The Scugog Standard April 28th, 2011

VO LU M E 8 , N U M B E R 17

T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 2 8 , 2 0 11

The Standard On Homes & Gardens see pages 14-19 SERVING SCUGOG, UXBRIDGE, BROCK, MANVERS AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Target practice is over, says MNR’s big shot

Federal election coverage in Durham Rogers TV has special Federal Election programming to help the residents of Durham make an informed decision on Monday, May 2.

Find out who your local federal election representatives are and where they stand on the issues with Candidate Profiles and Candidate Debates on Rogers TV, Cable 10/63.

Candidate Profiles Broadcast Schedule Friday, April 29, 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 30, 9 p.m.

Candidate Debate Broadcast Schedule Durham Thursday, April 28, 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 30, 3 p.m.

Sunday, May 1, 6 p.m.

Oshawa Thursday, April 28, 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 30, 4 p.m.

Sunday, May 1, 4 p.m.

Whitby-Oshawa Thursday, April 28, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 30, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 1, 8 p.m.

Tune in on Monday, May 2, starting at 9 p.m. for upto-date results, live reports, discussion and reaction as the results unfold.

Rogers TV serves the Regional Municipality of Durham.

Rogers Cable 10 serves Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Clarington, Uxbridge, Port Perry, Coppins Corner, Goodwood, Epsom, Utica and Scugog. Rogers Cable 63 serves Pickering. For more information on Rogers TV, visit www.rogerstv.com.

BLAKE WOLFE The Scugog Standard

THIS HAT TOPS THEM: This was just one of the many Easter bonnets worn by kids of all ages in the second annual Easter Bonnet Parade and Contest, which led off the 22nd annual Nutty Chocolatier and Scugog Standard Easter Egg Hunt, held in downtown Port Perry last Sunday (April 24).

CARL FERENCZ The Standard

Target practice on local Crown Lands is over, according to Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey.

Last Wednesday (April 20), the provincial minister moved to ban target shooting on the provincially owned Nonquon Crown Lands, following a flurry of media attention regarding such activities at the property north of Port Perry.

The announcement came a little more than one week since several rounds, thought to have been fired from a highpowered rifle, had hit a nearby farm. Those shots are believed to have originated from the Nonquon property, which has become known as a destination for target shooters both local and from across the GTA. No injuries occurred as a result of the bullets fired and police have not laid any charges in the incident.

Township staff and Durham police met with MNR officials last Tuesday (April 19) in Port Perry to hammer out a solution to the target shooting problem. The announcement by the minister came the following morning.

Signs stating that such a use of the property is illegal went up late last week and the province has also granted Durham police more enforcement authority on the property.

According to MNR spokesperson Greg MacNeil, Ms. Jeffrey responded immediately following several news reports on the incident - the first time the matter of target practices on the lands had come to the

ministry’s attention.

According to Mr. MacNeil, hunting will be allowed to continue as a permitted use of firearms on the lands.

Following the media attention given to the property and its use as a firing range, several YouTube videos of target practices at the crown lands were removed from the popular web site.

“I’m very satisfied with the understanding we’ve reached,” said Scugog Mayor Chuck Mercier. “This type of behaviour had to stop and the township is very pleased with the quick response from the ministry and also the police and their willingness to increase patrols in the area and lay charges.”

“It’s good news for us,” said Staff Inspector Brian Fazackerley of the Durham Region Police Service’s 15 Division in Port Perry. “The MNR gave us a more formal letter of enforcement. The meeting was very positive. This is a significant public safety issue brought forward by residents.”

It’s also welcome news to Ted and Kipp Wilson. In the last week, the couple’s Simcoe St. horse farm was hit by at least five stray bullets.

“Everyone’s working together to put a stop to it and we think that’s great,” said Ms. Wilson, adding that she is appreciative of the media attention to the matter, which she believes helped resolve the issue.

“This is very reassuring to me,” said Mr. Wilson of the action taken by the province.

“The police have been great but their hands were tied. Now they have permission to go in.”

Remember to vote!

2 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Standard

Thurs., April 28 , 2011 Emergency Preparedness Week May 1st – 7th 2011 Theme is “Take the Challenge” For details visit the Emergency Preparedness Information Kiosk at the Scugog Memorial Public Library and our website www.scugog.ca MEETINGS, PROCLAMATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS Council / Committee Schedule May 2nd • Council 6:30 p.m.

May 9th • General Purpose & Administration 1:30 p.m.

May 12th • Utica Memory Community Hall Meeting 8:00 p.m. * 13990 Marsh Hill Rd, Utica Meetings noted above will be held in Council Chambers (181 Perry St., Port Perry) unless noted differently.

Proclamations - May • Emergency Preparedness Week – May 1st – 7th • Community Living Month

NOTICES The Corporation Of The Township Of Scugog Sale Of Surplus Land Public Notice is hereby given that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Scugog proposes to convey the following land to the adjacent property owner: The right of way between Lots 6 and 7, Concession 1, in the former Township of Reach (PIN 268100032), Township of Scugog, Regional Municipality of Durham.

Council, at the General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting held on April 4, 2011 declared the lands to be surplus to the needs of the Municipality.

A copy of Staff Report OPS-2011-13-GP&A and plan showing the location of the lands may be viewed in the Office of the Clerk. Questions regarding this sale may be directed to the Director of Public Works & Parks at 905-985-7346, ext. 149.

Kim Coates, A.M.C.T. Clerk First Published: April 28, 2011 Second Instalment 2011 Interim Tax Notice The second instalment of the 2011 interim tax notice is due for Property Tax Levied.

Second Instalment - Payable April 27, 2011 please pay promptly to avoid penalty If you have not received your interim tax notice, please contact the Municipal Tax Office at 905-985-7346 ext 102 or 106.

Failure to receive a Tax Notice does not excuse the Taxpayer of the responsibility of paying taxes, nor does it discharge him/her from the liability of any penalties or interest charged for late payment.

Tax payments can be made in person, by mail, preauthorized payment plan, and telephone banking.

Interac is available for your convenience.

Bev Goslin, Tax Collector 2011 Weight Restrictions The 2011 Weight Restriction Season for all Township of Scugog roads started on March 1st, 2011 and will end on approximately May 13th, 2011.

The weight restriction is five (5) tonnes per axle, with no exceptions. The actual end date will be determined, following reviews of road and weather conditions periodically, toward the end of the weight restriction season. For more information, please contact the Municipal Office at: 905-985-7346 or email: works@scugog.ca Open Air Burning By-Law The Township of Scugog Fire Department would like to remind all residents that there is an Open Air Burning By-Law which governs burning within our municipality.

Burning in Port Perry/Prince Albert is prohibited. The By-Law requires that a burn permit be obtained prior to burning. It further authorizes the Fire Department to recover costs if they respond to an incident where an individual is not burning in accordance with the ByLaw (even with a permit) and/or the burn has spread and results in a grass or brush fire.

A burn must be attended to at all times by a competent adult and a means of extinguishment must be present.

Only wood and wood products are allowed to be burned – no grass burns. Do not burn during a burn ban, when it is windy, during smog alerts and other inappropriate weather conditions.

Last year the Fire Department responded to 49 grass or brush fires and burn complaints. This was

NOTICES

EVENTS

approximately twice as many as in preceding years.

Although the spring was unseasonably dry, most of these incidents were caused by burning when conditions were not favourable. These incidents waste valuable municipal resources. Please ensure your compliance with the municipal Open Air Burning By-Law. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Fire Administration at 905-985-2384.

Council Appointments Are you interested in making a difference in your community? Members are required for Committees of Council, to have your name considered visit www. scugog.ca for details and applications. The following Committees have volunteer opportunities available: • Scugog Accessibility Advisory Committee - 1 member • Fenceviewers - 5 members • Durham Trail Coordinating Committee – Township Representative Youth Appointments The Township of Scugog is seeking youth members to join five Advisory Committees: • Scugog Heritage/Museum Committee • Blackstock Recreation Advisory Committee • Scugog Sports Hall of Fame Committee • Scugog Memorial Public Library Board • Scugog Accessibility Advisory Committee Youth members shall reside in the Township of Scugog; must be secondary school students aged 13 to 18; must express an interest in one of the above Committees and must include a letter of reference from their school and a letter of parent/guardian support with their expression of interest.

Application forms are available on the Township of Scugog website at www.scugog.ca or at the Municipal Office, 181 Perry St., Port Perry and will be accepted by the undersigned.

Kim Coates, A.M.C.T. Clerk E-mail: kcoates@scugog.ca Bridge Closure – Scugog Line 8 - Important Notice Scugog Line 8 from Highway 7/12 to Old Simcoe Road will be closed (effective immediately) for bridge repair until further notice.

For information please contact the Township of Scugog Public Works Department at 905-985-7346 x112 or e-mail works@scugog.ca.

Scugog Sports Hall of Fame The Scugog Sports Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce, “A Call for Nominations”.

Nominations are being invited for consideration and induction into the Scugog Sports Hall of Fame.

Nomination categories include; Athlete, Team and Builder.

Nomination Forms and Criteria Information are available at the Township Municipal Offices and the Scugog Community Recreation Centre or visit the Township Website at www.scugog.ca. Nominations will be received until Friday May 27, 2011 at the Municipal Office or can be mailed to: Scugog Sports Hall of Fame Committee c/o Community Services Department 181 Perry St., PO Box 780 Port Perry, ON L9L 1A7 For inquiries, please contact Lindsay Burnett at 905-985-7346 ext 120 or lburnett@scugog.ca.

Port Perry: Then and Now Exhibit - March 9 – May 27 Back by popular demand! Come and see historic pictures of our town combined with modern photos taken by photographers from Studio 4 at the Heritage Centre and Archives (1655 Reach St., Port Perry), open Tuesday-Sunday 11 am-4 pm. Visit www.scugogshoresmuseum.com for exhibit details.

Rock ‘N’ Rolleskate Come join us on Friday April 29 between 6:30-9:30pm at 1655 Reach Street for a fun filled night of rollerskating. To avoid disappointment purchase your tickets in advance for only $8 or at the door for $10.

LIVE D.J. PLAYING TODAY’S TOP HITS! Port Perry Diva Night – Friday, April 29th 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in Downtown Port Perry visit www.discoverportperry.ca for details.

12th Annual Scugog Lake Scugog Spring Studio Tour April 30th & May 1st Visit www.scugogstudiotour.ca for details.

MotorCity Cat Show April 30th & May 1st At the Scugog Community Recreation Centre (1655 Reach St., Port Perry) – show runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.

Spring Lecture Series May 8th - Genealogy and the Internet: Free Resources With Sandy Denby Join us on May 8th for Genealogy and the Internet: Free Resources with Sandy Denby. So much genealogical information is now available on the internet and many of these resources are free! Join the Scugog Shores Museums’ archival assistant who will take us on a tour of many of these free internet sites and show us how to access the material to help solve our family history questions.Talks will take place Sunday at 1:00 p.m. followed by light refreshments, and a chance to ask questions of the speaker and view the gallery exhibits – tickets are $5 each. Visit www.scugogshoresmuseum.com for more details on the Spring Lecture Series.

RECREATION Don’t delay register today!

Spring Programs: • Pre-School RollPlay • Ball Hockey • Dodgeball • Jump2Bfit • Girls Club • Home Alone Safety • Babysitting Course • Badminton for Adults • Pickleball for Families Summer Camp If you are between 3-14 years old come join us this summer for one of our many camps that we offer.

Camps run for 9 weeks and prices vary depending on what camp you are interested in.

Sports Camp, Discovery Camp, Leadership Camp Tour Camp, Wilderness Camp For more information or to register please call 905-985-8698 ext. 101 or tbudgen@scugog.ca.

CONSTRUCTION NOTICES Notice of Construction - Scugog Line 6 The Township of Scugog has awarded a contract to Hard-Co Construction Limited for the reconstruction of Scugog Line 6 from the intersection of Highway 7A and Queen Street to approximately 600 metres west.

Work is scheduled to commence again in the Spring of 2011.

For more information on the construction noted above, please contact the Township of Scugog Public Works Department at 905-985-7346 x112 or email works@scugog.ca.

Municipal Offices 181 Perry Street, PO Box 780 Port Perry, ON, L9L 1A7

Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Phone: 905-985-7346 / Fax: 905-985-9914 After Hours Township Road Issues: 905-434-2173 / Email: mail@scugog.ca Website: www.scugog.ca

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 3

Birdhouse auction on April 29

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Local churches united in fellowship for the annual Ecumenical Walk through Port Perry on Good Friday, April 22.

CARL FERENCZ The Standard

O’Toole’s organ donor challenge To mark Organ Donation Awareness Week at Queen’s Park, Durham MPP John O’Toole and fellow MPPs Norm Miller (Parry-Sound Muskoka) and Frank Klees (Newmarket-Aurora) launched a friendly challenge to all MPPs and Ontarians encouraging them to register for organ and tissue donation.

Together, they are initiating this fourmonth challenge to raise awareness about life-saving organ donation and double the number of registered organ donors in their ridings.

“Becoming an organ and tissue donor is a simple act that can mean the difference between life and death for so many in our community,” said Mr. O’Toole.

“I encourage all residents of Durham to give the gift of life and register to be an organ and tissue donor.”

Currently in this province, there are more than 1,500 people waiting for an organ transplant, and one person dies every three days while waiting for an organ donation.

About 17 per cent of Ontario residents have registered as organ and tissue donors, with 27,119 in Durham - a donor registration rate of about 18.6 per cent.

To become an organ donor, register at any ServiceOntario location or visit www.giftoflife.on.ca, fill out the consent form and mail it to the Trillium Gift of Life Network.

Op

e

HO n

us

e

The birdhouses are back at Meta4!

The annual exhibit and silent auction fundraiser for the Durham Children’s Aid Society returns to the local gallery from April 29 to May 7. More than 30 artist-decorated and altered birdhouses will be on display that week for bids. This year, birdhouses can also be purchased for a set price, skipping the bidding process altogether.

The auction wraps up with an artist ‘Meet and Greet’ on Saturday, May 7, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Meta4 is located at 200 Queen St. in Port Perry.

4 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Standard

All-candidates meeting Dog Walking Cat Visits In-Your-Home vacation pet sitting

Victory Christian Centre will host an all-candidates meeting in Port Perry tomorrow (April 29) night, as the nation goes to the polls on May 2 for the 2011 federal election.

The meeting takes place at the church, located at 593 Alma St., at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Ward 3 Councillor Jim Howard will moderate the discussion.

Candidates will answer a series of questions from the moderator, as well as inquiries from the audience.

All Day Saturday & Sunday Special $20 for 18 holes $60 for a foursome!

Celebrate Spring With Our New Dinner Menu Re-Opening For Dinner Friday April 29, 2011 Dinner: Tuesday - Saturday 3:00pm - 10:00pm Breakfast & Lunch: Monday - Sunday 7:00am - 3:00pm

905.852.7962

www.foxbridgegolf.ca

905.852.7323

www.scramblesatfoxbridge.com

Bookin’ it!

274 Reach Street Uxbridge, ON

Scrambles Restaurant would like to welcome Chef Matthew Smith to the team!

Library supporters of all ages came out Monday (April 25) morning for the re-opening of the Scugog Memorial Public Library, following more than a year of renovations. The library, located at 231 Water St. in Port Perry, boasts a number of updated features, including an expanded Kent Farndale Gallery, new study rooms and the Baagwating Lounge area, pictured here. BLAKE WOLFE The Standard

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 5

Political dirty tricks reported in Brock and Kawartha Lakes BLAKE WOLFE The Standard

In the run-up to the May 2 federal election, Liberal party supporters in the riding of HaliburtonKawartha Lakes-Brock (HKL-B) are reporting that a number of constituents are receiving prank phone calls falsely attributed to Liberal candidate Laura Redman, some of which misrepresent her stance on agriculture in the largely rural riding.

