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WIUIBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DEEBr451990, PAGE 2& Christop her Roblin Home closing: Time for ch ange By Trudie Zavadovies The cloing of the Christopher Robin Home for Children- is a step that mi t be considered a touich prematreb some, but nevertheless evt2e It is one more step in the Provincial ini*tiative ta deinstitu- tionalize health care and in-* tegrate people back into the cern- munity, and it's a stop that is supportedby parente of the chil- dren now in Christopher Robin. While the care and attention THE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDMLy CHRISTMAS For those of you who are in the throes of Christmas s3ho ing, I will mention a few suggetions to make your hlpgyseason environmentally iedý If vo u want to ensure that your greeting cards contain re Idpaper, you will find themn available at any environmental store such as Earthdance, Teekali or the Sierra club. i In Oshawa, Earthdance, at 67 King St. E., is a little shop that .Ill.deight ouwten imetally friendly gifts. They have a nice selection of. stationery of recycled pape;, soaps, mugs and books. Teekah, in downtown Toronto, camnes practical items as well as gifts. Upon request, they will gladly send out their catalogue and will deliver anywhere in Ontario, cail (416) 962-3485. These stores will eîther prepare gift baskets for you or let you enjoy making your own.. For the cook or perhaps a soon-to-be bride in your family, ?Ihe Creative Cook's Rec-ycing Book! is stili available fromn author Ruth Johnson at a cost of $7 plus postage. Cail (416) 444-6183. Make a New Year's resolution to start composting. Surprise your family with a baëkyard composting unît. They are stifl available at Pine Ridge Garden Gallery a t a subsidized rate to residents of Pickerin g. The computer addict will appreciate 100 per cent recycled. unbleached computer paper which can be obtained. from Courseware Solutions Inc., (416) 863-6166. For family members who really do have everything, help them- save the rainforest through the World Wildlife Fund Guardian of the Amazon prograrn, by sending a $25 cheque for one acre to World Wildlife Fund Canada, 1-800-387-8660, Suite 201, 60 St. Clair Ave. E., Toronto, M4T iN5. Gift includes an exclusive decal featuring the Jaguar, a certificate and an information sheet with a lst of seven things individuals can do to, savýe the rainforest. Protectors of four or more acres will receive a fuli-color poster of the Jaguar. A membership to Pollution Probe will give the recipient 'Probe Pose' magazine as wel sprovide und to save the rainforest andthGra Léakes. Give a donation to youýr fiend's favorite charity or buy themn a subscription to an environinent magazine. The bottom lime will be for the family member still in diapers. Consider pampering baby with se ft cotto n diapers or use a diaper service. When shopping, take aiong a large sturdy, reusable bag to liminate the need and the bother of many little bags.AIso, lug-a-mug if you en .oy treating yourself to a beverage at the mall. Shopping vnth the envirornent in mind is a gift to Mother Nature. Organie Growers share concern for the environment By Heather Dewey No chemicais, al maturai. Tlhat's the recipe for Oshawas Jane Moore, vice chairman of the Durhamn chapter of Canadian Orp anic Growers Inc. She uses only m*tural fertilizers on her garden and teaches others ta do people ta de the saine. Fertilizers such as manure and compst are used. Compost is just maturai kitchen scra s (net meats), leaves, grasses all -rk e n dowm into one pile and spread on the grde selr no ndwý a cnered u the environment» says Moore. Members of Ca nadian Organic Growers [mc. include farmers, gardeners, heaith-care profes- sionals, envirommentaliste, wri- ters, corporations and con- fqumers. Members conduct research inte sustainabie farming methods, and seek ta create a decentral- ized, regonaiiy-based food sys- tom.' -They aise, endorse practices which promote and maintain long-teri-saili Ier6titMée fosuil fuel une%"-' rèdtepolton, recycle wasto and conserve mon- renewable resources. «We teach people how te grow, mot only vegetables but flowers, tee, organically,» says Moore. The club .has more than 80. members. At meetings, guest speakers discuss such subjects as compost recyclimg and growing garhic. The Durhazm chapter meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month. During summers, mem- bers go on garden tours and te the Metro Teronto Zoo. "We are epen wthte public, members are the people Who are on the mailing list» said Moore. Cost of a membership is $16, that includes a newsletter and a$ subocription te the Camadian Organic Growers magazine, both of which are received by mem- bers four tumes a year. 1Meeting are held at the WhitbyPublic Llbrarya 73 p.m. on the fourth Wedneday of each moth. Meetings are infor- mal. Fer any further information