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6 Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, September 3, 2015 | O Fax: 905-640-8778 Class: 1-800-743-3353 OPINION COLUMNS aybe these Toronto Blue Jays have really hit on something -- beyond all those home runs flying out of ball parks across North America this summer. The Jays are a feel-good story in a market that hasn't been feeling itself for decades. As a bedroom community, we're part of that once-sad GTA equation. Toronto has been crying for a major league -- sorry Argonauts -- championship since, well, the Jays won the 1993 World Series. Unless they bought tickets, the Maple Leafs haven't been to a Stanley Cup final since 1967. And despite all the hype, the Raptors have won all of one playoff series during their 20 years on the planet. That's no city of champions, Hogtown. You are not in Chicago or Boston. Then out of the blue, this year's hot-and-cold Jays' team adds some big-time talent and goes on a record-setting romp. Taking an entire country on the ride with it. The tall fellow in front of us at the raucous Civic Holiday game was impressed by the enthusiasm pouring out of the Rogers Centre. He should know. "That's how sports should be," NBA superstar Kevin Durant, maybe the finest basketball player on earth, told CBC-TV. "It brings people together, unites us all and it's an exciting time." He was later spotted wearing a David Price jersey at a Drake concert. Turns out the hashtag #cometogether the Jays promote on Twitter is more than a cute marketing ploy. It's real. The GTA hasn't felt this sort of buzz since Kim Campbell was prime minister. Let's hope the Jays fare better than she did. Publisher Ian Proudfoot General manager Shaun Sauve 6290 Main St. Stouffville, ON. L4A 1G7 www.yorkregion.com 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 M #cometogether indeed for all the right reasons 50 years of service to seniors ooking ahead, 50 years seems like an eternity. Looking back, it's like yesterday. On Sunday, Sept. 27, the past, present and future will be acclaimed when Parkview Services for Seniors, (Parkview Home), 12184 Ninth Line in Stouffville, celebrates a half-century of incalculable pride within the community and beyond. The formal part of the program will take place in the neighbouring Parkview Village auditorium at 2:30 p.m., with fellowship and refreshments to follow at the exterior Gathering Place. The public is invited, particularly those associated with the home's early years. The current complex includes 20 cluster units, 45 suites, 124 village apartments and 128 long-term care components accommodating in total close to 350 residents. However, the initial consideration, 50 years ago, was to purchase either Brierbush Hospital or a nursing home now known as Buckingham Manor, both on Main Street. Later, the incentive for exploring the idea of a new Parkview Home for the Aged came from Newton Gingrich, then pastor of Wideman Mennonite Church on Hwy. 48 in Markham. With respect to acquiring Brierbush, a committee comprising Levi Diller, Carl W. Reesor, Albert Drudge, Sam Fretz and Oliver Shank submitted an offer of $40,000 to then owner Ella Malcolm, but this was rejected. The asking price for the nursing home, then operated by Murray and Aldine Sinclair was $50,000. A newly appointed committee that included Amos Reesor, John M. Reesor, Cecil Reesor and Joe Nighswander chose not to proceed. This decision set the wheels in motion for a new home on Rupert Avenue. Nighswander, a vision- L Roaming Around with Jim Thomas ary, is quoted as saying: "The board of directors realized the need for specialized care and accommodation for older people in the Markham/ Stouffville area. The dignity, independence, acceptance and love with which each person would be met, was at the heart of Parkview." The ground-breaking ceremony occurred Aug. 31, 1964. Wielding the ceremonial silver spade were Maurice Eby, Cecil Reesor and Joe Nighswander with brief talks by village Reeve Win Timbers, Stouffville Missionary Church pastor Arthur Walsh and board members Newton Gingrich and Roy Nigh. The first resident was admitted June 14, 1965. Two wings were added in 1971, Four years later, a two-storey seniors' apartment was erected adjacent to the home. The new Parkview Home opened in 2006. Condos are being built on the Rupert Avenue site. Allan Wideman was appointed the home's first administrator April 1, 1965 at an annual salary of $4,500. Others to follow included Joe Nighswander, Herb Diller, Lloyd Hogg and Wallace Kribs. The current executive director is Solange Taylor. Others currently holding senior management positions are: Tina Skodic, housing administrator; Kris Savage, director of support services; Jon Irwin, director Advertising Manager Mara Sepe msepe@yrmg.com Off The Top with Jim Mason Folks in Main Street coffee bars chime in on the exploits of their heroes from last night's game. People can pronounce Troy Tulowitzki. They know the Bringer of Rain in the T Dot is not Spartacus. Sunday's final thrashing of the Detroit Tigers this season had a party-like atmosphere from the first pitch. Our little corner of the former SkyDome had a small-town feel, with almost everyone having a connection to Stouffville, believe it or not. And while the Jays are printing playoff tickets, let's keep the Dom Perignon on ice and not order any ticker tape just yet, eh? Enjoy the ride. If you can get a seat for a remaining game, do go. If not, grab a Jays' cap or T-shirt and a stool and a cold one at a local watering hole. Or invite the neighbourhood over for a viewing party. Don't forget to tell anyone under 30 that this was the norm around these parts from 1985-93. The naysayers will say it's only sport. Millionaires in pyjamas playing children's games. But as my new friend Kevin Durant says, if it builds community, bring it on. #cometogether indeed. Jim Mason is editor of The Sun-Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @stouffeditor Circulation Co-ordinator Daphne Lawrie dlawrie@yrmg.com 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? 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 of business services; Angela Bisschop, director of care; Maurice Lamontagne, director of property services and Terry Collins, director of nutritional services. Chairman of the board of directors is David Burkholder. Other board members include Faye Grove, Mary Lymburner, Bonnie Drudge, Jim Hobbs, Larry Hogg, Dr. Don Petrie and `Pep' Philpott. Two hundred are required to staff the home, assisted by more than 50 volunteers. The ages of current residents range from 61 to 103. "It's our staff," says Taylor, a former registered nurse and graduate in health studies from York University. "We're so blessed because they're so caring. It's because they work as a team and so love our residents, everything runs smoothly." The positive attitude established by the home's senior management and sustained by staff is reflected in sentiments expressed by residents. "I'm very happy here," says Bertha Slaughter, "the staff, the food, everything is wonderful. Our town is fortunate to have so excellent a facility." "This is now my home," said Nan James. "The staff is absolutely wonderful ­ always very accommodating." "Wonderful" is also the expression used by Vera Moyer in describing members of staff. "For me, every day's a holiday. I love it here." So what does the future hold? "There's room for expansion," says the executive director. A development committee has already been established. "The vision experienced by Joe Nighswander 50 years ago remains alive and well today," she said. Jim Thomas is a Stouffville resident who has written for area newspapers for more than 60 years. ONTARIO PRESS COUNCIL Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member