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14 Sun-Wm"? reporter Sandra Bolan mcaps some of the bigstories she wrote about during 2014. “I always thought all levels of politi~ clans worked together on issues and kept the mud slinging out of the press. In all my years as mayor. l have never had 8 MP or MPP send out a press release like this before.” then-mayor Wayne Emmerson wrote in an email to Calandra. which he forwarded to The Sunm'lbune. 'lWo elections just four months apart. While Oak Ridges-Markham residents decided to stay the course and re-elect Helena laczek for a third term as MPP. Town of WhitchurCh-Stouffville residents voted for change at the municipal level. The dock knocking and elecfioneering lasted 40 days. it had a voter turnout of 47.2 per cent in Oak Ridges-Markham. although the num- bers still remain unofficial. according to Elections Ontario's website. Voter turnout was 42.7 in the previous election. ' The municipal election campaigning started 10 months before you could cast a ballot but it didn't pick up much steam until the last couple of months, when lus- tin Altmann decided to make the whole- sale trade centre a campaign issue. By the time election‘daji. Oct. 2?. rolled around. there were almost 30 candidates vying for seven seats. Along with a new mayor (Wayne Emmerson did not seek re-election). residents voted in four new council- lors -â€"’ Maurice Smith (Ward 2). Hugo Kroon (Ward 3), Rick Upton (Ward 4) and lain Lovatt (Ward 5) and rte-elected two incumbents â€" Ken Ferdinands (Ward 1) and Rob Hargrave (Ward 6). The Sun-THbune's Links Panel spent more than a year to oxganize and host 10 candidate meetings in two months. trying to get 50 per cent of eligible voter§ to the polls. Forty-five per cent of voters cast a ballot. up from 43.96 per cent in 2010. - with fila from Sean Pearce Paul Calandra did not like the way the municipality handled a Rogers‘ cell tower application and let the town and its resi- dents know. “Due to the lack of leadership on this matter. I am prepared to request that the process be delayed in order to hold a proper consultation with town resi. dents and businesses." the Oak Ridges- Markham MP and Stoufl‘ville resident said in a March media release. The provincial election wa_s triggered in May by the NDP's refusal to support the Liberal budget. PollflcalflghtwanttoMthusphom Two elections, one boy made headlines BY SAN DRA BOLAN sholun®yrm mm “People elect them [councillors] to have a comment." (Jalandm told The Sun- 'l‘ribune at the time. In May. (‘alandra posted snippets of email exchanges he had with Emmer- son in March and April regarding the cell tower on Written Emmerson is not on 'lwmer. (Ialandra said he posted the emails online because he wanted residents to seeit all. But he survived. thanks to the efions of a fellow golfer. who also happened to be a nurse. Chris Burden. 28. performed chest compressions on the 60-year-old Rich~ mond Hill man. whom he found laying in grass that was burned all around him. at Warden Avenue's Bethesda Grange Golf Course in the Rolling Hills golf complex Ughtnlng strikes, nurse resounds A lightning bolt struck a golfer’s hand and exited out his right foot during a fast moving, mid-lune thunderstoml. “I could see thatuhe wag dead. I“ could see it in his face he was ashen and purple." Burden said. The man had burn marks on his face and shin and his hat and glasses were torn and melted. He had black hands. with lac- erations and sheered skin. The 56-degree club the man was hold- ing acted as the conductor as the group of go fers approached the 18th green. “We heard thunder and then a ham from the course.” Burden said. “We kept yelling at people to get off the course. but some people weren't. When we got inside (the strike) hit. it shook the building. it was one of the brightest lights I've seen. Then we heard men yelling for us to call 91 l." 