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Home My WebLink AboutNA2009_12_24BLAISDALE M O N TESSO RIBLAISDALE MONTESSORI SCHOOL 12 months - grade 8Blaisdale.com 905-509-5005 OPEN HOUSE Thurs. April 30, 2009 @ 7:00 p.m. 56 Old Kingston Rd., Pickering Village, Ajax Pickering Campus 415 Toynevale Rd. Wed. Jan. 6, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m. 905-686-9607 Visit our showroom 239 Station St., Ajax www.lifestyleproducts.cawww.lifestyleproducts.ca SUNROOMS • WINDOWS PORCH ENCLOSURES • DOORS HAPPY HOLIDAYSHAPPY HOLIDAYS 1900 Dixie Rd.(at Finch) in Pickering T:905 839 2506T: 905 839 2506 www.burbsbistro.com Book Now for New Year’s Eve at Burbs! First Seating 6:00 - 6:30 Specially selected four course menu (two choices each course) The perfect dinner before your New Year’s Party $6000per person Second Seating 9:00 A Celebration of Food This seven course journey of decadence is for those who consider food to be the ultimate party, culminating in dessert and champagne at midnight. Truly the most extravagant and exotic food experience of the year! $8000 per person FOR MENU DETAI L S , ASK U S ! COMMUNITY 5 Teeing off for charity Golf tournament will be in aid of food bank ENTERTAINMENT 23 Keenan does it again Pickering boy wins song writing competition SPORTS 25 He shoots, he scores Pickering Panthers’ goalie nets one BY KRISTEN CALIS kcalis@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- A $2.6-million grant from the provincial government will help the new emergency room kick into high gear. The money will help the Rouge Valley Health System pay for necessities such as start-up costs, additional staff training and new equip- ment at the Ajax-Pickering hospital’s new emergency department, which officially began accepting patients at the end of November. Ajax-Pickering MPP Joe Dickson made the announcement at the hospital Friday, saying the funding adds to the government’s contin- uous improvement of local health care in Ajax and Pickering. “We have a new expanded emergency room that now has the money to make it fully opera- CELIA KLEMENZ / METROLAND AJAX -- Janet Ecker, chair of Rouge Valley Health System board of directors, Rik Ganderton, president and CEO of RVHS, centre, and Ajax- Pickering MPP Joe Dickson, were all smiles Dec. 18 when Mr. Dickson announced $2.6 million in funding from the Ontario government to the newly-expanded emergency department at the Ajax-Pickering hospital. Happy holidays for hospital AJAX-PICKERING GETS $2.6 MILLION See HOSPITAL page 4 Pressrun 50,400 • 36 pages • Optional 3 week delivery $6/$1 newsstand PICKERING Th ursday, December 24, 2009 NNews ews AAddveverr titisseerrTHE newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 20092 AP Exceptional Warranty Superior Construction Fast Delivery ONELOCATIO N ONLY OSHAWA 900 Champlain Ave., Oshawa 905-723-4561 Hours: Mon.• Tues.• Wed. 10-6, Thurs.• Fri. 10-9, Sat. 10-6, Sun.11-5 OSHAWA OSHAWA Reclining ChairsReclining Chairs Sofa BedsSofa Beds NONO Wine & Spirit BarsWine & Spirit Bars &GSTGST PST*PST* *please see store for details, credit equal to the value of the PST and GST. Not valid on best value items. ClocksClocks Mattresses ByMattresses By Sofa Lamps Loveseat Tables Chair Accessories Mattress Clocks Two found in a trunk in May PICKERING -- Durham Regional Police investi- gators spent Tuesday canvassing an area of east Toronto for information they hope will lead to an arrest in a double homicide that happened last May. The bodies of Harjinder Singh Sandhu, 28, of Brampton, and Puneet Singh Chhina, 26, of Nepean, were found in the trunk of a car parked near Rosebank Road and the 4th Concession of Pickering May 5, 2009. There were obvious signs of trauma to both bodies, and both had been report- ed missing earlier from Peel Region. After the men’s bodies were found, family mem- bers made public appeals to try to find out who had killed them, but as yet, no arrests have been made. Now, Durham police have released further infor- mation, in the hopes it will lead to an arrest. Police now say the two men traveled from Bramp- ton to a location in the Kennedy Road and Shep- pard Avenue area in Toronto --- the area police canvassed Tuesday. It’s believed that’s where they were murdered. The bodies were placed in the trunk of their own vehicle and driven, along with a second vehicle, to the area of Pickering where they were found. It’s believed they were taken there May 4. After the vehicle was abandoned in north Pickering a cell phone belonging to one of the men was left in a second vehicle which traveled north to Whitchurch-Stoufville, then southbound to the Kennedy and Sheppard area of Toronto. The exact route isn’t known. Police also say DNA, believed to be from a sus- pect, has been found. Several people have provid- ed DNA samples, and police say they will be asking others for the same. Flyers will be distributed and posted in the Ken- nedy and Havendale Road area of Toronto, in an effort to elicit tips or calls to Crime Stoppers. Police ask anyone with information to call 1-888- 579-1520, ext. 3270. Anonymous tips can be made through Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1- 800-222-TIPS or www.durhamcrimestoppers.ca. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 20093 Boxing Day Saturday, December 26th 8:00am – 6:00pm Sunday, December 27th 11:00am – 6:00pm Monday, December 28th to Wednesday, December 30th 10:00am – 9:00pm New Year’s Eve Thursday, December 31st 10:00am – 5:00pm New Year’s Day Friday, January 1st Mall Closed Saturday, January 2nd Regular Hours Commence 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 unbeatable sales some “retail therapy” lots of time to shop!✓ I’m ready for...I’m ready for... unbeatable sales some “retail therapy” lots of time to shop! We’re ready with some great bargains– Happy Boxing Week! Load up on amazing Boxing Week deals, find a perfect New Year’s Eve outfit, and get the gear for a winter of fun. Get ready to shop – we’re ready for you! AP CALLING VOLUNTEERS & NEW IMMIGRANTS The Community Development Council Durham is inviting Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents interested in volunteering to come and join Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s HOST PROGRAM (a friendship program) that ‘matches’ volunteers with new immigrants in the Durham Region. It’s a perfect chance to make new friends as you help them settle in a new country. Many of the Host volunteers are themselves former newcomers who are now established members of the community. The program is complemented with the youth section, where youth assist youth. The HOST (YOUTH) PROGRAM also gives youth an opportunity to earn community service hours towards their high school diploma! We offer many community oriented activities such as movie nights, English Conversation Circles, outdoor activities, cooking programs and much more! An information Session will be held at the Community Development Council Durham offi ce at 134 Commercial Ave. in Ajax. For further details contact Bozena (Host Worker) or Marinela (Host Youth Outreach Worker) at the Community Development Council Durham, Phone: 905-686-2661. Newcomers can also get information from the same number. Community Development Council Durham Funded By Check Out Our 12 Week Challenge CHRIS DILL – Certifi ed Personal Trainer 905-426-0954 chrisdill@commit2bfit.ca • Private Sessions • In Home Training • Small Group Training • Fit-In 30 • Weight Loss • 12 Week Challenge • Cardio Kick Boxing • Strength Training • Athletic Training Weight Loss Strength Training Athletic Training …one day at a time www.commit2bfit.ca CRIME Police release info in Pickering double homicide PICKERING -- Detective Steve Groat placed an information pack- age in a door on Havendale Road December 22. tional,” he said. The post-construction operation plan funding is to be used through the rest of 2009 and into 2010. Rouge Valley chairwoman Janet Ecker said it’s always difficult to find funding dur- ing tough economic times, and was pleased with Mr. Dickson’s announcement, espe- cially with the anticipated 60,000 patients who will visit the ER each year. “The bottom line is it means we can treat more patients,” she said. Rouge Valley president and CEO Rik Ganderton thanked the Central East Local Health Integration Network (CE LHIN) and Mr. Dickson for recognizing the needs of west Durham. He said in an interview following the announcement the emergency room needs more nurses and clerical staff to fill the existing space in the ER that’s ready to be utilized. He also expects it to improve patient flow as the funding will primarily go toward staffing. Deborah Hammons, president and CEO of the CE LHIN, was also pleased with the news. “Ensuring that patients have access to efficient and effective emergency depart- ment care is a key aim of the LHIN,” she said. The emergency department was phase one of the Ajax-Pickering hospital’s rede- velopment plan. The second phase of the project will be primarily renovations, and is expected to be complete by the fall of 2010. Once complete, the expansion will mean a total of 140,000 square feet of new and renovated space for emergency and related services. