Vol. 10 No. 5
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER COVERING NORTH DURHAM
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Wedding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
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Parkette sale challenged by local residents DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
UXBRIDGE: Local residents packed council chambers on Monday (Jan. 27) night to voice their concerns over the proposed sale of the King St. parkette. Council held a public planning meeting to discuss the move, which would require a zoning by-law amendment to convert the parkette to a residential building lot. Since 2011, parks department staff have been conducting playground reviews, and according to Manager of Recreation Facilities and Parks Bob Ferguson, compared to other township parks, the King St. parkette is a low-use park, and is currently, the smallest park in the municipality. Mr. Ferguson added that annual maintenance of the park currently costs between $500 and $1,000. As well, frequent changes to playground standards in recent years has left the park stripped of most of its equipment. “Playground standards have changed three times since 1999, and the only remaining equipment is a swing set. The rest of the equipment was removed due to safety standards,” added Mr. Ferguson. Early in the meeting, Regional Councillor Jack Ballinger proposed a solution to the issue that would see the park re-zoned, but kept as greenspace. “My personal feeling is that I don’t like to lose greenspace,” said Councillor Ballinger. “It could be re-zoned now and kept as a park.” Local resident Gerry Oldham was the first to address council, and has been involved with efforts to maintain the property as a park for more than 30 years, including circulating a petition in 1983 when the township first investigated a possible sale of the park. “I think our neighbourhood has enjoyed this park for 40 years and I’m hopeful for another 40 years,” said Ms. Oldham. In her comments to council, Ms. Oldham took issue with the park being characterized as vacant and abandoned. “Aside from a slide, to the best of my knowledge the town has never upgraded the park’s equipment when compared to other areas,” commented Ms. Oldham. “If it appears abandoned, then the blame lies with the town.” Ms. Oldham added that the parkette was recently assigned a green number, and surveying recently took place on the property. TURN TO PAGE 2
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SNOW DAY, DOG DAY: Saturday’s snow storm didn’t bother these dogs, or their musher; at the tenth annual Cannington Dog Sled Races. Racers and spectating families bundled up and braved the weather for a full day of outdoor fun and music. Take a look at more photos BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard of the other activities featured, on Page 3 of this week’s Standard.
Greenbank profits benefit several projects BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
SCUGOG: The income collected from Greenbank Airport’s fill site has been allocated to a variety of projects by Scugog council. At council chambers on Jan. 27, Township staff reported that fill site revenues equal $268,764, with an additional $210,000 estimated from future income, for a total of $478,764, less expenses. “There are a lot of things I would like to do, and thankfully we have a short term opportunity from the fill revenue fund to knock off some work we could otherwise not accomplish,” said Scugog Mayor Chuck Mer-
cier. “There are things that need to be done, but we do not have $4 Million, so let’s do what we can now and not have these projects be left for the budget of coming years.” The influx of additional revenue from the fill project at Greenbank Airport led to several additions to the 2014 municipal budget, including $75,000 to the replacement of Port Perry’s streetlights with more efficient LED bulbs, $50,000 for sidewalk repairs, $100,00 for the pre-engineering of Crandell St. repairs, and a $37,500 donation to the Port Perry Hospital Fund. An additional $100,000 will be set aside as an environmental and legal reserve, leaving an estimated total of $116,264 in the fill revenue account.
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