The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

I L i'i h PAGE A6 ♦ THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ August 2,2006 x Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-In-Chief Chris Bovie Managing Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Office Manager Janice O'Neil, Cheryl Haines Composing Managers Todd Blayone Interactive Media Manager Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 ®f)c Caitabimt Statesman Opinion I AUGUST 2, 2006 durhamregion.com Phone 905-579-4400 Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2238 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1809 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 infodurhamregion.com EDITORIAL e-mail letters to newsroom@durhamregion.com Drop in crime rate sure is welcome Investment in police appears to be paying dividends There's a glimmer of good news to report during these dog days of summer: Durham Regional Police have provided statistics which reveal the overall crime rate dropped in the region by a whopping 11.2 per cent from 2004 to 2005.: Now for the bad news: There was a very slight increase in violent crime by 0.2 per cent. • The stats were provided to Sta- ■ tistics Canada and can be looked up at www.statscan.ca. There wasn't much, information information provided to point to why the crime rate has dropped but, clearly, the increased number of officers in uniform in Durham should be having some effect. The Durham Police Service budget has more than doubled over the past decade and, along with population growth, the number of officers has climbed dramatically as well. in addition, the use of a police helicopter -- the DRPS eye in the sky - may be having an impact in cutting crime. With advances in technology, it's hoped the good guys can stay one step ahead of the bad guys in efforts to keep our neighbourhoods neighbourhoods safe. Much of the credit for the increased budget and the jump in officers must be given to former DRPS chief Kevin McAlpine, ' whose eight-year run at the tôp of the force from 1997 to 2005 resulted in massive improvements. improvements. While thé chief had a few bumps in the road to steer around with regard to his membership, he always was able to make the case to Durham Region council that the local force needed to catch up to other GTA forces with respect to pay, officer numbers numbers and equipment. And, in fact, he managed to do that, leaving a legacy for all future chiefs. For current Chief Vernon White, the benefits may now be in evidence. An 11.2 per cent drop in overall crime in a single year is extremely significant. While we'll have to wait to see if a trend develops in years to ■ come, it's certainly encouraging news to see a dip in crime. Not as encouraging is the tiny increase in violent crime. Here's hoping the overall trend will include a cut in violent crime when the force releases its crime statistics report in a year's time. BACKWARD GLANCE Bell Telephone Co., 1903 Photo supplied by Clarington Museums and Archives The Bell Telephone Company office was located in Bowman- ville at what is now 15 King St. E. This scene dates from 1903. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-mail letters to ncwsroom@durhamrcgion.com Restaurant works on three R's To the editor: Re: Governments of all sizes need to help with recycling, Brent Roberts letter, July 26. I read Brent Roberts's comment, comment, "Go to any restaurant and see if they have any large recycle or compostable bins." I invite him to come "to New- : castle and check out our pile of recycling and the 12 to 15 large green compost bins we put out each week at Steamers Restaurant. Restaurant. We purchased the large green bins at $12 per bin as soon as they started the program in Clarington Clarington and continue to recycle and compost everything we are able to. The biggest problem is finding the large-size bio bags to fit the buckets. Even though it is labour intensive and we've had some problems with the Region's handlers we'll continue to work on the three Rs. Brenda Metcalf Steamers Restaurant Newcastle We need to get a grip on garbage problem To the editor: I, like most, have been reading the fiasco with respect to recycling. recycling. Alas, the inmates arc running the asylum! In a country like Canada, with a small population population and large land mass, it was moronic to send our garbage out of the country in the first place! Now we are brainwashed to think of "poor Canada - what are we going to do with our garbage garbage now that Michigan doesn't want it!" Don't tell me there is nowhere in Ontario where we can handle our garbage! Is there any Crown land remaining? How many other modern countries are ; there where there are large populations populations but who still manage their garbage? In the meantime, we ' keep adding to our population but we cannot handle either garbage, garbage, electricity or water, among other items! . The, consumer, is always thé one to be the victim of such, inadequacy. At no time, have I read anything' With respect to controlling garbage at source. Karl Clarke Whitby Let's get apartments into compost realm To the editor: I am all for the new green bin program - it's about time, folks! I recently made the move from a house (where we were composting composting in the backyard, long ago) to an apartment. I can't tell you how disap- : pointed I was to learn that the green bin program would not be implemented for 1 apartment dwellers. Every time I have to throw my carrot or potato peels, celery; cuttings, etc., into