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Snakes Alive! A four to five-foot boa constrictor was found in Solina on the Sixth Concession slowly slithering north on Sunday, Sept. 29. A Hampton resident discovered the snake. Durham Region Police Inspector Ross Smith told The Statesman one of his officers noted in his police report that "the snake was taken into custody by animal control and placed into maximum security." Inspector Smith noted maximum security was a plastic garbage can with a top. Ssssee ssstoiy on Page 3. m g F gm „- ™ J talesman Clarington's Community Newspaper Since 1854 A James Publishing Community Newspaper "Absolutely No Agreements" for Mosport Rodeo by Laura J. Richards As far as Clarington Council is concerned, Mosport Park management has jumped the gun in putting out a schedule of 1997 events which includes next year's Ontario rodeo championship. The schedule for Mosport notes the rodeo will take place at Mosport on Sept. 19, 20, and 21 and "included in the whole weekend will be one of the largest country music concerts in Canada." Mosport's list of events planned for 1997 appeared in a letter to Clarington Council Monday night. Clarington Mayor Diane Hamre says she has heard from the Rotary Club Rodeo Chair Paul Morris that "there are absolutely no agreements" at this point in time. As it stands, there is a five-year agreement with the municipality with next year being the fifth year. Paul Morris, the chair of this year's Rotary Rodeo Committee told The Canadian Statesman on Tuesday afternoon, "they can say whatever they want -- it's free publicity for them, one way or the other. "Everyone wants the rodeo championships." Morris says Mosport has a number of facilities which would be beneficial to the rodeo, like camping camping and parking. "But they don't have a ring, or seating," Morris noted. Morris said Mosport would like the rodeo championship championship so they could run a three-day country concert. concert. He mentioned Shania Twain as a possible headliner. As it is, the actual venue of next year's rodeo championship is still up in the air, Morris said. He explained that each year of the five-year contract, contract, the sponsoring Rotary Club and Kinsmen Club go through the accounting exercise after the September-held rodeo. Then, the decision is made whether or not to hold it again. Many factors are taken into consideration.. Morris also said, there have been negotiations with Mosport Park in regards to the rodeo in the past few weeks. However, no decisions have been made. Wednesday, October 2, 1996 142nd Year Issue 40 700 + 50 G.S.T. = 750 pe*' 'A x • ' v - 1 ¥§- «x % 4/" $ Tyrone Mill CëiëÜraï&à- 150 Years The Tyrone Mill provides a lesson in business survival, says current owner Bob Shafer. He's pictured above unloading apples to be washed and pressed into cider. The mill, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this Saturday, was first a flour mill. As times changed, it was turned into a feed mill and then a lumber mill. More recently, , apple cider production was added to the activities at the mill. And now, the mill plans to re-introduce stone-ground flour production. See story on pages 7, 8 and 9 of Section Two. Approval for Official Plan --Four Year Process Completed -- by Laura J. Richards The loud cheer you heard from deep within the Clarington Town Hall last week, might have been the municipal planners celebrating the passing of the new Clarington Official Plan. This auspicious document will become the planning blueprint for Clarington over the next 20 years. Regional Councillor Ann Dreslinski serves on the Regional Planning Committee as Vice-Chair and was happy to see the four-year process finally come to a close last Wednesday, Sept. 25. She told The Canadian Statesman the process began with opinion surveys that went out to each home in Clarington (then Newcastle). After the surveys went out, the municipal Planning Department held a series of public open houses throughout the area. In 1995, the first draft of the official plan was completed, and another another series of open houses and public meetings, were held. "Then the draft document was circulated to all the government agencies, including the conservation authorities, the regional planning department, abutting municipalities, school boards, the railroads, and it was made available to the public," Councillor Dreslinski said. Clarington's Planning Director, Frank Wu, says this plan is much different from the one the municipality has been working with. "The old one was pieced together from the official plans of Newcastle and Bowmanville. It included a quickly-designed plan for Courtice," he explained. The new official plan includes the rural areas of Clarington. "There was nothing for the rural areas before," Wu noted. One of the many implications of the official plan is a new set of rules for home-based businesses. These regulations have been somewhat somewhat relaxed. Wu says the rules have been changed to allow more liveable space in a dwelling to be given over to home-based occupations. "The Official Plan allows that not more than 30 per cent of liveable space is designated for a home occupation," he said. "This is a relaxed , standard over the previous plan of 25 per cent." Also, there are five other criteria that must be adhered to by home- based businesses: Continued on Page 2 Oshawa Courting Local Firms Mayor Hamre Offended by City's Economic Development Strategy -- by Laura J. Richards : A local business owner recently recently received an invitation from the City of Oshawa to expand his business into that city's downtown downtown core. "I guess they're trying to find new markets," said the man, who wished to remain anonymous. Letters like the one sent to the business owner have also been received by other businesses in municipalities in the east. Port Hope and Cobourg are among the communities where the letters have