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Ban Pedal Power on Sidewalks By Peter Parrott Newcastie's new bicycle by-law appears to be strict enough to turn four-year-old sidewalk cyclists into law-breakers. According to the new regulations governing bicycles passed by council on Monday, all vehicles including bikes, tricycles and scooters would be banned from travelling on municipal sidewalks. However, Newcastle Mayor Garnet Rickard assured council that the by-law is not aimed at four-year- olds with tricycles. He suggested that it is the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law which would be enforced. The mayor explained that he did not think a toddler on a sidewalk with a tricycle or bike would be affected by the document. However, he suggested that the rules would be enforced in cases where older children might be racing on walkways. Two citizens who spoke to council on Monday, indicated opposition to the suggested by-law. Marla Rosenberg of Bowmanville, told elected officials that the safety of children ought to be considered. She noted that since the by-law would prohibit bike traffic on walkways, youngsters would be left with no safe place to ride. "You can't have three or four year-old children riding on roads,", she said. A second woman objecting to the by-law stated that children were safer on the sidewalks. "I'd rather see bicycles on the sidewalks than on the road", said Laurie Bate. She added that this is less dangerous provided the bikes yield the right of way to pedestrians. Councillor Bill Clarke said he was sympathetic to the parents' opposition to the by-law. He suggested that the regulations on bikes would be difficult to put into practice. "I can't see us passing a by-law that can't be enforced. There's no use making by-laws if you can't enforce them," he said. However, the majority of councillors did seem to agree that the by-law on bicycles is needed in downtown Bowmanville where these machines have been a problem on the sidewalks. Mayor Rickard stated that the regulations were prepared as a result of complaints about bikes on the front street and because of accidents which had occurred between pedestrians and cyclists. "Sidewalks were built for walking, not for cycling," said Councillor Jasper Holliday, who agreed with the new regulations for pedal power. Now that the bike by-law is in force, the only wheeled vehicles allowed on sidewalks are those used by handicapped persons or others who need such vehicles for transportation. 125th YEAR 52Pages BOWMANVILLE,ONTARIO WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,1979 Phone 623-3303 25e Copy issI Region Shelves*$6,5 By Peter Parrott its administrative headquarters in Durham's regional council Whitby. tightened its belt another notch last The move is seen by some week when it killed plans for a $6.5 members of council as a saving of' million expansion and renovation of three per cent in future tax bills for Enjoys Experience as Legislative Page Page Douglas Brown being welcomed by Durham East MPP Sam Cureatz. Yes sir, no sir, thank you sir, you Brown, Bowmanville, during his are welcome sir and it's an honor to recent six week term as a legislative meet you sir, were the most page. important words used by Douglas Turn to Page 2 'Million Expansion Durham region ratepayers. However, other regional representatives viewed council's action as a long-term financial mistake. In a vote of 19-7, council decided not to include an expansion of Durham's Rossland Rd. headquarters in the long-range capital budget discussions for 1980. Newcastle Regional Councillors Seek to Expand hnprovement Area Newcastle council has received a request for an expansion of Bowmanville's downtown business improvement area. In a letter to council on Monday, the board of management for the Bowmanville Central Business Improvement Area asked that the atea be expanded to include Church St. from Division to Scugog; Division St. from Queen to Church; Temperance St. froin Queen to Church; and Silver St. from King to Church. "We would ask you to institute appropriate action to accomplish this and advise the board of management of your action," said J.H. Lander, secretary for the board. Newcastle council voted to refer this request to its planning and development committee. Open Pool The municipality should have final prices on its indoor pool project by the middle of this month. Newcastle town council voted Monday afternoon to call a special meeting on Friday, December 14, when tenders for the SPLASH pool and squash court complex will be opened. In a report to the Town of Newcastle this week the SPLASH building committee estimated that consultants will have a recommendation to council on the tenders by December 17. Tenders for the pool have already been called and their closing date is December 13. Ann Cowman, Bill Clarke, Ivan Hobbs and Mayor Garnet Rickard all voted against theheadquarters in the final vote. Council defeated a recommend- ation from its management commit- tee which proposed that $450,000 be budgeted in 1980 to draw up plans for renovations and expansion of the headquarters. In 1980 it- was recommended that $3 million be spent in the first phase of expansion, while a further $3 million would be earmarked for the final phase of the project in 1982. The project has already swallowed up $50,000. That's the amount Durham has already agreed to pay an architectural firm for preliminary design of a new building and renovations to the present regional headquarters. The architectural firm of Neish, Owen, Rowland and Roy proposed that a 48,000 square foot addition be constructed on the north lawn of the present