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Wednesday, December 1, 2004 Orono Weekly Times by Jeanne Burnside Uncle Buck A few weeks ago a friend announced that I might have snapping turtles in my pond. The clear water had given way to a lot of murkiness and my five 'survivor goldfish' had not been seen for a while. His analysis was this area has seen a return of many snappers and that my pond would be a wonderful wonderful spot for them to inhabit. At first I was very excited at the thought of having them on my property but that quickly went away when I started to hear the stories of these mini- monsters. Whether true or urban legend, legend, these mighty specimens have been known to scare even the bravest of the hunters and although I have never seen one in person, the . description given by many made me think of the great white shark. Besides having an enormous jaw, their speed can rival that of an alligator if they are in pursuit of prey, according to some locals. I started to watch the pond very intently hoping to get a glimpse of this new invader, but never saw a shell skimming skimming the pond surface. Thankfully, my puppy didn't go down to the pond by himself, himself, or he could have been lunch! Last week, I noticed several several of my willows and dogwoods dogwoods had been sheared off on an angle almost like someone someone had intentionally decided to ruin my landscaping. On closer inspection, I realized I had seen these cuts before down by the creek towards the other end of my property. What was really strange was that 'several of the branches from the trees were in the pond as if stored by someone for later use. Later that evening, I returned to the pond with a super flashlight and a large stick (for protection) to investigate. A brave neighbor joined me on . the venture as she had never seen a snapping turtle either. As we got closer we could hear something swimming in the water and we both stood very still for what seemed like a long time. We decided to shine our lights together on the surface and much to our surprise we saw a huge beaver swimming around collecting branches--no turtles in sight. Our lights did nothing to deter him from his work so we decided to return indoors and report our findings. Over the next few days other neighbors stopped by in the evening to see my new pet, Uncle Buck, actively working after dark. A local conservationist told me he is probably a bank beaver, thrown out by the clan due to too many male adolescents. Unlike the beaver group a bit downstream that constructed constructed a huge damn and lodge, Uncle Buck will have to spend this winter living in the bank with the branches he has taken for food. He seems to have built his room/apartment right near an area in the pond where many springs come in. We can't wait to see what he'll do when we are all out skating on the pond this winter! winter! CELEBRATE THE TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS IN ORONO Start the holiday sfasonwith the Clarington Concert Band in a celebration of the. tradidons of Christmas at Orono United Church on Sunday December 12,2004. The concert begins at3.00 PM will ferture^radttionarànd contemporary Christmas favourites îilll'j™ r ?gf^ n wrth Church is located at Park and Church Street in Orono just east of the Town Hall. Admission is free with a goodwill offering collected during the performance. CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE www»municipality.clarinflton.on.ca Municipal Act, 2001 Leading the Wflj ' ISALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER Take Notice that tenders are invited for the purchase of the land(s) described belowrantIwW beReived until 3:00 p.m. local time on 16 December 2004, at the Municipal Office, 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3A6. . The tenders will then be opened in public on the same day at the Municipal Office, 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3A6., Description of Land: Roll No. 18 17 010 070 03654 0000 PIN 26589-0034(LT) Parce, 6-1 Section 40M1798 Lot 6 Plan 40M1798 Municipality of Clarington Regional Municipality of Durham (No. 40) File No. 03-13 Minimum Tender Amount $ 24,102.49 Description of Land: Roll No. 18 17 010 070 03678 0000 PIN ^89W Parcel 6-1 Section 40M1799 Lot 6 Plan 40M1799 Municipality of Clarington Regional Municipality of Durham (No. 40) File No. 03-14 Minimum Tender Amount $ 25,796.89 being the lands described in Instrument No. N27032 File No, 03-23 Minimum Tender Amount $ 10,590.27 SrESwStœ'* 3 ® 5, Minimum Tender Amount $ 7,463.88 W , « L» » N., « ^ 19 and 20, Plan 10R3984 File No. 03-43 Minimum Tender Amount $ 6,688.40 «.N» 1.17 «0.30 00,00«KO ««WWIMg 1'Sn." œsjsïïti ksssssw? ssrr asa. Minimum Tender Amount $ 5,590.14 draft o?chequecertified*by a*bankortres^oirporaBon ^yaWe to^TmuniXality^nTrepresenting™ least^o'^er cert o/thetender amount. srssBsassr " """ "" ' The municipality has no obligation to provide vacant possession to the successful purchaser. Note: G.S.T. may be payable by successful purchaser. For further information regarding this sale and a copy of the prescribed form of tender contact: Lou Ann Birkett, Purchasing Manager The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3A6 responsible for the procedures under that Act.