4 - Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, May 14,2003 South of 49° by Jeanne Burnside A motorized vehicle barrier will be place in at the mouth of this tunnel in the next few weeks. ATV access denied They're back When I first moved to our new home in the country, I noticed a large area on the property that was a bit scary. The trees in it where dead but still partially standing and if you walked through it you would sink into a foot of thick, black mud. It reminded me of an area that could breed "The creature from the black lagoon." I was relieved to find out that the area was full of natural springs and would be perfect for a natural pond. After the initial dead tree removal, the heavy equipment was brought in for the serious digging. Unfortunately, the springs were a bit too active and the first back-hoe was partially sunk and needed to be retrieved by an even larger tractor. My visions of a crystal crystal clear pond fed by natural springs, adorned with beautiful beautiful plants and wildlife were quickly zapped as I gazed upon my giant mud hole filled with very brown water. My husband's description of the area resembling the aftermath of a stray SCUD missile was apt, but I refused to be defeated. defeated. I sat in the mud and planted planted over 300 seedlings of water irises, lilies, marigolds, and grasses etc. that have all taken. The remainder of the area was magically transformed transformed by sod and over the first few months the water did clear up as promised. All seemed to be just about perfect perfect until...a neighbour, who will remain unnamed, decided to get me a "pond present" of two-dozen goldfish. Neither she nor I knew what the consequences would be. She dropped them off in the pond for me when I wasn't home. I had previously decided decided to wait on putting trout or bass in until the following year on the advise of the gentleman gentleman who dug the pond. He suggested to wait and see that no more digging would have to be done after it settled. Once the fish were in the pond, there was not much one could do, so they stayed and bred and bred for a year with no natural predator. I did notice there were more and more of them but everyone said - "don't worry, they'll not survive the winter". Well they did, and come the following following summer my clear pond had now changed to a golden color. I tried to get assistance from the Ganaraska Conservation Authority to no avail, except for his description of the pond - "there's got to be a gazillion goldfish in there". He did say that the pond was a perfect breeding ground for them and they would have an endless supply of food due to my plantings. Although I seriously considered considered smuggling an alligator alligator from Florida to do the job, I was forced to pump the pond out and remove many of the fish by hand because they were very astute at avoiding the nets. Several very good friends came over to help and I am still grateful for their efforts. This was serious mudwrestling mudwrestling and we wore ropes for fear of sinking into/the black-slime. After the pond refilled itself I did stock the pond with two-dozen trout varying in size from about eight inches inches to two feet. Unfortunately, the more- aggressive bass that I would have preferred were not available. Last summer we counted four goldfish that had survived survived the pumping and were quite large. The good news was that their young had become the trout's diet choice. Since the ice melted this Spring, I have been looking for the "infamous four" and was a bit sorry they had not surfaced. Yesterday while working in the garden I took a respite by the pond and was shocked to see they're back and bigger than ever- but thankfully it's just the four. Just in case--anybody got any bass for sale? Clarington has just received permission from the Ministry of Transportation to put a barrier barrier on the west side of the snowmobile snowmobile tunnel under Highway 115/35 at Enterprise Hill. It is hoped the barrier will deter dirt bikes and all terrain vehicles form using Wilcox Road to access the Ganaraska Forest. Wilcox Road residents have long been aggravatéd by Continued from front to support this," he said. Polonsky said he needed this approval at home before he could go outside the region to raise the rest of the money needed. "We cannot raise $100 million in Durham Region, we have to go outside the region, to Ontario," he stated. "If you approve this request, I can raise the remaining $90 million." the dust and dirt created by the all terrain vehicles on their road. There is also issue of the unlicensed vehicles illegally traveling on a municipal road. Councillors authorized the Director of Engineering Services take the appropriate action to expedite the installation installation of the gate and fencing and that the funds for these works, estimated at approximately $10,000 be funded from the capital reserve account. The hope is that off road vehicle users will trailer their vehicles into the forest, and park in the designated parking lots. The barrier will be pedestrian pedestrian friendly since the tunnel is also part of the Oak Ridges Trail. The barrier will be removed in to winter accommodate the snowmobile traffic which have access to a trail on private property property just east of the tunnel. • Pedicures/Manicures • Waxing • Nail Extensions • Air Brushing ESTHETIC STUDIO • Eyelash Tinting • Electronic Muscle Stimulate (EMS) • Paraffin Wax Brigitte 'Brown *** Gift Available 15% DISCOUNT with coupon 71 Mill Street, Orono, ON LOB I MO • 905-983-8169 THOUGHTFULNESS, SERVICE & CONCERN • A Family Owned Business, Offering: Traditional Funeral Services Pre-arranged & Prepaid Services - Cremation Arrangements Alternatives to Traditional Funerals - Out of Town Shipping CORY KUIPERS - PRESIDENT 53 Division Street Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 2Z8 Northcutt Elliott Funeral Home 905-623-5668 OFF STREET PARKING Nominate a beautiful front garden, nominate your own residence, your friends, your neighours, ora local business. Use the form below and get your nomination in by Friday. June 13. 2003 before 5:00 PM Please note: Only front gardens that are visible from the roadside/curb will be judged. How to Enter Fill out the entry form and mail, email, drop-off or fax to: 2003 Apple Blossom Awards Communications & Tourism 40 Temperance Street For additional information Bowmanville, ON L1C 3A6 please call 905-623-3379 www.municipality.clarington.on.ca (online form) fax: 905-623-0584 I nominate: Address: Town: Postal Code: Owner (if known): Category (please check one) Residential [ ] Business [ ] Please identify if this garden is professionally landscaped. YES [ ] NO [ ] 4 Nominated by: Telephone: 905 Forms may be copied for additional nominations