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Medical Bill for Injured Hockey Player Totals 79,000 & J- a Ann Dreslinksi Chairs Conservation Authority Ward Three Regional Councillor Ann Dreslinski was elected to the Chair of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority Thursday night, Feb. 20. Councillor Dreslinski, is seen here with former Chair, Gerry Houston, who has served for 16 years in that post. See story on Page 2. Ÿ '■ I a É ^ 83" iwvUi/ Clarington's Community Newspaper Since 1854 A James Publishing Community Newspaper Courtice Robot Wins Prestigious Design Award by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Writer He might not measure up to the players on the Toronto Raptors, but a basketball-playing robot from Courtice Secondary sure has a winning winning way. The robot, dubbed CANDU by its student creators, won first place for "most innovative design and construction" at last weekend's Canada First competition in Scarborough. Twenty-two schools entered the national contest designed to instil an interest in science and technology among youth. The Courtice team competed in round robin games on February 21 and 22, but didn't make the playoffs Saturday afternoon. The playoffs were won by a Unionville high school. "We didn't do well at putting basketballs in the tubes," said Bruce Balsdon, assistant head of technology technology at Courtice Secondary. But earning earning top spot in the design category was a definite honor. "It showed our robot was constructed better than any other machine." The remote-controlled robot on wheels was built to play a form of basketball. The object of the game was to sink the most balls into your own team's basket. Points were awarded for sinking your own or your opponent's opponent's balls. Points were deducted for balls left over. Balsdon figures it was the aluminum aluminum arm and fiberglass box that clinched the design award. CANDU was constructed with a fiberglass section on top to hold up to seven balls and a central aluminum aluminum arm to tip the box and dump the balls. Balsdon says the Canada First contest succeeds in making science and technology interesting to kids. "It's an excellent process. We took,the project from problem solving solving and design all the way to competing competing the product." Over 100 students from Courtice Secondary worked with teachers and corporate mentors from Darlington Nuclear Generating Station through the various stages in the robot's development. There was even a visiting delegation of Inuit students from the Northwest Territories who pitched in with the project. Wednesday, February 26, 1997 143nd War Issue 8 70c + 5c G.S.T. = 75c Sparking a Friendship It was love at first sight for Adam Pearsall of Ajax, when he first got a good look at Sparky the Firedog. The friendly hound who is the fire prevention mascot makes Adam's eyes light up, and Adam will do anything anything to have the chance to be around him, says his grandmother, Frances Bridgeman, of Orono. Adam is seen here with Sparky, Orono firefighter Scott Yeo and his grandmother. Adam visited the Orono Firehall on Sunday, Feb. 23, with his grandparents, during the station's first open house. -- Photo by Laura Richards Cancer Survivor Launches Support Group Me! Putnam tench Inspiration to "Happy frails" Club by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer Cancer can't keep anyone down. Unless one's outlook on life is that way. At least that is how former Bowmanville Senior Public School teacher and guidance counsellor, counsellor, Mel Putnam, looks at life. Over a year ago, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and he has been living with cancer ever since. Now Mel, who is still undergoing active chemotherapy treatments, wants to give back to the community which has given so freely to him and his family after he was diagnosed. On Friday morning, Feb. 21, Mel spoke to The Canadian Statesman in the living room of his Bowmanville home. Joining him and his wife, Joan, were Kathryn Roberts, and Marilyn Cole of Hospice Durham. Mel said he wants to form a self-help group for people living with cancer. It is one of the goals that he has set for himself. "I want to call it (the group) 'Happy Trails,' like the old song," he quietly said with a smile. "I want to tape the song, so we can sing along with it," adds Mel, who is a country and western fan. Kathryn noted Mel was adamant about the iiroun's name not having the word 'cancer' in it. Marilyn, who will be the facilitator of the group, stated it would be nin informally and would be a place "where people who need to talk can speak to those who have been through similar experiences." She said there are groups at the Oshawa General Hospital where treatments take place, but these lack the camaraderie many want. Mel and Joan are offering their home as a meeting place. There is enough room for about a dozen people in their living room, and their home is wheelchair accessible. There is even a wheelchair wheelchair accessible washroom. Joan noted there would be refreshments available available for a social time at the end of the meetings. Mel is really looking forward to the group's start. It is a group Kathryn and Marilyn describe as being sorely lacking in Clarington. "Mel would like to see a group get together with those who have a positive outlook," Joan said. It is being hoped by the key players that people people who come to the meeting will give hints to others on how they arc making life better for themselves, Kathryn stated, "this will be a safe environment environment to discuss those things you often can't dis- Funny Money Counterfeit $ 100 Bills in Bowmanville Two counterfeit Canadian $100 bills were passed in Bowmanville over the weekend by a man with an American accent. Police also describe the individual individual as being an older white male, with dark hair and maybe a mous- The first counterfeit $100 bill showed up at the local Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant on Saturday, Feb. 22, and the second was passed