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 20094 P DURHAM VACUUM PLUS LTD. 629 KINGSTON RD., PICKERING 905-831-2326 #2 HWY 401 HWY Whites Rd.SteepleHillKingston Rd. 2009Platinum CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEMS BLOWOUTB SAVE $3500 Model# C4572140 $9999 Crush Proof Electric Hose Turbine Carpet Nozzle Model# TK280 $5999 30’ Crushproof 3-Way Hose Model# PR30HLVS $199 99 SAVE UP TO $10000 Model# 0020E SAVE $5000 SAVE $2000 Free Hardwood Floor Mophead with any complete system purchase $20999Electric Power Brush Package 6 models to choose from starting at 25% - 35% OFF ANY CANISTER HURRY - LIMITED QUANTITIESHURRY - LIMITED QUANTITIES VISIT US FOR MORE IN-STORE SPECIALSVISIT US FOR MORE IN-STORE SPECIALS OXING WEEK From page 1 Hospital anticipates 60,000 ER patients yearly Toys 4 Tickets and Food 4 Fines helps those in need PICKERING -- Local kids and families in need will benefit this Christmas from a suc- cessful initiative by the City of Pickering. Pickering announced earlier this month that it would, for two days, accept toy dona- tions in lieu of parking ticket payments. The campaign, Toys 4 Tickets and Food 4 Fines, allowed residents to pay their fines with toys and food. In the end, 68 tickets were paid with food and toys, but manager of bylaw services Kim Thompson said “we had a few strag- glers” so it was actually more than 70. The total fine value of the tickets was $1,820, and the total value of food and toy dona- tions ended up being $2,162. “Quite a few even donated above the amount,” Ms. Thompson said. Most of the donations were turned over to the Durham Region Police Food and Toy Drive, and the late donations have gone to 19 Division. Pickering ticket initiative a success Organizers plan golf tournament for St. Paul’s BY KRISTEN CALIS kcalis@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- A couple of Pickering resi- dents hope golf enthusiasts will tee off, and sponsors will donate big, to help a local food bank continue feeding Ajax and Pickering. A previous story in the News Adver- tiser that mentioned children make up more than 50 per cent of the clients at St. Paul’s On-the-Hill Community Food Bank spurred Kevin Cahill into action. “I was stunned,” he said in an interview at the food bank. He and friend Grant Bridge, who have partnered on various fundraisers such as the Pickering Terry Fox Run and previ- ous golf tournaments, decided to put their fundraising efforts toward the food bank that serves Pickering and Ajax, especially after learning it’s run solely by volunteers. On Thursday, July 15, at Glen Cedars Golf Club in Pickering, they’ll host the St. Paul’s On-the-Hill Community Food Bank of Ajax and Pickering Golf Tournament, which they hope will become an annual event. They met with St. Paul’s volunteers Monday afternoon to discuss logistics and sponsorship. Mr. Cahill and Mr. Bridge helped run tournaments for the past seven years to raise money for the Pickering Rec- reation Complex expansion in a joint ini- tiative with the City, so they hope some of their contacts will jump on board. “It’s going to cost us well over $20,000 to run the golf tournament,” Mr. Bridge said. So they’re looking for a big corporate sponsors to get the ball rolling. Also, to sponsor a hole it will cost $500, or $1,000 will cover a hole sponsorship plus a four- some pass for the tournament. They’re also looking for people to sponsor carts, lunch, dinner and prizes. Once these costs are covered, they can concentrate on raising money, 100 per cent of which will go to St. Paul’s. “If we get some large corporate sponsors, we win before we even tee up,” said Mr. Cahill. Tournament registration will cost $150 per person. As for the current situation at the food bank, the stock is sufficient for now, gen- erally something food bank director Rae Coulter sees around Christmas time. “It just keeps coming,” she said. However, she’s seen a significant increase in food bank clients this year and the shelves will start emptying once again in 2010. Last Friday alone, six new clients lined up for food, plus another six who didn’t have proper papers, most likely because they were recently laid off and didn’t yet have employment insurance, she said. Food items St. Paul’s always needs include instant coffee, tea, sugar, cereal, canned fruit, kids’ snacks, flour and rice. To sponsor the tournament or for more information: - call 905-509-5669 (Kevin) or 905-831-1895 (Grant). newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 20095 VIJAY BADHWAR, DMD Dental Care for Adults, Kids and Great Big Babies. • A Full Range of Dental Treatments - Bring the whole family. • Saturday & Evening Appointments - To serve you better. • Flexible Payment Options - Helping you get the treatment you want. • A Relaxing Atmosphere - Virtual vision glasses, stereo headphones to help ensure you have a pleasant visit. 905-683-1391 We keep our patients smiling by taking the time to understand their needs. Add our friendly, caring staff and state-of-the-art techniques and you’ve found a good dental home. AP CHARITY Tee-ing off for Ajax- Pickering food bank SABRINA BYRNES / METROLAND PICKERING -- Grant Bridge, director of the St. Paul’s Community Food Bank, Rae Coulter and Kevin Cahill launched plans for the first annual golf tournament to raise money for the food bank. Mr. Bridge and Mr. Cahill are co-organizers of the event. 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 BILLS Rising rates demand new strategies To the editor: Re: Rising water rates shaft responsible con- sumers, John and Barbara Todhunter letter, Dec. 17. The proposed water/sewer combined increase for next year is 7.4 per cent. The fol- lowing year is forecast at 8 to 9 per cent. The reason for the increase is noted as con- sumption -- not over, but under -- which is the result of consumer awareness, low water toilets and appliances, etc. This is wrong and should send a message to taxpayers. Hopeful- ly, people will come out and share their view in November, 2010. The Ajax Water treatment facility was built years ago with promises of a six per cent annual increase to fund it over six years. Even with the extraordinary growth of the Town, much not planned, we are to pay for all of the pleas for reduced consumer use and guidelines mandated to manufacturers. By the way, I installed new and expensive fau- cets just under a year ago and they are already clogged with calcium, inside and outside. Quite a facility. I replaced my washer a few months ago and this weekend my dishwash- er with energy and low-water efficiency ones. But I can now throw out the yellow Energy Guide cards which show me the savings, as they are going back to the Region. Demand cannot cover the infrastructure. How would a private business deal with this issue? Raising their prices? Not likely, if they wanted to continue on. Leave it to those with imagination as to what a corporate strategy would encompass. Durham Region’s busi- ness, budgeting and spending habits over the past few years make me wonder. Robert Heney Ajax Increased water rates don’t make sense or cents To the editor: Re: Durham taps users with higher water, sewer costs, Dec. 11. Seems the public has taken some rare political advice and conserved water to the point where it is hurting the bureau- cracy. Bureaucrats don’t like pain so they take five or 10 seconds to give some seri- ous, indepth thought, conversation and research into the issue and, are you ready for this, give us some disjointed logic that gets printed on page 10 of the local paper in the hope that no one sees it and com- plains. Then they raise the rates. Sweet eh! Faceless politicians think that the pub- lic is a bottomless pit that they can reach in and take out what they want, when they want, for whatever reason they want with no regard to the personal status of the people they serve. Politicians work for the public and not the other way around. When they get out of control, comfort- able and complacent in their jobs, as seemingly is happening, then it is time to get rid of them and hire someone with a little common sense, not cents. Bill Waldron Ajax FIREARMS LAW Severity of long gun registry is problem To the editor: Re: Registration not an attack on rights, Bev- erly Akerman letter, Dec. 19. Beverly Akerman’s comment regarding the registration of firearms belittles the severity of the registry. By comparing the registration of firearms to that of cars, dogs, etc., she careful- ly omits the fact that failing to register a gun can cost you four years in jail. Worse, the registry is so fraught with errors that a person may have actually registered their firearm, but still be convicted because the Canada Firearms Centre could not find the information. Add the grotesque cost to taxpayers and the utter uselessness of the registry in preventing crimes and her asser- tion that we should keep this white elephant become laughable. Ms. Akerman also cites the theft of eight long guns in Clarington as a reason to keep it but sorry, it is already a criminal offence to fail to report a lost or sto- len firearm. When the theft is reported to the police, they are given all the relevant informa- tion required to return the firearms to their rightful owner. Let’s hope the gun registry is not “the law of the land” much longer. Tony Bernardo Oshawa Merry Christmas to all of our readers The people of Durham Region make it such a special place to live As families across the region sit down to enjoy Christmas dinner after a day of opening presents, it’s time to count our blessings after yet another tough eco- nomic year. As they do, time and time again, Dur- ham residents continue to give so gener- ously to those in need. We don’t have to look any further than the recent fire at Whitby’s All Saint’s Anglican Church. Some 90 food and toy hampers had just been prepared and were ready to be delivered to needy families in the com- munity when the fire struck, destroying the hampers. But members of the public answered the call and by the end of the day of the inferno, the hampers had been com- pletely replaced. That’s community spir- it. There are so many individuals across the region, young and old, who go out of their way to make the com- munity they live in a better place. Take Nerissa Carino, of Pickering, for instance. This year’s YMCA peace prize winner in Durham, the mother of four has over- seen five events that raise awareness about violence against women. Or take the 21 youth in Whitby who were honoured during the Whitby Youth Council’s awards. Faith Chipman, 14, was the young- est winner and is already a member of Brooklin’s Group 74, on the Durham Heritage Fairs Board and involved with the Me to We program. She’s off to a great start in life. The funding spread around the region by the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation is also welcome news. Groups such as Community Care Dur- ham ($1,000), WindReach Farm ($2,000), the Clarington East Food Bank ($1,400) and the Durham Children’s Aid Soci- ety ($2,000) were just some of the many groups to benefit from the Mississaugas’ generosity. There are many positive things going on in Durham Region with growth expected to continue and projects like the widen- ing of Hwy. 407, the expansion of Hwy. 401 and other infrastructure improve- ments coming in the next few years. We can only wish that everyone has a happy holiday season and that better economic times are ahead in the coming year. For tomorrow however, it’s Merry Christmas everyone. 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 24, 20096 P newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 20097 AP Smart customers always read the fi ne print. † Features listed are available on 2010 Outlander XLS 4WD models. Technical data, equipment and opti ons are based on the latest information at time of printing and are subject to change without notice . ¥ Starting from MSRP applies to 2010 Outlander XLS 4WD (CO45-X C62). ◊ Starting from MSRP applies to 2010 Outlander ES 2WD (CO45-A C04). ◊ / ¥ MSRP’s apply to retail deliveries of new and unused 2010 vehicles. MSRP’s do not include $1,410 freight, license, registration, insurance, dealer preparation, documentation, and administration fee s and taxes. Dealer order/trade may be necessay. Dealers may sell for less. See participating dealer for complete details. Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. ‡ Lim ited time offer applies to qualifi ed retail customers who purchase or lease any new unused Mitsubish i vehicle from a participating retailer by January 4, 2010. A $1,000 prepaid MasterCard card will be given to eligible customers 60 days after the customer takes delivery of the vehicle. Limit of one prepaid MasterCard card per purchase. 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BEST BACKED CARS IN THE WORLD POWERTRAIN LTD WARRANTY 10 YEAR 160,000 km 2010 LANCER DE 2010 OUTLANDER ES $$10001000 PREPAIDPREPAID MasterCard MasterCard®® CARDCARD WITH ANY NEW VEHICLE PURCHASEWITH ANY NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE 0%0% FINANCINGFINANCING on 2010 Modelson 2010 Models PLUSPLUS /Bi-Weekly $2,000 DOWN OR$99 0% 2010 ECLIPSE SPYDER PICKERING MITSUBISHI BOXING DAY SALE EVENT! 0% FINANCING • $0 DOWN PAYMENT • $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT FOR 60 MTHS /Bi-Weekly $2,000 DOWN OR$139 0% FOR 36 MTHS PURCHASE FINANCING FOR UP TO +0%90MTHS BEST BACKED CARS IN THE WORLD POWERTRAIN LTD WARRANTY 10 YEAR 160,000 km 60 NO PAYMENTS FOR DAYS 2010 GALANT PURCHASE FINANCING FOR UP TO +0%90MTHS60 NO PAYMENTS FOR DAYS Personal data from flu vaccination clinics disappears BY JENNIFER STONE jstone@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- Personal health information for anyone who got their H1N1 or seasonal flu shot at a Regional clinic has gone miss- ing. Durham Region Health Department issued a media release Monday indicat- ing a USB key containing personal health information -- names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, health card num- bers, doctors’ names and personal health information provided at the time of vacci- nation -- has gone missing. It’s believed the device was lost on Dur- ham Regional Headquarters property, while it was being taken to a local health department flu vaccination clinic. Information pertaining to 83,524 people was contained on the computer storage device, but Durham’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Kyle, said it wouldn’t be easy to get at the information, even if you had the device. “If you were to plug the USB key into your laptop, you would need to know what file name, and what application to open,” he said, noting, even with that information, there are “a lot of symbols that are uninter- pretable” to most people. Despite that, there is “limited personal information that can be read quite readily,” he said. While stressing he didn’t want to mini- mize the significance of the matter, Dr. Kyle said the lost information is “not like a detailed, intimate medical record.” Instead, it’s the basic information collected before flu shots were administered at Region- al clinics, such as name, age, address and allergy history. The health department is working with Provincial officials to determine if anything needs to be done to ensure the health card numbers aren’t used fraudulently, Dr. Kyle said. Health department officials say there’s no reason to believe the USB device was deliberately taken. “We’re not thinking there was any theft of property that has occurred,” Dr. Kyle said. “This is really a case of human error.” The health department is doing what it can to restore public confidence after the loss. “We will do what we can to make amends,” Dr. Kyle said. Letters are to be sent to people whose information was on the key. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 20098 AP We’re Growing… Forward your resumé to: * Investment Executive, June 2008 ™ Trademark owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations. This is a full-time opportunity to establish your own variable-income and self-employed business in association with Investors Group. MP1536 (01/2009) Did you know that the demand for financial planners has never been higher and that Investors Group is continuing to grow and offer career opportunities? In fact, Fast Company magazine named financial planner the #1 career for 2009. Because choosing to become a financial planner isn’t a decision that’s made overnight, we strive everyday to make your choice that much easier by providing you with the best initial paid training in the industry*, exceptional income potential, and a flexible and independent environment. 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PICKERING, ON L1V 1C3 Call us at (905) 831-0034 for Career Session dates na^bV[YZgjhVZgiYa^jWdiYgV]YZ`gdlZkÉjdN !iV]ildc`di\c^igd[bdXZWi^iÉcYajdl!hiZhhV hZ^XV\ZaicVigdeb^ZhZ]i!hZbdXZb^iZ]icZ]l 4na^bV[Z]ic^c^VbZgaa^l ejdg<hgdihZkc>YZ^[^aVjfVZgZ]lhÉiV]I YcVicViajhcd8 dWbF[^J !Zjf^cjgjd! !\c^ccVaeaV^XcVc^[di]XVdgeeVYZo^aVcdhgZe naZk^iXZ[[Zdild]Zh^kYVcVXZL#eaZ]cVX hZcdYZkdagjdnZgjhcZdinXV\ZagjdnZo^cV\gd #hZ]h^lgjdndi\c^YgdXXVgZi[VYZ`ddaZgV ld]ijdWVZgdbijdYc^[dihjaaV8 dWbF[^J #Zb^igZkdYcV½ldcgZehdgejdneaZ]cVX #hcd^iVgdegdXngV^Y^hWjhhi^diYZhcZX^aYcV#Xc>aV^XcVc^;B<>nWYZcldh`gVbZYVgI -%%'$'%%-'&EB ½Zb^I #na^bV[ijdWV`c^]idi ANDREW SHAW Executive Consultant andrew.shaw@investorsgroup.com (905) 831-0034 1-866-476-1535 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! www.Britishislesshoppe.com 235 Bayly Street W., Ajax ON • (905) 686-1414 • Hours: 10am - 6pm Tues - Sun Save up to 40% off Coronation Street items, Guinness, Wool Blankets, Scarves from Scotland, Chocolates, Cakes, Puddings, Sweets and more BOXING WEEKEND SALE DECEMBER 26 & 27 10 AM - 6 PM ENTIRE STORE ON SALE HEALTH Durham Region loses health info for 83,524 people CATCH UP ONLINE AT newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 2009We Speak Your Language.... 9 AP R egular water containing some tritium and hydrazine released BY JENNIFER STONE jstone@durhamregion.com BOWMANVILLE -- Hourly water sampling is currently being conducted in Oshawa, Bowmanville and Newcastle after what the Region is calling the “inadvertent release of demineralized regular water (contain- ing some tritium and hydrazine)” from the Darlington nuclear plant Monday after- noon. We know what happened, we just don’t know why it happened. Ted Gruetzmer. OPG So far, a media release from the Region said, water quality is unaffected, and the water remains “safe to drink.” In overnight testing, “all levels showed normal backgrounds for tritium,” said Ontario Power Generation (OPG) spokes- man Ted Gruetzner. The hourly testing will continue for some time. Regular testing is done as a matter of course as part of the power plant’s regula- tory process, the OPG spokesman said. The water came from a tank used as part of a back-up cooling system. It’s believed one of the tanks was being refilled when the water was inadvertently directed into an already full tank, resulting in a release of water which eventually flowed into Lake Ontario, Mr. Gruetzner explained. Staff at the plant are recovering water that remained on the property, indicated a news release put out by OPG just after noon Tuesday. An investigation into the accident contin- ues. “We know what happened, we just don’t know why it happened,” Mr. Gruetzner said. Throughout the incident, all four nucle- ar reactors at Darlington have continued to run “at or near full power,” an OPG release said. NUCLEAR Region says water still safe after release from Darlington newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200910 AP Lack of development charges means users pay the difference for Duffins Creek plant upgrade BY REKA SZEKELY rszekely@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- Water and sewer rates are offi- cially going up in Durham, by 7.4 per cent overall or almost $50 annually for the average customer. Last week, Regional council passed the increase which works out to 8.2 per cent on the water portion of the bill and 6.6 per cent on the sanitary sewer portion. Marilyn Pearce, chairwoman of the Region’s finance committee, said Durham has no choice but to continue to increase water and sewer rates. They’ll continue to increase over the coming years. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can say to make you feel better,” she said. “Everyone wants to have the safest water they can. At the same time that costs a lot of money.” She added government regulations on water safety and the pollution coming out of sewer plants continues to drive up the cost of providing the service. As in previous years, a drop in consump- tion continues to drive up the price of the water people use. In addition to the success of water conservation programs, Durham has seen a decrease in water consumption in the industrial sector as some factories stopped operating. Other pressures this year included the need to upgrade the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant. Durham’s share of the upgrade is 25 per cent while York Region is shoulder- ing the rest. The Durham portion is slated to accommodate growth in Pickering and Ajax. “It’s a huge project; to be ready for the future, we have to do that,” said Mayor Pearce. Unfortunately, a drop in housing starts this year means existing sewer users are picking up the tab. “Because the project’s underway and the development charges didn’t come in, we have to pay the difference,” said Mayor Pearce. Although developers building in Durham will eventually pay those charges, the Region had to borrow to make up the shortfall. “It’s easy to say it’s all for Seaton, but the intensification that’s going to take place in Pickering and Ajax, Pickering especially, will require capacity,” said Mayor Pearce. Another issue is the polybutylene pipes the Region must replace on a regular basis. “Right now we’re just replacing what’s breaking and that’s millions each year,” said Mayor Pearce. Polybutylene water service connections were installed in Durham communities from the 1970s until the early 1980s and it was later found that even the small amount of chlorine in municipal water can cause the pipes to begin cracking. At a recent works committee meeting, councillors were told it will cost about $7,000 to replace each connection. About $10 mil- lion in federal-provincial stimulus money was used to replace 1,520 connections this year. “It was very small in terms of the size of the problem but it’s a multi-million dollar prob- lem and they’re failing faster than they were,” said Mayor Pearce. In 2010, the Region is budgeting $3.1 mil- lion to replace even more connections.newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200911 AP FINANCES Regional water and sewer rates going up in 2010 newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200912 AP newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200913 P PICKERING RECREATION COMPLEX Thursday, December 31, 2009 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm FREE! Family Skate & Family Swim FREE! Face painters, crafts, popcorn & sno-kones Pyjama Jam! Bring your sleeping bag and blankets to cozy up for the feature film: ICE AGE 3 9 pm New Year’s Countdown, prize-draw and Balloon Drop in the Front Lobby. cityofpickering.com/greateventsBring your Food Bank donations to these events BRING THE FAMILY TO THE 2010 ...2010BRING THE FAMILY TO THE 2010 ... Prizes include an IPod Nano, a Portable DVD Player and a Digital Camera Mayor David Ryan and Members of Pickering City Council request the pleasure of your company Friday, January 1, 2010 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Pickering City Hall FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT! Afternoon highlights include: Uptown Swing Band, Seglin’s One Man Circus, The Town Crier, a Balloon Twister and Refreshments. Visitors fill out a ballot to win great prizes! Mayor’s New Year’s D a y Levee Mayor’s New Year’s D a y Levee 2 Months Free for New Members - Ask Us How! One Day Only Gift with Membership Purchase Free Group Fitness classes Free Squash & Doubles Squash clinics and play Free Racquetball & Tennis clinics and play Free Nutrition Info & Seminars Free Family Fitness Activities & Free Teen Stuff Free Facility Tours & Health Orientations T. 905.683.6582 TTY 905.831.8604 cityofpickering.com/recreation recreation@cityofpickering.com 1867 Valley Farm Road, conveniently located in central Pickering, just south of Kingston Road between Brock Road and Liverpool Road. Mark Your Calendars for this Don’t Miss Event! Saturday, January 9 10 am - 2 pm Provincial funding will support staff training, new equipment BY KRISTEN CALIS kcalis@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- A $2.6-million grant from the provincial government will help the new emergency room kick into high gear. The money will help the Rouge Valley Health System pay for necessities such as start-up costs, additional staff training and new equipment at the Ajax-Pickering hos- pital’s new emergency department, which officially began accepting patients at the end of November. Ajax-Pickering MPP Joe Dickson made the announcement at the hospital Friday, saying the funding adds to the govern- ment’s continuous improvement of local health care in Ajax and Pickering. “We have a new expanded emergency room that now has the money to make it fully operational,” he said. The post-construction operation plan funding is to be used through the rest of 2009 and into 2010. Rouge Valley chairwoman Janet Ecker said it’s always difficult to find funding during tough economic times, and was pleased with Mr. Dickson’s announce- ment, especially with the anticipated 60,000 patients who will visit the ER each year. “The bottom line is it means we can treat more patients,” she said. Rouge Valley president and CEO Rik Ganderton thanked the Central East Local Health Integration Network (CE LHIN) and Mr. Dickson for recognizing the needs of west Durham. He said in an interview following the announcement the emer- gency room needs more nurses and cleri- cal staff to fill the existing space in the ER that’s ready to be utilized. He also expects it to improve patient flow as the funding will primarily go toward staffing. Deborah Hammons, president and CEO of the CE LHIN, was also pleased with the news. “Ensuring that patients have access to efficient and effective emergency depart- ment care is a key aim of the LHIN,” she said. The emergency department was phase one of the Ajax-Pickering hospital’s rede- velopment plan. The second phase of the project will be primarily renovations, and is expected to be complete by the fall of 2010. Once complete, the expansion will mean a total of 140,000 square feet of new and renovated space for emergency and related services. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200914 P BANKRUPTCY AMISH FURNITURE OUTLET LIMITED AS AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT APPOINTED RECEIVER SF PARTNERS INC. 1755 PICKERING PARKWAY, PICKERING 1970 DUNDAS ST. E., MISSISSAUGA 3060 DAVIDSON COURT, BURLINGTON HANDCRAFTED SOLID WOOD FURNITURE DINING, BEDROOM, KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM & OFFICEDINING, BEDROOM, KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM & OFFICE OPEN BOXING DAY RED OAK, WHITE OAK, MAPLE OR CHERRYRED OAK, WHITE OAK, MAPLE OR CHERRY IENT R E IENT R E SRTO E S R T O E 3 % OFF AMISH FURNITURE’S REGULAR SELLING PRICE 0 0 LIQUIDATION www.sales.com FIND OUT ABOUT OUR SALES FIRST • VISIT US ONLINE 3 LOCATIONS ONLY! HEALTH Happy holidays for Ajax-Pickering’s hospital The bottom line is it means we can treat more patients. Janet Ecker, Rouge Valley board of directors chairwoman Capturing moments in time... ... photo and video rpietroniro@durhamregion.comPHOTOGRAPHER RON PIETRONIRO newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200915 AP VoVo lkllkl SkiwearSkiwear 6060%% OFFOFF Briko Briko HelmHelmets & ets & GogglesGoggles 5500%% OFFOFF UsedUsed Junior S k i Junior S k i Packa g e Packa g e $$114949 SwSweaters,eaters,T-Neck s , T - S h i r t s T-Neck s , T - S h i r t s & Hoo d i e s & Hoo d i e s 3030% - % - 50%50% OFFOFF All Ba g s All Ba g s 3030%% OFFOFF AllAllSnowb o a r d s , Snowb o a r d s , Boots & B i n d i n g s Boots & B i n d i n g s 110%-50 % 0%-50 % OFFOFF All Ski s , All Ski s , Boots & Boots & Bindin g s Bindin g s 110%-60 % 0%-60 % OFFOFF VolklVolkl Tig ershark Tigersha r k 8ft Ski8ft Ski SALE $79 9 SALE $79 9 RegReg $999 $999 FeraFera Boys & G i r l s Boys & G i r l s Outer w e a r Outer w e a r 50% O F F 50% O F F Mount a i n Mount a i n TopTop Snows h o e s Snows h o e s SALE $ 7 9 SALE $ 7 9 RegReg $149 $149 LibtechLibtech NAS TwinNAS Twin Tip SkisTip Skis 55 00 %% OFFOFF JuniorJunior Racing S k i s Racing S k i s & Boots& Boots 66 00 %% OFFOFF KilltecKilltec SkiwearSkiwear 55 00 %% OFFOFF AA l l Ski &ll Ski & Snowboa r d Snowboa r d Outerwea r Outerwea r 22 0%-60% OFFOFF Compl e t e Compl e t eAdult S k i P a c k a g e s Adult S k i P a c k a g e s SALESALE$349 - $ 4 7 9 $349 - $ 4 7 9 MarkerMarker SkiwearSkiwear 55 00 %% OFFOFF 7064 Old Kirby School Rd., Hwy #115 & Durham Rd. 9 905-983-905-983-90009000 MOUNT KIRBY SKIS & BOARDS RENTAL & DEMO CENTRE 495 Taunton Rd., E., Oshawa 905-432-7789905-432-7789 Reusch Reusch GlovesGloves 66 00 %% OFFOFF SKI ANDSKI AND SNOWBOARDSNOWBOARD BOXING WEEK SALE!BOXING WEEK SALE!DEC. 26TH TIL DEC. 26TH TIL SUN. JAN 3RDSUN. JAN 3RD 9 days only!!!9 days only!!!★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ SABRINA BYRNES / METROLAND The tree of life AJAX -- More than $9,000 has been raised for maternal and newborn programs and services at Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital, through this years’s Tree of Life fundraising campaign, put on by Shoppers Drug Mart in Ajax, Pickering and Whitby. Proceeds will be used to purchase one sleeper chair, four wheelchairs, two show- er chairs, two pulse oximeters, and two digital thermometers. At the presentation December 16 were, from left, Shoppers Drug Mart Ajax pharmacist/owner Priscilla Luna, Pickering pharmacist/owner Rahim Suleman, Ajax pharmacist/owner Patrick Garcha, director of pharmacy for Rouge Valley Health System Randy Boudreau and Ajax pharmacist/owner John Spina. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200916 AP newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200917 AP newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200918 AP newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200919 AP www.masterbedroomstores.com * All items over $200668-4300 WHITBY 1540 Dundas Street East Northwest corner of Thickson & Dundas 427-2047 PICKERING 1755 Pickering Parkway Northwest corner of Hwy 401 & Brock PRICESTO KNOCK T H E RECESSIO N O U T ! FREEEXTRA 5%EXTRA 5%EXTRA 15%PLUS MUCH MORE! HI-LOFT LATEX ALLOW HI-LOFT LATEX ALLOW WITH MATTRESS PURCHASE OFF EVERY MATTRESS SET + FREE PILLOW + NO TAX+ FREE PILLOW + NO TAX OFF AMISCO STOOLSOFF AMISCO STOOLS 2 OR MORE + NO TAX2 OR MORE + NO TAX OFF EVERY 5PC BEDROOMOFF EVERY 5PC BEDROOM SUITE + NO GST & NO PSTSUITE + NO GST & NO PST TEMPURPEDICTEMPURPEDIC MATTRESS SETSMATTRESS SETS 25%25% OFF SOME MODELS OFF SOME MODELS PLUS NO TAX ONTARIO MADE PINE SUITESONTARIO MADE PINE SUITES ON SALE NOWON SALE NOW BUNKS, FUTONS & MOREBUNKS, FUTONS & MORE *NO TAXES ON ANY ITEMS OVER $200*NO TAXES ON ANY ITEMS OVER $200 COLLEGE WOODWORKING BIRCH SUITEBIRCH SUITE ON SALE NOWON SALE NOW AMISCO BEDSAMISCO BEDS BEST VALUE EVER! PICK YOUR STYLE COLOR SIZE AND FABRIC Canadian Made Memory Foam Bunkie Mattress T $19995 D $29995 Q $34995 $ WOW $ ‘Masterbedroom Is More Than Just The BEST Sleep Selection!