award Winner POSEID0N 84”X84”EQUINOX 90”X94” ServiceAvailableOn AllHot Tubs SpaTechnicianOn Staff StorageStepsCover LiftsCovers...Much More ImmediateDeliveryFinancingAvailable GREAT STOCKINGSTUFFERS Scum Balls, Test StripsSpa Pillows, FloatersCleaning MittsCleaning Mitts BlowOutOutPricesPrices Durham’s #1 Pool & Spa Dealer Open All Year Long!Durham’s #1 Pool & Spa Dealer Open All Year Long! Treat the family to a warm relaxing STRESS FREE HOLIDAY! Pre Boxing Week Sale!Pre Boxing Week Sale!Pre Boxing Week Sale! ODYSSEY 78”X78” 3 Floor3 FloorModelsModelsAvailableAvailable $500 OFF $800 OF F $500 OF F ADVERTISING FEATURE HOLIDAYHOLIDAY GIFT GUIDEGIFT GUIDE newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200917 AP 905-723-0282 • 62 Russett Avenue, Oshawa, ON • oshawalittletheatre@rogers.com GIVE THE GIFT OF ENTERTAINMENT WITH GIFT CERTIFICATES Taunton Rd.Somerville St.Russett Ave.Simcoe St.OSHAWA 62 NCelebrating 60 years of Playful Memories For show times, box offi ce hours, prices and tickets contact www.oshawalittletheatre.com Coming events include... SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST Date Night at OLT with The Brian Rose Quintet; Sat. Jan. 23rd World Renowned “The Nylons” and much more on Sat. April 24th The Cemetery Club January 28-30 & Februa r y 4 - 1 3 Richard Forget Canada’s Best Magician!; Sun. Feb. 21st Grease March 18-28 & April 1-10 Popular Demand brings Celtic Blaze and Cape Ceol to OLT Sun. May 2nd Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka May 27-30 & June 3-5 ABBA GOLD on Mother’s Day! Sun. May 9th BIG SHOWS! Little PricesBIG SHOWS! Little Prices COMMUNITY EVENTS Everyone at Glendale Pharmacy & Glendale Walk-in Clinic Wish You A Merr y Christ mas and a Safe and Prosperous New Year! 1101 Kingston Road, Pickering (in the Dairy Queen Plaza) 905-420-2211 ADVERTISING FEATURE HOLIDAYHOLIDAY GIFT GUIDEGIFT GUIDE TIM HORTON’S FREE SKATE - PICKERING Monday Dec. 21 - Wednesday Dec. 23 and Monday Dec. 28 & Tuesday Dec. 29 1 - 3 pm Pickering Recreation Complex, O’Brien Rink Free Family skating sponsored by Tim Horton’s at Pickering Recreation Complex FAMILY FREE SKATE - PICKERING Hosted by The Sanctuary Pickering & Ignition Sunday, December 27, 2009, 1:30-2:30pm Art Thompson Arena, 1474 Bayly Street (Pickering) • FREE coffee and hot chocolate • Donations of non-perishable food items for the food bank will be accepted. • For more information, visit www.thesanctuarypickering.ca DECEMBER MOVIE MORNINGS - AJAX Visit the Main Branch Library for a morning movie during the Holiday Break. UP (rated PG)- Monday December 28 at 10:30 am G Force (rated G) - Tuesday December 29 at 10:30 am Hannah Montana: The Movie (rated G) - Wednesday December 30 at 10:30 am Space is limited to 100. Register for this free library program in-person or by calling 905-683-4000 ext 8811 during regular library hours. WINTERRIFIC FUN DAYS - AJAX (Ages 6 - 12 years) Monday, December 21 A trip to the Scugog Shores Museum Tuesday December 22 Make a stop-motion movie with the Director’s Cut Wednesday December 23 Cooking at the SuperStore & swimming in the afternoon Tuesday December 29 Have fun with experiments with Mad Science Wednesday December 30 Get active with Rock Climbing and Bowling For more information visit www.townofajax.com or call 905-427-8811. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200918 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 21 December 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 75 BAYLY ST WEST • AJAX • NO FRILLS PLAZA Clip and Save on your Fridge! TEL: 905-428-1711 FAX: 905-428-0863 Wed. Dec. 30: 9 am - 9 pm Thurs. Dec. 31: 9 am - 6 pm Fri. Jan. 1: Closed Sat. Jan. 2: 9 am - 6 pm Sun. Jan 3: 10 am - 5 pm Mon. Jan. 4: Back to regular hours Christmas Hours: Wed. Dec. 23: 9 am - 9 pm Thurs. Dec. 24: 9 am - 6 pm Fri. Dec. 25: Closed Sat. Dec. 26: 10 am - 5 pm Sun. Dec 27: 10 am - 5 pm Monday & Tuesday: Regular Hours Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Safe and Prosperous New Year to you from everyone at Health . Rite Pharmacy! Give the gift of Peace and Relaxation to yourself or someone you love Gift Certifi cates Available “Mind Spa” • Stress