the garbage, I cringe with guilt. Surely there must be a. way t to incorporate the program to include this huge percentage of the population! ' Linda O'Reilly , Oshawa Follow garbage, compost rules and you'll be just fine To the editor: Re: Garbage needs 1 to be picked up more than twice a month, Nabil Shams letter, July 19. Yes, it is very hot and humid during our summer months, but if you properly recycle in your blue box and use your green compost bins for your table scraps, bones, fruit peels, etc., .like you are supposed supposed to, you'll find that what stays in yoiir regular garbage. bags to be collected every two weeks, has nothing in it to start ; a' worm infestation, absolutely nothing. ; ! I will give the benefit of a doubt to those who still haven't received their green compost bin, but don't despair, it's coming (or you can contact the Region Recycling Centre and they will deliver one ...or two). Even if you have, very small children, their diapers can be wrapped tightly in plastic bags and even if you have lots of. diapers, the City would be understanding understanding and allow you more than the two bags limit per household. Shame on those people who even think about dumping your garbage on somebody else's curb. : ' But if after all this, you find your garbage overwhelming, you should take a look at lowering your level of consumerism. Selva Thompson - Oshawa LETTERS We welcome letters that include name, city of residence and phone numbers for verification. Writers are generally limited to 200 words and one submission submission in 30 days., We decline announcements, poetry, open letters, consumer complaints, congratulations and thank you notes. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for length, style and clarity. The newspaper newspaper contacts only those people people whose submissions have been chosen for publication. FAX: 905-579-1809; E-MAIL: Newsroom® durhamregion. com. Why so many municipal candidates? With its short days and chilly, temperatures November seems a lifetime away, as we hit midsummer. midsummer. But, it would appear a fair number of Clarington residents arc thinking ahead to that month, when we will elect a new municipal municipal council. By late July, there were already more candidates registered to run than were on the final ballot last time around -- and more Ilian two months remain until nomi-, nations close. This is in stark contrast to the last municipal election. In 2003, there were three acclamations: Wards l and 2 Regional Coun Jennifer Stone cillor Jim Schell, Ward 3 Local Councillor Fat Pinglc and Ward 4 Local Councillor (lord Robinson Robinson didn't even have to hit the campaign trail, since they faced no opposition, To this point, only one councillor councillor remains unchallenged in 2006 and it's the, representative who faced the largest, tightest competition last time. Adrian Foster beat out four other hopefuls hopefuls for the Ward 1 Local spot, clearing his closest competitor by just over 200 votes. The others - ' Mayor John Mutton, Ward 3 and 4 Regional Councillor Charlie Trim and Ward 2 Local Councillor Don MacArtlmr -- all had relative cakewalks, easily beating the one other candidate who ran in each of their categories. Clearly, it won't be so easy for most this time around, with at least three candidates signed up for six of the seven positions on Clarington council. There could be any number of reasons for the sudden interest in serving on council. One has to wonder if it's a matter of dissatisfaction with the current crew, or just that there arc a lot of kecncrs ont there, interested in serving their community. community. Could it simply be that with three incumbents not signed up to return to their current roles, people see an opening? Whatever the ease, there is certain certain to be :i great deal of cam- * paigning go on this time around, as people vie for the positions, 'flic ballot is already a lengthy one and almost certainly more candidates will come out of the woodwork after Labour Day. After all, September is traditionally traditionally the busiest month for nominations. nominations. Clarington residents would be well-advised to pay close attention attention to the campaign. Not only that, but given abysmal voter turnout in previous municipal elections, eligible voters need to be reminded to get out there and east their ballots, After all, no level of government makes decisions that impact you closer to home than your local level. Reporter Jennifer Stone ,v column appears every other IVednesday. E-mail jstoue(a}durhamregion. coin. CLICK AND SAY Today's question: Do you feel safer knowing that crime in Durham Region reportedly dropped 11 per cent from 2004 to 2005?? Yes ' No Cast your vote online at infodurhamiegson.com Last week's question: Do you believe taxpayers' dollars should fund the evacuation of Canadian citizens from Lebanon? No 77.1% Yes 22.9% , Votes cast: 423 HAVE YOUR SAY Do you feel safer as a result of reports the crime rate is down in Durham? Brenda Johnston "Yes, ,but Bowmanville is a safe place anyways." Amy Kelly "Yes, especially moving from Toronto. By comparison, no worries." Ken McCallum "A little bit for walking through the downtown section." Ann Hilborn - "I really never felt unsafe." The Canadian Statesman is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Commerce, Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. Credit for advertisement advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction reproduction is prohibited. ¥ ÏÏxiiTWinnïk pH jkpena (+CNA