‘Masterbedroom Is More Than Just The BEST Sleep Selection! Hi-Loft Latex Pillow reg $8995 $3995 SALE Free with Mattress Purchasing SUPER SUPER MATTRESS SALEMATTRESS SALE TWIN FULL QUEEN FOAMMATTRESS PILLOWTOP MAT PILLOWTOP MAT SET PLUSH Q $39995 $59995 $8995 $13995 $15995 $19995 $24995 $28995 $28995 $31995 $39995 $44995 $75995 $79995 FIRM SUPER BOX TOP SET 800 COIL FIRM OR PLUSH Q K T D $49995 T D Q T D $38995 $41995 $46995 K K CRIME Twenty charged with drinking and driving in Durham DURHAM -- Twenty motorists were charged with drinking and driving offenc- es as Durham police concentrated on Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa during week five of the annual Festive RIDE program. In all, 2,690 vehicles were stopped and 106 people were given roadside breath tests. Seventeen drivers regis- tered a warning and had their licences suspended, while 20 were arrested for drinking and driving. One person was arrested for drug possession, and six non-alcohol related criminal charges were laid. Twelve drivers were found to have breached the G1 or G2 no alcohol condi- tion. As well, 47 Highway Traffic Act charges were laid. The 20 charges this week brings to 104 the total number of motorists charged with drinking and driving since the Festive RIDE program kicked off. That’s 21 less than the total after week five from last year’s campaign. Man busted by Durham cops faces extradition to U.S. DURHAM -- Extradition proceedings have begun against a man busted by Durham police for defrauding an elderly Pennsylvania woman of thousands of dollars. Anthony Oluwole Ojo, 41, of Toron- to, faces a minimum of 84 years in prison if convicted of all the charges he faces in the United States, a police source in Durham said. The federal justice depart- ment began extradition proceedings against him Monday; he faces dozens of fraud-related charges in the U.S. and an investigation into his activities continues. Mr. Ojo also faces 126 fraud-related charges here in Durham Region, some of them related to the U.S. scam. It is alleged Mr. Ojo made several calls to an 84-year-old Pennsylvania woman, pos- ing as a relative facing a drunk driving charge in Canada; a suspect convinced the woman to make several payments totalling more than $120,000 over the course of a month, police said. Police closed in on the suspect when an employee at an Oshawa cheque cashing outlet recognized him as some- one flagged for pulling a previous scam. The man was in the process of cashing wire transfers from the U.S. when he was identified, police said. Subsequent search warrants led to evidence of similar scams totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars, police said. Cops also seized forged drivers licences, social insurance cards and phoney debit and credit cards. Tuesday a special bail hearing that had been scheduled on the Canadian charges was adjourned when word of the extradition proceeding arose. Mr. Ojo is due to appear in court again Jan. 5. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200920 AP LULULEMON ATHLETICA |H&M |SONY STYLE |TOWN SHOES |HENRY’S CAMERAS |DANIER LEATHER |CHAPTERS North of Hwy 401, intersection of Stevenson Road and Hwy 2 • 905.728.6231 • oshawacentre.com December 26 to 31 December 26 9am to 6pm December 27 10am to 6pm December 28 9am to 9pm December 29 9am to 9pm December 30 9am to 9pm December 31 9am to 5pm New Years Day closed Come capture the magic of Boxing Week savings with incredible prices throughout Oshawa Centre. •Over 200 stores and services offer their best prices of the season. •The perfect time to use Oshawa Centre Gift Cards. •Treat yourself to that special something Santa might have forgotten. Boxing Week Sale CRIME Phones, cash stolen in Ajax heist AJAX -- Cellphones and other elec- tronic equipment were stolen during an armed hold-up at a Rogers Wireless store Dec. 17 in Ajax. Two masked men, one of them armed with a handgun, burst into the Kingston Road East shop shortly after 10 a.m. and stole the merchandise. A customer on the premises was also robbed of cash, Durham police said. The bandits fled in a dark-coloured vehicle. An investigation led cops to exe- cute a search warrant at an apartment on White Oaks Court in Whitby where officers recovered some of the stolen property, along with $15,000 worth of marijuana. No arrests were made. The suspects are described as black men in their late teens or early 20s. Citizen helps cops corral suspected drunk trucker AJAX -- A citizen with a cellphone helped police nab an allegedly drunk truck driver on Hwy. 401 in Ajax Dec. 17. Whitby OPP said a concerned citi- zen called to report a tractor trailer rig being driven erratically in the eastbound lanes at about 9:45 p.m. An officer caught up with the suspect truck and stopped it near Salem Road, arresting the operator for impaired driving. Rajinder Sekhon, 54, of Brampton, is charged. Police credited the citizen caller with helping to avert a potential trag- edy. Trucker hijacked, robbed of cargo PICKERING -- A trucker was threat- ened with a gun and left bound in his rig by bandits who stole his load of ciga- rettes Wednesday in Pickering. The 40-year-old truck driver wasn’t physically harmed but was left extreme- ly distraught after the event, which began when he was hijacked at the intersection of Bayly Street and Squires Beach Road at about 9 a.m., Durham police said. As the trucker waited for a red light on eastbound Bayly, a man with a handgun forced his way into the rig. A second suspect got into the truck and the driver’s hands and head were wrapped in duct tape, police said. The man’s white Freightliner was then driven to the south end of Squires Beach Road where the cargo, hundreds of cases of cigarettes, was loaded onto another truck. Two passersby eventually found the abandoned driver, kicking and struggling in the cab of his truck, just before 11 a.m. and called police. Cops are seeking two black men believed to be in their 40s. Home Depot officers alert police to suspicious purchase PICKERING -- A man has been arrest- ed after placing a suspicious order from a Pickering Home Depot. On Wednesday, Dec. 9, a man called Home Depot and ordered a $2,000 snow- blower by credit card payment. He said he’d send a taxi to the store to pick up the snowblower, prompting loss prevention officers to call Durham Regional Police. The officers had heard about similar inci- dents across the GTA where the merchan- dise was purchased with phony credit cards and picked up by taxi. Durham police arranged for an empty snowblower box to be loaded into the taxi, and followed it to an Etobicoke apartment. Officers arrested a man as he unloaded the empty box, but police determined after investigating he wasn’t the one who made the call to Home Depot. A suspect was later identified. On Thursday, Dec. 17, a search war- rant was executed at a home on Pittsboro Drive in Toronto, where police found sto- len property, counterfeit identification and stolen credit cards. However, no one was home, and police were unsuccessful find- ing the suspect. The next day Felix Nkem Okafor, 42, of Pittsboro Drive, was arrested by York Regional Police and turned over to Dur- ham Police. He faces a number of charges, including fraud under $5,000; unlawful use of credit card data; six counts of possession of prop- erty obtained by a crime; and breach of probation. The suspect made his first court appear- ance on Dec. 19 and is being held in cus- tody. Anyone with information about this inci- dent is asked to contact Detective Consta- ble Jay Shaddick (ext. 5281) or Detective Constable Mark Stone (ext. 5283) at 1-888- 579-1520 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200921 Thursday December 24, 2009 Ajax & Pickering Locations 279 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax 260 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax (in Home Depot) 1105 Kingston Rd. Pickering (in Home Depot) 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 1889 Brock Rd. #24, Pickering 300 