Reduction • Past Life Regression any session of your choice When I was picking out my Christmas tree, I couldn’t help but overhear some of the conversations of the people around me. Everyone seemed so stressed! They were arguing about tree sizes, shapes, type, and whatever else there was to disagree about. I realized that it really wasn’t the tree that was the cause of the disagreements but rather the significant amount of stress in everyone’s lives. So much has been documented about the negative effects of stress. For example, recent studies have shown that stress sharply increases a chemical called Interleukin-6 in our blood. IL-6 has been associated with several diseases, including heart disease and stroke, arthritis, osteoporosis, type-2 dia- betes and certain cancers. Stress can even impair vaccine response in older adults. Ohio State University researchers recently found that even a slight increase in stress and anxiety can substantially worsen aller- gic reactions. Also, the impact of stress and anxiety seem to linger -- causing the second day of an allergy attack to be much worse. These findings are important since allergic reactions are the fifth most common chronic disease in America. Stress impacts how we interact with oth- ers, as I witnessed recently, and therefore all of our relationships. This in turn can affect our feelings, about ourselves and others which can lead to a whole list of problems. The list of negative impacts of stress is continually expanding and one of the rea- sons I have created a “Mind Spa”. We go to the spa and have massages for our bodies, well how about our minds! The “Mind Spa” helps you to release stress, tension, and anxiety. It helps you to let go of the pressures of every day life! You are giving your mind a peaceful and relaxing spa experience. Leaving you refreshed, reju- venated and feeling better than you’ve felt in a long, long time. You will be able to take this “Mind Spa” experience, along with many of the tech- niques and tools, and apply them to manag- ing the ordinary and extraordinary stress that enters your busy life. Give your loved one, or yourself, the gift of peace and relaxation this holiday season by having a “Mind Spa”. Written by Phebe-Jane Poole, Ph.D. Phebe provides a safe and secure environment where people can enhance their lives, at the Isle of Avalon Wellness Centre. Working with individuals and groups, Phebe helps people find a sense of overall balance and peace, make positive life changes, reduce everyday stress, become more self-aware, and have a renewed energy for life. Gift cer- tificates are available. Stressed? Try a “Mind Spa” ADVERTISING FEATURE HOLIDAYHOLIDAY GIFT GUIDEGIFT GUIDE newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 2009Your Evening will include: Cocktail Reception with Hors D’oeuvres Three Course Sit Down Meal Deluxe Late Night Buffet with Chocolate Fountain House Wine served with Dinner Open Bar for the entire evening Entertainment provided by Star Productions DJ Service PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TODAY! only $145 per person * Group Bookings must be paid for at one time. www.golfdeercreek.com 2700 Audley Rd. N. Ajax ON, L1Z 1T7 Welcome 2010 with us! New Year’s Eve Gala What’s on their wish list this year??? • New Golf Clubs • 2010 Golf Membership • Th e Latest in Golf Attire • Golf Lessons with a CPGA Proff esional PRO SHOP OPEN ALL WINTER! Everything on Sale in the Pro Shop, up to 75%OFF Dec. 19th-20th Only! Call 905.427.7737 ext 260 A G New Years Eve Gala Deluxe Buff et Dinner including red/white vintners delight plus Bubbly @ Midnight starring RON MOORE & his band Geri and the Koasters $6565 per person & party favours includes taxes and gratuity Tribute to ElvisTribute to Elvis ANNANDALEANNANDALE Church St. at Bayly, Ajax 905.683.3210 www.toronto.com/annandale 19 AP ADVERTISING FEATURE Family New Year’s Eve Party - Ajax Thursday December 31, 6 pm - 9 pm Ajax Community Centre 75 Centennial Rd. Don’t miss this great way to ring in the New Year with your family. Activities include: ice skating, entertainment, celebration cake, children’s games, arts and crafts, party favours