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OPINION SuanI “Stiff-Tribune COLUMN 905-640-2612, Fax 905-640-8778 (law 1-800-743â€"3353 DISTRIBUTION l-855-853-SM3 Athenian; Manager An ne Beswick Dlucron. Busmnss Anmmsmnou Robert Lazurko DIREC‘IOI Cluumvn Salmons Katherine Porcheron Allmbmlsdonsmustbe hummwoldund York Rrgion Media Group community newspapcts mo Summoum. Wished ovary. Wis. muwwmm mMm..aM mmwumv name-Ind address 11w Sun-THbune menus the ttopubflshor nongfimnndmcdit not ptMish and to edit for clarity and space. E-mll W.m '3 c..- 3":- cm nun- - Advice for wannabe munici- pal politicians from someone who has fought 10 campaigns? Sweat the small stufi‘. “It’s the day to day that mat- ters.” said the admitted problem solver. “That's what people remember." "(My ward) also boasts a new Tim Hortons where all the ann- chair quarterbacks discuss and save the world.” she said. Some things dont change. knuasoniscditorolnnSmmie. WMMWW almwl'ckfiymtg. mm Dlucml. Rm Es‘mn AND Cmunnn Cord Paolum' Editot lim Mason lnmsunh‘yrmg. mm Oo-ordlnltor Daphne Lawn'e dlawn'd-fvrmg. mm Damn. DIS‘I‘IIIUTION Thnyu Pacheco w-W Dunc-roll. Anvnmsmo Debra Weller [ETTERS POLICY F9! on you! «Mary Mum“. mm hen Fran S a i n s b u r y was mayor of Whitchurch- Stoufl‘ville. she often spoke of her admiration for her Mississauga counterpart. Hazel McCallion. That was back when cell- phones were the size of car batteries and Dirty Dancing was playing on your home Betamax machine. baby. 7 Flash forward to 2014 and Sainsbury won‘t touch the retirâ€" ing Hurricane Haters 36-year run as a mayor - but she just might outlast her. Sage advice for candidates from our’Hurricane Hazel’ Sainsbury has carved out a unique political career across central Ontario herself. She was a real estate agent in the Beer Store plaza and Whitchutch-Stouffville citizen of the year when first elected Ward 4 councillor here in 1982. Her claim to fame was leading a ratepayers group that shut down the Hwy. 48 landfill site. west of Musselman‘s lake. Sainsbury followed that up wixh a nine-year stint as mayor. before being unseated by cur- rent chief magistrate Wayne Emmerson in 1994. The Sainsburys moved to Clearview Township. near Col- . in 1997 and Fran got the political bug again serving one term as mayor. Done? Nope. Sainsbury. 78. now lives in Green Briar. near Alliston. and is seeking re-election as Ward 4 (see the trend?) councillor in New Thcumseth. That's 19 years of late-night meetings. bad coffee and com- plain!s from conssitvems". "I love the job.” she said this week between campaign appointments “1 love politics I love the fray. I need a reason to keep reading." Some candidates simply dont resemh the job they're seeking. Study the plethora of rules. Sainsbury advised. “You can freeze taxes but you can't cut them.” she said. “Once you're in office. you can get a handle on efliciencies. But what are you going to cut. snow plowing?” More commandments. "Don't make promises» Do your homework. Be on time. Have no conflicts Be tenacious and never give up." She's seén mahy a councillor come and go during 19 years in “I‘Neryone wants the job - until they get it.” she said. “Then they say fwhat haye l ticne?” Sainsbury makes the 75-min- ute drive back to Stouffville to visit friends. especially in her old Ninth Line/ Bethesda Road neighbourhood. “lhmdlyreqognjzethe place." she said of the moon! residential gmwth. “I saw my first roundabout (in Stouffville). I didn't know which way to go and just hoped I wouldn’t get hit.” “(My ward) also boasts a new 'nm Honons where all the ann- chair quarterbacks discuss and save the worm." she said. She has gmwth back home, too. including almost 2.000 new homes on the horizon. with Iim Mason Off The Top LETTER OF THE WEEK MP Calandra deserved to be emotional when he apologized Re: Calandm's apology 'roncerm'ng' and MP is poster boy for ills in Ottawa. letter to the editor by Isaac Klassen. Oct. 2. It must be nice to never make a mistake in judgement. Liberal candidate Dr. lane Philipott. who was quoted in the story. and letter writer. lGassen. It takes a “big” person to apologize to anyone. let alone in the