PERSONAL TAX RETURN THE Ajax Nissan ONLY $59.95* *HST extra Parts/Service Open 7:00am - 6:00pm www.allcanadiantax.com Wednesdays 7:00am - 8:00pm 905-426-4860 News Advertiser Saturdays 8:00am - 2:00pm 500 Bayly Street West, Ajax PICKERING (Between Westney & Church) 1-800-565-6365 Wednesday, February 2, 2011 905-686-0555 TELL US YOUR STORY Did you get more snow than this? Tell us about it RYAN PFEIFFER / METROLAND PICKERING -- Judy and Russ Phillips are fighting the City for compensation regarding their property value, arguing that the cell tower in their backyard has greatly reduced its value. @newsdurham City hangs up on cell tower request Upload your COUPLE ASKS FOR COMPENSATION DUE TO PROPERTY DEVALUATION snow photos to our Facebook KRISTEN CALIS building by Pickering in 1986 and he felt the away from his home’s appeal. [email protected] City should have objected to the installa- Mr. Phillips contacted the Municipal Prop- page tion of a cell tower nearby in 2001, which he erty Assessment Corporation (MPAC) in PICKERING -- Council has shut down a said he only discovered when construction 2004, and successfully acquired a six-per Greenwood couple’s request for $30,000 that began. cent reduction in his home’s assessment they feel the City owes them for a reduction “The tower over our home is a real distrac- due to the tower. in their property value. tion,” Mr. Phillips said. “This in itself confirmed the negative effect Russell Phillips appeared before the exec- He argued he’s taken steps such as under- that this structure had on our designated 36 pages utive committee earlier this month to say ground wiring to keep up its heritage appeal, heritage house,” Mr. Phillips said. • Optional 3-week he believes the City should financially com- and said it’s been featured in a television delivery pensate him and his wife, Judy. Their circa- program in the past. He hasn’t pursued that See CELL page 12 $6/$1 newsstand 1840s home was designated as a heritage avenue again since he feels the tower takes Are you taking medication to lower your cholesterol? Feeling short of breath? Lacking energy? Statin drugs deplete your CoQ10 levels. With Platinum Naturals’ Easy-Q® you can replenish your CoQ10 levels with an all-natural supplement that is 46% better absorbed and get your energy back! John 1822 Whites Rd. Pickering, ON Kourkounakis, (4 Lights North of 401) Protect your heart with Easy-Q®! 30% OFF 60mg & 100mg Regular Price (905) 839-7234 R.H.N 2 LITERACY AP Munsch gets interactive for literacy February 2, 2011 February Famed author visits the stage to step into the classic characters already engraved in the school for storytime minds of millions of readers. “I was a bit nervous but it felt News Advertiser • with students pretty good to be up there,” said PARVANEH PESSIAN Grade 3 student Branden Muller, [email protected] who played the role of the shallow Prince Ronald from The Paper Bag WHITBY -- When Robert Munsch Princess. “I like his books because stumbles upon a good story idea, they’re funny and fun to read.” he writes it down. Enthusiastic laughter filled the But it’s in the repeated re-tellings school gymnasium as students of it to thousands of eager ears that from every grade immersed them- he insists the real magic happens. selves in the adventure of each “Mostly I get ideas for the stories story, shouting out responses and right while I’m telling stories,” says repeating after their captivating the world-renowned Canadian leader. children’s author, who has penned “He’s phenomenal and all the more than 50 bestselling books kids were so happy to see him,” said over the past three decades. Whitby resident Marina Headrick, Many of those tales were born who accompanied daughter Ella, simply out of interactions with seven, to the presentation to meet kids, he explained to students at Mr. Munsch and have him auto- Robert Munsch Public School in graph some of her books. Whitby. “It’s amazing watching him He treated them to a wildly ener- when he’s telling a story and seeing getic storytime session -- complete the children join in because we all with his trademark zany antics and know the stories so well.” exaggerated expressions. As a token of gratitude on behalf Mr. Munsch dropped by the of the school, Grade 8 student school on Jan. 27 for Family Liter- Roshannie Jeyachandrakanthan acy Day, which was established by presented Mr. Munsch with a col- ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 lection of his books to donate to a to celebrate adults and children charity of his choice. reading and learning together. Mr. Munsch, who maintains it’s “Love of literacy, love of play- the