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Vol. 75 · # 10 Wednesday, March 14, 2012 GST Included $1.25 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since 1937 Suspects sought in Orono break-ins Officers from East Division are seeking information relating to five break and enters that occurred in Orono in the beginning of March. On Saturday March 3, 2012 two commercial break and enters were reported at Hwy 115 and Main Street and a restaurant on Main Street was also entered. On Wednesday March 7, 2012, a fourth entry was reported at a separate restaurant on Main Street. In one of these incidents, the owner was alerted to a suspect attempting to gain entry to the premise. In two cases bicycles believed to be utilized by the suspect were left at the scene. The suspect is described as: male, about 6', 130 pounds. He was wearing a dark coloured balaclava and dark clothing. He was carrying a black backpack. On March 8, 2012, a fifth break-in was reported at a residence in the area of Main Street and Irwin Drive. Investigators are appealing for information leading to the identity of possible suspects. Anyone with new information about these incidents is asked to contact Det. Eric Aylward of East Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1605. Anonymous tips may be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 (TIPS) or online at w w w. d u r h a m r e g i o n a l crimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000. Puppy Love - Emily Flyn snuggles with her six-month-old Jack Russell/Beagle/Yorkshire Terrier puppy in downtown Orono on Friday morning. Region ripe for elected chair How Durham Region selects the chairperson is all about democracy, according to Ajax Mayor Steve Parish. Last week Wednesday, the Town of Ajax officially launched a website promoting direct election of the regional chair. "Over the next few months there is no more important issue for residents of Durham to focus on," Parish stated at the launch. Currently, at the beginning of each new term of council, the 28 newly elected Regional Councillors elect a person to that position at the inaugural regional council meeting. Roger Anderson was elected to the chair in 1997 and has held the position ever since. Appointing the Regional Chair by vote of Regional Councillors was appropriate when the Region was established in 1973, according to Parish. "In 1973 it was premature to have direct election," Parish stated at the website launch held at the Ajax Municipal Office. "We didn't know each other yet, we weren't a community." Durham has now matured to the point where the Chair of the region should be elected by the voters of the Region, not by 28 Regional Councillors, according to the Mayor of Ajax. According to the referendum question on the 2010 municipal ballot regarding the method of selecting the chairperson, more than 80 percent of those who voted indicated their support for a change in how Durham Region selects their chair. Anderson told the Orono Times in a phone interview on Monday, that personally he does not think there should be direct election of the Regional Chair. "The problem with an elected chair," Anderson said, "they will be too busy going all over Durham Region every REGIONALCHAIR see page 3 What's Inside page 5