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S » News/5 Pinball is a wizard at fund-raising CLARINGTON'S AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER SINCE 1854 Sports/14 Eagles make early exit from playoffs IN THE NEWS DURHAM - Willi rumours of a possible spring election in the air, local riding associations associations are putting candidates in place to take a run at Queen's Park. The incumbents have already already indicated they'll be running running again. Durham MPP John O'Toole will seek the PC nomination nomination in the Durham Riding. Mr. O'Toole speculates a 2003 election could be announced announced in the first or second week of April. "I'd say May or June would be a reasonable time (to hold an election)," said Mr. O'Toole. O'Toole. Garry Minnie has been selected selected to carry the Liberal flag in Durham Riding. The local chapter of the New Democratic Party has yet to nominate a candidate and NDP officials said they arc still working on setting a date to determine its representative to run for the Durham seat. INSIDE Wheels: The 2003 Element remains remains true to the original Model X concept. All of the "elements" are ' there - the big boxy dimensions, dimensions, the interior that opens completely thanks to pillarless pillarless "side cargo doors"; the utilitarian, "washable" interior; unique storage innovations; MP3 and video game pug-ins; a split rear gate that gives you somewhere to sit out of the rain and rehash the day's rides; and 64 different seating configurations, configurations, including the ability to fold the seats down into makeshift beds. INDEX Editorial Page 6 Classified 10 Sports 14 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 durhamregrobtLcom • SERVICE • PARTS • NEW & USED SALES & LEASING EXTENDED SERVICE HOURS 1 MON., TUES., THURS., FRI. ! 7:30-6:00 ! WED. - 7:30-9:00 SAT.-9:00-1:00 : ACCREDIT ED TEST . & REPAIR FACILITY ♦Ail t>lHii;il murk oi lin' Prmlmv til" Oiilmiii iiscil umltT liana-. j Whitby - Oshawa il Moo do. 1110 DUNDAS. ST. E. WHITBY, I.OCAI. ('tilth 666-1772 îowïwi www.homln1.com Hour of home invasion terror Masked thugs 'show no mercy,' rob restaurant owners BY STEPHEN SHAW Staff Writer BOWMANVILLE - The owners of a popular downtown Bowmanville restaurant are recovering recovering from the terror of being bound, gagged and robbed during a home-invasion Monday night. Two masked bandits ambushed ambushed Johnny Scto, 70, and his wife, Mei Mci Seto, 59, owners of the Coronation, at 9:30 p.m., crawling under the garage door before it closed as the couple was returning to their estate- style home on Luverme Court, near Regional Road 57 and Hwy. 2. The couple was ordered out of their car and thrown onto the cement garage floor. They were forced to lie down and bound with duct tape by the Vietnamese-speaking thugs, who were armed with a knife, handgun and crowbar, said the couple's daughter, Bonnie Seto-Hersco. They demanded cash from Mr. Seto, who handed over a wad of bills, she said. "They wanted more. They weren't satisfied. One man was very mean and held a knife to my mother's throat. He said: 'This isn't enough, let's kill her now,"' Mrs. Seto-Hersco said during an interview at the restaurant, which her father has owned for 50 years. Durham Regional Police said the robbers led the couple to a safe in their home. One held the gun to the husband's head and ordered him to open the safe, threatening to kill his wife, said Sergeant Paul Malik, police spokesman. Mr. Seto didn't resist and turned over a large amount of cash, he said. The pair also searched the house and took jewellery and other valuables including expensive expensive watches, coins and gold pens, the victims' daughter said. After the terrifying hour- long ordeal, the intruders took off in a waiting vehicle, possibly possibly a white van driven by a third accomplice, Sgt. Malik said. Mrs. Seto-Hersco said her See COUPLE page 9 Go with the flow Hydrant bursts in Bowmanville BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer BOWMANVILLE - Some downtown Bowmanville businesses businesses are drying out and cleaning up after a fire hydrant hurst, causing water to flow down King Street Monday afternoon. afternoon. The hydrant, located in front of JPC Securities Corporation Corporation at 24 King St. E., near James Insurance at 26 King St. E„ caused water to flow into the basement of both businesses, businesses, says Bill Huether of James Insurance, which also sustained sustained main floor damage. "We all chipped in and got a lot of it (water) pushed out with shovels," lie says. James Insurance was back open for business Tuesday morning, with cleanup under way. "The main floor carpet is destroyed, the basement's a mess," says Mr. Huether, who did not yet have a damage estimate. estimate. Likewise, IPC Securities Corporation was up and running running Tuesday morning, though employees had to move temporarily temporarily into the company's Oshawa office to do so. They expected to be back in their Bowmanville offices by Wednesday afternoon, said IPC's Kerri Novak Tuesday. She was in the building when the incident occurred. "There was kind of a bit of a bang," she recalls. "Then I heard a gusli of water, and saw water start to gusli from the lire hydrant. "The building actually shook," says Ms. Novak, noting noting damage to IPC was confined confined to the basement. "The office was not touched," she says. See HYDRANT page 9 A.J. GR0EN/ Statesman photo Kerri Novak moves to higher ground as