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4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville. Wednesday, February 2,1994 Former Publishers Rev. W. R. Climie, 1854-1878 • M.A. James, 1878-1935 • George W. James, 1935-1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited For 139 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Richard A. James Plant Manager - Donald J. Bishop Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Rick Patterson, Ross Fisher, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenburg, Sharon McMullen, Barb Patterson, Ralph Rozema, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Laveme Morrison Editorial Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario, L1C 3K9 905-623-3303 Fax 905-623-6161 VERIFIED CIRCULATION PAID Local Contractors Should Have Chance To Build Fire Station Not one of firms selected as potential contractors for the new Bowmanville fire station is from the Municipality of Clarington or even the Durham Region. Clarington released, last week, the names of the five companies which have been given permission to bid on the fire hall project And one of those companies will, presumably, be awarded the tender. It is unfortunate that no local firms are being considered as the general contractor. Remember, no one is saying that local firms ought to automatically get the work simply because they are located in Clarington or in the Durham Region. However, we would hope that they would have at least had the chance to compete. As we understand the situation, the fire hall is being constructed as a design/build project, which means each bidder will submit a plan for the building and also a tendered price. The municipality will review each of the five proposals and pick one. In order to have the right to bid on the project, there was an earlier process in which potential contractors were invited to pre-qualify. In other words, companies submitted a package of information about their company, their qualifications and the details concerning the consultants or staff who would be part of their "team." The process is not unlike submitting a resumé in order to be considered for a job. Based on the information submitted by the various companies, the municipality picked the bidders considered to be most highly-qualified. None of those companies was a local firm. Apparently, a points system was used to choose the potential contractors for the fire station. Nobody is suggesting that local builders aren't qualified to construct the station, but apparently they didn't score enough points in the pre-qualification process to be considered. That problem might have been rectified if additional points were awarded to local firms, members of the area's construction industry suggest The municipality of Clarington could have established rules which would have allowed qualified local bidders to participate. As we understand it, one of the goals of a tendering process is to ensure that a municipality gets the best possible price for the goods and services it purchases. The municipality will never know whether local firms might have been able to build a less expensive fire station because these firms were not among the companies selected. The municipality has undoubtedly chosen five firms which are highly qualified and highly recommended. However, that does not mean local firms could not have done the job too. The cost of the fire station is said to be in the neighbourhood of $1 million. So, the project is clearly not the kind of undertaking which could only be tackled by a few specialized companies. There are Durham Region construction firms with experience in projects of this size and larger. And, it goes without saying that had a local firm been the successful bidder, more money would have been spent in the immediate community of Clarington and within the Durham Region. Generally speaking, local companies hire locally and make purchases in their community. This would give a badly needed boost to the construction industry in particular and to the community's businesses in general. If the municipality must spend $1 million, it makes sense for the municipality to at least attempt to spend some of that money locally, so that local taxpayers get the benefit of the economic spin-offs. Naturally, it would be the tendering process which would finally decide who got the contract for the fire station. And that's how it should be. But, local companies ought to have had the opportunity to compete. by Laura J. Richards, Grounded Ground Hog by Rick James Big Thanks from Little Brothers So, Rick, where have you been for the last month? Golfing in Florida? Surfing in Hawaii? Skiing in the Alps? Not quite. Instead, I enjoyed a brief vacation at Memorial Hospital, followed by an extended convalescence convalescence at home. Although the time away from the office could be considered a consolation prize, I would gladly work a lifetime of double shifts before starting off a new year like that of 1994 again. As preparations were under way to celebrate New Year s Eve, I was tucking in my shirt and discovered discovered a small lump in the right side of my abdomen. abdomen. Naturally, being the calm, cool, pillar of strength that "men are supposed to be," I panicked and called for a second opinion from the nurse In the family. "Kiiimmmmml Get up here." A brief examination of the trembling patient and our domestic medical advisor suggested that it's probably just a hernia. I Immediately demanded a second opinion, and in true Rodney Dangerfield style, Kim said, "O.K, you're overweight tool" I'm practically on my deathbed, and she's making jokes. Since it was New Year's Eve and my doctor's office office wouldn't be open until Monday morning, I would have to wait three days until getting a legitimate, second opinion. That gave me three days to look through every medical book that Kim has, producing even more anxiety. Alter poring over those journals, not only did I suspect a hernia, I determined that i also had everything from Ingrown toe nails to Alzheimer's. I will never, ever read those medical books again. Self-diagnosis can be a very dangerous dangerous thing. After sweating it out for three days, I finally was able to see Dr. John Rundle, personal medical advisor advisor and long-time golfing rival. A quick examination with Ice-cold hands, and indeed it appears that there Is a rare type of lump called a spigelian hernia, In all John's years of practice, he's only seen one other. Perfect, I've got something that nobody's ever heard of before. As I began to question what would cause such a condition, Dr. John responded with, "when you swing your goll club, does your right heel come off the ground at Impact?" "Does my right heel come olt the ground? I've boon swinging a golf club tho samo way lor 30 yoars, why would this Haro up now?" I began to think that my golfing enroor may bo ovor. "No, nothing liko that. I'vo boon working on my awing and I'vo noticed tho proa koop tholr right hool on the ground. I was just curious how you do it." Old golf rivalries never die, they just get hernias. After a little