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The Pickering Ajax Nissan Watercolours Best and worst of INCOME TAX PERSONAL INCOME TAX RETURN Parts/Service Monday - Thursday 7:00am - 8:00pm everywhere times for Panthers All-Canadian Tax Service Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm $ 95* Saturday 8:00am - 2:00pm Library offers an escape Pickering looks to only 49. 500 Bayly Street West, Ajax * Most returns *GST extra (Between Westney & Church) from dreary winter duplicate on-ice success 100 Westney Rd S (Ajax Go Station) 1-800-565-6365 (905) 426-4860 905-686-0555 ENTERTAINMENT/14 SPORTS/15 ✦ 44 PAGES ✦ Pressrun 50,400 ✦ Optional delivery $6/Newsstand $1 ✦ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2009 Get local 24/7 newsdurhamregion.com Robbed on the streets of Pickering Mother upset son victimized twice since moving to area from Toronto By Kristen Calis [email protected] PICKERING — When Lucy and her family moved from Toronto to Pickering a couple of years ago, she thought they’d lead a safe, quiet lifestyle. But her 15-year-old son, Chris (not his real name), has been robbed twice in just more than two months. “I’m scared for him,” Lucy said in an inter- view. “I’m frightened and I don’t like to feel that way.” The first robbery was on Friday, Nov. 14 at about 3 p.m., outside of Dunbarton High School. While walking alone to the bus, a group of four teens encircled him. One of them told Chris to empty his pockets while another threatened him and pulled the headphones off his head. “We move here and it’s happening in broad daylight in the busiest parts of Pickering,” Chris said, adding he wondered why no cars Ron Pietroniro/ News Advertiser photo stopped to help. A Toronto family moved into the Pickering area a couple of years ago to give their son a safer and more stable upbringing. He has been mugged twice in the last two months, once outside of Dunbarton High School and at the Pickering Recreation Complex. The second incident, on Friday, Jan. 23, was outside of the Pickering Recreation Detective Dan McKinnon of the 19 Divi- McKinnon said. Complex. He and three female friends were sion Street Level Robbery Unit said the situ- If they attend the same school, they’re Police safety tips leaving the rear of the building after skating ation is not unique since teens often carry expelled until the trial is over. They’ll also be at around 9 p.m. when a group of three teen- expensive electronic devices. put on probation, have to pay restitution for * Be street smart and avoid parks after age boys began making rude comments to “The criminals at that age definitely use the stolen goods and can end up in a youth dark the girls. Chris and his friends ignored them, strength in numbers,” he said. “Very seldom detention centre. * Use well-lit and open areas, such as but the group chased them and caught up, is it a one-on-one confrontation.” Even though some offenders wear balacla- sidewalks and busy streets asking Chris if he had anything in his pock- Between 2007 and 2008, the amount of vas or bandanas to hide their faces, they’re * Avoid short cuts * Keep items such as iPods and cell ets. He said ‘no’, but they spotted the cord reported street-level robberies in Ajax and still often caught. phones concealed to his MP3 player and asked him to hand it Pickering dropped by 34 per cent, he said. “They go to school here, they live here and * Walk with a buddy over. When Chris refused, one of the boys But many victimized teens don’t come for- they commit their crimes here,” Det. McKin- flashed a “gold knife with a big blade” at ward “because they’re the ones that have to non said. “Those consistencies definitely him. go to school every day...They have to walk help identify any suspects responsible for Anyone with information on such crimes “Then he demanded me to take it out,” he the streets.” the robberies.” or questions in general can call Det. McKin- said, adding he later reported it to Durham But if the suspect is charged, they’re re- Meanwhile, Chris will try his best to leave non or Detective Constable Craig McInall at Regional Police. quired to stay away from the victim, Det. his expensive gadgets at home. 905-579-1520, ext. 2565. LIVE RAW FOOD SHOW Schinoussa featured on Rogers Morning Show & ET Canada 1822 Whites Rd. Pickering, ON John • Healthy PH levels • Improve Natural Energy $29.99 (4 Lights North of 401) Kourkounakis, • Detox • Improve Immune Function • Weight Loss Reg. $49.99 John Koveos (905) 839-7234 R.H.N P PAGE 2 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, February 4, 2009 durhamregion.com Free Weight Smart Group for youths DURHAM — Youths can ring in the New Year with positive