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/ I 1 Orono Town Hall bowmanville library 62 Temperance St. 1 - 1 04 Bowmanville, Ont. L1C 3A8 Volume 67, Number 5 GST Included Wednesday February 5, 2003 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since 1937 Anita Devries Photo Shelley Buday, grade three teacher at St. Francis of Assisi enjoys some fun time in the 'ball pool' with former grade four student student Melissa Kennedy at the official opening of the Snoezelen Room last Tuesday. ...... Councillors on the dole! By Anita DeVries The Snoezelen room is a dimly lit place with shimmering shimmering lights, cushioned floors and walls, soothing music, strategic cally placed mirrors, arid a vari- y ety of textures and activities to capture the mind : arid thrill the - senses. It's a sensation bf sights and sounds designed to stimulate stimulate and relax a child. - St. Francis of Assisi ; Catholic Elementary School in , Newcastle officially opened their Snoezelen room last Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. "This is such an achieve-* ment for our school!" said Sherri Farrell, one of the speakers speakers at the opening. "We have a brand new school, and this room is like icing on the cake." The room is designed to give children with learning and developmental disabilities a multi-sensory * experience. Debra Fletcher, a mother who was at the opening, said her 8 year-old son who has used the room for a month, "loves it. I've seen a big change in him lately; he's really coming along well, so it must have something to do with this room." The staff at St. Francis worked hard to get the room in their new school on Rudell Road. Violet Neheli, the principal principal of St. Francis, first heard about Snoezelen from a colleague. colleague. She researched the idea and decided it was a good fit for the students at St: Francis. "We have a number of students in our population whose exceptionality exceptionality made me want to give them something special. (Snoezelen) gives them pleasure pleasure and relaxation, which in turn makes them more open to learning." The name Snoezelen is derived from a Dutch word meaning "to doze" and "to sniff." A little smaller than a regular classroom, the Snoezelen Room provides pure enjoyment for all the senses enabling children to relax, play and learn in their own way. Special education resource teacher, Lisa Diachenko, is credited with doing the "lion's share" of the leg work in getting getting the room opened. Diachenko said, after receiving a token of appreciation from other staff members, very worth it, Clarington councillors had the opportunity Monday to dole out $76,000 to volunteer organizations within the municipality. Unlike other years, councillors councillors ran out of money and had to juggle some allotted grants in order that all eligible organizations on their list of 47 applicants got some money. The grants, $1 per capita are to provide financial assistance to organizations which provide direct services or programs to Clarington residents. residents. "The election goody basket is not open today," stated Mayor John Mutton when councillors realized they were going to run out of money before the end of the list. There was only $2,800 left for the 47th and final applicant, the Newcastle Community Hall Board, which had like Newcastle, that money is needed to keep that hall up to municipal standards," stated Councillor Charlie Trim. "Not getting their $5,000 (maxi mum amount allowed) is going to make that hall go the other way," he stated. Mayor Mutton then asked for a reconsideration motion to make up the shortfall from some grant money already allocated. Mayor Mutton moved to take $500 back from the $2,500 allocated to the mÊMùmmMtitë ^^ ■. ;i * 1 ^ ^ Anita Devries Photo "I've had better days..." While waiting for assistance, Todd Gould ol Bethany relaxed in his truck after sliding into the ditch last Wednesday morning in front of the Regional Works Department on Taunton Road. It was just seeing the requested a grant of $13,000. Continued page 3 "I think when we have a hall