more poking and prodding, the good doctor decided I should be referred to a surgeon just to be sure that it was indeed a spigelian hernia. Another examination by Dr. Coffey and he confirmed the diagnosis, but offered a caveat that it may be something else. Surgery would be required to be sure. Two weeks later I was on the operating table at Memorial Hospital, ready for my 8:00 a.m. appointment. appointment. Several of the nurses refused to remove their surgical masks when they looked at my chart and quietly said, "Be careful, that's the guy who writes the column in The Statesman." Dr. Sylvester was on hand to deliver the knockout knockout punch, while Drs. Rundle and Coffey carved the turkey. Even as I was going cross-eyed from the anaesthetic, my golfing rival was pumping me for more information about my "right heel at Impact." About an hour later, I awoke from dreamland, with a burning belly that felt like I'd been Impaled on a bayonet. I quickly checked to see if my right heel had been amputated as well. A few coherent minutes later and Dr. John informed informed me that It wasn't a spigelian hernia, but rather a golf-ball sized, fatty tumour called a lipoma. A huge rush of adrenaline blasted through me, and fortunately, he provided the answer before I was able to ask the terror-filled question about cancer. "Relax, It's benign," he assured me. By 10:00 a.m., I was back In my room and three hours later I was ready to go home.The treatment I received during my short stay at Memorial Hospital was fantastic. I have nothing but praise for the doctors, doctors, nurses and administration staff that cared for this big chicken. Congratulations, you've earned the Rick James' Seal of Approval. One benefit of this whole ordeal was Its ability to really slap things into perspective. Even though the medical profession dooms this to be minor surgery, I still consider It as a huge warning sign about remembering remembering what Is truly Important in life. While I was waiting to be wheeled to the operating operating room, l picked up a Reader's Digest and nervously nervously flipped through it. In it I found a quotation that really hit home. It road..."Havo you noticed that entrepreneurs entrepreneurs on their doathbod have never complained complained about not spending enough time on tholr bualnoss?" Somothlng to think about. As tor Dr. John, lio'll Just havo to wait until tho summer when l whup his butt on tho goll course to soo It my right hool comos oil tho ground, Dear Editor: Big Brothers of Clarington would like to thank Santa and Bozo the Clown for selling photos with Santa and donating the funds, Holly Productions Productions for donating door proceeds and tickets sales from their December Country and Western Concert, Burnt River Band and Centre Lane Band for donating their playing time at the concert, consequently making the door proceeds higher. We appreciate their support during during the Christinas season. The funds raised will send Little Brothers to Camp McGovern in July. Thank you to everyone in the community who supported these fundraisers, Horn Plastics, Pickering donated Christmas baskets to two of our families. families. These generous baskets were very much appreciated by the Moms and Little Brothers. During November and December the agency sold tickets on a ceramic church created by Marlene King and Barbara Millson. Thanks also to everyone everyone who supported us by purchasing purchasing tickets. Congratulations to the winner Lorraine Hayes. Sincerely, Nancy Scott Executive Director Big Brothers Assoc, of Clarington Eating Habits How many of you have tried every diet on the face of this planet? While I have only tried two, I have found something that is even more important important -- changing my eating habits. Last week, I went to . a session put on by the Bowmanville Family Chiropractic Chiropractic Centre at the Fire Hall. Through the discussion facilitated by Dr. Kathlynn Hoch, I discovered that while many people know what to do to lose weight, we all have a problem problem with just doing it. Looking at my own failed attempts to lose weight, I know the frustrations of weighing oneself, counting calories and giving up that fragrant dish of spicy spicy chicken wings served up with crispy fries and plenty of hot sauce. However, lately I have been behaving behaving myself. The exercise bike will probably get hauled out of its cobwebs anytime now, since I have been feeling a little more limber. Like many people, it takes me a while to get out of the couch potato mode. My mother, from the time that I can remember, was either on a diet or between diets. It was only the last six years of her life that she finally got the idea that a change in lifestyle was the key to health. However, while there are foods I cannot eat, there are other foods I can eat and not feel too guilty about. While I was growing up, the special special diet foods were Mom's and no one else was allowed them. Foods like fresh fish, or fresh pears and kiwi were restricted eating for the kids. That's probably why ITove kiwi fmit, and happen to have a basket in the fridge right now. As I grow older, (I've begun that creep towards 40), I notice there are foods that I crave more and more. Others, I crave less and less. Foods I actually crave include spinach, ginger snaps that bite back, toast and molasses and cheese. To the list, you might add anything with cheese!., a bagel and cream cheese with smoked salmon, garlic cheese bread, a slice of cheese with crackers and so on. A quick survey around the office on Friday morning (Yes, most of us were here, despite the icy wonderland outside.) showed chocolate, pizza and chips rated high for snack attacks. Everyone from the boss (who likes chips with onion dip) to our cartoonist, cartoonist, who likes other salty things to chew on, enjoys pepperoni sticks and has cravings for them every now and then. Other folks like something sweet followed by something salty. Another likes baked goodies like butter-tarts, and another craves steak. The most unusual cravings came from the ad department, where Rue- ben sandwiches ranked highly and from the office, where someone craved raw potatoes. But enough about cravings and back to Dr. Hoch and the evening last week. She explained that people arc their own worst enemies when changing their diets to lose weight. "Be happy with yourself, look for small changes. Eat three square meals per day and they can be broken up into mini-meals." Continued on Page 5 We Asked.-- Do you think Clarington needs a winter carnival? .. .And You Said Ken Bromley Fred Lesage Paul Darch Bowmanville Bowmanville Bowmanville "That would be nice "Yes, I would say. It "Yes, I do. Improve the to sec in Clarington. would be helpful to winter spirit, Keep It would draw peo- the people who arc people here rather pie in for visiting sports minded." than going away on a and it's nice where winter holiday." you live." John McDade Bowmanville "This winter yeah, may be not next year!" \v\l mvk'-* i|iii'Mit>n: Ho \ou li.ivr ,m\ .nlviu* lor llio now ltxlvr.il :;o\ vi nmvnl ,w lho\ pi,in loi' tlivir lirsl hmlgot