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durtiamreglon.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ DECEMBER 14,2005 ♦ PAGE A5 Rough times made little easier thanks to Bethesda House From page A1 those who have received services in the past year. Those who spend Christmas in the shelter will also get a chance . to celebrate. r "We try to make sure those who 5 live in the shelter over Christmas if have the best Christmas they 8 can," she said. ; Through donations from the 5 community, mothers are able to jfchoose gifts for their children, j and children are able to pick out ■ a present for their mom. And just ? because the children aren't in l their regular home doesn't mean r Santa will miss them -- shelter l staff ensure there are gifts under ; the tree from the big guy in red jfor any children staying at the {shelter. | To ensure the programs' needs are met, shelter staff are accepting accepting donations of new toys and clothing, as well as non-perishable non-perishable food items, gift certificates i and other items. The owners of j the Veltri Complex, at 68 King l St. E., have donated empty office i space and Bethesda workers will i be on hand Thursdays, Saturdays I and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. | and Fridays from noon until 9 | p.m. to accept donations. If those [ times are not convenient, mem- 1, bers of the public are asked to t call the shelter at 905-623-6045 l and ask for Wendy or Sally, and 5 alternate arrangements can be : made. Donations will be accept- j ed until Dec. 20. i Good, used items are also i accepted at the shelter's Sec- ; ond Chance store, located at 103 Doug Mo knows Durham ffatt Doug Moffatt has worked hard for Durham Region as a teacher, principal, Uxbridge Office 11 Main St. N. (905) 862-0092 MRP, Mayor Of Scugog Bowmanville Office Township, and currently. 22 Division St. N. as Chair of the Durham (905) 697-2029 Police Services Board. Your Candidate For Durham Liberal www.libtral.ct TABRICLÆND CANADA'S LARGEST cacuiiui pardi r iuctririithr Sunday December 18th Ron Pietroniro/Metroland Durham Region Media Group Sally Christmas, a staff member with Bethesda House, sorts through some of the tables of toys and gifts at their drop off centre inside the Veltri Complex. King St. E. Proceeds from the sale of those items go to the shelter shelter and women using the shelter are also able to choose items from the store. Donations are gratefully accepted, accepted, and will be much appreciated, said Ms. MacKinnon. "This is a really tough time of year for the women," she said. Councillors don't like Durham tax guidelines BY CRYSTAL CRIMI ! Staff Writer : DURHAM - The idea of taking 'a 7.2-per cent regional property t tax increase to their constituents > was unacceptable to two Oshawa » regional councillors Uxbridge and Whitby would get a 0.2 per cent reduction, except for Whitby properties north of Taunton Road. According to the guidelines, every one per cent increase in the budget is $17 for a property assessed at $250,000. (Bie .,.2006 regional. property: % . Mr.,Nicholson, said he copld^not , guidelines, which would hit sell thefjncrease Oshawa would ; Durham residents with increases ) between 4.3 and 7.2 per cent, \ were rejected by Brian Nicholson and April Cullen during a Dec. 7 finance committee meeting. "I want to be very clear, I'm not | supporting the guidelines," said ' j Coun. Nicholson. , l The guidelines would have a '4.5 per cent regional tax increase Uor all municipalities, plus the i impact of transit costs on each: tan. extra 1.4 per, cent for Ajax, ) Pickering and Clarington, 2.7 per l for Oshawa, 0.1 per cent for Scu- (gog and 0.7 per cent for Brock. jEnergy support the increases, they, should have no problem explaining the reasons for them, he said. "We've got hostels that come in and want us to pay more for empty beds," said Mr. Anderson. Even with guidelines and limits in place, people will still come in ^ face to his constituents. Nor could Coun. Cullen. "It's an issue of going back and telling these people how they're going to pay it," she said. In her ward, some people have, had their assessments increase 35 per cent and some seniors who have lived in the area for years now run the risk of having to leave their/houses, said Coun. Cullen. Regional Chairman Roger Anderson said Durham has'lots of issues to deal with, such as police services. Even if councillors don't that's what they've always done, said Mr. Anderson. Mr. Anderson added he wants the Region to stop increasing its contribution to services the Province Province should be paying more for, such as ambulançes. "When we get to health, I don't want a single penny in the increase of the Region's 2005 share," said Mr. Anderson. "You're lucky I'm not asking for a decrease." He said he also wants to see any money saved through health and social services put towards one deferred roads project. FASHION FABRIC DISTRIBUTOR Christmas Fabric, Trim is Off Our Regular Price Falls Holiday Fashion Fabrics I S Arctic Fleece ! Prints and Plains p Our Entire Stock Ready Made HomeS Fashion Accessories Boucle or Beaded Purses, Beaded Slippers, Parsons Chairs, Ready Made Bedding and Drapery Panels 41 m Our Regular Price Our Regular Price 1801 Dundas St. E. (<mBMCLÆND) 600 Grandview St. S. Whitby ^ Oshawa 721-9152 LOTS OF FREE PARKING 436-7589 Mon. -Fri. 9a.m. -9p.m., Saturday 9a.m. -6p.m., Sunday 12-5p.m. ni;\si; \on: in sour, siokis mi nis \m hi: som u \ mwiiu vitui: uns oi i< in.u nu cum mow: vmi i wiicKi: mis (omim mm vim im. oui us nu \im:imsi:i> suivis win hi. oi r oi u iukii nu cum stow: vim i.. a benefit to iDurham NBRIDGE From page A1 be developed on the south side of Hwy. 401, between Courtice and Solina roads. The energy park "is going to create create a hub of innovation," said Suzanne .McCrimmon, Clarington's Economic [Development Officer. 1 "We recognize there's an energy challenge challenge and we have to look at all sorts of 'solutions," she said. "We embrace new ï(nuclear) build, and we're also looking at [supporting alternative energies. We were [really happy to be in like mind with the [OPA." l The diverse mix is something Durham is ! well-positioned to provide, said Michael [ Angemeer, chairman of the Durham Strategic Strategic Energy Alliance. The combination [of existing companies and the University [of Ontario Institute of Technology, where 'skilled workers are being trained and [research on innovative energy technology [can be done, puts Durham in good stead, [said Mr. Angemeer. [ "I think, along with things like auto- [motive and agriculture, there's a great [place for energy in (Durham's) future ... 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