The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Looking For a New or Preâ€"owned BMW www.bkmotor sqroup.com In The King and 1. Anna Leonowens, the widow of a British army officer, becomes tutor to the chilâ€" dren of the King of Siam But gradually the outspoâ€" ken teacher and the autoâ€" cratic monarch come to regard each other with mutual respect â€" and even love. "There were tons," she said of the hundreds of children in contention for a role in the musical. But the stiff competiâ€" tion deterred neither Kerri nor her sixâ€"yearâ€"old sister Jenna from showing off their years of voice lessons, stealing the hearts of the directors, and winning roles as two of the King‘s many children. one place. That was the nineâ€"yearâ€" old Waterloo girl‘s first thought as she walked into her first audition for a role in the Stratford Festival production of The King "And a lot of them were my friends." Kerri plays Princess By Anprea Baney erri Lee had never seen so many blackâ€" haired children in Chronicle Staff tCt "It‘s been a really good experience for them," said their mother, Dianna. "The skills they‘re gaining will take them very far." "Being involved in the show has definitely given them more confidence., and made them more Both girls are addâ€" ressed as Miss Kerri and Miss Jenna by the cast and crew, and both have helpers who dress them in their $2,000 to $3,000 cosâ€" tumes. But the girls are learnâ€" ing more than simple stage commands and how to keep their pricey costumes clean. Their parents believe the girls have gained more selfâ€"confidence through their roles â€" a quality that will serve them well later in life. Somawadi, while Jenna plays a royal princess. "He picks me up and puts me back in my place," said the proud little But the royal treatment doesn‘t end when the curâ€" tain falls. Sometimes Jenna also assumes the role of anothâ€" er royal princess, who has the playful task of crawling through the King‘s legs. Bob said Empire public school, where his daughâ€" ters study French immerâ€" sion,. has been underâ€" standing of the girls‘ occaâ€" sional absences. "That‘s "Between the time they started rehearsing in March until the show ends in November, they‘ll have performed in 120 shows. And some of those shows are matinees, so they‘ll be missing a bit of school as well. "But them we asked ourselves, can we turn this down? Stratford is such a wonderful opportunity." enthusiastic," added their father, Bob, whose passion for piano playing gave the girls an early appreciation for music. While allowing their daughters to join the show meant an enormous time commitment for the Lees "We didn‘t tell anyone for weeks," Bob said. "We weren‘t sure if this was something we wanted for them. "Before, they were a lot more shy. The change in them is obvious." â€" performances run almost daily â€" both parâ€" ents agreed it‘s an opporâ€" tunity that couldn‘t be passed up. PAGE 3 For tickets, call the box office at 273â€"6173 or eâ€"mail orders@stratfordfestival.ca "I love hearing the peoâ€" ple clap at the end," she The King and I runs through Nov. 9 at Stratâ€" ford‘s Festival Theatre. "I‘m learning not to be so nervous in front of the audience," Kerri added. "I just don‘t look at them, and focus on what I‘m doing." But she makes sure not to completely tune out the peanut gallery. Not that it hasn‘t been stressful at times, Bob said. "It‘s been like a second fullâ€"time job," he said. "Trying to coordinate everything around the show has been a little tough. It‘s been a sacrifice. But, then again, nothing comes easily." Both girls say they‘ve already taken a lot from the Stratford Festival expeâ€" rience. "I‘m learning to conâ€" centrate more," Jenna said. helped a lot," he said. "You should always know what you‘re saying ‘no‘ to," Dianna added. "I‘m glad we kept an open mind and we didn‘t miss this opportunity." But Waterloo city counâ€" cillors believe they should live up to their original The delay in reaching a decision has prompted sevâ€" eral local activists in favour of a bylaw to lobby the city councils to come up with their own legislation. From there the Pesticide Working Group was formed, comprised of regional staff, citizens, health care profesâ€" sionals, members of the lawn care industry and other interested parties, for the purpose of debating all aspects of a possible bylaw. Since then the working group has come up with terms of reference, educaâ€" tional pamphlets for the public, and a work plan that will include a regional surâ€" vey, an edutation campaign and possible timelines for a new bylaw. But reluctance from members of the region‘s rural communities, who fear a bylaw fftay include banâ€" ning pesticide use for agriâ€" culture and forestry, has recently stalled the process. "While this is a very important health issue, I don‘t want to reâ€"invent the wheel," Coun. Morty Taylor said during Monday night‘s council meeting. "I think we need to butt out. The region has taken the ball, and we should let them run with it." On Oct. 22, 2001, city council unanimously endorsed city staff‘s particiâ€" pation with the Region of Waterioo on the use of pesâ€" ticides, herbicides and insecticides. Instead the group will wait for the recommendaâ€" tions from the Region of Waterloo‘s working group on pesticides, which is now considering a regionâ€"wide bylaw. e City of Waterloo Fas no immediate plans to approve a bylaw prohibiting the nonâ€" essential use of urban pestiâ€" cides. By Anprea Baey Chronicle Staff Coun. Brent Needham, who supported all three recâ€" ommendations, was disapâ€" pointed with council‘s final decision. "Waterloo has already participated in the educaâ€" tion stage of this issue," he "I agree the process should continue, but I sense the outcome is not likely going to move us forward." She requested that counâ€" cil ask the Waterloo environâ€" mental advisory committee to make a strong, clear statement on the nonâ€" essential use of pesticides on private property; that council refer the nonâ€"essenâ€" tial use of pesticides on priâ€" vate property to the enviâ€" ronmental coordinators for analysis; and that the city clerk analyze how the city can facilitate and encourage voluntary bans on pestiâ€" cides within neighbourâ€" hoods. With only two council members in support of the motions, all failed. "I think we should be working with the region, and we should let the process continue," Taylor added. "There‘s no need to add any additional financial costs to the city at this In attempt to comproâ€" mise, Mayor Lynne Woolsâ€" tencroft presented three motions for consideration. Lynne Woolstencroft Mayor of Waterloo