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Wednesday, December 22, 2010 Orono Weekly Times - 3 No poppies to blow at Lakebreeze Drive The Newcastle street named after Corporal Daniel Patterson will not bear the poppy symbol. Corporal Daniel Patterson's father, David, appeared before Clarington Council Monday night requesting Council amend its street-naming policy to allow the poppy symbol to remain on the Corporal Patterson Lane street sign. Corporal Patterson, a dual U.S./Canadian citizen, served with the U.S. Marine Corp in Iraq in 2003. Upon his return from the Gulf, he was feted at his parents' home in the Port of Newcastle. According to David Patterson, former mayor John Mutton attended the festivities, and promised to name a street after Daniel. In September 2004, Council approved a recommendation to name a street in the Port of Newcastle after Corporal Patterson, but it would not bear the poppy symbol, as the name did not qualify under the Municipal policy. According to a memo from David Crome, Director of Planning Services, Clarington's policy for naming streets after veterans was reserved to honour men and women from Clarington who fought or performed battlefield nursing in a war or served in peacemaking or peacekeeping assignments overseas as part of Canada's military. As Corporal Patterson, who had an address in Oshawa prior to enlisting with the U.S. Marines, did not serve as part of the Canadian Military, and fought in a war in which Canada specifically chose not to participate, it was determined that the street sign bearing his name does not qualify under Clarington's policy for a poppy symbol. Are you in an abusive relationship? Call A poppy was mistakenly added to the street sign for Corporal Patterson Lane at Lakebreeze Drive in the Port of Newcastle. It is currently taped over until a new sign arrives. Bethesda House 905-623-6050 or 1-800-338-3397 "We are not asking for a street name, we're just asking for a poppy," David Patterson told members of Council Monday night. "The city doesn't own it [the poppy symbol] or the Legion; it is a war insignia," he stated. Patterson was asking that the policy be more inclusive so that future Canadian veterans, serving any military, could be included. In a letter to the Mayor and councillors dated December 1st, John Greenfield, Veterans Service Officer for the Bowmanville branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, wrote that the Legion does not support Patterson's proposal to change the street- naming policy. When a street sign was installed a few years ago for Corporal Patterson Lane, where it intersects with Lakebreeze Drive, the sign did not have a poppy on it. The subdivision developer had a new street sign installed recently after a municipal staff member, touring the neighbourhood looking for deficiencies the developer would need to correct, thought the lettering on the Corporal Patterson Lane sign was too small. The staff member assumed incorrectly that the sign was part of the Municipal Veteran StreetNaming Program and requested a poppy be added to the sign. The developer has been asked to replace the sign with one not bearing the poppy symbol. The poppy on the existing sign is currently taped over until the new sign arrives. Council upheld the recommendation from its Planning Department that the Veteran Street- Naming Policy not be amended. "To accept this change of including Veterans that served for other countries is going to open a large can of worms," Greenfield wrote in his letter, noting that at present the Municipality has 20 years of Veterans street names in reserve. ~ Happenings ~ Until Jan.1, 2011 - 3301 Old Scugog Road Christmas Lights, Bowmanville. Come and enjoy the Christmas lights and donate non-perishable food for the Clarington East Food Bank. Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - Oddfellow & Rebekah Centre Roof Fund Dinner, 6pm, Pork Loin & Homemade Pies, advanced tickets only, $15. Contact Connie at 905-983-5726. Monday, December 20, 2010 - Seniors' Christmas Tea, 1:30 pm, Orono Public School. RSVP to the School at 905-983-5006 by Dec 10. Entertainment by the students. Friday, December 31, 2010 - New Years Eve Dinner & Dance, Orono Town Hall, For tickets and info call: Gail - 905-983-5244 or Sue - 905-983-9417.