surfaced. The Bowmanville businessman businessman said the letter from the City of Oshawa's Economic Department claims Oshawa is the perfect site for a second location or branch. "The letter says Oshawa listens listens to its business community," he said. And the city provides loans -- Homes Evacuated After Car Collides With Gas Meter Several Bowmanville residents were evacuated from their homes Saturday, September 28, because of a natural gas leak, The incident occurred around 10:30 Saturday morning when a vehicle crashed into a gas meter on the outside of 7 Bernard Street. The collision caused a pipe from the meter to break off. Fire crews called to the scene had' no way to turn off the flow of gas; so they moved quickly to evacuate the apartment building and the house next door. Windows were opened to vent any gas trapped inside. While awaiting the arrival of gas company repair crews, Fire Captain Robert Payne found a way to crimp the pipe. "He managed to cut the flow of gas which reduced the level of the emergency," says Clarington Fire Chief Michael Creighton. "They evacuated the immediate area until the gas was gone and the possibility, of ignition was removed." Residents were back in their apartments later the same day. Crews from Bowmanville Station were assisted by the crew from Newcastle Fire Department. loans to refurbish the facades of buildings, he added. The business owner said when he received the letter he didn't really think anything of it. He tore it up and threw it away. Clarington Mayor Diane Hamre is not happy with Oshawa's strategy for drumming up new business. "I take offense that the City of Oshawa would do this," Mayor Hamre said. She added that she thinks it's "pretty low" of Oshawa's economic economic department to go after businesses in Durham Regional municipalities. "I wouldn't do it to any of our partners and I certainly wouldn't initiate it," she said. Todd Letts, former economic development officer for Clarington and now the Manager of Downtown Business Development for the City of Oshawa, told The Canadian Statesman, lie's only sending out feelers. The letters arc being sent as far away as Belleville, lie said. "This is a unique move and we'll continue doing it," Letts said. "It's called 'mass customization.' customization.' The best way to find growing growing businesses is to ask them, and then ask them to consider us," Letts explained. The city is looking for "quality independent retailers," he said. This move has the blessing of Oshawa City Council, he added. The City of Oshawa is taking an aggressive stand on seeking businesses wishing to expand to the downtown. In Oshawa the city is supporting supporting this aggressive move, "not just in speeches and reports, but they support it in dollars," Letts noted. Not all municipalities do that, he said. "This council is putting Continued on Page 2 Councillor Feels Business Should Be Featured on Town's Web Site by Laura J. Richards One Clarington Councillor doesn't want her mug shot on the municipality's web site. Plans call for a photograph and biography of each councillor to appear in Clarington's internet page. But, Councillor Pat Pingle disagrees with this strategy. "I believe Clarington is much better served with photographs of local business people than of councillors," Councillor Pingle said. "I'd rather see what we have here," she noted. Before a council session Monday night the councillor noted slic'd rather see information information about established businesses like The Bowmanville Foundry, Continued on Page 2 FALL FESTIVAL IN NEWCASTLE - This Saturday, you can enjoy a fall outing in Newcastle, with the Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival. It features a pancake breakfast, a craft and bake sale, Sidewalk Sale, DBIA Bed Race, and an Optimist Club pie-eating contest. Not to be missed is the Newcastle Lions Club Walk-A-Dog-Athon, with proceeds going to the Canine Vision school for leader dogs for the blind. We understand that, in addition to the usual assortment of canines, a goat will also be among the animals going on the 5 or 10 kilometre walk. OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY AT FIRE STATION - Don't miss the public Open House at Fire Station One in Bowmanville this Sunday, October 6. Hours are from 11 a.m. to three p.m. This is your opportunity to climb aboard one of the big pumper trucks, admire the vintage firefighting vehicles on display, meet Sparky the Fire Dog, test your skill with a fire extinguisher and pick up lots of information about fire safety. There are many other attractions attractions at the station, including the fire safety house, draws for prizes and refreshments. You can even have your fire extinguisher extinguisher checked and re-filled for a small fee. Or you might want to purchase a smoke detector. The Open House is the kick-off to Fire Prevention Week which runs from October 6 to 12. COMMUNITY CARE MONTH - October is Community Care Month in Clarington. To celebrate and also inform citizens about the work of Community Care, four special events have been scheduled. They are: • Meals on Wheels Workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 2; • St. Stephen's Free Yard Work Day on Thursday, Oct. 17; • Bazaar and Fall Luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 24; and, • Home Helper Workshop on Monday, Oct. 28. Community Care's volunteers and helpers have provided over 33,700 hours of work for Community Care Clients during the past year. MORE APPLES - Our thanks to Watson Farms for the delicious delicious box of apples they sent us on Monday. They reminded us of the Apple Festival events which are going on each weekend. And, of course, the orchard and produce stand is open daily. On October 13th, they'll be holding a "Great Pumpkin Hunt." The Stork Market Report ^ Bennett - Murray -It's a Girl! Risnyk - Sweet --It's a Girl! 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