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Wednesday, January 27, 2010 Orono Weekly Times - 3 HERO Continued from page 2 their lives. Wearing a uniform does not give free passage unless you earn it by some heroic effort. Helping anyone in need is not heroic. Being in the armed forces in Afghanistan is HEROIC. The present government that put them there is not. Sincerely, Kellie Mcdonell, Newcastle Are you in an abusive relationship? 905-623-6050 or 1-800-338-3397 Bethesda House Call Donald Rickard (L), Joan Kimball (C) and David Chisling (R) received certificates of recognition from Clarington Council on Monday night. Rickard received his for being the winner of the Grain Farmers of Ontario 2009 Soybean Yield Challenge for Zone 2. Kimball earned her certificate for being a Good Will Ambassador for Clarington, and David Chisling received his certificate in recognition of the work he is doing with youth at risk in his "Been There" program which is restoring the gardens at Clarington's Visual Arts Centre. Letters to the Editor Finding mercury in the silver lining... Dear Editor, Re: "Privacy Commissioner Blasts Region's Health Department," Jan.20. I have to agree that the subject "blast" was well directed and also feel that the Ontario Information and Privacy Commission's swift handling of their investigation, and resulting orders to Durham's Health Department, are most reassuring. Commission head Dr. Ann Cavoukian's findings that "This represented a serious breach of the Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Kyle's responsibilities" appear to be concise and accurate. Regional Chairman, Roger Anderson's synopsis of the situation also seems most apropos with his statement, "Numerous errors by numerous people resulted in this problem," and, it was good to hear that he made no attempt to exclude neither his leadership role nor himself from each respective "numerous" category. Would that a neighbouring provincial office, the Ministry of the Environment, and its head John Gerretsen, also bring to bear some much-needed scrutiny of Dr. Kyle's handling of his responsibilities. Apparently the Region's decision to move "forward" with its proposal to build a garbage incinerator in Clarington hinged on Dr. Kyle's indication that the incinerator would pose an "acceptable risk" to the citizens of Durham living in the affected area, or was his wording much more clearly expressed as "does not pose an unacceptable risk"? Such double-negative phraseology can apparently easily confuse our Regional Councillors to the extent that all three (Novak, Trim, Abernethy) actually voted FOR incineration, and even agreed to build the incinerator in their home town??? How many question marks are valid here? The Region may tout that the one silver lining in this entire dark process is that it will reduce the tipped-tonnage of garbage to about 30% of its original weight -- this remainder consisting mostly of toxic ash, which will then be landfilled. They often fail to emphasize that the other 70% of the slated 400,000 tonnes of garbage burned each year will be pushed straight up into the atmosphere to form a fall-out plume that will sweep across much of Durham Region! Who, living under such a "silver (and mercury) lined" cloud, will find that acceptable? Minister Gerretsen, are you out there? -- Please HELP! Sincerely, Bert Kortekaas, Courtice Correction In the Orono Weekly Times article last week about the January meeting of the Newcaslte/Bond Head Ratepayers Association, we reported that Mayor Jim Abernethy warned that tax increases are larger the year after an election. We then quoted the Mayor as saying, "I trust that will be the case in 2011." He did, in fact say, "I trust that will not be the case in 2011." We sincerely regret the error, and any confusion it may have caused. Have Your Say... Contact Us... ORONO WEEKLY TIMES 905-983-5301 oronotimes@rogers.com ~ Happenings ~ Monday, February 1, 2010 - Annual General Meeting - Newcastle Village & District Historical Society, Newcastle Community Hall. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 6, 2010 - Mardi Gras - New Orleans Style, Newcastle Community Hall. Cajun Food, Cajun Music, Cajun Hijinks, Dance, Door Prize - Trip to Quebce City. $65 per person. Tickets available at A Gift of Art, Newcastle. 905-987-2264 Saturday, February 6, 2010 - Chocolate Workshop, Call For More Details, A Gift of Art, Newcastle. 905-987-2264