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From Around Home by Roy Forrester The news media and politicians during this most recent summer were rightly so warning against further global warming and did take action in Ottawa on bringing forth the passing of the Kyoto accord. To this there is certainly certainly agreement one would hope. An upward temperature change could be most damaging. damaging. Never once, however, was there any mention of global cooling in winter. It has always been that summer brought warmth while winter was a period of some chill but not minus 30 as on Tuesday last. It has been some time since I have heard the house rafters thump with cold. Life goes on, no matter, and the birds still come to the feeder and it continues to be that flock of 10 to 12 American Gold Finch making a number of visits on a daily basis. It also includes Finches. They come from the bushy area west of Main Street. Two of the larger birds are making their appearance in the area being two Great Horned Owls in the Tree Nursery lands, a possible pair, and as well a Red Tail Hawk. This is not unusual for this time of year and in fact, the two owls have been sighted on more than one occasion by a daily hiker in the Tree Nursery lands. This could well be a mated pair with nesting underway midway through February. The female lays only two white eggs. With the ground now covered covered with a white blanket of snow, it is somewhat easier to locate the perching tree used by an owl due to the habit of regurgitating food which falls to,the ground under the tree. One day last week with Don Lycett, we sighted two Red Tailed Hawks with the first being on Skelding Road just west of Best Road. The second sighting came on Morgan's Road south of 401 highway. Both birds no doubt were looking for mice, their favourite food, along a wooded wooded edge and both reacted quite similar upon our approach. The Morgan Road bird, not having a red tail, was an immature bird. Otherwise it had all the same movements and characteristics of the Skelding Road bird. In the frigid cold we did stop off at the harbour in Newcastle where there are a number of species of ducks swimming in the bay. The weather conditions seemed no problem for the birds but that was another matter for us resulting in a quick return to the car. More about these birds when the weather moderates. moderates. I would be interested to hear any view you may have regarding global warming and global freezing. Is there a connection or has this been a freak of nature. Reprieve for two-hatters--for now By Anita DeVries The issue of two-hatters just won't go away. Tomorrow, full-time union leaders will face off against their part-time rivals before a specially appointed mediator, Honorable George W. Adams. The Ernie Eves government government appointed the mediator to facilitate talks between the two sides. The good news is, no new charges will be laid against full-time firefighters who are working as part-time firefighters firefighters in their communities while the talks are on. The bad news is the full time firemen who already resigned as part-timers will not be allowed to resume their part-time work. Fred LeBlanc, president of the OPFFA (Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association) said in a phone interview, "No new charges will be laid. (Two-hatters) can continue without the threat of being charged from their local union. (But) those who had already resigned, must remain so--the moratorium does not apply to them." For a number of Clarington firefighters who decided to secretly go against their union and not resign, this is good news. However, unfortunately for Orono, most of their two- hatters resigned as of December 31st. ^^ Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, January 29,2003 - 3 Ex-smoker awarded Lung Association's 'Volunteer of the Year 1 By Anita DeVries For forty-five years Orono resident Bob Nicholls smoked like a chimney. "My wife says I was eating them," said Nicholls of his two pack-a-day habit. He tried to quit a few times, once he even managed to stop smoking for 6 months, "I was mad at myself when I started again after that," Nicholls admitted. Finally one Christmas, in 1983, he decided to knock the habit for good. He set May 24th as the day he would throw away his cigarettes. That winter, in 1984, he started having some serious lung problems. "I couldn't breath, I was up all night." He went to the hospital for ventilation ventilation treatments. When he was feeling better he drove home and got stopped by a policeman for speeding. "I just wanted to get home," he said, "but this cop wanted to lecture me. It was one of those days." When he finally did get home he lit up a cigarette. cigarette. May was still a couple months away, and he was in no mood to quit even though his body was telling him enough is enough. He called up the Lung Association, the people there talked with him and encouraged him to stop smoking. "They stood beside me," said Nicholls. "I don't like being told what to do, and they didn't, they just listened listened and encouraged me." Two days before May 24 he ran out of cigarettes, "I thought, why torture myself by buying more?" said Nicholls. He never bought another pack. Today, eight years later, he still has trouble breathing due to the damage all the cigarettes caused. But he is much healthier than he would be if he had kept smoking. "I do a lot of walking now," said Nicholls. "It keeps my weight down and my lungs working." Besides taking better care of himself, he's also looking out for his fellow man. Nicholls is such a dedicated and knowledgeable volunteer that Durham Region Lung Association named him Volunteer of the Year for 2002. "He's compassionate and caring, and always available to Orono resident Bob Nicholls is Durham Region Lung Association's 'Volunteer of the Year'. support us in any of our endeavors," endeavors," said Dianne McKenzie, Development Coordinator for DRLA. "He's so deserving... He's a wise and gentle man; I can't say enough about him." Aside from all of his regular volunteer work with pull for kids, tulip day, festival of baskets baskets arid all the other fundraisers he helps with, Nicholls will also be sitting on an advisory com- . mittee this year. Over the years he has provided good leadership, leadership, wise counsel and creative ideas, so the association asked him to sit at the board level this year. Nicholls doesn't only volunteer volunteer his time with the Lung Association though. He visits the sick and aged, is involved in the Anglican Church and leads the Bowmanville Oddfellows Lodge. Some of his friends believe he works harder now than when he was a full-time employee of Good Year. The only weekday he reserves for himself himself is Fridays. Even many weekends weekends he spends caring for people in his community. Why does he do it? "It's a love that come from God," said Nicholls with humility. humility. "In 1984 I made a commitment commitment to Christ, instead of taking him as part-time I made Him full-time. " He took courses on chaplaincy chaplaincy and enjoys helping people, but sometimes it is stressful. When it gets too much "you have to stand back and let the world go by," said Nicholls. Nicholls never stands back too long though, before he's right back at it, touching lives with warmth and wisdom. Pedicu re s/Manicures Waxing Nail Extensions Air Brushing Eyelash Tinting Electronic Muscle Stimulate (EMS) Paraffin Wax 'Brigitte ( .Brown *** ESTHETIC STUDIO I I I I II 15% DISCOUNT with coupon ~ 171 Mill Street, Orono, ON LOB 1 MO • 905-983-8169 Gift Certificates Available a who's vour 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. I ~ Happenings ~ Starting February 3rd Are You Looking for Work? Meta Vocational Services "Job Finding Club - is offering a 3-week job search program program where you will learn how to access the hidden job market, effective interview skills, preparing resumes and cover latters and more. The Job Finding Club is sponsored sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada. For more info contact Cathleen Lycett 905-697-8887. Beginning Tuesday. March 4. "Just Me & The Kids" - Crossroads Christian Assembly presents a 12-week seminar series for single parents and their children. Works with both parent and child addressing addressing varied and complex issues facing single parent families. families. One time fee of $25 includes weekly meal for parent and up to 2 children ($5/additional child.) For more in for andto register please call church office 905-987-9955. Wednesday. March 12 "Canada Blooms" Bus Trip - Departs Orono 10 a.m. Includes Bus, Show and Magazine - $32. Call Lorna 905- \^)83-560KSponsoreM \