regional headquarters. Renovation of the existing building to include a new roof and new exterior shell was also proposed. When completed, the expanded and renovated headquarters would have accommodated all of Durham's administrative staff ùnder one roof. Councillor Allan Pilkey told Durham regional council last week that the cost of renting office space Turn to Page 2 Bids Dec. 14 In a letter from the Ministry of Culture and Recreation coûncil was informed Monday that the pool project is eligible for Wintario grants. Town Treasurer Klaas DeGroot said that the December 31 deadline for awarding a tender on the project is still in effect. Sinter Klaas Attends St. Nicolaas Bazaar Sinter Klaas and his helper Black Peter greeted the crowds which attended the St. Nicolas Bazaar last Saturday at the Durham Christian High School. Games of skill, craft sales, tea room and bake sale served to interest the large attendance. One of the highlights of the bazaar was the table which was kept busy selling pickled herring to be eaten from the hand in typical Dutch tradition. The two smiling young ladies pictured here with Sinter Klaas and Black Peter were obviously enjoying the bazaar. Can't Afford Full-Time Lawyer, Says Committee Newcastle's elected officials have deçided that il would be too expensive to hire a fuil-time lawyer for the Town of Newcastle. However, in a report to council on Monday, Councillor Ivan Hobbs suggested that a review into the desirability of employing full-time legal counsel be conducted in two years' time. Councillor Hobbs recently chaired an ad hoc committee looking into the possibility of starting a legal department within the municipality. In his report to council on Monday, Councillor Hobbs estimated that a legal department for Newcastle would cost $76,000 per year. It was estimated that salary and benefits for a solicitor would total $37,000 per year. The remaining costs would include salary and benefits for a legal secretary plus the costs of running the office. By comparison, it cost the Town of Newcastle $35,210 for legal services in 1978 and $23,540 for legal work in 1977. "These projected costs do not reflect the requirements to hire legal specialists and based upon prior years' experience, they range between $10,000 to $50,000 per year and these costs are usually budgeted for by the various departments," Councillor Hobbs said in his report. In some cases, such expenses can be recoverable. A committee consisting of Councillors Hobbs and Clarke and the Town Manager investigated the need for a full-time lawyer to work for the municipality. They completed their report after receiving information and comments from all of the town's departments. It was recommended that the report be received and filed; that the ad hoc committee be disbanded; and that the topic be reviewed again by council within the next two years. itsAn-Pe s HANDBOOK - In the fall, the Social Planning Council sent out 10,000 copies of its information packed Community Resources Handbook. A copy was to have been delivered to every address in the Town of Newcastle, but it appears that some persons did not receive one. Anyone wishing a copy should call the S.P.C. office (623-6646) on Tuesday or Thursday mornings and delivery will be arranged. EARLY BIRDS FLYING - Renewal car licence stickers for 1980 went on sale Saturday, but, so far, the demand has not been brisk, with most of the cus- tomers being people about to leave for Florida. The chit chat between these winter avoiders must have been a bit disheartening to licence sales personnel who will be stuck here for the sub-zero weather that lies ahead. CHRISTMAS SEALS - Before you spend all your money on Christmas presents, please give a thought to Christmas Seals where your gift of money will do so much good and you know the gift will be welcome and be a good fit. Send in your letter today and help the Lung Association achieve its $85,000 objective. PRETTY STREET - Bowmanville's main street took on a colorful look last night when the Christ- mas lights were turned on for the first time this year. Many favorable comments were heard from business people and shoppers. Have a look, it's real Christmasy. I FIRST SNOW - In the same vein, this area's first snowfall arrived over the weekend, but happily, unless you are a skier or snowmobiler, didn't amount to much and now has all but disappeared. Across the lake and even in Toronto, things were not so lucky, with a fair build up of the white stuff. Our turn will come later, no doubt. THE MESSIAH - At Trinity United Church this Sunday at 8 p.m. the choir will present Handel's The Messiah (Part 1) conducted by Lynda Shewchuk, the BHS Wind Ensemble will perform and Rose- mary Merkley, Joanne Crookshank, Ross Metcalf and Ross Cotton will be soloists. It should be a great evening for Christmas music lovers. OFFICIAL OPENING - Tonight, Ontario Minister of Education Hon. Dr. Bette Stephenson will be the guest speaker at the official opening of Bowmanville's newest public school on Waverley Road. The ceremonies begin at 8 p.m. PRIZE WINNER - This week's winner in the 'Let's Get Acquainted' Contest is Susan Pott, R.R. 4, Bowmanville who correctly sorted the scrambled letters and identified the firm names. She will re- ceive $10 cash prize by calling at The Statesman office. Congratulations. The entries are increasing every week. Try your luck today. Eagles Receive Banner for Winning Ontario Chanpionship On Sunday night, prior to the game here, Convener Andy McLauchlan presented the Junior C Hockey Club with a banner, marking the Ontario Championship they won last year. It was received by Club President Joan Simpson. il