Oshawa struggling with GM layoffs 30/April 30 2008 - Low.pdfThe new recommendation proposes: Holy Cross Catholic School, Father Mahoney Catholic school, Canadian Martyrs Catholic School,

BByy CCoouurrttnneeyy DDuuffffeettttThe Oshawa Express

Oshawa is reeling from anothersetback of layoffs as GM faces 900job losses this coming September.

�This is absolutely devastatingnews,� says Chris Buckley, presidentof the Canadian Auto Workers Local

222, adding that in addition to thelayoffs GM will see on Sept. 8,2008, it�s important to rememberthat GM also saw the loss of the thirdshift at the truck plant�another1,000 jobs�this past January.

Currently, Buckley says there areabout 8,500 union members in theplants, which will decrease to about

7,500 members after theselayoffs.

�I believe this is thelowest we�ve been in ourhistory,� he says.

Buckley says this nextset of layoffs, which willaffect the lowest seniorityworkers first, will also have

a devastating impacton the parts industryacross the province,adding that every one assem-bly job accounts of 7.5 jobs in

spin-off employment,which means thousands ofothers will be without jobs,not including those directlyemployed at GM.

�This (announcement)makes this day troubling tous as a union,� saysBuckley. �My heart aches.There is a crisis in the man-ufacturing sector in thiscountry and it�s terrible our

government allows this to happen.�Buckley says that the rising

Canadian dollar, high fuel costs anda weak U.S. economy are all factorsin the announcement of these recentand continued layoffs at GM.

�The government continues toturn their backs on the auto workersin this country,� says Buckley.�These people won�t be able to findother jobs that pay as well as we dohere. I want to challenge the govern-ment to start giving attention to ourauto industry.

He adds that this problem is only


A new report brought to the Catholicschool board will see the closure of fiveelementary schools by next Septemberinstead of the previously proposed six.

Paul Pulla, director of education forthe Durham Catholic District SchoolBoard, brought a new recommendationto the board Monday night after infor-mation was received from a specialmeeting held recently with concerned

parents and school community mem-bers about the closure and consolidationof some of its schools.

This report follows the review of 11of Oshawa�s 14 Catholic elementaryschools by an Accommodation ReviewCommittee (ARC) formed last June.

�This is just the next step in theprocess,� says Pulla, adding that the rea-son for the closures is attributable todeclining enrolment trends and histori-cal data.

BByy JJeessssiiccaa VVeerrggeeThe Oshawa Express

Six years ago, Frances Scanga andher fellow Oshawa Bocce Club mem-bers gave Radio Park a makeover.

They installed new playgroundequipment, planted flowers, madeimprovements to their court and provid-ed what they believed to be a beautiful,peaceful place in the heart of the city fortheir fellow Oshawa residents to enjoy.

Now those fixtures are the targets ofvandalism�gates have been pulledfrom the hinges, picnic tables carvedwith obscene words and images, storage

sheds spray painted and defaced�andthe Bocce Club�s pet project is overrunwith groups of adults who use the areafor a different sort of recreation.

�We�re not safe any longer,� saysScanga, speaking on behalf of her fel-low members and the children and localresidents who frequent the park.

According to Scanga, large groups of25- to 30-year-olds congregate in thepark on a regular basis, consumingdrugs and alcohol and engaging in lewdacts despite daily calls to police. Whilethe bocce teams once came out from 6

Wednesday, AApril 330 22008$1.00 YYour IIndependent LLocal NNews SSource VVol 33 NNo 227

See HHIIGGHH Page 5

Chris Buckley

Photo by Courtney Duffett/The Oshawa Express

Michael Box comes homeDaniel Murphy, interior designer and host of The Million Dollar Makeover, speaks with Michael Box outside his homeafter he received a virtual tour of his newly decorated house on a television screen in his driveway. See story page 7.See CCAATTHHOOLLIICC Page 2

Group offers solution to RadioPark vandalism

Five school closures debated

Oshawa struggling with GM layoffs

See SSEENNIIOORRSS Page 3

Page 2 APRIL 30 2008

Veteran cop injuredin takedown

A veteran police officer is recoveringat home after suffering a separatedshoulder during an arrest of a mentallyill man.

On April 23 around 11:30p.m., an officer was dispatchedto the Oshawa GO transit stopon Thornton Road regarding amale who was exposing him-self.

The 20-year veteran officerapproached the male and thesuspect attempted to run fromthe scene. The officer caughtup to the suspect and suffereda separated shoulder while taking thesuspect to the ground.

Further investigation revealed that the38-year-old suspect had been reportedmissing from the Whitby Mental Health

Centre hours before and had left lettersbehind indicating he was going to harmhimself. It was later discovered that he

had taken a quantity of pillsand was transported toLakeridge Health Oshawa.Once at the hospital, the malehad a seizure and hit his headon the floor.

He was held for a mentalassessment.

The officer was treated atthe hospital and laterreleased.

Durham police would liketo thank two citizens, including one whoassisted in the handcuffing and thesearch of the suspect. An X-acto knifewas discovered and seized during thesearch.

Oshawa man chargedwith luring teen

A veteran police officer is recovering athome after suffering a separated shoulderduring an arrest of a mentally ill man.

On April 23 around 11:30 p.m., an offi-cer was dispatched to the Oshawa GO tran-sit stop on Thornton Road regarding a malewho was exposing himself.

The 20-year veteran officer approachedthe male and the suspect attempted to runfrom the scene. The officer caught up to thesuspect and suffered a separated shoulderwhile taking the suspect to the ground.

Further investigation revealed that the38-year-old suspect had been reported miss-ing from the Whitby Mental Health Centre

hours before and had left letters behindindicating he was going to harm himself. Itwas later discovered that he had taken aquantity of pills and was transported toLakeridge Health Oshawa. Once at the hos-pital, the male had a seizure and hit his headon the floor. He was held for a mentalassessment.

The officer was treated at the hospitaland later released.

Durham police would like to thank twocitizens, including one who assisted in thehandcuffing and the search of the suspect.An X-acto knife was discovered and seizedduring the search.

Cops serve dinner for charityHungry Oshawa residents helped raise

money for the upcoming Special OlympicsSpring Games.

On April 24, members of the DurhamRegional Police helped serve lunch anddinner to customers at the Red Lobsterrestaurant in Oshawa. Patrons were giventhe option of making a donation to supportthe Ontario Special Olympics after theirmeal. More than $1,400 was raised by theend of the day.

From May 29 to 31, more than 1,000athletes, trainers, coaches, volunteers, fam-

ilies and friends from across Ontario willcome to Durham Region to take part in theSpecial Olympics Ontario 2008 ProvincialSpring Games. The athletes will be com-peting in swimming, bowling, power lift-ing and basketball competitions at venuesincluding the University of OntarioInstitute of Technology, Durham College,the Pickering Recreation Centre, NorthEnd Bowl and Leisure Lanes.

For more information about the SpringGames, visitthe website at www.spe-cialolympics2008.ca.

St. Hedwig could be saved from closure

CCAATTHHOOLLIICC From Page 1Projections for the next few years show a

continued trend. He says that as the enrolment ina school continues to decrease, split gradesincrease, co-instructional activities becomemore difficult to provide and an adequate levelof supervision is difficult, if not impossible, tomaintain.

The original recommendation presented tothe board in March saw a total of six schoolsclosing instead of five. Some of the concernsraised at the special board meeting included theabsence of a Catholic school presence in whatthe ARC had identified as thedowntown core�the absence ofa Catholic school presencenorth of Olive Avenue, south ofKing Street and between ParkRoad and Athabasca Street�and the impact of the elemen-tary school consolidations onthe sustainability of MonsignorJohn Pereyma CatholicSecondary School.

�Not having a Catholicschool in the downtown would not serve theCatholic education system well,� says Pulla.

The new recommendation proposes:� Holy Cross Catholic School, Father

Mahoney Catholic school, Canadian MartyrsCatholic School, St. Gregory Catholic Schooland St. Michael Catholic School be closed

� The consolidated school communities ofJohn XXII, Monsignor Philip Coffey, Sir AlbertLove, St. Christopher, St. Hedwig and St.Thomas Aquinas Catholic Schools be providedwith upgrades and improvements based on astaff review of facilities in consultation with therespective consolidated school communities

� The schools slated for closure be effectivefor the start of the 2008-09 school year and thatnoon-hour transportation of Junior and SeniorKindergarten students be provided to all stu-dents within the transporting zone of all theboard�s schools effective September 2008

It also proposes the following consolidations:� The closure of St. Michael Catholic School

will see the consolidation of St. Michael and St.Christopher

� The closure of St. Gregory Catholic School

will see the consolidation of Sir Albert Love, St.Gregory and part of Holy Cross (north of Hwy.2)

� The closure of Father Francis MahoneyCatholic School will see the consolidation ofJohn XXII and part of Father Francis Mahoney(north of Hwy. 401 and east of Harmony Road)

� The closure of Canadian Martyrs CatholicSchool will see the consolidation of MonsignorPhilip Coffey, Canadian Martyrs, part of HolyCross (south of Hwy. 401), part of FatherFrancis Mahoney (south of Hwy. 401) and partof St. Thomas Aquinas (south of Hwy. 401)

� The closure of Holy CrossCatholic School will see the con-solidation of part of St. ThomasAquinas (north of Hwy. 401),part of Holy Cross (north of Hwy.401 and west of Ritson Road)and the French ImmersionProgram

� A consolidation of schoolswill occur between St. Hedwig,part of Holy Cross (north of Hwy.401, east of Ritson Road and

south of Hwy. 2) and part of Father FrancisMahoney (north of Hwy. 401 and west ofHarmony Road).

Come September, if the board decides toclose these six elementary schools, studentsattending Father Venini, St. Joseph, St. JohnBosco, St. Christopher and Sir Albert LoveCatholic Schools will attend Monsignor PaulDwyer Catholic High School for their secondaryschool education and students attending JohnXXII, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Hedwig andMonsignor Philip Coffey Catholic schools willattend Monsignor Pereyma Catholic HighSchool for their secondary school education.

The board�s final decision on the recommen-dation of school closures and consolidation ofschools will be made at its May 26 meeting.

�Whatever the board decides, staff will workwith all of the school communities to ensure asmooth and seamless transition,� says Pulla.�These school closures and consolidations ofschools are a necessity and to delay would be amistake. Anything other than an immediateaction would be more of a disruption to theschool communities.�

Catholic board couldclose five Oshawaelementary schools

APRIL 30 2008 Page 3

BBOOCCCCEE from Page 1to 11 p.m., they�re now out of the park by 9 p.m.,fearing for their safety. But Scanga says the prob-lematic activity can be found day or night.

�I wouldn�t bring my grandchildren there rightnow,� she says.

But the Bocce Club, which boasts more than200 members and a waiting list of eager playershoping to join one of 16 men�s teams or one of 12women�s teams, have a solution.

Scanga approached the city�s developmentservices committee on Monday with a proposal tolease a northwest portion of Radio Park for thebuilding of a non-profit senior�s residence andrecreation facility. She believes the constant pres-ence brought on by it�s inhabitants would put astop to the seemingly uncontrollable groups, whotend to gather in the northwest corner of the park,exactly where they�re hoping to build.

The residence would be geared toward seniorson a fixed income who can no longer live on theirown and Scanga�s already compiled a list of inter-ested occupants.

And the Bocce Club isn�t asking the city tofinance the project.

�I just want the land,� says Scanga, adding thatthe organization plans to seek grants from theprovincial and federal governments and believesthe project can be done without city funding. �Webelieve that everything is possible.�

The development services committee referredScanga�s proposal back to staff, who will investi-gate and return with a report.

In the meantime, the Bocce Club is eager toreclaim their park and is struggling to cope withthe constant vandalism.

�We can�t keep up any longer,� says Scanga.

