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6 Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, July 16, 2015 | O Fax: 905-640-8778 Class: 1-800-743-3353 OPINION COLUMNS ou're going where for a long weekend, Mason?" the question continually came. The answer was always "Pittsburgh". People made faces. Like I was heading for recreational dental surgery. "This place isn't what it was 10 years ago," the clerk in the auto parts store ­ blew a tail light on the interstate ­ said early Saturday morning. "There's lots to do here now." Yes, indeedy. Five hours apart, you won't confuse Toronto with Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh's population is just over 300,000. Toronto has 2.8 million, about the same as the seven regions making up greater Pittsburgh. The Toronto area is up to 6.05 million. Toronto's on a lake. Pittsburgh's got rivers and more than 400 bridges crossing them. The city is carved between that water and scenic hills, which you can ride on a pair of inclined plane railroads, or funiculars, which is far more fun to pronounce. Roads wind and don't run in a grid, which challenged my GPS to keep up. Hometown drivers are, shall we say, aggressive, with no fear of burning out turn signals. Out of their vehicles, Pittsburghers, or Yinzers as they call themselves, are extremely friendly folks. Pittsburgh is a big-time sports town. Every second male over the age of 12 must wear a Pirates' baseball T-shirt, apparently. Caps are optional, but often included in the ensemble. Gotta be a law. Even the security guard at a gallery -- the Andy Warhol was a favourite -- we toured was abuzz about "the Buccos". "Did you see the game? Another walk-off. Wow," he asked, while reviewing the highlights on his phone. We found the name of the late Bob Hassard of Stouffville in the impressive sports wing of the Heinz History Center. The former Main Street insurance broker played for Pittsburgh's American CCNA BLUE RIBBON !"#$ Publisher Ian Proudfoot General manager Shaun Sauve 6290 Main St. Stouffville, ON. L4A 1G7 www.yorkregion.com 905-640-2612 DISTRIBUTION 1-855-853-5613 Director, Business Administration Robert Lazurko Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron Director, Distribution Carol Lamb Editor Jim Mason jmason@yrmg.com `Y Greetings from the land of rivers, bridges and Yinzers Advertising Manager Mara Sepe msepe@yrmg.com Off The Top with Jim Mason Hockey League team in the 1950s. The NHL Penguins aren't on the front page -- although they are for sale. There's a magnificent statue of co-owner Mario Lemieux out front of their Consol Energy Center and shelves stacked with yellow and gold Phil Kessel T-shirts inside, Leaf fans. (On the flipside, Russell Martin -- the Pirate turned Blue Jay catcher -- shirts are in the discount bin on The Strip, Pittsburgh's popular version of Kensington Market.) Jerome Bettis, another Pittsburgh sports legend, will go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month. His restaurant is nestled between the Steelers' and Pirates' stadiums, on the riverfront next to the Mr. Rogers' -- Fred's from here -- statue. It features a one-way mirror above the urinals, allowing guys to gaze out over the bar. That was odd. While in the neighbourhood, check out Randyland. Hilton waiter turned artist Randy Gilson bought a run-down building for $10,000 with a credit card and turned it into "Pittsburgh's most colourful landmark". The walls of the courtyard, which is packed with painted repurposed items, are bright murals. We ate well in a Catholic church converted to a brewery, a Thai garden and at an Italian spot, serenaded by Steve Miller playing the soccer stadium next door. We'll be back, you Yinzers. Jim Mason is editor of The Sun-Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @stouffeditor Circulation Co-ordinator Daphne Lawrie dlawrie@yrmg.com York Region Media Group community newspapers The Sun-Tribune, published every, Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a whollyowned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. To speak to a customer service rep: 1-855-853-5613 Delivery inquiries: yrcustomerservice@ yrmg.com Delivery issues? LETTERS POLICY All submissions must be less than 400 words and 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. E-mail jmason@yrmg.com Ontario Press Council ONTARIO PRESS COUNCIL Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member wo thousand and fifteen is a year WhitchurchS t o u f f v i l l e 's Nadine Carter will never forget. The 11-year-old Grade 7 Glad Park Public School student has, through purpose and determination, accomplished more than most adults will achieve in a lifetime. Through research and inquiries that, thanks to the aid of Oak RidgesMarkham MP Paul Calandra, prompted an appearance before WhitchurchStouffville council, Nadine has had the feats of Canadian First World War air ace Capt. Arthur Roy Brown of Bethesda appropriately recognized. On June 4, she, accompanied by her parents, David and Chantel Carter, along with her uncle and aunt, Michael and Gabriella Bennett of Richmond Hill, attended an induction ceremony at Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in Toronto. There, Capt. Brown along with four others, were installed. Nadine was seated at a table along with several members of the Brown family. During the four-hour observance, Nadine rubbed shoulders with many aviation dignitaries including Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian astronaut to walk in space. A photograph of the two, along with a personal autograph will be forever treasured. "I was surprised when Mr. Hadfield said he wanted to meet me," she said modestly. Nadine and Capt. Brown's granddaughter were formally introduced to the audience. Nadine said following her meeting with town council in March, a second discussion was arranged by Ward 6 Councillor Rob Hargrave with the Whitchurch- T Astronaut had to meet our Nadine admiration. This is the lasting legacy left by Vikki Staite within the hearts of staff and students at Stouffville's Summitview Public School. Mrs. State, office receptionist and secretary from 1995 to 2015, was posthumously honoured at a yearend assembly June 12. Because of her love for honeybees, a beautiful mural was created by a group of 15 senior students, a painting that now holds a prominent place near the school's interior entrance along with a floral bouquet in the shape of a honeybee and an appropriate poem. Whitchurch-Stouffville's Diane Ward headed up the assignment. "I was honoured to be involved in so wonderful a project," she said. The principal focus of the mural is a beehive with Mrs. Staite symbolizing a queen bee mascot looking down on swarms of smaller bees, denoting hundreds of children under her watchful eye. Bodies of the smaller bees comprised thumb prints made by the principal, secretary, students and custodians. Wings were attached later. The fact Sunmitview's school teams are known as The Stingers, added emphasis to the poster. It was also topical, explained Ward since honeybees are now an endangered species. "Because the boys and girls loved Mrs. Staite so much, they needed a way to honour her memory," Ward said. All submissions were accepted and finalized through a proper voting procedure. "It was amazing the way the students worked together," Ward said. "I felt privileged to be a part of it." Jim Thomas is a Stouffville resident who has written for area newspapers for more than 60 years. Roaming Around with Jim Thomas Stouffville heritage committee. Since then, the Last Post Fund in Montreal has acquired a plot in Toronto's Necropolis cemetery for Capt. Brown. At this site, a marker, emblazoned with a Royal Air Force emblem, will be positioned. Nadine's still hopeful a suitable plaque honouring her hero will be located at the former Brown farm on Warden Avenue. While the Aviation Hall of Fame event was exciting in itself, the enjoyment for Nadine didn't end there. She was the recipient of a gift flight hosted by Lesley and Jeff Page and their organization called the Young Eagles. Accompanied by her father and sister and with Lesley at the controls, they flew out of Oshawa Municipal Airport, east over Bowmanville and north above Mosport Raceway. On three separate occasions during the 20-minute flight, Nadine expertly handled the Cessna 172 craft. "It was cool," she said, "I'd never even ridden in a plane before, let alone fly one." Asked if the Cessna had foot pedals, Nadine replied yes, it did. "But my legs weren't long enough to reach that far." Tribute to secretary Where there's love, there's respect. Where there's respect, there's