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"PARTY" is Learning Experience ■ 6(/«e«A»ee«0te«oooo«r^^4 Eagles Open Jr. A Playoffs 3ADT§ i\\ U C:^i»®ce«*oooeff«oo^<jooocî)0tot5 Sec» B, jpg» 2 i: -ty\jAy 4»/ pî-f x w 4$> Clarington's Community Newspaper Since 1854 A James Publishing Community Newspaper Wednesday, February 18, 1998 144th Year Issue 7 700 + 50 G.S.T. = 750 Thieves Hit Schools Three Bowmanvillc sehools were hit by unknown culprits over the weekend. The hardest hit was St. Joseph's Elementary on Parkway Crescent where eight portable classrooms were targeted. Vincent Massey Public School suffered $1,000 worth of damage Doors were pried open and numerous items were taken. Police said a zip- lock bag containing a small quantity of "plant material" was left behind. Wavcrley Public School reported a portable classroom was entered and two other doors were tried. Some electronic equipment was taken, including a hard drive and a printer. • Also, a break-in at Vincent Massey Public School and two of its portables was discovered, by a custodian. One hard drive was taken and two monitors were smashed. About S ! ,000 worth of damage was done. All of the incidents are still being investigated, and the total amount of' damage is unknown. Downtowns Face Challenge from Rowdy Teens by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer Downtown Bowmanvillc isn't the only place where disruptive teens arc causing grief for storekeepers and local residents. Newcastle Village residents are also upset with the behaviour of some teens and adolescents. Newcastle business owner and BIA Chair, Ron Hope, says for some teens "it's a very unhealthy environment." One of the things that really irks the residents and business owners is the lack of police presence in Newcastle, Hope said. However, a solution could be something quite simple: a storefront police operation. "We would like to see a storefront with local constables based here," Hope suggested. suggested. "We rarely see the police here," he observed. "It's a big event when a cruiser comes here." Hope says the type of trouble hasn't yet escalated beyond finding broken beer bottles on properties. However, there have been times when he and others have seen "14 or 15-ycar-olds walking down the street with a box of beer." The big question is: "What is a 14- year-old doing downtown at midnight?" The worst time for disruptive behaviour seems to be on "Friday nights when 10 to 20 kids arc around busi- Continued on page 2 Flag-waving students at M. J. Hobbs Senior Public School show their pride in Canada during a Flag Day celebration February 16th. Durham MR Alex Shepherd, Clarington Mayor Diane Hamre, and school board trustee Nancy Coffin joined students students and staff in saluting the flag on its 33rd anniversary. -photo by'Lorraine Manfredo School Board Sets $ 156 Million Budget Newly-formed Public School Board #14 has promised a balanced budget budget for its first eight months. A budget totalling just under $156 million for the period January to August 1998 was approved by 11 trustees on February 12. ■ Board . officials say a reduction in the number of trustees and senior administrators administrators contributed to balancing balancing the board's short- year budget. School Board 14 was formed by merging two neighboring boards under the provincial Fewer School Boards Act. Director Dick Malowney said steps taken to combine senior administration administration structures resulted in $400,000 in annual sav ings. "We would not be in a balanced budget situation situation in this short year if the amalgamation process had not been jump-started prior to the January 1 deadline." Superintendent of Business Ron Sudds said The predecessor Boards' operations were very cost- effective. "Both boards' per-pupil costs were in the bottom 25 per cent of all boards' per-pupil spending in Ontario and our admin istration costs continue to be below the province's recommended average of 3.5 per cent. Because the province is taking over education financing, trustees will no longer set mill rates and local boards will have no taxing authority. "Boards are embarking on a new funding process," says Sudds "which will see all funding decisions made outside the community." Golf Academy Proposed Near Provincial Park Noise coming from a proposed golfing academy is bound to be more constant that the hourly train whistles and the traffic on Hwy. 401, warns the manager of Darlington Provincial Park. Dave Dunnigan told Clarington's planning committee committee on Monday morning, Feb. 16, he has a number of concerns about the