Niagara Noise Pages 18 –19 2 NIAGARA NEWS Dec
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THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF NIAGARA COLLEGE Free December 7, 2007 Vol 38 • Issue 6 Braving cold gives warmth By TERRI GILES Staff Writer Despite -4 degree Celsius tem- peratures, snow, hail and lots of mud, construction students brought warmth to two deserving families. On Nov. 24, about 40 students from the collegeʼs Construction Techniques and Construction En- gineering Technology programs raised the roof and walls for the new Habitat for Humanity home on Fourth Street in Welland. The dayʼs harsh winter weather didnʼt dampen their spirits. The students, with the help of all program staff and a few alumni, volunteered their free time to giv- ing the gift of a cozy, affordable home and gaining some real-life experience. Colin Robinson, program co- ordinator, says the students gain practical work experience that sup- ports and enhances their in-class learning. They develop a sense of teamwork and of being part of a community. The students are graded on the technical skills they apply on site, but most of their work is done on a volunteer basis. “Itʼs a great opportunity to give somebody something theyʼve never had before,” says Ryan Cesarin, a graduate of the program. “Iʼve always been told, you can never give too much, and there are a lot of warm hearts out here. Everybody is staying nice and warm.” Cesarin, 25, says the program First-year Construction Techniques students, with the help of program co-ordinator Colin Robinson (far right), move a truss for the new Habitat Continued on Page 2 for Humanity home on Fourth Street in Welland on Nov. 24. Photo by Joe Fowler Santa opens his ears to the children By LAUREN JONES Shane says the four Santas rotate Children donʼt always give the Dec. 24, Sundays from noon-4 Staff Writer to the malls and have shifts all standard answers, however. Shane p.m.; Mondays to Wednesdays He knows when youʼre awake, week. Shane has three a week. says heʼs had children who ask him from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; Thurs- but only because he sees you shop- “I love it, especially when you to help their parents get back to- days and Fridays from 2 p.m.-4:30 ping at the mall. get the really excited kids. The gether or to help people who have p.m., and 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; and Shane (no last name given be- screamers arenʼt so fun.” cancer. Saturdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and cause of mall protocol) works as Shane says the mall provides the “Iʼve had ladies ask for a private 2 p.m.-5 p.m. one of four different Santa Clauses various sized suits for the Santas. show. That happens every year.” at the shopping malls in Welland, The suits may be varied, but When heʼs not asking children Niagara Falls and other shopping theyʼre not necessarily comfort- what they want for Christmas, malls in the area. able. Shane says itʼs a good thing Shane works at his own company. This Santa, of Port Colborne, the green armchair he sits in is “We all have real jobs,” he says, Getting got his job as the jolly mascot four comfy because the suit gets quite of himself and his three counter- years ago when he was working hot. parts. to the at his offi ce in Wellandʼs Seaway Although being a mall Santa is Though Shane says he loves be- Mall. The mall staff was looking a paid job, Shane says there is no ing Santa, not every day is a piece bottom of for someone to fi ll the big black training to be the beloved icon. of cake. boots and chose him. “Itʼs just common sense.ʼWhat “Iʼve lost my beard a few times. college funding, “Iʼve been doing it ever since,” do you want for Christmas?ʼ is the Iʼve been peed on.” Page 5 Santa visits Fort Erie. he says, from his throne in the heart standard question, and I ask their Santa can be found at the Sea- Photo by Matt Day of the mall. name and age.” way Mall at 800 Niagara St. until INSIDE THIS WEEK Meditation Feature Page 6 • Holiday Pullout Pages 9 - 12 • Sports Page 14 • Niagara Noise Pages 18 –19 2 NIAGARA NEWS Dec. 7, 2007 Warm hearts, cozy houses RIDE Students lend blitz Habitat for begins Humanity a By AMANDA PAIEMENT Staff Writer helping hand The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is urging you to hand your keys over if youʼve been drinking Continued from Page 1 this holiday season. The annual Reduced Impaired Cesarin, 25, says the program Driving Everywhere (RIDE) cam- gave him the knowledge he needed paign was launched Nov. 29 and to be successful in construction will be in full force over the com- and renovation and he wants to ing weeks. give back. Each holiday