CKMY THE PEOPLE’S PAPER Tony Collins laments life’s Sara Sexton answers innumerable choices Page B1 20 Questions Page B2 Sunday, April 8, 2007, Vol. 129 • No. 5www.thetelegram.com St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador YOU SAID IT “He came to see me and he brought me flowers. He said, ‘I have something to tell you.’All I could think of was drugs. But A hoppy time he said, ‘I’m HIV positive.’All I could think of was he’s going to die. I couldn’t get past that.” Sara Sexton recalls the day her son, actor Tommy Sexton, told her about his illness See page B2 IN MY OPINION “There was little laughter being generated in the last couple of weeks when drink- ing and gambling raised their always inflammatory heads in Newfoundland, and provoked, as they usually do, a fair amount of uncomfortable commentary, ranging from hypocrisy and moralizing to a disconcerting support of a ‘big brother’ control of society’s foibles and addictions.” Columnist Bob Wakeham sound off against the “crackdown” on vices See page A6 Toddlers at the Tots Learning Centre in Paradise hopped for muscular dystrophy research Thursday, raising more than $600. Seen hopping (from left) are Dillon Thomas, Jeana Miller, Emily White, Faith Finley, Charlotte Stone, Jordan Collins, Claire Dinn and Timmy Feltham. — Photo by Gary Hebbard/The Telegram SYNOPSIS “Mingling historical reconstruction with bawdy fun and games, ‘Bella When it comes to answering questions about Easter, Donna’ is a spirited excursion in the manner of Monty Python.” kids say the darnest things Gordon Jones reviews the play now on at the LSPU Hall BY ROSIE GILLINGHAM offer their opinions. However, there were a few con- See page A3 THE TELEGRAM According to Emily White, the fused looks when asked why a bunny Easter Bunny doesn’t have a name. is giving out eggs and not carrots. The Easter season has an odd, new achel Kelly figures she knows the “It could be Hoppy,” she said with a “He eats all the carrots,” Jordan tradition: the period of reflection on mystery of where the Easter big smile. Collins said. the crucifixion and resurrection of Bunny lives. Catelyn Doyle is pretty sure, They each had their own ideas Jesus Christ has become a popular R“The mall,” the bright-eyed three- though, the Easter Bunny has a big about what special gifts they wanted time for marketers to roll out works year-old said as if reciting facts from family. the Easter Bunny to leave for them, — from the scholarly to the sensa- an Everything You Ever Wanted to “He has two baby brothers and but everybody wanted chocolate, of tional — that challenge Christiani- Know about the Easter Bunny book, two baby sisters,” she said, holding up course. ty’s core beliefs. Vol. 1. two fingers on each hand, “and they They couldn’t agree as to whether See page A11 It’s just one of the many fascinat- sometimes help him (give out eggs).” the Easter Bunny was male or female. ing — and sometimes hilarious — They all agreed the Easter Bunny Most said boy, but a handful said “he” “The kids would rather stay home answers The Telegram got from tod- enters your house Easter Saturday was a girl. and watch TV and play video dlers at the Tots Learning Centre in night by simply opening the door. But But they certainly knew how to games,”says teacher Donna Grason. Paradise Thursday, in the search for when posed with the question how have fun for a good cause. “The computer helps them with answers to all-important questions he would get in if the door were Children at the centre took time their work. But as far as going camp- about Easter. locked, Charlotte Stone spoke up and Thursday to wear their bunny ears ing or spending time outside in the What’s the Easter Bunny’s name? said, “He jumps down the chimney.” and hop around the room in the Bun- ravine, it doesn’t happen. It’s How does he get in your house to She also knew exactly where the ny Hop fundraising event, raising because of technology.” leave eggs? Why does he leave eggs if Easter Bunny gets the chocolate. more than $600 for muscular dystro- See page A14 he’s a bunny? Where does he get the “From Santa,” she said. phy research. The event’s theme was chocolate? Speaking of Santa, they couldn’t “Children hopping for children who Rachel Kelly, 3, can’t wait for the annual These three- and four-year-olds decide who they liked better — the can’t.” FAST visit by the Easter Bunny. seemed to have all the answers … or Easter Bunny or Santa Claus. They all FACTS — Photo by Gary Hebbard/The Telegram at least were more than willing to agreed they loved them both. [email protected] SOCIETY Baby boomers have about FISHERIES $1.5 trillion salted away, mostly in retirement savings, either through company Going the distance for a friend 1 pension plans, RRSPs or the Shipping accidents up, Canada Pension Plan. Vancouver man to begin See page A9 cross-country rollerblade trek in St. John’s May 4 The average North American BY ROSIE GILLINGHAM ishes in Vancouver in early Septem- fishermen most at risk male makes approximately THE TELEGRAM ber, he hopes his trip will have raised 10,672 different choices $300,000. BY ALISHA MORRISSEY “The quick explanation that we relating to his daily disposi- ich Ralph is planning the journey Ralph decided to make the trip on THE TELEGRAM would make is that the last two 2 tion, deportment and of his life — but it’s for a friend rollerblades because he has been a years have been difficult years in the demeanor within the first hour of whoR has already been on quite a jour- rollerblader since he was a child. n increase in shipping accidents fishery,” Broderick says. “Prices have awakening. ney in his fight to stay alive. “It’s just something that comes and, in particular, fishing-vessel been down, and in some cases See page B1 The 27-year-old plans to naturally to me, so I thought it would accidentsA in this province over the stocks have been down, which rollerblade 10,000 kilometres across be a good idea,” said Ralph, who grew last several years is simply about the means people have to fish longer Canada to raise money for cancer up in Kingston but has lived in Van- number of boats in the water, and and harder.” QUICK WEATHER research in what he has pegged couver for the past three years. not a lack of training, authorities With more days on the water and “Skate for Hope.” “Plus, it’s in my blood to do things say. more fishermen fighting for more His decision to make the trek was differently. Everything I did, I went There were 74 shipping accidents species, Broderick says, the likeli- inspired by his friend Adam Reid, against the norm. I kind of always in 2006 — 60 of which were on fish- hood of accidents is higher. who at age 26 was diagnosed with made my own decisions, despite the ing vessels. In 2005, there were 70 “You have to fight weather and if throat and lung cancer two years ago, skepticism.” accidents — 62 of which were on it’s a pleasure craft you could wait TOMORROW TUESDAY WEDNESDAY despite never having smoked. fishing vessels. for a good day to go, but if it’s fish- High 7 High 2 High 1 “Adam is just such an inspiration,” Parental support Bill Broderick, director of the ing, you’ve got to go when the sea- Low 0 Low -2 Low -3 said Ralph, who met Reid through And there was some skepticism inshore-vessel division of the Fish son is,” he says. “It is a dangerous P. O. P. 40 P. O. P. 20 P. O. P. 10 mutual friends about five years ago. when he first announced he was Food and Allied Workers’ union, profession and all you can do is con- “I wanted to do something to make a going to do it. While he always had says there have been more boats on tinue to try to keep your people cur- Sun sets today at 7:40 pm difference and to try and help Adam his friends’ support, he admitted it the water in recent years and the rent with the safety regulations that Sun rises tomorrow at 6:24 am out.” was tougher to convince his parents market has forced fishermen to put are there and promote the safety For up-to-the-minute weather, Ralph will begin his trip in St. it was a good idea. themselves at greater risk of acci- equipment.” visit www.thetelegram.com John’s May 4 and, by the time he fin- See PARENTS, page A2 dents. 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