and special countdown. Tickets are available at the Ajax or McLean Community Centres. Youth & Seniors - $3.00 Adults - $4.00 Children under 3 are FREE. New Year’s Eve Family Countdown - Pickering Thursday December 31, 7 pm - 9 pm Pickering Recreation Complex. Free Event! Join us for a family skate in the arenas, family swim in the pool, Pyjama Jam with a feature fi lm: Ice Age 3, popcorn, sno-cones and crafts in the banquet halls. Countdown and balloon drop in lobby at 9 pm in the arenas and banquet hall. All activities are FREE and designed for all ages. – Food donations will be accepted for our local food bank. Mayor’s New Year’s Day Levee - Pickering Friday January 1, 2009 2 pm -– 4 pm Pickering Civic Complex. Join Mayor Ryan and Members of Council to bring in the New Year! This is a free event. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200920 AP NOW ACCEPTING REGISTRATION FOR OUR WINTER LEARN-TO-SKATE PROGRAMS Register On-Line www.ajaxskatingclub.ca email: ajaxskatingclub@hotmail.com LEARN-TO-SKATE, FIGURE SKATING, SYNCHRONIZED SKATING, POWER SKATING All of our Professional Coaches are certifi ed by Skate Canada. AJAX COMMUNITY CENTRE, 2nd Floor (beside Rink2) 905.683.1753 *Registration includes participation in our Ice Show on March 26th & 27th. We would also love to hear from you if you would like to sponsor our Ice Show this year!! holiday campsholiday camps & winterregistration, play days, parties & more www.planetgymnastics.cawww.planetgymnastics.ca Come see our Super clean, child friendly gymnastic facilities. We are dedicated to recreational Gymnastics WhitbyWhitby Gy 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 PickeringPickering GymGym “Birthda y “Birthda y Parties” Par t i e s ” “Christm a s “Christm a s Camp” 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 Gy mnasticsGymnastic s • T e e n G y m n a s t i c s , • Teen Gym n a s t i c s , Trampoline C l a s s e s Trampolin e C l a s s e s 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 t h e attitude $85 Fundamentals for life through sport. Call Cori-Ann at 905-683-5110 ext. 228 ADVERTISING FEATURE newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200921 P thought the stimulus was work- ing locally, and said it maintained jobs that would have been lost oth- erwise, adding there was a large investment in public infrastructure. “I’m very happy we made the decision to support General Motors with taxpayer money, had we not done that GM might not be here today,” said Mr. Flaherty, adding that the GM plant in Oshawa is now thriving and the company will soon begin to pay back its debt. Several people, including Wilson Little, of Whitby, raised concerns about Canada’s $56 billion deficit. “I encourage you to return to a bal- anced budget and start paying the debt as soon as possible.” Mr. Flaherty said the government was working toward a balanced budget. “The stimulus will end, it has to end in the spring of 2011.” One Ajax man pointed out manu- facturing jobs are continuing to dis- appear in favour of retail. Mr. Flaherty said that’s a trend many Western countries experi- enced with some of them turning to more upscale manufacturing and better-paid service jobs including the financial sector. “We need to do more of the brain work here and less of the grunt work,” said the finance minister. “It doesn’t mean we don’t manufac- ture, it means we manufacture a more sophisticated product.” D’Arcy Jenish, a self-employed author who previously worked at Macleans magazine, asked Mr. Flaherty to consider the difference between public-sector and private- sector compensation. He said many private-sec- tor industries have restructured, including the media. “Whereas I see in the public sector it’s business as usual,” he said, adding he didn’t think the emerging gap between the two sectors was healthy for the political culture or economically sustainable. Elie Ghannoum, an Ajax resi- dent and student at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, expressed concerns about low voter turnout and the cost of tuition. “I’d just like to see something done to get youth engaged,” he said. “On tuition, you’re not going to like what