Seniors home proposedto increase park safety

With spring around the corner, constructioncrews will be out around the city doing somemaintenance that could affect local traffic.

Mary Street will be closed in two stages whilecrews replace sanitary sewers and water mains.Stage one will be between Rosedale Avenue and

Hillcroft Street. It began on April 28 and isexpected to last until the beginning of June.

Stage two will be between Hillcroft Street andRossland Road East and will begin in June uponcompletion of stage one and is anticipated to lastuntil the beginning of August.

Detour routes along Rossland Road,Simcoe Street, Adelaide Avenue andRitson Road have been posted, howeverresident and emergency access will bemaintained.

Another possible delay for local resi-dents will be on Hillcroft Street, whichwill be closed between Ritson RoadNorth and Trick Avenue until approxi-mately May 23 while crews replace stormsewer and water mains. However residentand emergency access will be maintained.

Construction detours


The search is underway to find the occu-pants of Oshawa�s first Habitat for Humanityhome.

While today, April 30, marks the deadlinefor applications, Habitat for HumanityDurham�s Valerie Cranmer says the low num-ber of submissions means they won�t be turn-ing away potential families just yet.

�We expected to get a few more,� saysCranmer, chair of the family selection andpartnering committee.

Only five or six applications have been sub-mitted, according to Cranmer, which is lowcompared to other Habitat builds, though sheadds that people were still calling to inquireabout the process as of late last week.

But a Habitat house isn�t for just anyone.�We have a number of criteria,� says

Cranmer.First, the family must be low-income. For

instance, a family of four should not be earn-ing more than $39,399 per year. With an appli-cant�s permission, Habitat will verify employ-ment and other income, account balances, geta statement from current and previous land-lords, complete a credit check and ask for cred-it references.

If the income eligibility is met, Habitat thenlooks at how and where a family lives.

�We look to see what their housing situa-

tion is,� says Cranmer.Families with more dire situations, such as

no indoor plumbing, overcrowding or unsafeconditions are given priority.

Applicants must also be Durham Regionresidents for the past two years.

Finally, potential homeowners must bewilling to take part in the build and give whatHabitat calls �sweat equity�. In lieu of a mon-etary down payment, the family must completea minimum of 500 hours constructing theirown home, those of other prospective home-owners or performing other volunteer work forHabitat.

�We�re looking for someone who is veryinterested,� says Cranmer, adding that thosewilling to put in the sweat equity are generallyvery serious about getting the house.

Cranmer also believes sweat equity alsogives homeowners the feeling they�ve earnedit.

�It gives them a sense of pride,� she says.�They really do work hard for this.�

Homeowners do pay a no-interest mort-gage, which requires monthly payments over aperiod of 20 to 30 years. The amount of themortgage depends on the cost to build thehome. The homeowner's monthly mortgagepayments are used to build more Habitat hous-es.

Applicants must also be comfortable beingin the public eye as Habitat for Humanitybuilds generally draw a lot of attention.

The Oshawa home,known as the GreyCup home because theproject was launchedduring the CanadianFootball Leaguechampionship inToronto last year, willbe located on DeanAvenue. Cranmer saysbuilding permits havealready been submit-ted to the city withfinal plans for thedesign contingent onthe selected familyand their need. Shesays the group is aim-ing to select a familyby the end of May andthat families whoaren�t chosen areencouraged to applynext time as Habitatfor Humanity Durhamis looking forward tofuture builds.

�We really hopethis new house isgoing to kick-start thisaffiliate,� she says.

For more informa-tion visit www.habi-tatdurham.com or call905-852-5888.


Habitat houseneeds homeowners

From left to right: Jeffrey Hayes, chairman of Habitat for Humanity North Durham; Michael �Pinball� Clemons,former head coach of the Toronto Argonauts; Juergen Weber, vice chairman of Habitat for Humanity NorthDurham; and Oshawa councillor Robert Lutczyk launched the building of Oshawa�s Habitat for Humanity homeat the Grey Cup last year in Toronto.

Photo submitted

HHIIGGHH From Page 1going to get worse unless some of these issues getaddressed.

�The auto industry is struggling and we will notsurvive unless the government helps us out,� hesays.

However, the auto industry in Canada isn�t theonly one that�s suffering, as GM also plans to elim-inate three shifts in the U.S.

�My heart goes out to those employees at GM,�says Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa.

He attributes the loss of the shift to an econom-

ic slowdown in the U.S. and doesn�t believe it�s fairto point the finger at the Canadian government,which is unable to pull Americans out of a slumpsingle-handedly.

Carrie believes the bottom line of GM�s woes isthat there just aren�t enough customers, especiallyin the U.S.

�They�re not buying trucks,� he says.And Carrie, who is optimistic about Oshawa�s

economic future, says he�s doing everything he canas a politician to support the industry and believesthe federal government is try to help.

�We have takenaction,� he says.

However, Jerry

Ouellette, MPP for Oshawa says that he is�extremely disappointed� with the federal govern-ment over the lack of support for the local automo-tive industry.

�They have no direction or focus on any sectorof the auto industry,� says Ouellette, adding thatthese job losses will be a downturn and have a hugeimpact on a strong economy.

�I don�t know how anybody is going to be ableto afford (to live),� says Greg Moffatt, chairpersonfor the Oshawa truck plant. �The economy is goingto stall if the government doesn�t do something.�

Buckley says that unfair trade is another reasonas to why the auto indus-try is failing in Canada.

�Imported vehicles are saturating our market,yet we�re not allowed to enter theirs,� he says. �Wecan�t survive with the implants in this country andwe can�t compete with offshore auto companies.It�s unfair trade. We have to try and sell our vehi-cles in other countries.�

Buckley adds that imported vehicles bring noemployment to our economy.

�If it wasn�t for the auto workers in Oshawa,this city wouldn�t be the way it is today,� saysBuckley. �But now they don�t know day-to-day ifthey�re going to have a job tomorrow, and that�s asickening feeling.�


Oshawa played host to more than 30 Ontariomayors who are joining forces in a fight to protectthe province�s automotive industry.

Ontario Mayors for Automotive Investmentmet at General Motors� Canadian RegionalEngineering Centre on Wentworth Street lastFriday for a meeting co-chaired by Oshawa mayorJohn Gray and Woodstock mayor MichaelHarding.

The group, made up of mayorsfrom approximately 40 municipalitieswith an automotive presence, such assuppliers or assemblers, meets annual-ly to discuss the industry and relatedissues.

This time they made a resolutioncalling on the federal and provincialgovernment for direct, sustainablelong-term continued support andinvolvement to foster a business-friendly environ-ment in the automobile industry.

�It�s about the good of our communities,� saysGray, adding that automotive investment from thehigher levels of government is critical to build

municipalities, especially those that rely on theautomotive sector.

And, in Ontario, the automotive sector is a bigpart of the economy with more than 2.5 millionlight-duty vehicles produced in the province everyyear. As well, each of the 50,000 assembly jobs inOntario provides seven to 10 spin-off jobs.

Harding, whose city of Woodstock is home to aToyota assembly plant, believes that if the govern-ments don�t work together to ensure a secure futurefor the automotive sector it won�t be the province

or country that feel the effects. �The local municipalities will end

up paying the price,� he says.Harding says the first order of

business for MPs and MPPs is toensure timely access to U.S. markets,something he says unites all manufac-turing municipalities across Ontario.The mayors agreed that global anddomestic pressures, such as fairertrade practices with offshore markets

and a higher Canadian dollar, require further gov-ernment intervention and leadership. They�re alsourging the federal and provincial levels to worktogether and present a united front to competitorsand business prospects.


Mayors join forces for auto industry

Photo by Jessica Verge/The Oshawa Express

From left: Tom Adams, town and regional councillor for Oakville, Oshawa Mayor John Gray, WoodstockMayor Michael Harding and London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best were part of the Ontario Mayorsfor Automotive Investment meeting that came together at GM to discuss issues pertaining to the automo-tive industry in Ontario.

�The local municipalities

will end up paying the price.�

Michael HardingWoodstock Mayor

We asked local residents what they think of the rise in gas pricesand if it has affected their driving habits. Here�s what they said:

Express streeter:

�No, not really. ButI�m not happy aboutit. It�s costing me alot of money.�

Liz Brasier-Ackerman

�Slightly. But it�s apart of life. H I�malso thinking of buy-ing a more efficientvehicle.�

Brian Wright

�It hasn�t changedmy driving habitsmuch. I don�t like it,but I still have tocommute.�

Jim Durocher

High dollar, fuel costs factors in job cuts

� Currently, the auto industry directlyemploys 10,400 people in Oshawa, com-pared to 13,100 people in Oshawa that wereemployed in 2002

� 786,098 vehicles were built in Oshawain 2007 (about 2,154 a day).

� The major original equipment manu-facturing jobs in the region stimulate anestimated 48,000 jobs throughout the econ-omy

� Auto workers� paycheques pumped$702 million into the Oshawa economy in2007 (about $1.9 million per day)

� The auto assembly and parts manufac-turing industries directly employ 135,000people in Canada

� 2,542,250 cars and light trucks werebuilt in Canada in 2007 (about 6,965 a day)

� Including spin-off jobs, the auto indus-try is responsible for more than 440,000jobs across the country

The auto industry The local level:

The national level:

Chris Buckley, president of CAW Local 222 andGreg Moffatt, chair of Oshawa�s truck plant held apress conference in regards to the most recentannouncement of layoffs coming this September.

It could be the beginning of the endof Catholic education in Oshawa.

Such a claim might seem a little pre-mature, a little dramatic but given thecurrent climate in the separate board it�snot a comment so unjustified.

Just think, Oshawa is home to 14Catholic elementary schools. Aboutfive or six of those, all located in southor central Oshawa, are on the choppingblock. When those schools close theirdoors and parents are given the choicebetween putting their kids on a bus andsending them across the city to aCatholic school or just walking themdown the street to the public one, whichdo you think most parents will choose?

Then, when it comes time for thatformer Catholic school student to makethe transition to high school, will theyattend one of two Catholic high schoolsor the public high school that will beattended by all their Grade 8 class-mates?

Groups of Oshawa parents are doingwhatever they can to avoid makingthose decisions and to convince theschool board to keep the schools open.And their points are valid: it�s tough onkids to change schools and enter new,unfamiliar environments; a school clo-sure means a loss to the entire commu-nity it�s surrounded by; Catholic educa-tion could suffer; intimate smallschools will be replaced by huge andpossibly crowded school populations.Add to that the fact that at least dozensof teachers and staff members will bedeclared redundant and could likely beunemployed come September.

Declining enrolment can�t beignored. It�s a reality that has stretchedfar beyond Oshawa, becoming apparentacross Ontario.

However, Oshawa seems to be on anupswing. The very downtown that islikely to lose its schools is the samearea the city is working valiantly torestore and revitalize. Aside from theGeneral Motors Centre and construc-tion on the Regent Theatre and provin-cial courthouse, new shops, businessesand restaurants seem to spring up all thetime. These improvements pave the wayfor an increase in residential possibili-ties in the downtown with condomini-um developments already underway.

Then there�s Oshawa�s waterfront,its future still unclear, but governmentofficials will eventually turn that prizedreal estate into a vibrant area full of res-idential and commercial development.

Closing almost half of the Catholicelementary schools seems a drasticmeasure and possibly the Catholic andpublic boards will need to unite in orderto offer both services equally to a dwin-dling number of students.


