SERVING PICKERING SINCE 1965 News Advertiser PRESSRUN 48,600 ✦ 44 PAGES ✦ FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2004 ✦ durhamregion.com ✦ OPTIONAL DELIVERY $6/$1 NEWSSTAND GOING NOWHERE THE MARKS ARE IN Hanks is stuck in one place Pickering politicians get their grades Entertainment, 32 Report card, 9 A light at the end of the tunnel Region reconsidering said there are no safe levels of sec- ond-hand smoke, and that allow- smoking ban for ing some facilities to be exempt long-term care would put the Region “in an in- credible situation of contradic- facilities tion.” He was echoed by Ajax Coun. By Carly Foster Colleen Jordan, who said that if Staff Writer the bylaw were amended it would DURHAM – Seniors living in long- be setting a bad example for term care facilities may soon be other members of society. able to light up again after region- Clarington Councillor Jim al council voted to amend the Schell said he’s talked to many smoking bylaw. long-term care facilities in his “The seniors that live in our area. The smoking ban is causing long-term care facilities, this is “undue stress and anxiety” on the their home,” said Uxbridge Mayor seniors there because they can’t Gerri Lynn O’Connor at Wednes- smoke. day’s meeting, adding that ciga- Many councillors raised the rettes are a legal substance. issue of protecting the rights of “This is all the pleasure (veter- workers in the homes who would ans) have left.” have to take seniors in and out of Under the then 16-day-old designated smoking rooms. Ron Pietroniro/ News Advertiser photos bylaw, smoking was banned in all Dr. Robert Kyle, Durham’s Ontario Culture Minister Madeleine Meilleur gets quite animated as she reads a story to Grade 3 students at the Pick- public and workplaces, including Medical Officer of Health, said ering central library branch this week. She was on hand to announce funding for a new early literacy program being senior’s homes. Despite the bylaw those workers would still be cov- offered by the Ajax and Pickering libraries. being passed in December 2002, ered under provincial occupation- Mayor O’Connor at last council - al health and safety laws that six days before the bylaw came allow any employee to refuse to into effect - brought forward a no- work in unsafe conditions. tice that she wanted it amended. Libraries hope new Brock Coun. Larry O’Connor ✦ See Smoking page 5 PICKERING TOYOTA program is child’s play THE LARGEST TOYOTA DEALER IN DURHAM! SERVICE HOURS: Provincial funds receiving help in getting chil- braries United with Schools). Summer Day Camps MON., TUES., THURS., & FRI. dren excited about reading. The government has invested 7:30 - 6:00 P.M. designed to boost Madeleine Meilleur, Ontario almost $400,000 in 18 projects Come & Have FUN! WEDNESDAY: 7:30 - 8:00 P.M. Arts Camp, Sports Camp, Adventure early literacy minister of culture, was at the across the province through the Camp, Mini Pidaca, Mad Science, SATURDAY: 8:00 - 3:00 P.M. Pickering library’s central Library Strategic Development Heritage Camp, Youth Leadership, EXPRESS LUBE SERVICE By Danielle Milley branch Wednesday to an- Fund. Assist. Councellor Program 557 KINGSTON RD., PICKERING Staff Writer nounce that the ministry was “This program helps libraries PICKERING – The Pickering and giving $40,000 to support Ajax- Call 905.420.4621 (905) cityofpickering.com (905) 420-9000 Ajax public library system are Pickering PLUS (Public Li- ✦ See Libraries page 4 A/P PAGE 2 NEWS ADVERTISER, FRIDAY EDITION, June 18, 2004 www.durhamregion.com www.durhamregion.com NEWS ADVERTISER, FRIDAY EDITION, June 18, 2004 PAGE 3 P Special-education flags waved Advocates worried As an example, she said she has the total number of students in not identified, thus they don’t tried to find out how the Special the board, is added to intensive benefit from (Intensive Support about board Education Per Pupil Amount support amount special educa- Amount) ISA funding. program (SEPPA) money from the tion money. The problem, says The board’s budget will only be Province is spent. She was told Ms. Avery, is a large number of balanced if it receives the special By Mike Ruta the general allocation, based on learning disabled students are education funding. Staff Writer DURHAM – Despite an increase of 29 full-time positions in the draft budget, special education advo- cates are warning there could ac- tually be fewer educational assis- tants in local public schools next year. Seven of the 10 presenters at Father’sDay Monday’s Durham District School Board budget meeting spoke about special education. has never “I need you to understand that any decision to reduce education- DON McLEAN al assistant (EA) support