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y- u page 6 the stouffville sun tuesday march 4 2003 a weekly newspaper serving whitchurchstouffville a metroland community newspaper 34 civic avenue box 154 stouffville ontario l4a 7z5 905 6402612 fax 6408778 lan proudfoot regional publisher steve kane advertising manager jlm mason managing editor susan berry cherryl steer sales reps pam nichols production manager subsaipfions canada 32year includes gst elsewhere 8025 year indudes gst reg no 05852 jcna ernail editorstouffvillesuncom 1999 blue ribbon editorial poucf opinions expressed by columnists contributors and letter writers are not necessarily those of the stouffville sun letters not to exceed 400 words must include name and phone number phone number wib not be published requests that a name be withheld will be honoured onjy if there is a compelling reason to do so errors will be corrected if brought to the editors attention we reserve the right to edit or refuse publication of any material submitted advertising pouof publisher b not liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement the publisher is not liable for other errors or omissions in any subsequent issue or the refund or any monies paid for the advertisement all claims of error must be made by friday prior to the next weeks publication no daim will be allowed for more than one insertion h editorial taking a walk it seems like a pretty straightforward issue when a subdivision of houses is built sidewalks are installed on the main roads smaller collector roads crescents and culdesacs can generally be sidewalkfree the amount of traffic doesnt justify the cost of construction or maintenance plus sidewalks are not really attractive when the alternative green grass is considered the issue was raised at whifchurchstouffville council late last month by a neighbour to the planned mauro subdivision on the ninth line north of bramble crescent and bayberry street town staff answered back saying it is our expectation that sidewalks will be installed on one side of a street at the expense of the developer as part of the overall development of the property- the resident justifiably wants those expectations in writing sidewalks are a safety guard they separate people from vehicles they are a necessity one would think but recall the delay several years ago in having sidewalks put in on stouffer street north and south of main street when it became a through street there are other existing streets in need of sidewalks the tenth line between north street and the stouffville country market is well used by local shoppers walking to the market without a sidewalk it needs one before a pedestrian is injured as we try and get people but of their cars and onto their feet we must make it safe and appealing for them to walk walking is better for our personal health and the environment do you know of any streets in whitctiurchstouffville that need sidewalks tell us where and why in a letter to the editor send it to editor stouffvillesuncom we welcome letters on local topics please include you name and a daytime phone number where youcan be contacted o lashback spirited memorieslthe stouffville spirit is into the the third round of the provincial junior a hockey league playoffs in 1996 players and officials above with the then secondyear team posed for this preseason photo stouffvhjle sun rle photo b letters to the editor womens hockey thriving in stouffville to the editor- standing in the somewhat limited pool viewing area at the lebovic leisure centre i turn to let my eyes roam over the many faces of fellow observers at the far end t see a woman standing in a black coat looking steadfastly through the glass at her swimming child she looks relatively ordinary and unassuming with her hands in her pockets and yet i slowly begin to discover differently as i continue to stare at her my lessthansharp 44- yearold eyes coming into fociis on her form she is no mere mom she is a hockey player in the stouffville amateur hockey league womens division shes one of the very best her name is rachelle and she is joined by many others who gather at the stouffville arena sunday nights at 10 or- 11 p my to transform themselves from common housewives careerfamily women or young ladies intoshazam hockey players and i have joined them this year- only to be amazed by their determination spirit good sportsmanship and mostly their skill yes womens hockey is alive and well in stouffville we come in all shapes and sizes ages and skill levels yet we somehow land in the same boat helping each other out when player shortages materialize backing each other up on the ice like bonewielding pit bulls and generally lending a sympathetic ear in the dressing rooms there conversations can run between concern over a childs rampaging puberty episodes to how soandso on the other team was playing chippy the little h and did i mention competitive oh yes gentlemen these women mean business while the sahl women are quick to inquire after your well being when you take a good face plant theyll just as easily put you back down while racing for the puck i recently clipped an article from this paper for my daughter jesse- on the feminine prowess at work for the minor atom stouffville clippers the two girls in the article appear to be every bit the match of their male counterparts we of the sahlis womens division can only look forward to the future of womens ice hockey we know it will be resting in the ready and capable hands of youngsters such as these they will no doubt ensure that in years to come womens hockey will continue to thrive in stouffville and wherever a decent ice surface can be found cindy bongard stouffville join the discussion at stouffvillesuncom your opinion isimportant to us in both letters to the editor and discussion groups on our web site stouffvillesuncom join an online discussion on issues that affect your town come back often for others feedback and more discussion on a variety of topics at stouffvillesuncom click on the- stouffville link and read current and archived stouffville news hit opinion to read your favourite local columnists jim mason and jim thomas and please feel free to email editorstouffvillesuncpm with your thoughts bflmbpmwmbhhbbiroi