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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, February 19,2003 - From Around Home by Roy Forrester Possibly one of the most asked questions of late relating relating to birds is that of the possible possible epidemic of West Nile disease in birds and its possible possible effect on bird populations. I'm sure no one really knows the answer at this time but indeed it is of great concern to most everyone. As to our feeders this year, the Niger feeder is most busy with visiting American Gold Finch. And they are in greater numbers than last year. The same is true about the other Finches feeding on black sunflower sunflower seeds. Doves and Blue Jays are certainly on the down side, but some of that may be due, (especially for the Doves), to the fact that we are not feeding feeding cracked com and wheat. The unfortunate thing is, 'what can we do about it?' I have seen, of late, two flocks of Crows, a bird that is being affected by the disease, according to all reports. Hopefully that is a positive. On Friday of last week, I had to take the brown car down to Newcastle for its breathalizer test. Incidentally, it passed with no trouble and in celebration, the both of us made our way down to the lakefronf to check on water birds. A Snow Goose stood out most vividly amongst the greater number of Canadas. A prior visit to the lakefront also resulted in a sighting of a female Gadwall duck, a bird I haven't seen for years. It closely resembles the Mallards but with a white line on the edge of the wing. Driving* into Orono on this day of celebration, I had the best sighting of a immature Redtail Hawk. I was able to get out of the car with the bird still circling directly above with no sign of effort at all. I have to say it was a beautiful sighting. In an effort to keep you up to date on happenings from Around Home, it was off to north-west Toronto last Saturday along with Rick Patterson, Bowmanville, Ester Allin, Newcastle, Don Lycett, Orono and Murray Yeo, Darlington Township, to attend a Hike Leaders' course sponsored by Hike Ontario. All are Hike leaders for the Clarington Chapter of the Oak Ridges' Trail Association being active in leading outdoor outdoor hikes in this area. The four-hour course held at the Outdoor Centre of Seneca College addressed all aspects of responsibilities of both the Hike leaders and the participants. It was both a fun and learning day for the whole group of possibly forty. If you are still reading, I would like to put a plug in for the hikes that are held in Clarington. You are urged and welcomed to take part. There are some 30 kilometers of hiking hiking trail completed in Clarington and you are welcome welcome to be present. This Saturday, Murray Yeo has scheduled a 6 K ski outing starting at 1 pm. 6Ks. starting from the eastern Long Sault parking lot. Further info if needed from Murray at 1-905- 263-2546. Watch this column for other hikes to be held on a regular basis. Peace rally Continued from page 2 peace. Quite magnificent real- ly- There was a good cross section section of people present, not all just so-called radicals. There were numerous middle-aged solid citizens involved. One elderly lady was pushing her walker around the crowd. After the speeches, the crowd formed up on the street in front of Victoria Hall and began to walk westward toward William Street. A good thing too, as it was freezing cold outside. The guys with the drums soon had a beat and rhythms going and a fair pace was set as we marched along, placards held high. We soon began to warm up. The march was headed for the courthouse on William Street near the north west end of Cobourg. It was a happy and boisterous crew about 300 strong walking in the west bound lanes. The Cobourg Police by the way, did an excellent job of traffic control. Just as the front of the crowd began to turn into the Courthouse parking lot, I jumped up on the north shoulder shoulder of the road to try and get some idea of the length of the parade. There, still back several several hundred feet and behind the main body, was that great, elderly lady pushing her walker walker escorted by two friends. Amazing. I guess she just really really believed in what she was doing. In the parking lot there were more speakers and the music carried on for some time. A most successful rally and march and it was just a small version of the large version that happened all around the world that day. ll.A.V. Beauchamp Orono ANNOUNCEMENT Lome I lardy and Dorinda Vollmcr of Orono arc pleased 1 to announce their engagement. engagement. Lome is originally from Bloomfield, P.E.I. Reverend Dorinda Vollmer, originally from Oakville, serves the I Orono Kirby Pastoral Charge. The wedding will be October 25th at St. John's United Church in Oakville. tot., February 22 Police Service to purchase helicopter Durham Regional Police Service will soon have their own helicopter in the skies. Regional Council approved the expenditure of $2 million to purchase a helicopter for the Police at their meeting Thursday. The Regional Police have till now-been leasing a helicopter helicopter for $670,000 a year. Owning their own helicopter will allow the police to increase their operating hours from 600 a year with the rental to 1,000 hours a year. Besides the increased air time, another major benefit to owning a helicopter helicopter according to Polices Services Chair, Councillor Bob Boychen, "at the end of 25 to 30 years when new technology comes along, we will be able sell this machine and get some money back." To questions raised during the debate as to the necessity of the Region owning and operating operating a helicopter Mayor Doug Moffat of Scugog responded, "With the added responsibilities we as a Region and Police Service had to take on since September 11, this is no longer a frill, it's a necessity. We as a municipality need to be on side with this equipment to live up to our responsibility." The matter was dealt with prior to the 2003 Regional Budget process so the delivery of the new helicopter will coincide coincide with the expiry of the leased helicopter. The motion to purchase was adopted with a 21 to two yes vote, (five councillors were absent). The helicopter will be funded funded from a surplus in the 2003 police operating budget. j|]|||{||lj liilishi kuih !|| ji il 11 MS ■ jiir •; lift iiiiiiiiii I lilliil |l|!§i iiilffill S II ■ 1 s Love, Sharon, Becky, Chrissy, Greg & Matt Region Continued from front million expires on April 17, 2003. As the City of Oshawa owns a portion of the 605 Rossland Road property where the new headquarters will be built, a number of property issues must be resolved before the proposal can be accepted in its entirety. If a suitable solution cannot be found, the building will have to be re-located to the southern portion of the property property which is owned entirely by the Region. Mayor Mutton and Councillor Trim voted against constructing the new building while Councillor Jim Schell voted in favour. r ~ Happenings ~ Thursday. February 20 Orono Horticultural Society St. Valentine's Day Show - 7:30 p.m. at Orono United Church, Main Hall; Speaker: Doris Neely - Topic: "Decorating with Pressed Flowers" Saturday February 22 at 8:30 a.m Orono/Kirby Men's Breakfast - St. Saviours Anglican Church Hall- Mill St., Orono. Speaker from Darlington Nuclear -cost $7.00 per person. Contact Myno at 905-987-5482 if you plan to attend. Hope to see you there. Saturday. March 1 Tyrone United Church Chicken Pie Supper & Auction - 6 p.m. at Tyrone Community Centre. Adults $10; Students $5 (toddlers free). Tickets call Sharon Trudeau 905-263-1022 Sunday. March 2 Musical Evening at Newcastle United Church - at 7 p.m. Gospel and contemporary music featuring the Spirit.Calm Praise Band, Sweet Charity and The Country Four. Free will offering offering toward Habitat for Humanity project in Guyana. Beginning March 3 Are you looking for work? - Gain creative and effective job search skills in the Job Finding Club. Meta Vocational Services in Bowmanville is offering a 3-week job search program from March 3 to 21, 2003. You will learn how to access the hidden job market, effective interview skills, preparing resumes and cover letters and more. The Job Finding Club is sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada. For more info contact Cathleen Lycett at 905-697-8887. Beginning Tuesday. March 4. "Just Me & The Kids" - Crossroads Christian Assembly presents a 12-wcck seminar series for single parents and their children. Works with both parent and child addressing varied and complex issues facing single parent families. One time fee of $25 includes weekly meal for parent and up to 2 children ($5/additional child.) For more info and to register please call ^church office 905-987-9955. ' jj