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3 3 ms8sgtsm15ajiitj eg0nomist suntribune wesqanderi hlim- stouffville bia asks for flower funds to beautify downtown tracy kibble staff reporter the local business improvement area is asking town assistance to beautify whitchurchstouffville but council is hesitant to oblige the merchants group hanging plants on stouffvilles main street is an enticement to create a more positive atmosphere for downtown businesses said bia president sandra stronach at last tuesdays council in committee meeting however the bias beautification budget doesnt stretch as far as the business section from park street to albert street then bia is asking the town to contribute 7000 2000more than the taxpayers paid last year to maintain the assorted flower arrangements the downtown core needs 81 baskets of flowers and 50 hanging planters to be extended from the street light poles mrs stronach explained she said the bia is cutting the number of baskets in half from last years total of 162 which cost 27000 last year we had two baskets extended from each pole but one good planter per pole is better than having two she said but council has hesitant to accommodate the group in its bid to obtain the 7000 im finding it hard to accept- isokinf at 19000 totalbudgety for flowers said ward 3 councillor nick tatone but councillor tatones suggesting to have the towns volunteer fire crews take on the watering and maintenance job caused an uncomfortable stir from whitchurchstouffville fire chief bill brown and the rest of those in attendance im sorry i just find it hard to tell taxpayers theyre paying 7000 to hang plants mr tatone added mrs stronach said the group was quoted a maintenance price of 1 a basket three times a week the tender would include a total package of hanging watering and taking the baskets off the poles in the fall were trying to do what we can with what weve got mrs stronach said after councils suggestions that the bia ask various service clubs to get involved and perhaps have volunteers take on the responsibility of maintaining planter each mrs stronach sum she would see what else she could come up with the town agreed to look at the feb 5 preliminary budget to see how much it could spare for the project c tyff j ilnmmliwi i fi of speech the stouffville branch of the royal canadian legion hosted local students last saturday in a public speaking contest about 20 competitors from around the area including stouffville markham unipnville and thornhill took part in the event here four of winners discuss their technique from left is jessica smith tracy wilock glenn tanzo and natasha noreiga jessica and tracy won in the grade 46 category the others were in grades 78 wants gun range tracy kibble staff reporter silhouettes the morning sunshine provided the perfect setting for these grazing horses on a stouffville area farm last weather runoff formed small pools on the open fields at the farm located on bloomington road west of sh former police officers want the town of whitchurchstouffville to amend its firearms bylaw so they can open a shooting gallery behind the dairy bar east of woodbine ave off stouffville rd trillium sports owners told council jan 23 the firing of guns at positioned targets in an enclosed area is a very safe sport company president and director of the shooting federation of canada don hinchley told local politicians they were attracted to your community for a number of reasons including the convenience and accessibility of hwy 404 the current firearms bylaw will not allow discharging of bullets but the expolice partners pointed out the bylaw does not mention the discharge of firearms in an enclosed area trillium sports gun club would be under the control of the federal statutes of firearms and the chief provincial firearms office and would follow ministry of environment guidelines mr hinchley said during the 30- minute presentation each member would be eligible for the ontario handgun association certificate insured for 1 million personal liability and property damage he added we three partners areleaders in shooting sports and we would not do anything to bring discredit to this community but the mention of guns triggered a debate with ward 6 councillor jim sanders the fact that there are guns available to people gives more chance of injury or death i dont think we need to encourage that in whitchurchstouffville councillor sanders said there has only been one fatality at shooting ranges in ontario were not rarhbos mr hinchley answered but the availability of guns increases the number of gun- related accidents councillor sanders persisted the fact is the number of fatalities by firearms is diminishing of the 642 homocides in canada last year 13 were caused by firearms said mr hinchley the owners also want to make the guns available to young people to teach teens the proper use and safe use of firearms the guns used would be 22 calibre small boar rifles semi- automatics and handguns council voted to have staff look over the information and make a recommendation at an upcoming council meeting festival plans underway whitchurchstouffville brace yourself this years strawberry festival celebration hopes to be the berry best summer party of all time for the friendliest town in ontario but like any ongoing event hard work and community involvement have been the key to this partys continued success the strawberry festival organizers are always looking for new ideas and new involvement for stouffvilles summer kickoff celebration says co- chairman patricia radcliff meetings open to the public are held every month and the organizers are hoping whitchurchstouffville residents will come out and give their support the next meeting will be held in the rec centre board room feb 13 at 730 pm everyone adds a different dimension the main idea is to give stouffville a party our attitude the strawberry festival is a free gift to the town this year for the june 30 kickoff mrs radcliff says the group needs someone to sponsor the pet contest for more information on how to get involved with this years seventh annual strawberry festival call patricia radcliff at 6405076 or attend the feb 13 meeting at the rec complex jjjjmjvfjjjssjjsjssjrtt9 earn extra money become a carrier today call 2948244 or attention flyer advertisers we can deliver your flyers for as little as 32 apiece so far this year we have deliv ered 896632 flyers doortodoor in markham unkmvllle mllllken stouffville uxbrldge and surrounding rural routes we can deliver your flyers on the day you want in the area you want any quantity from 5000 to 33000 i call advertising at 2942000 6402100 or distribution at 2944244 or 640- 2100 6402100 inserts for friday feb 290 metroland new homes woolco stouffville iga stouffville ctc remax 11 1 bite h nil i