Gymnasts Flipping for Joy in Pickering
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The Pickering Ajax juniors Bullying isn’t just FALL MAINTENANCE PACKAGE • Oil & filter change • Tire rotation gridiron champs a schoolyard event • Coolant check • Brake Inspection $150 Value Rams split games We take a look at For Only $$5599..9955 905-831-5400 with Brock an age-old problem 575 KINGSTON RD www.pickeringhonda.com SPORTS/18 NEWS/7 ✦ 56 PAGES ✦ Pressrun 51,400 ✦ Optional delivery $6/Newsstand $1 ✦ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2008 Get local 24/7 newsdurhamregion.com Gymnasts flipping for joy in Pickering Council approves operation land use inappropriate. The proposed uses “I don’t think in my opinion that this is a Justine’s mother, said she’s certain it’s a are considered to be sensitive, staff said, sensitive land use,” he said. clean, safe environment. of athletic centre close due to the public congregating at the gym. Ward 1 Regional Councillor Bonnie Lit- “I have no concern at all as to my daugh- to sewage plant But Ward 2 City Councillor Doug Dickerson tley could see why there may be a concern ter’s health or welfare,” she said, adding disagreed with this assessment, especially for health and safety since the gym is oper- she rejected a recent job transfer so Justine considering employees at nearby factories ating without a permit. could stay at PAC. By Kristen Calis go outside for lunch, and kids and parents In fact, an order to comply has been is- Coun. Dickerson asked the property [email protected] using the gym only go outside to get to and sued by the City since the building did not from their cars. receive City approvals. But Nancy Toupin, ✦ See Owner, Page 4 PICKERING — The co-owner of the Pickering Athletic Centre (PAC) can finally get some rest after countless hours of fight- ing to keep her business alive. “I’m finally going to crash and sleep tonight,” Laurie Large said the day after NOT THE RED, ANYTHING BUT THE RED council said her club can stay open. At an October meeting, council chose to delay its decision on whether the facility can operate, despite its close proximity to the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant, in order to further discuss the matter with the plant’s co-owners and the regions of Durham and York. The building is locat- ed within 150 metres of the plant, which is against ministry of environment guidelines. The location is zoned for industrial uses, but the centre is currently operating and caters to about 600 members. “I love my gym and coaches,” Justine Veillette said. “Please don’t close my gym. It’s all my life.” The 10-year-old Ajax resident and pro- vincial competitor, who trains nearly 20 hours a week at the gym, was just one of nearly 15 people who spoke to council in support of the PAC remaining open. Coun- cil chambers was packed with athletes, par- ents and coaches. “The parents believe in exercise and sup- port for their kids,” Ms. Large said. “And it’s a family. It was very obvious last night.” Staff had suggested in its report that council refuse Dalar Property Limited’s (the property owner) request that the property Ron Pietroniro/ News Advertiser photo be zoned to include a gymnastics facility, PICKERING — Eric Johnson, from the 6th Pickering Beavers, Scouts and Cubs, expresses his disinterest in getting his face painted during the Pickering Santa Claus Parade. For more photos of the parade, see page 2. a dance studio, a karate club and a soccer club, since both regions considered the Blackberry Pearl BLACKBERRY MESSAGING PLAN Pickering Town Centre $ (Upper Sears Wing) THE Flip 8220 45.00/Month (905) 420-0744 ONLY 200 Weekday Minutes Taunton and Harmony Plaza SMARTEST Unlimited Evening and Weekends local Calling Oshawa (905) 438-0744 Unlimited Personal E-Mail and Instant Messaging $ 99 10,000 Sent Domestic Text Messages 10,000 Sent Incoming Picture/Video Messages GIFT 49 MY5 Canada Wide or Another Feature of your choice On 3-Year Voice and Data with minimum See In Store For Details $35.00/Monthly service fee. P PAGE 2 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, November 19, 2008 durhamregion.com Jeff Madgett, a member of the Righteously Outrageous Ron Pietroniro/ News Advertiser photos Twirling Corps from Toronto, leads the group at the Bianca Munch and Ashley Tait of the Pickering Soccer Club goof around with a giant soccer ball during the Pickering Santa Claus Parade. Pickering Santa Claus Parade. RAIN DIDN’T DAMPEN SPIRITS DURING PICKERING’S SANTA CLAUS PARADE Sabrina Giovannelli uses the three-umbrella system to protect her cous- ins Rosemary and Olivia from the elements during the Pickering Santa Claus Parade. Umbrellas were the smart choice during a wet and soggy Pickering Santa Claus Parade on