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax 6 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax *2001 Audio Video Ajax/Pick *Bad Boy Furniture Ajax/Pick *Bass Pro Shops Ajax/Pick *Bed Bath And Beyond Ajax *Best Buy Ajax/Pick *Canadian Tire Ajax/Pick *Danier Leather Ajax/Pick *Dell Computers Ajax/Pick *EB Games Ajax/Pick *Food Basics Ajax/Pick *Future Shop Ajax/Pick *Giant Tiger Ajax *Home Hardware Ajax *Home Outfi tters Ajax/Pick *JYSK Ajax/Pick *Leon’s Ajax/Pick *Loblaws Pickering *Longo’s Pickering *Lowes Ajax *Maytag Store Ajax/Pick *Metro Ajax/Pick *Michaels Ajax/Pick *National Sports Ajax/Pick *News Advertiser Pickering *No Frills Ajax/Pick *Personal Edge Ajax/Pick *Pharma Plus Ajax/Pick *Price Chopper Ajax/Pick *Real Canadian Superstore Ajax/Pick *Rogers Ajax/Pick *Rona Ajax/Pick *Salvation Army Ajax/Pick *Sears Ajax/Pick *Shoppers Drug Mart Ajax/Pick *Sobey’s Ajax/Pick *Sport Mart Ajax/Pick *Staples Ajax/Pick *The Brick Ajax/Pick *The Source By Circuit City Ajax/Pick *Toys R Us Ajax/Pick *United Furniture Warehouse Ajax *Vanaik Furniture Ajax/Pick *Vistek Ajax/Pick *Walmart Ajax/Pick *Whitby Motors Ajax/Pick *Your Independent Grocer Pickering *Zellers Ajax/Pick 8 Salem Rd South Ajax, ON L1S 7T7 Today’s carrier of the week is Ophelie. She enjoys listening to music and hanging out with friends. She has received a dinner voucher from Subway, McDonalds and Boston Pizza. Congratulations Ophelie for being our Carrier of the Week. AP CRIME Snowblower scam ends in arrest newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200922 AP newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200923 AP Mike Ruta Entertainment Editor mruta@durhamregion.com newsdurhamregion.comEntertainment CHRISTMAS MUSIC King of the carol writers Nine-year-old from Pickering a two-time winner BY MIKE RUTA mruta@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- Keenan Cummings- Mackey has done it again. The nine-year-old Pickering boy, for the second year in a row, has won the child category of the Ama- deus Choir’s 2009 Christmas Carol and Chanukah Song Writing Com- petition. Is There Any Room?, composed for unison treble voices, tells of Mary and Joseph, “desperate and weary,” trying to find a place where she can deliver the baby Jesus. Last year Keenan composed King of Bethlehem. “For weeks and weeks, I just sing and the words just come to me, the words I think will fit and what makes sense,” he says of how he comes up with the lyrics. As for the music, Keenan says, “I just thought of a tune; my mom writes (the notes) down on a piece of paper.” He didn’t compose the carol all in one sitting, spending many after- noons after school working on it. Keenan’s been singing ever since he could talk. His mom Chris Mackey used to sing to him when he was younger and before long he shared her love of music. Mackey, a teacher at William Dunbar Public School, leads the school’s talented choir. Keenan’s big moment was Dec. 19 when he and the other compe- tition winners took a bow at Yor- kminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto. It was there that the Ama- deus Choir performed its annual Christmas concert, including the world premiere performance of Is There Any Room? He’s earned $75 in each of the past two years for winning the competi- tion. But don’t think Keenan has his eye on a special Christmas gift he can buy for himself. “It’s all for the bank,” he says with- out hesitating of the prize money. “I want to save so I can buy stuff.” Keenan plans on entering again next year, but says he’ll be up against tougher competition as he’ll move up an age group. He attends Frenchman’s Bay Pub- lic School and has been a member of the Bach Children’s Chorus for four years. Keenan’s been playing the piano since he was five years old and likes playing video games. He’s growing his long white/ blonde hair and in about a year will have it cut off so it can be made into a wig for a cancer patient. It’s no surprise that Keenan is a big Christmas fan, “especially the presents part,” he enthuses. “I wake up the earliest and I can’t eat breakfast on Christmas,” he says. RYAN PFEIFFER / METROLAND PICKERING -- Nine-year-old Keenan Cummings-Mackey won the 10-and-under category of the Amadeus Choir’s 2009 Christmas Carol and Chanukah Song Writing Competition for his song Is There Any Room? FAST FACTS Keenan Cummings-Mackey’s 2009 Christmas carol Is There Any Room? Walking through the night/ Desperate and weary Will they find a place/ For the baby’s birth? Joseph and his wife/ Mary on a donkey Finally see an inn/ Maybe it will have some room Knock, knock, knocking/ Is there any room here? We are going to have a baby soon Knock, knock, knocking/ Is there any room here? Any small place will do! After traveling far/ found a humble stable Where they laid their heads/ Waiting for their babe Animals came close/ Watching Mary resting Star is shining bright/ Jesus the King is born Knock, knock, knocking/ Is there any room here? We are going to have a baby soon Knock, knock, knocking/ Is there any room here? Jesus the King is born. Jesus the King is born. PUBLISHING Literary guru speaks at Whitby meeting Writers’ Circle of Durham Region welcomes Cynthia Good on Jan. 9 WHITBY -- Cynthia Good, well- known for her stint at Penguins Books Canada, is speaking in Whitby on Jan. 9. A 25-year veteran of the pub- lishing industry, Good, since leaving Pen- guin, has been fic- tion-edi- tor-at-large for Walrus Magazine and taught writing and publishing workshops at several universities and colleg- es. She is the first director of the Creative Book Publishing pro- gram at Humber College. All are welcome at the Writers’ Circle of Durham Region meet- ing at 8:30 a.m. at the J.P. Fitz- patrick and Son restaurant in the Whitby Entertainment Cen- trum, 75 Consumers Rd. The cost is $15 for members and $20 for guests. Register online at www.wcdr. org, by calling 905-686-0211 or by e-mailing breakfast@wcdr. org by noon on Jan. 7. After the breakfast meeting, Sherry Hinton is leading a mini- workshop on second-draft writ- ing suggestions. CYNTHIA GOOD “For weeks and weeks, I just sing and the words come to me, the words I think will fit and what makes sense. Keenan Cummings-Mackey “ WATCH and listen as Keenan sings his carol at newsdurhamre- gion.com/entertainment newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200924 AP $49.99* +TAX Featuring lobster**, shrimp,oysters,mussels and our signature prime rib. Seatings at 4:30pm/6:30pm/8:30pm/10:30pm ** maximum 2 lobsters per person Reservations required. Please call 905-985-4888 Ext.235 or 1-888-29HERON $7.99* +TAX 2:00am - 10:00am $16.99* +TAX 10:30am - 4:30pmFOOD,PRIZ ES &E N T E R TAINMENTPort Perry,4 4 www.greatblueheroncasino.com 1/0"%3%!./-&!'%-.-*$%r.)#%,/% BAAGWATING COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION *-0/4Table Games $49 99* SPECIAL SEAFOOD BUFFETSPECIAL SEAFOOD BUFFET $99 EARLY BIRD BREAKFAST BUFFET EARLY BIRD BREAKFAST BUFFET $699 NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH *All prices plus tax & gratuity. ** maximum 2 lobsters per person Reservations required. 