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• Total Market Coverage of Clarington from the Publishers of The Canadian Statesman • A James Publishing Community Newspaper Saturday, January 2, 1999 145th Year ^_Circulatiom_2Ç265 Karly Glutton, six, lakes a ride on a pony during a recent Christmas party on Mann Street in Bowmanville. The owner of the home where the party took place, Randy Hilts, had the house all decorated for Christmas, complete complete with Disney characters, lights, and, most importantly, a drop box for donations of clothes and toys. The Christmas party included a visit from Angus the elephant from the Bowmanville Zoo, a barbecue, and pony rides. All proceeds went to the Durham Regional Police Food and Toy Drive. ' Predictions for 1999 Clarinaton's Politicians Look Ahead to New Year Newcastle Christmas Feast Attracts a Crowd of 200 by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer The smell of turkey, the sounds of Christmas music, and a general feeling of good cheer abounded at the Newcastle Community Hall Christmas Day, says Willie Woo. Woo was one of the organizers of the Newcastle Community Feast, a Yuletidc dinner open to people from across the municipality. Turkey was provided, and guests were asked, if possible, to bring an edible contribution to the meal. "Certainly we felt it was a resounding success with the numbers of people we did get out," says Woo. Organizers estimate about 200 people took part in the celebration. The dinner was a result of an idea borrowed from a Rhode Island community. Newcastle resident Isobcl Rappaport had taken part in a similar feast while visiting Continued on page 3 New Program Will Focus On Healthier Durham Holiday Rush at Hospital If you're heading to the hospital, you could be in for a slightly longer wait than usual. The Christmas season typically secs volumes in the emergency ward go up by about 10 percent, says Marion Tink, Lakcridgc Health Bowmanvillc's program director for critical critical care. "Waits could be a little longer than usual, anywhere anywhere to an hour or an hour and a half," estimates Tink. The program director says there have been a number of different ailments ailments bringing people through the doors at Bowmanville's emergency ward. Upper respiratory infections and flu-like illnesses illnesses arc currently topping topping the list, says Tink. "It is the flu season," she adds. Numbers of people arriving.at the emergency ward generally rise over Christmas holidays, when some doctors' offices tend to be closed. But, in spite of the increased volume, Tink says hospital staff aren't turning people away. "We don't normally try to discourage people too much if they need to be seen," she says, adding that, for more minor ailments ailments and concerns, Bowmanville does have a walk-in clinic, which is open from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on weekdays. The clinic, located adjacent to the hospital, is also available available Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. While some hospitals closer to Toronto have had recent instances when ambulances were asked to take patients elsewhere, Bowmanville's hospital still seems to be managing the increased caseload very well. "We haven't seen any overflow (from other hospitals) hospitals) so far," says Tink. "It's been fairly manage- Durham East MPP John O'Toole believes an election election may be in store for 1999. Durham MP Alex Shepherd hopes the new year will see steps taken to remove low level radioactive radioactive waste in Clarington and he's also hoping to see the introduction of his private private member's bill to account for new federal government spending programs. programs. Meanwhile, at the municipal government level, Clarington Mayor Diane Hamre looks for a year in which 24 hour, full-time firefighting coverage coverage will be introduced for Courtice. She also wants to start planning for a new library to serve Bowmanville. These arc some of the highlights local elected officials expect in 1999. In recent interviews with The Statesman and The Independent, they took the time to reflect on the past year and to look ahead. Durham East MPP John O'Toole said the sheer volume volume of new legislation passed by the provincial government in 1998 was unprecedented. He says health care reforms are one of the key accomplishments of his government in 1998. "The government has followed through on its commitment to restructuring. With dialysis, dialysis, and MRI, and the announcement of the cancer cancer treatment centre, the Oshawa site (of the newly- formed Lakeridge Health Corporation) is going to provide more and better services," he predicts. Other issues from 1998 have included education and property tax reform. In the up-coming year, O'Toole says he doesnh think the province will bring forward many new changes. "It'll be steady as she goes. We'll manage the changes (already implemented) implemented) and respond where necessary," he forecasts. forecasts. As for when a