young people he meets who ing with words and numbers is the inspire his work, announced he greatest gift you can give your chil- will be donating the books back dren,” says Mr. Munsch, honourary to Robert Munsch Public School chairman of the national literacy so students can continue enjoying initiative, which encourages par- the stories they’ve helped bring to ents to spend at least 15 minutes a life. day engaged in a learning activity “When I tell them to a big bunch with their young ones. of kids, I get these unison respons- “It makes your children inde- es and that’s really where the sto- pendent and makes them able to ries live -- they’re made for that,” shape their own world.” he says. During his visit, several students “It’s really easy to do cheerlead- jumped at the opportunity to join ing with kids, teaching them their Mr. Munsch in a series of animated line and telling them when to reenactments of some of his most come in. It’s easy to make a fake RYAN PFEIFFER / METROLAND famous books, including Moira’s story that way. But if they join in on WHITBY -- Junior kindergarten student Shazaib Malik watched as children’s author and storyteller Birthday, Thomas’ Snowsuit and their own, then it’s a real story.” Robert Munsch performed during a Family Literacy Day event at Robert Munsch Public School Jan. 27. Mortimer. For more information: Family Literacy Day is an annual national awareness initiative promoting the importance of reading One by one, the children climbed VISIT www.familyliteracyday.ca and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. TM Stop Collection Calls Reduce Your Debts Make One Small Monthly Payment Stop Wage Garnishment TM For all your DEBTS! Stop Interest Right Away No Need for Visit GtaCredit.Com BANKRUPTCY Re-Establish Your Credit For your nearest Location Call Now: 905-426-8400 or preferred Language 30 Hunt Street, Suit 203, Ajax (Harwood/Hwy 401) durhamregion.com POLITICS 3 AP Joe Dickson runs again for Ajax-Pickering Liberals MPP acclaimed ly sought the position of MPP 2, 2011 February because he wants to help people There has been more money as candidate by and he wants to continue doing riding association so after this fall’s provincial elec- to municipalities than ever in the history of Ontario in tion. the last term and it just keeps on going and going. Joe News Advertiser • for fall election “I guess being born the oldest of 10 children, we learned in a Dickson REKA SZEKELY hurry through my devout parents [email protected] you’re only successful if every- one helps everyone else, that’s AJAX-PICKERING - Joe Dick- how we were raised as children son is looking for another term and that has stayed with me,” he is tough, but explained that the sive Conservatives’ Todd McCa- at Queen’s Park after winning his said. Ajax-Pickering community has rthy, a partner at Flaherty Dow party’s nomination for the Ajax- Mr. Dickson first became an been well-served by the Liberals, Elliott and McCarthy and former Pickering riding. MPP after winning a seat in the citing the expansion of the Ajax- campaign chairman for Finance The former Ajax councillor and 2007 general election. Pickering hospital as just one Minister Jim Flaherty. Mr. McCa- local businessman was official- His previous political expe- example. rthy won his party nomination ly nominated on Jan. 25 as the rience includes two terms on “There has been more money in June. METROLAND FILE PHOTO Ontario Liberal Party candidate. school board, one term as a to municipalities than ever in The election will take place AJAX -- Joe Dickson, MPP for No one ran against the incum- Regional councillor and seven the history of Ontario in the last Thursday, October 6. Provin- Ajax-Pickering, will be running bent member of provincial par- terms as a local councillor in term and it just keeps on going cial election now fall on the first for the Liberals again in the fall liament. Ajax. and going,” he said. Thursday of October every four provincial election. He is shown Mr. Dickson says he original- Mr. Dickson said any election He’ll be taking on the Progres- years. here at a sod-turning last fall. HEALTH Roar of donation to Ajax-Pickering hospital Ajax Lions Club tal. "The Ajax Lions Club has been donates $5,000 to an integral part of the Durham MRI campaign community, and I am very proud that the Ajax Lions Club is sup- porting this great MRI cam- AJAX -- A new donation has paign," said Bill Pinder, director made a roar at the Ajax-Pickering of the Ajax Lions Club in a press hospital. release. "My hope is that this club The Ajax Lions Club made a will be one of many that will sup- donation of $5,000 Jan.