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6 Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, August 6, 2015 | O Fax: 905-640-8778 Class: 1-800-743-3353 OPINION COLUMN he grounds east of the Stouffville Arena were a three-ring circus of the best variety. After one of the toastiest days of 2015, Stouffville was outdoors and letting the evening cool off with it. The bright, beautiful tennis courts were lit up and full. Both soccer pitches were alive, thanks to an orderly practice and a spirited game. The Franklin-Connell Track, despite complaints about its resurfacing last year, was home to a wide variety of users. From the young couple doing sweaty wind sprints to the dog walkers moving at a much slower gait. The common denominator was family: · Mom, dad and three kids sharing one of the tennis courts. The parents passing on the game they clearly love and play at a high level to their little ones, including the one still getting a handle on holding a racket. Playing in the Rogers Cup is still a few years away. · The grandparents strollling with the grandkids, including one in a pram, sharing an activity they all can enjoy. Together. (On the track built by volunteers when the public school board said no to paying for one.) · The dad working with his son and daughter on their soccer skill set behind a net. Back-to-school sales are with us. Retailers are rolling out winter wear. Halloween costumes and Santa suits can't be far behind. But fear not, you have weeks of summer remaining to savour. And a month of events and activities to take in that are largely free of charge ­ if you don't consider paying taxes to multiple levels of government as a fee. A sampling? Weather permitting, join thousands of your neighbours in Stouffville Memorial Park CCNA BLUE RIBBON !"#$ Publisher Ian Proudfoot General manager Shaun Sauve 6290 Main St. Stouffville, ON. L4A 1G7 www.yorkregion.com LETTER OF THE WEEK Longer campaign offers time for more intelligent discussions What "surprise" is there in this early call, or in characterizing this election as a race between three party leaders? None! In the dog days of summer, I can appreciate the Toronto Star's effort to generate excitement about an election that could put a new name-plate on the prime minister's office. However, one hopes that the conversations sparked by the Star and media will dwell less on personalities and far more on Canada's future. To begin with, it would be nice not to ask whether to vote for Justin or Tom for "real" change, since this would only split the vote and possibly let Stephen sneak through ­ yet again! Instead, the media should focus on the real issue of Canada's future trajectory, less on the fiscal deficit the Tories are leaving us and more on the democratic deficit that has ballooned under their stewardship. How 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 T Ribs or a movie: savouring summer in Stouffville GET CONNECTED SEND YOUR LETTER: Email your comments and/or suggestions to jmason@yrmg.com our new prime minister would undo the harms done to Canada's reputation both at home and abroad; how s/he would wean us altogether from carbon-based fuels before global warming reaches the tipping point; how s/he would narrow the growing gap between haves and haves-not that jeopardizes our peace and security far more than any international threat. A longer election period may be bad for many reasons, but it is surely a good opportunity to generate more intelligent and informed discussions. Please do not reduce this election to a horse race. Advertising Manager Mara Sepe msepe@yrmg.com Off The Top with Jim Mason for the third annual ribfest beginning tomorrow. Just follow your nose to the sweet scent of sizzling barbecue. The weekend will also include a variety of live music, from country to jazz, in the new bandshell, where the outdoor pool stood. How about a weekly music series hosted out of the facility, similar to the ones held in communities across the GTA? The tribute bands playing Thursday nights in downtown Unionville draw large crowds. Why not here, too? Stouffville's Friday movie nights are already a hit ­ although they move to the train station parking lot this week to accommodate ribfest. (Tomorrow's feature film is Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, for fans of that genre.) The popular Food Truck Frenzy series may be over for this summer, but downtown Stouffville will be closed to vehicles and alive with pedestrians and Latin dancers again Aug. 20 during Moonlight Madness and Inside WS. For quieter times, hit the trails of south Stouffville and the York Region forest north of Ballantrae. Fill your phone with photos. Review them during a snow day in February. Enjoy. Jim Mason is editor of The Sun-Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @stouffeditor Circulation Co-ordinator Daphne Lawrie dlawrie@yrmg.com Salvatore (Sal) Amenta Stouffville Library ready to work with council Re: Library expansion not large enough, councillor tells colleagues, July 23, and Seniors, library ready to move into expanded locations, July 30. During the past seven years, there have been discussions and preliminary studies and plans drawn up to give effect to a muchneeded expansion of the library facility in Stouffville. At its July 21 meeting, town council approved the outline for this long-awaited expansion and this was confirmed by the town's CAO, Marc Pourvahidi, in several statements to the media in Stouffville. I met recently with the town's CAO and in a constructive and informative manner was able to have a full understanding of the process going forward and to clarify some of the different space numbers being quoted. Based on the aforementioned developments, the library board now understands that it will have the following space allocation: · a library facility of 32,715 gross square feet, consisting of 14,115 gross square feet of existing space and 18,600 of expansion space; · an allocation of 1,310 gross square feet for common and shared utility/mechanical space; · an allocation of 275 gross square feet for periodic usage of the multi-purpose rooms at the expanded Whitchurch-Stouffville Leisure Centre; and · storage space of 300 gross square feet at an offsite facility. While this facility is intended to serve a population of 55,000 projected for 2021, the board had hoped there would be planning further ahead, at least to consider the population anticipated by 2025. However, we are cognisant of the financial constraints currently facing the town, those being a new corporate debt management policy and slower than projected population growth resulting in reduced development charge revenue, and accept this as the best solution for us at this time. 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? However, we are cognisant of the financial constraints currently facing the town, those being a new corporate debt management policy and slower than projected population growth. The board very much appreciates the efforts of council in its commitment to an expansion of the library and is fully prepared to work with council and town staff in partnership as part of the appointed project steering committee in ensuring this dream of an expanded library will be finally realized by 2017. This will be a major accomplishment not only for the library's 24,705 members who borrowed 267,850 items and the 24,540 attendees who participated in 1,327 programs offered (2014 year-end statistics), but also for the entire Whitchurch-Stouffville community. 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 Lloyd Pinnock Board Chair For and on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library ONTARIO PRESS COUNCIL Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member