ISSN 1715-9253

600 Thornton Rd. S.Oshawa, ON L1J [email protected]: ((905) 5571-7334

fax: ((905) 5571-0255APRIL 30 22008

Volume 3, Number 27

PublisherGreg McDowell

Advertising DDirectorKim Boatman

Contributing EEditorWendy Gallagher

Sports EEditorWally Donaldson

[email protected]

RReeppoorrtteerrssJessica Verge

[email protected] Duffett

[email protected]

CCoonnttrriibbuuttoorrssBill Fox, Amber Nowak,

Glen Goodhand

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Letters to the Editor

Catholiceducationat risk inOshawa

Dear editor:

I have to agree with previousletters from Gary Hood, DaveSmith, Dr. Godfrey, andMichael Maynard in keeping anethanol plant far away fromSecond Marsh and the OshawaHarbour.

If it is true that there is a 2-5mile evacuation radius for anethanol catastrophe, we mustalso consider that Hwy. 401,General Motors of Canada andboth the CNR and CPR tracksfall into this proximity effectingbroader parameters than southOshawa.

The city's fire services willhave to be upgraded as fighting

an ethanol fire requires a differ-ent approach. This will come ata great cost to you and I, thetaxpayers.

The construction of thisplant could deter alternativeinvestment at the waterfront,limit all recreational and resi-dential opportunities, and thesafety risks presented by theethanol plant could jeopardizeany existing harbour invest-ments, natural landscape andassets�all possibilities carry-ing much heavier consequencesfor our city.

This building is more suitedto a rural area where corn andrail access are immediate likemost of Ontario's current oper-

ating ethanol facilities. Thefarmers that readily accept thegovernment financial subsidyand wish to see ethanol plantsbuilt should be prepared to havethem in their communities. Onemight even question how cost-effective these plants really areif the government needs to soheavily be subsidizing them.

I am not against the farmersor a fanatical environmentalist.I am not even entirely againstthe production of ethanol. I amjust against the proposed loca-tion of this plant on Oshawa'swaterfront.

John Malish Oshawa

Build ethanol plant inagricultural community

Dear Editor:

So good to see that DurhamRegional Police�s first murdervictim, Beverly Smith (1974cold case), was finally solvedsome 33 years later.

It does beg the question,however, why this took solong with a fingerprint at thescene, a neighbour (nowaccused) who apparentlyslipped away from his wife

and committed the act andthen returned to his home. Ithad to come down to DNAadvancements on technologyso many decades later.

Instead of lauding thetenacity of justice, which hadbeen more family-drivenaccording to newspaperaccounts, perhaps we shouldbe lamenting the sloppiness ofofficial police investigativework back then, as frustrating

as these cases are to policeofficials.

I think a memorial plaqueshould be erected on site (withthe family�s agreement) forthis young woman�s milestonepassing.

Thank God the family willfinally have their peace andclosure.

R.M. HuesOshawa

Murder arrest shouldhave happened sooner


City Hall employees could have a littleextra cash in their pocket next time theyattend a conference or seminar.

Staff is proposing an increase in thecity�s per diem rate, given to staff andcouncil members attending events wherethey�re required to purchase meals. Therate could go up from $60 per day to $75.

Staff are also proposing council agree toreview the per diem guideline every fiveyears.

The current rate of $60 hasn�t change insix years and staff determined the increasebased on surveys of other municipalities

and discussions with senior staff. Other per diem rates ranged from noth-

ing in St. Catharines, where staff membersare reimbursed upon submitting receipts, to$100 in Whitby and Oakville. In Ajax, perdiem is $40.

The proposed increase is based on theassumption that, including tip, breakfast is$15, lunch is $20 and dinner is $30 with$10 for incidentals. The per diem amountcould be dropped if the staff member eats ameal at home or is provided one at theirevent and claims for incidentals could beincreased if an overnight stay is required.

City in briefStaff per diem could rise

Forcing businesses to install securitycameras is not the best way to ensure safe-ty in Oshawa, according to city staff.

Last July, Oshawa councillors directedstaff to investigate the feasibility of intro-ducing a policy that would require licensedbusinesses to place video surveillance cam-eras on the exterior of their buildings.Following research and consultation, staffare recommending council not pursue sucha regulation.

The report came after ongoing loiteringand perceived and real illegal activity indowntown Oshawa posed safety concerns

for shoppers, workers, residents and busi-ness owners. The report determined thatcameras provide a false sense of security,are costly, require ongoing maintenanceand operation and raise privacy issues.

One example of an unsuccessful securi-ty camera project can be found in the Cityof London where more than three quartersof a million dollars was spent over two anda half years with little tangible results.Despite spending $235,000, London expe-rienced 451 camera failures in 2002 and506 failures in 2003.

Security cameras not theanswer to downtown safety

Drivers used to parking in front of theTim Horton�s on King Street East will haveto think twice about doing so on a weekdaymorning.

City staff is proposing council prohibitstopping on the south side of the street,from Drew Street to a point 30 m east, from6 to 9 a.m., Monday to Friday.

The recommendation comes after con-

cerns from patrons of the 211 King St. E.restaurant as anyone parked in those spacesforces the drive-thru queue into the throughlane creating congestion and safety issues.

At that time of day, every day, approxi-mately 18,000 vehicles travel that sectionof King Street.

The cost to install the signs would be$300.

King Street East Tim Horton�sa �no stopping� zone

Applications have been submitted topermit commercial retail development onlands along Fox Street, east of ThorntonRoad South and north of ChamplainAvenue.

Oshawa Crossings Inc. is acting as thedevelopment manager on behalf of CanadaMortgage and Housing CorporationPension Fund (CMHC), which owns theland.

City staff is recommending councilapprove the amendment to the OshawaOfficial Plan needed to permit the develop-ment.

Two developers are looking to buildretirement homes in Oshawa. The first,Silwell Developments, wants to build on aplot of land north of Coldstream Drive andwest of Harmony Creek. Plans for the 3-acre lot include a 4-storey building accom-

modating 163 beds in 135 suites.The second developer, Bruce Stewart,

wants to build on Bloor Street Eastbetween Grandview Street and TownlineRoad. The proposed retirement homewould be developed in two phases: the firstincluding 90 suites with a total of 95 bedsand the second including 50 suites and 52beds.

City staff is recommending councilapprove both proposals.

A condominium could be coming toHarmony Road North.

Whitby Meadows Inc. has submitted anapplication to build a 38-unit block town-house at 1280 Harmony Rd. N., south ofTaunton Road and north of GrandridgeAvenue. City staff is recommending itsapproval.

Under construction

Plans for Civic Auditoriumunder investigation

City staff is aiming to present councilwith a concept plan and funding model forthe Civic Auditorium�s future by this fall.

Staff provided the community servicescommittee with an update to their ongoingCivic Auditorium and Stadium Project. Aproject team has been established to inves-tigate partnership and funding opportuni-ties. Currently they�re exploring partner-

ships with Durham�s school boards, usergroups, private sectors and the Universityof Ontario Institute of Technology andDurham College.

By June 23 staff will determine pro-grams for site plan concepts. By Sept. 1they will determine concept plans and bySept. 22 they will determine partnershipagreements.


Michael Box was teary eyed as he watchedon a television screen outside while cameracrews inside gave him a tour of his newly ren-ovated home.

After a high school wresting match lastDecember left him paralyzed from a spinalcord injury, 15-year-old Box isleft with only limited move-ment of his head and right arm.He has been at BloorviewChildren�s Rehab in Torontosince the incident because hisOshawa home is not accessiblefor his wheelchair and othermedical equipment.

His family was chosen forMillion Dollar Makeover, areality television show that airson Rogers Television. The Boxfamily will be featured in thefinale episode of the seasonwith a new season beginningnext month.

�The concept of the show isto help those in need,� says Daniel Murphy,host and interior designer. �The Box family isfacing a real dilemma in that the house they arecurrently in is not suitable for Michael and theequipment he will need to come home. Wedecided to make the house over so the familycould sell their home as quickly as possibleand for top dollar so they can begin the searchfor a home that will accommodate Michael.�

Surrounded in his driveway by family,friends and neighbours, Box took a virtual tourof his newly decorated home by watching

camera crews on screen as Murphy led a tourof the home.

The Million Dollar Makeover Teamworked for 48 hours on Box�s home with acrew of 15 to 30 people at any given time.

The home was completely gutted, saysKaren Ross, publicity and promotions officerfor Rogers Television.

All the walls were painted, new carpet waslaid upstairs, laminate flooringreplaced the carpet on the mainfloor. Wall fixtures and acces-sories were also added.

�It�s amazing,� says Box. �Itlooks very light and modern.�

He says the room that sur-prised him the most was his bed-room, which used to be red andhas now been turned into anoffice.

�It was originally a work areathat was made into a bedroom,�says Box.

Box�s father Scott and step-mother Jewell plan on sellingtheir home so that they will beable to buy a new one to accom-

modate the teen.�We had no idea what the house was going

to look like,� says Scott. �But this is anotherstep out of the way. Our goal now is to find ahouse that�s wheelchair accessible forMichael.�

The Box�s plan to stay in Oshawa or at leastDurham Region.

Box had to return to Bloorview Sundaynight while his parents will be staying at theHoliday Inn for the next week in hopes that thehome will sell.

Bittersweet homecoming for injured teen

Oshawa home gets Million Dollar Makeover

�This is anotherstep out of theway. Our goal

now is to find ahouse that�swheelchair

accessible forMichael.�

- Scott Box

APRIL 30 2008Page 8

(NC)-In the first few years of life,hearing is a critical part of a child'ssocial, emotional, and cognitive devel-opment. Even a mild or partial hearingloss can affect a child's ability to speakand understand language.

The good news is, hearing problemscan be treated if they're caught early.So, it's important to get your child'shearing screened early.

It is essential for early childhooddevelopment that a hearing loss isdiagnosed before three months of age.

For this reason it is recommendedto have your newborn's hearing testedshortly after birth, this assures early

intervention inthe event thatyour newbornexhibits anysigns of hearingloss.

However,hearing loss canoccur at anystage in devel-opment. Beingaware of com-mon warningsigns of hearingloss is the firststep in takingearly action. Tohelp you recog-nize the earlywarning signsand symptomsof childhoodhearing lossPhyllisBensoussan,registeredCASLPOAudiologist andEnergizer offersthe followingquestions:

� Does yourchild not startle,cry or awaken toloud sounds(birth - 6

months) � Does he/she not respond to music,

noise or voices by movements or smil-ing (birth-6 months)

� Does your child not turn or look upwhen his/her name is called, evenwhen you can't be seen (7-12 months)

� Does he/she not respond torequests such as "want more" or"come here" (7-12 months)

� Does your child not turn towardsyou when youcall his/her namefrom behind (1-2years)

� Is there adelay in normalspeech and lan-guage develop-ment (1-2 years)

If you haveany questions orconcerns aboutyour child's hear-ing contact yourfamily doctor andrequest anassessment with

an audiologist. Energizer, a leader in dependable,

portable power, has been crafting andperfecting hearing aid batteries like theEnergizer Perf Pack and EZ Changefor decades. For more information onproducts and information visit:www.energizer.ca. For more informa-tion about hearing and CASLPA visit:http://www.caslpa.ca.


More than half ofCanadians will expe-rience some degreeof hearing loss in theyears after age 65.However, it's not justa problem affectingseniors. More andmore young peopleare showing signs ofhearing loss as earlyas their 30's and40's. According toThe Canadian Academy of Audiology,as much as 10 per cent of theCanadian population suffer from someform of hearing loss.

It is common for people with hearingloss to stop communicating with familyand friends because they are unable tohear and understand what is beingsaid. However, help is available andpeople with hearing loss can stay con-

nected. Recognizing hear-ing loss is the first step intreatment and knowing thewarning sign's is vital forearly detection.

To help you identify thesigns and symptoms ofhearing loss, PhyllisBensoussan, registeredCASLPO Audiologist andEnergizer offers the follow-ing tips:

� Do family memberscomplain about your inability to hear?

� Do you frequently ask people torepeat what they have said?

� Do you have trouble hearing thetelevision and/or radio? Do you preferthe television and/or radio louder thanother people?