season, the OPP “I did this program last year,” he partners with cities across Ontario said during a brief break from the to set up sobriety checkpoints and build, “it made such a big impact take down impaired drivers. on me. Now I can go to work and I During last yearʼs crackdown, know what Iʼm doing. I owe it all police stopped over 800,000 ve- to this program, and thatʼs why Iʼm hicles at checkpoints across the back helping.” province. Of those cars, 339 driv- The students erected the walls ers were charged with impaired over a two-week period. Trusses driving. Another 797 were issued were manufactured by Turkstra Construction Engineering Technology students install an outside wall to the new home being built on Fourth a warning and had their driverʼs Lumber and assembled by students Street in Welland on Nov. 24. licence revoked for 12 hours, ac- on site. Students in the three-year Photo by Joe Fowler cording to the OPPʼs website. construction engineering program “In the context of criminal were involved in the planning of consequences, this only serves to the new home. expenses of the build and the City an affordable home.” Volunteer Opportunities emphasize the irrefutable reality “Working with the students of Welland sold the land to Habitat Habitat for Humanity Niagara contact: Marilyn Dye that, in Canada at least, alcohol and is the best part of the process” for Humanity Niagara for a re- has built 23 houses since its estab- 905-685-7395 ext 203 drug-induced impaired drivers are duced price. Habitat manages the lishment in the area 14 years ago. says Robinson, “having the op- • Help at fundraising events an extremely aggravating public portunity to pass along some land acquisition and the selection With the help of last yearʼs stu- safety menace that must be tackled skills or knowledge is very of the families. dents and faculty, the fi rst Habitat • Work on a committee with the same vigour, commitment, rewarding.” Two local families, who were home was built on Sixth Street in • Help with newsletters dedication and resources expended The build is a partnership be- chosen through an application Welland last year. • Feed the work crews on other serious criminal public tween Niagara College, The City of process by Habitat for Humanity “Each year brings new chal- • Carpentry safety threats,” OPP commissioner Niagara, will move into the home lenges,” says Robinson. Welland, Niagara Home Builderʼs • Plumbing Julian Fantino said, in an open let- Association and Canadian Tire in May. The families will pay for The college plans to continue ter earlier this year. • Electrical Financial Services. Niagara Home the home through sweat equity. building homes in partnership with Cathy Book, Mothers Against Builderʼs association donated Habitat for Humanity Niagaraʼs Habitat for Humanity Niagara and • Painting Drunk Driving community leader, materials and expertise, Canadian website says the home is “not a the Home Builders Association for • Landscaping Niagara Region, says that there are Tire donated $50,000 to offset the hand-out; it is a hand up to owning the next few years. programs dedicated to stopping impaired driving, but they never seems to be enough. “In the way of enforcing ... well, Iʼm not sure that there is anything NRP Auxiliary informs, excites really out there that truly enforces the concept. Unfortunately, it seems By JOE FOWLER spray training, but are only armed one too many people continue, on Staff Writer with a telescopic steel baton called a regular basis, to believe that they More than 80 Police Auxiliary an ASP. are invincible.” candidates crowded the Darrel J. Their duties, include monitor- On Ontarioʼs roads, there were Smyth Room on Nov. 21 for ori- ing community events, festivals 192 impaired driving related deaths entation night with the Niagara and parades, as well as call-outs in 2004, the most recent year with Regional Police Service (NRP) at to fi nd missing persons or to aid statistics available. the Welland detachment. in disaster relief efforts. Auxiliary Sgt. John Mraud, provincial traf- “We have over 80 people,” says offi cers partner with regular police fi c manager, OPP, says that RIDE Police Auxiliary Sergeant Tracy offi cers for patrols by cruiser, foot has grown enormously over the Kennedy. “This is the second year and bicycle. They also attend crime years since it began in 1977. we have done it; itʼs great to see prevention and traffi c safety dem- “It began in Etobicoke, now so many people interested in the onstrations. Police volunteers must part of Toronto, and was actually auxiliary police unit.” give a 16-hour minimum of service known as Reduce Impaired Driv- “It was very informative, good each month.