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Stouffville Sun-Tribune n www.yorkregion.com n Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, 6 Fax: 905-640-8778 905-640-2612 EDITORIAL ADVERTISING Classified: 1-800-743-3353 Fax: 905-640-8778 905-640-2612 DISTRIBUTION 905-294-8244 Editorial Editor Jim Mason jmason@yrmg.com O I General Manager John Willems Editor in Chief Debora Kelly OPINION LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Have your say, whitchurchstouffville 4What do you think of these issues or others? E-mail letters to the editor to jmason@yrmg.com such as "murky" to describe the mix of lobbying and political fundraising and said the rules need to be "beefed up". Under these circumstances, to say he was cleared is inaccurate. Given that many people, myself included, frequently do not read beyond the headlines, I respectfully request your headline writer be more precise in the future on such an important matter. Director, Distribution Tanya Pacheco Director of Business Administration Robert Lazurko Director, Classified/Real Estate Advertising Debra Weller 6290 Main St. Stouffville, ON. L4A 1G7 www.yorkregion.com Director, Production Jackie Smart Director, Operations Barry Black Publisher Ian Proudfoot Calandra not `cleared' Re: Calandra cleared by ethics office, Aug. 16. Your headline states Oak Ridges-Markham MP Paul Calandra was cleared. To my mind, to be "cleared" is to suggest an investigation has been completed and a decision made. This did not take place. Your story says "an investigation into the alleged acceptance of inappropriate donations by MP Paul Calandra will not take place". According to The Globe and Mail, the ethics commissioner decided not to investigate his fundraising activities because she must have evidence the MP in question directly asked for money. Evidently the riding association members requested money in his presence instead. Mr. Calandra states the ethics commissioner confirmed he did not break the rules, however, in this context, she used words Advertising Manager Stephen Mathieu smathieu@yrmg.com Advertising Marketing Manager Mike Banville mbanville@yrmg.com Administration Regional Office Manager Melanie Attridge mattridge@yrmg.com York Region Media Group community newspapers The Sun-Tribune, published every Thursday and Saturday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 100 community publications across Ontario. The York Region Media Group includes The Liberal, serving Richmond Hill and Thornhill, Newmarket Era, Aurora Banner, Vaughan Citizen, Markham Economist & Sun, Stouffville Sun-Tribune, Georgina Advocate, Bradford West Gwillimbury Topic, beingwell and yorkregion.com. Arlene Reesor Stouffville You can read letters, columns and stories from The Sun-Tribune on yorkregion.com Plenty to do this summer around town, home love summer in the city. Or the town, rather. I grew up in Markham and am still getting used to the idea I apparently grew up in a city. Luckily, Stouffville residents have a long wait to reach city status and have no immediate NHL dreams I've heard of. This summer marks my last summer at home with the kids running "Camp Mom" and we've made a point to make the best of our eight short weeks. There are lots of things to see and do in Stouffville, rain or shine. I was inspired to share some of these ideas after reading about the temporary Lehmans Pond closure in The SunTribune. In early July, the kids and I ventured to the pond on a nature walk, armed with sketch books, cameras and pencils. As simple as a nature walk is, in actuality, the pond held our attention for close to two hours. We spent time listening to frogs, sketched and photographed a heron and counted several different animals. It is amazingly serene sitting on a faded wooden bench tucked away in the forest and, best of all, it was free. Other sunny day activities includto my eight-year-old, was awesome. What most of us seem to struggle with during the summer is what to do when the weather doesn't co-operate with outdoor activities. My son treats screen time as something as quintessential as air, so venturing to the Stouffville library for the TD reading program was a welcome diversion. Both kids really honed in on theme-specific readings to earn extra tickets for the vast array of prizes available to be won, which will be handed out today. The themed weeks also encouraged the kids to read something different and they are better for it in having kept up with reading over the summer. The library also seems to be the only place to borrow movies in town ­ again free, unless you're not so punctual with the return times. As a full-time student, I'm able to catch up on recent releases -- for me, that means 2008 and later -- and the children's section has lots of titles we don't own. We have also explored the Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum this summer, which has child-friendly spaces, including the hands-on area with period clothing, photographs and toys. By purchasing a family membership, we were entitled to free research and are thankful for all of the time put into digging up history on our home. On days when it's pouring and we just don't want to leave the house, we put "Kids Kitchen" on the schedule. Frankly, to have both my kids enjoy the same meal is a miracle and if they want to make it themselves, even better. In late July, we made mini pizzas in the Easy Bake Oven, along with cheese nachos. (The result of an unfortunate incident with a dropped box of taco shells.) We have also had fun with Rice Krispies' candy sushi, homemade lemonade and s'mores over the fire pit. I still can't bake, but we have fun trying. Out of the kitchen we have found many uses for paper, paints and little bits sourced from just about anywhere. Glitter glue can embellish everything from pirate ships to picture frames. Inevitably, Camp Mom must come to an end. The pool must be closed, the beach toys shelved and the backpacks scrubbed clean. While Labour Day is the unofficial end to summer, it marks the beginning of a new school year and the wonders to be found in Stouffville in the fall. Stouffville resident Tracey Hardie is a member of The Sun-Tribune's Community Links panel. LETTERS POLICY The Sun-Tribune welcomes your letters. All submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daytime telephone number, name and address. The Sun-Tribune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clarity and space. Tracey Hardie Guest Column ed Timber Creek Golf. While not free, the Ninth Line complex is certainly less expensive when you dig out the coupon from your child's report card. I can't say I'm any better at making par, but the kids have improved dramatically and have evolved from a hockey stance to proper golf posture. While not quite in town, I had no idea how close Sibbald Point Provincial Park is to Stouffville. This made for a really inexpensive picnic spot and day at the beach, something those missing public access to Musselman's (Musselman?) Lake should consider as an alternative beach locale. The waters are shallow and the playground, according Letters to the Editor, The Sun-Tribune 6290 Main St. Stouffville, ON L4A IG7 j ma s o n @ yr m g . c o m Ontario Press Council ONTARIO PRESS COUNCIL Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member