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PICKERING -- Glengrove Public School students, including Sireen Kossabani, left, and Hailey Maguire, performed in the school’s annual holiday concert, A Holly Jolly Celebration, at the school on Dec. 18. CHOIR AUDITIONS Auditions for Whitby- based group next month County Town Singers looking for members DURHAM -- A local choir is looking to add some new voices to the mix. The County Town Singers is holding auditions for new members, especially bass, tenor and alto singers, at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 6, 13 or 20. Those who audition sing with the choir through a rehearsal and, at the end of the rehearsal, stick around to audition by singing one of the songs rehearsed earlier in the night. The auditions are at the Whitby Seniors’ Activity Centre at the northeast corner of Brock and Burns streets. For more information call 905-434- 2758. Australian born goaltender scores a goal for Pickering Panthers BY BRAD KELLY bkelly@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- When you play as many games as Anthony Kimlin, you are bound to lead the league in a number of different catego- ries. Some good, some not so good. For instance, the 19-year-old goalie for the Pickering Panthers is among the leaders in a couple of categories he would rather avoid, including losses and goals against. But on the upside, he also ranks near the top of the list in games played, minutes played and saves. He also tops the list in another stat usually not associated with goaltenders: goals for. While usually relied on to pre- vent goals, he actually netted one of his own earlier this season, helping his team to a 4-2 victory on Nov. 13 against North York. Up by a goal, he was in pos- session of the puck as time was expiring and was just trying to clear the puck out of the zone. When both sides were blocked by oncoming North York forecheck- ers, he looked down the middle, recognized a path to shoot and cleared it out. “I didn’t see it until it got to the far blueline and when it went in I was like ‘Oh my goodness’. It was a complete accident,” he says of his one and only career goal. The fact that he is in Cana- da playing goal for the Central Canadian Hockey League team is a unique story in itself. Born in Australia, Kimlin began playing inline hockey at the age of seven in Brisbane and didn’t start playing ice hockey, as he calls it, until the age of 11. At age 15, he moved to Canada with his parents to pursue hockey. “I just loved it. People told me to come over and give it a try in Canada,” he shrugs. He played a couple of seasons of Double-A, joined the Triple-A Toronto Marlies, then jumped to Jr. A with Dixie last season before coming to Pickering. As this season started, he car- ried the bulk of the work, play- ing in all but three of the first 30 games of the season. The work- load was too much, says coach Bill Brady. “I don’t think he was proper- ly pushed with a backup,” says Brady. “I don’t think we support- ed him in that way so he proba- bly got complacent and got into a rut and some bad habits. That was our fault. We should have supported him and surrounded him better. We couldn’t do it.” Fearing he was burning out, the team acquired Brennan Kno- block from Markham and gave Kimlin a well-deserved two week break. Although, Kimlin wasn’t complaining about the work- load. “The work was really good,” he says. We got off to a really rough start which happens. After that we got into a groove. It was great playing all that time. It’s what I love to do.” He’s hoping to take that love to an NCAA school on a scholar- ship, or perhaps play with York University in the future.newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200925 APSportsBrad Kelly Sports Editor bkelly@durhamregion.com newsdurhamregion.com RINGETTE Injunction prevents British Airways strike BY SHAWN CAYLEY scayley@durhamregion.com AJAX -- It will be a happy hol- iday season for the U14 Tween girls of the Ajax Ringette Asso- ciation after all. An injunction granted will pre- vent cab workers of British Air- ways from going on strike over the holidays, and with that the girls’ trip to Tuusula, Finland is no longer in jeopardy. “We got a call from the (trav- el) agent (last Thursday) night and we were told that accord- ing to their contacts and head office that even if they decide to go on strike it will be February before it happens,” said Ajax rin- gette vice president Steve Bell. “The travel agent is telling us we should have no worries.” Last week it was a different story when it seemed all but certain their long-planned trip overseas to play in a tourna- ment and reconnect with some ringette friends wouldn’t hap- pen. British Airways workers had threatened to go out on strike Dec. 22 and stay out until early in the New Year, which by doing so would have left many cus- tomers, including the Ajax rin- gette team, with no choice but to kibosh their holiday plans. Understandably, those involved with the team were feeling nothing but disappoint- ment last week, but with the recent announcement, said Bell, the mood quickly changed. “We’ve done so much work,” Bell says. “It’s great. I know my daughter was so happy when I told her.” The team will depart for Fin- land on Sunday and remain there through New Year’s until Jan. 2. Trip back on for Ajax team HOCKEY He shoots, he scores RYAN PFEIFFER / METROLAND PICKERING -- Anthony Kimlin of the Pickering Panthers squares up to face a shot during a recent Central Canadian Hockey League game. The Australian born netminder contributed to a recent vic- tory over North York when he scored a goal late in the third period. newsdurhamregion.comNews Advertiser • December 24, 200926 AP OHL Carroll attacks captaincy with vigour Ajax player leads Owen Sound past Oshawa Generals on same day he accepts the ‘C’ BY BRIAN MCNAIR bmcnair@durhamregion.com OSHAWA -- Marcus Carroll had plenty of reasons to be pumped about Sunday’s game at the Gen- eral Motors Centre, and it showed in the results. In the final game before the hol- iday break in the Ontario Hockey League, Carroll was as close to old Ajax stomping grounds as possi- ble, playing just a few kilometres east in Oshawa. With that, he had a healthy throng of family and friends among the 5,242 in attendance cheering him on, including many from the Ajax-Pickering minor hockey system he had graduated from in 2005. But that paled in comparison to the fact Carroll had just been informed that day he was cap- tain of the Owen Sound Attack, the team he has been with for his entire OHL career. “It’s a great honour to be the captain of an OHL team,” Car- roll said shortly after leading the Attack to an 8-1 win with two goals and two assists against the Oshawa Generals. “There’s noth- ing else you could possibly want. It’s great, phenomenal.” Carroll, who turns 21 in Janu- ary, has been a constant in the Attack lineup since entering the league as a third-round draft pick. In fact, the 5-foot-8, 185-pound centre is now the team’s career leader in games played with 282, recently surpassing the mark of Willie Skilliter, who played in 264 games as an Owen Sound Plater from 1991-95. The captaincy became his later than usual, as the team had been waiting to see if last year’s lead- er, defenceman David Koloma- tis, would be returning from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League. But he responded well to the honour, scoring twice in the third period to round out a four-point night and earn him the second star, which was greeted with loud- er-than-usual applause for a visit- ing player. “They were loud and were hav- ing a good time,” he said of his Ajax supporters. “Oshawa is like home to me so I’ve got a lot of friends and family for support. It’s always fun to come back here.” The son of Billy Carroll, who won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders and Edmon- ton Oilers in the 1980s, Carroll is on pace for his most productive season yet in the OHL, with 19- 16-35 scoring stats in 37 games. Sunday’s game matched his career best of four points in a game, with the other two also coming this season, consecutive- ly back in October, when he was named the OHL’s player of the week. Now 15-19-2-1 for the season, the Attack are not playing up to expectations and are clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference by three points. Getting Joey Hishon back from a broken foot on the weekend, however, should bode well for the rest of the season, which resumes for Owen Sound on Dec. 30 at home against Niagara. They certainly looked potent on Sunday, with Hishon and Jason Wilson also getting four points each. “He’s definitely a highly talent- ed player. When you get a guy like him back in the lineup it only strengthens your team,” Carroll says of Hishon’s return. “To have two or three lines scoring every night, it’s definitely key for our team.” Undrafted, Carroll will weigh playing minor pro or university hockey at season’s end. PHOTO BY TERRY WILSON / OHL IMAGES OWEN SOUND -- Marcus Carroll, of Ajax, was named captain of the Owen Sound Attack Sunday, then went out and led his team to an 8-1 rout over the Oshawa Generals with two goals and two assists.