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4 - Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, January 28,2004 J 1 sr-ÿ msn ateSSr »> >' "'«B ;|;l||j{ * * * $ ü r iipii !«:; i ■ JLvi II liijÉ il üiMü! lill.lH! by Jeanne Burnside Car trouble On Sunday evening I was sitting in the living room when suddenly there was a loud knock on the door. My husband and pooch had settled in nicely to their pre-bed naps and didn't flinch. It was past 10 P.M. and I was a bit hesitant hesitant about answering the door since we were not expecting anyone. It turned out to be a very nice young man who had car trouble and needed to use the phone. He was on his way back to school from Tyrone and was headed towards Peterborough. Having had that same experience in my school days with older cars, I gave him a jump and he was on his way. Over the years we have had our own experiences with cars out this way; some more treacherous than others. On one of my first trips out here to visit from New York, my husband and I had rented a car. He had decided to show me the ski hill that's practically practically in our backyard. It was quite late and the gate to the upper parking area was open. We drove in and really couldn't couldn't see very well because of the heavy snow. Thankfully, he finally stopped and we both realized we were a bit too close to the ski trail. Night skiing by car was not on the agenda and after several tries we were able to reverse the forward, downward motion. On a subsequent visit we were running a bit late on the return trip to the airport and my husband had started the car to get the ice off the windows. windows. After saying good-bye to his mom we went outside only to realize the car was running with all four doors locked. Time would not allow for a tow truck so a hammer was used to smash a rear small window. It looks a lot easier on TV. After several smashes we were able to break into the car and we were off. Explaining it to the foreign How to reduce serious collisions gentleman at the Hertz counter counter was a bit more challenging but the magic 'Visa' card did the trick. Rental cars were not the only problem. After attending university I lived in a city where a car can be more of a burden and expense: My first new car was purchased purchased for a weekend place and the dealer was kind enough to have it delivered to our house. On the first night my fiancé, now husband, suggested suggested I go out and put a small scratch on it so I wouldn't be upset after the first dent. Of course I ignored his ludicrous suggestion and we got ready to go out to dinner with friends. The driveway at that house was about 20 feet long with some decorative wood pilings at the entrance. As he pulled out, the sound of metal scraping against wood made my head spin around. A few months later my husband was out at the house alone while I was away on business. He called with the bad news that someone had hit the car while he was in a restaurant and there was damage damage to the rear corner and lights. When I arrived back a few days later it was dark and we went straight into the house. The next morning I went out to check out the damage and was amazed to see broken glass pieces from , the taillights in our driveway. When confronted he did finally finally admit he had hit the deck at the end of the driveway while backing in. He had started backing the car into the driveway driveway after the first night incident. incident. I explained that if you are going to come up with some lame story about being hit by someone else you should get rid of the incriminating incriminating evidence. Defensive driving in my family means not letting my Ferrari driving husband anywhere anywhere near my car! Durham Regional Police are very concerned over the high number of vehicle collisions, collisions, injuries and death on our roads this year. Icy road conditions, alcohol alcohol and bad driving have resulted in a rash of serious motor vehicle collisions and fatalities in 2004 across Durham Region. Durham Regional Police are urging motorists to slow down and avoid driving in the worst conditions. Winter storms dumped freezing rain, sleet and snow from the Plains to the East coast on Sunday in the U.S., making traveling treacherous along ice-slicked roads. At least 16 people died in weather-related weather-related vehicle crashes in the northern U.S. Collisions across the GTA appear to be increasing. Since January 1st, 2004, Durham Regional Police have responded to six fatal collisions collisions that have left seven people people dead. In January of 2003 NEWCASTLE FUNERAL HOME Family owned and operated by Carl Good, Funeral Director, and Joyce Kufta 386 Mill St. S\, Newcastle 905-987-3964 www.ncwciistlefuneralhomc.com "Caring for our Community" there was one collision where the driver died of a heart attack and two serious collisions collisions with no fatalities. Traffic Services Branch says speed was one contributor contributor in a number of the 2004 collisions, while alcohol and unfamiliarity with roadways were also factors. To help reduce collisions, investigators ask that drivers slow down and obey all the rules of the road. Speed signs suggest the maximum speed you should be driving with ideal road conditions, so drivers drivers are advised to please adjust their speed for bad weather and icy roads. Traffic enforcement officers officers will be issuing traffic tickets on our streets to help remind drivers to slow down. Police would also like to remind drivers to make sure their vehicles are properly maintained and ready for winter winter driving. Make sure your tire pressure is checked and you have lots of windshield washer fluid. To help keep our streets safe, police support many safety programs such as Road Watch. Durham Regional Police Traffic Services Branch, Collision Investigation Unit and Enforcement Unit want drivers to slow down and obey the rules of the road. Drive to arrive timely and safely. Jaworski continued from page 2 As I see it, Stronach's entrance into this race is a potential spark plug that could ignite a little bit of policy debate-something this race could use. '^!!l:.i::!"! l !!!:i;»H!j!j l jjj|j jjinjjgpj O'Toole Continued from page 2 forces and the individual police officers with whom we come in contact to guarantee our concept of liberty in a free and just society. I write because I am concerned concerned about the level of education education which our police officers officers receive. Are they required to study the foundations foundations of what makes our country country strong? Do they have any understanding understanding of the difficulties of Native Canadians in the years following the great 'settling' of their lands? Are they aware that some of the very best medical and cardiac special- Funding Continued from front that the hospital redevelopment redevelopment was a provincial responsibility responsibility and by assuming any portion of that cost was an added burden on the property tax payer and another example of provincial downloading. The Region has since committed committed to help pay for redevelopment redevelopment of the Ajax Pickering hospital, on the grounds that the Province had already committed committed to paying their fair share. The Mayor's motion, if passed at Monday's Council meeting will request the Province to table legislation to amend the Development Charges Act to allow the raising raising of capital for hospital purposes purposes relating to growth. ists in the Toronto area, with whom we have had great recent personal experience, are Muslim? Canadians are known for our generosity of spirit. We like things to be done fairly, and seen to be done fairly. We need our police officers to be our front-line arbiters, speaking speaking and acting in ways which proclaim the beauty and the greatness of our Canadian society. Yours veiy truly, Patricia Irwin Lycett jHIpesda House Are you in Ü Bethesda House i I p j j j J j i j i j J || j ••*£*»* , , - if aw I - §œ I ;7 I I >l'i I. |g|j Til|" I "• 7 '{ lib ■ym K> illitph, JdraLi 6 ,£v ' * ïâWe'i nd *6êd» tarry jiwàSs ^ • "h ! j -■ • • -v Ïji'ju L ' {' ! ' V 1 • i I ' :: y* I.K W *** g® N M R | m N ITi R © M B © N E Tickets: Adults $15 ♦ Students S10 ♦ Children under 12 FREE Tickets also available at the door For information coll 90S 697-8956