� Do you experience ringing, pain orfullness in one or both ears?

� Do you have a history of exposure

to loud noise (loud concerts, guns,construction, etc.)?

� Do you have difficulty understand-ing what people are saying in noisyplaces?

If you experience any or all of theseproblems on a sudden or consistentbasis, you may have some form ofhearing loss.

Experts recommend getting yourhearing tested every two years. If youhave questions about your hearing orsuspect you have a hearing loss, con-tact an audiologist, who can test yourhearing and provide you with informa-tion.

Energizer, a leader in dependable,portable power, has been crafting andperfecting hearing aid batteries like theEnergizer Perf Pack and EZ Changefor decades. For more information onproducts and information visit:www.energizer.ca.

Take aim at hearing health

Photo courtesy of metrocreativegraphics.com

Signs of hearing loss in kids

One Oshawa library is going green andinternational with programs aimed at the envi-ronment and Fiesta Week.

The McLaughlin Branch of the OshawaPublic Library is offering up free films andlectures for the public.

On May 14 at 7 p.m., the community isinvited to learn about Greening your Eating:Better for You, Better for the Planet as authorLeslie Garrett provides a guide to earth-friend-ly eating from the five must-buys of organicfood, to the futuristic notion of genetically-modified food, to the simple benefits of sittingdown with your family, to a home-cookedmeal.

Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. is sharing tips

on Using Energy Wisely on June 4 at 7 p.m.Representatives will teach the public how touse electricity wisely to get the most out oftheir energy dollars by discovering simplechanges to make around the home that willsave money and protect the environment.Various conservation programs, rebates andincentives are available to the public and willalso be explored.

Then the library will take a multiculturalturn with a series of foreign films in celebra-tion of Fiesta Week. The movies include:

� Under the Same Moon � June 16, 7 p.m. �A heart warming family story that offers subtlecommentary on illegal immigration.

� The Diving Bell and the Butterfly � June17, 2 p.m. � The true story of a man impris-oned in his paralyzed body who demonstrateslove, imagination, and the will to live.

� The Orphanage � June 18, 7 p.m. � FromSpain, a frightening supernatural thriller.

Also as part of Fiesta Week, the librarywelcomes Japanese Taiko drummers on June19 at 7:30 p.m. and Around the World in 8Beers on June 21 at 2 p.m. Roger Mittag fromThirst For Knowledge, Inc., will lead a two-hour journey into the world of beer, exploringthe history of beer and brewing while samplinga variety of beers from around the world. As aspecial Fiesta celebration, the library will offera cheese pairing with each beer. Those regis-tering must be aged 19 or older and there is alimit of 50 spaces.

Free tickets for all events are available atany branch of the library.

BBy CCourtney DDuffettThe Oshawa Express

Homeless youth have a new place inOshawa that they can call �home.�

The Refuge, an Oshawa-based charitythat helps homeless youth in DurhamRegion has opened itsdoors to youth in a bigger,better place. It relocatedfrom Mary Street indowntown Oshawa lastAugust to Court Streetjust outside of the down-town core.

�(The old place) didn�tsay dignity the way thisplace does,� saysClarence Keesman, exec-utive director of TheRefuge.

This new location includes a much larg-er kitchen, a clothing room, a quiet sittingarea, bathrooms, washer and dryer for

youth aged 16 to 24.Keesman says there are some changes

and renovations that he would like to see,including installing showers and updatingand renovating the kitchen by adding adishwasher, new stainless steel countersand new plumbing.

�I�d love to see somesort of intentional cookingprogram,� he says, addingthat having a largerkitchen means that �wecan now teach kids how tocook one-on-one.�

Knowing how to cookis a dignity issue, accord-ing to Keesman, addingthat youth feel good aboutthemselves knowing thatthey can cook a meal.

The quiet room, which includes comfort-able chairs and a fireplace, was designed asa place for youth to come in and relax in aquiet area.

�There are always people around on thestreets and it�s always noisy,� saysKeesman. �The quiet room is meant to helpmake the kids feel at home.�

Overall, Keesman believes that the newlocation will be a large benefit to Oshawa�syouth and will have a huge impact on theirlives, offering them a shoulder to lean on.

�We always want to have open doors,�says Keesman.

Last year, The Refuge saw more than515 different youth and interacted withthem more than 9,000 times.

When The Refuge changed locations,

Keesman says there was a core group ofyouth that moved with them. At first, theorganization was seeing between 20 and 25youth per day.

�Those that were left behind were in thatarea because that�s where the businesswas,� says Keesman, adding that theycouldn�t be bothered to walk the few extraminutes to the new location.

Now in any given month, The Refugesees about 120 youth averaging between 30and 35 youth per day.

For more information on The Refuge,visit www.refugeoutreach.com.


Refuge offers dignity to street youth

Clarence Keesman, executive director of The Refuge, right, shows Region of Durham public health nurse HeatherO�Neill plans for future renovations to the outreach centre�s kitchen.

Library programsgo environmental,international

�(The old place)didn�t say dignity

the way this place does.�

- Clarence Keesman


Cleaning green easier, more affordableIt's now easier and more afford-able than ever to clean green(NC)-Going "green" doesn't haveto be all or nothing. Making evensmall changes in your every daylife can have an enormous posi-tive impact on the environmentand make your home safer foryour family. Take how you clean -something most of us do often. You may have thought aboutgreen cleaning before, but wor-ried it would be more expensive,involve a lot more elbow grease

or not do the job. But greencleaning doesn't have to meanshopping at expensive specialtystores, messy concoctions ofvinegar and baking soda, or set-tling for less than stellar cleaningresults. Wal-Mart Canada's recent launchof its own line of environmentallypreferable cleaning products,called the GreenLine, shows justhow far green cleaning hascome. The line is mainstream,effective, affordable, easy to find

and, most importantly, certified tobe safer for the environment andyour family. Available in every one of Wal-Mart Canada's 299 stores nation-ally, from the Yukon toNewfoundland, the GreenLine iseffective and priced less thanmost conventional cleaning prod-ucts. Certified by EnvironmentalChoice's EcoLogo program,North America's most widely rec-ognized and respected certifica-tion of environmental leadership,

you can be sure the GreenLine issafe for your family and the envi-ronment. "Our aim is to provide customerswith a practical and affordableway to green their homes withoutmaking trade-offs," said SylvainPrud'homme, senior vice presi-dent of merchandising for Wal-Mart Canada. "We don't believecustomers should have tochoose between products theycan afford and products that areenvironmentally friendly. Making

quality green products moreaccessible and affordable for allof our customers is one of theways we're trying to help peoplesave money so they can live bet-ter." Wal-Mart Canada carries a widerange of other environmentallypreferable cleaning products andcleaning aids such as reusablecleaning cloths, biodegradablegarbage bags and recycledpaper towels.

- News Canada

Creating an outdoor room for the season(NC)-Designing an outdoorspace that is both stylish andfunctional can seem like a chal-lenging task. But it doesn't have to be. Theoutdoor room experts atCanadian Tire have createddécor themes and correspon-ding collections to help take theguesswork out of creating abackyard oasis. Each them includes furniture,décor accessories and dinner-ware in coordinating colours and

finishes. Just pick a theme thatsuits your personal style andcreate a picture perfect outdoorroom. Classic - Create a timeless lookwhile relaxing in the comfort andelegance of warm hues and tra-ditional designs. This is a veryneutral and soothing theme thatwill compliment any backyard.To relax in style, look for thelazy boy outdoor recliner, part ofthe jameson conversation set. Casual - Bring the refreshing

and soothing style of the resortor cottage living to your outdoorspace. With sandstone swivel chairsand bar stools and wicker rock-ing chairs and loveseat, this is aperfect collection for family funand relaxation. For an addedtouch of fun, look for a musicalpatio umbrella that coordinateswith the casual collection andhas a wireless transmitter thatconnects to any MP3 player toplay music through the umbrel-

la's built-in speakers. Cosmopolitan- Combine touchesof glass and shiny metals withclean lines and cool colours tocreate a sophisticated and mod-ern look. Featuring high dining sets, con-versation sets and glass tablesthis collection creates a beauti-ful modern look. Add black din-nerware with light blue platesand clear drink ware for a cut-ting edge look. Exotic - Make a lasting impres-

sion with guests by making themfeel as if they are on an exoticvacation right in your own back-yard. Start with furniture, like themandalay or caymen estate col-lections, that has natural woodand earth tones and complimentit with décor pieces likeMoroccan-style lanterns, goldwall plaques and exotic gongsfor that extra flare.

- News Canada

Enhancingyour home'scurb appeal(NC)-After a long Canadian winter, many homesneed a refresh. Paying attention to the exterior ofyour home is just as important as making a state-ment with your interior décor. The home décor teamat Canadian Tire has put together the following tipsto enable you to give the exterior of your home afresh new look, easily and affordably. Update exterior lighting: Exterior light can be stylishas well as functional. Design a well-lit path by addinga lantern or pagoda-style lighting. With so manybeautiful finishes available - pewter, stainless-steeland copper, to name a few - exterior lighting can addan attractive and luminous glow to your front yard orgarden. Solar-powered lighting, available atCanadian Tire, is an eco-friendly option that willenable you to light up your home while savingmoney. Accent your address: House numbers can be anarea where you can have some fun and experimentwith different styles. For example, instead of tradi-tional gold-plated numbers, look for numbers usingtrendy fonts, colours and backgrounds or try aplaque featuring coloured tiles to add some interest. Flower Power: Choose textured outdoor plantersand fill with vibrant coloured flowers, such as gera-niums, petunias or snapdragons. Place planters oneither side of the front door for a welcoming andfresh look. Alternatively, add brightly painted windowboxes and plant small flowers that contrast the exte-rior contrast of your home to make the windowboxes stand out.

- News Canada


Kristen Deeth�s cancer battle began bychance.

In 2004, she was shopping for groceries ather local supermarket when she came acrossan elderly woman trying to reach a bottle ofdish soap on a high shelf. While the dish soapwas lining a lower shelf, the woman seemedintent on getting the bottle just out of reach andDeeth offered to help.

As she reached for the dish soap, thewoman grabbed Deeth�s arm firmly and, star-

ing at a spot of skin, remarked that she didn�tlike the look of it. Shaken, Deeth paid for hergroceries and headed immediately to her doc-tor�s office.

�I really believe that I had a guardianangel,� says Deeth, who was diagnosed withmalignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

Now, four years and two surgeries later,Deeth is cancer-free and determined to helpothers affected by the disease.

This year marks her fourth Relay For Life,a worldwide overnight cancer fundraisingwalk, and the third time she�s turned to hercoworkers at Scrapbook Emporium to expand

her fundraising efforts. In 2006, she approached Kim and Bill

Hazelwood, owners of the Oshawa store,about organizing a scrapbooking marathonto compliment the 12-hour walk.

�There was no hesitation,� says Deethof the Hazelwood�s approval, whichlaunched the Let�s Scrap Cancer event.

On May 31, dedicated scrapbookerswill join forces at the 133 Taunton Rd. W.store and scrapbook from noon until mid-night, working non-stop on various proj-ects.

In the two years that Deeth has com-bined Relay For Life and Let�s ScrapCancer, she�s raised more than $10,000 forthe Canadian Cancer Society and hopes toadd even more to that total this year.

From 7 p.m. on June 6 to 7 a.m. on June7, Deeth will participate with her Relay ForLife team, Live Long and Prosper, at theOshawa Civic Fields. The event sees teamsof 10 people moving for 12 hours straight,with one team member constantly on thetrack.

But Deeth�s own cancer battle isn�t theonly reason she takes part. Deeth walks inhonour of her father, who succumbed to

cancer 15 years ago. �That�s a hurt that doesn�t go away,� she

says. �My kids don�t remember their grandfa-ther.�

Deeth�s three children and her husbandalso take part in the event as her fellow teammembers. And she credits those close to her,such as her coworkers, for making herfundraising efforts so successful.