In a recent press release, the party decries what it calls ‘Republican-style’ campaign tactics that have targeted some residents in the riding, which overlaps into part of North Durham. The party alleges that in the calls, similar to those reported by the Liberals in other ridings, the caller falsely claims to be either Ms. Redman herself or

from her campaign office.

In some of the phone calls, the press release alleges that the caller falsely states Ms. Redman will only support organic agriculture, in a riding where local farming generated more than $87.5 million in 2006, according to Liberal statistics.

Similar calls have been reported by Liberal candidates in other Ontario ridings, including Simcoe Grey, Haldimand-Norfolk and Eglinton-Lawrence, where they were first reported by candidate Joe Volpe. Calls in those ridings are alleged to have come from a 701 area code, originating south of the border in North Dakota.

According to the press release, one such caller, when pressed by the recipient, stated that she was phoning on behalf of a company called Dynamics.

The Liberal press release termined from which area thing to do with this,” office doesn’t have the manattributes the calls to the code the calls originate, said Mr. Devolin, adding power to carry out such an that he was unaware of attack on a fellow candidate. party’s political opponents, she added. actions which campaign “The calls are trying to the calls attacking Ms. “It’s not the work of the manager Bob MacMorran portray me as pro-organic Redman’s agricultural NDP,” she said, adding that said are “only employed by and opposed to tradition- stance. “It’s wrong and her volunteers only make al methods of farming,” not the way we (the Con- calls to those on her list of the desperate.”

Ms. Redman described she said, reiterating that servatives) do things.” supporters. “I don’t have Ms. Redman and Mr. enough people to make all the calls as “pretty bizarre,” her office has nothing adding that she was first to do with the calls. “It’s Devolin have clashed pre- the calls on my behalf.” made aware of them shortly nothing more than an at- viously during this elecGreen candidate Subefore news broke of the calls tempt to damage me and tion campaign, after Mr. sanne Lauten also detaking place elsewhere. How- my reputation. I must be a Devolin stated during a nounced the phone calls. ever, she said that the calls threat if someone is going radio interview that he “We don’t do this type would not provide com- of thing,” she said, citing in her riding did not take on to these extremes.”

Ms. Redman said that ment to, nor spend ad- the party’s stance on such the rude and harassing tones of those reported in other incumbent Conservative vertising money with, the tactics, including its recent locations, and instead fol- candidate Barry Devolin Haliburton County Voice ‘anti-attack ad’ campaign. lowed what she described as has enlisted the aid of a lo- newspaper, where Ms. Red- “We strive to work cooperaa “local script.” She said that cal call centre in his cam- man worked as managing tively with all the parties for the attack on her agricultural paign. Mr. Devolin con- editor up until her March the good of all Canadians.” stance may be related to the firmed that his campaign 25 leave of absence.

The Liberals also said In his decision to boycott that a number of their recent support she has re- team does use a Torontoceived from local farmers. based call centre to identify the paper, Mr. Devolin cit- election signs in the rided Ms. Redman’s choice to ing have been either repotential supporters in the• 905-985-8962 No ‘middle of the night’ 4 River Street, Seagrave calls have been reported in riding, but are not behind continue working with the moved or vandalized in paper while she prepared to recent days, and in one the H-KL-B riding as they the phony calls. have been in some other “Neither I nor my run as a Liberal candidate such incident, the licence areas, nor has it been de- campaign team have any- (he alleges that as of March plate of an alleged sign 1, both Ms. Redman and thief was recorded by a her publisher were aware of Liberal Party volunteer her election bid) as a con- and passed along to the flict of interest, and indica- Ontario Provincial Police. the participant’s level of mobility. The main route will tive of a lack of “fair and The issue of missing or begin and end in Elgin Park and pass through the Counobjective treatment” from vandalized campaign signs tryside Preserve Trail. The second route - for participants the newspaper during his was echoed by Ms. Redwith strollers, wheelchairs and other mobility issues election campaign. man’s fellow candidates in will follow the Wooden Sticks Trail.

NDP candidate Lyn Ed- the NDP, Green and ConThere will be five separate stations set up along each wards said that her campaign servative parties. route where participants will draw a card from a deck.

The best, worst and various other poker hands will win a prize.

Greg Eickmeier, Chair of the Rotary Trail Walk, made the presentation to council and said he is “excited that this event will be a significant fundraiser for a number of local causes.”

Mr. Eickmeier also said that he expects the Rotary Trail Walk to become an annual event, held on the first New Saturday of summer.

Clients Details regarding the Trail Walk and how to register Welcome will soon be added to the Rotary Club’s web sites at www. uxbridgerotary.com and www.rotaryclubofportperry.com.

So come out and go ‘all in’ for a fantastic charity event that’s good for your heart.

Uxbridge and Port Rotary challenge afoot!

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

The Rotary Clubs of Uxbridge and Port Perry are hoping for a ‘full house’ at a special charity event to be held in June.

The two clubs are joining forces to host a ‘Rotary Trail Walk for Charity’ on Saturday, June 25, using the Town of Uxbridge’s trail system as well as Elgin Park.

Registration and warm-up for the walk will begin at 9 a.m. in Elgin Park at the Rotary Bandshell. The walk is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and last until noon, with a barbecue lunch to follow for all those participating.

The purpose of the Trail Walk is to raise money for several causes within North Durham. Those walking will collect pledges in support of one of seven local causes, including Precious Minds, the Uxbridge Youth Centre, the G-Moms of Port Perry, Scugog resident Christy Luke, Africycle, the Scugog-Uxbridge Animal Shelter and the Rotary Club.

There will be two routes for the walk, depending on

6 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Standard

THE STANDARD

EDITORIAL & COMMENTS The Standard has a press run of 21,012 and head office is 94A Water Street, Port Perry, Ontario L9L 1J2 Tel: 905-985-6985 / 905-852-3255 / editorial-standard@powergate.ca www.thescugogstandard.ca / www.theuxbridgestandard.ca

EDITORIAL

A one-word message

Here’s the only thing you need to know between now and election day..... vote.... vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, votev, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote.... ...because everything else is just talk!

CMCA AUDITED

EDITORIAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: It is the goal of The Standard to provide the North Durham community with a reliable source for news, civic events and community activities in a forthright, balanced and open way that is inclusive of all residents. It is the objective of The Standard to promote healthy and open dialogue by residents of the community on the issues and events that affect us all.

The Standard hopes to promote independent newspapers and journalism through the efforts of employee shareholders.

Publisher/ Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rik Davie Operations Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gayle Stapley Distribution Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Davie News Editor . . . . . . . . Blake Wolfe Sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Hadden, .Anita Richardson, Sari Pandopulos Reporters. . . . . . . . Tracey Coveart, . . . . . . Darryl Knight, Kyla Morgan Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Colleen Green Freelance Writers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Thekan, J. ‘Wally’ Nesbitt, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Robert Anne The Scugog Standard Limited is a locally owned and operated company which publishes The Scugog Standard and The Uxbridge Standard once weekly on behalf of a shareholders group.

EDITORIAL POLICY: Opinions expressed by columnists, contributors and in letters to the editor are not necessarily those of The Standard. Letters must be signed and the telephone number (which will not be published) included.

Requests that a name be withheld will be honoured only if there is a compelling reason to do so. The Scugog Standard reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish any unsolicited material.

ADVERTISING POLICY: The Scugog Standard reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. The Standard is not liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of the advertisement nor are they liable for other errors and omissions to advertisements in subsequent issues, or any refunds of monies paid for the advertisement.

All claims of error must be made by Wednesday at noon of the week following publication.

LETTERS The debate about KAI ROS goes on and on To the Editor: In response to the letter by Larry Wright in your April 21 paper, ‘Reader saw nothing wrong in Oda action,’ let’s define Minister Oda’s actions in more detail.

Bev Oda, International Cooperation Miniser, stated to the Foreign Affairs Committee in November 2010 that when the request came through for the funding of KAIROS, the governmental decision had been made to not fund this organization. (KAIROS is an organization that has been going for decades. It includes a conference of Catholic Bishops, the Anglican Church Senate and other Christian denominations that fight for human rights around the world.)

The document had the word ‘not’ hand written into the last statement indicating that the government ‘would not fund’ KAIROS. This document had been signed by Minister Oda and CIDA. When asked in committee who put the handwritten ‘not’ in the document, she said, “I do not know.” She was very adamant and convincing in her statement at that committee hearing. Minister Oda paint-

ed the picture that KAIROS funding was denied because Margaret Biggs, CEO of CIDA, thought they should not get the funding. To this day, we do not know why KAIROS did not get the funding for human rights when it is such a worthwhile cause in the world we live in today.

Members of the Opposition from all parties in Parliament from that date on, including Dec. 3 and 8, continually asked in the Parliamentary Question Period why CIDA had cut all funding to KAIROS when the Harper government speaks so loudly of its commitment to human rights around the world. Minister Oda very rarely responded to any questions in Parliament. Mr. Baird would continually stand up in Parliament to answer all questions about the Ministry Minister Oda was in charge of.

Minister Oda never admitted to any controversial misleading until she came clean during the Parliamentary Question Period in March. There, she admitted to Parliament that she had instructed one of her aids to put the ‘not’ in the CIDA document. This, of

course, caused havoc.

When a controversial issue occurs, an investigation must follow within Parliament with all parties present. This investigation is done by the Standing Committee on Procedures and House Affairs.

On March 20, Minister Oda was summoned to attend the committee hearing. She made a statement to defend herself and tried to salvage her credibility. This is four months after the fact. Why did she mislead the first Foreign Affairs Committee meeting when four months later she admitted to having the document altered? This is when she was accused of lying and being potentially found in contempt of Parliament.

Minister Oda unfortunately was never found guilty of contempt or misleading Parliament as the Harper government was brought down due to a non-confidence vote regarding teh federal budget before the committee could complete its investigation.

This is your member of Parliament.

Betty Somerville Seagrave

A “sorry situation” is continuing

To the Editor: I have watched with interest the published ‘Letters to the Editor’ in the last two editions of The Uxbridge Standard. In both cases, there were references to Bev Oda, and the unfortunate amount of flak she has been forced to endure over the internal memo denying funds to KAIROS. This sorry situation continues, even though the Speaker of the House of Commons (an independent arbitrator) ruled against the opposition parties and, subsequent to this, a committee to air and clarify the facts.

It is too bad that this misrepresentation has been allowed to continue, and that the Standard publishes readers’ letters that are, at best, misleading. There appears to be a bias on the part of The Standard against ‘clearing the air’ and moving on to the real issues in this election campaign.

For my part, I believe that Bev Oda has done a fine job in representing Durham Riding, and it is my wish that we have her representation in Ottawa for many years into the future.

I remember an election campaign in Alberta many years ago, in which there was a candidate who, when asked about his opponent in the other party, said, “Well, he is a nice person and has some great ideas, but here is where our ideas are better.” (And proceeded to outline some planks of his platform).

What a difference from what we have today!

In that case, he won the election easily, because he showed respect for the other candidate and for the voters.

You may notice that Bev Oda does, also.

Bob Kew Goodwood

Thanks a bunch!

To the Editor: I just read the full page photo article in The Standard about the Lake Scugog Spring Studio Tour, and wanted to send along a big thank you for a job well done.

The article flows beautifully and all the tour artists really appreciate this special publicity.

Karen Richardson, Secretary Lake Scugog Spring Studio Tour

We look forward to receiving your letter to the editor

editorial-standard@powergate.ca

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 7

Wading in on Oda issue To the Editor: In the April 21 issue of The Standard, you printed a letter twisting the Bev Oda Contempt of Parliament issue.

Ms. Oda changed a document signed by two civil servants, and herself, from funding a program to declining funding to that program by inserting the word ‘not’ into the document. Bad enough, but then she denied the act to a committee of Parliament by insisting that she did not know who inserted the word in the contract.

This MP was elected on ‘accountability.’ The Speaker may well have been on his way to finding her in contempt, and did find the Harper Conservatives in contempt of Parliament for misleading MPs - and the nation - on the cost of big budget initiatives, and their attempt to hide billions of dollars in costs.

These two incidents are the first of their kind in modern times, and are the immediate basis for this election.

But the backdrop is: - $6 billion planned for new jails for youth when crime is down; and

- $40 million spent on goodies for Huntsville (Tony Clement’s riding) supposedly for two days of G8 security.

The Liberals ran big surpluses and paid down the national debt. The Tories have turned this around to huge deficits that will crush future generations of Canadians.

Chiefs of Police are almost unanimously in favour of the Long Gun Registry to help the police reduce crime - and the Tories are reviving a plan to scrap it.

While Ms. Oda declares that average families in her riding pay less in taxes, that ‘saving’ is made by adding billions to the national debt to be paid, sometime later, by all of us.

Parliament has been the representation of the people - first in Britain, and now Canada - for hundreds of years.

Lying to Parliament and Contempt of Parliament, show a contempt for the Canadian people.

Accountability, anyone?

Lionel Koffler Uxbridge

A pro-life victory, or is it?

To the Editor: According to a Toronto Star article on April 21 by Tonda MacCharles on prolife backers shaping Conservative funding, it appears Brad Trost, a Conservative for Saskatoon-Humboldt, claims a parliamentary victory for the pro-life movement, thanking supporters for their help killing federal funding for the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

MacCharles’ article said Conservatives are trying to distance themselves from Trost’s comments. MacCharles states that IPPF, which provides sexual and reproductive health programs worldwide, has been waiting for over a year and have yet to hear from Minister Oda on their funding. Prime Minister Harper says he has no intention of revisiting the issue but will if the IPPF get the funding from the Conservatives that has been available

to them for decades.

Why don’t Conservatives come right out and tell Canadians how they feel about the issue? What are they hiding?

The Toronto Star tried to contact Brad Trost but did not get a response. Has Minister Trost been gagged after letting the cat out of the bag? Harper is going to have to put duct tape on all his ministers soon or he’ll have no secret agenda.

Well, at least this time, Minister Oda checked with the boss before signing the funding approval for the IPPF. Another ‘not’ above her signature would have had her sitting as an independent like Helena Guergis.

We better put our winter coats back on. Canada, under the Harper regime, is getting cold and calculating.

L. Willman Durham

Three views of it I had a rare experience this week that is worth sharing if only so that I can drop a few names and appear slightly more influential than I am.... Okay, a lot more influential than I am.

I had three members of the Liberal Party in my office who represented, between them, every era of the left in Canada in the recent past.

Grant Humes, the current Liberal candidate, dropped in to the office with Alex Shepherd, who served in three Parliaments for the riding of Durham under Jean Chretien and Paul Martin, and the Honourable Donald S. MacDonald, who served us in Parliament from 1962 until 1978 and is a former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

I asked the three men a question that has been burning me up for some time.

How badly has the practice of debate on the floor of the Commons deteriorated and can the Commons be won back for learned debate by learned men?

As I’ve said in the past, Question Period in the house has become a replay of recess on a public school playground, with the intellectual equivalent of “Oh yeah? Well so are you,” becoming accepted debate prose.

Mr. MacDonald, who shared the floor of the people’s chamber with such giants as Diefenbaker, Pearson and Trudeau - and is no shirker in the area of classic debate

Just Write!

TRACEY COVEART The Standard

Can somebody tell me, please?!