I’m going to say, tuitions in Canada are relatively inexpen- sive compared to public universi- ties in most of the world,” respond- ed Mr. Flaherty, adding it would be short-sighted to underfund univer- sities. FLAHERTY from page 1 politics Flaherty insists economic stimulus to end in 2011 newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200922 AP BREAKING NEWS: ALL DAY, EVERY DAY >>newsdurhamregion.com JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND Christmas musical fare PICKERING -- Members of the St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Concert Band, including French horn player Megan Wieser, front, performed a Christmas musical program Dec. 9 for residents at the Community Care Nursing Home to make their Christmases a little brighter. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200923 AP Fun for Ajax-Pickering families includes crafts, cookies and Mad Science at OPG event BY REKA SZEKELY rszekely@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- There were clear blue skies in Durham Saturday morning, but one group of kids had all the snowflakes they could handle. Seventy children were expected to participate in Ontar- io Power Generation’s Let it Snow event at the Pickering Nuclear Information Centre. Both the morning and after- noon sessions included snowflake-themed crafts, snow- flake cookie making and a display on fire and ice from Mad Science. The demonstration included using different chemicals to make impromptu fireworks over a Bunsen burner. For example, copper sulfate turned the flame green. “It was cool when he made the fireworks,” said six-year- old Ajax resident Kathleen Stevens. The kids in attendance also loved the dry ice bubbles which they eagerly reached for. At the baking station, six-year-old Roza Cicek carefully placed multi-coloured crystal sprinkles on her cookies. “I picked those colours because I wanted my cookie to be colourful,” she said. Although her cookie looked pretty as she worked on it, it wasn’t going to stay that way after it was baked. “I’m gonna eat it,” promised Roza. Linda Davies, of Pickering, brought her two kids plus a daughter’s friend to the event. “It’s just a family craft day and they enjoy making the crafts and it’s part of the Christmas spirit to go out and do things in the community,” said Ms. Davies, as she watched her kids sculpt snowmen decorated with colourful feath- ers. “I think it was cool when we got to taste the carbon dioxide,” said 10-year-old Makeda Davis, as she worked on her snowman next to friend Justine Davies, also 10. “It kinda tasted like rotten Sprite,” said Justine. Ms. Davies says her family is a regular participant in OPG’s children’s activities which is a great social and learning experience for them. And she’s not the only one. “We’ve had a huge increase in numbers, people are so receptive to the programs we offer,” said Cheryl Johnston, senior communications advisor for OPG. More than 8,000 people participated in OPG events for kids this year in both Pickering and Ajax, with summer and March break activities being especially popular. Ms. Johnston said the fact that the programs are free doesn’t hurt. “We’re seeing more people coming,” she said. “The increase in our numbers was over 25 per cent this year and, of course, we see our regulars.” And while Let it Snow was the last official kids’ event for OPG for 2009, they’ll be back next year with more. “I love it,” said Ms. Johnston. “It’s a great way to give back to our community.” COMMUNITY Winter wonderland for kids It was cool when he made the fireworks. Kathleen Stevens SABRINA BYRNES / METROLAND PICKERING -- Bryanna Payne, 9, got a dry ice shower during a Mad Science presentation by Bizhan Toussi/Professor Particle during his fire and ice demonstration at the Let It Snow event at the Ontario Power Generation Pickering Nuclear Information Centre, Dec. 12. Children also baked cookies and created orna- ments. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200924 AP Sports Brad Kelly Sports Editor bkelly@durhamregion.com newsdurhamregion.com Just 17 games left in regular season BY BRAD KELLY bkelly@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- While the final push for the playoffs for teams on the bubble usually starts to take shape after the Christmas break, for the Pickering Panthers, they don’t have the luxury of waiting that long. With just 17 games remaining on their schedule, the Panthers find themselves 10 points in arrears of Peterborough for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East Division of the Central Canadi- an Hockey League. If that weren’t enough of an uphill climb, Peter- borough also holds three games in hand, with one of them played last night (after our deadline) against Streetsville. The must-win label has been tagged on to the remainder of the schedule, beginning with tonight’s home game against Markham at the Pickering Recreation Complex at 7:30 p.m. “Absolutely. We are in a must- win stage for all our games,” agreed head coach Bill Brady. “We have to take advantage of the games we have with (Peterborough). Hope- fully we can chip away and catch somebody and make that last spot.” The past weekend produced just one game, a 5-2 setback to Whitby on Friday night in a game tied 2-2 through two periods. Khalid Alli and Blair Falotico had the goals for the Panthers, but three goals in the final 3:44 of the game, including one into an empty net, was the dif- ference for Whitby. The game was the second of five in a row on home ice for the Pan- thers, who will look to rebound tonight against Markham, which will be no easy task. In two previ- ous games against Markham, the Panthers have played them tough, but came out on the losing end, 6- 5 in overtime and 4-2. The teams are separated by 20 points in the standings, as Markham is second with a mark of 19-7-6, while the Panthers are at the bottom in tenth at 11-20-2. “They’re big, they’re strong, they’re fast. They play a complete game,” said Brady of Markham. “They take care of their own zone and attack you off the rush. They are just an all-around good hockey team.” The weekend will bring the final two home games of this five-game stretch, hosting Stouffville on Fri- day at 7:30 p.m. and Peterborough Sunday at 6:30 p.m. before break- ing for Christmas. SABRINA BYRNES / METROLAND Hanging in there PICKERING -- Jordan Kondo warmed up on the bars before the competition started at the women’s gymnastics provincial qualifier, held at the Pickering Athletics Centre on Sunday. PICKERING Every game is a must win for Panthers Drop in standings seems likely AJAX -- As it stands right now, the Ajax Attack don’t appear to be in too bad shape with just one game left on the docket before embarking on a lengthy Christ- mas break. They are slightly above the .500 mark with a record of 18-17-1, good enough for fifth place in the 10-team East Division of the Cen- tral Canadian Hockey League. But a closer look at the teams just below them in the standings suggests that things could change in the next few weeks that, at its worst, could result in a free fall down to eighth, which is the last and final playoff spot. With 37 points in 36 games, the Attack are slightly ahead of Whitby (35 points), Stouffville (35) and Peterborough (34). But the catch is, all three of those teams have games in hand on the Attack. Whitby has played just 31 games, leaving them two points back of AJAX Attack holding their own, for now See, ATTACK, page 25 newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200925 AP Wednesday December 16, 2009 Ajax & Pickering Locations 255 Salem Rd. S. D#1 42 Old Kingston Rd., Ajax 465 Bayly St. W. #5, Ajax Flyers in Todays 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 Today’s carrier of the week is Alex. Alex enjoys playing hockey and video games. Alex has received a dinner voucher from Subway, McDonalds and Boston Pizza. Congratulations Alex for being our Carrier of the Week. 8 Salem Rd South Ajax, ON L1S 7T7 * Baywood Centre Ajax * Golf Town Ajax/Pick. * Home Hardware Ajax * JYSK Ajax/Pick. * Little Caesars Ajax/Pick. * Lowes Ajax * Michael Hill Jewellers Ajax/Pick. * National Sports Ajax/Pick. * Party Packagers Ajax/Pick. * Peoples Jewellers Ajax/Pick. * Real Estate Ajax/Pick. * Sport Chek Ajax/Pick. * Sport Mart Ajax/Pick. * Staples