�I couldn�t do what I did here withoutthem,� she says.

Spots are still available for scrapbookers

interested in taking part in the 12-hour Let�sScrap Cancer event though space is limitedand early registration is encouraged.Participants are required to pay a $10 admis-sion fee and must raise $100 in donations byMay 31. All funds are donated to the CanadianCancer Society.

For more information on the event call theScrapbook Emporium at 905-721-0183 oremail [email protected].

For more information about Relay For Lifevisit www.relayforlife.ca.


Scrapbookers unite for fundraiser

Kristen Deeth, right, shares her past Relay For Life achievements, commemorated in a scrapbook, with fellowScrapbook Emporium employees, from left, Jane Bruce and Kim Burnett.

� In 2007, 163 teams participated in Oshawa�sRelay For Life, raising more than $450,000.

� Funds raised through Relay For Life support theCanadian Cancer Society�s mission to eradicatecancer and enhance the quality of life ofCanadians living with cancer. Money is used tofund research; provide information services andsupport programs in the community; and advocatefor public policies that prevent cancer and helpthose living with it.

� In 2006-07, the Canadian Cancer Society fundedmore than $47 million in leading edge researchprojects across the country for a broad range ofprojects across all types of cancers includingbreast, prostate, colorectal and lung.

� The number of new cancer cases will increase byapproximately 60 per cent over the next 20 yearsdue to the aging and growing population.

� Cancer is the leading cause of premature deathin Canada.

� During their lifetimes, 38 per cent of Canadianwomen and 44 per cent of men will develop cancer.

� Approximately two out of every five Canadianswill develop cancer during their lifetime and aboutone of every four Canadians will die of cancer.


BBy CCourtney DDuffettThe Oshawa Express

With spring here and sum-mer around the corner,Oshawa residents are gettingtheir gardens ready.

One of the most importantthings to consider is makingsure to use a good qualitysoil, according to DaveCurtis, owner of KingswayGreenhouse in Oshawa.

�Having good quality soilis underrated,� says Curtis.�It�s important to do whateverit takes to develop good soil,which promotes excellentroot growth.�

Curtis says that this timeof year is a good time to getthe soil ready. Soils such aspeat moss, composts and rich-er black earth products aregreat to use for both flowerand vegetable gardens.

�The temperature in thesoil must be warm enough forcertain plants, though,� saysCurtis, adding that there aremany plants that don�t like coolsoil.

Curtis says rule of thumb isthat if the soil is warm to thetouch then it is warm enough formost plants.

However, even though theweather seems nice enough toplant, Curtis says it�s still toocool for many plants.

But he says most trees andshrubs, as well as most perenni-als such as Echinacea, creepingphlox and cedums, can be plant-ed now.

�Frost bite can damage the

bloom (on some plants),� saysCurtis, adding that the tempera-

ture will be getting cooler in thecoming days and some plants

won�t last through the cool tem-peratures in the garden.

For those eager to start dig-ging, Curtis says you can getto work on vegetable gardens.Onions, lettuce, celery, carrotsand radish seeds are ready togo in the ground while every-thing else should wait to beplanted until the warmerweather hits.

A rule of thumb to knowwhen it is a good time to plantthe majority of flowers andvegetables is when the majori-

ty of the leaves on all the treeshave fully expanded, says Curtis.

This usually happens around theVictoria Day weekend in May,which is a good time to plantalmost everything.

When it comes time to plant,he recommends removing theblooms from the flowers beforeplanting them to allow the rootsto get stronger and grow, allowingthe flowers to bloom more in thelong run.

Another good thing for thegarden is to know when to waterand how much water gardensneed.

�Generally, morning wateringis the best time for plants,� says

Curtis. Knowing when to water

also depends on if the plantsget sunlight all day or onlypart of the day. He adds that itis important to let the soilbecome a little dry betweenwatering, which allows theroots to grow and strengthen.

Curtis says there are twomain types of fertilizers thatcan help keep a garden look-ing healthy.

Water soluble fertilizershave an immediate impact onthe garden and the plantsabsorb the nutrients almostinstantly.

The other type of fertilizeris a slow release fertilizer.Nutrients get absorbed intothe roots as the temperatureincreases, and when the tem-perature becomes cooler, lessnutrients are released.

Flower baskets sometimesneed to be watered twice aday because the soil is gener-ally lighter and can becomedry faster.

�It�s important not to use aheavy soil,� says Curtis. �It�snot good for the plants plus,could snap the handles, espe-cially when the soil is wet.�

Curtis says that aside fromgardening, now is a good timeto start getting the lawn look-ing lush and green.

�Now is a good time toover-seed your lawn,� says Curtis,adding that the secret to seedingis to keep the seed damp.

He says that last summer wasreally dry and over-seeding willnot harm the lawn.

Kingsway Greenhouse is locat-ed at 111 Clarence Biesenthal Dr.in Oshawa with entrances off ofHighway 2 and Townline Road.Kingsway Greenhouse is openSunday through Friday and closedon Saturdays.

For more information on gar-dening and lawn care or for direc-tions and store hours, call 905-434-3851.


�Having good quality soil isunderrated. It�s important to do

whatever it takes to developgood soil, which

promotes excellent rootgrowth.�

Dave Curtis

Get preparedfor the gardening season

Get preparedfor the gardening season

Photos by Courtney Duffett/The Oshawa Express

From left: Kyle Fisher, Eric Anderson and Mathieu Giguere tend to some flowers inside Kingsway Greenhouse, making sure they areready for planting.

Advice for caring forflower andvegetable gardens

Hotner Greenhouse has a large selection of flowers, hanging baskets, trees and shrubs andvegetables. Located on Hwy. 12 north of Brooklin, Hotner Greenhouse is open seven days aweek from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 905-655-5866 for more information.


Oshawa seniors are urged to get outside.The Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres are

organizing three walks to give those aged 55 andolder a chance to enjoy the warm spring weather.

There will be a nature/heritage walk on May27 at 9:30 a.m. starting from Rotary/FarewellPark. Drivers are asked to park on RiversideDrive. On June 4, there will be a 9:30 a.m. her-itage walk starting from Memorial Park. Finally,on June 24 at 9:30 a.m., there will be a garden

walk starting from Corbett Park with driversasked to park on Rathburn.

The OSCC is also looking for volunteers toassist seniors who need transportation betweentheir homes and the senior centres. The OSCCoffers flexible schedules and provide full trainingand vehicles.

For more information about this and other vol-unteer opportunities, call Leisa at 905-576-6712ext. 2832.

Seniors urged to get outside

Rock music fans with a penchant for HarryPotter are invited to enter the world of WizardRock.

Tickets are available May 12 for TheWhomping Willows Live in Concert. TheMcLaughlin Branch of the Oshawa PublicLibrary is hosting this free event June 8 at 2 p.m.for youth ages 11 and up. Space is limited somusic fans are encouraged to sign up early attheir local library.

Wizard Rock is music inspired by the HarryPotter series and The Whomping Willows is oneof many bands playing homage to author J.K.Rowling�s creation. From Rhode Island, frontman Matt Maggiacomo leads The WhompingWillows. The band released its self-titled debut in2006. His two newest CDS are Welcome to theHouse of Awesome and III.

For more information call Tiffany Balducci,teen librarian, at 905-579-6111 ext. 5238.

Harry Potter-inspiredrock takes library stage

Whether in the car, outdoors or at home, resi-dents are urged to stay staff.

That�s the focus of Durham Region�s secondannual Injury Prevention Week.

The health department is hosting a variety ofcommunity displays and workshops beginningApril 29 to help Durham Region residents learnmore about injury prevention. On April 29, at theOshawa Centre, regional staff will be hosting adisplay that includes information on motor vehi-cle safety, car seat safety, recreational vehiclesafety and seniors safe driving.

On May 1, Whitby Fire and EmergencyServices will host a car seat clinic by appoint-

ment only at 111 McKinney Drive. On May 2, at the Oshawa Centre, a final dis-

play will be set up to provide information onyouth and adult substance use and abuse, seniors�falls prevention and recreational vehicle safety.

�Every 30 seconds someone visits an emer-gency room in Ontario due to an injury,� saidLynne Gray, a public health nurse with the healthdepartment. �Approximately 95 per cent of allinjuries are predictable and preventable. By mak-ing people more aware of this and providing themwith information we hope to see a decrease in thenumber of injuries.�

Play it safe, avoid ER


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PPAARRKKIINNSSOONN��SS SSOOCCIIEETTYY CCAANNAADDAA,,DDUURRHHAAMM RREEGGIIOONN CCHHAAPPTTEERRMMOONNTTHHLLYY MMEEEETTIINNGG � St. Mark�sUnited Church, 201 Centre St. S. inWhitby. The group will welcome Dr.Gordon Hardacre at 7 p.m. Anyone iswelcome to attend. For more informa-tion call 1-866-264-3345.

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DDEESSSSEERRTT FFAASSHHIIOONN SSHHOOWW �Centennial Albert United Church, 19Rosehill Blvd. The 7:30 p.m. event willfeature fashion from the Monica RoseStore in Bowmanville. Tickets are $10and are available by calling 905-723-6528.

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DDUURRHHAAMM PPCC UUSSEERRSS�� CCLLUUBB MMOONNTTHHLLYYMMEEEETTIINNGG - Faith United Church, 1778Nash Rd. in Courtice. The topic of this7 p.m. meeting is �Lost�Learning HowGPS Can Help�. Michael Cammockfrom Durham GPS will be on hand toeducate you on the latest in GlobalPositioning System services. The presen-tation will be followed by a break andthen the Bug Session led by HughCrawford. Admission is free and every-one is welcome to attend. For moreinformation visit www.durhampc-user-sclub.on.ca.

FFrrii.. MMaayy 99 aanndd SSaatt.. MMaayy 1100

CCOOUUNNTTYY TTOOWWNN SSIINNGGEERRSS SSPPRRIINNGGCCOONNCCEERRTT � LVIV Hall, 38 Lviv Blvd.The County Town Singers will keep theaudience moving with their spring con-

cert, �Life is a Highway�. The showstarts at 8 p.m. both nights. Tickets are$15 for adults, $12 for seniors andstudents and are available at the dooror in advance by calling Janice at905-728-3386 or John at 905-509-4111.

SSaatt.. MMaayy 1100

GGIIGGAANNTTIICC OOUUTTDDOOOORR CCRRAAFFTT AANNDDYYAARRDD SSAALLEE � Kingsview UnitedChurch, 505 Adelaide Ave. E. This rainor shine event, which runs from 9 a.m.until 1 p.m., is looking for vendors.Cost of 16 ft. by 18 ft. is $20. CallSherry at 905-576-1991 or Sue 905-725-0776.

RROOAASSTT BBEEEEFF SSUUPPPPEERR � CentennialAlbert United Church, 19Rosehill Blvd. 5 p.m. Ticketsare $12. Call 905-723-6528or 905-571-2622.

TTuueess.. MMaayy 1133

TTHHEE OOSSHHAAWWAA WWHHIITTBBYYNNEEWWCCOOMMEERRSS CCLLUUBBMMOONNTTHHLLYY MMEEEETTIINNGG �Upstairs at Loblaws, 481Gibb St. This club for womennew to the area or enjoyinga new lifestyle will meet at7:30 p.m. and welcome aguest speaker from the floralindustry. For more informa-tion call Linda at 905-576-0585 or [email protected].

