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"J El §A _ fi 4 i M 'V^/4MW4"f rcni / ^f V^l iilF P /( rl !fBo ! 111B |j|J^' |yywf wWIW £3<? a W 's r 3/< - ! 'hy|rl À II W fi a i| V v v v V/ K;, \/ X/ 905-623-3303 30 Pages Wednesday, January 11,1995 Bowmanville, Ontario 141st Year 560 + 40 G.S.T. = 600 Issue 2 RIDE Program Reports 30 % Decrease in Arrests Police stopped more cars, but arrested arrested fewer drunk drivers during the latest RIDE program in Durham. According to the Durham Regional Regional Police, the number of charges laid in 1994 dropped about 30 percent percent over the previous year. Statistics for 1993 show that slightly more than 6 drivers per every every 5,000 stopped were charged with drinking and driving offences. However, However, in 1994 only about 4 out of 5,000 stopped were charged. It is believed that the reduction is due to increased public awareness of the RIDE program. The Durham Regional Police operated operated a full-time RIDE (Reduce Impaired Impaired Driving Everywhere) program program in all six divisions of the region for five weeks between December December 5 and January 7. During that time, 28,992 vehicles were stopped. That number is up 19% over last year. A total of 181 people were checked with the roadside tester, compared to 304 in 1993. Fifty-four 1 if 1 12-hour suspensions were issued for registering a "warn" on the tester, compared to 80 in 1993. And 25 people were charged with drinking and driving offences in 1994, which is down 19% compared to 1993's 31 arrests. During the same period, 68 people people were arrested for impaired driving driving by regular patrol units. During the same period a year ago, there were 93 drinking and driving charges charges laid by regular patrols. Police conclude that overall, there has been a drop of about 27% in the incidence of drinking and driving offenders in the region. It is believed that the reduction is due to increased public awareness of the RIDE program within Durham Region. This year, a choice was made to set up the RIDE unit in locations locations with the highest visibility possible. Sgt. Rick Bates of the Traffic Management Unit says the increased increased public awareness campaign within our Region for the RIDE program, program, as well as the "high visibility" approach, resulted in successfully reducing the amount of drinking and driving across the region. HI Wm TOUGH START -The folks at Laidlaw Waste Systems have to be wondering if their tender for garbage collection in Clarington should have been much higher. Especially, if last week was to be considered normal. As an introduction to this new account, the winds came up and blew bundles and cartons all over the roads, creating considerable confusion. Not only that, but the "post New Year's" garbage was much heavier than usual. Readers Readers are asked to remember that each household is only entitled to four bags of garbage per week under the new contract that is costing each household $40 less than last year. Now, that's unusual. unusual. They tell us a new calendar is being prepared so we'll have a better idea when the trash will be picked up and some of -s won't have to scurry all over town trying to catch up to tlie, truck, because we slept in and missed an early pickup. SAVE YOUR SLEEVES -To help protect the environment and conserve resources, we're asking those who receive our Clarington Clarington Independent in the mral area to save the plastic sleeves in which the paper is delivered. Just bring the blue bags to our office office and we'll see that they are recycled. For every 25 sleeves returned, returned, we'll give you a free classified advertisement. HELPFUL LAB STAFF- Many compliments are received on a regular basis about the wonderful quality of care citizens with various problems receive at Memorial Hospital, Bowmanville. We have one incident to add to that fine reputation. It involves the pleasant members of the laboratory department. Several weeks ago, we had occasion to visit them for a blood lest, involving involving the removal of winter and suit coats to roll up sleeve to receive the blood-thirsty needle. The only place for the coats was on an unoccupied chair or the floor, so we told them we'd try to find one of those stand up hall trees to improve the situation. situation. They must have taken it to heart because this week the problem was corrected; they had found one somewhere, while we were still looking. Great people! JUST AROUND CORNER - Congratulations to Joe Jackson, near Hampton who phoned to let us know that Spring is just I around the comer. That was great news, but, unfortunately, his 1 predication was followed by that snow stonn and cold weather jj that is still with us. However, he wins the honor of being the jj first person in the area to report that he saw a robin red breast in a tree at his place. There's more. On Monday, a couple from Maple Grove reported seeing three robins at their feeder. NOT TOO SMART - There have been two events recently where corporate giants have made drastic errors in judgment which have put their companies in an embarrassing position. Last week, Rogers Cable executives had to apologize to their rebelling rebelling customers for using an objectionable bulldozing sales technique to sell their services. This week, General Motors caused a major traffic jam on roads in the Pickering area when many thousands turned up to fill out employment application fonns, but there was no infonnation on how many jobs would be available. Surely, there must have been a much better way to achieve their objective of building an employment inventory; if that's what it was supposed to be. All this exercise did was cost many out-of-work citizens, hoping for $22 an hour jobs, plenty of money they didn't have, plus extensive inconvenience to those who were caught up in the overwhelming traffic, and the region's police forces who had to control it. So far, we haven't heard that anyone in charge at General Motors has apologized to all concerned, but someone should. , WE GIVE THANKS - A sincere vote of thanks is extended to Nonn Baker and wife Phyllis for visiting 20 area schools with a ;l camera to present Legion awards and photograph winners of the \ Remembrance contest winners, assisted