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News/3 Junior Citizen nominees Sports/7 Oke grinds it out for Eagles CLARINGTON'S AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER SINCE 1854 lt)E Canatrian Statesman January 7,2004 • 36 Pages • Optional 3 Week Delivery $5/$l Newsstand durhamregion.com Citizens boil over water rate increase Residents feel they are being penalized for conserving BY CARLY FOSTER : Staff Writer DURHAM -- Earl Goodman Goodman has been trying very hard to conserve water. ■ He didn't water his lawn all summer, has a water-saving ! showerhead and tries to have baths more often than showers. showers. So Mr. Goodman - ' and many other Durham residents - was a little upset when he heard the Region was increasing increasing 2004 water and sewer rates, and decreased water consumption was one of the reasons. "We have been taught for many years to conserve our resources, resources, one being water, then, when we do • that, we get penalized," penalized," said the Whitby resident resident of 33 years "It's ;• List ludicrous ludicrous to 'think we're being charged more for using less." But residents are, for a variety variety of.reasons. As reported last month, regional regional councillors voted to in crease water rates 6 per cent, and sewer rates 8 per cent for a combined overall increase of 7 per cent. For a household that uses around 273,000 litres of water a year, that means around $30 more than was paid in 2003. Reasons for the increase included included decreased consumption, consumption, planning the $ 140-mil- lion CourtiCe water-pollution control plant, upgrades to the system, plus increased wages, benefits and costs. Another factor is decreased consumption in the industrial sector coupled with the pending pending closure of ACSYS plant in Oshawa, said Jim Clapp, the commissioner of finance for Durham. "Rates are based on a usage charge," he said. "So if the total (system) costs remain the same, but consumption goes down, the rale will have to increase increase to compensate." Mr. Clapp called the rate increase necessary for future benefit. ■ ' ; '"Sometimes you paytfFlittle bit more for conservation in the 'short term, but it will save you in the long term," he, said, "adding the increase is helping See RATE page 6 Walter Passarella/Statesman photo Animals best friends BOWMANVILLE -- From left, Amanda Austin, Sarah Dales, Madison Witherspoon and Sydney Hegesen deliver food, toys and beds for the animals at Clarington Animal Shelter in Bowmanville. The girls, along with 14 of their friends, raised $170 to purchase purchase the gifts by going caroling before Christmas. RIDE charges fewer, stops more this year Positive sign for police BY STEPHEN SHAW Staff Writer ; DURHAM -- Calling it a "positive sign," Durham Regional Regional Police charged fewer people with drunk driving during during the holiday season RIDE program compared to last year, despite stopping 3,000 more vehicles. vehicles. While officers are encouraged encouraged by the decrease, still troubling troubling is the fact so many motorists motorists didn't get the message even after a controversial decision decision to post the names of the ac cused on the Internet raised the profile of RIDE. Durham police caused a stir last month when it began listing on its Web site the names,, ages and cities of people charged with drinking and driving as a result of RIDE spotchècks. The six-week campaign wrapped up last weekend with police having stopped 30,700 vehicles across, the region and charging 50 motorists with driving driving over the limit of 80 milligrams milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres millilitres of blood. During the same, period last year, police stopped 27,066 vehicles vehicles and charged 56. •• "The numbers are coming down a bit. And when you con sider that more cars were stopped this year, it's a positive sign," said Sergeant Paul Malik, police spokesman, adding the number of people charged is still a big concern. .. He said the force will "ana lyze the final numbers" before deciding whether it will continue continue publishing the names of alleged alleged drunk drivers on its Web site. "It certainly caused a lot of conversation and got a lot of people thinking about, (RIDE), which can only help get our message out," said Sgt. Malik, adding he isn't aware of any See POLICE page 7 No lines on BY SHELLEY JORDAN Staff Writer ENNISKILLEN -- The lines haven't been drawn yet as Mayor John Mutton canvasses the public for the best fix for Regional Regional Road 3. It's been a month and the double-yellow