in this Trustee decision. budget will undoubtedly mean looked better that some families will feel forced what the financial picture turns into placing their child in a self- out to be,” since the board still ex- contained classroom, against pects to receive an additional $2.8 their preferences,” said Denyse million in funding from the Newton, who represents the Province. Durham Down Syndrome Associ- Laurie Beaton, Special Educa- Have your ation on the board’s special edu- tion Advisory Committee (SEAC) cation advisory committee. chairman, urged trustees “to do Father’s Day gift Marion Moore, the EA chair- your job and continue to lobby the man for the Canadian Union of government to ensure that the wrapped for FREE! Public Employees, in an interview, $2.8 million that we are owed right says 100 full-time equivalent, tem- now will be here now.” porary positions “are gone” next Ms. Beaton and Mr. McLean On now until Sunday, year. say they can’t find out if and when “We made a deal with manage- the money will be released to the June 20th, when you ment that scares me,” she told board. “Without this money, you spend $50 or more trustees. “We agreed not to post will have to make significant (same day sales, before taxes) the temporary positions that cuts,” she said. exist right now in the schools be- Mr. McLean agrees, saying if at one or more Pickering cause management was con- cuts are required “that will be a Town Centre stores. cerned that the money for special decision the trustees ultimately education would be cut, and if make when they approve the bud- these jobs rolled into permanent get.” Just redeem your receipts at the Guest Services jobs we’ll be facing layoffs.” Marlene Avery, president of the kiosk to receive your FREE gift wrap. Don McLean, the board’s spe- Learning Disabilities Association cial education superintendent, of Durham and a SEAC member, One gift wrap per person, per visit. Suggested retail value: $2 – $7.50. Rick says the board and CUPE agreed says that, apart from the issue of from Boxes not included. to maintain 56 casual positions EAs, she’s asking for “more ac- Shoppers Drug Mart but not post 46 others. That could countability in where the money change, however, “depending on goes that comes into this board.” Fruit Smoothie $2 OFF BEAN COUPON for your first pound of coffee bean purchase. Happy Hour Specials just show your student ID pickeringtowncentre.com Monday to Friday 4-9pm NDJG8=D>8:D; 6aaNdj8Vc:ViG^WaZih 6eeaZWZZÉh=djhZH^gad^c 8]^X`Zc;^c\ZghEaViiZg 7jiiZgb^a`H]g^beEaViiZg &**@^c\hidcGY:Vhi 6Xgdhh[gdb8dhiXd .%*")'+"+))% P PAGE 4 NEWS ADVERTISER, FRIDAY EDITION, June 18, 2004 www.durhamregion.com Golf book has Libraries want to get ’em young its privileges ✦ Libraries from page 1 chairman Hans VanLeeuwen ment, Ms. Meilleur read the program co-ordinator. told the Grade 3 students from children a story. She said the program started DURHAM – Summer is here and partner with school boards to Vaughan Willard Public School “Libraries give children tools at the end of May and she has with it comes the privileges of teach students about libraries,” gathered for the announce- to learn and grow. They also been busy making contact with playing golf. Ms. Meilleur said. ment. “We want you to get excit- foster lifelong learning,” she the school boards. She is now The Lung Association Durham As part of the PLUS program, ed about reading and know how said. “The government of On- working on the Web site and Area is selling its golf privilege library staff visit every Grade 3 to use the library.” tario knows how important it is wants to start the class visits in books for the 2004 season. The and Grade 8 class in Pickering As part of the partnership, to have libraries.” September. books sells for $25 each and offers and Ajax; develop a resource- the libraries are also planning Mr. VanLeeuwen said it would Ms. Caughlin said the pro- deals at golf courses all over based Web site to serve stu- programs for children during be difficult for the library to gram targets Grade 3 students Durham, Georgian Bay, and dents and teachers; and share the summer and after school. offer a program such as PLUS because studies show that is Kawartha-Haliburton. information with students “We will try really hard to without the funding. when many children stop read- All proceeds from the sale sup- about the library and how to make sure we have lots of excit- “You can do certain things ing. She added if they can get port community health pro- use it. ing books for you to read and but this helps because there are children interested in libraries grams and medical research that “Our hope is that because of music and DVDs,” Mr.