WWeedd.. MMaayy 1144

PPRROOFFEESSSSIIOONNAALL OORRGGAANNIIZZEERRSS IINNCCAANNAADDAA,, DDUURRHHAAMM CCHHAAPPTTEERR,, MMEEEETT--IINNGG � On the Rocks (upstairs meetingroom), 227 Brock St. S. in Whitby. Thegroup will welcome Nancy Drolet,Professional Organizers in Canadadirector of development and chapterchair for North GTA, to provide anupdate of the POC national activityand answer questions. As well, mem-bers will get the chance to share theirfavourite tools and techniques. Theevening begins at 6:30 p.m. with themeeting starting 7 p.m. Everyone iswelcome. The cost is $20 for guests, nocharge for POC members. For moreinformation, email Laurene Livesey-Parkat [email protected].

SSaatt.. MMaayy 2244

CCEEDDAARRCCRROOFFTT PPLLAACCEE AANNNNUUAALL PPAARRKK--IINNGG LLOOTT SSAALLEE � Cedarcroft Place, 649King St. E. This yard sale will takeplace from 8 a.m. until noon with 10per cent of the profits going to theHumane Society of Durham Region.For more information call 905-723-9490.

April 23 crossword answers

Oshawa Around Town

Linda Cranshaw, a member of the Durham Region Organ and Tissue Volunteer Group, shows off an Ontariodonor card, which the group made available to the public at the Oshawa Centre this past weekend. Cranshaw,who received a life-saving liver transplant 10 years ago, was on hand to provide information about organ andtissue donation. While livers can be taken from living donors now, a decade ago recipients had to wait for amatch from a deceased donor. �I would have died without it,� says Cranshaw, who waited only nine days beforea match was found. �I was just lucky.�

Photo by Jessica Verge/The Oshawa ExpressPhotos by Courtney Duffett/The

Oshawa Express

Above: From left: McLaughlin CVI studentsMargaret Thompson, Megan LaFrance,Santana Harfman and Sonia Grebesian, actout a scene in this year�s musical productionFootloose.

Right: Nick Showalter and MargaretThompson play Chuck Cranston and ArielMoore in Footloose. Shows for the musicalproduction are April 30, May 1, May 2 andMay 3 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for stu-dents and seniors and $5 for children agedfive and under.


AApprriill 2233 WWoorrdd GGaammee AAnnsswweerrss

ARIES: March 20 to April 19Your outgoing personality is an assetin the workplace and your moneysituation will improve after April 30.

These days, you are in a positive state of mind.Attend a community event.

TAURUS: April 19 to May 20You never get a second chance tomake a first impression and May isyour month to put your best self for-

ward On May 6, come up with a plan to improveyour income and list your goals for the comingyear.

GEMINI: May 20 to June 21If you are a sales person or teacher,this is a fortunate cycle. Collectinformation, data and ideas and pass

them on to interested people. Get plenty of sleep,read and relax. Take up T�ai Chi or Yoga.

CANCER: June 21 to July 22Your circle of friends grows widerand your activities with groups andorganizations increase. Network to

make new contacts. Plan a vacation or start anew project. Invite a friend out for dinner.

LEO: July 22 to August 22You have been working hard overthe past few months and should nowreap the benefits of your efforts. Ask

for a raise or start a new assignment. Financesget better and responsibilities are easier to handle.

VIRGO: August 22 to Sept 22 Change the things you can change,accept the things you cannot changeand stop worrying about things over

which you have no control. A business or educa-tional conference could involve travel.

LIBRA: Sept 22 to Oct 23Clear up debts, apply for a loan orreceive a tax refund. Set up a newbudget. Restart that home redecorat-

ing project you put on the back burner. Clean upclutter in your home. Check out real estate.

SCORPIO: Oct 23 to Nov 22Single Scorpios could meet a signif-icant other. Married Scorpios mayfind that their current relationship

grows deeper. You could meet a new friend,someone from an entirely different background.

SAGITTARIUS: Nov 22 to Dec 21Concentrate your energy on your joband increase your work efficiency.Reconsider your career options and

move forward with a business goal. Start a newdiet and fitness program to improve your health.

CAPRICORN: Dec 21 to Jan 19Invest your creative talents in a proj-ect you really enjoy. Turn a hobbyinto a business now. Schedule fun

time with your children and give them a peptalk. Indulge in something you really enjoy.

AQUARIUS: Jan 19 to Feb 19Family relationships, property andreal estate matters are emphasized.Invest money to make your home a

place of beauty. Deal with a mortgage or loan ifit is due. Resolve emotional issues.

PISCES: Feb 19 to March 20Any difficulties you have been expe-riencing in a personal relationshipshould improve immensely after

May 2. Deal with lots of interruptions. .Afavourite sibling may come to visit. Plan aweekend away.

The Stars Say is provided by Joan Ann of Oshawa. For personal readings, call905-725-9179 or visit her website at www.astroconsultation.com

Lily, three years old, is a great friend. She loves to play and have fun.

The Oshawa Express would like to remind its readers to still send in EchoBaby pictures to run bi-weekly to the Express Perfect Pet feature.

PPRRIIZZEE:: Bring in your completed and correct Express Crossword puzzle before the answers run in the fol-lowing Wednesday edition and you will receive an Express T-shirt. Limit is one t-shirt per person for the

year. Congratulations to Alan Sia for completing the April 16 crossword.

Unfortunately, the April 23 word gameanswers are unavailable. The OshawaExpress is sorry for the inconvenience.

A local elementary school is celebrating 50years of educating children.

On May 3, staff and students at Gertrude

Colpus Public School willbe hosting a 50th anniver-sary celebration. The eventwill run from noon to 4p.m. and include decaderooms, Gertrude Colpusartefacts, slide shows, acommunity barbeque, clas-sic car show and a cakecutting ceremony.

Gertrude Colpus PublicSchool, located at 570Shakespeare Ave. just offWilson Road, officiallyopened its doors in January1958 with students attend-ing Kindergarten andGrades 1 through 6. Thefollowing year saw students in Grades 7 and 8as well.

In its first year, the school needed threeportables to accommodate the number of stu-dents until an addition was made to the schoolin September 1959.

The school now provides programs for stu-dents in Junior Kindergarten through to Grade8 and is home to about 280 students and 20staff members.

The school was named after the firstwoman to be elected to public office inOshawa. Colpus served 28 years as a memberof the Oshawa Board of Education and spent

three terms as chairman. She wasknown in the community for herintegrity and honesty.

A former Kindergarten teacher,Colpus was born in Godalming,Surrey, England and immigrated toCanada in 1912 with her husbandBertrand and their young daughterConstance. The family resided onBagot Street where it is believed herhusband had a printing business. It isalso believed that the two lived abovethe business on the south side of Bagot Streetnear Simcoe Street.

Colpus had a vision that the role and pur-pose of schools was to educate children to bet-ter help them meet the needs of a changingworld and under her leadership, educationdeveloped and prospered in Oshawa.

She was one of the founders of the Homeand School Association in Oshawa and served29 years, holding office as vice-president andthen president. The public school Trustee�s

Association presented her with theirfinest honour, recognizing faithfulservice beyond the call of duty. Shewas a strong proponent of the cooper-ative link between parents, trusteesand teachers.

Colpus was present at the officialopening of the school named in herhonour on Feb. 14, 1958. She diedOct. 28, 1959 and is buried in MountLawn Cemetery in Oshawa.

Her daughter was present at theofficial opening as well and noted that hermother had been opposed to naming schoolsfor trustees.

The school now has a permanent testimonyand record of her accomplishments and longand distinguished service to Oshawa, its citi-zens and its children.

For more information on the school or the50th anniversary event, visit their website athttp://programs.durham.edu.on.ca/schools/gertrudecolpus or call 905-725-8271.

APRIL 30 2008Page 18

Gertrude Colpus celebrates 50 years

Remembering a community pioneer

Gertrude Colpus

This photo represents what Gertrude Colpus Public School is believed to have looked like in the mid �60s.

Gertrude Colpus served for 28 years as a memberof the Oshawa Board of Education

Gertrude Colpus Public School as it looks in its present day. The school, located at 570 ShakespeareAve. is celebrating its 50th anniversary with festivities to take place May 3.

BByy WWaallllyy DDoonnaallddssoonnThe Oshawa Express

The way Katie Szeghalmi remembers it, herintroduction to organized soccer was in theNeighbourhood Association Sports Committee(NASC) park league as a five-year-old student ofthe �beautiful game� while representing NorthOshawa.

And although she has tallied a myriad ofgoals on several levels since that initial outing, inno way does Szeghalmi recall finding the back ofthe net for the very first time.

�Hmmm, I can�t remember,� Szeghalmishakes her head with a laugh. �At that age, I waspicking flowers.�

Her life has come full circle.Instead of picking flowers, Szeghalmi has

rightfully been the recipient of many bouquetsfor her stellar performance on the pitch this pastseason at Durham College, receiving the veryhigh honour as the Ontario Colleges AthleticAssociation (OCAA) female athlete of the year.

It�s a wonderful tribute to a standout athletewho netted 12 goals in eight regular season out-ings and four goals in two games during theOCAA championship round with the LadyLords.

Her academic achievement was also high-lighted at the college as a recipient of the Bert

Dejeet Memorial ScholasticAward -- shared with basket-ball player MeaghanO�Reilly -- with the highestgrade point average.

Her intensity and ability tofind the open space made herthe Sidney Crosby ofwomen�s soccer while, byappearance, she would fit innicely alongside the SpiceGirls. Added to an impressive

resume, her academic achievement will undoubt-edly parlay into a fulfilling career in the para-medic field.

Szeghalmi plyed her skills at Paul DwyerHigh School and in Grade 10, played an impor-tant role in helping the Saints to a Lake Ontario(LOSSA) title.

From there, it was on to post-secondary edu-

cation and more soccer as a striker at GeorgiaSouthern University.

�We were usually third or fourth in our con-ference, but in my second year, I blew my ACL,so I didn�t play that season,� she recalls. �Theother three years were all great years.

�And when I came (to Durham), I was actu-ally really surprised. This team here was just asgood as the team I played with down there, if notbetter. There is a great coaching staff here and Iwas so surprised how high the calibre was here.�

Vaso Vujanovic, a seasoned head coach whotransferred his knowledge of the game from themen�s pitch to women some eight years ago, vir-tually lives for the sport, as acknowledged byteam members.

�I�ve never had a coach who loves soccer asmuch as him,� says Szeghalmi. �Listening tohim talk and knowing how much he cares aboutthe game and our team, it�s everything to him.It�s his life. Seeing that was very inspiring.�

The hi�s far outnumbered the lo�s on the play-ing field during her two-year tenure at the col-lege. Although the Lady Lords did earn a bronzemedal at the recent Canadian Colleges AthleticAssociation (CCAA) championship in Halifax,Szeghalmi does relate her disappointment in notsecuring a better finish.

�I felt we really had a good chance at winninga gold medal,� she relates losing to the eventualchampions from Quebec. �We just didn�t showup to play in the semi-final game. We had so

much more in us, but we didn�t show it. It was aletdown, but we knew we still had a lot to playfor (in the bronze medal match).

�Our goal was to win a medal. Our school hadnever won a medal for soccer. So, from thatstandpoint, we did accomplish our goal.�

When Szeghalmi did come aboard, the timingwas perfect, according to Vujanovic. The chem-istry on the lady�s side was ailing and he was insearch of a cure.

�She was in the states on a scholarship, so Iknew she had to be a good player,� recallsVujanovic, one of the highest respected amongsoccer coaches on a college level, certainly in theprovince.

�Over a period of time, she was a spark. Katiemade a difference with her approach and person-ality. The younger girls were looking up to herbecause she was a superstar, not only on the field,but off the field, too. She gave us confidence,skill and speed. She was a bullet.

�I am a temperamental coach, but I honestlyjust stood on the side. It was beautiful to watchher. The team played like pros at times, not ama-teur.�

The college career of Szeghalmi is complete.However, she plans on pursuing indoor and sum-mer soccer activities, adding �I hope to coachsome day.

�Coaching girls five years of age would be agood start for me.�

The emphasis placed on grooming �budding�stars, no doubt.