By this time next week, we’ll have a new federal government in this country. Well, not new, likely, but the same old, with a new term in office. As I look deep into my crystal ball, I see the Conservatives being voted in again to hold the tenuous reigns of yet another hamstrung minority government.

Several billion dollars well spent ... for the fourth time in seven years. Imagine if our feuding factions had managed to find a way to overcome their political differences and work together as one cohesive, proactive government?

It’s a utopian concept, I know, but what if they had thrown that $10 billion in election money at the affordable housing crisis? They could have built enough units to clear more than a few wait lists.

Instead, on May 2, I’ll head back to the polls to dutifully cast my ballot, thankful for the right to do so and discouraged that I have so little control over the destiny of my own life, let alone my own country.

I think what irks me most about this election - other than its futility and senseless expense - are the distractions, especially here in Durham.

Let’s set the record straight. Bev Oda did not lie to the Foreign Affairs Committee last November. The committee members just didn’t pose the right questions. When Minister Oda was asked if she altered the KAIROS funding document by inserting into it the now infamous word ‘not,’ she replied that she hadn’t.

There is nothing untrue in this statement.

Had there been a reporter on that committee, he or she would have followed up with the next logical question. ‘Did you order the word ‘not’ to be inserted into the document?’

And further, ‘Were you instructed to have the word ‘not’ inserted into the document and, if so, by whom?’

Was she evasive? Perhaps. Did she lie? No. More has been made of the observation that Ms. Oda, when repeatedly interrogated during Question Period about her actions, refused to answer. This is viewed as an act of defiance or

himself - summed up what he has seen of the floor in recent years.

“There is a meanness to the Reform Conservatives,” RIK DAVIE The Standard he said. “A mean-spirited feeling to a degree that is simply not constructive for any of us.

“I go back to Mr. Diefenbaker as Prime Minister and such behaviour as we now see would simply be unthinkable,” the veteran Government Minister said. “That type of conduct? No, it would not have been accepted by any of us.”

Alex Shepherd saw the change to the present form of floor attack, as he was preparing to retire from public life.

“Well-thought out debate is no longer present that I can see,” Mr. Shepherd said. “It’s about attacking the other guy more and more and less about what you can do to make things better.’

Mr. Humes, who hopes to one day take part in debate in the Houses of Parliament said that he thinks it’s about what the public will and won’t accept.

“We have to engage people in the process, especially the young people,” Mr. Humes said. “I truly believe that government performs to the expectations of the people. It is our job to raise that expectation.”

So there it was, the past, the present and one future hopeful all saying the same thing you’ve heard before ...

an admission of guilt. To me, it smacks of a gag order. I understand Bev’s silence. I wouldn’t want to make Stephen Harper angry. He scares me. I think I’d sooner suffer the wrath of the Canadian people.

Besides, I challenge you to find a politician who hasn’t been evasive when answering at least one question in his or her political career.

Much like used car salesmen, politicians have developed a reputation for being untrustworthy. It kind of goes with the territory.

And it helps to keep us on our toes. Checks and balances.

Is Bev Oda a bad person who is out to withhold relief from people in need? I doubt it. But I don’t take everything she says as the gospel.

Politicians have their own agenda, just like you and me and the dog who licks your face when you come in the door because he thinks his show of affection will get him a big bowl of kibble.

Accountability and transparency are just words. They are unenforceable and amount to no more money in my pocket. Less, in fact, because every new scandal triggers some sort of multi-million dollar inquiry.

What I want to know - what I want this election to answer - is how I am going to survive?

How can I afford to keep my house and my car when gas is sitting at $1.35 a litre, when my hydro bill is going to double in the next five years, when my property taxes jumped by 5.3 per cent in 12 months, when a bag of milk and a loaf of bread costs $10 and when I’m working three jobs to make ends meet and haven’t seen a ‘cost of living’ increase in more than half a decade? How am I ever going to be able to retire, when I am self-employed, with no pension and no money left over at the end of the month to invest in an RRSP? That’s what I want to know. And that’s something no politician can tell me.

Standard Transmissions you’ll get the kind of government you demand.

If you expect less of your representatives they’ll be only too happy to oblige you.

There are good people in the House. People who are above such behaviour. Some folks thought our current MP Bev Oda avoided the House (after some problems with some document or other) because she simply refused to participate in the mud-slinging, name-calling that is the modern Commons.

People who are above such behaviour. I believe that we are fortunate here in Durham Riding in that Mr. Hume and Ms. Oda are honest people willing to do an honest job. I have not spoken with the NDP candidate but there is no indication they are any less, nor the Green Party candidate - who went a long way to gain this paper’s good graces when he actually admitted to an error and apologized for it.... Really, a politician apologized!

But it comes down to us, folks. We’ll get what we ask for and if we ask for nothing you can bet your ‘I didn’t vote’ butt that’s exactly what they’ll dish out. Now go vote!!!!

8 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Standard

Ashburn celebrates 150 years of ‘old schooling’ TRACEY COVEART The Standard Although the province shut down the last one-room schoolhouse in Ontario in 1992, memories of collaborative education are still fresh in the minds of at least five students of Ashburn Public School, known as SS#7.

And those former students are planning a reunion on June 11 and 12 to celebrate what would have been the school’s 150th anniversary this year.

The Ashburn Public School, which is still standing in much the same condition it was in when the doors closed for good in 1965, is located on the north side of the 9th Concession in the village of Ashburn, at 780 Mrytle Rd. W. The stone school was built in 1861 by William Pearson, an Ashburn stone mason, who apparently used the building to demonstrate his skills in the trade.

Classes began that same year and finished in 1965, after which time students were to Meadowcrest School in Brooklin.

SS#7 became a Community Centre in 1967 and continues to serve that purpose, receiving an historic designation in 1984.

To commemorate the school’s 150th year, five former students - Stephen Daw, Kyle Brown (Gaudaur), Myno Van Dyke, Reta Stickwood (Bath) and Jim Daw - have formed a committee to organize an Ashburn School Reunion and History Fair in June.

The idea for a reunion began to germinate last May at the Anderson Collegiate 50-year reunion.

“I ran into one of the other kids I knew from Ashburn Public School,” said reunion committee member Rita Stickwood, “who mentioned the idea and said it had been bounced around by a couple of people. I said if there was a committee formed, I wanted to be on it.”

That didn’t happen until last fall, when the five committee members got together for their first meeting.

“It’s come together quite easily,” said Rita, adding that a few other members have since come on board. “Everybody seems pretty excited.”

The committee has already sent out 115 registration forms, “and we know there are still others we haven’t made contact with,” Rita said. “We’re hoping some of the people we’ve contacted will be able to reach the people whose names we didn’t know

Ashburn Public School’s Class of 1892 is pictured here in an archival photo.

The school is preparing for its 150th anniversary this June. SUBMITTED PHOTO or people who have moved, changed their name or just disappeared.”

She’s also hoping members of the community will come out to the reunion - people who might not have had the chance to attend the school, but want to learn about life in a one-room schoolhouse.

“There are people from the village who really want to come and be in the school and see what it was all about, even though they never attended,” said Rita.

The reunion committee is fortunate to have access to old photographs - including class pictures from the 1800s, complete with names - from the archives in Whitby, but they are looking for information, memorabilia and additional photographs from people in the community so they can construct a Memorial Wall.

The complete reunion agenda has not yet been finalized, but Saturday will include the opening ceremonies at 1 p.m., pictures and history displays at 2 p.m. and dinner at the Burns Presbyterian Church at 5 p.m. On Sunday, there will be games and visiting at Ashburn Community Park, starting at noon. Special activities include a writing competition using old ink pens, which will be judged by one of the school’s last teachers, Sheila Parrott.

“We also have an historian coming from Oshawa to talk about teaching in a oneroom school house. He’s going to bring an

old desk, a bell and some books,” said Rita.

And, since most of the people who will be attending the reunion won’t have seen each other in 40 or 50 years, there will be lots of time for visiting and an ‘open mic’ at Saturday’s dinner for sharing stories. The cost to attend the reunion is just $5, with an additional $20 required to attend the dinner, which will be catered by Peter Bagshaw. Registration forms are due by May 14 so organizers can get an idea of how many people are coming and how many are staying for dinner.

Rita, who will be 58 this month, spent four years at Ashburn Public School, from Grades 1 to 4.

“I thought it was a great education, even a superior education, depending on the teacher. You could lose a couple of years with a bad teacher, but my sister Judy skipped two grades while she went there.”

There were eight grades in a one-room schoolhouse and one teacher instructing as many as 50 students. According to committee member Jim Daw, “we shared a library the size of a jam closet, filled pens from inkwells, shovelled coal for heat and drew water with a bucket and hand pump.”

It sounds like a tough way to get an education, but students who went through the system wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It was really kind of cool,” said Rita. “The older students looked out for the younger students. And if there were problems, they

got solved.”

When Rita moved away from Ashburn and enrolled in a school in Toronto, “I didn’t know what to do with a whole class of kids the same age. You all have the same problems! In a one-room schoolhouse, there was always someone to help or look up to.

And you learned by watching what the other grades were doing.”

The teacher would teach the odd grades one day and the even grades the next, but everybody was always busy. We weren’t idle,” said Rita. “You always had something to do.”

And then there was the fun stuff. The Christmas concerts, the plays and the skits.

And the ‘special’ days.

“The whole school would have art at the same time. And I remember the stormy days.

There were really cool toys and books that we could get out.”

As for physical education, “there were always outside activities. We played baseball and we skipped. And we played games where the whole school was involved: Red Rover and Ante Over the Shanty - where one team would throw a ball over the school roof and run around the building to tag the person on the other team who caught it. Everybody remembers those things.”

The school building, said Rita, “is just the way it was when we went there. The old stove and cloakrooms are gone, but they’ve kept it very well. We’re fortunate it hasn’t been turned into a home.”

The committee is hoping for a big turnout for the June reunion, including at least three former teachers.

“It’s amazing how many people still live around Ashburn,” said Rita, who moved back to the area for high school and now lives in Sunderland. “A lot of us have kept in touch. I have one girlfriend in Tennessee who can’t make it, but my sister is coming back from Florida to attend. We’re hoping everyone will come and be a part of it.”

To register for the Ashburn School Reunion and History Fair, contact Rita Stickwood (Bath) at rstickwood@hotmail.com or phone 905-357-3105 by May 14.

If you have photos or memorabilia you would like to share, contact Jim Daw at jamesdaw@sympatico.ca. For more information on Ashburn Public School and the reunion, log on to www.ashburnschool.info.

A Foote festival featuring films of the 70s firm for this fall

The Scugog Seventies Film Festival has confirmed that Academy Award nominee Mary Badham will attend the festival’s screening of To Kill a Mockingbird, followed by a Q and A with audience members. A special event brunch with Ms. Badham will be held in town at a location to be announced.

Mary Badham portrayed the tomboy Scout in the film, which earned Gregory Peck an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance of one-half of the greatest father-daughter relationships ever captured on the big screen. Nine-year-old Mary was extraordinary in the role of Scout and became lifelong friends with Peck, staying

in touch until the actor’s passing.

“I spoke with Mary and she is thrilled to be a part of the event,” said Seventies Film Festival Artistic Director John Foote.

“She had been confirmed for the Silver Screen Festival, which has been cancelled, but I found it crazy to pass up the chance to bring Mary to town. A work of art that crossed over to be a mainstream hit - which didn’t happen very often in the 60s) - Mockingbird is a timeless film that fits into any film festival.”

Although the motion picture was made in 1962, To Kill a Mockingbird is among the most influential films

of its time, said Mr. Foote. “And because it had an enormous influence on the major filmmakers of the 70s Martin Scorsese and the late Sidney Lumet and well as producer Alan J. Pakula and so many others - it makes perfect sense to include it in the Seventies Film Festival.

The festival will run from Sept. 21 to 25. The Gala Opening Night will feature screenings of The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974), the two single most important films of the 70s, according to Mr. Foote.

Watch The Standard for more details on the Scugog Seventies Film Festival in the coming weeks.

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 9

Cats invade North NORTH Durham on April 30

DURHAM

TRACEY COVEART The Standard This Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1, Port Perry will be the purrrfect place to be for a fabulous feline encounter as the Motor City Cat Club brings its 48th and 49th shows to the Scugog Arena.

More than 100 cats of all breeds will be judged at the 2011 Championship and Household Pet Show - ‘Out with the old ... in with the New’ - which is open to the public and sanctioned under the Canadian Cat Association (CCA).

The Motor City Cat Club was founded in 1978 by five cat lovers. Today, it’s 10 members (who are pleased to welcome new recruits) “get together and plan our annual shows,” said club member and local Bengal breeder Donna Clayton. “We have a lot of fun putting on the shows and being involved as exhibitors.”

The goal of the club is to promote the breeding and showing of purebred cats, to educate the public on the care of their feline pets, to promote the well being of all cats in Durham Region and to organize cat shows sanctioned by the CCA with which it has been affiliated for 28 years. The shows promote the breeds and also raise money for the Humane Society and other cat rescue organizations.

“We’re a non-profit club so anything we make - beyond covering the expenses of our judges and clerks - goes to a different rescue group each year,” said Donna. “This year, we’ll be donating the proceeds to the Durham Humane Society.”

The show is normally held in Whitby and whether or not there is a return engagement in Port Perry will depend on this year’s attendance. “We rely on visitors,” said Donna.

“It’s pretty rare for people to have the opportunity to attend a cat show and this is the only one in Durham.”

Adults are $8, children and seniors are $4 and a family is $14. Discount coupons are available on the Motor City Cat Club web site at www.greeentiger.ca/MCCC. Attendees will have the chance to get up close and personal with breeders and their cats, watch the judging, enter raffle draws and visit with vendors selling everything from cat toys, products and food to grooming products, litter and scratching posts, to jewelry and photography. Judging will take place in four or five different rings throughout the two days, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

“The cats compete against each other according to breed, gender and class - kitten, championship, premiership and household pet,” said Donna. “Each breed has a written standard of perfection and cats are examined and scored using the breed standard as a a guide.”

After the winners are declared, the judges choose their top 10 in each category, with the top three - the best of the best - receiving awards. At the end of the year, all points earned at these shows are tallied for provincial and national titles. Donna’s Bengal Blackjack, an altered male who will be at the shows this weekend, is currently sitting fourth in Ontario and will finish in the top seven in Canada in the premiership class.

Visitors can expect to see cats they might not see anywhere else: Abysinnians, Bengals, Exotic Shorthairs, Main Coons, Pixie Bobs and Sphynx - what Donna considers to be the most ‘unusual’ breed. But her heart belongs to the virtually shedless, beautiful, loyal and playful Bengal.

Intrigued? Come to the Motor City Cat Shows this weekend and see for yourself. Blackjack would love to rub elbows with you.

Mon., Wed. & Thurs.

Gentle Aerobics for older adults, Masonic Hall, Port Perry, Mon. Wed., 10 a.m.; Thurs. 10:45 a.m., info: 905655-5917.

Every Monday and Friday *Port Perry Senior’s Line Dancing 10:30 a.m., beginners 11:30 a.m., Latcham Centre, 905-985-4126. * Port Perry Senior’s Exercise, 9:30 a.m., 905-986-4746, Latcham Centre.

3rd Monday of each Month * Port Perry Patchers QUILT Guild, Hope Christian Reform Church, 14480 Old Simcoe Rd., Prince Albert, 7 p.m. www.portperrypatchers.ca * Scugog Shores Fibre Artists, 7:30 p.m. info: 905-985-8318, 905-9852939.