by John Greenfield. X, \ jt '"x x ..... .... - • '<Æ v ' -, -;V)y MMM ■ ft 9ggg§|Bg ■; » " - Xï 4;,; : ;;y A Chorus Line This chorus line of kids was limbering up for a friendly "balloon "balloon stomp" last week in the Trinity United Church hall. The afternoon of recreation was hosted by the local YWCA so kids would have plenty of fun during winter break. Group leader Kim Wallace (second from right) kept the kids busy with bubble bubble blowing contests, snack making, hula-hooping and more. -photo by Lorraine Manfredo £ niton Jl il lui 1 For thé second time inf its history, and for the second year iii a row, the United Way of Oshawa/Whitby/ Clarington is projecting that it will surpass the $3 million mark in the annual campaign. According to United Way Executive Executive Director Cindy Murray: "We are thrilled with the results to date, and if all of lire campaigns still to report, and the few that are to be completed in January arc positive, then we will in all likelihood surpass surpass our largest amount ever raised." A final figure will be revealed at the United Way banquet to be held in Oshawa on February 9th. The campaign received wonderful wonderful support in Clarington, starting with an almost 100% increase in the amount contributed by the municipal municipal employees. Additionally, the staff at Goodyear, with support from the corporation, have once again exceeded exceeded the previous year's total. ÎO l r 1 n g flnrlf 5®ï fa ja 1 a fj /&&jj h'\ IVIQIn V Campaign director Robert Howard Howard said: "Many hundreds of people people made tire campaign successful, and it is always dangerous to try to name just a few. However, we would be remiss if we did not mention mention some who were tremendously helpful in the crunch. "Dr. Peter Zakarow did a great job of following up with many professionals, professionals, and James Gcrrow was once again the head of the dentist section for the overall campaign. Sam Curealz had great impact on the campaign, as has A! Strike, who has said on many occasions: T am thrilled to work on the United Way effort. It is a great way to help a great diversity of need, and the positive positive response makes it all the more gratifying.' "Additionally, Chris Mondes did a great job with many of the local. business accounts, and Rick James continued his work on the campaign. campaign. We are grateful to all of them." The United Way funds more than 40 agencies in the area. These agencies agencies provide service to more than 80,000 people. The reason for the success of the campaign is probably best captured in the words of Peter Zakarow. In describing the reasons for his involvement, he said: "The average citizen depends on the many organizations which receive funding from the United Way, and it is my social duty and privilege as a long-time resident to support and encourage others to get behind the United Way effort." Clarington residents, upset over snow removal fines, created an avalanche avalanche of complaints last month. The avalanche was enough that a council committee has voted to rc- cJL tjlj scind a motion offering a 25 per cent reduction for all outstanding snow clearing invoices. Instead, the invoices for 1993-1994 snow removal removal will be cancelled altogether. \M§r*(P for \J U il y U Win ne Jit Wins $5,000 in Celebration '95 Draw •I f j3 j .1 Refunds will go to owners who paid up. However, property owners must request their refund from the municipality. The money won't be returned automatically. Clarington Council also voted to have the Director of Public Works and the Clerk review and write a report report on the feasibility of the municipality municipality implementing a sidewalk snow clearing program. Continued on Page 2 .v'AiïirJWü.-'»' Courticc lottery winner Sophie Balik claims there's no big secret behind her good luck. She's just a regular player. Ms Balik was one of 20 Celebration Celebration '95 lottery players who uncovered uncovered a "$1,000 plus TV" prize on the scratch portion of their tickets earlier this month. The lucky discovery discovery earned each ticket-holder a chance at a million dollar grand prize in a draw televised live on January January 8th from Montreal. Balik's lucky streak goes back at least five years. In 1990, she won $836,000 after buying two Quik- Piks in the December 12th Lotto 649. She bought a new, home in Courticc with the winnings and quit her job as a housekeeper at Oshawa General Hospital. As a Celebration '95 draw contestant, contestant, Balik was given two chances chances at $100,000, three chances at $50,000 and four chances at $25,000. Each contestant was guaranteed guaranteed a prize of $5,000. Prior to the studio draw, everyone everyone was given a number. "It was all done in French," Balik says, "You couldn't understand the numbers, they were speaking so fast." A British Columbia woman, Terry Lietz, won the $1 million dollar dollar top prize. Whitby's Mike Prac- lorius, a 40-ycar-old mechanic with six children, won $25,000. He and his wife plan to pay bills and take a vacation. While Balik had to settle for a to tal booty of $6,000, she said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience including the all-expenses paid trip to Montreal. "It was exciting to be so close to winning a million," she said. The first $1,000 from her Celebration Celebration '95 prize was spent on ChrisUnas gifts, and Balik says she is thinking of using the remaining $5,000 toward a trip. The mother of a two-and-a-half- ycar-old son can't account for her extended lucky streak. "I wish I knew. I hope it keeps up." And, to those who haven't won their million just yet, Sophie BalikV advice is: "Keep trying. Keep playing." playing." GO Train Comes to Oshawa Canadian Statesman Athletes of the Year Describes Life in Romania ... Page 1, Section 2 See Page 12 ATKINSON-It's a Girl! HOCKNEY-It's a Boy! EATOCK - It's a Boy! JACOB-SMITH -It's a Girl I '4 * * <1 * * LEVEILLE-McGANN - It's a Boy! Total This Year Boys 4 Girls 4 j EVERYDAY DISCOUNT PRICES X 149 798-4601 King St. W. /zo vuu f Oshawa 5 ST Shop the Rest (S Buy from the Best! EE® Ci.. 1 , ... .i i. Your local General Motors dealer for the past 25years. _ tin 166 King St. E. MwîbmiJ Tolophono 623-3396 [PRECTONj We Move ft! 623-4433 Bowmanville