James Patterson donates $1.25 million to classroom libraries

After nearly five decades with the Winnipeg Police Service, deputy chief Art Stannard is retiring.

WPS Chief Gene Bowers noted the departure during a Winnipeg Police Board meeting Friday.

“If you ever had a question you went to Art … That’s a long period of time (in) his life that he gave to our members and our city,” said Bowers.

Stannard began working for the WPS in 1978 and spent time in almost every division since that point, most recently in support services.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: Recently, a new couple with no children moved onto our cul de sac, and everybody is taking notice! This attractive pair with no kids both drive amazing cars, work from home and leave their garage doors up a lot. Everybody on the street walks by to sneak a peek into the big garage at just about any time of day.

Lately, the man’s been out on his front lawn in a muscle shirt in the late afternoon, planting shrubs and putting up stylish fall-themed ornaments. At night they often leave the living-room curtains open. That makes for convenient viewing for curious neighbours like us!

A few days ago, my wife invited the new couple over for a barbecue and swim in our pool. They are really nice people, but mentioned that other people nearby have been pretty stand-offish. They wonder why. Should I tell them it’s probably just jealousy over their beautiful vehicles and enviable lifestyle, or should I just shut up?

—Wanting to Help, Sage Creek

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I just got out of a relationship a few months ago, and I’m still so hurt that life seems unreal.

The woman I thought I was going to marry cheated on me with an old boyfriend — a real jerk, but very good-looking. I’m still feeling totally crushed.

I worry I won’t be able to trust any woman now. I know that sounds unfair, but I’ve been cheated on twice before, in just five years! I realize it might just be the type of person I’m attracted to — a bit on the wild side — but my most-recent girlfriend wasn’t like that and seemed to have her life together and knew what she wanted. But she was also secretly playing around on me — Mr. Clueless.

I can feel resentment building inside me toward all women. I really don’t want to become one of those bitter guys who ends up single for the rest of his life because they don’t trust anyone. But how do I get over this? Is it even possible or am I going to be a loser who is forever cheated on?

On Oct. 28, Manitobans will once again elect the people who serve on our local school boards. School trustee races rarely attract the attention given to other elections. Yet school boards are among our most immediate forms of representative democracy.

Before asking who should be a school trustee, perhaps we should ask a more basic question:

What, exactly, are we electing a school trustee to do?

Trustees are elected to govern a school division. They are not elected to run it.