Ajax/Pick. * Wheels Ajax/Pick. the Attack with five games in hand, while Stouffville has two games in hand and Peterborough five. Even the team the Attack is trailing, Lindsay, sits just one point up in fourth place, but holds four games in hand. Seemingly, despite play- ing competitive hockey, the Attack may get shuffled down the pecking order with just 14 games left in the season. One of those games will be in Markham on Friday night, followed by a break that won’t see the Attack back in action again until Sunday, Dec. 27 when they visit Burlington. Over the past weekend, the Attack split a pair of games, losing 9-3 in Peter- borough on Friday before winning 4-3 in overtime on Sunday against Markham at the Ajax Community Cen- tre. In Peterborough, Mike Sullivan scored twice, both on the power play, while Luke Laszkiewicz had the other. Peterborough built a 3-0 lead after the first peri- od and maintained that margin, up 5-2 through 40 minutes. Blake Boddy provided the heroics in the win over Markham, scoring 3:18 into overtime on a power play. Alex Barr, Hayden Perro- ni and Jonny Simone also scored for the Attack. Adam Stein played both games in goal, facing 34 shots in Peterborough and 37 against Markham. He was backed up by Braden Mann, who was obtained late last week from Brant- ford of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. In three games this sea- son with the Golden Eagles, the 16-year-old from Brant- ford had a 7.13 goals against average and .828 save per- centage. From page 24 Attack gets jump on competition HOCKEY Durham West Lightning tops in Heroes tourney Peewee BB team blanks host in championship game WHITBY -- The Durham West Lightning Peewee BB team battled through to become champions of the Whitby Tournament of Heroes. The Lightning came ready and focused as they played the Whitby Wolves and won 1-0. Later that afternoon, the team defeated Kingston Ice Wolves 2-1. On Saturday, the Lightning played hard but unfortunately came up short against Etobi- coke Dolphins and lost 2-1. After finishing the round robin in first overall in the Peewee BB division consisting of six teams, the Lightning skipped the semifinal game and went straight to the champion- ship final. The Lightning faced the Whitby Wolves again in the championship game and emerged victorious in the 1-0 game. The Lightning scored the winning goal during the second period and the team worked hard to keep the lead until the final buzzer to win gold. Members of the team are Megan Wells, Brooke Van Dyk, Rhea Vanas- ten, Hilary Fraser, Emma Gunn, Kennedy Bouchard, Michelle Jones, Stephanie Racioppo, Taylor Norquay, Alex Wong, Shalena Acker- man, Stephanie Lamanna, Kristina Pompilii, Rebecca Wickson, Kayla Sliz and Carolyn Jamieson. Staff includes Chris Wong, Greg Sliz, Lee Bruckner, Vicki Wells and head coach Don Fraser. WHITBY -- The Durham West Lightning Peewees blanked the host team from Whitby 1-0 in the championship game to claim the Tournament of Heroes title. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 16, 200926 AP This Holiday Season, give the gift of help, hope and opportunity... Giving is easy. You can donate online, contact us or mail in a cheque. (905) 686-0606 www.uwayapu.org offi ce@uwayapu.org The only piece missing is you United We Can... make a difference Each year, United Way of Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridge touches the lives of one in three in our community. For the cost of two cups of coffee a month, you can help over 50 local programs and services in their efforts to assist some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Your donation makes it possible to provide meals to seniors; give a backpack and school supplies to a needy child; run day programs for the disabled or provide credit counselling and skills upgrading for the unemployed. And this is just a few of the incredible things that United Way-member agencies do each and every day. It’s never been easier to make a positive difference. This holiday season, give the gift of help, hope and opportunity – give to United Way. 24/7 LOCAL BREAKING NEWS, SPORTS, PHOTOS, VIDEO AND WEATHER: ALL DAY, EVERY DAY WHEN YOU WANT IT.