The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

GORD MILLS JO SORRILL GLENN CAROLINE KERR DAVIDSON ADAM SMITH JEFF JANICE ADA HARRIETTE DAVE RENAUD FREUND LAROCK MOSTERT RUCH KAY FISHER LINDA SIM LAURA SUCHAN Meet your 2001 lineup of Opinion Shapers As we begin a new year it's time to introduce you to your roster of 2001 opinion shapers. Chosen from more than 70 entries entries across Durham Region, the 13 columnists will write four columns each at three-month intervals. This is the fourth year we've had opinion shapers and we're delighted to present these voices voices from the community to you. 1. Gord Mills: A resident of Pickering, Mr. Mills served as an NDP MPP for Durham East (now Durham) from 1990-95. Prior to his political term he worked with the Ministry of Revenue and was a police officer officer before that. 2. Jo Sorrill: A Whitby resi dent, Ms. Sorrill is a retired minister and church musician who now writes and works as an author, journalist and recording recording artist. 3. Glenn Kerr: From Uxbridge, Mr. Kerr is getting his writing feet wet with Opinion Opinion Shapers. He has worked as a municipal elections officer. 4. Caroline Davidson: A resident resident of Pickering, Ms. Davidson Davidson is a purchasing agent for a manufacturing firm. A Writer's Circle member, she is at work on a novel. 5. Adam Smith: From Os- hawa, Mr. Smith works in Brampton as an autoworker and See THEY'VE page 4 • SINCE 1854 • AMALGAMATED 1999 WITH CLARINGTON THIS WEEK • Prcssrun 21,900 14 Pages Wednesday, January 3, 2001 New year, new 5 ' " 1 ?! ; ; new mom COURTÏCE - It went just like clockwork. Dawn Whit- ' ney, of Courtice, was told her baby was due to be born on. Dec. 31, but as a first-time mom she didn't think that's when she'd actually go to hospital. hospital. "I didn't think I would go in on the 31st," says the young mom who spent New Year's Eve in the birthing suite at Lakeridge Health Oshawa. But that's what a mother has to do if her baby is to be the first Durham Region baby born in 2001 and Lillian Rayne Whitney Whitney did not disappoint. JASON LIEBREGTS/ Statesman photo COURTICE - Durham's first baby of the new millennium is Lillian Rayne Whitney, born to Dawn Whitney of Courtice at 1:02 a.m. New Year's Day. The baby girl arrived safe and sound at 1:02 a.m. Jan. i, weighing in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces. In Ajax, the Graham family of Oshawa is celebrating its new year with a new addition to their family - Ajax/Pickering's Ajax/Pickering's first baby of 2001. Adrienne Graham and her husband Andrew welcomed their son Carson into the world at 1:44 a.m. New Year's Day, making the arrival of the nine- pound, eight-ounce baby boy the first delivery of 2001 at the Ajax and Pickering Health Centre. "We want to cash in on it," joked Mr. Graham of 'the fact Carson was the first baby born in the new millennium at the Ajax site of the Rouge Valley Health System. In Port Perry, Micheala Grace Chilco timed things just Tight; The fourth daughter of Ruth and Tony Chilco, of Brooklm, chose Monday night at 8:13 p.m. for her grand appearance, making her the first 'true' millennium millennium baby to be delivered in Port Perry. Weighing in at around seven pounds, five ounces, Micheala was delivered l/y Dr. Paul Puckrin at Lakeridge 1 Health Port Perry's New Life Centre, where the excited family family gathered Tuesday for interviews interviews and pictures. She wore a '2001' toque for her media debut. "Things must be pretty slow in Port Perry," laughed Mrs. Chilco. "In Toronto, three babies were born in about 30 seconds of one another." Ms. Chilco, a Grade 6 teacher at R.H. Cornish Public School in Port Perry says she See OH page 4 Courting an election ballot Failed candidate turns to Ontario Superior Court for answers recount ' BY JACQUIE MclNNES Staff Writer ' NEWCASTLE - A candidate candidate in the November Claring- ton municipal election is asking asking the court to order a ballot recount for one position, even though it's not the one he ran for. Mark Hendrikx, who ran in the local Ward 4 race, has filed with the Ontario Superior Superior Court of Justice for a hearing hearing to determine whether a recount recount should be held in the Ward 3 and 4 race, where Councillor Charlie Trim won by 130 voles over the next closest candidate, Willie Woo. Mr. Hendrikx says his own bid for the Ward 4 local seat fell too far short for him to bother with a recount of that result, but he says there are still too many questions about the final results to let the matter matter drop. "I really don't want to end up in court but I really can't stomach the numbers being hundreds out and being told to go lake a hike," he says, it MARK HENDRIKX 7 really don't want to end up in court but / really can't stomach the (ballot count) numbers being hundreds out.' adding, "I