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are your diamonds secure across from clock tower stouffville stouffville tribune fl6 weekender 172 bullock drive unit31markham 4718660 sonshine club gets hearing at school board discussion on issue deferred to feb 24 meeting julie caspersen staff reporter noonhour bible classes banned from four stouffville elementary schools last sum mer are under debate by the york region board of educa tion religious education in public schools during schools hours is not permitted by the ministry of education and the lunchtime bible classes were cancelled the sonshine square club held the optional classes for two years at four elementary schools before public complaint led to the ban which took effect last september the club was one of many elective activities offered to children who dont go home for lunch parental approval is necessary for atten dance we simply want to be one of the alternatives said ron warder speaking to the board on behalf of the fairness in anew look the tribune is undergoing some changes in the coming weeks we will redesign our look for the 90s making the paper easier to read with many new fea tures keep an eye on us if you have any comments or suggestions call 6402100 noonhour electives fine group warder said the chris tian club ran according to board criteria it was volunteer run required parental approval had the support of the community and was no cost to the schools we believe parents have the right to exercise their responsi bility for their childrens education especially in the areas of religion and values warder told trustees at the jan 27 meeting also speaking in defence of the club was gerald van- dezande of the coalition for religious freedom in educa tion who urged the board to provide religious education parents request as long as it is not coercive discriminatory or mandatory but jeff atlin cochair of the league for human rights of bnai brith canada central region said attendance at the sonshine club is not a religious necessity you can still be a good practitioner of the jewish faith without using the lunch hour atlin said some religions require prayers be said at times during the school day a school board should accommodate this particular need discussion on religious freedom at the school level was deferred until the feb 24 board meeting tuesday accident photojohn andrews a stouffville man has been charged after an accident last tuesday morning at stouffville road and hwy 48 the accident was almost a headon collision the driver of the car was turning east on hwy 47 from hwy 48 south when it collided with the northbound van the drivers of both vehicles were taken to hospital treated for minor injuries and released farmer jacks clears zoning hurdle farmer jacks gardens has cleared another obstacle in its bid to attract a seneca college campus to town a public meeting was held tuesday night to deal with a rezoning application from farmer jacks owner jack bur rows burrows wants the town to amend the highwaycommer cial designation on his property to allow retail stores and educa tional facilities in his plaza seneca college has expressed interest in a proposal to locate a retraining campus in the town of whitchurchstouffville empty office space above the plaza has been offered as a potential future site for the campus burrows told the public meeting the campus is strictly speculation at this time council passed the zoning amendment following the public meeting optimists now in stouffville the newly formed stouffville optimist club will focus on bright ening the lives of local youth under the motto friend of youth the club will promote drug awareness through its just say no program and organize an essay contest youth appreciation week bike safety week and optimist respect for law week the club met for the first time on thursday january 30 at the stouffville inn but for more information on joining call doug benedict at 640- 8109 marcel bossi at 6406281 or ronald brabander at 6423844 rotary auction will benefit community awareness bureau kate gilderdale correspondent the great rotary auction in support of the whitchurchstoufrville communi ty awareness bureau takes place at the recreation complex on friday feb 7 its a great opportunity to get out meet friends and neighbors help a good cause and bid on more than 100 fantas tic items since the flyer promoting the event was printed many new donations have been received the rotary clubs susan myers told the tribune canadian partner a canadian air lines subsidiary has given us two air tickets as a door prize for the evening but you must be present to be eligible for the prize she noted thrifty rentacar has given us a car for the weekend and maples of bal- lantrae gave us a weekend for two plus sunday brunch hathaway decorators has donated a 75 gift certificate and freckles will create a grapevine wreath to individual specifications if youre having a dinner party donna fraas will make a dessert for you said myers other services offered include a video tape of your home for insurance purpos es donated by bob lewis ski lessons at georgian peslks donated by stan new- march and fiki lessons at lakeridge donated by lkn greenwood local lawyers gord ness and andre kozak are each giving a pair of wills and farmer jacks is donating golf lessons at spring lakes the tribune is offering 100 in free advertising we should end up with between 130 and 150 articles myers estimated the event gets under way at 715 pm and tickets are 8 a head which includes wine arid cheese to reserve your tickets call 6406034 days or 6421117 evenings lincoln mercury a bonus 20ri with a copy of this ad towards your purchase one per vehkh