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v àa^üS 1994 Liimina A PU Van 'Green, loaded, cruise, tilt, pwr windows +. locks, load vjtiÿil'suspcnsîoni alum wheels/rack, 3800 V6. . ' . 19.93 Buick Regal 4Dr insole; dual zone a/i .-n/c, loaded * ** V $< Black, 350 VS, fully loaded wto leather inlerior. 1 ■■■■:■■! s'ri While, buckets' .+ console, dual 108,00 km. • SINCE 1854 • AMALGAMATED 1999 WITH CLARINGTON THIS WEEK • BY JACQUIE MeINNES Staff Writer CLARINGTON - The biggest issue this election may not be amalgamation or taxes but the way in which the voting will occur. Clarington will conduct its election polling by mail this year and that seems to be causing causing some confusion amongst voters, suggests Councillor Charlie Trim, chairman of the clerk's committee. Coun. Trim has been holding information sessions for residents who don't understand the new system which was approved by council this past spring. "When I've been door knocking, a lot of people don't realize there's voting by mail," says Coun. Trim. "They're surprised, surprised, shocked and they are concerned (other) residents wouldn't know the process or follow procedure." The decision to proceed -with the mail-in vote follows a successful successful introduction of the system system by the town of Brock in the last election. Voter participation was up and the town said it was able to eliminate advance polls and reduce the number of-elec- tion workers. The mail-in system system also had less impact on businesses with voting employees employees and eliminated handicap ac cessible concerns for the polling stations. Clarington Clerk Patti Barrie says the municipality municipality estimates a savings of $25,000 from the plan. But, says Coun. Trim, some people he spoke to have raised a concern some voters may accidentally accidentally throw out the voting kit along with the junk mail. No literature was sent oiit by the town on the mail-in voting system although ads did run in the newspaper. When the package package is mailed out, the week of Oct. 23, it will instruct residents how to use the kits and to mail them by Nov. 3, says Ms. Barrie. Barrie. Ron Collis, a director with the Clarington Board of Trade says the new voting system influenced influenced the date for an upcoming upcoming election debate it's holding. "It was a factor when we de cided to set the meeting," he says. "One of the candidates brought it up that he'd prefer it to be before the mail-in ballot," says Mr. Collis. Councillor Jane Rowe, who is currently uncontested in Ward 1, says the mail-in voting is affecting campaigning as well. "It's a very tight time See INFORMATION page 5 Orono band festival will play again Eagles lose first home game Sports page 12 Organizers borrow money to the tune of $17,000 BY JACQUIE MeINNES Staff Writer ORONO - Clarington is betting betting $17,000 organizers of the Great Canadian Town Band festival can turn last year's artistic success into a viable commercial operation when it takes centre stage this summer, i; Orono's first annual band festival was well received locally locally and drew visitors from beyond beyond the GTA, said organizer Dave Climenhage at a Sept. 25 council meeting. But the ambitious ambitious weekend-long event ran a deficit of almost $20,000 despite despite government grants and generous donations of money and volunteer labour from the Orono community, he said. Mr. Climenhage asked council to loan the organizers the money to cover the deficit so all new money raised could be used for the 2001 event. * The 2000 festival cost about $90,000 in cash and another $20,000 worth of in-kind donations, donations, he told council. But despite despite more than 3,000 visitors who came to see some of the top concert bands from across North America, the event still came up short, he said, in asking asking council for a $17,000 loan to cover the shortfall. -• Despite the deficit, Mr. Climenhage Climenhage said, the organizers hope to make the concert festival festival an annual event and believe it can sustain itself in the coming coming years. This past year, "the key was learning," said Mr. Climenhage. "We held it on the Canada Day weekend and there were a lot of competing events." As well, he added, "there were so many things going on around town it detracted from the main stage, v which was the primary source Our highest priority will be to increase our efforts in fund-raising. We think by increasing our efforts, we will do better.' Dave Climenhage of revenue. One of the visitors .to the event, a former Public Broadcasting Broadcasting System (PBS) fundraiser, fundraiser, was so impressed witli the calibre of the festival, they agreed to sign on the campaign ■ to finance the event. "Our highest priority will be to increase efforts in fund-rais : ing," Mr. Climenhage told council. "We think by increasing increasing our efforts, we will do better." better." Already the organizers have applied for 12 arts grants, he said. "At the top of the list is the Trillium Foundation. We're in the process of submitting the application. We could qualify for up to $75,000 a year for up to five years." As well, Mr. Climenhage said, organizers will be looking for corporate sponsors. "Last year we went after local sponsors, sponsors, this year we'll be looking for national sponsors." At the Monday, Oct. 2 general general purpose and administration committee meeting, councillors recommended a $17,000 interest-free interest-free loan to be paid back by Dec., 2001, allowing the organizers organizers time to build a base of funding. Council is expected to ratify the decision at a meeting on Monday, Oct. 16. AJ. GROEN/ Statesman photo Pool shark Darlene Dadson of Bowmanville organized a charity fund- raising pool tournament with proceeds donated to four fam ilies facing expensive medical costs for their children. The tournament took place in Oshawa. Kids opt to walk to school News page 2 w--0 ONTARIO'S DRIVE CLEAN ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY •An ontcliil mark of the Province of Ontario used under licence. WHITBY - OSHAWA 1110 DUNDAS. ST. E., WHITBY LOCAL (905) TOR. LINE (90S) 666-1772 686-1745 www.honda1.com Inside tSfyt &tate*man WHERE TO F|ND IT Editorial Page 6 Sports 12 Entertainment 15 Classified 19 GIVE US A CALL General 623-3303 Distribution .. .579-4407 Death Notices .683-3005 E-mail judi.bobbitt® durhamnews.net FAX 623-6161 Courtice Secondary School principal issues letter about student protest Optimist Food Drive bags inside BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer Parents of Courtice Secondary Secondary School students who participated in a walk-out over a lack of extracurricular activities last week will be receiving a warning letter from school administration administration today (Wednesday). (Wednesday). The cautionary letter was set for distribution during today's first period class to students' suspected of having participat ed in the walk-out, says principal principal Ron Tansley. About 200 students initially walked out last Friday morning, protesting the reduction in extracurricular extracurricular activities offered at the school, now that teachers are required by the Province's Education Accountability Act to teach the equivalent of an extra half-class a day. Numbers of students absent from class grew during the course of the day, says Mr. Tansley. "Because it varies over the period (of the day), it's very difficult to put a thumb on" exactly how many students left class to participate, notes the principal. The walkout walkout "essentially put classes to a stand-still," says the letter sent to parents, The walk-out at Courtice came on the heels of similar protests at both Clarke High School in Newcastle and Henry Street High School in Whitby. The letter sent home to par ents must be signed and returned, returned, and acts as a warning that should a student participate in another such walk-out, further further disciplinary action will be taken. Parents are offered the choice of explaining their child's absence, if they feel the student did not participate in the walk-out. As well, parents have the option of requesting their child serve a detention as a re- See PARENTS page 5 Cowan PONTIAC-BUICK GMCTRUCK •166 KING ST. E., BOWMANVILLE 823-3396 Pressrun 21,400 24 Pages Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Optional 4 week delivery $5/$l newsstand Municipality estimates a savings of $25,000 Vote by mail getting mixed reviews