1st and 3rd Tuesdays Port Perry Rug Hookers Group, Upstairs at Vos, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 905985-1198.

Every 2nd Tuesday Autism Ontario Durham Region Chapter, support group meetings 7:30 p.m., Precious Minds Resource and Learning Centre, info: 1-866-4954680.

Every 4th Tuesday *Challenging Autism Together Support Group, 7:30 p.m., Dunbarton-Fairport United Church, 1066 Dunbarton Dr. Pickering, call 1-866-495-4680. * Community Nursing Home Family Council meeting, in Sun Room , 6:30 p.m. sharp, bring your concerns and question, info: 905-982-8922.

First Wednesday of Month Join IODE Susie Sorabji chapter evenings during spring and fall, morning during winter months, info: www. iode.ca or 905-852-7084.

1st and 3rd Wednesdays Dragon Flies Breast Cancer Survivor Group, Open House, 970 Eldon Rd., Oakwood 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., call Sue 705-953-9987. * Port Perry Senior’s Computer Club, 2:30 p.m., 905-982-2135, Latcham Centre.

Every 3rd Wednesday Autism Support Group meets 7:30 p.m., at Behavioural Consultation and Therapy Services, 1450 Hopkins St., Suite 105, Whitby.

Every 4th Wednesday Port Perry Old Time Fiddle Club, Dance and Jam, Scugog Community Centre, 6 p.m. - 11 p.m., $3 admission, fiddlers, pickers, singers, round and square dancing, musicians and public welcome, info: 905-985-7557.

First Thursday of Month Uxbridge Parkinson’s Support Group meetings, 22 James Hill Court

Uxbridge (Bridgewater Building Function room ) 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., information, 905-852-8894, www. uxparkinsons Every 3rd Thursday The Uxbridge Genealogical Group meets in the Library, lower level, 7 p.m., $2, 905-852-6973 or eileen-wilson@powergate.ca 1st and 3rd Thursdays Meditation sessions, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., bring comfortable cushions, cost is donation, info: 905-852-9974.

First Friday of every Month *Ladies if you feel a cancer-support friendship group would be helpful for you, please join us for lunch at noon, Jersey’s Restaurant, Uxbridge, info: call Kathy 905-8952-7292. *Port Perry Flowyoga Studio holding yoga class with all proceeds to Uxbridge Scugog Animal Shelter, this is a pay-as-you-can- class, 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m., www.portperryflowyoga.com or 905-441-7874.

Last Friday of every Month ‘Movie Night’ Prince Albert United Church, 7 p.m., donations accepted.

Last Wednesday of every Month Reiki, 7 p.m., Scugog Island United Church Last Sat. of every Month Men’s Promise Keepers, free men’s breakfast, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. with guest speakers, Emmanuel Pentecostal Church, Port Perry, info: 905-985-4441.

1st and 3rd Sundays Scugog Duplicate Bridge Club games, Jan. Feb. and Mar., games are charitable fundraisers for our local hospital, Prince Albert Community Centre, call Vicky 905-982-1956.

------------------------------------------Fri., Apr. 29 - Sat., Apr. 30 ‘Broadway and Beyond Concert’ presented by One Voice Uxbridge Singers, Friday - 7:30 p.m., Saturday - 3 p.m., St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Toronto St., Uxbridge, $15, info: 905852-0770.

Saturday, Apr. 30 Craft and Bake Sale sponsored by the Head UCW, Scugog Island Community Hall, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., ‘Nearly New,’ Silent Auction.

• Huck Finn Day at Elgin Pond, limited amount of Ribbons available at Uxpool.

Saturday, Apr. 31 - Sunday, May 1 12th Annual Lake Scugog Spring Studio, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. both days, info: 905-985-3527 or www.scugogstudiotour.ca Wednesday, May 4 40th Anniversary of Uxbridge-Scott Historical Society 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., first president and Uxbridge histo-

rian Allan McGillivray relates stories from the busy, interesting years in the wheelchair accessible museum schoolhouse.

• Third Annual Peace Concert Flag of Love Day 7:30 p.m., Zephyr Community Centre, 310 Zephyr Rd., by donation to the Uxbridge Foodbank and/or Shah’s Aid for Afghan Civilians, local celebrities on stage: Leah Daniels, Brent Buffan and Heavy Traffic.

Friday, May 6 Ham Salad Supper, Wick Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m., adults $12, 10 year and under $5, 705-357-1375, 705357-2160.

• First day of the 2011 season for The Sunderland Farmers Market, Sunderland arena parking lot, every Friday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. for vendor enquires or further information please contact John Nowakowski: 705-879-8588.

Saturday, May 7 Free Nutrition, Health and Weight Loss Class, 12 week course - one hour per week, Seagrave United Church, info: 905-985-8608.

• Lindsay - St. John Ambulance Health Care Provider CPR course; 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Victoria Park Armoury, 210 Kent. St. W., fee $99, please note course is for Health Care Professionals or Emergency Service Providers only info: 705-324-9894 or sjalindsay@bellnet.ca • The Uxbridge Branch of the Canadian Bible Society Annual Breakfast meeting, Living Water Church, 141 Reach Street, Uxbridge, 8.30 a.m., guest speaker: Ted Seres, National Director, Canadian Bible Society, free will offering, info: 905 852-6086 • Spring Bazaar, Community Nursing Home, Port Perry, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., tea room, vendors, bottle bingo, entertainment, etc., Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 Lindsay - St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid and Health Care Provider CPR course; 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Victoria Park Armoury 210 Kent. St. W., must attend both days, fee: $160, please note: course is for Health Care Professionals or Emergency Service Providers only, info: 705-324-9894 or sjalindsay@bellnet.ca Sunday, May 8 Scugog Shores Heritage Centre and Archives Lecture Series, 1655 Reach St, Port Perry, Geneology and the Internet: Free Resources - Sandy Denby, 1 p.m., $5 also includes gallery admission.

Items for Happenings? Let us know. editorial-standard@powergate.ca North Durham Happenings is a community service of The Standard reserved for Charitable and Non-Profit events. We endeavour to run all eligible items in the order which they are received.

Jack and Jill for

Abby McLaughlin and

Gabe Benschop Saturday, May 7 8 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Latcham Centre, Port Perry Tickets $10 Hockey Theme

Turning Points Deadline Monday at noon.

10 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Standard

Zephyr, Sandford

by Pat Asling

THE NEWS YOU NEED FOR THE HAMLETS OF NORTH DURHAM

Greenbank As the earth warms up and planting season arrives, please remember the Greenbank Park and Hall Board Plant and Flower Fundraiser, which takes place at Otter Greenhouses on Medd Rd. in Epsom, from now until June 10.

The board receives 10 per cent of purchases when you mention the Greenbank Centennial Hall to the cashier. This is a great way to support your community park and hall.

On Saturday, April 30, at 10 a.m., at Greenbank Church, a memorial service will be held for the late

by Mary Jean Till

Bill Gaston, dear friend of Joyce Ward, father of Mary Kathleen DeWilde and grandfather to many.

Much better health is wished for Wilma Midgley, as she recovers from her recent surgery.

Want to feel better and live healthier? Join the free Nutrition, Health and Weight Loss class at Seagrave United Church. During this 12-week course, you will learn about proper nutrition, healthy food choices and exercise.

Classes are about one hour long per week. The class starts on May 7. For more

information, contact John or Joanne Olivero at 905985-8608.

The Lions have begun their annual fertilizer fundraiser. A 55 pound bag is $25. Delivery is free.

Call 905-985-3723.

Upcoming events...

-April 27, at 7:30 p.m., the evening UCW will meet at the church. Please bring baby items for a layette.

-May 4, at 1:30 p.m., the Fidelis UCW will meet. Ladies are asked to remember layette items also, to be donated to Operation Scugog.

-May 1, at 10 a.m., is

Prince Albert On Sunday, May 1, the Prince Albert Congregation will be joining with Port Perry to help celebrate their 125th anniversary. The service begins at 9:50 a.m., but the service is preceded by an old fashioned hymn sing beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The church committees will meet with the full Panel on May 10, at 7 p.m., joining together for their reports at 8 p.m. The next evening, Wednesday, May 11, the UCW will meet in the Fellowship Room. On Sunday, May 15, at 11:30 a.m., the

coffee and muffins.

May 11, 7:30 p.m., is the Official Board meeting at Seagrave Church.

May 14, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., is the Perennial Plants, Books and Bake Sale, hosted by the Evening UCW at Greenbank United Church.

Donations will be greatly appreciated.

Please remember to call 905-985-0535 or drop off your news items in the box at 20018 Hwy. 12 by Sunday nights, as The Standard Newspapers has bumped up its publishing date by a day.

by Pat Boyd Memorial Plaque will be dedicated during the regular service.

Prince Albert United Church is in a fundraising partnership with Otter Greenhouses. Our congregation will receive 10 per cent of sales until June 4 when you mention the church when making your purchases.

Saturday, May 28, is the date for the Prince Albert Yard and Plant Sale. We are quite willing to accept donations, so if you are in need of a pick-up, please contact Clive at 905-985-7034 to make arrange-

Seagrave A very subdued Good Friday Vigil evening service was held at Seagrave United Church, with passionate readings by Rev. Paul Moorhouse of the journey of Jesus to his crucifixion. After each reading a candle was extinguished and a hymn was sung, seven in total. After the closing prayer, the Christ candle was extinguished and the parishioners left in darkness and silence. Mr Colin Greenlaw shared his talents with us and played a beautiful violin anthem, ‘Good Friday Reflections.’ He was accompanied by Joan Lee on the piano.

On Thursday, Ivan and Joy Stone visited with Ross and Jean Short.

On Saturday, Bill and Penny Short en-

ments. The UCW will also have their bake table.

The Nursing Home Bazaar will take place on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Hope Christian School on Old Simcoe Rd. is having a yard sale that same morning.

Thursday evening’s euchre winners were Joyce Norrish, Ivan McLaughlin, Mary Drewery, Harry Hill, Carol Peneerthy and Doreen Brockville. Connie Cloutier won the lone hand series with her 13 lone hands.

by Robin Drew & Jean Short tertained his sister Bonnie, Cyril, Andrew and Matt Steinsky, as well as Uncle Ross and Aunt Jean Short for dinner.

Also on Saturday, Donna Wanamaker, Amy Collins and family, Paul Wanamaker and family, and Sharon Brooks were at the home of Kim Books (Stone) to celebrate Easter with Kim and her family.

Kim is a former resident of Seagrave.

Ken and Eleanor Sturman greeted the congregation on Sunday. Birthday greetings went out to Linda Buscher, Margaret Real, Eleanor Sturman and Ruth Zolitz.

The full choir sang two anthems, directed by Joan Lee. Devon and Jordyn Hooker showed off their awesome Easter bonnets.

‘Rain to make the grass green, sun to make the flowers preen.’ First an apology to the Fire Department, who informed me that they extinguished the Lummis fire as soon as they were called. Capable as always!

Doreen VanVught travelled to Windsor recently to watch her granddaughter Cassidy, from Calgary, participate in the National Juvenile Wrestling Competition. Cassidy won a bronze medal.

In the play, ‘Forbidden’ -produced by Jennifer Wilson - Robin Ottolini, Brent Smalley, Laura Harrison and Jeff and Sara Wilson played to a packed house. It is good to see all these young people involved in positive activities.

About 25 people listened to speaker Jan Wilson talk about a program to care for and organize all those photos tossed in a drawer at the Uxbridge Genealogical Society Thursday evening meeting. Next month you are invited to bring your ‘brick walls’ to the more expert members.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the Uxbridge Scott Historical Society. On May 4, the original curator and historian Allan McGillivray will speak about that historic journey. Carol Johnson, president of the Historical Society, was pleased to be able to obtain some wonderful items from the home of the late Ruth Wade.

This was facilitated by Ruth’s family. The Lucy Maud group were also recipients of some treasures.

The Good Friday Service was well attended. It comprised passages of scripture interspersed with hymns and appropriate musical selections from the choir.

With each scripture, a candle - representing one of the disciples who failed Jesus - was extinguished, followed by the Christ candle.

Lorraine Ottolini’s mother, Marian Wakely from Cobourg, and a friend, were visiting the family. It was nice to see Leslie Smith and family and young Scott Sopel with parents Jean and Al. Easter Sunday was a wonderful service of celebration. Angel Hannah attended, giving a vivid account of the resurrection.

So sorry to hear that Marion Feasby fell, breaking her arm. She was installing officers of the Zephyr WI at the time. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Others taking it easy but recovering are Dorothy Baker and Deborah Clement. Annabel Jones is also feeling better.

The ladies of Zephyr, Leaskdale and Mount Albert are invited to meet with our UCW on Thursday, April 28, at 1:30 p.m. The speaker will talk about her work with Ugandan orphans and an offering will be taken to assist this cause. Don’t forget to make plans to attend Sandford’s Pork Barbecue on June 2.

The Sunday School children participated in an active Lenten journey of Jesus to his resurrection. They worked in pairs - one older and one younger child - visiting the stations of the cross and opening clues.

When they had completed their journey, they presented the seven clues to Pontius Pilate (Don Real) and were given the chance to choose one special gift. Jordyn and Devon Hooker brought Easter eggs for the Sunday School group. This was followed by an Easter egg hunt in the sanctuary.

The 4th Line Theatre is staging a production of ‘Cavan Blazers’ on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. This is the story of conflict between Irish Catholic and Protestant factions in Cavan Township in 1854.

It has been chosen by audiences as their favourite 4th Line production. Anyone interested in going should call Betty Lou Beacock ASAP at 905-985-3595 Tickets would be $27.50 each and our seats would be reserved.

The Greenbank Public School children are holding a meat fundraiser through the Trading Post. It’s a great way to buy local meat and support a local school.

For more information or to make a purchase, contact the school or mrsruske@ hotmail.com.

Please note that the Congregational Meeting has been changed to May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the church.

Bible Study is May 5 at 7 p.m.

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Epsom & Utica Best wishes for much better health go out to Ivy Shier.

Please be reminded that spring clean-up at Epsom and Utica United churches is this Saturday, April 30, at 9 a.m., starting at Epsom Church.

Many hands will make the work go much faster!

There will be a sign-up sheet in the Narthex of the church for the outreach project in Uganda.

The Good Friday Food Grains Bank breakfast was very well attended, with $2,700 being raised through a freewill offering. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped with the break-

Blackstock Special church services for Easter weekend featured large crowds, beautiful music and fine sermons. Most families enjoyed family gatherings over the weekend.

Our thoughts are with Marilyn Bailey and Kathy Malcolm and their families as they deal with serious health issues.

The District Four meeting for the Fair Boards will be held Thursday evening.

Check with Joan Swain or Janice Beechey if you would like to car pool.

On Monday evening, several local people were recognized at the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards presentation.

From the Pineridge Garden Club, Kathleen Petrie received her 30 year pin, Bryan

Sunderland Hockey is pretty well over for the season but, to cap things off, come out to a Sunderland Minor Hockey dance this Friday, April 29, at the Legion. No minors.

This Sunday, May 1, at the 11 a.m. service at Wick Presbyterian Church, Dr. Paul Puckrin will be the guest speaker, telling us all about his visit to help out in Haiti.

St. Andrew’s United Church is having its Anniversary Service on Sunday, May 1, at 10:45 a.m. All are welcome.

On Friday, May 6, at 6 p.m., Wick will have its now famous Ham and Salad Supper. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. Everyone is welcome. Call Jean Robertson at 705-3573705 for tickets.