at Kings Milk on Sunday, Feb. 23. The second bill had the same serial serial number as the one passed at KFC. Inspector Ross Smith, of 16 Division in Clarington, says business business owners should be on the lookout lookout for people wanting to make small purchases with a $100 bill. "They are just wanting to change the money" to real dollars, he said. If suspicious, Inspector Smith said the recipient should examine the "feel" of the paper. "A counterfeit dollar will feel' smooth, not like a real one, which has raised printing," the inspector explained. Also, "generally speaking, the clarity is not as good with a counterfeit counterfeit bill as with a real one," he said. The best way to tell, is to compare compare a real bill with a suspicious one. Inspector Smith also said that if a business person suspects something is wrong with an offered bill, that person's best bet might be to lose the customer rather than losing money in the deal. However, it is a judgement judgement call the business person must make. Seniors' Centre Announcement Expected Soon A committee working to find a site for a new seniors' centre is about a month away from making its final recommendation to Clarington Council. Fred Horvath, Clarington's Property Manager, told The Statesman the committee working on site selection is "at least a couple of meetings away from naming a preferred site." Horvath hopes the committee members will be before councillors to present a report and a preferred site by either the March 17 or April 7 General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting. cuss with family because you don't wish to burden burden them." The issue of confidentiality will not be taken lightly. "What is said in this room, stays in this room," Marilyn noted. To help facilitate the 'get-to-know-each-other' process, Mel has suggested that, for the first meeting, people bring something with them to talk about. It would be like a show-and-tell period, period, where people could discuss their hobbies. Mel has been doing some interesting things, including tracing his family tree and learning to draw and paint. Mel noted, "I don't want it to be like a classroom. classroom. I took the time to retire and move on with my life. I am not going to be like a teacher." He wants the members of the group to feel like "they've joined a special club." The club members will be Clarington residents who either have just been diagnosed with cancer or have been living with cancer for a longer period period of time. Kathryn is hoping if this group proves to be successful that others could be formed, "It would be exciting to think of other groups branching off, for example, for the caregivers," Kathryn added. Continued on Page 2 FIRST ROBIN AND THEN SOME -- Come the end of winter, most people are on the lookout for the traditional harbinger of spring. And we're not talking about groundhogs. Kae Armstrong-Piper and her friend, Dawn McArthur, got an eyeful on Tuesday, February 18th, when they spotted 27 robins flitting around in the trees at the side of the road near Nash Rd. and Green Rd., in Maple Grove. Kae wasn't so sure the sighting was a good omen, however. It seems unnatural that there would be a robin arriving this time of the year. And 27 seems even more bizarre. Anyhow, the first official robins have landed. Spring can't be far behind. Or can it? We just hope those robins have packed their winter longjohns. Otherwise, they could turn to bluebirds really quickly. STATESMAN SELLS SYMPHONY TICKETS -- The Oshawa- Durham Symphony Orchestra will be performing in Bowmanville High School this Saturday evening, commencing at eight p.m. It's the third concert of the symphony's 40th season and the musical selections will include some works by prominent 20th-century composers. You don't even have to leave town to buy advance tickets. They're available at The Statesman office, 62 King St. W„ Bowmanville until 2 p.m., the day before the concert. Or, you can get your tickets at the door. BIG BROTHERS BOWLING -- Judging by the traffic inside and outside Liberty Bowl on Saturday afternoon, the annual Big Brothers Bowl for Millions was a big success. As of Monday, the tally stood at $13,000, with additional funds still to. come in. Organizers are hopeful they will reach their $20,000 target, by the time all of the paperwork is processed. We'd wager that they'll do it. SWEETHEARTS -- On page three, we have an article about the couple couple whose names were drawn in The Statesman's Oldest Sweethearts contest. Our congratulations to Ross and Mae Pooley who enjoyed a dinner out and some other prizes courtesy of local businesses. In the contest, we drew the winners from among those who were the oldest sweethearts. It's great to see just how many couples there are out there who have been together for.sixty or seventy years. Or more. The names of some of the oldest couples who were entered in the draw also appear on page three. LOOK, MA, NO FLUORIDE! -- Perhaps, it's time to once again start the fluoride debate. It's a little known fact that Bowmanville's water supply and, we presume, the water supply in Newcastle, are without without fluoride. Other Durham municipalities have the cavity-fighting substance substance in their water. A citizen raised the issue in a letter to Clarington Council recently. Our understanding is that Bowmanville residents rejected fluoride in a vote. But, that's got to be at least 20 years ago. Perhaps the results would be different today. What do you think? Is fluoridated fluoridated water an infringement on our rights or a public health necessity? necessity? It's a question that can often start a lively discussion, if not an argument. argument. We understand Clarington Council has asked municipal staff to look into the issue. t Colbourne - "It's a Girl" Snowden - "It's a Boy" Totals for '97 Boys 11 Girls 7 i Specialists in Heating and Air Conditioning SALES «SERVICE'INST 350 Lake Road, Bowmanville ■ 623-5516 Shop the Rest Buy from the Best! ndB«. 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