nutritional changes. The Youth Centre’s Weight Smart Group is a free eight-week educational program for overweight youth in the Ajax-Pickering area. The program, intended for ages 13 to 19, is a fun way to learn how to eat sensibly while losing weight in a healthy manner. The weekly sessions are facilitated by a registered dietitian and include individual and group support in a non-judgmental, interactive and caring environment. Participants will set goals that focus on self-esteem, eating behaviours and physical activity. Learning topics include meal and snack preparations, emotional eating, healthy choices while eating out, fitness and more. The Weight Smart Group will run at The Youth Centre on Thursdays from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m., commencing Feb. 5 and ending March 26. All potential participants will be required to make an appointment for an intake ses- sion before Feb. 5. Parents are invited for a one-night edu- cation session with the dietitian on March 19 and will also be invited to have a meal prepared by their youth as a finale to the program. The Youth Centre is at 360 Bayly St., Unit 5, Ajax. For more information or to register, call the centre at 905-428-1212. Ron Pietroniro/ News Advertiser photo We want your love stories Killer sculpture DURHAM — Was it love at first sight for PICKERING — Lindsay and Maddy Hachey put some finishing touches on a massive killer whale ice sculpture for the Claremont Winter Festival. The you and your sweetheart? Do you know a sculpture takes up the entire front yard of the Hachey residence and will soon be painted for the competition. The festival continues this week with couple who has been together for decades? skating and a parade this Saturday. For more on times and dates check out our story online at newsdurhamregion.com or call 416-302-3699. Got a unique engagement story? Or are you planning a big romantic sur- prise for your Valentine this Feb. 14? With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Metroland Durham Region Media Group is putting the call out for local love Humane Society adds to stories. From weddings and proposals, to long- lasting love and long-distance love, we want to hear about it all. A selection of the best stories will be fea- overflowing pot of donations tured in the local newspapers and online at www.newsdurhamregion.com in the days leading up to Feb. 14. Shelter has already Mary Crow, an advocate for various causes Upcoming Humane E-mail your romantic stories and photos through Care2.com. to [email protected] by Fri- collected nearly $100,000 The Cobourg resident signed the HSDR Society events day, Feb. 6. in monetary contributions up for the online petition after hearing about the mid-December fire at the Oshawa OUA hockey game: UOIT Ridgebacks vs. shelter that left nearly 200 animals dead and Brock Badgers Ajax celebrating By Parvaneh Pessian the building destroyed. Friday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. [email protected] “It just broke my heart for those people,” Campus Ice Centre, 2200 Simcoe St. N., Winterfest this weekend she said. Oshawa DURHAM — Public support for the Hu- “Especially when they knew there were Portion of ticket proceeds donated to AJAX — With at least six more weeks of mane Society of Durham Region (HSDR) problems that were existing and they were HSDR winter, you might as well celebrate the sea- is now on display for the world to see after trying to get out of that building to start Tickets are $7 for adults, $3 for students son while it’s here. the shelter landed one of the top spots in an with.” and seniors, kids under 12 are free Ajax is hosting its annual Winterfest on online fundraising contest. The site was one of hundreds of shelters Call 905-721-8668 ext. 2784 or e-mail Sunday, Feb. 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the American websites Care2.com and Adopt- across Canada and the U.S. that entered the [email protected] McLean Community Centre. a-Pet.com launched their second annual race. A feature this year is the chance to meet “America’s favourite animal shelter” compe- Others include Boxer Rescue Ontario in former Toronto Maple Leafs’ captain Rick tition recently. Ajax, Clarington Animal Shelter, Camp Lotsa has been raised thus far but the total is near Vaive. He’ll be at the community centre A grand prize of $10,000 was promised Dogs in Oshawa, Chance Wildlife Sanctuary $100,000. from noon to 2 p.m. to the shelter that received the most online in Pickering and the Uxbridge-Scugog Ani- Most of the funding will go to rebuilding Other features of Winterfest include ice votes and other amounts for the remaining mal Control Centre.