Scugog Island The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation is hosting the Native Arts and Crafts Show and Sale this Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Health and Resource Centre at 22600 Island Rd. Come one, come all for refreshments, door prizes, a 50/50 draw, raffles and more. For information, call Anne at 905-985-9107.

The same day, you can also take in the Craft and Bake Sale sponsored by the Head UCW at Scugog Island Community Hall, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be crafts, baby quilts, home baking, plants, a ‘nearly new’ silent auction and ‘Wheel of Fortune.’

Come and enjoy a light lunch with mom!

Also on the Island on Saturday is the estate farm sale at Pat Taylor’s, located 22751 Island Rd., starting at 10 a.m.

Men’s Coffee Hour is Tuesdays. Book Study is Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Reiki Night is

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 11

by Shari Kerry fast. Stone picking will take place on Friday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m., at Marsh Hill Rd. and the 8th Concession. Lots of help is needed!

The Beef Supper is on Saturday, May 7, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Utica Memory Hall. Everyone is welcome.

The next UCW meeting is May 10, at 1 p.m., at Epsom Church.

The next Seniors’ Luncheon will be on May 12, at noon at Epsom Church.

Please call 905-852-7445 to reserve.

Don’t forget that you must have your news to me by 7 p.m. on Sunday night in to make it into the Epsom/ Utica Shorelines column that week.

UXBRIDGE TRINITY UNITED CHURCH

20 First Avenue Rev. Dr. Bill Fritz 905-852-6213 www.trinityuxbridge.com SUNDAY WORSHIP AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10 A.M. Junior and Senior Youth meet Fridays 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 1710 Scugog Street, Port Perry Father Peter Lackmanec

by Joyce Kelly Gilop his 10 year pin and Marilyn Trunks her five year pin. Several women from the Shirley Women’s Institute received their pins: Hazel Coates for 50 years, Muriel Wotten for 50+, Mae Buller for 40 and Joyce Kelly for 50. Jean Slemon (40 years) and Velma Wray (20 years) were unable to attend this very impressive presentation.

Congratulations volunteers.

There were seven tables at the weekly card party with the following winners Eileen Dalby, Don Geer, Josie Kane, Ivan McMillan, Don Trunks and Ann Tennyson. Lucky draw winners were Wilma VanCamp, Heidi Kreig, Alma Manns and Ivan McMillan.

by Denise Wilson Wednesday, May 4, is the monthly Seniors’ Lunch at the Legion. Our seniors keep very busy with their get-togethers and shuffleboard and cards.

A week from this Sunday is Mother’s Day, a very special time for all of us. Keeping this day in mind, come celebrate on Saturday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m., with an Evening of Musicat St. Andrew’s United Church. Random Notes, Susan Brown, soloist, and other local performers will entertain us ... and maybe our moms. Tickets are $10 and are available from any choir member or by calling 705-357-3737.

On Sunday, May 8, treat Mom to a ‘no muss, no fuss’ breakfast at the Legion from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

by Jeanne C. Le Saux Wednesday, April 27, at 7 p.m.

The Official Board Meeting is Thursday, April 28, at 7 p.m.

There is a Jazzmerize Concert on Saturday, May 7, at 7 p.m.

The next euchre night will be May 28.

Happy birthdays this week from both the church and First Nation communities go out to Joan Aldred (April 26), Peggie Lalonde (April 29) and Edna Beckett (May 2) and Greg Marsden (April 25), Charles Le Saux (April 26), Jordan Woodcock (April 27), Elsa Swinson (April 28) and Odessa Marsden-Williams (April 30).

Please keep in mind that due to a new deadline at The Standard Newspapers, the cut off for news for this column is 7 p.m. on Sunday evenings. I can be reached by phone at 905-985-7662 or by fax at 905985-5398 or call for my e-mail address.

MASS SATURDAY - 5 p.m.

SUNDAY - 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

For Mass through the week call the Parish at 905-985-7071

SCUGOG ISLAND UNITED CHURCH

19100 Island Road, Port Perry 905-985-4094 Rev. Don McBey SUNDAY, May 1 10 a.m. Service A warm welcome to all

HOPE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Hope Church

SUNDAYS at 10:30 a.m.

Mid-week programs for youth and adults!

14480 Old Simcoe Rd. (Between 7A and Prince Albert) 905-985-9307 hopechurch@powergate.ca www.hopeforportperry.ca

A PLACE OF HOPE!

PORT PERRY BAPTIST CHURCH 2210 Hwy. 7A (at Island Rd.) 905-985-8681 www.portperrybaptist.ca Rev. Jim Clemens, Sr. Pastor Join us for worship this week: SUNDAY SERVICES Sunday School 9:15 a.m.

10:30 a.m. Worship 5:45 p.m. Prayer Fellowship 6:30 p.m. Worship Pre-school child care available

ANGLICAN CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION

The Rev’d. Dr. Brent Stiller, Rector 266 North St., Port Perry Phone: 905-985-7278 ascension@powergate.ca www.ascensionportperry.com Sunday School and Nursery care available.

SUNDAY, May 1 9 a.m. Communion 10:30 a.m. Communion

PORT PERRY and PRINCE ALBERT UNITED CHURCHES

Rev. Tim Dayfoot Rev. Rohan Wijesinghe 905-985-2801 SUNDAY, May1 Port Perry United Church 294 Queen St., Port Perry 125th Anniversary Service 9:30 a.m. Hymn Sing and Joint Worship Service with Prince Albert Guest speaker: Rev. Robert LePage Prince Albert United Church 23 Jeffrey St., Prince Albert

Join us on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. for a contemporary worship experience in a relaxed environment.

Rev. Fred Penney, Lead Pastor 1680 Reach Street. - 905-985-4441 Visit us on the web: www.emmanuelcc.ca

VICTORY CHRISTIAN CENTRE

593 Alma St., Port Perry, Ontario 905-985-1346 vccpp@powergate.ca www.victorychristiancentre.net Join us Sunday Mornings at 9 a.m. Bible Teaching 10 a.m. Prayer 10:30 a.m. Celebration Service Something for all ages

ST. JOHN’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 319 Queen Street, Port Perry Interim Moderator Rev. Caleb Kim 905-985-3881 Jim Skimming SUNDAY, May 1 Service at 10 a.m.

Sunday School and Nursery Care Available All are warmly welcome

Nursery Care and Sunday School Available

• www.portperryunited.com Rev. Paul Moorhouse 905-985-7766

paulmoorhouse@andrewswireless.net www.greenbankchurch.com

SUNDAY, May 1 Seagrave (in the beautiful hamlet of Seagrave) 9:30 a.m. Service Greenbank (Hwy 12, minutes. N. of Pt. Perry) 11 a.m. Service Everyone is welcome Sunday School Available during service

List your church services, events and news: Gayle or Linda 905-985-6985 ~ 905-852-3255

12 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Standard

KEEPING YOU INFORMED ABOUT YOUR HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT TWO PENNIES PER READER

Lakeridge Health Whitby Delivers Regional Services It’s been just a few weeks since Lakeridge Health Whitby reopened its doors but it already feels like home for returning staff and patients. Many others are getting to know the site and its new role of delivering regional services to residents of Durham Region and surrounding areas.

Services are located at LH Oshawa. LH Port Perry and Rouge Valley Health System - Ajax/Pickering Site. LH Whitby does not offer any walk-in services such as Emergency Services, Urgent Care or Diagnostic Imaging.

LH Whitby is home to the new Ambulatory Rehabilitaiton Centre, which offers specialized care such as Respiratory Rehabilitation, Amputee Clinic and Neurological Rehabilitation.

It’s also home to the Positive Care Clinic, Dialysis and Complex Continuing Care. Services like Geriatric Rehabilitation and Assessment allow elderly residents to receive rehabilitation at a slower pace in order to return home and into the community.

Ensuring Our Patients Receive the Best Care Possible As part of our commitment to continuously improving the quality of care we deliver to each of our patients. Lakeridge Health has embraced the provincial government’s Excellent Care For All Act, creating and publicy posting a comprehensive Quality Improvement Plan.

Doug Allingham The plan identifies our top Chair, Board of Trustees priorities and impovement targets for the year. Our goals include enhancing communication with patients; for example we wish to ensure that the care we provide to complex care patients will help them succeed when they transition back to home or elsewhere, reducing the chance they may need to be readmitted to hospital.

“Now that Whitby is reopened, our programs can focus on their future and continue to grow and enhance services for the residents of Durham,” says LH President and CEO Kevin Empey.

LH Whitby reopened on March 31 after an electrical fire forced its closure in July 2007. Thanks to funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the site received nearly $7 million in building infrastructure upgrades and a Fire Code Retrofit.

LH is grateful for the support of its partners, notably Rouge Valley Heatlh System and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, which provided temporary space for patients.

(l to r) Dialysis Patient Pat Cornelius visits with Ontario Minister of Health Deb Matthews, Whitby Mayor Pat Perkins and Whitby-Oshawa MPP Christine Elliott during the grand reopening of LH Whitby.

Members of the community are reminded that Emergency

Parking Rates to Decrease at LH Port Perry

LH has also developed a performance-based compensation plan for executives that ties executive compensation to achievement of targets. I encourage you to visit www.lakeridgehealth.on.ca to view our Quality Improvement Plan and to learn more about our commitment to continuous improvement, as well as being responsive and accountable to our community.

Beginning May 1, 2011, the daily flat rate to park at Lakeridge Health Port Perry will decrease from $6 to $4. “Lakeridge Health is making adjustments to parking services at each site in an effort to offer our patients and visitors more flexibility and options,” states Executive Vice President John McKinley.

Here’s To Our Great Volunteers ...

Parking rates at Lakeridge Health Port Perry are:

its annual Tag Days on Thursday, June 2 through

The Auxiliary to Lakeridge Health Port Perry holds

• $4.00 flat rate • $36.00 Visitor Monthly Pass (30 Day Rolling Pass) – Transponder required.

• New $36.00 Reserved Monthly Pass for staff only – Transponder required.

Saturday, June 4. Volunteers in coral smocks will be canvassing at selected locations in town asking for your support of the Port Perry site and hope the

To rent a transponder, there is a $25.00 refundable deposit on top of your monthly pass. Parking transponders are available with a refundable deposit. To obtain a parking transponder, please call 905-576-8711, ext. 3707.

community will be as generous as in past years.

This year, the Auxiliary has committed to purchasing two fetal heart monitors for the New

Passionate Volunteers Create Lasting Impact

Life Centre, one wireless fetal heart monitor system, two beds with floor pads, seven specialty sleep surfaces, three medication carts and a

Volunteers Touching Lives; Lifting Spirts. That was the theme Lakeridge Health embraced to celebrate National Volunteer Week, held April 10-16. LH invites you to join us in recognizing the many valued volunteers whose dedication to helping others makes a difference in our hospitals each day.

washer/disinfector to replace an aging one. Your

For long-time LH Port Perry volunteer Camille Crozier, volunteering has become a way of life. She joined the hospital auxiliary in 1957 and continues to volunteer today. Camille’s Corner Gift Shop, located in the front lobby of the hospital, and Camille’s Closet the nearly new shop operated by the Auxiliary, are both named in recognition of the life member of the Auxiliary.

Lakeridge Health’s Walk of Life

donations are always appreciated.

“It truly is an honour to have the stores named after me. I am very proud,” says Crozier, who is now in her 80s. She has held numerous volunteer positions at the hospital over the years and continues to volunteer in the gift shop. She is modest about her contributions, preferring to share the spotlight with the many other volunteers who also contribute their time and efforts to the hospital.

household items.

Proceeds from Camille’s Corner Gift Shop and Camille’s Closet, located at 115 Perry St., are an integral part of Auxiliary fundraising. Camille’s Closet opened its doors last fall and accepts gently-used and clean clothes, fashion accessories, books, and

LH appreciates the compassion and dedication of its volunteers.

“Adults and students are motivated to help and their caring impacts everyone in our hospital.” says Helena Finn-Vickers.

Manager of Volunteer Resources.

(l to r) Helena Finn-Vickers, Manager of Volunteer Resources,

presents longtime volunteer Camille Crozier with some cake during Volunteer Week celebrations

Sunday, May 15, 2011 9 am to 12 pm Heydenshore Kiwanis Park 300 Water St., Whitby, ON

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 13

CSA grows at Willowtree With spring just around the corner, Willowtree Farm in Port Perry is busy planning for the second year of its Community Supported Agriculture program.

Willowtree is encouraging area residents to become a part of their program and purchase weekly baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables or natural beef straight from the farm and to see, taste and learn about the true meaning of local food.

According to Willowtree Farms’ Jordan McKay, it is critical that people learn about why local farms are offering this type of program.

“Eating local is becoming more important all the time,” he said. “People need to know where their food is coming from and where it is produced. So many people are unaware of what food is produced in their area. The CSA program really connects the farmer and consumer.”

Mr. McKay, who is also a vendor at the Port Perry Farmer’s Market from June to October, said the Willowtree CSA program makes eating well and eating local more convenient for customers who might not be able to get out to the farmers’ market each weekend.

“We understand some people can’t make it to the market every Saturday but we still want them to be able to experience fresh, seasonal food, which is where our program helps out,” he said. “Our program just adds to what the market is trying to do and give people who can’t

make it an alternative.”

This season, said Mr. McKay, residents who join the Willowtree CSA will have the chance to get to know their food and the people who grow it a whole lot better.

“We’ll be offering farm tours so members can see how and where their food is grown,” said Mr. McKay, “as well as recipes and descriptions of the food that they receive in their weekly baskets.”

At Willowtree, Mr. McKay said, it is important to provide customers with not just the taste of local food but also knowledge about it.

“You can walk into the grocery store anytime and purchase a banana or apple, but a lot of people don’t know what is in season and what isn’t,” he said.

“By purchasing our baskets, customers aren’t only getting great tasting food, but food that is in season around us.”

People can also learn a lot about their meat by making a visit to the local farm.

“We have signs explaining that our meat comes straight from the animals on the farm,” Mr. McKay said, “which are all natural fed with no antibiotics or growth hormones.”

Whether residents are looking for fresh seasonal vegetables or the perfect grilling steak, Willowtree has something to please every palate.

For information on the Willowtree Farm CSA and how to purchase your full- or halfshare for the 2011 growing season, visit www. willowtreefarm.ca.

These members of Scugog Council were among the many residents taking part in the 20-Minute Makeover litter clean-up initiative, which kicked off Pitch-In Week on April 18. From left, they are: (front row) Councillor Wilma Wotten, CAO Bev Hendry, Councillors Bobbie Drew, Larry Corrigan and Howard Danson; (back row) Councillors John Hancock and Jim Howard.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Vol.4 NO.4

UXBRIDGE GARDENS

A garden tour makes a great Mother’s Day gift!

See Page 15

FERTILIZER FREE Grow a healthy lawn See Page 16

YOUR COMMUNITY GUIDE FOR BUYING, SELLING, RENOVATING AND LANDSCAPING

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011

Your Community Owned Newspaper

THE STANDARD ON HOMES & GARDENS

Garden tour a great Mother’s Day gift This Mother’s Day, treat someone special to a day in the garden.

Each summer, the Uxbridge office of Community Care Durham (CCD) organizes its annual Gardens of Uxbridge Tour. In 2011, this self-guided tour will take place on Saturday, July 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As a Mother’s Day promotion, CCD-Uxbridge is offering a special gift for mom. Gift certificates for the 15th Annual Gardens of Uxbridge Tour are available by calling the CCD-Uxbridge office at 905-852-7445.

