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Feature/? Young authors share spooky stories Sports/13 It's Miller time for Bowmanville Eagles CLARINGTON'S AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER SINCE 1854 WHAT'S ON NOV. 5: Bowmanville Toastmasters Toastmasters invite former members, members, friends and members of the public to attend the club's 15th charteranniversary. It will be held on Nov. 5 at the Seventh Seventh Day Adventist Church, located located at Hwy. 2 E. and Lambs Road, Bowmanville.This meeting meeting celebrates not only the 15 years of success but honours its members and their accomplishments. accomplishments. Guest speaker is Vince DaCosla, seminar leader and author of Influence, Persuade Persuade and Win - 96 Powerful Ways to Persuade. Meet and greet will begin at 7 p.m. and festivities at 7:30 p.m. To receive receive free tickets, call 905-623- 5266 or 905-686-7904 or 905- 983-9423 by Nov. 2. NOV. 16: The Friends of the Bowmanville Museum will be holding their Annual Christmas Christmas Craft and Bake Sale on Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Bowmanville Bowmanville Museum, 37 Silver St. (corner of Wellington and Silver streets). The sale will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., after the Santa Claus Parade. Items will include Christmas ornaments and gifts, knitted itçms, and more. For more information information call the museum office office at 905- 623-2734. INSIDE Wheels: What's new for 2003? Check out today's edition edition of Wheels for bumper-to- bumper coverage coverage of all the new models. INDEX Editorial Page 6 Classified 9 Sports 13 GIVE US A CALL General 905-579-4400 Distribution 905-579-4407 Death Notices 905-683-3005 Sincerely Yours 1-800-662-8423 General FAX 905-579-2238 Newsroom FAX 905-579-1809 durhamregioee .com • SERVICE • PARTS • NEW & USED SALES & LEASING EXTENDED SERVICE HOURS MON., TUES., THURS., FRI. 7:30-6:00 WED. - 7:30-9:00 SAT.-9:00 -1:00 ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY •An olflcliil murk of lltv Province «if Onlmlo used iiikIit lluiiu*. Whitby - Oshawa Honda 1110 DUNDAS. ST. E. WHITBY, l.OCAI, (0(15) 666-1772 xxorunzv www.honda1.com A.J. GR0EN/ Statesman photo A cut abovê the rest COURTICE - Michelle Smith puts all of her concentration into carving a pumpkin at the Courtice Flea Market on Sunday. Owners of the flea market donated 400 pumpkins for visitors to carve as part of a customer appreciation day. The works of art were judged and prizes awarded to the winners. Future plans revealed Public board plans to improve education in a number of areas over next two years BY BLAIR EDWARDS Special to This Week PETERBOROUGH - The local public school board is promising better Grade 10 literacy literacy test and EQAO test results as well as improvements to special education and early reader programs. programs. Those are just a few of the commitments outlined in a document, document, titled 'Creating Our Future Together - Towards a Shared Commitment,' released today. The report outlines the board's plans lo improve education over the next two years. "School boards across the province arc mandated to be accountable accountable at all limes to the public public we serve," explains board vice-chairman Angela Lloyd. Parents should hold the board accountable, slates the document. "We recognize we arc accountable accountable lo students, parents, guardians and the general publie," publie," says Ms. Lloyd. "We are not saying we may, or should, reach our goals. We are making a commitment commitment that it will he done." The document commits the board to making schools safer, to belter teacher and staff training, to more consultation and partner- Angcla Lloyd: "YVe recognize we arc accountable to students, parents, guardians and the general public.' ships with parents and the community, community, and to improving communication communication between the board and the community. The board also pledges to Avis Glaze: "We will be known for our excellence in student achievement, and for our motivated and dedicated staff.' raise Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test scores by two per cent overall in the next two years as well as raise Education Quality Quality and Accountability Office test results for students in grades 3,6 and 9. The board also promises to: • Expand early literacy initiatives. initiatives. • Increase the number of students students who can read by Grade 1 by two per cent each year. • Increase achievement levels of students with special needs via individual education plans. The board also promises to create a safe learning environment environment and develop students with good characters. Under the section titled 'Providing 'Providing a Safe Learning Environment,' Environment,' it promises to: • Make parents more involved in their children's education. • Develop positive character traits in students. • Expand anti-bullying programs programs and peer mediation. • Refine provincial and local codes of conduct in the classroom. classroom. • Look at closing some See SAFER page 8 OPG fixes safety glitch to avoid shutdown BY NATALIE MILLER Staff Writer CLARINGTON - There were potentially up to a " dozen opportunities for steam to damage safety equipment at the local nuclear nuclear power plant this summer. summer. The first of several safety defects at Darlington Nuclear Nuclear Generating Station was discovered in mid-August. A hole was found in a steam- proofroom containing safety equipment during a routine inspection, says an Ontario Power Generation spokesman. A media report on the weekend slated Darlington could have closed during the peak electricity demand period period this past summer because of the safely glitch. OPG's John Earl says Darlington evaded a shui- down because the hole was reported to the Canadian Nuclear Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and was then sealed within four hours. "The regulator (CNSC) was satisfied we had done the job," says Mr. Earl. "We were able to show the regulator we could confidently confidently repair and review (the situation)." The rooms are supposed to be scaled in case a steam vessel ruptures and soaks sensitive equipment. Following the discovery; OPG committed to inspecting inspecting more than 100 similar rooms at the plant for potential potential leakages. "There were a few other leakage areas sealed according according to the procedures," says Mr. Earl. At least a dozen gaps were fixed within four hours of their discovery and the entire inspection lasted four days; according to Mr. Earl. He says insulation didn't properly seal the corrugated roofing material used during construction. "These holes might have been there since construction of the station." When asked if there would be regular checks in the future for potential leaks, Mr. Earl said, "We keep safety safety a top priority and we'll al- See DARLINGTON page 8 Body found in lake missing boater BY NATALIE MILLER Staff Writer NEWCASTLE - A resident walking along the beach of Lake Ontario near Newcastle Saturday discovered the body of a missing Oshawa boater. Durham Regional Police say the body found around 5 p.m. in the water off the shores of Wilmot Creek was that of 47-ycar-okl Donald Collins, who was last seen Sunday, Oct. 13. The General Motors employee employee was observed early that evening struggling with his sailboat near the Port of Newcastle Newcastle marina. Witnesses headed headed out on the water to assist Mr. Collins, who was approximately approximately 400 metres from shore. When they arrived, there was no one on board the 28-loot Viking sailboat 'First Class', Durham Regional Police reported. reported. Mr. Collins encountered rough waters and fell off his boat, police said. The man was planning to slay on the water overnight and return to the marina marina Monday. Following the accident, police police and emergency volunteers conducted an intensive search. Police also asked residents to check the shorelines for any signs of Mr, Collins. An autopsy was conducted Sunday but results weren't available as of This Week's deadline. Police suspect drowning as the cause of death. Chev Olds & Chev 1>ucks HWY. 12 2728 COURTICE RD.. HWY. «2. 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