The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Friday, Noember 6, 2020 3 Brooklin Town Crier DRT's On Demand Is In Demand Durham Region Transit (DRT) launched a new service plan, including a new On Demand service model, a month ago to meet existing and projected customer demand, from early morning to late night, seven days a week. Part of the Ridership Recovery Framework, with a goal of encouraging and increasing transit ridership, the first month of On Demand ridership numbers are in and are encouraging: 5,844 trips delivered 65% trips booked through the DRT On Demand app 30% of users provided feedback through the DRT On Demand app 90% rated their experience as positive This new service model ensures residents have access to public transit no matter where they live, work, or are travelling to within the region. "It's encouraging to see people using this new and innovative service, and especially that residents of and visitors to Durham Region are providing positive feedback," said John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer. "Our priority is unwavering - to provide safe, accessible and reliable transit options across the region." "The results of the first month of the new On Demand service model highlights Durham Region Transit's continued support of the community by providing access to efficient and flexible service, seven days a week," said Mayor of Ajax and Chair of the Transit Executive Committee, Shaun Collier. "This innovation and commitment to customer service excellence helps drive the future of transit in Durham Region." "The enhanced transit network, including the On Demand service in low-ridership areas, positions us well to continue serving our customers with flexible and sustainable public transit options, even as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. We're thrilled with the feedback and results so far," said Bill Holmes, General Manager. DRT continues to gather feedback from customers, continuously evaluating and enhancing service to support ridership over the coming months. To learn more about On Demand service, visit the DRT: durham regiontransit.com A Youth's Perspective Learning to adapt to online schooling By Mila Tanaskovic During such unprecedented and unique times, we've all taken grave losses to our social lives. And we are left with the question, "Will it all be okay?". As human beings we are constantly in the search for companionship, and we greatly need it to survive. As an elementary school student attending online classes it is difficult to grapple with the alien of it all. With the lack of being able to see and interact with my peers, it becomes difficult to concentrate and learn. The days tend to go by in a murky haze and they seem to be quite uneventful. Everyone, especially children and teens who are currently at the peak of building their social lives have taken a great hit, and some days it can be hard to cope. And staring at a black and white screen all day doesn't really help. Dealing with the internet not wanting to cooperate and the server constantly throwing you out of classes, it can be frustrating. We get stir-crazy and antsy, and often the weight of it all seems to be too much to bear. There have been days where I have not wanted to get out of bed. Where my whole world seemed to be collapsing before my feet and there was nothing that I could do about it. But after some time, I have found some methods that help keep me more present in the world around me. I've noticed that just taking a brief pause away from the screen and going outside can be beneficial. I feel lucky to be able to make those breaks in all the wonderful parks we have around our Brooklin community. I would also recommend going on a walk with somebody rather than going alone (while respecting Covid guidelines, of course), as the social aspect can really help. I've also learned to allot time in my day to have a break. Make a pause. To breathe. To call a friend. So now when I ask myself "Will it all be okay?", I would say yes, because even though times are tough, there is nowhere we can go but up. Mila Tanaskovic is a grade 8 student at Brooklin Village School. Her article has not been edited. Local Author Publishes Helpful Books Brooklin's Janet Arnold is a registered Behaviour Consultant who has two books out to help parents and family support people deal with various issues. Arnold is the Chair of the York Region Bullying Prevention Partnership. How to Explain a Diagnosis to a Child: An Interactive Resource Guide for Parents and Professionals This is a resource to guide parents and professionals through what can be an overly sensitive process. This step-by-step guide includes templates and worksheets that can be tailored to meet the individual needs of the child and their families to embrace who they are, regardless of a diagnosis. This may include Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Learning Disabilities (LDs), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Cerebral Palsy, etc. This guide may help answer those difficult questions regarding: Why parents decide to tell? Why parents may not tell? When to tell? Who should tell? What information to share? How do I explain? ISBN: 978-0-9959758-0-4 Retail value: $25.00 Available on Amazon, Chapters/ Indigo, Parent Books (Toronto), Barnes and Noble What do you see when you take a look at me? This book is an introduction to the subject of perseverance and resilience. Children who develop resilience are better equipped to learn from failure and adapt to change. The simple yet powerful words and detailed illustrations allow the reader to connect with the characters' positive traits and enables children to emerge from challenging experiences with a positive sense of themselves and their futures. It helps promote personal strength and the mindset of believing in oneself. This book is appropriate for ages 4-10 years. ISBN: 978-0-9959758-1-1 Retail value: $15.00 Available on Amazon, Chapters/ Indigo, Masters Book Store (Halliburton, ON), Barnes and Noble Visit www.findingsolutions.ca or email janet@findingsolutions.ca