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Stoufiville SU - \ May living the boyhood dream with Maple Leafs BY MIKE HAYAKAWA Stafl' Writer ‘ Brad May needed just one word to describe his trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs last week. For the 37-year-old National Hockey League veteran forward who played his minor hockey while growing up in Stoufi‘ville and Markham, donning the fabled blue and white jersey is like a dream come true. Albeit it took him almost 963 career NHL games. That includ- ed his most recent stop in Ana- heim. where he was part of their Stanley Cup team in the 2%? season. There were other stints in Colorado, Phoenix. Vancou- ver (twice) and Bufialo, before returningtohisroots.‘ “I think as a kid You dream of playing in the NHL and being a localboywe had a chance to watch the Maple Leafs a lot on television. But I’ve been playing for so long now that being in the NHLitfeelslikealifetime'Ib play in "Ibronto though, 'I never thought it would happen. Being here with the Leafs is definitely a neat experience,” he said. His transition into the Maple Leafs lineup was made smoother with the presence of longâ€"time Reuniting with his family in Stouffville and Markham has given May some added enthu- siasm. ‘He makes us harder to play’: Coach Acton See MAY, page 7‘ STAFF PHOTOISTEVE SOMERVILLE Lou Geense is leaving Stoufl'ville’s EastRidge Evangelical Missionary Church following more than 16 years as the pastor after Sunday’s service. He will become director of global initiatives with the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada. THURSDAY FOCUS Popular Pastor Lou Geense leaving EastRidge for national church but staying in BY SANDRA BOLAN Staff Writer fter more than 16 years as the pas- tor of EastRidge Evangelical Missionary Church, Lou Geense is stepping down this week “It really was time for a new voice and new vision at the church, which required me to resign,” Mr. Geense said. “You can only re-invent yourself so many times and I think I did that several times.” “We'll miss him; he's like family," Karen Rae, ofiice manager of the Tenth Line church said. “On the other hand, change happens and we wish him the best" Mr. Geense, however, has at least one more re~invention within him, this time as the direc- tor of global initiatives with the Evangelical Mis- sionary Church of Canada. The new position enables Mr. Geense and his family to remain in Stouflville. “Although there were a lot of possibilities, our first intent was to stay in town because we wanted to be a pan of the town,” he said. The two-pronged job, which Mr. Geense begins the day after he gives his last sermon at EastRidge Sunday, will have him building alliâ€" ances with existing organizations and people in impoverished and/or disaster stricken areas of the world. as well as educating people on how to develop co-operatives for relief. “lt's mission work, but trying to work with the nationals on the ground," Mr. Geense said. “I'm looking forward to connecting with passionate national people and making a significant differâ€" ence with them." Mr. Geense is no stranger to helping Third World people in need of assistance. SCI‘IIIOI] i Opinion . . . i Thlngs to do Classified The last Sve ADOPTED, page 12 StouflRIille