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4- PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, May 20, 1998 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Keeping you safe on The Durham Police's Marine Patrol looking for booze, safety infractions on boats By Rik Davie Port Perry Star Durham Police Constables Al Bouwer and Steve Weeks are now patrolling their summer beat on Lake Scugog. The two veteran marine patrolmen will be pulling over boaters to check for safety gear and impaired operation of boats throughout the summer. Their 25-foot Baja closed cockpit cruiser is powered by a 454 cubic. in. Chevrolet engine running into a Volvo twin prop drive that will hold its own with most boats on the lake. It's equipped with a full lower cabin as well as standard and marine radios, and all the safety gear it can hold. Const. Bouwer said the main concern they have when stopping boaters is that they're carrying the appropriate safety gear. "We'll stop as many boats as we can," he said. "The main thing we check is that the operator has all the certified life-jackets he needs, and that the safety equipment on board is in order." Minimum requirements include life jackets, oars, "a baling bucket or pump, a fire extinguisher, a light and a horn of some kind. Requirements change according to boats size, and operators should check with the Coast Guard (1-800-267-6687) to find out exactly what they should be carrying. ~The officers are also on the look out for alcohol. - With provincial stats that say as many as 80 per cent of all boating deaths are alcohol related, it's a safe bet that police tolerance for it is zero. "Impaired operation of a boat is a criminal charge, the same as if you were driving your car," Const. - Weeks said. : Const. Bouwer said if he could tell boaters only one thing it would be, "Leave the booze at home. It - has no place on the water." the water il WATER CRUISER: The Durham Regional Police boat is out and patrolling the waters of Lake Scugog again this summer. Const. Steve Weeks (left) and his partner Const. Al Brouwer will be The officers may soon have new and tougher laws to help them enforce the no-booze rule on boats. awa © two Osh checking safety equipment and watching for all waterway violations to help boaters have a safe boating season. Under a provincial bill expected to pass into law in time for the summer boating season, boaters con- victed of operating a boat while impaired will lose their driver's license for at least a year. 'Transport Minister Tony Clement says the new law will apply the same 0.08 blood-alcohol level for drivers of boats as is applied to motor vehicles. "The message is, you better stop mixing alcohol and boating," Const. Clement said. The officers are glad that new legislation will help them keep booze off the lake. But the two like the public relations aspect of their jobs as well. They encourage boaters to stop and chat or ask questions. "That's part of the job too," said Const. Bouwer. Free swimming class for teen parents offered at Uxpool Event combined with Earth Day CHS students helped clean up community with Pitch-In exercise Free teen parent and tot swim- ming classes are being held at Uxbridge's Uxpool during the sum- mer months. All parents ages 21 and under are welcome to call and register for the three summer sessions begin- ning in June. The free program is being held for the second year in a row due to popular demand. The format of the classes include one half hour of pool time and one half hour of healthy snacks and playtime. Guest speak- ers regarding health and parenting igsues may be booked upon request. This program has been sponsored by Uxbridge Salvation Army, Uxbridge Parks and Recreation, Family and Community Action Program, and Uxbridge Sunrise Programs. Instructor Elaina Ferrari, has been teaching swimming for eight years, holds a B.A, operates "Birth able to teen moms. Options" prenatal classes, and is also a qualified Doula. Moms are welcome to bring a support person for the class. Some babies start as young as three months in the water, so don't Instructor Elaina Ferrari wo session at Uxpool in Uxbridge. Fr £5 ks with a youngster during a ee classes are being made avail- be shy to sign up your little one. Maximum age is six years. Please call to register as soon as possible, to ensure your space in the program. Call 1-800-214-7163 to register, and for more information May 1 was the day cho- sen at Cartwright High School to help in the Blackstock Community 'Pitch-In' Canada project this year. The event combined Earth Day and Pitch-In activities to coincide with the spring clean-up. The Cartwright High School Environmental Club, with help from Mr. Fletcher and Mrs. Gray, organized different CAP groups, collected equip- ment, and sent teams out to improve key sites in this beautiful hamlet. As in the past the Cenotaph, recreation cen- tre, fairgrounds, and main streets in town were focal areas for garbage pickups. Cartwright High School wishes to thank the follow- ing for their donations: Turner's Greenhouse, the Brown, Gibb, and Wonnacott families, and Pitch-In Canada/Ontario and Friends of the Environment (garbage bags). This hamlet has had pro- Jects in the past between Cartwright High School and the Blackstock Lions where country roads were walked. These early ver- sions of the "Adopting a Highway" program were appreciated. Currently, the CHS focus is inside the hamlet and we appreciate the opportu- nity to show our pride and help to maintain the beauty of our community.