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2 Friday, July 15, 2016 brooklintowncrier.com Less than Half the Picture By Richard Bercuson "Good morning, sir. Please state your name, occupation and expected place of residence." "What is this?" "Brooklin Border Customs and Immigration. We've been expecting you." "How...When…" "CCTV, sir. We watch who moves into the community." "You had cameras on me?" "You might want to cut that front grass, by the way." "Right. Sure. But you can't have a customs office to get into Brooklin. It's just another…" "Another what, sir?" "Community. Suburb. It's not a country." "Not yet. So then sir, your name, occupation, and residence." "You already know my residence. You've commented about my grass." "Confirming our records." "You know my name, too, don't you?" "Again sir, for our records. No sense being obstreperous about it, sir. I'm just doing my job." "Ob-what!?" "Sir, Brooklin is a nice, peace-loving community. We don't just let anyone immigrate here." "Immigrate? I'm moving from Ottawa." "Is the Sparks Street Mall still dead?" "Well, yes, it is. Except during Ribfest. And when MPs need a drink." "You'll find, sir, that Brooklin is far removed from Ottawa. You might as well come from another country." "I'm originally from Montreal." "Proof positive." "Lookit, whatever this is, I doubt it's legal." "Actually, sir, it's perfectly legal to try to stop someone." "But you did stop me. Right in front of the Brooklin sign." "Not quite accurate. You stopped. I did nothing to hinder you from continuing along Winchester." "If I hadn't stopped, I might've run you over." "We make sacrifices for this job, sir. It's that important." "And I don't have to answer your questions, do I?" "No, but we can't be responsible for what happens." "Like what?" "Sir, it's too ugly to contemplate." "I guess next you'll want to see my passport. Which is packed in the moving van that'll be along soon." "No, sir. I will merely record your obstreperousness and general negative comportment." "For what purpose?" "I can't reveal such things, sir. However, you may now move along. Enjoy your stay." "My stay? I'm going to be living here." "Right. In the meantime, please cut your grass. Oh, and the lowest front step needs repair. Welcome to Brooklin." Block Parent Program Revitalized By Richard Bercuson conniesinbrooklin.com Just when the Block Parent Program seemed like it was going to fold, in stepped Lisa Slade-Mullin to spearhead its restoration. A long-time Brooklin resident, Slade-Mullin has volunteered to act as chairperson of a revitalized program. "We are committed to improving upon the achievements made to date," she says, "and hope to recruit families with the aim of having a Block Parent household on every block." According to its web site blockparent.ca, Block Parents are responsible adults who care sufficiently about the well-being of children and others to volunteer their homes as a temporary refuge in an emergency. All Block Parents are screened by the police and are given instructions on the program by local volunteers. The Block Parent window sign is shown only when someone over the age of 18 is available to answer the door. If the sign is not displayed, this does not mean that no one is home, only that the Block Parent is not available to offer immediate assistance. In addition to the primary goal of making communities safer for children, the Block Parent Program deters criminals and trouble makers. The network of Block Parent homes is a visible reminder that citizens are watchful in their neighbourhood. The current aim is to attract sponsorship to make the program viable. "As a charitable organization," says Slade-Mullin, "we can only run with help from our volunteers and through the generous funding we have received from members of our community and the citizens of Whitby-Brooklin. "We are specifically seeking a sponsor to fund our new Whitby-Brooklin Block Parent® Program website. This site will give us a controlled place to be able to inform the community about the program, connect with our volunteer Block Parent homes, explain the process and time commitment involved and generally provide a main point of communication. It will have the ability for downloadable applications, email and could even show a calendar of events as we grow." Slade-Mullin has extensive volunteer experience with School Community Councils (SCC), the Humane Society of Durham Region (HSDR), and the Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association (OAWA). The co-owner of a fashion jewelry business, she's determined to have the Block Parent Program become an integral part of the community. Those interested in sponsoring or getting involved should contact Lisa Slade-Mullin at: 416-419-6464 or via email at whitbybrooklinblockparent@gmail.com.