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PAGE 4 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, April 21,2004 Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-in-Chief Chris Bovie Managing Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Office Manager Janice O'Neil Cheryl Haines Composing Managers Vs Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Sljt Cmmbian Statesman • « imons www.durhemregion.com Phone 905-579-4400 Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2238 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1809 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.coin 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 infodurhamregion.com Clarington I April 21 editorial e-mail letters to ncwsroom@durhamrcgion.com All must work for safe communities Sil, r ss ■ It's as sure a sign of spring and summer as tulips, sun and hay fever. But like weeds in our lawns, this is one problem all communities communities can do without. Each year without fail, as the warmer weather sets in, so, too, do the problems with vandalism, vandalism, destruction and senseless senseless violence, all under the cover of night. Communities across Durham have been coming to grips with the issue in the past few years. Too frequently, we've heard stories about teens on their way home being swarmed for a few dollars or clothing and then beaten and left lying on the ground. Other times, property is targeted. targeted. Too often we've heard about the destruction of a community community landmark, or the desecration desecration of a local park. Too frequently we've been left shaking our heads. So, what can be done? Quite a bit, but everyone in the community community has a role to play. That includes police officers, politicians politicians and all residents. Let's start with the public, because that's-where officers and politicians often turn for information. If you know of a problem area in your neighbourhood, let police know. Tell them about the group that's regularly meeting late at night at the local, park or at your area school. Or, take it a step further and form a neighbourhood neighbourhood watch committee. There's no better incentive for bringing a group of like-minded like-minded citizens together than ensuring ensuring you're living in a safe community. community. , The benefits come in the form of increased property values values and peace of mind. However, remember, only through the help of the entile community can police truly get involved and make a differ- eilC For their part, local municipalities municipalities can help tackle the problem by implementing strong penalties lor anyone, found guilty of damaging property. property. , . And for those who don t already already have them in place, municipalities municipalities can consider curfews curfews for local parks and other public areas. Again, with stiff penalties for offenders. Above all, residents are best served by not putting themselves themselves in dangerous situations. Make sure to use well-lit pathways pathways and sidewalks when out at night,, don't confront strangers if you believe they're up to trouble, and be aware of your surroundings. Everyone in the community has a role to play. Only by acting acting together can we truly ensure ensure a safe summer, when heading out at night is no longer a gamble. i • rb. • : : v ■ ■ ' '(Xfv' m CLICK AND SAY Today's question: Have you, or will you be taking taking part in a community clean-up project? □ Yes □ No Cast'your vole online at infodurhamiecjioii.eom . * ; Last week's question: Should Paul Martin call am election this spring, or should he wait until fall? □ Spring election 49.7 % □ Fall election 50.3% Votes cast: 183 .r. HAVE YOUR SAY Question: Are you planning to take part in any activities foi Earth Day, April 22? r - - _ ., " - ■' - -.A---.. 1 -. 1 # 1 ' Si LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OPINION e-mail letters to newsroom@durhamregion.com Energy plan is missing pieces e-mail letters to newsroom@durhamregion.com Driftwood Theatre -W Thanks for the .v Group needs support coverage; but we re of community no * t * iere V e * When Dalton McGuinty unveiled unveiled the Province's new energy energy conservation plan earliei this week, the message was dear: The onus is on all of us. We, the Ontarians whose teenage sons and daughters take unnecessarily long showers, showers, we who have become ovei- ly reliant upon our air conditioners to stave off the summer heat, we who neglect to turn off the bathroom light when we leave in the morning, will all have to buckle down and break free of our bad habits. This way, v we can each play a t role in reducing On- \ tario's hydro consumption consumption by 5 per cent over the next three years. No one would argue that we should continue in our wasteful , ways, and no one could dispute there is a real and driving need ' to preserve our energy resources. resources. But while we arc out pur- to conserve or laboured in the dark during last summer's blackout, many remember the brightly lit billboards some of our good corporate citizens maintained. Individuals are surely motivated motivated to conserve by thé spike in hydro rates, but will such a spike make a dent in the bottom lines of multinational corporations corporations who establish their home bases in Ontario? Hardly. And, while voters are struggling to comply with the new three-year plan, washing their clothes in lukewarm water \ during off-peak ■ tnr hours and dragging 1 out the clothesline to hang them to dry, what efforts are being made by the federal and provincial governments governments to explore alternative energy solutions? Not ncnily enough, in my opinion. The role of the individual is a vital one in achieving a sus- Jennifer Paige News Editor îïïi -. & 5 'S: way can only be made if big business and government do their part. Energy Star rating, scrapping our beloved but inefficient beer fridges, and installing timers on our swimming pool pumps, what part is big business going to play in achieving the government's government's goals? While the residents residents of the province struggled News editor Jennifer Paige's column appears every other Wednesday. To the editor: Re: 'Shakespearean group adrift,' Christy Chase column of April 9. . I was most interested in Christy Chase's article about the funding problems of the Driftwood Theatre Group. As a long-time supporter, I have attended performances over its 10-year history, watching watching it grow from a grass roots volunteer initiative •pioviding .opportunities for local students, students, to a highly professional summer touring theatre group producing performances of high calibre. The Driftwood Theatre Group is a well-run cultural or-, ganization that plays a critical social function in our community. community. Costs to continue have reached a level that is not sustainable, sustainable, yet the costs to our community are great if we lose this creative talent. Driftwood Theatre has introduced. introduced. dramatic arts to individuals individuals who would otherwise never have this opportunity, and has done so in a.way that adds to the liealth and vitality of our community. The troupe now needs donations donations from those who .can afford afford to pay so that they can. continue to make professional, classic theatre accessible to everyone. . This young, professional, highly talented group of individuals individuals deserve support from the whole community at this critical time in their history. Cheryl MacLeod Newcastle To the editor: l am-writing on behalf of the Newcastle Lions Club with regards regards to several stories in the focal papers over the past few weeks about the Newcastle Lions proceeding with a leash- free dog. park and ,a Lions Memorial Forest. The Lions appreciate the recognition in the papers for the many worthy community projects projects we are involved in, but we just wanted to set the record straight that the above two projects projects are currently only in the feasibility stage and, like several several other worthy potential projects, projects, it is currently being reviewed reviewed before being approved by the Lions Club. We appreciate the commum- , ty's ongoing support and look forward to continuing to serve our community. . Steve Ritchie President, Newcastle Lions Club can't afford it? College and uni- varsity; prices are too-high. ... Teenagers have no chance of getting a good job in the future because they can t afford school. That's outrageous! Children' are the future of the world and without a good education, what are they good for? Sure there are wealthy people out there, but not everyone has the money to cough up.to send their kids to school, There are some low-income families with more then one child in need of the government's government's support. Finally, Finance Minister Ralph Goodale said Ottawa is coming up with a Canada Learning Bond' that will supply children, in low-income households, households, and born after 2003, with ' up to $2,000 for their post-sec- ondarÿ education. This program program will help more then two- million children, and it's about Ume Lindsay Yarmoluk Pickering Wend Tourou "No, but I recycle and pick up garbage when I walk all year round." Brenda Mitchell "No, but in the past I have planted gardens and participated in school activities for Earth Day." Myrian Innocent "Yes, I hope to be getting involved.." Jennifer Canonico "I would love to participate in an event for Earth Day to educate educate my children." Cost of education is out of reach To the editor: Planning, on attending or sending your children on to post-secondary education. HoW lire you going to be able to afford it? . Are you finished learning because the government won't help out? , These are questions asked every day by parents and students students across the world. How are you supposed to go to post-secondary post-secondary education if your family Letters to the Editor We welcome letters that include name, city of residence and phone numbers for verification. Writers are generally limited to 200 words and one submission in 30 days. We decline announcements, announcements, poetry, open letters, consumer consumer complaints, congratulations congratulations and thank you notes. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for length, style and clarity. The newspaper contacts only those people whose submissions have been chosen for publication. publication. Fax: 905-579-1809; e-mail: ■ newsroom@durhamregion.com TRUE GRIT By Tim Dollghan WtfKAL * (QWB WIE rot MAL CHANGE Œtjc Caiwtiinn S>tntc6nmn is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bow- manville Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any adver- • tisement. 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