downtown streets in Bowmanville were Hooded on Monday afternoon. afternoon. Budget: heavy on social spending, light on tax cuts Funding won't help those seeking local affordable housing BY LESLEY BOVIE Staff Writer DURHAM -- An . extra. $320 million in federal funding over the next five years for affordable affordable housing won't do much help to the 5,000 people on the waiting list here for rent- gearcd-to-incomc homes, says Maurice Brenner. "The issue rests with the Province," said the president of the Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation. Tuesday's federal budget may allocate more money to improving the affordable housing housing agreement with provinces and territories, but Mr. Brenner said it's the agreement itself that needs to be rethought. Ontario lias done little to reduce reduce the cost per unit for low- income families and it allows agreements with private-sector builders to expire much too soon, he maintained. "They've really failed to make the necessary long-term commitment," said the Pickering Pickering regional councillor. Heavy on social spending and light on tax cuts, the federal federal government delivered its 2003 budget with little surprises surprises Tuesday afternoon. Better health care, more affordable affordable housing, combating child poverty -- those arc the issues Canadians care about the most "and their voice rings loud and clear in this budget". said Finance Minister John Manley. As expected, health care was high on the list of priorities, priorities, with federal spending increasing increasing by $34.8 billion over the next five years. Included in the new health deal is $9.5 billion in increased cash transfers to provinces and territories and a five-year $16- biJlion heaKh,reform fund targeted targeted at improving primary health care, home care and catastrophic catastrophic drug coverage: Entitled 'Building the Canada Canada we want', the budget also pledged $965 million annually in child tax benefits, bringing the maximum yearly benefit for a first child lo $3,243 by 2007, and $935 million over five years to provide greater access access to child care. It also earmarked $50 million million annually to create a child disability benefit for low- and modest-income families with disabled children, and $ 135 million each year for the next three years to combat homelessness. homelessness. Military dollars and tax cuts ranked relatively low on the list. Canada will increase its military capabilities by $800 million on an ongoing, basis, plus an immediate allocation of $270 million to address urgent needs. The contribution limits to registered retirement savings plans and pension plans will be increased over four years to $ IS,000. A 50 per cent increase in the small business deduction limit to $300,000 is "going in the right direction", said Bob Mal- colmson, general manager of See SOCIAL page 9 Statesman reporter among the best DURHAM - We're on our way to the podium again. Community newspapers in the Durham Region Division of Melroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing Ltd. have collectively collectively been nominated for 16 awards in the Ontario Community Community Newspapers Association Better Newspapers Competition. Competition. Our reporters, photographers, photographers, editors, columnists and cartoonist arc being recognized for journalism excellence with 16 top-three nominations and a fourth place overall general excellence excellence award for the Uxbridge Times-Journal.' Among the top three finalists finalists for general excellence awards in their respective circulation circulation classes are 'Port Perry This Week,' 'Oshawa/Whitby This Week' and the 'Ajax/Pickering 'Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser'. Winners Winners will he announced in April. Other nominees include: • Reporter of the year, Jncquie Mclimcs; • Best news story, Mike Ruta of the 'Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser' 'for the Marc Hall prom story; • Best sports section, 'Port Perry This Week' and 'Oshawa/Whitby 'Oshawa/Whitby This Week'; • Best online edition, 'Oshawa/Whitby 'Oshawa/Whitby This Week'. • Cartoonist of the year, Tim Dolighan, for his cartoon on Mare Hall; • Environment Ontario Award, reporters Tim l-'oran and Jncquie Mclimcs, for a 12- part series; • A double nomination for best sports and recreation story, reporter Lesley Bovic and reporter reporter Brian McNair; Best photo layout, "Oshawa/Whitby "Oshawa/Whitby This Week' for 'Twilight Zone' with photos by Ron Pietroniro and Jason Liebregts and layout by Walter Passarella; • Best sports photo, Ron Pietroniro; • Best community service, 'Clarington This Week' for ITER coverage; • Humour columnist of the year, Neil Crone. Jncquie Mclnnes: One of three finalists for Ontario Community Newspaper Association Reporter of the Year. Chev Olds & Chew Trucks mW.#:: 1 % 7= ° d y r/'J n / HOY ïj fV IIICII0L5 H .101 1- u: n o o 272S COURTKE RD., HWV. 12, COURTKE MS-436 Atti [Lhi (*ir >1 TORONTO UNE 005-427-4444 rovnlDholsmotoni@gmceniida.com THINK THE NEW DESIGN or easy TP u.H'.i* into: LOOK WHAT OUR ACCOUNTANTS HAVE DONE. lllllVll-AWAY WITHOUT TAYINfl LHASfl *♦ rM*o»TK/uxorw imvDurunurr Payment l4A* *d Payment Total Due* Sfllfl 8806 8016 51,800 5104 81,600 8a,boo 5170 sa.ooo OWT II monllw Hynumt frite mi virtually ell new h 0% or PUNOHAOK riNAVCIVO UP TO01 MONTHS HUB DON T PAY m ICO DAYS CHEVROLET HUüi .iVLi Û!u ill. ! ' , \ I,' £31 bu dials! □ Goodwrenth Service TO* DETAILS On time.