Ticket sales for this fundraising event will not start until June 1, so these advanced gift certificates are only available for the Mother’s Day promotion.

The Gardens of Uxbridge Tour is truly a gardener’s delight, with entrance to a number of beautiful and unique

gardens within the Town of Uxbridge and the surrounding rural area, and

a special edition anniversary painting, created by renowned local artist

a gift certificate - $20, which includes a box lunch - makes a perfect Mother’s Day gift.

As this is the 15th year for the Gardens of Uxbridge Tour, CCD-Uxbridge will be celebrating the milestone with

Sharon Nielsen. Tickets for this special raffle will be available the day of

Lee Colby 905-430-3000

realty inc

Brokerage

www.cansaverealty.com

the event. There is also an Early Bird Draw for amazing garden-themed prizes, including the grand prize of a dinner for two at the Tin Mill restaurant in Uxbridge.

CCD-Uxbridge is thrilled to have sponsors like The Investors Group and Tin Mill Restaurant back onboard for another year.

All proceeds from the Gardens of Uxbridge Tour will go directly to support the programs and services offered by Community Care Durham-Uxbridge.

Don’t miss this special opportunity to treat your mom to a unique, botanical Mother’s Day. Gift certificates for the Gardens of Uxbridge Tour are only available until Friday, May 6.

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 15

16 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

THE STANDARD ON HOMES & GARDENS

The Standard

A green, healthy lawn without fertilizers When we water our lawns or it rains, much of the fertilizer we put on our grass ends up in our local rivers and lakes. If you live in town, nutrient-rich runoff flows through a series of stormwater drains and ditches, eventually emptying into your local lake or

Lawn Care From $175/yr!!!

For 2000sq ft Lawn

Tax In!!!

RESULTS GUARANTEED

All Lawns Monitored by Owner Iain

Sp Ma ec y ia l Great programs for every lawn and budget Bronze: A strong fertilizer and weed management program.

Silver: All of the Bronze plus a Core Aeration for added soil health.

Gold: To create and maintain a thick healthy lawn. Best value!

Platinum: An uncompromising approach for an impeccable lawn.

Programs Include

Bronze Silver

Gold

Best Value!!!

Platinum √

Spring Core-Aeration & Overseed Magnesium Soil Enricher

√

√

Spring Fertilizer

√

√

√

√

Late Spring Fertilizer & Weed

√

√

√

√

Summer Inspection & Report

√

√

√

√

Early Summer Fertilizer & Weed

√

√

√

√

Mid-Summer Fertilizer & Weed

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

Fall Core-Aeration Fall Overseed √

Fall Fertilizer & Weed

√

2000 sq ft Lot Approx 36 x 100

$174.90 $235.86

$342.55

$444.37

3500 sq ft Lot Approx 49 x 100

$225.75 $291.80

$428.99

$552.88

5000 sq ft Lot Approx 69 x 100

$276.60 $352.82 $530.69 $690.23 All Prices Tax In!!!

Full Range of Lawn Improvement Services Available

Or Call for FREE Estimate

How Do I Sign Up?

1.888.771.5210

 Call and Schedule a Free Lawn Analysis  Call and Sign Up over the phone  Sign Up via email

Iain MacLean

1.888.771.5210

iain@enviromasters.com

@Enviromasters

river. If you have a shoreline property, the runoff flows directly into the water.

In North Durham and the Kawarthas, this is contributing to the excessive growth of aquatic plants.

It takes only one kilogram of fertilizer to promote the growth of 500 kilograms of aquatic plants!

Here are some ways to keep your lawn healthy without using fertilizer this spring: 1. Thatching. Remove dead grass from your lawn.

Thatching is a great way to help aerate your lawn and can easily be done using a standard leaf rake.

2. Aeration. Aerating every couple of years is a great way to loosen soil to allow for more water and

nutrients to enter the earth.

This involves the use of an aerator that removes small plugs of earth from the topsoil layer.

3. Apply compost to your lawn. A thin layer of compost (or a top-dresser containing compost) will contribute to a healthy lawn by nourishing the grass and increasing the organic matter in your soil. Be sure to prevent any compost from getting into the storm drain by keeping it off of the road, driveway and sidewalk or from washing into the ditch. Compost can also add nutrients to water.

4. Over-seeding. Overseeding in the spring will help to create a thick and lush lawn and will also help to choke out weeds.

The thicker the grass, the less chance the weeds have to survive. Over-seeding can also be done mid to late August.

Have your soil tested for nutrients if you feel that you must fertilize your lawn.

You can get a soil test for less than $30, and it will determine if - and how much - fertilizer is required. Contact Shalin Abbott at sabbott@kawarthaconservation. com or 705-328-2271, ext.

223, for more information.

If you decide to use fertilizer, be sure to apply it accurately. Fertilizer particles on roads, sidewalks and driveways end up in the lake through the storm sewers. Along a shoreline, fertilizer particles should be prevented from going into the water. Grass clippings also contain nutrients and should be kept out of the water and off the road, sidewalk and driveway.

For more information on green lawn care, including environmentally friendly weed and pest control, download the fact sheet ‘Green Lawns, The Green Way’ at wwww.kawarthaconservation.com. More about keeping nutrients out of lakes and rivers is available at www.kawarthaconservation.com/livingintown.

All-Stars Realty Inc. Brokerage

144 Queen Street, Port Perry

Your Community Owned Newspaper

THE STANDARD ON HOMES & GARDENS

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 17

Enjoy gardening without aches, pains and injuries this season As springtime approaches and the weather warms up and the leaves turn green, many people will spend more time outside planting bulbs, mowing the lawn and pulling weeds. Gardening can provide a great workout, but with all the bending, twisting, reaching and pulling, your body may not be ready for exercise of the garden variety.

Gardening can be enjoyable, but it is important to stretch your muscles before reaching for your gardening tools. The back, upper legs, shoulders and wrists are all major muscle groups affected when using your green thumb.

A warm-up and cool-down period is as important in gardening as it is for any other physical activity. Performing simple stretches during these periods will help alleviate injuries, pain and stiffness.

To make gardening as fun and enjoyable as possible, it is important to prepare your body for this type of physical activity. The following stretches will help to alleviate muscle pain after a day spent in your garden.

Garden fitness stretches -Before stretching for any activity, breathe in and out, slowly and rhythmically; do not bounce or jerk your body, and stretch as far and as comfortably as you can. Do not follow the ‘no pain, no gain’ rule. Stretching should not be painful.

-While sitting, prop your heel on a stool or step, keeping the knees straight. Lean forward until you feel a stretch in the back of the thigh or the hamstring muscle. Hold this position for 15 seconds. Do this once more and repeat with the other leg.

-Stand up, balance yourself, and grab the front of your ankle from behind. Pull your heel towards your buttocks and hold the

position for 15 seconds. Do this again and repeat with the other leg.

-While standing, weave your fingers together above your head with the palms up.

Lean to one side for 10 seconds, then to the other. Repeat this stretch three times.

-‘Hug your best friend.’ Wrap your arms around yourself and rotate to one side, stretching as far as you can comfortably go.

Hold for 10 seconds and reverse. Repeat two or three times.

While you are gardening, be aware of your body technique, form and posture.

Kneel, don’t

VOTE!

MAKE YARD WORK AND

QUICK EASY Proud Sponsor

LIMITED TIME ONLY

149 95

$

German-engineered quality STIHL trimmers will save you time and make even the toughest job easier. Powerful and lightweight, STIHL trimmers give you the power you need at a very affordable price.

MSRP $189.95

FS 38 Gas Trimmer

Powershift Performance Ergonomically designed super quiet cab, with an innovative power shift transmission and programmable auto-shift feature.

M100X/M110X/M126X/M135X (85/95/108/118 PTO Hp) LIGHTWEIGHT & POWERFUL

• Power shift transmission with auto-shift feature • 16 Forward / 16 Reverse (24F/24R with Creep) MSRP 219.95 45 Gas(wet Trimmer • HydraulicFS Shuttle clutch) • LCD Display PTO and Travel Speed • Bevel Gear 4WD Front Axle • Electro-Hydraulic Engaged Front and Rear Differential Lock • Exclusive Bi-speed ASK OUR FRIENDLY STAFF FOR MORE feature provides the OR tightest turns PRODUCT INFORMATION A

179 95

$

$

FREE

DEMONSTRATION.

Feature prices are in effect until July 31, 2011.

M135X

bend, and alternate your stance and movements frequently. When raking leaves, use a ‘scissors’ stance: right foot forward and left foot back for a few minutes; then reverse.

Bend at the knees, not the waist, as you pick up leaves or grass. For mowing, use your weight to push the mower.

After the bulbs are planted If you already feel muscle aches and pains and did not complete the warm-up and cool-down stretches, there are ways to alleviate your discomfort. Apply a cold pack on the area of pain for the first 48 hours or apply a heat pack after 48 hours, and consider chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care can help.

If the pain persists, consider spinal manipulation. The goal of a doctor of chiroprac-

tic is to manipulate the spine and help stimulate your body’s natural healing process.

For more information on health and safety, visit the Ontario Chiropractic Association web site at www.chiropractic.on.ca or call 1-877-327-2273.

Courtesy of Dr. George I. Traitses www.infinite-health.com

18 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

THE STANDARD ON HOMES & GARDENS

The Standard

Backyard gardening might be a survival skill With the current state of our economy and our planet, there are five signs that backyard gardening might soon be a survival skill rather than a hobby.

1. Rising produce prices. The price of most foods is on the rise, which is particularly devastating when so many people are unemployed, underemployed, retired or retiring or are on declining or fixed incomes. Some price hikes (on everything from cereal and steak to fresh veggies and bread - and even the flour that can usually be bought cheaply to make it) will be temporary. But long-term, the systems that have provided us with a diversity, quantity and quality of foods are not going to be as reliable as they were.

2. Peak oil. Even oil company CEOs agree that the world will have passed the peak of cheap, easy oil in the next few years. And cheap oil - necessary for fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, farm machinery and transportation - put cheap, abundant food on grocery store shelves. Over the next several decades, food will get progressively more expensive and some foods, especially fresh vegetables and

Ready Mix

fruits, will become less available in stores.

3. Peak soil and space. Farmable land is at a premium everywhere in the world. Every year, farmers lose thousands of acres of arable land to urban and suburban sprawl. And top soil is a dwindling natural resource. Half the earth’s original trove of topsoil has been lost to wind and erosion and soils that have been farmed using petroleum-based synthetics toxic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides - are virtually dead and will not be able to produce as much as they have.

4. Climate instability. Bad weather has devastated grain crops around the world and - while increasing heat will bedevil harvests - intense cold, downpours, flooding and drought will make farming an increasingly hellish occupation. The unpredictable, transitional climate will produce weather extremes and weather disasters. This could take decades, centuries or even millennia, but when a whole nation’s or region’s staple grain crops are lost, everything down the line from the crop itself becomes more expensive, from meat to every kind of processed food.

5. Persistent unemployment and economic instability. No pundits, talkingheads, or economic analysts deny there are rough economic times ahead. Even many of the cautious among them acknowledge that we may be looking at five or six years of high unemployment, and many of the lost jobs won’t be coming back.

The less cautious, who have been watching this crisis build for decades predict the collapse of the whole fossilfuel, funny-money, global economic system.

Courtesy of Ellen LaConte, author of ‘Life Rules: Why so much is going wrong everywhere at once and how Life teaches us to fix it.’

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 19

20 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Standard

THE LARGEST LOCAL SPORTS COVERAGE IN DURHAM REGION

Smith named Rookie of the Year Awards are always special and for Port Perry’s Britni Smith, her most recent trophy is the highlight of the past hockey season. You don’t win ‘Rookie of the Year’ unless you’ve got something exceptional to bring to the ice, and this award is proof of Smiths’ total dedication, hard work and love of the game.

The honour comes from the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey League) Toronto team. It was Smith’s first year with the squad and her talent and strength on the blue line helped the team to land in the top three in their loop. The team earned a play-off spot and made it to the championship game, which was an enormous accomplishment.

Smith quarterbacked the defence in the 29 games she played and was also a factor in the offensive game, garnering eight goals and 21 assists on the season. Her presence showed in the CWHL Clarkson Cup Championship rounds, where she nailed one goal and two assists.

Playing for the Toronto team - which took her third overall in the draft - al-

lowed Smith to play close to home for the first time in a few years, and afforded her some fan support in the stands.

Toronto just qualified for the Clarkson Cup play-offs, where the team took Boston out in two straight games to advance. They beat Brampton 3-2 and then skated over Minnesota in a true end-toend 6-0 game. They lost to Montreal 2-1 in the round robin, then played the Quebec team in a rematch in the championship final.

Montreal was stronger again in this one and won the cup, but the Toronto team is setting it sights on grabbing the glory next year.

The CWHL season may be over but Smith is continuing to work hard. She is training for her bid to once again represent her country as a member of Team Canada and she is a force to be reckoned with on the Women’s Ball Hockey Canadian National team, which is already deep into its season.

Not bad for a Port Perry girl! Congratulations, Britni Smith, the CWHL Toronto team’s Rookie of the Year.

MoJacks back on the ice for camp Fresh off their first COJHL Championship win since 2006, the Port Perry MoJacks are already gearing up for next season, and the Junior ‘C’ hockey club recently announced details for its annual rookie evaluation camp.

The camp will take place over three sessions in May at the Campus Ice Centre in Oshawa, located at 2200 Simcoe St. N. The camp sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, May 24, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday, May 25, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday, May 27, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Camp is open to players born between 1991 and 1995, and those who register before Wednesday, May 18, are eligible for the reduced registration fee of $65, which includes all three sessions.

Payment must be received prior to May 18 to take advantage of the $10

savings. Registration for players who sign up after May 18 will be $75.

To register for the rookie evaluation camp, players must fill out an on-line registration form at www.portperrymojacks.ca or contact MoJacks General Manager Murray Parliament at 905985-7295.

All Minor Hockey players will be required to provide a ‘Permission to Skate’ form from their local Minor Hockey Association.

Full face masks and neck guards must be worn by all participants. No exceptions.

In other MoJacks news, the team recently launched an account on the popular social networking site www.twitter. com to allow fans to receive real-time updates from the club. You can follow the team at MoJacksHockey.

RIDING FOR A CAUSE: Equestrian coach Takayuki Yamazawa, pictured here on ‘Miss Chocolat’ at Country Hill Equestrian Centre, is donating money from his fees toward relief efforts in Japan, following the recent earthquake and tsunami. For information, visit www.countryhillfarm.ca or call 905-642-2642.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jim Grieve golf tourney, June 7 A new golf tournament named after a familiar North Durham community member comes to Scugog this summer.

The first annual Jim Grieve ’56 Belair Golf Classic tournament takes place Tuesday, June 7, at Wolf Run Golf Club, with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Mr. Grieve is currently recovering in hospital following a recent medical episode.

The tournament format is four-person scramble. Registration is from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Tickets are $125 and includes golf, cart, dinner and the chance to win

some great prizes. Dinner will be served between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Anyone wishing to sponsor a hole can do so for $200. Any and all monetary donations would be graciously accepted.

Please make your cheques payable to ‘Robert Burn Golf ’ and forward your cheques and registration forms to: Wolf Run Golf, Att: Robert Burn 51 Golf Course Rd., Janetville L0B 1K0 All proceeds from the ’56 Belair Golf Classic will be donated to a charity of Mr. Grieve’s choosing.

