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\ Durham boss Gary Herrema passes away Durham Region chairman Gary Herrema has passed away after along and valiant struggle with cancer. Mr. Herrema died late Monday afternoon at his home near Uxbridge, where his family owned and operated a large dairy farm. He was 57 About two weeks ago, he opted to give up his political duties at the Region due to ill health. News of his passing hit his friends and political colleagues hard. ""He's certainly going to be * missed. He was always a strong voice for the north" (Scugog, Brock and Uxbridge Townships) said Scugog Mayor Howard Hall shortly after he learned of Mr. Herrema"s death. A statement issued Monday evening from the office of the Durham Region clerk said Mr. Herrema was "widely acclaimed and respected in government circles for his visionary leadership and forthrightness on issues." ' His political career goes back more than 25 years. He was deputy reeve of Scott Township before regionalization and a member of the old Ontario County council. He became Mayor of Uxbridge Township and was first elected chairman of the Region in 1980. During his time as Regional chair, he was a member of GO Transit, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and a current member of the Durham Police services Board. "Gary Herrema was tireless in his efforts to serve his community, often at great personal cost," said the statement from the clerk's office "He will be sadly missed by his colleagues on Regional council, his many associates in municipal, provincial and federal governments, and by the staff of the Regional administration." It is believed Regional council will name an interim chairman for the next 60 days and then hold an election for the position. Veteran Oshawa councillor John Aker and Ajax Mayor Jim Witty are cited by some sourcés as two who may be interested in the job. Mr. Herrema leaves his wife Helen, son Ron (Mary Arne) daughter Beth (Robin) son Howie , (Liz) and five grandchildren. Visiting will be tonight (Tuesday, Nov. 31) from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the'Low and Low Funeral Home, Reach Road, Port Perry; and again Wednesday 2:00 to 4:00PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Funeral * service will be Thursday at 2:00 PM at rinity United Church, First Ave. in Uxbridge. Memorial donations can be made to the Uxbridge Hospital, or the Canadian Cancer Society. The family 'has requested the intdrment service to be private, followed'by a private receptions" Didn't take long W With the first snow om the ground in Scugog Township, it doesn't take lpmg for the first snowmobiles" to make their appearance. And when the snowmobiles are out, some get stolen. Durham Police are already investigating the thefts of at least three machines in the Township. Some time after 10:00 PM Saturday, two Polaris Indy models on a trailer were stolep from a driveway at'a residence in Seagrave. » The next day, Police recovered the trailer, minus the snowmobiles, parked at Sunnyl: ae Golf course in Prince Albert. One of the machines was later found in a field off Old Simcoe Street as was a 1993 model that had been reported stolen the previous day in Lindsay. ' by Heather McCrae Thanks to the efforts of a Scugog Township man, the float Santa Claus arrives on in this Saturday's parade will be bigger and safer for the jolly old elf. Last year, a week before the parade, Paul Michel spent a lot of time wiring and piécing the float together "to make it Last winter there was an unprecedented rash of snow machine thefts not just in Scugog Township but all over the Region. Police are warning owners to take extra precautions to prevent their machines from being stolen. And the Simcoe Street owner of a late model Dodge truck found out the hard way that thieves will strike anywhere and any time these days. The owner went out at just after 6:00 in the morning to start the 1995 truck, then went back into the house for a few minutes while the engine warmed up. Sure enough, when he went back outside the truck was nowhere to be found. Police later found it abandoned but un-damaged at Pine Grove Cemetery in Prince Albert. Yong one more parade". Since Apgust he's been back at the job again, volunteering almost 200 hours of time and effort constructing a new float. The new float still has the antique sleigh on top but is longer and the frame is made out of steel, fiberglass and plywood. Raglan Industries donated the Your Voice in Scugog Call (905) 985-6397 Vol. 5, Nc. 16 Tuesday, November 21, 1995 CIRC. 13,500 a (32 pages For the past several months, Paul Michel has put In countless hours re-bullding the Scugog Chamber of Commerce Santa Claus float. And With the annual Santa Claus Parade set to go this Saturday at 2:00 PM, the float Is ship-shapg and all ready for the guest of honour. Paul told the Citizen"working on the new float has been lots of fun. See story below for detalls. Santa's float ready for the big parade use of the welding equipment and machinery and sold all materials at cost for the project. Paul's wife, Sandy, has pitched in too, painting the float with paint donated by Color Your World and Lizy Lou. "She painted it as she'knows what kind of mess I can make and she didn't want paint all CITIZEN CHRISTMAS CAROL PULL-OUT PAGE over the place" he grinned. His brother-in-law, Ron Bauer, and teenage son, David, also helped. "It's been fun. I like the parade" Paul told the Citizen. Last year he drove the truck pulling Santa's float with his four year old daughter, Carley, perched alongside him. She'll be beside him again this year, s 19 AND 20 waving to the kids, as he takes the wheel again. Since there were no toys donated for the float last year, Carley gladly loaned her toys and is eager to put her toys on Santa's float again this year. if anyone would like to donate toys you can call Paul at 6565-4675. wn to page two