Oshawa Dodgers open theirIntercounty Baseball Leagueseason this Saturday atKinsmen Stadiumagainst the StratfordNationals and theycould conceivablymake history along theway.

Evan Grills drawsthe starting pitchingassignment for thelocal squad and addingto this intrigue is thefact the 6-foot-fourlefthanded thrower is only 15years of age.

The attention he receives isnothing new.

The Whitby native is theyoungest player selected to theOntario Blue Jays. He joinedtheir development at 12 yearsof age in 2004 plus the Under-

18 team two years later.Grill was also the youngest

member of the Canadiannational junior squad at14 years of age.

He is currentlyranked as the topCanadian for the 2010Major League Baseballdraft and is one of thetop 15 high school ath-letes in North Americaby Perfect game andBaseball America.

Meanwhile, theDodgers added to their rosterby signing catcher JustinWorby and right handed pitcherGilbert Santana for the 2008campaign.

Worby, a native of Acton,and a draft pick of the SanDiego Padres, is attendingConnor State College and in 23

outings, he has amassed 1 .356batting average with 26 hits,including two homers, fourdoubles and 24 RBI�s.

Santana, 25, of theDominican Republic, signedwith the Chicago White Sox in2002 and competed in theDominican Summer League.

In other signings, ChrisPapalia, a graduate of theOshawa Legionaires system, isback following a sabbatical.

Papalia was a finalist for theBaseball Ontario senior playerof the year award in 2006. Heis a graduate of MacalesterCollege in Minnesota.

Switch hitter Kofi Osei-Aning will be joining the out-field this year. A sophomore atPanola College in Texas, Osei-Aning is currently batting .270with 12 runs, 20 hits at 15

RBI�s to his credit.Righthander Grey Byron is

back for a fourth term with theDodgers. Battling a fingerinjury for a third of last season,Byron posted a 1-2-2 recordwith a 7.76 ERA in 29 innings.However, he was credited withthe win in Oshawa�s only play-off victory.

Brendan Emmett, a middleinfielder out of the OntarioBlue Jays organization, is onthe roster.

Emmett is a freshman atCentral Michigan Universitywhere has posted a .287 battingaverage.

Pitchers� Stephen Bako andCam Alkins round out the addi-tions. Both are graduates of theOntario Blue Jays program.

Game time is 2 o�clock.


Katie Szeghalmi

A rose on the soccer pitch

Blair Webster, executive director of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA), makes a formalpresentation to Katie Szeghalmi of Durham College, who was named the OCAA female athlete of theyear for her high skill level with the Lady Lords soccer team this past season.

Photo by Wally Donaldson/The Oshawa Express

Evan Grills

Dodgers are good to gowith Stratford in town

Vaso Vujanovic The UOIT men�s hockey squad has added alocal flavoring on its roster for the 2008-09campaign.

Jeremy Whalen of Pickering, who compet-ed with the Mississuaga IceDogs of the OntarioHockey League from 2004-06, will play for theRidgebacks once the campaign unfolds.

�I am pleased that Jeremy has decided tocompete for us next season,� commentedRidgebacks� head coach Marlin Muylaert.�Jeremy brings a nice combination of skill andgrit to the game and we see him as a player whowill develop effectively with the style of play ofthe Ridgebacks.�

Whelan gained valuable experience playingin the OHL and OPJHL during the past severalseasons, which will help him adjust to his firstyear in the OUA. Last season, he split time withthe Hamilton Red Wings and the HuntsvilleOtters in the OPJHL.

The 6�0 left winger averaged over a pointper game with the two teams, recording 40points in 31 games and notching 19 goals intotal. He also made a big impact on specialteams as he totaled 15 power play points andscored two short-handed goals.

Ridgebacks landPickering native


Raised just outside a communityknown for its giant flea market, there iscertainly nothing cheap about thedefensive talent of Michael Del Zotto.

Indeed, the National HockeyLeague (NHL) team that selects thisgifted Stouffville-raised athlete nextmonth will inherit a tremendous bar-gain once he suits comfortably into hisnew uniform.

Del Zotto, a second overall selec-tion during the 2006 OHL draft, hasdemonstrated a diligent work ethicwith the Generals and his constantuninterrupted skilful performance hasraised more than a few eyebrows by

NHL scouts during his two-year stintin Oshawa.

He is crafty with the puck, uses hisbody in a defensive role and enjoysjumping into the play from an offen-sive standpoint when the opportunitypresents itself.

No wonder Del Zotto�s currentfavorite player is Scott Neidermeyer.He showcases the same attributes asthe Anaheim Ducks� blueliner in somany ways.

Tagged by those in the know as afirst-round NHL draft pick, make nomistake, whether Del Zotto eventuallyplays alongside Neidermeyer or faceshim down, the approach which hasearned rave reviews will continueunequalled.

�Growing up, I enjoyed watchingToronto,� Del Zotto offers a huge grin.�But when it comes right down to it, Ireally don�t have a prefer-ence (as to which team draftshim). Just to get into theNHL, that�s my main goal.�

Del Zotto rang up 63points during the regularseason, including 16 goals.He had 57 points in his rook-ie year.

His performance forCanada at the Under-18world hockey championshipin Slovakia also gained himhigh praise, adding his stamp as thesecond overall draft pick. Only StevenStamkos of Sarnia Sting was draftedahead of Del Zotto.

Yet it was perhaps his very first dayin a Generals uniform that set the tablefor Del Zotto as to the player he wasabout to become.

�When I was drafted and camehere, they told me that they wanted meto be the quarterback on the powerplayand they gave me a great opportunityto play here,� says Del Zotto. �I took iton as my responsibility and it meanthaving to work on my defensive game,knowing that the points would come.

�That�s who I am, an offensivedefenceman, (although) I wanted towork more on my defence. I feel like Idid come a long way.�

His performance in the playoffshighlighted the style of game he willbring to the NHL.

�I wanted to step up my game inthe playoffs. Definitely,� adds DelZotto. �That�s when the best playersplay their best games and I wanted toplay with an edge. Play the body, playmore physical and I felt I did that.�

Del Zotto realized the moment hisname was mentioned at the OHL draftthat he would be a good fit with theGenerals. He carried the momentum ofknowing the great Bobby Orr played inOshawa. Yes, Orr sported the No. 2 jer-sey during his tenure here, but the 17-year-old player he is, wearing the No. 4jersey which was Orr in Boston, gives

Del Zotto additional incentive.�The team has great history here

and it starts with Bobby Orr,� says DelZotto. �I knew this rink(GM Centre) was beingbuilt and the fact that JT(John Tavares) was cominghere, I knew this would be agreat spot for me. And it�sbeen unreal since I�ve beenhere.�

Groomed as early asthree years of age on a rinkin the backyard of hisStouffville residence, a pic-turesque forest in the back-

drop, Del Zotto went on to play minorhockey with the Richmond Hill Stars �as a forward!

Once suiting up with the MarkhamWaxers, coached by the father ofStamkos, Del Zotto stepped back to theblueline at the request of his ownfather, who felt his son�s skill level wasbest suited as a defenceman.

His role with the Ontario Blues, asummer hockey squad that played innumerous tournaments, stepped up hisgame. The team included Stamkos,Alex Pietrangelo Cody Hodgson andTavares.

His brother, David, keeps a watch-ful eye via the OHLAction Pack.

�He keeps in touch with me oneway or another,� says Del Zotto with alaugh. �At the end of the year, he givesme a bit of a summary of what I didright and what I did wrong. And that�sokay. I have a very supportive familywith my parents, grandparents and myaunt and uncle.�

The Combine for the NHL draft onMay 26 becomes a prime focal point ofDel Zotto. �I�m giving it a couple ofdays rest before getting ready for that,�he says. �There will be testing andinterviews, so I will need to be proper-ly prepared.�

Judging by Del Zotto�s quality onand away from the ice surface, theexam, if you will, should result in ahands-down passing grade for thisyoung hopeful, earmarked for a prom-ising professional hockey future.


In Coloradothey call AdamFoote, �Footer�;M a r t i nLapointe�s handlewith the OttawaSenator�s is

�Lappy�; enforcer Donald Brashear is knownas �Brash� to his Washington teammates;Scott Niedermayer�s moniker in Anaheim is�Nieds�; and Scott Gomez�s peers in NewYork have tagged him �Gomer�!

The concocting of none of these bynamesrequired a great deal of imagination. MostNHL�ers with the last name Smith have been�Smitty�; the last name Brown has promptedthe agnomen, �Brownie�; and BrendanShanahan couldn�t handily be called anythingbut �Shanny�.

But these are not true nicknames! They are�pet names��in house� epithets�which areusually limited to team dressing rooms, or onice communication. They may be included inthe profiles in the club�s Media Guide eachyear, but seldom reach beyond those confines.On the other hand genuine monikers are soinherently connected with a puckster�s identi-ty that he is seldom referred to by his Christianname.

During hockey�s �golden years� virtuallyevery skater was known by this substituteappellation. For instance �Newsy� Lalondewas almost never called Edmond; �Mush�March seldom addressed as �Harold�; �Taffy�Abel might pay not have paid attention to�Clarence�; �Hooley� Smith was actuallycalled Reginald; and �Red� Kelly was chris-tened Leonard. The list is almost endless�around 300 such handles were commonlyused in NHL and NHA circles dating back to1910.

The �postscript� approach, like WayneGretzky�s, �The Great One�; MarioLemieux�s. �The Magnificent One�; NicolaiKhabibulin�s, �The Bulin Wall�; or SidneyCrosby�s, �The Kid�, just doesn�t fill the bill.

Curtis Joseph�s praenom, �Cujo� is proba-bly as close as any today comes to the genuinearticle; while the last for-real aliases was borneby �Bunny� Larocque, �Butch� Goring, or�Pokey� Reddick. Only their parents knewthat �Michael�, �Robert� and �Eldon� was ontheir birth certificates.

Space will not permit (even with 2 parts)the profiling the behind-the-scenes storiesconnected to many of these nicknames�butthe most significant are worth featuring. Forinstance, it was no stretch for Dr. CharlesStewart and Dr. Bill Carson, both practicingdentists back in the 1920�, to be tagged as�Doc�. The same was true of Randy Gregg,who anchored the Oiler�s blueline in the1980�s.

Several players of native North Americanheritage were naturally called �Chief��among them George Armstrong and JimNielson. The same rationale applies to skatersfrom a Germanic background. Wilbert Hillier,Earl Riebel, and Frank Nighbor all carried thehandle, �Dutch�.

Physical attributes prompted appropriatealiases for many competitors. Roy Worterswas 5� 3� tall�so he was �Shrimp�; ElmerVasko, on the other hand, was a giant duringhis era in the Big Time�so he was �Moose�.One of the most descriptive monikersbelonged to Don Raleigh, who draped 150pounds over his 6� frame�he was �Bones� toeveryone! Sarcasm netted goalie CecilThompson his byname. In his early teens hewas bigger than all his teammates; so theycalled him �Tiny�. Harry Lumley had a roundface�so he was �Apple Cheeks�; while SidAbel�s snoot was so grotesquely bent andswollen, they hung the agnomen, �Bootnose�on him.

Next Week: Nicknames part 2

Where have all thenicknames gone?Michael Del Zotto: Prime time

looms for quality defenceman

Stouffville�s Michael Del Zotto, a quality defenceman for the OshawaGenerals, is projected to become a first-round NHL draft pick in May. His per-formance during the recent playoffs enhances his chances of the early selec-tion.

Gens� Borden was up for challengeBByy WWaallllyy DDoonnaallddssoonnThe Oshawa Express

BELLEVILLE -- The final out-come that prematurely brought downthe curtain prompted a myriad ofthoughts by Generals, who had fash-ioned a stellar beginning to the OntarioHockey League (OHL) season, com-plemented by the finest among power-play units.