Your Community Owned Newspaper

High Performance

THE STANDARD ON SPORTS

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 21

Players mark end of an era

TOM THEKAN The Standard

More ball prep If you’re planning on being on the ball diamonds this summer, you might want to check out last week’s column on getting ready at www.thescugogstandard.ca or www.theuxbridgestandard.ca. While you’re there, you might as well check out the previous column on ‘Hanging.’ The grip and shoulder work in that column is an important factor in both softball and baseball.

Compared to sports where there is continuous action - like soccer and basketball - softball and baseball appear to be relatively slow-paced and easy going games.

Well, they are - until the action happens. Then the muscle contractions are explosive and powerful, and it’s these unexpected, forceful contractions that can result in injuries.

So here are some more exercises to keep you on the field and out of the sports injury clinic.

12. Y.E.T.I.’s Probably the simplest exercises for strengthening the back of the shoulders. The name is derived from the shape of the body when viewed from above.

Lay down (prone) on the ground or on a bench.

Y - arms straight and at 45 degrees; E - arms to the side and elbows at 90 degrees; T - arms straight out to the side; and I - arms straight in front.

SLOWLY lift arms and hold for two to three seconds. Five repetitions each position. Squeeze the shoulder blades together. These are great if you’re a desk jockey or a student by day.

13. Fat boy pull-ups. Another great exercise for the back of the shoulders. With a bar about waist height and body straight, pull your chest to the bar.

Looks like an inverted push-up.

If you don’t have a bar, get two teammates to hold a bat at waist height. The larger diameter of the bat provides a grip challenge, too.

10 reps.

14. Core. Check out any photo in any sports section of an MLB player making contact with the ball at the plate.

The shoulders and hips face the same direction (on the same plane). Hitting power does NOT come from the spine twisting.

Power in hitting comes from the legs and hips. The core simply ‘braces’ and transfers power to the shoulders.

Planks of all kinds (as usual), and when ‘T’ and ‘X’ push-ups get too easy, put a softball in each hand.

15. Accelerations. It’s only about 12 strides to first base, so acceleration is paramount if you want to beat the throw to the bag.

In this department, nothing tops short hill sprints.

Power up the hill HARD. It will also help you get to the ball faster in the field.

Just a couple more tools from Tom’s tool bag.

Enjoy the season.

Tom Thekan is a strength and conditioning coach.

Never begin any exercise program without consulting your doctor.

Some of these North Durham Blades players will be among the minor hockey skaters hanging up their jerseys in that age division, as they move on to new leagues in the fall.

SUBMITTED PHOTO For the North Durham Blades Midget ‘BB’ players who turn 18 this year, their minor hockey career has come to an end. Of course, some of these alumni will go on to play college or university hockey, but their days in a Blades uniform are over.

The mother of one departing player posted this status on her facebook page: ‘Minor Hockey … I will miss you!

Maddy played her last hockey game of the season yesterday, bringing 20 years of watching the kids play hockey and ringette to an end.’

“I’m really going to miss it,” said another mother, whose daughter first took to the ice at age three in the Uxbridge Mites Learn to Skate program.

“It was 15 years ago when she started playing with the boys. Her brother always played rep hockey, so she naturally wanted to follow in his footsteps.

When the girl’s hockey league formed, she switched and has had many fantastic years making lifelong friends and travelling all around Ontario representing North Durham.”

This mom goes on to say that hockey has helped build her daughter’s confidence, encouraged her to try other sports and has taught her the value of teamwork and sportsmanship.

“Minor hockey has been wonderful for my daughter and our whole family. We’ve met some great people, had a lot of fun and

enjoyed some really proud moments.”

Many of those proud moments came this past season. The Midget ‘BB’ team finished fifth in the Lower Lakes Female Hockey League, took a first place win at the Nottawasaga Resort Rep Tournament, were consolation champions at the Waterloo Ravens Fall Challenge Cup tournament, were championship finalists in the Walter Gretzky Girl’s Hockey Tournament and enjoyed a well-deserved opportunity to play in the OWHA Provincial Finals.

The veteran team members who will be retiring their Blades jersey are Nicole Hubers, Vicky Morton, Natalie Dubis, Kirsten Rabe, Maddy Hanson, Jenni Duncan, Julie Cockburn and Tash Salmers. The girls who have at least one or two more years on the ice before hanging up their minor hockey skates are Hailey Dolson, Laura Jennings, Jessica Visser, Emma Clark, Jessica Tratnik, Andrea Burley, Lindsay Jennings and Jackie Lamport.

Bridge results The following are the winners of the Scugog Duplicate Bridge Club games played on Wednesday, April 20.

1st - Vicky Anderson/Jean Mouland 2nd - Leslie Wilkinson/Adrienne Laas 3rd - Doreen Connolly/Tom Pettypiece

1st Port Perry ScoutS regiStration

22 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

THE STANDARD ON SPORTS

The Standard

Angels fly to Seneca, prepare to soar on local ball diamonds The grass is getting green, the baseball diamonds are drying out and the girls are back in their gloves. Baseball is already underway for the Port Perry Angels and, for the last few weeks, the players have been working out in the gym to get in a little basic fitness and training before the head outdoors.

The news out of the Angels camp is the Bantams and Midgets - junior and senior teams - are getting ready to start their regular season the second week of May. The Angels have taken a step forward this year with respect to developing the sport in the younger age groups, first with the establishment of a Novice division and most recently the introduction of a Squirts team for girls nine to 11 years of age.

The club hopes that this program will introduce younger players to the game and help them to develop a lifelong love

affair with the sport. The Squirts will play in some exhibition games this year with an eye to building a solid Squirt team next season.

Fifteen Squirt players have signed on for this year and the coaches and the older division players have already put them through some training sessions.

The girls have taken to the batting cages and indoor training centres at Competitive Edge in Ajax and Seneca College in North York and have had a great time getting some early exposure to the game of ball.

For more information on baseball opportunities with the Port Perry Angels, visit the web site at www.portperryangels.com.

And don’t forget to mark May 27 to 29 on your calendar for the first Angels home tournament of the season and some guaranteed great action.

The Port Perry Angels put in some hard work in a recent development day at Seneca College, in preparation for the upcoming ball season.

DAVE ROULSTON The Standard

Local golfer Tyler Martin returns for his annual tourney May 7 TRACEY COVEART The Standard

Tyler Martin, the young golfer from Caesarea, has big dreams. And thanks to natural ability, dedication, hard work and the support of his family and community, Tyler is poised to play more professional golf this year than ever before.

“My plans for this year are to play a full season

on the Canadian Tour and fill the holes in my schedule with Great Lakes Tour events,” said Tyler, who has been south of the border taking advantage of a little warmer, drier weather to hone his game. “I will also be doing U.S. Open Qualifying and possibly some State Opens.”

Tyler played “well and consistently” last season, but he had a non-exempt card and was only able to enter two events on the Canadian Tour. He bulked up the rest of his schedule with Great Lakes Tour tournaments.

“I played well on this tour and ended up winning Rookie of the Year,” said Tyler. “Right now my game is feeling better then ever.”

Tyler has been in South Carolina practising and playing for a little more than a month.

“I haven’t had a chance to play back home due to this crazy weather,” said Tyler. “I will be playing Great Lakes Tour events until the beginning of June when I will head to Victoria, British Columbia, to start the Canadian Tour season.”

And that’s where his family, friends and fans come in.

Each year, Tyler comes back home to host the Tyler Martin Classic at the Royal Ashburn Golf Club, home of the Canadian Tour Q School. This year’s event is May 7, with registration beginning at 11 a.m.

The day will start off with a Performance Clinic from 11 a.m. to noon on the driving range, hosted by the 2010 CPGA National Teacher of the Year and 2010 Ontario Teacher of the Year, Jason Helman, with special guests CPGA

Professionals Mark Romanelli and Jim Zwolak.

Tee off is at 1 p.m. Players get 18 holes of golf with a cart and access to the driving range. Friendly competitions include Putting Challenge, Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, Beat the Pro and Hole-in-One. There will be refreshments and snacks throughout the day, and golf will be followed by a fabulous pig roast dinner.

There will be raffles, a silent auction with signed sport memorabilia and many other great items as well as an awards presentation.

Transportation will be provided from Port Perry to the Royal Ashburn Golf Club, leaving at 10 a.m. and returning in the evening at the conclusion of the event.

The cost for the tournament is $125 per person and all proceeds will go di-

Taylor Ford

rectly to advancing Tyler’s professional golf career and maintaining his Canadian Tour card.

“I wouldn’t be able to pursue this dream without all the people behind me, starting with parents and sister, family, friends and the community that has supported me for all these years,” said Tyler.

He also credits his success on the links to his long-time coach Jason Helman, to Frank Corby for his help and to his sponsors: Campkins RV Centre, Wilson Paterson from Royal Ashburn, Scott and Dave Paterson from UME Golf, Loft 8, Get a Grip on Golf and BM Windows.

“This is the Tyler Martin Team!” said Tyler. “You are only as good as the people around you.”

If you can’t play on May 7 but would still like to make a contribution, why not sponsor a hole for $75?

Organizers are also looking for tournament prizes and silent auction items and they will be offering hole advertising for any prize or auction item donations totalling $75.

“I would like to place in the top 25 or so on the Canadian Tour, which would

make me a good bit of money to keep playing,” said Tyler with regard to his goals for this golf season. “I really need a good all-around season if I really want to keep playing for a living.”

Pre-registration is requested for the Tyler Martin Classic at the Royal Ashburn Golf Club (995 Myrtle Rd. W., Ashburn) by contacting Tyler’s mom, Leslie Martin, at 905-986-0980 or lesliemartin1@hotmail.com or the club at 905-686-1121 ( w w w. r o ya l a s h b u r n g o l f club.com) If you have any questions, you can e-mail Tyler at tylermartin777@ hotmail.com.

Tyler will be keeping busy on the greens until his namesake classic, fueling his enthusiasm for a sport that captured his heart when he was just 12 years old.

“I love the game! I love the people who are in the golf industry and everything it represents. And I enjoy the tradition that comes with the game,” said Tyler. “The tournament I played a few weeks ago really brought back great feelings and the competitive nature I love. I look forward to seeing everybody on May 7!”

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 23

SERVING SCUGOG, UXBRIDGE, BROCK, MANVERS AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Memorial Service

Card of Thanks

Memorial Service

A Celebration To Honor The Life of Don Sheehey.

The family of the late Walt Sandison would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all our family, friends and neighbours who were there to support us in our time of loss. We can only begin to try to express our appreciation for the flowers, donations, cards, emails and condolences which were received in memory of Walt (dad).

Thank you to the staff - Nurses and Doctors of Lakeridge Health Port Perry.

Thank you to Rev. Paul Moorhouse for your guidance and inspiration during the service.

Thank you to the ladies at the Port Perry United Church for the beautiful lunch after service.

Thank you to those ‘special,’ people who provided enjoyment and comfort during Walts (dad’s) illness.

Last but not least Mark at Waggs Funeral Home for your kindness, and to all the staff for their help. ‘Heaven was needing a HERO’.

The Sandison Family Donna, Scott, Gail and families

Please join the family May 7, 2011 • 1-4p.m. at Blackstock Recreation Center

List your church services, events and news: Gayle or Linda 905-985-6985 At Rest

Card of Thanks Shelley and Ernie Scriver would like to thank all of Audrey McNeill’s friends and family who attended her special 90th birthday, making it a huge success.

At Rest

The 'BEST QUALITY' Value and Service Home Appointments or visit our SHOWROOM 14 Edinborough Ave., Port Perry www.portperrymonuments.com

In Memoriam

We install at Pine Grove, Uxbridge, Groveside, Cadmus - Cartwright and all local cemeteries.

CALL NOW: 905-579-1116

108 Brock St. W., Uxbridge, Ont. L9P 1P4

DAVE & LORI TOMKINSON Visit our Showroom Home and Evening Appointments Available

Business 905-852-3472

1-888-672-4364 uxmemco@interhop.net

Facsimile 905-852-0085

Myles & Susan O’Riordan Owners

MYLES G. O’RIORDAN Funeral Director/Owner

MARK K. FLETCHER

Funeral Director/Prearrangement Counsellor

JORY HEWSON Funeral Director

216 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY 905-985-2171 www.waggfuneralhome.com

Friday, May 6, 2011 • 6:00 p.m.

Adults $12 • 10 yr & under $5

705-357-1375 • 705-357-2160

Reiki and Sound Healing In Blackstock, Ontario Relax and Rebalance lara@healingsense.org

905.986.5165

ROAST BEEF DINNER Sunday, May 29 5 p.m.

Oddfellows & Rebekah Hall Adults $15, Children $5 Call 905-985-7367/905-985-7778 905-986-0177/905-985-7950

15987 Simcoe St., Port Perry

Contact Kim Owen 905-985-3312 Ext. 114 kowen@clmi.ca

Notices

Notices

INCOME TAX PROBLEMS?

LET ME HELP

SHANLEY, James In loving memory of a beloved husband and father, who passed away April 29, 2010 You are gone from us forever, but will always be loved and never forgotten.

Love always, Dorothy and family

FREEMAN In loving memory of our parents Don (April 26, 2007) Dorothy (April 26, 2005) We are sad within our memory, Lonely are our thoughts today.

For the ones we loved so dearly, Have forever been called away.

‘Forever missed,’ Love Deb and David, Darla and Kelly, Dwayne and Sheri, Jackie and Chris and families *Touring together on Heaven’s Highways*

Financial

Financial

Tom Rowett, B.A.; Karsten Doose, CFP; Anita Van Zeeland, FTA

Computerized Accounting and Tax Prep Life Insurance • Annuities RSPs • RIFs • GICs • ING • Mutual Funds Financial & Estate Planning

Best GIC Rates From 40+ Banks

1 Yr. 2 Yr. 3Yr. 4 Yr. 5 Yr. 10 Yr. 2.10% 2.50% 2.91% 3.45% 3.55% 4.10% OAC. E & OE Minimums may apply.

May 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Vendor tables, BBQ lunch, great entertainment

A poem given to me by my father when I was very young.

I had a heart and it was true, And now it’s gone from me to you.

Now you have two and I have none, So care for it as I have done.

Always in my thoughts, forever in my heart, Your daughter Carol

Port Perry’s only locally owned and operated Funeral Home since 1846

Ham Salad Supper

Wick Presbyterian Church

In loving memory of a dear and beautiful daughter and sister, who passed away at only age 20, April 22, 1986.

January 16, 1926 - April 29, 2010

At Rest

Coming Events

PORT PERRY VILLA Annual Spring Bazaar and Art Show

James Thomas Patrick Shanley

For references go to

Coming Events

Broad, Karen Darlene

Forever in our hearts, missing you Love Mom, Dad, Lori & Jennifer

ALL MONUMENT & MARKER ARRANGEMENTS MADE PRIVATELY IN YOUR HOME and click on Guest Book

In Memoriam

Today, Tomorrow and Forever through life, as in the past 25 years; we will always love and remember you.

DAWSON MONUMENTS WE COME TO YOU!

www.DawsonMonuments.com

Card of Thanks

Betty English Tax Preparation & Bookkeeping 905-985-9077

NEW TO YOUR COMMUNITY OR RECENTLY HAD A BABY?

Let Us Welcome You!

Our Representatives will bring gifts and greetings, along with helpful information about your new community.

Attention Business Owners: Find out how your business can reach new customers.

Call Welcome Wagon

Lynn 905-985-1008 Audrey 905-982-8828 www.welcomewagon.ca

For Rent ONE BEDROOM large upscale apartment, close to Palmer Park, $1,200 month, 905-982-0143.