lines are still absent absent from the road where a 50 km/hr speed limit is often broken by drivers who accelerate up to ■ 120 km/hr down a roller coaster of . hills in the area. The mayor says lie's sent out letters requesting requesting feedback to those concerned about the installation of a flashing flashing amber light at Holt Road. The mayor hopes to use the responses responses when he presents op tions at the. regional meeting. "People who want a three- way stop need to know it's not going to happen," said the mayor. "Putting stops where they aren't warranted is the creation of a death trap." ; ' The mayor continued, saying See DANGER page 6 MS sufferer works to help others BY SHELLEY JORDAN Staff Writer DURHAM -- When multiple multiple sclerosis caused Ann Dol- ishny to go blind, she fought back by opening the eyes of other MS sufferers. Before Ms. Dolishny discovered discovered she had the disease, a first-diagnosis group didn't exist in Durham Region. Using her background as public relations relations officer for the region, she pulled some strings and created a Web of information for those trapped by their symptoms. "A neurologist's way of dealing with an MS patient is to say, "Adieu" after they diagnose," diagnose," said Ms. Dolishny!" So I asked the MS Society if they had any support groups for newly diagnosed patients in Durham." When Ms. Dolishny heard back from the MS Society she was asked if she wanted to attend attend a seminar for MS sufferers. sufferers. Before long she was facilitating facilitating a group of three members. members. When the number rose to • 10, her triplex apartment wasn't wasn't large enough to accommodate. accommodate. "It was sheer luck that a different different organization was dissolving," dissolving," said Ms. Dolishny," and they said 'Why don't you take.the room we have?' So we are now located in a brand new facility in ^senior's complex in Whitby." The group, called Living with MS, presently has 28 members, with Ms. Dolishny as Durham's official facilitator. It has changed from first diagnosis diagnosis to a general MS group, but the focus remains on information-gathering information-gathering and providing providing support for anyone who needs it. Multiple sclerosis results when the protective coating which surrounds nerves, called myelin, becomes damaged and . leaves behind scarred and hardened hardened nerves that are'unable to communicate information See WOMAN page 6 T®-- ONTARIO'S SERVICE PARTS MON., WED., FBI. 7:30 am - 6:00 pm TUES. & THURS. 7:30 am - 8 pm SAT. 9 am - 4 pm ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY ' *An ufficinl mnrk'vf the Province of Ontario used under licence. Whitby - Oshawa Honda 1110 DUNDAS. ST. E. WHITBY LOCAL (90S) 666-1772 honda www.hondal .com Durham Cancer Centre is still just a hole Walter Passarella/Statesman photo The Durham Regional Cancer Centre was originally expected to open in 2001. A variety of Issues have pushed that date to 2006 and the cost skyward, but health officials say the Province is committed to the project. But officials say project is on target BY LESLEY B0VIE Staff Writer OSHAWA -- Despite a ministry review ! of cost changes, the Durham Region Cancer Centre is on target for construction to start this spring, say Lakeridge Health officials. "As far as we know, the ministry ministry is happy'and OK with the changes," said Lakeridge spokesman Françoise Guenette in an interview. "Wc expect we will have the go ahead to tender (the next phase) in late January," she added. • Lakeridge Health has ministry ministry approval for a $328-mil- lion redevelopment of Lakeridge Lakeridge Health, which includes the cancer centre, a new emergency emergency room and critical care units, 200 additional acute-care beds and a central plant utility. Back in 1998, the total redevelopment redevelopment was expected to cost only $104 million and be open in 2001. Now, the project is slated to be complete in the spring of 2006. Lakeridge Health expects to be able to keep to that schedule even though it anticipates a "slight variance" between the $328 million pre-tender estimate, estimate, and final drawings and specifications. Those additional costs are still being worked out and they result from a number of different different factors, said Ms. Guenette. Since the pre-tender estimate was approved a number of years ago, construction prices have gone up. The emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has also necessitated design changes to accommodate accommodate isolation rooms within the new ER, she said. See CANCER page 6