provincial provincial election will be called, O'Toole says it depends on a number of factors. "The election has to be called before June of 2000," says O'Toole. "If the economy shows signs of weakening, I think there'll be an election in '99. But it will probably be later than sooner. There are many factors," he says. "My best guesstimate is the election will be after June of 1999," he predicts. He adds that one of his key commitments is his pledge to work for the Durham East constituents. Darlington Unit is Shut Down For Maintenance Unit 3 at Darlington Nuclear Generating Station was shut down on Sunday, December 27th, for a planned outage that is expected to last about 62 days. Planned outages occur on a regular basis in order to perform required maintenance activities. There arc several major jobs to be done on Unit 3. These include: inspections of the turbine generator on the conventional sidô and the boilers and pressure tubes on the reactor side; preventive maintenance of the electrical breakers; and work on the heal transport pumps. In addition, addition, the shutdown provides provides an opportunity to do minor maintenance in many areas not accessible during normal operation, Ontario Hydro says Unit 3 is expected to return to service in late February. While Durham MP Alex Shepherd hopes to sec a long-awaited solution solution to the Port Granby low-level nuclear waste dilemma, there will be other topics on his agenda for 1999. One of these is the preparation of local businesses businesses for the year 2000. He says, many have not yet upgraded their computer systems for the millenium. "I have spent a lot of time working with the Year 2000 committee and am concerned that people here in Durham are not giving the problem the attention it requires," he said. "The small business community is generally not up to speed with it and the time clock is working its way down." "That will be a major issue in the next year as people realize that it has to be done," lie added. "I'm committed to making sure businesses throughout the region take action on the problem - it's better to be worried now than sorry Continued on page 3 by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer Durham Lives! That's the message of a new, five-year program focusing on healthy eating, eating, physical activity and smoke-free living. The goal of the program is to increase awareness and decrease incidence of heart disease and cancer. "It's a provincially- funded primary prevention program," says Durham Lives! Project Coordinator Catherine Walker. "There are such programs throughout the province, but this one is specifically unique to Durham Region." Durham Region, according to 1990 Ontario Health Survey results, is home to some alarming statistics. The Region has the eighth highest age- adjusted smoking rate among the 42 Ontario Health Units. Among Durham women of reproductive reproductive age, 42 percent smoke, compared to the Ontario average of 33 percent. percent. Only 58 percent of those aged 20 to 64 have a healthy weight. The survey also stated that one-quarter of Durham residents aged 12 and over engaged in physical physical activity less than once a week. The statistic alarms Walker, "in particular particular with the fact that when a young person reaches Grade 10, they no longer have to take phys. ed." in school. Walker hopes the program will encourage people to be more active.. "We're trying to promote promote physical activity in a positive way, not a nagging nagging way," says the nurse, who also has a Masters Degree in Education. The program will help encourage healthy lifestyles through the use of a pledge form. The form asks people to commit to at least one healthy lifestyle suggestion. People are also asked to fill in their name and address. By making the promise, participants become eligible for monthly prize draws. Throughout the year, organizers will be tallying, promises received on a regional basis. Pledge thermometers in the eight municipalities of Durham, including Clarington, will measure the percentage of the population making a promise. The promise program program will be introduced in schools during upcoming months, with school children children collecting promises from family and neighbours. neighbours. Funding for the program program comes from the province, but is augmented by contributions from 28 partners in Durham Region, including Lakeridge Health Bowmanville and the Municipality of Clarington "The goal is to build on activities that arc already existing," says Walker. "We'll support our partners partners to expand existing programs." Continued on page 3 EH A&P (Prices in effect from Sat., Jan 2 to Fri., Jan 9/1999) 1ER Armstrong's IGA (Prices in effect from Sat., Jan 2 to Fri., Jan 9/1999) Si. Burger King • (Effective to Jan. 31/1998) Canadian Tire (Prices in effect from Sat., Jan 2 to Fri., Jan 9/1999) 7ER Graham's IGA (Prices in effect from Sat., Jan 2 to Fri., Jan 9/1999) [ïïpïcmo. 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