ONE BEDROOM second floor apartment, close to downtown in nice neighbourhood, includes fridge and stove, would suit one adult, no pets, no smoking, references required, $700 plus hydro, 905-9859447.

905-985-1926 • 36 Water St.,

One Financial Group Inc.

Best Mortgage Rates from 33+ Banks

Var. 50/50 3Yr. 4 Yr. 5 Yr. 2.30% 2.87% 3.65% 3.74% 4.09% Patrick Besteman, Mobile Mortgage Agent Cell: 905-233-4935 • 36 Water St., Port Perry Rates subject to change. Rates as of 04/26/2011

For Rent

Is your home-based business outgrowing your home? New, modern workspaces for rent. Now Leasing Buildings 3 and 4 for Spring 2011.

Uxbridge Technology Square Call 416-301-0016 THREE BEDROOM house, $1,000 per month plus utilities, first and last, no pets, no smoking, May 1, 905985-3546.

UXBRIDGE, three bedroom home, close to everything, $1,200 month plus, no smoking or pets, please call 905852-5981.

For Rent

For Sale

DOWNTOWN Port Perry, one bedroom apartment, available May 1, suitable for single mature female, appliances and utilities included, nonsmoking, $490 month, reply to: Box 56B, c/o Scugog Standard, 94A Water St., Port Perry, ON L9L 1J2

RIDING LAWNMOWER zero turn, Derby Mower

by Ferris Industries, needs work, new 22hp Briggs and Stratton to be installed, asking $1,500, call between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., 905985-3328.

BRIGHT, CLEAN two bedroom home, two minute walk to downtown Port Perry, private backyard, available June 1, first, last, references, $1,250 month, all inclusive, 905-985-3908.

HOUSE - three bedrooms, two baths, garage, $1,000 plus utilities, north of Port Perry, lake access, no pets, available June 1, 905986-5529.

For Rent

Wanted

BACHELOR apartment in Port Perry, heat, hydro, water, air conditioning, fridge, stove included, parking, private entrance, sunporch, absolutly no smoking, no pets, 905-985-3907.

STORAGE UNITS

Starting from $85/M

STORE & GO 905-985-9746 Wanted WANTED: people who are serious about losing weight and improving their health! Call for details: 705-228-8530.

WANTED

Fine quality Furniture and accessories for consignment.

905-982-2001 Email photos to taylorcompanyinteriors@gmail.com

905-985-6985 ldavie@thescugogstandard.ca

905-852-3255 ldavie@theuxbridgestandard.ca

24 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

Yard Sale

Yard Sale

The Standard

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

EXPERIENCED landscapers required, email resume to cathy@grofflandscaping.com

MULTI FAMILY yard sale, Sunday, May 1, folk art supplies, kid’s clothes, something for everyone, Davidge Drive (Island), 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

WATCH FOR next week’s ad, yard sale 20 plus houses, Canterbury Common, Port Perry, Saturday, May 7.

Toys/Clothes/Miscellaneous Sale Every Saturday & Sunday 12 - 4 p.m.

21400 Brunon Ave., Seagrave

Wanted to Buy WILL PAY CASH $75 & up for SCRAP CARS & TRUCKS CALL RAY 905-985-8707 BUYING ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES Costume jewellery, old buttons, pottery, figurines, post cards, Singer treddle sewing machine cabinet, doll and children’s furniture, call before your yard sale, DORSEY ANTIQUES (family business since 1978), 705-277-3615.

Nestleton Waters Inn is looking for experienced Part-Time Cleaner/Hospitality for most weekends, typically Fri-Mon, late May to late Oct, an average of 12 hours/week. Must be good with heavy indoor/ outdoor cleaning, server experience preferred. Pay is: $15/hour, contract work. Uniform provided. Must have own transportation, references required. No phone calls or drop bys. Email resume to: info@nwinn.com

by May 3/11. Position to begin May 15/11. Potential candidates will be contacted for interview.

Work Wanted

Work Wanted

Thinking of Painting?

Spring Clean up?

Call JB CONTRACTING Painting * Renovations * Tile * Plumbing * Electrical * 705-277-3615 Ask for JOHN

JC ENTERPRISES Mr. Fix-it - Specializing in those small jobs that never seem to get done. Around the house, the yard, in the garage.

905-985-4912 or 905-410-4912

94A Water Street, Port Perry 905-985-6985

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

The Special Projects branch of this fast growing communications company is looking for print sales representatives for part-time positions that will grow into full-time employment for the right candidates. Experience in the print sales area is beneficial but persons with general sales experience will be considered. Flexible work conditions and high commission based income with bonuses are among the benefits for the right people wishing to join an established sales and production team in this highly competitive and innovative area of publishing.

Send Résume to 94A Water Street, Port Perry, L9L 1J2 or email ldavie@thescugogstandard.ca 905-985-6985 905-852-3255

74 Albert Street, Uxbridge 905-852-3255

PUZZLE ANSWERS

List your yard sale in

Help Wanted

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 25

To solve the Kids Sudoku Puzzle every number from 1-6 must appear in: Each vertical columns, Each horizontal row and each 2 x 3 boxes. No number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

To solve a Sudoku puzzle every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: Each of the nine vertical columns, Each of the nine horizontal rows, Each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes.

Remember no number can occur more than one in any row; column or box.

Copyright Š 2008 Knight Features/Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate

26 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

RICK

The Standard

ELECTRONIC LIGHTING SYSTEMS

ELECTRIC INC.

COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SERVICE

ELECTRONIC LIGHTING SYSTEMS

COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SERVICE

• Weekly lawn cutting • Spring Lawn Cleanups • Garden Services • Snow plowing

Locally owned and operated

905-986-5445 HireTheGardener.com

UPHOLSTERY

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 27

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Advertising Works You just proved it!

To find out what we can do to promote your business call us at The Standard 905-985-6985 905-852-3255

Follow THE STANDARD on facebook!

MASONRY

28 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Standard

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 29 T KO

EEKIN’ BOU YA P TI

QU

E

YOUR ENTERTAINMENT AND LEISURE GUIDE

Spring Studio Tour returns to Scugog Phil Wooding, May 7 This weekend is the 12th Annual Lake Scugog Spring Studio Tour, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 30 and May 1.

This is a great opportunity to tour artists’ private studios in Scugog. To be a part of this creative journey, drop in to the Scugog Arts Resource Centre, 181 Perry St., Port Perry - the official tour hospitality centre - to pick up a brochure and map and have a sneak preview. Information is also available at www.scugogstudiotour.ca.

The Port Perry United Church is hosting the North Durham Concert Band on Wednesday May 4, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

There is no admission to hear this traditional band concert - which features show tunes, jazz, Celtic, march and pop music but donations for expenses would be welcome.

In May, The Scugog

Arts Resource Centre will present ‘Canadian Countrysides,’ an exhibition of paintings by Port Perry resident Phil Wooding.

Phil’s representational landscapes are inspired

by Canada’s abundant, beautiful countryside. An opening reception will be held on May 7, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the centre and the exhibit runs to May 28.

The next event in the very popular Lecture Series at the Scugog Shores Heritage Centre and Archives is ‘Genealogy and the Internet: Free

15 Water St. Port Perry • 905 985 4422

Resources,’ presented by long-time volunteer Sandy Denby. Sandy will take you on a tour of many of the free Internet sites and show you how to access the material to help solve your family history questions. Plan to be at the centre (1655 Reach St. above the second ice pad) on Sunday May 8, at 1 p.m. The cost is only $5 and includes gallery admission and light refreshments.

A perfect gift for mom on May 8 is an evening of swing tunes from the 40s and up by Canada’s sweetheart of swing, Alex Pangman. Alex is the recipient of a double lung

transplant after battling lung disease and her remarkable recovery is truly an inspiration. Come and celebrate her new lungs and her new CD at Jester’s Court, upstairs, at 7 p.m.

Admission is $20. Learn more about Alex at www. alexpangman.com.

Unfortunately, the Port Perry Silver Screen Film Festival scheduled for May 26 to 29 has been cancelled. If you have tickets for any of the films that weekend, they will be refunded at the Town Hall 1873 in Port Perry. Box office hours are Wednesdays to Fridays, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and weekends, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Award winning local artist Phil Wooding will be exhibiting his work, Canadian Countrysides, at the Scugog Art Resource Centre (SARC), May 7 to 28.

Born in Liverpool, England, during the depression, Phil now lives in Port Perry. He studied art in Ontario and has worked in several media, but finds that acrylics provide more opportunities to catch his feelings.

His representational landscapes are inspired

by Canada’s abundant, beautiful countryside.

Intrigued by what he sees and feels, he tries to catch his experiences

in his work and invites others to understand, or see something else in each painting.

Phil has exhibited and received awards in numerous juried art shows and belongs to several art organizations. His work can be found in private collections in England and Canada.

An opening reception will be held for Phil Wooding on May 7, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the SARC, 181 Perry St., Unit G-1, Port Perry. For more information on Canadian Countrysides and other upcoming exhibits, visit www.scugogarts.ca or call 905-985-2121.

30 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Standard

The King’s Speech just didn’t ‘speak to him’ like the rest The King’ Speech Directed by Tom Hooper (****) now available on DVD Okay. Let’s be clear here.

Although The King’s Speech (2010) was a good film with superb performances, there is no way in hell it deserved to win the Academy Awards for Best Film, Best Actor (though Collin Firth is a worthy winner) and Best Director. No way folks. And in years to come, those words will be written often by film critics and writers who will bemoan the fact that the Academy once again chose as their Best Picture a pleasant, morally uplifting, historical drama about the power of the human spirit to

overcome adversity.

How often has this happened in the past? Too often to remember. Perhaps the most blatant example and comparison I can give would be the year Gandhi (1982) won Best Picture over at least two other masterpieces, the extraordinary E.T.: The Extraterrestrial (1982) and Tootsie (1982). One year after the fact, it looked like what it always was: a well crafted collection of Gandhi’s greatest hits rolled into a movie that was also a travelogue of India.

Key elements of Gandhi’s life were left out, lest we think he was less than perfect, which is sad.

While director Richard Attenborough was obviously devoted to his subject,

he did not trust the man enough to show him warts and all. Our flaws are what make us human and they should never be left out.

In his superb Nixon

Foote Prints

by John Foote

(1995), Oliver Stone had the courage to show Richard Nixon in all his glorious imperfection - and those flaws were the very things that drew us close to him and allowed us to

feel for him. According to Attenborough, the Indian leader Gandi had no flaws.

Indeed, he very likely could have walked on water!

So, the Academy falls head over heels with the ideals of Gandhi, not the film, and awards this massive movie eight Oscars!

Over the years, it has slowly slipped into oblivion, while both E.T. and Tootsie have achieved the status of modern classics as two of the best films ever made.

As the years slip by, The King’s Speech will meet with the same fate. Not only was it not the best film of the year, but it also defeated four movies that were actually better!

The Social Network (2010) was a brilliant, topical and exciting film about a generation of young people who seek everything at their fingertips. When one cynical young man gives them something astounding, he does so without ever thinking about the consequences of his actions and the impact of his creation. Director David Fincher and the actor portraying Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) have the courage to portray Zuckerberg

as something of a pompous ass who betrayed his best friend and the only person who really ever stood by him. Together, director and actor created one of the most remarkable films of our time, as fresh and new as the life around us right now. This was as important a film as All the President’s Men (1976). After winning best film awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics, an Oscar win seemed absolute ... yet did not happen.

True Grit (2010) was another film that bested The King’s Speech. Directed by the Coen Brothers, this gritty and profoundly entertaining remake of the John Wayne classic starred Jeff Bridges, who stepped into Wayne’s iconic role as Rooster Cogburn, a role that won Wayne his only Oscar. Bridges was simply brilliant, along with the film’s leading lady, Hailee Steinfeld. Both were Oscar-nominated and both should have won, and there is hope that the success of the film will revive interest in the beloved

American western. There was a greater realism to the remake because the Coens stripped away the mythology that went hand in hand with making a film that starred John Wayne (not his fault) to give us a striking work of art, the finest western since Unforgiven (1992).

Toy Story 3 (2010) was selected by more than one critic as the year’s best movie, and it is hard not to get misty eyed when Andy gives away his beloved toys to a little girl who will cherish them (and he knows this) as much as he did.

The film was powerful and deeply moving, but what struck me was the manner in which the toys were humanized by the actors giving voice to them. As they descend into an inferno at the local dump, they hold hands, together in life, together in death, fearless to the end. Looking around the theatre, more than a few family members were wiping away tears.

All three of these movies were superior films to The King’s Speech and though there is much to admire in the Hooper picture, I sit stunned ... still ... that it won Best Picture. Colin Firth took home the Best Actor Oscar for his fine performance, although the award could have just as easily gone to James Franco for 127 Hours (2010) or Bridges in True Grit. Geoffrey Rush - nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar - is brilliant as Logan, the king’s unorthodox speech therapist and Helena Bonham Carter was a lovely presence as the young Queen Mom. To this day, however, I am not quite sure how Tom Hooper managed to win Best Director over David Fincher for his astonishing achievement with The Social Network. Not only did Fincher bring us a film crammed with information, making sense of a legal nightmare, and giving us lead characters not particularly likable, he did it with style and intelligence. Hooper’s film is literate and intelligent, no question, but after seeing it three times, I doubt I will ever have the urge to see it again. The other three I could watch again right now.

See The King’s Speech.

It’s a fine film ... just not the year’s best. Like Gandhi, it will slip away into oblivion and find a resting place on the dusty DVD shelf.

Your Community Owned Newspaper

Thursday, April 28, 2011 • 31

Solutions to Coffee Break on page 24

Horoscope Column

by Joan Ann Evelyn | 905-725-9179 | www.astroconsultation.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Money flows in your direction. You can receive it through a raise, bonus, extra perks or a promotion. Pay off debts and save the extra. Your charm can work to your financial advantage.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Express your individuality through a creative project that can eventually become a money maker. Actively pursue your dreams. Good time to improve your physical appearance. Spend a day at a SPA. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Clean out every closet and storage space at home. Keep what you need and sell the rest at a yard sale. You feel a need to be of service, but should also take time out to recharge your batteries.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Fun and friendship are an ideal mix over the next four weeks.

More socially inclined, you will feel open and free. Attend parties and social occasions, where you might meet a valuable networking contact.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your career gets a nice boost from the planets over the next four weeks. Your ability to charm will sell your ideas, products and services. Update your image by redecorating your office VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): If you are single, you could meet a potential love interest while travelling for business or attending a school reunion. He/she could come from a different ethnic or cultural background.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You could receive a raise, bonus or small windfall. Invest cautiously, do not put your money at risk. Comparison shop for a big ticket item. Enjoy this upbeat financial cycle.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): More intuitive, you are also more aware of the psychological influences affecting your personal relationship.

Commited singles may pop the question. Married Scorpios should renew their vows.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The pace of work is more hectic than usual, but coworkers are also more supportive. If you are in the market for a new job, this is an excellent time to send out resumes. Stay away from sugary foods.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Get involved in your children’s activities and make an effort to meet their friend’s parents. Find time to play and enjoy life. Do something you really want to do, something that excites you. Visit a casino.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Family relationships are highlighted in May. Make your home more attractive. Come up with a doit-yourself home project the family can do together. Plant a vegetable garden.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Communicate your good feelings and the world will respond with joy. Attend a neighbourhood gathering.

You could find love “right in your own backyard”. Keep your car in good working order and slow down on the road.

32 • Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Standard

4300 Concession 7 (5km South on Main St) Uxbridge

905-862-8175

johns_garden@hotmail.com