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,1 jC\ » V St // -v W !/' y y V \ y w ^ 4A i <> I' ^ Û/Y t F \ A /• A A Ay :, Xf >A A/ / A ' aA 1 : i -A ' . A ; | \X ! ■/ .7 / I j ! i ! ,/ i S 1 1 11 > h 1 : V /• . ' I / V i y / Total Market Coverage of Clarington from the Publishers of The Canadian Statesman • A James Publishing Community Newspaper Saturday, December 26,1998 144th Year Circulation: 21,265 A ' i -St, '■Si , , A- : , . \ ' /A ■. . A" > ,**8 .*]/ . A . \A ■ *>i v t 7'if t XV 1 il/. \ /' X ■ ■ : -> tfp '• ■ÿ:. is TK j, i - 1 4 'W'-jU) V 'vY;, :/ ™ «*** , ' ■ A ' ' " '• ' *»^ ew i U /.v,5a'yy 1 A.X - r ' ' A A „vw-#, y ji, ' t < , . -* i A..,,,A i- a: ,1- : v v .r^y>v w 4r'j»;?y.r V' : A ZdXr.'r '" •Vi'7=.>y» X. 5/-» j'/i" v; r ' - ,' H ' , ■' Mayor Has High Hopes for 1999 by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer •* * .*'7f:'*v » *• First on to put an d Let's Dance The Jean Simone School of Dance held its Tenth Annual Christmas Show on Friday evening, December 18th. A total of 120 students entertained 400 family and friends at Bowmanville High School. Jazz, tap and ballet were performed, along with many favourite stories and Christmas songs. Above are Kelsey Shields and Kelsey Hinton of the Under 5 Competition Demi-Character Duel entitled 'Off to Grandma's House.' ■Photo by Nancy Pleasance-Sturman Children's Aid Receives Money To Help Protect Children at Risk Durham Region's Children's Aid Society received almost $2.5 million million this year to help belter protect children. The five Durham MPPs made the announcement last Tuesday. The money includes the first instalment instalment of the $170 million announced in the 1998 Ontario budget that will go to all Children's Aid Societies over the next three years, and this year's contingency funding to date. It will cover increases increases in workloads and service service demands, as required. "This announcement confirms the government's commitment to increase the safety and protection of children in Durham," says Durham East MPP John O'Toole. The Minister of Community and Social Services, Durham West MPP Janet Eckcr, recently announced details of a new way of funding Children's Aid Societies. The new funding framework is supposed supposed to ensure that children children have the same access to care and services across the province. It will allow- Children's Aid Societies to hire 760 additional frontline frontline staff over the next three years, and increase , j ' !■ ", y ■ V/ " MBiT.fr : ■ ;n| h-ffMBBr T-- T m f V. ' ' ■ tis - ■ W unji WmI rfp®*: ; : ' , AflxlFHil Bfv# V • 1 W , S' TA ■ ' 1 VV • it ■' ' I , vt ■ Ÿ», v 7 v ' r r*' •: V z 8'(*•; -A'V.; r. .tM WA'.WhÉiyy $>r.. >v ft ■ WU* 1 *, I ;! ' a '.,X ' v V'-V. - # '-•A. XÜi-.W As A •••■ tmS-tiiyfa; mDKÉK »i mwi 1 •i'.jïÿvWK Light Fantastic An estimated 4,800 lights adorn the home of Tom McKee in Courlice this year. The home is decorated with lights, light shapes and about 80 wooden figures, The highlight of the annual display is a sleigh into which pnsseis-by are invited to place donations of food and toys, All contributions are turned over to the Durham Regional Police Food and Toy Drive. The McKee house is located in the subdivision east of Courlice Rd„ just north of Highway T\vo. Clarington Mayor Diane Hamrc says 1998 has been a little hectic, but the pace of the past 12 months hasn't stopped her from making some plans for the year to come. "I've got a bit of a wish list" for 1999, says the Mayor. First on the list is to put an end to duplication occurring between the local and regional level of government. "Before or by December 31, 1999, we'll have completed our governance work to sort -out who does what," says Hamrc. Another priority for the Mayor is the Bowmanville Main Branch of Clarington Public Library. "I'm hoping we can take a definite step" toward establishing the new branch, says the Mayor. Even deciding a location for the new branch would be a start, she adds. Growth in Newcastle, both in the Bond Head and Port of Newcastle area and in the East end of the Village, is another goal for the upcoming year, says Hamrc. "Population growth in the village is very welcome, and will help the Newcastle Village business community," says Hamrc. In Orono, the Mayor would like to see "some actual steps taken" in dealing with the ongoing sewer situation. For many years, Orono residents and businesses have been calling for the extension of sewer services to their village. The Greater Toronto Services Board, which the province says will oversee GO Transit and act as a conflict resolution body between the member municipalities, will be implemented- January 1st. In spite of earlier negative reaction from the rea Region, Mayor Hamrc says she has high hopes for the board. "Everything we're all saying about the GTSB, they said about the Region 25 years ago. I hope the GTSB will be everything everything the province says it's going to be," says Hamrc. 1 Clarington's new Board of Trade is also generating some excitement for the Mayor. "I'm really excited about the Board of Trade and the town working together. The private and public sector coming together will give us a much bet- ter chance," says Hamrc. Twenty-four-hour firefighting will finally reach Courlice in the upcoming year, and that's something the Mayor can't wait to have happen. "In this business, it takes so long to get things to happen," she says. The most important part of the Mayor's wish list deals with the area's children. "Over the last few years, we've focussed on down-sizing and down-loading. down-loading. Children have the right to quality of life and education. We have to get that back as a priority," she says. "We all had better focus on what is the most important thing," she adds. The past year brought a new council, which the Mayor says is working out quite well. "Everybody was a little concerned (about the lack of experience on council.) But they're a good council, all very committed. committed. I'm pleased with the past year," she says. The Mayor hopes to get a message across to the province in the New Year. With all the changes made by Queen's Park in 1998, she says the municipalities 1 Continued on page 2 minimum foster-care rates by 85 percent next year. It will also provide more training for child protection protection staff. Jim Dubray of Durham Region's CAS says, for now, the funding should be sufficient. "It's okay as an interim measure. We'll look into the funding formula with the Ministry over the next few months," he says. , a v :<!a Santa's Little Helper Chris Warnc, 12, was one of the helpers at the eighth annual Optimist Club of Newcastle Village Breakfast with Santa Saturday. The breakfast, held in a packed Newcastle Town Hall, featured pancakes, sausage, bacon, Christmas carols, candy canes, a colouring contest, and -- of course -- a visit from Jolly Old St. Nick. Independent Flyers A&P (Prices in effect from Sun., Dec. 27 to Thurs., Dec. 31/98) Canadian Tire (Sale prices in effect to Thurs., Dec. 31/98) Port Hope A&P xqjM,7 (Prices in effect from Sun., Dec. 27 to Thurs., Dec. 31/98) For information about inserting flyers in Sb e € ! a vin ijt o 11 / € o 11 v 11 ce 3S s t b e p en b e lit, please contact our office at 623-3303. aim*<mi tv ~ i ■riYfc'in.-eKt :