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Page 4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, September 9,1999 Cattabtati Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climic and W.R. Climic 1854-1878 M.A. James 1878-1935 • Norman S.B. James 1919-1929 G. Elena James, 1929-1947 • Dr. George W. James 1919-1957 John M. James, 1957-1999 Produced weekly by Mctroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Also Publishers of Clarington This Week P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W„ Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 Tel: 905-623-3303 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For 145 years, our first concern has been our community Publisher - Tim Whittaker Editor-in-Cliief - Joanne Burghardt Managing Editor - Judi Bobbitt Advertising Manager - Brian G. Purdy Advertising - Laverne Morrison, Sharon Goodman Office - Junia Hodge, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman Editorial - Brad Kelly, Jennifer Stone, Jacquie Mclnnes y Edjtorials Fall is fun The lazy, hazy days of summer are over and the bite of fall in the air signals the busy back-to-school season, but there's still an opportunity to have some fun in Clarington. Autumn brings with it a wealth of things to do for the whole family. Kicking off Thursday is the annual Durham Central Fair in Orono, enjoyed by residents for the past 147 years. It's a tradition to visit the Orono fairgrounds for four days of midway rides, livestock displays and competition, games and horse shows. There's more to enjoy than ever at this year's fair, promising something of interest for everyone. everyone. Should you be looking for something other than the. fair, take a peek into Bowmanville's past during the St. Paul's United Church House Tour, set for Saturday, Sept. 11. The doors of eight homes will be opened to visitors, who can enjoy visual treats such as the restored, century- old McGregor home. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased purchased in downtown Bowmanville at Monica Rose Fashions, Fashions, 49 King St. W.; McGregor IDA, 5 King St. W.; and at the Carnation Flower Shop, 33 Division Street. It's always fun to take a look at other's homes, and you'll be helping out the church at the same time. Go farther afield and you can take a self-guided tour of 43 destinations throughout the region on the Durham Countryside Adventure, Sept. 18 and 19. Visit such attractions attractions as. churches, orchards, farms and antique shops at your own leisure. Get your passport at the Clarington tourism office on Liberty Street in Bowmanville. Wrap up the busy month with the Newcastle Fall Fest, Saturday, Oct. 2. Activities include a walk-a-dog-athon in aid of Canine Vision, an antique car show, craft sales, entertainment and more. Many events raise funds for various various worthwhile causes. E-Mail your comments on this opinion to nnews@durham.net. Submissions which include a first and last name, as well as the city of residence, will be considered for publication. Bowmanville thanked for support To the editor: I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Canadian Statesman for its endless support of the Champions of Change Youth Leadership Camp. This summer was a huge success due to the many members and businesses within the community and their endless endless support of our program. Thank you to the following community community businesses for their generous donations and support: Bowmanville Senior Public School, M and M Meats, A and P, Canadian Royal Legion, Alert Fire Company, Rotary Club of Bowmanville, Saan, The Toffee Toffee Shop, Card and Souvenirs, Earth Dance and Shoppers Drug Mart. A very special thank you to the Canadian Statesman for its continual publicity and exposure. Several people within the community community also donated their time: architect J.R. Feethy, photographer Jean-Michel Komarnicki, Judge Paul Bellefontaine and psychologist Steve Graffi. In addition, addition, thank you to Dennis Deeley for his tye-dye workshop, Audrey Pipher from Angel Touch in Ajax, Rick Jones from Masaru Karate Club and Dave Patterson who spoke on racism. Champions of Change had the plea : sure of working with many community community programs and partners: Marnwood Life Care Centre, Clarington Project, Clarington Public Library, Lakeridge Health Bowmanville, Bowmanville Fire Department, John Howard Society, Society, Scouts Canada, Community Care, YWCA, Pine Wood Centre, Cope, Seeing Eye Dog Foundation, Avery Dennison, Bethesda House, Laidlaw, Bike Safety through the Mental Health Department, United Way, Cedar Park, Bowmanville Port Office, Clarington Cineplex Odeon, Fire House, Hospice, Rose of Durham, Sex Abuse Prevention Prevention Centre, WindReach Farms, Oshawa Syndenham Museum, Summer Summer Student Employment Office-Bow- manville and the Bowmanville Museum Museum all donated their time and expertise to our summer camp. Many thanks go to the staff at Big Brothers of Clarington, Champions of Change Advisory Committee and camp counsellors Iain Scott, Connie Smith, Kim Kryshka and Nick Vickery. Vickery. Most importantly, I would like to thank the camp participants for their dedication and interest in our program. Without these individuals our camp could not operate. Overall, I. would like to thank the community for embracing Champions of Change and supporting our goals of establishing leadership and life skills training while developing community awareness. I have had the pleasure of working in Bowmanville for the past two years. The community is very giving giving and generous. The community support we received was overwhelming overwhelming and surpassed our original expectations. expectations. The Clarington community should be proud of its efforts to support the youth in their area. I know through camp the youth are eager to help and support their community. Carrie Cameron, Camp Director, Champs of Change Youth Leadership Camp It's a family affair Political dynasties common in Ontario David Caplan will be able to speak in the legislature this fall without hearing taunts he is 'Elinor's 'Elinor's boy.' Liberal Caplan was elected in a byclcction in 1997 in a Toronto riding riding his mother Elinor held for 12 years and had to endure constant-*, jeers by Premier Mike