contact Jane Moore at 434-6231 or Peggy Clark at (416) 428- 1376. ' - '-'--'-"" ' * Oven ta the 37 severeiy hand- icaped children at the Ajax faci- liis considered first-rato and serves as a roe =- -)del for such future homes, the harsh reality is that there are many signale that mark a tinie for change, a time for moving on. Jack Ray manager of services ta the disaLled for the Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vices (COMSOC), has been a leader ini realizing some "of the changes. Ralph Hrisn, pre- aident of the parents' association of the Our Home Project for Community Living, is working ta effect some positive changes for the parents. «My office assumed a lead role in co-ordinating new space,» says Ray. "It was very much due ta the owners notifying us that the land had been sold. The end of the lease was March 31/91.» Ray explains that although the developer has given an addi- tional year's option, and has even prmied ta develop around the home, maybe neyer teuching it, the ministry and parents have te look ahead. «When the offer came for the extension it was mot sure emough. We stuck with the dead- line se everyome had a clear tagtdate ta imfo,'says R tTemajor issues r: tha-j t' developer could at any tume decide another use for the land; due ta the frail health of the childrem, many sufferi*g fromn respiratory diseases, develop- ment in the area of the home would be harrnful; since Ken and Now Us the time to register. Are you ready for the pro,- posed GST? If flot, now is the time to register and prepare. Registration applies to anyone involved in a commercial enter- prise. This includes fishing, farming, professional services and many activities carried out preventle canada Cuminsa and Excise Penny Barnes have always run the home with the help of an excellent staff, eventually whem they were umable te continue running it, the ministry and parents would find themseives ini the same situation; chiidren at Christopher Robin can only stay until age 10, and parents are eventuallyfacedYwith findn other accommodations for their childrem. Facilities now being developed would not p ut the age imitation onmthe children, enabling them te stay for a lifetime. 'The goup home model is still being tae about,» says Ra who adds that housing and budgeig arestill beig examined. Ray says that although staff at Chrito.pher Robin cannot be assured jobs, new positions are being circulated ta the staff as is no doubt that they are appre hensive about the idea of moving away,» says Ray. «The future looks' solid. Thig are very positive. The only tepidation is that plans don't materialize.» Ray says he expecta the bdet information te be cleared wti the next few weeks. The four area offices involved in ylacig the childrem are Metro Toont North York, Mississauga, ancf Peterborough. Parents are aise takmng an active part in the process. Harrison and his wife live in Oshawa. TheIr daughter Rachel, now age 8, has ~n at the Christopher Robin Home for five by non-profit organizations. Revenue Canada is ready to assist you with information on: " How to register and the benefits of doing so " What the GST means to your operation " Simplified accounting options and administrative procedures " Rebates of the Federal Sales Tax " How to recover GST on business purchases " GST return and filing options years. Harrison says that although the thought of moving hi. daughter ia scary, ultimately, "Our daughter has been there five years and this (the possibi- lity of aving te move her) has béén nqingover our heads for Many parents have banned tagether and will. take a'more active part in alaspects of their childrem's care in their new homes. They plan to be involved in the -aking of policies and procedures s well as prograin- ming for their children. 0We're pretty confident we can develop and organize things within the current time struc- ture,» says Harrison. "We've been in discussion with Missis- sauga and Toronto families. We're developing a lifelomg faci- lity for our childrem. Parents have more say.» Harrison says that althouýh the care at Christopher Robin was excellent, he feels that chul- dren with severe disabilities have been falling through government cracks. «We're in the early stages of developing policies that 10 years fromi now will be more widely used. "Most parents feel very happy," says Harrison. "Thfe mimistry has beenf very suppor- tive. As time goes on, we feel more and more like we've done the right thiing. "Eventually something had te be done. We are beginming te develop placement for this type of child for years te, corne.» Canaa I'yve prepared-» for the GST. Have yo u? Contact us today. Phone: 1 800. 461a1082 Telecommunicat ions device for the hearîng impaired: 1 800 465-5770 Or drop by the Revenue Canada Excise Office nearest you, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Canada's GSL Its good business to prepare now. PAmnu Canada q* a Douanm et Acci»