Publicationmail agreement #40051189
THE ERA
$1 STORE SALES / 32 PAGES
■
Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012
Receive a
Coupon Book with over $100 in savings when you donate $3 to MUSCULAR Owen McGonigal, DYSTROPHY CANADA MDC Goodwill Ambassador 16635 Yonge St., Newmarket
905-898-6307
■
Peaker plant running smoothly Former opponent accepts facility’s presence BY CHRIS TRABER
ctraber@yrmg.com
After years of political wrangling, community complaints, environmental protests and hand wringing over the construction of the York Energy Centre in King, all’s well that ends well. The natural gas-fired peaking power plant on five acres at Dufferin Street and Miller’s Sideroad reached commercial operation May 9, adding 393 megawatts to Ontario’s electricity supply, Ontario Power Authority spokesperson Mary Bernard confirmed. Some former foes of the plant, it seems, are far friendlier. Ebullient rookie King Township Ward 6 Councillor Avia Eek said the peaker plant issue was the reason she ran for office. The installation raised early environmental and safety concerns, she said. The 650-pounds-per-squareinch pipeline along LloydtownAurora Road, through Pottageville See FIRE, page 8.
STAFF PHOTO/SUSIE KOCKERSCHEIDT
Mark Sharpe is the golf professional at Pheasant Run Golf Club and helps some clergy members with their games when they play there for $10 every Monday.
Golf course promotes holy holes-in-1 BY SIMON MARTIN
smartin@yrmg.com
If you ever need to find a priest on a Monday to confess about your sin-filled weekend, just head up to Pheasant Run Golf Club. When Gordon Evans was building the East Gwillimbury course in the late 1970s, legend has it he sought divine intervention. He was having trouble finding irrigation water in the rolling hills along Warden Avenue. With 75 per cent of the construction complete, a number of wells had been drilled, but Mr. Evans was coming up dry. “Dad was getting a little panicky,” Pheasant Run president Craig Evans said. “He said if he found water, he would look after the clergy.” About a week after the vow, Gordon found
‘I often explain what an awesome worship experience it is to be on golf courses during the week ... hearing the Lord’s name proclaimed loudly from the bushes and bunkers.’ Jim Nolson
on the profanity often heard on golf courses
an aquifer with more water than the course would ever need. When the course opened in 1981, he stayed true to his word and offered free golf to all
priests, ministers and reverends on Mondays. Although clergy Monday has evolved a little during the past 31 years, the original premise remains intact. “We’re quite proud of it,” Craig said. “Mondays weren’t always the busiest days for us, so it kind of works out pretty good.” It also works out great for clergy members who don’t subscribe to Mark Twain’s theory that golf is “a good walk spoiled”. Rev. Robin Wardlaw served at Trinity United Church in Newmarket for more than 14 years. He has played Mondays at Pheasant Run pretty much every week for seven years, he said. “The quality of the golf is nothing compared See NOMINAL, page 8.
15795 Yonge St., Aurora | 905-841-1400 | 416-324-3232 | E-mail: askus@sterneacura.com | www.sterneacura.com N
Selling price and payments include freight/PDI, EHF tires and filters, A/C tax, and OMVIC fee, and exclude taxes. *Selling price is $29,870 on a new 2013 Acura ILX (Model DE1F3DJ). Prices include $1,945 freight and PDI, EHF tires ($29), EHF filters ($1), air conditioning tax ($100) and OMVIC fee ($5). License, insurance, registration, and taxes (including HST and tax for fuel conservation, if applicable) are extra. †Limited time lease offer 2013 Acura ILX (Model DE1F3DJ) available through Acura Financial Services on approved credit. Representative lease example: 2.5% nominal lease rate for 36 months. Monthly payment is $295 with $3,850 down payment, and with $1,945 freight and PDI, EHF tires ($29), EHF filters ($1), air conditioning tax ($100) and OMVIC fee ($5) included. First monthly payment and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $14,470. 20,000 km allowance/year; charge of $0.15/km for excess kilometres. Retailer may sell/lease for less. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. While quantities last. Offers only valid for Ontario residents at Ontario Acura dealers. Vehicles are for illustration purposes only. Offers subject to change without notice. See your Acura retailer or acura.ca for full details.