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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, January 8, 2003 - 3 > ijijp From Around Home by Roy Forrester The new calendar on the wall notes a change and we have nicely entered into a new year with what has been, in our opinion, a somewhat gentle introduction introduction to winter. Life is somewhat stimulated stimulated due to the change on somewhat of a three month cycle. Never too tiring for it doesn't stay too long. There is always a new old adventure adventure to play it's part in our life cycle in this part of the globe. Surely we are now into winter and some of the birds that had left us for a short period seem to be back. We are having a small flock of American Goldfinch occupying the eight perches on the Niger Seed feeder on a daily basis--generally somewhat early in the morning. The House Finch are taking taking up some space on the Sunflower Seed feeder and a few Juncos are scratching about periodically. Of course Chickadees are present along with some fly- ins by a Downey Woodpecker at the suet block. It's not as if we are inundated with birds but enough to keep up an interest. interest. Lots of Wild Turkeys are being reported some north of the Village. But here you have to be at the right time. The birds are generally seen in open field where they can feed off grain that has been left over after the harvest. Don Lycett reports a flock of Horned Larks over by Link's Greenhouses west of Orono. It is that time for this bird to be in our community community especially along side roadways and sparse fields. Snow Buntings often appear in similar areas this time of year. Don also reports a possible possible Rough-Legged Hawk perched in their back yard to have these birds in the area. Generally, they are seen flapping and gliding along in the air. They , do have to come to land to feed however. however. This past Sunday was a great day for a hike in the Nursery lands west of the Village. Just enough snow to make you realize it is winter and lots of sunlight. A beautiful beautiful day for a hike. I do have a new companion companion to take along--a cell phone. It's the result of Christmas and I must say it does put you in a greater comfort zone when you are alone on the trail or in the bush. I have a lot yet to accomplish accomplish with this new technological technological wonder being less than two inches wide and not quite four inches in length. It stores three hundred phone numbers that can be called on anytime. You can have automatic call backs over any period of time. It can also browse the internet and I think there is some possible contact with fax machines. At the present time we will try to complete that use of the midget as a telephone. Donna and I were able to keep in touch on Sunday last and that was the purpose Santa had in mind. When I break through the barrier to the internet, I shall let you know. Don't hold your breath. HIKING IS HEALTHY Sponsored by the Oak Ridges Trail Association You are welcome to attend the following: The Clarington Chapter of the Oak Ridges Trail Association offer two Outdoor Hiking/Skiing events during the month of January which is open to anyone who wishes to take part. It's an opportunity to enjoy a healthy winter activity. Wednesday, January 15,2:00 p.m. - a 5 km. loop in a hardwood bush. Meet at the 8th Concession of Darlington at the Darlington/Clarke Town line. Also can be reached by tracelling west from Leskard and then north 2 kms. on the Darlington/Clarke Townline. Further details call Murray Yeo at 905-263-2546. Saturday, January 18th, 9:30 a.m. - Mike/Ski 6 km. loop at Long SauIt Conservation Area. Take Regional Road 20, east from Hwy 57 or west from Hwy 35, and follow signs to Long Sault. Meet at north parking lot. Call Peter Parrot, 905-623-2662. Tucker Creek proposal reduced to mere trickle An ambitious proposal for a new urban community at Port Hope's western boundary was turned down by that municipality's .council in , t a special council meetmgv on* r December 17th. The gro-r posed development, a portion of which would border the Hope/Clarke Townline south of Highway 401, was of concern concern to Clarington because of pressure a new urban area would have on a portion of Clarington that was intended to remain a rural area. The Tucker Creek proposal included included 1,500 residential units, 110 long term beds an 18 hole golf course and over 1,500 square meters of commercial space. The proposal was of additional additional concern to Clarington as the Southern portion of the subject lands * are approximately 1.5 km from the Port Granby Low Level «^Radioactive Waste Management Facility. That former radioactive waste dump site is currently undergoing undergoing an environmental assessment to determine a long term storage plan for the radioactive waste. Port Hope council put forward forward and approved a recommendation recommendation at the public meeting meeting to turn down the applica tion. This recommendation was ratified by Port Hope council at a special council meeting to deal with the matter matter on December 17, 2002. The former Merrydale Trailer Park site, which was part of the 270 hectare proposed proposed development does have conditional approval for 250 leasehold units under a "Special Residential" designation. designation. The decision to deny the Tucker Creek Proposal came on the heels of a well attended public meeting dealing with the development held on Thursday December 12th. Volunteers needed at Distress Centre Durham Oshawa - If your New Years Resolution for 2003 included becoming more involved in your community and helping others in need, Distress Centre Durham would like to encourage you to consider a volunteer placement with them. The next two-part training workshop on becoming a volunteer volunteer helpline worker with Distress Centre Durham's 24- hour telephone helpline will be Sunday, February 9, and Sunday February 13, 2003. To be eligible for training you must be 18 years or older and complete a telephone screening interview and in- person registration meeting. You must be able to commit to 16 hours per month, including one overnight shift from our confidential oshawa location. Centre staff carefully select empathetic, non-judgmental, caring and compassionate individuals and provide intensive intensive training in active listening, listening, risk assessment, crisis and suicide intervention and prevention prevention techniques which are of benefit personally and professionally, professionally, not just on the helpline. Interested volunteers are asked to call 905-723-4461 for an application. Completed application forms must be submitted by Friday, January 31st. Alex Shepherd Continued from page 2 wonder why the Bush administration is so anti- Kyoto. But you have to ask yourself yourself just what lunacy has brought the U.S. to the point where the leader of the most powerful country in the world can talk about using nuclear weapons against Iraq? There is no discussion about the consequences, of using nuclear armaments. There is no talk about Mr. Bush having to take responsibility responsibility for his and the administration's actions and no questions being asked about the countless thousands thousands of people who will suffer suffer and die if President Bush gets his New Year's wish. While Americans have to live with a short-sighted president, who miraculously found his way to the Oval Office and the buttons that can set off a nuclear holocaust, holocaust, the rest of the free world is doing very little to keep this guy in check. It's like we are all thinking about trade and wealth and how we want to continue doing business with the largest economy on the planet. planet. The reality is we are all co-conspirators in what might be one of the most tragic events to unfold in modem history. Do we really think that using nuclear weapons on Iraq will contain the problems North Americans face at the hands of international terrorists? I shutter to think about what the long-term consequences consequences for us will be when factions in the Middle East interpret U.S. aggression as an attack on their religion and lifestyle. A large portion of the American public and Canadians as well, only know what is told to them by CNN, the greatest propaganda propaganda machine the U.S. government government ever had. < - n Who's Your Favourite Teacher? The next submissions for "Teacher of the Month" aren't due till January 2003. Students can write in to the Times or email Anita DeVries at: adevries@primus.ca telling us who their favourite teacher is and why they should be teacher of the month. A winner will be selected selected based on submissions. A gift basket from local businesses businesses will be presented to the selected teacher to honour honour and encourage them in their work. ~ Happenings ~ Saturday. January 11,2003 Free Pancake Breakfast from St. Saviour's Church to Orono community at the St. Saviour's Church Hall from 8 - 9:30 a.m. Donations accepted for The Orono Crown Lands Trust. Sunday. January 12.2002 John O'Toole, MPP, Annual Durham Riding Levee at Trillium Trails 53 Snowridge Court (north of Raglan oft Simcoe St. N.) Everyone welcome. Wednesday. March 12 "Canada Blooms" Bus Trip - Departs Orono 10 a.m. Includes Bus, Show and Magazine - $32. Call Lorna 905 ^ 983-5608^ponsorcd^^h^ron^orticultma^ociet^^ YiY.V.V V VV V V W V