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Wild West Meets Newcastle ....Sec. B, pg. 1 Jr. A Eagles Join New League *r.M wC* it X -I teü'#»*e<n*<Ma»»»t»eeee*«e%Jo ** *->#- k" * }• Z* 1 y /40ÿ ^ Editorials 4 Classifieds 8, 9,10 Sports Sec. 3, pgs. 2, 3 Community Calendar Sec. 3, pg. 6 TV Listings Sec. B, pg. 7 w cOr/ ZtZV rAN M 11 B II r,/ S'i-' s i z wi z % Mr | £% J i 1' # w X^La (CSS Clarington's Community Newspaper Since 1854 A James Publishing Community Newspaper Wednesday, March 4, 1998 144th Year Issue 9 700 + 50 G.S.T. = 750 Orono Bank Robbed Durham Regional Police say two men armed with semi-automatic weapons held up a bank in Orono on Tuesday afternoon. afternoon. At The Statesman's deadline last night, the suspects were still at large. However, a stolen jeep used in the robbery was recovered Tuesday evening at Best Rd. and the Ninth. Concession. Police say the robbery occurred at 1:36 p.m. at the CIBC branch located at 5284 Main St., in Orono. No injuries were reported. Police had not released details concerning how much, if any, money had been taken. New Face at Clarington Police Office by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer There's a new face at Clarington's Community Police Office (formerly 16 •Division of the Durham Regional Police Service), and he wants to get to know this community and you. Staff Sgt. Ted Dionne, formerly of the Ajax Police Detachment, has been on-the-job in Clarington since Monday, March 2. "I'm here to assist the Inspector (Ross Smith) with community policing initiatives," Staff Sgt. Dionne said. Among his many duties will be to "identify training needs, liaise with various community organizations, organizations, and assist with the day-to-day functions of the station," he explained. Community policing, says Staff Sgt. Dionne, is Continued on page 2 Handing on a Tradition Hand-clapping games were in danger of dying out at Dr. Ross Tilley Public School in Bowman ville until the Parent Council there took steps to revive them. Above, students Alex and Alissa practice their new moves while a group of intent school chums looks on. The children were also taught handball and traditional skipping songs. School officials say these simple games, which don't have a lot of rules and don't need an adult supervisor, offer an alternative to structured recreational activities. -photo by Lorraine Manfrcdo Trail System Needed To Link Waterfront Clarington Councillors Tod:-: Don't Cut Corners At Seniors Centre' by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer The jury is still out over which company will win the bid to renovate and construct an addition to the former Bowmanville Lions Centre. The building on Beech Ave. will become Clarington's new seniors' centre once work is completed later in the year. : On Monday, March 2, the architect for the project told Clarington councillors how they might cut costs. Dennis Bryan, of Barry Bryan Associates Ltd., said by taking out items like the elevator shaft and by getting cheaper cabinet work or installing fewer windows, the municipality would save significant amounts. No figures related to tenders received for work on the Centre were released. However, the project would not have been what was expected if parts of it were deleted, warned Don Welsh and Annabcllc Sissons. They serve as co-chairs of the Clarington Older Adult Association. During a presentation to council, Welsh noted that the project, without all the detailing, was one that the committee committee members were not "prepared to endorse." Welsh stated, "last year when this building was selected we were assured that a first-class building would be constructed and that it would be completed within budget. We met with staff and consultants to design renovations to the building that would serve the interests of all concerned." As far as the committee is concerned, first class does not mean leaving out the elevator shaft, the front reception reception area, and the lounge/library. It also does not mean leaving out windows, or storage cabinets or the folding partitions in the larger common activity room. Annabcllc Sissons said, "the elevator, new north wing and activity/dining areas are essential for the municipality to maximize their investment and for the COAA to get the benefit of economic utilization of this valuable property." The councillors tended to agree with the committee's co-chairs. During discussions, councillors went over the list of suggested deletions and put back some items the architect architect had suggested leaving out. In fact, there will be a retendering of the cabinetry for the kitchen, as requested by Councillor Troy Young. Mayor Diane Hamre pointed to the seniors' centre in. Uxbridge which is relatively new. She said when she Continued on page 2 Clarington's Healthy Communities Committee wants to help the municipality municipality create north-south footpaths to connect with the Waterfront Trail. Sue Larsh, one of the members of the committee, committee, told The Statesman on Tuesday that at a meeting last week, several trails were discussed. "Several trails already exist, like the Waterfront Trail, trails in the Ganaraska