House of Commons like Mr. Calandra did. Seniors, let your candidates know we need ’real’ centre approved Of course. he was emotional. Wouldn't you be? ' Mr. Calandra has done an excellent job representing the Town of Whitchunch As senior of the year for 2014. I would like to commend the current mayor and council for their vision in including an older adults centm in the library/ leisure centre complex. Many people. especially those new to town. don't realize that Whitchurch-Stouffville doesn‘t really have a seniors centm. It is the only municipality in York Region without such a facility. ' 'lhe town has kindly ‘allowed the 55 Plus Club to use Latcham Hall. one 2.400-square- foot mom. but it is shared with other groups. It is virtually impossible to run targeted pm- gmmming under these circumstances According to the 201 1 Census. our SS-plus demographic comprises almost 10.000 peo- ple. Whitchurch-Stoufiville was the second fastest growing municipality in Canada. The largest growth in our municipality has been in the ages of 60 to 64 years (63.5 per cent growth). and in the 65 to 69 year bracket (56.19 per cent). Age brackets over 70 are showing between 39 and tilt-percent growth. The boomer bubble is here. For those who think seniors just sit and play cards. think again. Boomers are very health-conscious and physical fitness is a priority. However. seniors centres also offer oppor- tunities for people to socialize with their peers. enjoy recreation. participate in educa- tional seminars to keep their brain sharp. take day trips. as well as offer vocational opportu- nitles such as volunteer work. This is all part of healthy aging. A “real” seniors centre would have multiâ€" ple smaller rooms so more than one program can run at a time. It would have soundproof- ing because many activities. such as line dancing. are noisy. while others. such as yoga. an very quiet. It wbuld have a kitchen with a commercial dishwasher for large functions. a reception! lobby space to welcome members. advertise GENERAL MANAGER Iohn Willems PUBLISHER [an Proudfoot dinners. trips and other activities. It would have activities of interest to men such as table tennis and other active games. Despite the commitment of council and the solid groundwork laid by town stafi. the inclusion of an older adult centre in the library/leisure centre complex is a matter to be decided by the incoming council. This is very much an election issue. Stouffville federally. If he didn't. our Prime Minisler would not have chosen him to he parliamentary secretary. Check with the mayoral camdidutes and the candidates for council in your ward. It will still be 2017 before the seniors have at home. They have waited a very long time for this. Make it happen! Seriiorxrgot out. vote and tell the town you matter! What have you both done for this town lately that warrants such scorn? [Jet those who are perfect cast the first stone!! Shame on skate park vandals My grandchildren visited thc Stnufivillv skate park recently. I was very shocked to see grafliti on the walls of the bowl and on the tap of a picnic table. 7 The surrounding landscape was littered with water bottles. juice boxes and snack wrappers. This blatant disrespect for public property left me speechless. A There was a public outcry fmm many fam- ilies as well as letters written regarding why it was taking so long for their official skate park to be constructed. Many expressed that chil- dren were being left out of long-range plans to provide more places to have fun in town. The budget for the park was approximately $400,000. Many fundraisers. especially orga- nized by the nayor. were conducted to get the park completed. This vandalism has taken place in only four months of the park's opening. If you are responsible for defacing the skate park. shame on you. Every time you use this facility. 1 mm you will feel guilty reganllng your disgmcvful behaviour. won/mu“ Sun-Tribune What have you both dom'fln this town lately that warrants sm‘h scorn? ' Steam-31k 6290 Main St Stouflville. 0N. MA 167 wwwyorktegioncom CAROL DYKEMAN 5n n ’FH'ILLE CAROL MORIN x n n 'H‘HH [- GAIL ROBERTS m )( Hm I :-