6 Friday, March 2, 2018 brooklintowncrier.com High Frequency Network Effective June 25 DRT's network of high frequency routes makes travel within Durham easier. Additional buses would be added to routes 302 Baldwin to Brock, 915 Taunton, and 916 Rossland for service to start at 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays. Route 302 Baldwin to Brock The route would be modified to include Carnwith Drive, west of Baldwin Street. Route 915 Taunton Additional capacity would be implemented to support demand. Service Increases and Enhancements Effective April 9 Route 301 West Lynde Service would be increased to operate on Saturdays and Sundays. To replace Route 318. Route 303 Garden Service would be increased to operate on Saturdays and Sundays. To replace Route 318. Service Increases and Enhancements Effective June 25 Route 305 Thickson Service would be extended to 18:40 on Sunday evenings. Route 310 Winchester This route would operate seven days a week from current weekday peak periods only. Monday to Friday all day, every 30 minutes. Saturday and Sunday, every 60 minutes. Service Reduction Effective April 9 Route 318 Garden - West Lynde This route currently operates on Saturday and Sunday only and would be discontinued. Service on routes 301 West Lynde and 303 Garden would be increased to operate on Saturdays and Sundays. Customers would see reduced travel times as service would be offered in both directions. The current Route 318 operates a big one-way loop: Whitby Station - Garden - West Lynde - Whitby Station. Service Impacts Rossland Road Closure Rossland Road is expected to be closed between Lake Ridge Road and McQuay Boulevard for a period of six months in 2018. This closure will require rerouting of Route 916 Rossland. Brock Street Highway 401 Overpass The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario plans to start the replacement of the Brock Street Highway 401 overpass in 2018. Construction phasing is anticipated to maintain all road lanes, but delays are expected. When Jay Witkowski died on March 1, 2011, at age 44, he couldn't have known that his young nephew Cameron would one day honour him by arranging Brooklin High School's first ever blood donor clinic. Coincidentally, on Valentine's Day, Cameron was front and centre in the BHS gym, along with his mother Vanessa Witkowski and grand- mother Janice Grainger, as the school launched what he hopes will be an annual event. About 100 students and staff gave blood (donors must be age 17 and older), a remarkable number considering the newness of the school and the fact that there were only about 250 students eligible. The logistics for the event were arranged by Carolyn Toll's grade 12 Leadership class which had only itself begun barely two weeks before. One student in the class, Claire O'Donoghue, commented, "When I heard about it, I immediately thought it was a good idea. It's important to give back what you can. This is so simple and it saves lives. I'd always wanted to donate blood and here was my chance." Her classmate Riley Kapuscinski congratulated Cameron on the idea. "He just made it so accessible. Without his leadership, I don't know how this would have happened." Cameron, a top grade 12 student sporting marks of 100% in multiple subjects, didn't need much inspiration, having lived his Uncle Jay's story and seeing his grandmother volunteer with Canadian Blood services. Jay had a rare form of hemolytic anemia called stomatocytosis. At the time of his birth in 1966, his was the only case in Canada and only one of seven in North America. The disorder manifests itself when the bone marrow produces large, sticky blood cells that die very early. During a 15-year period, he received over 400 units of blood. This kept him alive but it was not a cure as he continued to develop blood clots in spite of the blood thinners and transfusions. Ultimately, he suffered a major unrelenting seizure, a cortical thrombosis, followed by cardiac arrest. He never recovered. "It was the blood donations that allowed him to have such a fulfilling life," Cameron says. "He was able to maintain relationships, be a father to his daughter. So, in the spirit of blood donation. I thought it would be great to carry on that legacy and sort of give back." He chose this, his final high school year, to arrange the event for two reasons: now 17, he was at last eligible himself to donate blood, and secondly, he knew most of the students in his senior year, allowing for a wider network. Upon graduation, he plans to study engineering somewhere in North America. Meanwhile, he's successfully held up the family legacy to honour his Uncle Jay. To read more about Jay Witkowski, visit jaysangels.com. BHS Hosts First Blood Donor Clinic The Regional Municipality of Durham would like to remind eligible voters that the Office of Regional Chair will be a position on the ballots during the 2018 municipal elections which will take place on October 22, 2018. Even though this is a Regional position, the area municipalities will conduct the election within their specific city/town and report voting results to the Regional Clerk. The Regional Clerk will then prepare a summary of the vote and announce the successful candidate. In the 2018 municipal election, eligible electors may vote for a Regional Chair, in addition to offices of mayor, local and regional councillors, and school board trustees. For the 2018 municipal elections, the nomination period will begin on May 1. The Regional Chair provides representation to the approximately 673,000 residents of Durham Region. This individual is the head of Durham Regional Council and Chief Executive Officer of the municipality; presides over all meetings of Regional Council and committee; promotes and advances the Region's position on matters; represents Durham on various boards, committees and organizations; and performs other significant duties. To learn more, please visit durham.ca. Regional Chair To Be On 2018 Election Ballot New Services to Whitby from Durham Region Transit in 2018 KimFitPro on Campbell Street encouraged all Brooklin residents and business owners to give back to their community by donating blood during the month of February. It is estimated that half of all Canadians will either need blood or know someone who will need blood at some point in their lives, yet only 4 per cent of Canadians actually donate. 100 Women Who Care Brooklin Horticultural Society Brooklin Men's Hockey League Harvest Festival Run Hearts of Durham Optometry Giving Sight Outdoor Movie Night to End Hunger The Refuge (Durham Quarter Marathon) Sloane's House Respite Care Proud to Support Our Community Groups! Special Olympics Whitby Eagles Softball Whitby Wildcats 100 Women who Care Brooklin Horticultural Society Brooklin Men's Hockey League Optometry Giving Sight Outdoor Movie Night to End Hunger The Refuge Youth Outreach Centre Durham Quarter Marathon Sloane's House Respite Care Whitby Eagles Softball Whitby Wildcats Hockey Oshawa Shamrocks Softball Special Olympics Brooklin Players Immanuel Christian School Possibilities House