durhamregion.com The Citizen February 18, 2016 3 Winter continues but spring is getting closer in Brooklin, really We are almost there! By this point in the winter, perhaps like most Brooklin residents, I find myself longing for the warmth of summer. At least there hasn't been much shoveling required this year. For certain we can expect a couple more blasts of winter snow before we roll into my favourite season. Like many other Brooklin residents, I wasn't able to set up my backyard rink this year due to unseasonably mild temperatures for most of the winter months. When we first moved to Brooklin, there always seemed to be at least one friend or neighbour who was able to form a working ice pad in one of our back yards. So far this winter season there have been very few outdoor skating opportunities available to us here in Brooklin. Fortunately, many families will be able to take advantage of the ice rinks available in Brooklin and Whitby. Please explore www.whitby.ca for a complete listing of ice skating opportunities. While exploring the Town's user-friendly website, you will also find the Town of Whitby 2016 Spring and Summer Activity Guide online. Perhaps enough to get you thinking of those warmer days on the way. For those younger folks learning to drive during the winter months, my hope is that your instructors will constantly reinforce defensive and safe driving strategies. Some of our more seasoned Brooklin drivers could perhaps use a refresher course in driving cautiously in residential areas, in school zones and near parks. Our family enjoys living in The Village of Brooklin. Indeed, I am proud to be part of the Town of Whitby. I attribute much of the very positive quality of life that we enjoy here in Brooklin to the tremendous efforts of the Town of Whitby staff to consistently deliver quality goods and services. If you call the main switchboard number at 905-665-4803, you are immediately greeted in a polite courteous manner. When you are redirected to a particular department, my experience has been time and time again thee's a prompt response to my query. When you attend a Town of Whitby budget meeting, you witness strong evidence that there is a very efficient usage of our tax dollars year after year. In future columns, I plan to explore how the extension of Hwy. 407 impacts life for all of us here in Brooklin. If you would like to offer comment on this topic area or if you have a specific idea surrounding life in Brooklin, please feel free to e-mail me at mcgrorey25@rogers.com with your thoughts. For those of us Brooklinites who may be longing for the warmer spring weather, I say "Hang in there as we are almost there." Jim McGrorey is a Brooklin resident, chairman of the Brooklin Spring Fair Parade and volunteer and events coordinator for the Whitby Road Watch Committee JIM McGROReY community Metroland file photo BROOKLIN -- John Hill took his turn in a game of shuffleboard at the Brooklin Community Centre and Library. Columnist Jim McGrorey writes programs such as this and other services provided by the Town of Whitby are top quality.