'lhe municipality is only a commenting agency when it comes to cell towers. which fall under federal jurisdiction. according to a Town of Whitchumh-Stouifvillc staff report. Calandra held his own public meet- ing on the matter. which had about 150 people in attendance. The dispute between (lalandra and limmerson did not end them. The man's three {golfing buddies. who ranged in age from 51 to 56. were in stable corlditidn following the incident. Paul Kenyon was convicted of killing his girlfriend Marion Deacon. It took the jury four hours to deliberate the charge this past April. It was the first local murder trial in decadea Burden is a'nurse at Markham Stouffville Hospital. - with files from Jeremy Grimaldi Murder oonvlctlon being appealed The 46-year-old mother of three girls Then mayor Wayne Emmerson (centre) received at Queen’s Diamond lubilee medal from MP Paul Calandra (left) at Nineteen on the Park in 2012. Their relationship was colder in 2014, including critical quotes and tweets volleyed by both Stouffville residents at each other. Kenyon's defense team claimed his drug dealer and another man were inside Deacon's Doner Street home. near Stoufi‘ville Road and Hwy. 404, when she arrived from her waitress- ing job at Aurora's King Henry Arms. 7 Kenyoh's first trial ended in a mistrial in April 2012 when he and his lawyer. Ken Mur- ray. parted ways. The Stout‘fville Lions Club was named The Sunâ€""lfibune's 2014 Whitchurch-Stouffville Citizems) of the Year. died March 7. 2010 of multiple blows to the head with a baseball bat. Local firefighters who responded to an early morning call that the Deacon family home was on fire found her body. Kenyon was also in the home but escaped. Neighbours called 911. Deacon sustained her injuries in the late hours of Manch 6 and remained alive any- where from 30 minutes to six hours. the court heard through expert testimony. 'The defense claimed a fight broke out and one of the men hit Deacon about the head. killing her. Deacon was sentenced to life in prison but will be eligible for parole in 15 years. He is appealing the conviction. “I believe a community is stronger when we have a strong Lions club and we do have that." according to former mayor Emmerson. who nominated the 76â€"year-old organiza- tion. The citizen of the year award is for people who don't stand out in a crowd. but are always around and involved. The selfless. The Lions also host an annual beef bar- becue right before the stan of the Strawberry Festival. a rubber ducky derby during the Hons are Clflzen(s) of Year The volunteer organization has 24 mem- bers ranging in age from 40 to 87. One of the group’s largest annual projects is the Christmas hampers. which provides 'fls and food vouchers to about 60 struggling amilies Wade centre questions persist On May 19. 21-month-old Luca Gennusu fell into his home's back yard pool. which was under construction. He nearly drowned, He is now homé and requires extensive therapy. which is not covered by insurance. It is not the Pacific Mall nor is it a (Zustcu There will not be 400 trucks 3 day going in and out of the proposed wholesale trudv centre. It will. however. employ 800 local people and provide $1 million in taxes. as well as spin-off benefits to cunem retailers and rus- taurateurs. according to (Iorebridge lk‘velop- ment representatives. festival. Christmas light tours and senior kin- derganen eye exams. The Lions' contribution to the commuâ€" nity over the years also includes Main Street's gazebo and train station. Memorial Park's pic- nic pavilion. the piano at the Lebovic Centre for Arts and Entertainment - Nineteen on the Park. fitness equipment for Stoufi‘xdfle District Secondary School students, fumishings in a room at Markham Stouffville Hospital and financial sponsorships of local sports teams. Little Luca Inspires community Luca sufiered severe brain damage and remained in the hospital for several months. The community of Whitchumh-Stoufifillv has rallied around the (Eennuso famin and a number of fundraisers have been held in his honour. to help the family pay for his cum To date. moire than $88‘.()'00'has been raised. according to httpzl I lucaswilltolivocom Corebridge. along with HUDU Markvt Investment Management Ltd is developing the North America Yiwu handing (Icntrv in the former Southwire cable plant at Main and Mostar streets. The plan to construct the trading centre has been in the works for most of 201 4. l‘horv Sn‘ WM]. [mgr In SUN TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO