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V v i News/7 He doesn't drop the ball or his faith Sports/12 Gaels playoff run over before it began CLARINGTON'S AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER SINCE 1854 Student voice to be heard on board New student trustee has political dreams BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer BOWMANVILLE - Every political career starts somewhere, somewhere, and Nicole Penak is hoping her place on the Peterborough Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board is just the beginning for her. The almost 17-year-old St. Stephen's Secondary student bas been named student trustee, ;a non-voting position that allows allows her to represent student interests to the board. "I've always been interested in anything that has to do with politics," says the Bowmanville teen, who will begin Grade 12 in the fall, and has elementary school experience on student council. "1 thought (acting as student trustee) would be taking taking the next step to try to do something for my community." Nicole represents the school and community as a member of the St. Stephen's Leadership Program, and is involved in a number of extracurricular activities activities including drama. As well, she is a member of the Ajax Aquatic Club, and was a See STUDENT page 5 Keep your eye on the ball CELIA KLEMENZ/ Statesman photo Thomas Brooks catches the ball in his scoop during a game of catch at the Clarington Kids Summer Day Camp being held at Courtice Community Centre. Paying the price Higher assessment may mean higher tax bill BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer CLARINGTON - If your home's value went up more than average, the tax bill you received recently may be higher higher than in years past, says Clar- ington's finance director. The local finance department department has fielded a fair number of phone calls, since tax bills were sent out a few weeks ago, from people concerned about increases, says Nancy Taylor. But the majority of increases are related to provincial reassessment reassessment of home values, rather than tax increases from the local level, she says. "The people that would notice notice substantial increases would be those (whose assessed home value) increased much more liiaii the average house," explains explains Ms. Taylor. To determine what your taxes should be, multiply the assessed value of your home, which was sent to residents in November 2002, by 1.42, she explains. The assessed value is based on the current value of a property property as of June 2001, while last year's taxes were based on 1999 numbers. In Clarington, the average home's assessment went up by between 10 and 11 per cent. Homeowners whose house was near the average in terms of value increase wouldn't wouldn't notice much of a jump - just enough to cover any budget-related budget-related increases, says Ms. Tay- Nancy Taylor: Finance department has fielded a fair number of calls since tax bills went out. lor. Clarington, which accounts for about 26 per cent of the municipal municipal tax bill, is collecting approximately approximately 3.5 per cent more taxes this year over last, though that doesn't necessarily translate translate into a 3.5 per cent tax bill increase, says Ms. Taylor. "The amount of money we needed this year compared to last year is up 3.54 per cent," says Ms. Taylor. "But tax rates came down, because it's an assessment assessment year" so taxes were based on a larger base. Regional taxes, which are also on the municipal tax bill, went up by 5.3 per cent this year, which translates to a $73 increase on a $200,000 home. The rest of the municipal tax bill is made up of charges for education and garbage collection. collection. INDEX Editorial Page 4 Classified 8 Sports 12 WALTER PASSARELLA/ Statesman photo Bhuktimavga Swami walks beside llwy. 2, west of Thornton Road between Osliawa and Whitby Monday, lie also passed through Clarington, as part of his walk across Canada to raise spiritul awareness. The road to peace runs through Clarington Man takes steps in the right direction... for good of his mind BY JEREMY LEPAGE Staff Writer DURHAM - Every place is unique, Bhaktimarga Swami tells me as wc walk along King Street West towards the Whit- by-Oshawa border. And the 50- year-old Chatham, Ont., man should know, I think to myself, because he has been all across this country - on foot. 1 decided to walk a couple of blocks with the Krishna monk - who is currently making his second journey across Canada - and talk about shoes, ears, and the meaning of life. "You see things close up," the monk tells me about walking. walking. "You see all the details." A few hundred cars speed by us as he calmly speaks, and a few little ants dip into the sidewalk sidewalk cracks. He sees it all. Mr. Bhaktimarga is headed for Victoria, he tells me, as more of a "friend-raiser" than a "fund-raiser." He says lie's not trying to pull anyone into a specific specific philosophy - just encourage encourage people to slow down and appreciate the beauty of our country. "It's pretty basic," he explains. explains. "It's like a therapy... It allows for reflection." The world is so fast, he insists. "It's all car culture." Mr. Bhaktimarga starts his walk at about 4 a.m. each day, and anticipates using four pairs of running shoes over the course of his entire journey. He's accompanied by a van and several companions who provide provide sustenance for the walker. He tells me about his first walk across the country, in 1996 and how he fell he needed to complete the loop by doing it again. 1 ask him if that's symbolic symbolic of his life philosophy. The monk laughs softly, explaining how he wasn't planning to talk much about philosophy, but "you asked for it," he says. He tells me his beliefs about the cyclic nature of life and reincarnation, and how one life isn't enough to learn all we need to know. "Just like only one walk across Canada?" I ask. Perhaps. He describes the trek as a kind of pilgrimage. Not just religious religious sites arc sacred, lie adds. It can be seen in people and nature, nature, too, insists Mr. Bhaktimarga. Bhaktimarga. The monk tells me about early morning, and how the world starts to speed up as the sun ascends overhead. More cars fly by as we speak. For a moment, 1 realize, 1 had almost forgotten they were there. Kind of like meditation, I think. Everybody's in such a hurry, says Mr. Bhaktimarga. 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