Harris's Progressive Progressive Conservatives he won because of her influence. The formidable Elinor was a provincial minister from 1985-90, but ran federally in 1997 and recently recently was made Immigration Minister. She would have had clout in her riding, but David won again in the June general election in a revised riding, much of which his mother never set foot in. David also beat David Johnson, who had been House Leader and Education Minister and the Tories' most impressive performer next to Mr. Harris himself, so there will he no more sneers about David being Elinor's boy. The Caplans have started a dynasty, which is not unusual in Ontario politics. Liberal leader Dalton Dalton McGuinty's father, also named Dalton, held the same riding in Ottawa before him. Dalton Junior talks fondly and loyally about his dad and the contribution contribution he made to the legislature, but the father in fact was not in the same league as the son. Dalton Senior spoke rarely and even then offered little of significance, significance, while the son's spirited performance in June when the Liberals gained scats although Mr. Harris kept his majority is one reason the opposition opposition party has revived optimism. New Democrat Shelley Shelley Martel has a seat in Sudbury her father Elie held for 20 years, also passed on like a 'family heirloom. However, the Sorbonnc-cducatcd daughter has been worth her place, particularly in opposition and attacking, a quality inherited from her father, Elie may hold the record for being thrown out of the legislature for exuberance in pushing his cause. Blood being thicker than water, Elie even came out of retirement when Shelley was a minister and the Liberals accused her of releasing confidential information to protect her ministry and charged them with 'lynching' her. Shelley, by coincidence, coincidence, is also part of a different type of dynasty because, while an MPP, she married fellow-NDP MPP Howard Hampton who became leader and led the party in the June election. The last husband and wife to sit together in the legislature were Jim and Margaret Rcnwick three decades ago. Jim won the most memorable byelection of recent years in 1964, when he defeated evangelist Charles Templeton, Templeton, who also was running running to lead the Liberals and might have lifted them from obscurity sooner. Margaret joined him three years later. Corporation lawyer Jim stayed 20 years until his death and gave the NDP a new depth and respect, but Margaret lasted only one four-year term. New Democrat husband and wife Ken and Marion Brydcn held another another Toronto riding successively, but never sat in the legislature together. Tony Clement, the new Environ-i nient Minister, is a stepson of John Clement, a Tory attorney-general in the 1970s so renowned for his wit Premier William Davis often asked him to substitute for him and speak to groups where a touch of humour was more needed than explanation of policy. John met and married Tony's mother when she worked in another minister's office, Chris Hodgson, Chair of Management Management Board and most often tipped to succeed Mr. Harris as premier, although it is too early to count on it, had two uncles, brothers, who were in the legislature at the same time, another rarity. Glen, steady but never promoted to cabinet, represented the same area for 12 years, but the more effervescent effervescent Lou held a Toronto seat only one term.Some political dynasties have been highly successful, including including Allan Grossman, a senior Davis minister for many years, and his son Larry, a treasurer and Tory leader... but hey, these stories about politics running in families could go on forever. forever. Watch out for precious cargo You've packed little Johnny's sandwich. Suzie has her brand new pencil case. The shiny shoes are already mildly scuffed. The first day of school has come and gone without without incident. Are you sure you haven't forgotten forgotten anything? anything? Durham Regional Police in Clarington, and for that matter, across the Region, are hoping y o. u ' v e remembered the rules of the road when it comes to school buses. The big yellow vehicles have made their return to the road after three months of sitting idle. With the return of school buses comes the return of laws governing drivers drivers around the vehicles. The rules are simple -- when you see a bus stopped with its sign out and red lights flashing, no matter what direction you are going, you are required to stop. Children are • bound to be attempting to cross the road. Inspector Ross Smith of the Clarington Community Office says police will be running a blitz throughout the month of September to remind people of the rules. But the reminder won't come in the form of a gentle slap on the wrist or even a firm admonishment -- drivers caught not heeding a school bus's flashing red lights and stop sign will face a fine of a whopping $405. Drivers, says Insp. Smith, will not be warned. Officers who catch drivers disregarding school bus rules have been told to take a very "firm stand" against the offender. And rightly so. The first week of school is a time of great excitement (and in some cases, great trepidation) for children. In their hurry to get to and from their place of learning, they may not be paying as close attention as they should. After a summer on the roads without big yellow school buses, drivers may riot be as alert as they should be, either. But the threat of a $405 fine should jog our memories. memories. So, keep your eyes open. The buses are big and yellow, and their signals signals are bright and red. Watch for them, and stop. Remember, those buses arc carrying carrying our most precious cargo. Send us your letters The Canadian Statesman accepts letters to the editor. All letters should be typed or neatly hand-written, 150 words. Each letter must be signed with a first and last name or two initials and a last name. Please include a phone number for verification. verification. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for style, length and content. Opinions Opinions expressed in letters arc those of the writer and not necessarily those of the paper. We regret that due to the volume of letters, not all will be printed. \ • \ ;/■■ X Jennifer Stone Staff Writer