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Brooklin Citizen Country music singer Lindsay Broughton jumps at call to help Brooklin Mini Idols From page 1 Tim Whittaker - Publisher Joanne Burghardt - Editor-in-Chief Mike Johnston - Managing Editor Fred Eismont - Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak - Classifi ed Advertising Manager Abe Fakhourie - Distribution Manager Lillian Hook - Offi ce Manager Cheryl Haines - Composing Managers PH 905-579-4400 CLASSIFIEDS 905-576-9335 GENERAL FAX 905-576-9335 NEWS FAX 905-579-1809 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Member: Ontario Press Council, OCNA, CCNA, SNA. All content copyright A Metroland Media Group Ltd. Publication "The Brooklin Mini Idols are such a big part of our community and I jumped at the chance when I got the call," she said prior to the event. "I'm looking forward to working with them and letting the world see just how great they are." The 2012/2013 Brooklin Mini Idols are Charleigh Lepp, 9, Taiya Bailey, 12, Matthew Doran, 10, Victoria Heaney, 12, Christine DMello, 9, Hanna Harper, 11, Ciro Perono, 11, Lauren Dillen, 13, Jaxon Vessio, 10, and Sophia Ewaniuk, 10. The members audition in the fall, and then attend monthly workshops, perform at various community-based events, and create a music video leading up to a competition for the grand title and a cash prize in May. The purpose of the workshop, presented by the Brooklin Optimist Club, was to help build confidence in young performers by providing them with as many opportunities as possible. "It's amazing when an established artist such as Lindsay Broughton jumps right in and gets involved," says workshop director Rob Hanson. Since 2010, Ms. Broughton has created a name for herself in the Canadian country music scene. She has performed at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards New Artist Showcase, had her songs, Holdin' On To You, No You Don't, River Wide Enough and Restless As The Rain featured on the hit television show, Heartland. Most recently, she performed at Boots and Hearts Music Festival where international country music stars Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood and Kid Rock also took the stage. The Optimist Club of Brooklin is a volunteer organization that serves the Town of Whitby by raising funds and providing programs for local youth. The club, celebrating its 25th anniversary, provides various programs for local youth and their families including sports, hay wagon rides, summer camps and free family skates. It recently donated $100,000 to local youth programs at the Brooklin Community Centre. For more information: VISIT www.MiniIdol.ca JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND BROOKLIN -- Ten Young Brooklin Mini Idol Singers, including Matthew Doran and Jaxon Vessio participated in a program workshop lead by award-winning Canadian country singer songwriter Lindsay Broughton on Jan. 12 at the Renaissance Baptist Church. Whitby addresses home-based business issue Town enters final phase of study to update existing policy PARVANEH PESSIAN ppessian@durhamregion.com WHITBY -- The Town of Whitby is plowing ahead with its plans to harmonize zoning bylaw provisions for home-based businesses in the new year. Staff approached council at the first meeting of 2013 on Jan. 7 with a report outlining recommendations for amending Whitby's policy on home-based businesses, which hasn't been reviewed since 1998. "The objective of the home-based business zoning study is to implement a contemporary definition of the term home-based business, along with updated zone provisions," said Town planner Kathryn Kram. "These should apply consistently across the town, pro- vide flexibility for a variety of use types (and) ensure that any home-based business activity remains secondary to the residential use." Examples of current home occupations in Whitby include baking or catering operations, registered massage therapy, esthetician services, pet grooming, and music or art instruction. The need to review the policy was raised at council last year when several business owners approached the Town with their concerns regarding what they considered to be unfair regulations. One resident, Lynn McNutt, was particularly adamant about seeing changes made when a Whitby bylaw officer threatened to shut down her home-based baking business after 13 years due to zoning violations. "Home businesses are the backbone of our economy," she said at a meeting hosted by the Whitby Chamber of Commerce last February. "It's not the big corporations because those jobs aren't there anymore." The Town's official plan, approved in 1994, permits home occupations in residen- tial areas subject to certain criteria and performance standards, as well as compliance with zoning bylaws. However, the Town's zoning bylaws, approved in the 1960s, have not been amended to implement the direction of the official plan. While older zoning provisions for areas in Whitby such as the downtown do allow home occupations, they are currently not identified as a permitted use in newer subdivisions. In November 2011, council directed staff to undertake a study of zoning regulations relating to home-based businesses. Phase 1, involving background research and data collection, and Phase 2, involving analysis and draft recommendations, have been completed. As the process now enters the third and final phase, a public meeting is expected to be held in late winter or early spring to gather feedback from Whitby residents on the recommended amendments. Staff 's proposed amendments, which are available to view in the report on the Town's website, focus on various issues such as zoning, parking and signage that will help regulate home-based businesses. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the residential character of a dwelling is maintained, limiting adverse effects on neighbouring properties. For more information: VISIT https://whitby.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList. aspx?ID=7222 Reporter Parvaneh Pessian covers the town of Whitby for Metroland Media Group's Durham Region Division 'Home businesses are the backbone of our economy. 'Lynn McNutt, Whitby resident