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^ Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, February 19,2003 - 12 ^ Health Dept, seeks help improving snowmobile safety (pit tfai, ta/it amd Leading by example WHITBY, ON, February 14, 2002 - Calling all snowmobile enthusiasts! Durham Region Health Department is inviting anyone with an interest in snowmobile safety to attend a focus group discussion on this popular winter activity. "Snowmobiling is a popular popular winter sport with most participants participants riding responsibly and safely," said Sheri Devereaux, a public health nurse with Durham Region Health Department. "Unfortu nately, with manufacturing advances many snowmobiles can be driven faster than most cars and riders can easily lose control with excessive speeds. As snowmobiles don't have the safety features found on automobiles, riders need to slow down because they have minimal protect in a collision." According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, snowmobiling was reported to be the leading cause of severe injuries result ing from winter sports and recreational activities in 2000 and 2001. The report further indicated that 16 per cent of injuries were related to snowmobile snowmobile activity, with downhill skiing accounting for six per cent and snowboarding reporting reporting five per cent, respectively. In 2001, there were 20 hospitalizations hospitalizations reported in Durham Region as a result of snowmobile injuries. "This number is just the tip of the iceberg," explained Ms. Devereaux, "because it doesn't reflect the number of people who were injured and didn't seek medical attention or who were not admitted to hospital." At the 2002 Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs' safety summit, a profile of snowmobile injuries was highlighted indicating that: • over the last 10 years, a total of 334 individuals were killed in snowmobile related incidents in Ontario - to date, there have been 20 fatalities investigated province-wide for the 2003 season; • consumption of alcoholic beverages is a major factor contributing to many snowmobile snowmobile injures and fatalities; • young men are the most at risk of being injured or killed - two-thirds of Ontario victims are teens and young adults between the ages of 16 and 34; • 80 per cent of injuries occur off trails with the intersections between roads and highways being the number one location for collisions; and • snowmobiling injures and fatalities tend to occur during the hours of darkness. "With approximately 1,100 kilometres of trails in Durham Region, six snowmobile clubs and a active Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol (STOP) team policing area trails, we know that there are a lot of potential stakeholders who may be interested in snowmobile safety safety locally," said Ms. Devereaux. "We're encouraging encouraging anyone who's interested to participate in our focus group to provide input on addressing important local issues." For more information on the Health Department's snowmobile snowmobile safety focus group, please call Durham Region Health Department at 1-800-841- 2729, ext. 2545. By Myno Van Dyke A few years ago, I worked as police instructor at Durham College. When I started there, I was introduced introduced to the President of Durham College, Gary Polonsky. Shortly after, my wife Judy and I were invited to attend a staff Christmas party with the rest of our team from the Police Learning Centre. Judy, had a great visit with the friendly friendly fellow sitting beside her. He was also from the prairies and they got along well. On the way home she told me how much she enjoyed talking to Gary. "What does he teach there?" she asked me. "Oh, he's the President, Gary Polonsky", I replied. Judy was quite shocked to find that out, since he didn't mention it. He just carried on an interesting interesting conversation because he is intrigued by others, not himself. But, if you know Gary, you wouldn't be surprised. surprised. You also wouldn't be surprised at how his vision of a University in Durham came true. Gary Polonsky is a leader and a visionary. A rare combination. Once, when I was walking walking down a school aisle, I noticed Gary picking up pieces of scrap paper on the floor. He had a smile on his face while doing it, and of course everyone noticed. Soon, I found myself picking picking up garbage too. Gary is a leader by example. Not the same can be said for some of our elected politicians and others appointed to high positions of authority. Recently, I have been reading about many of them who seem "confused" about what they can spend our money on. When you get elected, I think they advise you about the spending rules, yet it seems that they continue to spend money on things they were apparently told they couldn't spend our money on. Buying booze with meals seems to be a "confusing" "confusing" issue. Another Toronto politician spilled something on her dress while she was at a function so she spent over $400 of taxpayer's money to get a new frock. If (when) they get caught, they just have to pay it back. It is because they were "confused". "confused". And, of course there are the ones who have taxpayers taxpayers build additions to their homes and have the taxpayer funded driver take their children to school in a limo everyday. Some have hired their girlfriends or people who have funded their campaigns for jobs. Funny thing is, if you are on welfare and you fail to declare a bit of spare change income, you are banned from getting welfare for the rest of your life. Something ain't right.. No wonder people people have lost interest in politics. politics. It must really upset young folks who go to university and college, acquire knowledge, knowledge, skills and abilities, at great expense, to see some of the crazy things that are happening now. For example, example, that computer salesman in Toronto who has no computer computer knowledge, no education education and he lands a job that pays him over one million dollars to get one contract signed. According to newspaper newspaper reports, it seems that all he had to do was make thousands of phone calls to people (who all seem to be paid by us taxpayers) and take them out for lunch and to hockey games. He didn't have to keep any notes or records. He apparently didn't didn't know how to turn on a computer. "Too confusing" he thought. And, when he supposedly met with these people he just talked hockey or hairstyles. The company didn't even care if he actually actually took these politicians anywhere, anywhere, as long as he "mentioned "mentioned their name." And, he seems to have a sieve for a memory, can't remember who he spoke to, who went where or did what. Doesn't matter, he still gets paid all that money. And now they are wondering why the computer computer deal is costing double? How about your corporate corporate faith? It turns out that many large companies have been doing some creative accounting about their financial financial situation and now a number of stocks are worthless. worthless. Also, folks have been burned too many times and now no one wants to invest in the stock market or mutual mutual funds. Better to re-do the kitchen (without the advice of Martha Stewart) or buy a Studebaker, me thinks... 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RUTHERFORD GARY M. CONWAY DEBRA D. KELLEHER 623-5480 4 DIVISION ST.. BOWMANVILLE - AT QUEEN ST. ! m Community Events... Beginning End of February COPE Mental Health Program of Durham Region Community Care needs volunteers. volunteers. Mature men and women for one-to-one support and as group assistants. All volunteers volunteers provided with an 8 session course in Basic Helping and Communication Skills to prepare prepare them for this sensitive and rewarding work. Contact Janice Kroft at 905-623-4123 for more info. Sunday. March 30 at 2 p.m. The Clarington Concert Band presents HITS from The Stage, The Screen, The Ballet, St. Paul's United Church (178 Church St., Bowman-ville), Tickets $8 - $5 Students/Seniors ^call 905-697-8956. Jf