Saturday morning. Photo by Lesley Sims Axel Hotzwik, Gary Craigen, Brian Craigen and Carol Craigen found a great way to stay dry while watching the parade. durhamregion.com THE NEWS ADVERTISER, November 19, 2008 PAGE 3 A/P Nine years Courthouse food fight over for now for key player Durham police tody at all. Early in the proceedings Justice Stone “(The police service) does so for the ruled he didn’t have jurisdiction to order will supplement purpose of ensuring this hearing goes either the Durham police or the Province in coke prisoner lunches ahead,” Mr. Inwood told Ontario Court to provide more food; but he agreed the Justice David Stone. motion has relevance because it raised “They maintain they’re not obligated to the question of whether or not the ac- By Jeff Mitchell do so. cused men are able to adequately un- smuggling ring [email protected] “It’s a cost that ought not be borne by derstand what’s occurring in court and the taxpayers of this region,” Mr. Inwood consult with their lawyers. By Jeff Mitchell OSHAWA — The food fight at Oshawa’s said. “We certainly want to avoid a situation [email protected] courthouse is over -- for now. The agreement brings about a resolu- where people are unable to follow the On Monday a lawyer for the Durham tion to a legal battle that began when a proceedings or instruct counsel,” he said. OSHAWA — A key player in a cocaine smug- Regional Police said the service will sup- number of men facing charges relating to Durham police have agreed to provide gling ring busted by Durham police has been plement lunches for several men facing a cocaine smuggling ring brought forth the men with a sandwich and a piece of sentenced to nine years in prison. drug charges, a move that resulted in the a motion stating that their constitutional fruit in addition to the cereal bar and juice Michael Stewart, 38, pleaded guilty to import- withdrawal of a motion that threatened to rights were being infringed upon because given to all prisoners. ing cocaine Monday at the outset of a prelimi- delay their preliminary hearing. they weren’t being given enough to eat Justice Stone ordered that the men be nary inquiry for several men accused of funnel- But DRP lawyer Kevin Inwood said the while in custody at the courthouse on segregated during lunch breaks so the ling cocaine from the Dominican Republic into concession was granted solely to prevent King Street West in Oshawa. extra food doesn’t create turmoil among Canada on passenger jets. Project Merlin re- further delays in the case, and that the They claimed the granola bar and other prisoners. sulted in the seizure of more than 20 kilograms service still insists it shouldn’t be respon- drink box given them wasn’t substantial The preliminary hearing is expected to of cocaine, a dozen firearms and thousands of sible for feeding accused people in cus- enough. begin in earnest Tuesday. dollars in cash in 2007. Mr. Stewart, of Bramp- ton, has been in custody since September 2007. With credit for pretrial custody, his penitentiary sentence amounts to more than six years. Ontario Court Justice David Stone said the stiff sentence, a joint submission from the pros- ecution and defence, is warranted considering the large amount of cocaine imported and the negative impact the drug has on the commu- nity. FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE “There is obviously a need to denounce the importation of cocaine,” the judge said. “The amount of human suffering and waste this court has seen has been very heart-rending in some cases.” Court heard Mr. Stewart was to be paid GET $10,000 to pick up a shipment of cocaine from a baggage handler at Pearson airport and deliver BUY THIS! it to a co-conspirator. But when he met with the baggage han- THIS! dler in the early morning hours of Aug. 19, 2007, he learned the cocaine had already been seized by Canadian border officials. Durham Drug Enforcement Unit cops were monitoring the exchange and obtained a warrant for Mr. Stewart’s home, where on Sept. 11 they seized cellphones, drug paraphernalia and Air Canada documents. Several other people were arrested, nine of whom were to be part of the preliminary durhamregion.com inquiry begun this week in Oshawa. In addition to Mr. Stewart, two other accused have pleaded Starting Wednesday, November 19th, guilty: Chad Collins of Ajax was sentenced to receive your very own Free Holiday seven years on a two counts of possession for Polar Bear when you purchase the purpose of trafficking and Jeremy Brown, news an Oshawa resident and a full-patch member Pickering Town Centre Gift Cards of the Hells Angels, was also convicted of pos- at Guest Services. session for the purpose, and received 30 days on top of the more than two years he’s spent in custody awaiting trial.