proposed academy on 43.2 acres between the provincial park and Down Road. The academy would consist of a driving range, a practice area, a mini-putt course and a clubjiousc. The land is zoned as agricultural with a "holding-General Industrial (H(MS)) Zone, stales a planning report. In the latest Durham Regional Official Plan, the land is designated as 'Major Open Space System - Waterfront.' Land uses would include "conservation, recreation, reforestation, agriculture, and farm-related activities" According to the information within a planning report to council, such properties arc to be "primarily developed as 'people places' with the exception of significant significant natural areas which will be protected in their natural states." Dunnigan suggested the need for netting to stop wayward balls along the northwest corner. He also noted concerns over drainage combined with the lakeshore erosion, and pollution control. He added that the park's rules do not allow any equipment to be run between Friday at noon until Monday to allow park users quiet weekends. • Speaking in support of the proposed Darlington Golf Academy was David Holmes, who said: "I am confident we can work out his (Dunnigan's) concerns." He added the proposed academy is "being designed to be sympathetic" to the area surrounding it. Holmes explained, "this area doesn't have any lacil- Continued on page 3 Big Heart Day Friday, Feb. 13, was not an unlucky day for the children at Knox Christian School, In fact, the kids were celebrating "Big Heart Day" in the afternoon. Here, Mrs. Schaafsma's Grade 1 students, Vanessa and Jocelyn, show off their decorated, heart-shaped sugar cookies for all to admire. Helping to keep smiles on their faces was Sunshine the Clown. WE HAVE A WINNER! -- Congratulations to Phil and Gladys Finney, of Bowmanvillc, whose names were drawn in our Oldest Sweethearts Contest. Mr. and Mrs. Finney have been married 68 years. As winners of the draw, they will receive dinner for two at Silks Cafe; a dozen long-stemmed roses from Jasmine Florists; a box of chocolates front McGregor IDA Drugs; a 400-day heirloom clock (suitably engraved) from Hooper's Jewellers and transportation to dinner by Deluxe Limousine. Look for their photo in next week's Statesman. MANY THANKS -- Edna Thickson, our long-serving correspondent for the community of Elizabcthvillc, advises us that she will be giving up her writing duties. She says farewell in her column in this edition. Her diligence in sending us reports from Elizabcthvillc was most appreciated. We regret that, due to a shortage of space, we were not always able to fit them in. HEART FUND CANVASS -- Don't forget the ongoing Heart and Stroke Foundation canvass which is taking place throughout February. Better yet, leave your porch light on for the volunteers and make a donation when they call. The town will have about 230 canvassers canvassers going door-to-door and their target is $23,500. GIVE BLOOD -- This Saturday, February 21st, there's another Blood Donor Clinic in Bowmanvillc. It will be held at Rchoboth Church on Scugog Rd. Hours arc from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organizers arc hoping for at least 90 units to top up the blood supply. Let's not disappoint them. ARTS CENTRE GETS GRANT FOR SPECIAL EXHIBIT -- The Visual Arts Centre's latest newsletter reports that the VAC has received a $12,000 grant from the Canada Council to present an exhibit related to the history of the site. The work focuses on the historic historic Cream of Barley Mill, which made the famous Mackay's Cream of Barley cereal. Organizers are looking for information and memorabilia memorabilia about the mill, including snapshots, home movies, anecdotes and reminiscences. BOWLING FOR MILLIONS -- One of the highlights of the year for Big Brothers is the annual Bowl for Millions campaign which runs from February 15th to'22nd. Most of the celebrity contestants and teams from local businesses and other organizations will take to the lanes Saturday and Sunday, February 21 and 22, but there will be action in the lanes throughout the week. If you can't bowl a frame or two, your sponsorship would certainly be appreciated. It's the 20lh year for the Bowl-for-Millions fund-raiser. [Bj Shop the Rest [Æ Buy from the Best! PONTIAC-QUICK LTD. Your local General Motors dealer _ for the past 25 years. R 2.5th 1 166 King St. E. Tolophono 653-3396 _ 25th 1 Animat)] IS® COMPANY LIMITED Printing Professionals Since 1854 Telephone: 623-3303 62 King Si. West Bowmanvillc Bowmanville's Movers (or 50 Years. 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