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// far vf Nx1 'V V l I I Pi .. 1 3u r ♦ Total Market Coverage ofClaringtonfrom the Publishers of The Canadian Statesman • A James Publishing Community Newspaper Saturday, April 25, 1998 144th Year Circulation: 20,600 WALKING SCHOOL BUS -■ Children on their way to Newcastle Public School pair up behind Tracy Harris, one of several volunteers who act as "drivers" for a walking school bus program which kicked off during during Earth Week. Principal Susan Mcdd hopes the idea will motivate more kids to walk to class and ease traffic traffic congestion at the school during pick-up and drop-off times. Supporters of the program say it will help cut down on car fumes and promote fitness and safety. -photo by Lorraine Manfredo Get on the Bus The Only Fuelthis Bus Needs is Feet! by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Writer . Newcastle Public School chose April 22, Earth Day, to start up its cnvironmentally-friendly "walking school bus" program. ' r , Instead of climbing aboard a gas-guzzling yellow bus or hopping into the family van, local kids use their own energy and walk to school as a group behind a parent volunteer "driver." If the idea catches on, there will be fewer cars idling outside the school while kids are picked up or dropped off by parents. And that means less air pollution. It also means fewer traffic jams and better safety, says Principal Susan Medd. "We have 600 students," she says. Only about 70 live far enough away to get bused in. Because a lot ot local parents drive their kids to school, the school experiences a mini rush-hour on Beaver Street every day before the morning bell and at afternoon dismissal time. It's a problem that can be a safety hazard, Medd fca, 'The walking school bus is really more of an urban idea," she says, Newcastle is one of the rare rural districts districts trying it out. She hopes Wednesday's trial will motivate people to walk on a regular basis. "Hopefully parents will buy into it." . Michelle Malda is one of the drivers. She leaves home just before 8:15 a.m. and picks up about seven kids through the Foster Creek subdivision. By 8:30 a.m. she rolls up to the school with her "passengers" paired up behind her and a couple of kids tagging along on bikes as well. Crossing busy Mill Street is safer in a group. And Malda says a group offers protection from verbal disrespect" disrespect" and stones that bullies might be tempted to aim at solitary walkers. , Public health nurse Shawn Woods is all in favor of the walking school bus idea. She was at Wednesday s kick-off and said: "Walking is good cardiovascular exercise. This will help children develop good exercise habits that will benefit them all their lives." Principal Medd would like to thank volunteers Tracy Harris, Joanne Hodgson and Michelle Malda who ■ take the time to escort kids participating in the walking school bus program. If your kids "missed the bus" last week, keep an eye out around 8:15 a.m. next Monday when they head to school past your house. "Now, with the good weather, kids want to be out walking," says Principal Medd. Police Hold Cancer Society Fund-Razor Razor-toting stylist Charmainc Snyder gives civilian civilian supervisor Ian Wilson, of the Durham Regional Police, a breezy look during a mass head-shaving on Tuesday. The event was a fund-raiser for the Canadian Cancer Society and took place at First Choice Haircutlcrs locations across Durham. A dozen members members of the police service gave up their hair for a good cause here in Bowmanville and collected over $4,000 in Hero's Award Goes to Slain Six-Year-Old Jennifer (England) Kovol's'h/i Among Citizens Named for Police Comrnendgrions by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer A full council chamber of people with tears in their eyes stood up to pay tribute to a six-year-old who was killed on Tuesday, April 2, 1996 in Bowmanville. The standing ovation concluded vvhat turned out to be one of the most emotional emotional Durham Regional Police Civilian Awards presentations ever. As one councillor said later, "there wasn't a dry eye in the place." Six-year-old Jennifer (England) Koval's'kyj was awarded a 1997 Civilian Award posthumously. The awards were accepted by Jennifer's cousin, Fraser, and her birth father, Joseph Cattan, and her maternal grandfather, Maryan Koval's'kyj. Jennifer was one of six people from across the Region who received awards this year. She was nominated by the Major Crime Unit's Homicide Squad. Neil Bradley, a detective with the Homicide Unit, told The Clarington Independent that on the day of her death she "faced a number of options. And instead of fleeing, she chose to try to protect protect someone." The police investigation revealed that Jennifer died while trying to stop her father from stabbing her grandmother. grandmother. During the investigation into the fatal stabbing of Jennifer and Ronald England's mother, it was noted that the detectives found out what "a talented and much loved" little girl she was, Det. Bradley said. Cattan noted he still is saddened by her death. "It's a tragedy," he said as he held up the plaque he received from Police Chief Kevin McAlpine for reporters to see. He told The Independent "she was a brave and loving girl. You only live once in this life. She had a good spirit." Maryan Koval's'kyj wore a framed school picture of his grand-daughter pinned on his shirt when he spoke to reporters. Continued on page 3 BRAVERY REMEMBERED - The family of Jennifer (England) Koval's'kyj accepted on her behalf a 1998 Durham Regional Police Civilian Award at the Durham Region Council Chambers in Whitby. Her grandfather, Maryan Koval's'kyj, cousin Fraser and natural father Joseph Cattan accepted the award which was given to the six-year-old who was stabbed to death. The posthumous award was announced Wednesday, April 22. Jennifer was killed two years ago, on April 2, 1996, by her caregiver, Ronald England, as she tried to protect her grandmother grandmother from being stabbed. There was a standing ovation of a little over a minute after the family members received the plaques. Today's Compost Is Tomorrow's Pet Food? Clarington Council Studies New Recycling Projects by Laura J. Richards . Staff Writer You may . not want to think about this the next time you're feeding your pets. But, thanks to new technology, you can fill their food dish with kibbles made from the same materials you threw into your garbage can. On Monday, April 20, Clarington's Chief Administrative Officer, Bill Stockwcll, told councillors about a fact-finding tour he took this past weekend in Hamilton at Thermatcch. Thermatcch produces pellets for animal food using what Stockwcll called "compostablcs." Public Works Director Steven Yokes passed around a small bag containing the kibble product. Councillors observed that the material had no discernable smell. Stockwcll noted the company plans to open a fourth generation plant in Durham Region within a year. Currently, the Hamilton plant is what Stockwcll calls "a first generation plant," If that takes place, Stockwcll noted, it could be time to ask the Region to look into letting Clarington do a pilot project with its garbage, In another city, Guelph residents' wet garbage is being composted. After six months, it comes out resembling resembling the "triple mix" you would find at your local gardening gardening centre, Stockwcll said. "The quicker it is to process the wet, the cheaper it is for the municipalities," lie said, On Monday afternoon, May 4, the councillors, department heads and media arc going on a road trip to sec the recycling facilities near Grafton used by residents of Northumberland County. Currently, county residents arc on a wet-dry recycling system which sees wet garbage going to landfill and hundreds of recyclable materials being diverted from dumps. Stockwcll noted that this particular system has been Continued on page 2 Clarington Libraries Get Set To Log On The Internet will be coming to your local library soon. Last week, Clarington Public Library received a $9,600 provincial grant to acquire equipment and upgrades so the public can access high speed Internet connections. "I'm delighted," said Cynthia Mearns, director of the Clarington Public Libraries, after accepting the cheque from Durham East MPP John O'Toole on Monday. The funding will pay for a router (an electronic link to other computers) and it is a big step toward getting library users on the Net, says Mearns. However, the library is hoping federal grants and continued municipal support will bring another $10,000 necessary to complete the Internet hook-up and buy computer stations for local branches. "We are hoping to have everything in place by fall -- if not October then November," says Mearns. "We will start at the Bowmanville branch and get it working Continued on page 3 Independent Flyers Æslale su. 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