Alas, this momentum stalled dur-ing the Eastern Conference final, leav-ing most players bewildered as to howthe Belleville Bulls skillfully manhan-dled them, including an 11-0 thrashingin the final game.

It begins with injuries to goaltenderMichal Neuvirth and a broken leg toShea Kewin. Centre Kevin Baker wasalso put on the shelf, although had theGenerals survived Belleville�sonslaught, he may have returned to thelineup.

It also begins between the pipeswhen Daryl Borden, a 19-year-oldnative of Brantford and a 2005 secondround draft pick of the KingstonFrontenacs -- who came to theGenerals via a trade last October -- was

thrust into action during the Niagaraseries when Neuvirth went down.

Neuvirth, a second-round draft pickof the Capitals, is currently inWashington having his injury tended toby team doctors.

�It was tough coming in having notplayed in a month,� reflects Bordenwho, with the exception ofthe final game, kept theGenerals in a potential winsituation in every outing.�But I knew how importantit was for me to keep work-ing hard in practice and beready if I�m called.�

Borden did just that andearned his first playoff victo-ry to oust the NiagaraIceDogs, a feat he wasn�table to accomplish in fourattempts during his tenure with theFrontenacs.

The IceDogs offered a more physi-cal approach during Oshawa�s secondround of playoffs. However, the Bullsopted for an elite skill level, an attributeimplemented by coach GeorgeBurnett.

�Belleville came at us as a fast-

skating team,� says Borden. �Weexpected them to come out strongagainst us (in the final game) when webeat them 2-1. They were especiallygood coming in the back door and get-ting the puck to the slot. We weren�tquite as prepared as we should havebeen and they put it to us.�

Generals skipper ChrisDePiero realized thatBorden was called on toprovide the heroics at a cru-cial time of the Niagaraseries.

�He did a fantastic job,coming in the way he didwhen Michael was injured,�said DePiero. �EvenMonday night (Oshawa�s 2-1 win at the GM Centre),Daryl was the difference,

especially in the first 10 minutes. Icredit Daryl for the way he played, theway he conducted himself and hismental result throughout the playoffs.�

Oshawa�s high-scoring top gunner,Brett MacLean, who fashioned 119points during the regular season,including 61 goals, knew the chal-lenges before his club during the final

outing, especially when the Bulls vast-ly controlled the opening period.

�Getting down 3-1 in the series wasbad enough. But when they got up onus 3-0 in the first period and popped aquick one on us in the second, that tooka lot out of us,� says MacLean, a nativeof Port Elgin and a 2007 second-roundpick of the Phoenix Coyotes.

�We went up against a more com-plete team. They have six soliddefencemen and three solid lines and agreat goalie. That�s the way they hurtus.�

Getting so close to an OHL finalberth and subsequent qualification tothe Memorial Cup before the air cameout of the balloon understandably did-n�t sit well with Oshawa captain EricRegan. Originally drafted in the thirdround by the Erie Otters before comingto the Generals in 2005, the Whitbyresident was a stalwart defencemanand chipped in some points this pastseason with seven goals and 40 assists.

Generals will have a strong corpsreturning next season. They will bewithout the services of Baker, PatrickAsselin and Ryan McGinnis, a sixth-round pick of Los Angeles Kings.

Michael Del Zotto

Daryl Borden


Lack of powerplay success in series buries Generals


BELLEVILLE � If it�s anysmall consolation to the Generals,even Mike Weir has on occasionglanced up at the leader board tofind Tiger sporting an 11-strokelead over the popular Canadian atvarious golf tournaments.

Tiger is that good.And as the Generals unceremo-

niously discovered, so are theBulls.

It has been a week since theBulls scored an 11-0 knockoutblow to the stunned Oshawa contin-gent at the Yardmen Arena inBelleville.

The win earned Belleville a 4-1series victory in this best-of-sevenOntario Hockey League (OHL)Eastern Conference final and adirect route to the Memorial Cup.

Ironically, the Bulls were recipi-ents of the Bobby Orr Trophy,named after, of course, arguably thebest defenceman to ever play in theNational Hockey League (NHL) ---and with the Generals!

They are currently embattled inthe OHL championship final withthe Kitchener Rangers, who put outthe Soo Greyhounds by a similar 4-1 count.

Bolstered throughout the regularseason by the most potent power-play combination in the OHL, the

Generals chose a horrible time for amajor power outage. They manageda paltry single tally in 25 attemptswith the extra man during theseries, including 0 for 3 in the finalgame.

Meanwhile, the Bulls, capitaliz-ing on a quick-passing game at thedoorstep of Oshawa�s beleaguered

netminder Daryl Borden, fired sixpowerplay goals in the finale in 12attempts.

That had to hurt!�We expected Belleville to come

out with their guns blazing,� saidOshawa coach Chris DePiero in anunderstatement. �We took somevery undisciplined penalties in thesecond period and it cost us.�

Belleville�s discipline confinedOshawa to a precious few extra-man advantages.

�Belleville got in a lot of shotlanes and passing lanes,� said the

Oshawa skipper. �We needed to bemore hungry in front of the net andshoot the puck, which we neverreally did on the powerplay. Wespent a lot of time at practice on it,but we didn�t get much of a chanceduring this game. That�s a credit toBelleville and their discipline.�

Matt Beleskey tallied three goalsand added a helper for the Bulls,who led 3-0 after 20 minutes and 8-0 heading into the final frame.

A.J. Perry --- who showcased inthe dressing room his MemorialCup ring earned as a rookie for thechampion London Knights in 2005--- had four points, including twogoals.

Cory Tanaka, Shawn Lalonde,Jan Mursak, Keaton Turkiewicz,Andrew Self and Stephen Blundenrounded out the scoring.

Mike Murphy, as might beexpected, turned in an excellentperformance in the Belleville goal.

�I�ve never been involved insomething like this before,� said abeaming Murphy during the on-icehoopla. �I was impressed that they(Generals) did show character,despite the score because theynever stopped coming at us. That�sa tribute to them. The bounces did-n�t go their way tonight just likethey didn�t go our way (during thefourth game in Oshawa).�

Belleville coach George Burnettemphasized that with one victoryrequired and the advantage of play-ing on home ice, discipline was thecriteria.

�Our plan was to be extremelydisciplined, simple as that,� saidBurnett. �We needed a good startand we were hoping that with aquality start, we would discouragethem a little bit. Our discipline wasvery strong and we had some goodfortune on the powerplay.�

It marks the first time since1999 that the Generals have quali-fied for a bid to win the conferencefinal. Indeed, just a few years ago,they were splashing in an uphillstream.

�This, obviously, isn�t the resultwe wanted,� said DePiero, �butwhen Brad Selwood came in fouryears ago, there were stridesmade.�

Selwood stepped aside as coacha few months back, handing thereins over to DePiero, who was upfor the challenge.

�I learned a lot (in a short time).I learned from the players everyday and I learned from the coachesI coached against,� said DePiero.

DePiero, unquestionably, alsolearned through experience.Especially during the second gameof this playoff set when theGenerals racked up a 3-0 leadbefore the game was four minutesold, only to succumb to the Bullsoffensive prowess at the GMCentre.

�If we win that game, it�s a dif-ferent series,� he relates. �Eachgame takes a life of its own andthat one is certainly one to lookback on as to why we were not suc-cessful in this series.�

Bulls had �guns blazing�

Belleville Bulls head coach George Burnett, left, accepts congratulations from ChrisDePiero, head coach of the Oshawa Generals, following last week�s series-endinggame in Belleville.

Belleville�s PK Subban gets a chuckle from something said by Oshawa�s JohnTavares during the handshakes after the Bulls secured a berth in the OHL final andthe Memorial Cup.

Oshawa goaltender Daryl Borden has plenty of company in front of him as team-mate Ryan McGinnis holds Keaton Turkiewicz in check during last week�s game atYardmen Arena.

�I was impressed thatthey (Generals) did show

character, despite thescore because they never

stopped coming at us.That�s a tribute to them�

Mike Murphy, goaltender of the Belleville Bulls

Photos by Wally Donaldson/The Oshawa Express

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Page 23APRIL 30 2008

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NELSON (ADAMS)Dorothy Alma Margaret

Gone to be with her Lord andSaviour peacefully atSunnycrest Nursing Home onTuesday, April 22, 2008.Dorothy (nee Brown) in her98th year. Beloved wife of thelate Rev. Cecil Nelson andDick Adams. Survived by hersons Bob and his wife JeanAdams, John and his wifeCarol Adams and stepmother of

June Crocker, Carol and her husband John Wellman,and Sharon Beattie. Remembered by her 6 grand-children, 13 great-grandchildren and her extendedfamilies. Relatives and friends was received at theMcINTOSH-ANDERSON FUNERAL HOMELTD., 152 King St. E., Oshawa (905-433-5558) onThursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A service will beheld at FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH, 95 Taunton Rd.E., Whitby on Friday, April 25, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.Interment Mount Lawn Cemetery, Whitby.Donations made in memory of Dorothy to FaithBaptist Church or Millstream Bible Retreat Centrewould be appreciated by her family.

BEATHEarline Grace (Hayes)

On April 24, 2008, in Port Perry Hospital, at the ageof 87. She will be lovingly remembered by Walter,her husband for 67 years, sons Wayne (Susan), Grant(Eleanor), grandsons Gregory (Barbara),Christopher ( Krista), Scott, and Cameron, and bygreat-grandchildren Danica, Jacob and Wyatt. Ather request she will be cremated, and there will beno visitation or Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers,contributions to the Port Perry Hospital, orColumbus United Church would be appreciated.'Her Memorial will be in the Memory of her life, car-ried in the Hearts and Minds of those who knew her'.Arrangements entrusted to McINTOSH-ANDER-SON FUNERAL HOME LTD., 152 King St. E.,Oshawa (905-433-5558). A 'Celebration of her Life'will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2008, at 2:00 p.m.at COLUMBUS COMMUNITY UNITEDCHURCH, 3285 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa. On-line condolences can be made at www.mcin-

tosh-anderson.com.

MAYDonna Lynn

Peacefully, at home onSaturday, April 19, 2008,Donna, in her 54th year.Loving mother of Shawn,Ryan and family friendNikki. Cherished daughterof Leona and the late GlenPratt and the late Fred May.Beloved sister of Rick andhis wife Terry, Kevin andCheryl. Loving aunt of

Candice, Crystal, Adam and Jason. Donna wasa grandmother to the late Tianna. A privateservice will be held at a later date.Arrangements entrusted to McINTOSH-ANDERSON FUNERAL HOME LTD., 152King St. E., Oshawa (905-433-5558). On-linecondolences can be made at www.mcintosh-anderson.com.

CAMPBELLRichard Melvin

At Lakeridge Health Oshawa on Thursday, April24, 2008. Richard, in his 64th year. Belovedhusband of Sharon Campbell. Loving father ofTonya Campbell, and Matthew Campbell andhis wife Jennifer. Dear grandfather of GavinCampbell. Loved son of Melvin and the lateMary Campbell. Brother of Norma Schwab andher husband Bob, Jim Campbell and his wifeKaren, and Mary Lou Campbell. Relatives andfriends were received at McINTOSH-ANDER-SON FUNERAL HOME, 152 King Street East,Oshawa (905-433-5558) on Sunday from 2-4and 7-9pm. Memorial service will be held onMonday, April 29th, 2008 at 11:00 am. withreception to follow. In lieu of flowers, dona-tions in memory of Richard to the AmyotrophicLateral Sclerosis (ALS) Society of DurhamRegion would be appreciated.

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Documents

Oshawa struggling with GM layoffs 30/April 30 2008 - Low.pdfThe new recommendation proposes: Holy Cross Catholic School, Father Mahoney Catholic school, Canadian Martyrs Catholic School,