got clobbered (in the election). Forget about me as a candidate. I'm doing this as a taxpayer and a voter." Çlarington's new council has already denied a request Disqualified candidate ordered to pay costs after taking municipality to court. Story, page 4 for a recount by Mr. Hendrikx, Hendrikx, Mr. Woo and Orono resident Linda Gasser, The key issue in dispute is a difference in the number of ballots betwéen those accounted accounted for in the mayor's race and those accounted for in the regional races. When all ballots submitted are tallied, including those where no vote was marked for a given position, position, there is a discrepancy of about 260 ballots, says Mr. Hendrikx, who adds no one has given a satisfactory answer answer as to how this could be possible. Although he could have filed for a recount of the entire election, Mr. Hendrikx says Optional 4 week delivery $5/$l newsstand What the mayor wants to give you this year: More services, a tax freeze better transit for Clarington he chose the only race where he .felt the margin of difference difference between the first. and second place candidate was close enough to warrant the effort. "I'd be happy to see the process that led to those numbers," numbers," he says, stressing he'd rather not end up in court. "I'm willing to sit down with them (municipal staff) if they're willing to sit down with me." Mr. Hendrikx says he was disappointed with council's decision and feels it necessary to proceed to the next step. The deadline for any application application to the court to contest the Clarington election results was Dec. 21. The hearing has been set for Jan. 30. Mr. Hendrikx is the second person to question the validity of the election in court. Richard Ward, who was taken off the list of candidates after failing to register for the voter's list, recently lost an appeal against the municipality's municipality's decision. BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer CLARINGTON - Glaring- ton's mayor is "hoping we're able to hold the line (on taxes) and enhance services" during 2001. John Mutton has a whole list of things he'd like to see happen in the new year, and topping it is the hope "assessment growth is large enough to increase service levels without a tax increase." The municipality has benefited from the building boom already, notes the mayor. "I can't see us having a better year for assessment growth than we did this year, in Clarington," he says, noting the swell in residential residential constmction in Newcastle, Newcastle, Bowmanville and Courtice. And with the growth comes tax revenue, along with development charges, which can be used to enhance enhance local sendees. When it comes to sendees, Mayor Mutton looks forward to taking preliminary steps toward a new arena for tire municipality. "With our budget this year, I'd like to address tire first stage of land acquisition, engineering and design for the twin pad" notes the mayor. The municipality will also be working on new baseball diamonds diamonds and soccer fields in the new year, along with enhancements enhancements and changes in designs to existing parks, says Mayor Mutton. Mutton. There's more to look forward to, says the mayor, who anticipates anticipates the "continuation of the industrial-commercial industrial-commercial boom and job growth in Clarington." He points to the Lake Road area of Inside Wtft Statesman WHERE TO FIND IT Editorial Page 6 Sports 8 Classified 10 Forever Young 13 GIVE US A CALL General 623-3303 Distribution .. .579-4407 Death Notices .683-3005 Sincerely Yours 1-800-662-8423 Web site durhamnews.net judi.bobbitt® durhamnews.net FAX 623-6161 ilfe MAYOR JOHN MUTTON Hopes 'assessment growth is large enough.to increase sendee levels without a tax increase.' the municipality where "you see buildings popping up, it seems like every couple of months." The establishment of a north- south transit route in Bowmanville Bowmanville may also move closer to reality in 2001, says Mayor Mutton, Mutton, adding Clarington "is going to start having some preliminary meetings with Oshawa Transit as a service provider" in the new year. The Province also figures into Mayor Mutton's 2001 wish list. "I hope the Province recognizes recognizes that health care is their ball- game," says the mayor, referring to requests that Durham Region lend a hand in the finance of local hospitals. He also hopes the Province puts an end to the current current practice of pooling social assistance assistance and social housing costs "so we don't have to pay for Toronto." c \J <y ONTARIO'S DRIVE CLEAN ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY ♦Ail offldiil murk «F the Province of Ontario used under licence. WHITBY - OSHAWA HONDA 1110 DUNDAS. ST. E., WHITBY LOCAL (905) TOR. LINE (905) 666-1772 686-1745 www.honda1.com IL ■- ~ ; ■ -I ; T V