Forest, and the Oak Ridges Trail," Larsh said. However, there aren't a lot of paths that actually connect to the Waterfront Trail. More walkways of this sort might encourage people to use the waterfront. waterfront. "The Waterfront Trail is not being used to a great extent," she said. "We Opening Night Those attending the latest Bowmanville Drama Workshop production can enjoy two plays for the price of one. That's because "Opening Night" offers a play-within-a-play. In other words, much of the action in this hilarious show can be found among the spectators watching a production of "Whisper on the Wind." Pictured above arc the following members of the cast: Margaret Williams, Tim Luimcs, Ken Brignall, Nicola Lloyd, Fred Archibald, Troy Young, John Amcsbury and Sharon Pclcshok, The show opens tonight at eight p.m. and runs every evening from March 4 to 7 at the Bowmanville High School auditorium. hope to address the lack of north-south access through the Bowmanville Creek system," Larsh explained. By having designated, interpretive trails, the little trails that exist will have the chance to regenerate, she said. Also, the vitality of the lakeshore trail system, current current and future, depends on connections to it, Larsh observed. "This is the case in other communities like Cobourg which has a vital waterfront," she noted. The idea for a trail sys tem funnelling down to the waterfront has been a long time in the minds of the committee, but, "this is a major project." It will need more members than the 10 currently serving on the committee. Over the past three years the Healthy Communities Committee has been in existence, it has taken on small projects, projects, gradually building up its membership and getting getting ready for something bigger. Last Wednesday, five Continued on page 2 IIIIa iff. H gig: iflil ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS -- You may want to mark this down for posterity. Firefighters responded to two grass fires late last week and it was hardly the end of February. Grass fires, of course, are normally associated with spring weather conditions and more commonly occur about a month from now. Must be that El Nino weather phenomenon! Or, might it be global warming? AND SPEAKING OF RECORDS -- We were going to report one of our staff members spotted the first robin of the year last Friday. But, apparently robin sightings aren't rare these days. Those birds have been bob-bob-bobbing along since the middle of last month. Perhaps, given the climate, they never left. You might think the mild weather would spur construction activity, but apparently the builders have to contend with mud, And that bogs things down a bit. Blame it on El Nino. DEFIBRILLATORS SWITCHED ON -- We understand the fire department's brand new defibrillators defibrillators arc in operation, as promised, in time for the beginning of the month. Also, we hear that an $8,000 donation from the Newcastle Lions Club will put the fund-raising very close to the target. The defibrillator Bowmanville Man Dies in Crash A 21-year-old Bowmanville man was killed Saturday night when the car in which he was riding struck a hydro pole in Emily Township, near Lindsay. According to OPP, the car was headed east on County Rd. 17, cast of County Rd 10, around 2:45 a.m. when it went off the road and hit the hydro pole. The passenger, Russell Keay of Bowmanville, was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, a 21-year-old Toronto man, has been charged with impaired driving causing death, operating operating a vehicle with excess of the legal limit of alcohol, and criminal negligence causing death. mi r.ax\ Hi project is truly a great community effort which will save lives of heart attack and accident victims There may be yet another lire department fund-raiser in the wings. Stay tuned for details. UNDER CONSTRUCTION -- The work you see underway in west Bowmanville is the newest phase of the shopping plaza complex. It offers about 65,000 square feet of space for smaller retail shops, An LCBO store will be one of the tenants in the new commercial space. This Thursday, there will be a grand opening of the Kaitlin Group's new Clarington Corners subdivision subdivision just west of the plaza. MAKING HISTORY -- The Newcastle Village and District Historical Society enjoyed displays of everything everything from eyeglasses to muskets at a show-and-tcll meeting Monday night. An old minute book from 1937 revealed that The Statesman's Editor, George W, James, was the guest speaker for a January 21st meeting meeting of the Lake Shore home and school club. He discussed discussed the publishing of a community newspaper. About 41 people attended, which was probably more than the number of students at the school. Wonder if today's Parent Council's can muster that kind of turnout? turnout? [^) Shop the Rest Buy from the Best! ranmna PONTIAC ■ emcim^ Your loud General Motors dealer far the past 25 years. f2s5| 166 King St. E. [AareBTfJ Tolpphono 623-3396 a mes COMPANY LIMITED Printing Professionals Since 1854 Telephone: 623-3303 62 King St. West Bowmanville Bowmanville's Movers for50 Years. Telephone 623-4433 Martin - "It's a Girl .eevtiSMii