>>newsdurhamregion.comBantam A team drops final in shootout PITTSBURGH -- The Pickering Bantam A Pan- thers captured the silver medal in the Three Rivers Cup tournament in Pitts- burgh on the American Thanksgiving weekend. The Panthers, playing in the A/AA division, defeat- ed the Cincinnati Cyclones and Georgetown Raiders, while tieing the Toronto Colts in round-robin play. The playoff saw the Pan- thers and Colts in another exciting game. The Pan- thers, down 4-2 with 10 minutes to play, roared back and tied the game to send it into an overtime thriller. The overtime saw exciting end-to-end action, with both teams having chances to score. There was no score at the end of overtime and the game went to a shootout which saw the Colts take away the gold. The Panthers put on an exciting performance throughout the weekend and continue their strong play during their regular hockey season. Team members are Ben deVries, Tony Gionfriddo, Brett Hall, Aidan Koke, Jon- athan MacMillan, Austin Marchese, Joey McLeod, Stephen Mintsopoulos, Luke Napolitano, Joshua Nat, Connor Page, Gra- ham Reid, Karlo Cvetkov- ic-Rozas, Hartley Russell, Grant Starr, Sean Turnbull and Aaron White. The coaching staff con- sists of Leo Nat, Brian Hall, Bill Reid and Calvin Rus- sell. THREE RIVERS TOURNAMENT Panthers win silver in Pittsburgh SUBMITTED PHOTO PITTSBURGH -- The Pickering Panthers Bantam A team advanced to the champion- ship game of a tournament in Pittsburgh, but dropped a close decision in a shoot- out. Swiss import key to team’s seven-game winning streak BY BRIAN MCNAIR bmcnair@durhamregion.com OSHAWA -- There’s often a learning curve for players who cross the ocean to play hockey in Canada, especial- ly when they do so in their teens. And, sure enough, there was plenty of learning for Alain Berger, too, but he seems to be on the right side of that curve now, judging by his play of late with the Oshawa Generals. The first-year import, who will celebrate his 19th birth- day on Dec. 27 while he’s in Saskatchewan playing for Switzerland at the World Junior Hockey Champion- ships, has been a big part of the reason the Generals are in the midst of a seven- game winning streak. During that stretch, Berger has scored eight goals and added six assists, bringing his season totals to 15-12-27 in 32 games. On Monday, he was named the OHL player of the week. “There’s a classic example of a guy who I think now has just discovered the secrets of the Ontario Hockey League in terms of how he’s play- ing,” Generals coach/GM Chris DePiero says of Berg- er, who was taken 27th over- all in the June import draft. “It’s almost like a water- shed moment over the last two weeks for him. I really believe it’s only going to get better.” It can’t get much better than it did for Berger on Fri- day, when he led the Gener- als to a 5-2 win in Kingston by registering his first OHL hat trick. He also added an assist and was a plus-four in the game, televised by Rog- ers Sportsnet at the K-Rock Centre in Kingston. Berger had only one point Sunday in Brampton, but it was a big one, the tying goal of a game the Generals had been trailing 3-1 but went on to win 4-3 in a shootout. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound right wing hasn’t shied away from the physical aspect of the North American game, either, with 43 minutes in penalties to help prove it. “I think he can be a very good power forward,” DePiero says. “He’s a big, strong kid with good hands, he shoots the puck well. He’s a great, great character kid, too. He’s becoming one of our leaders in the room ... It’s taken him 25 games to be able to get his feet under him at this level. Now it’s coming out.” The rest of the team has followed suit, it would seem, as the Generals have zipped back up the Eastern Conference standings, mov- ing from last to fifth by tak- ing 15 points in the last eight games and breaking above .500 again at 15-14-3-1. The Generals have three games this weekend before breaking for Christmas. They’re at home against Plymouth Friday (7:35 p.m.) and Owen Sound Sunday (6:05 p.m.), with a game at Owen Sound in between. OSHAWA GENERALS Berger fires up the offence