The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

f 1 M i. . i-SH. -- ..]>H ■ 5 ri^ 11 fîfl iBUjlljH The beauty of nature - our four seasons Living in this part of Canada, a county that extends from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific in the west, we certainly certainly live in an area that fortunately fortunately offers diversity in weather weather conditions. It, the weather, is ever changing through spring, summer, summer, autumn and winter of which each period has its own particular highlights for excitement excitement and pleasure. Looking out the kitchen window--it is quite evident we are now in the throws of deep winter that may also be evident by the blisters left from shoveling shoveling snow. Sometimes there is a price to pay but that is nothing compared to the visual enjoyment enjoyment of perusing our region's winter wonders. With this thought in mind I decided late last week to tour a southern portion of Clarke Township at a slow speed so to enjoy the winter winter landscape that at the present time abounds through-out this -, area. You have all seen it and it is created totally by nature, the snow and wind currents directed directed by the various physical land formations. Turning up the volume on the radio listening to rock-and- roll music, I was off for an hour and three-quarters for a slow paced trip starting on the 5th Concession Road easterly and south of the our good village. I was accompanied by a bright sun out of the west and of course the rock and roll. You have all witnessed, of course, what the wind and snow has been doing of late along our fairways. It is most beautifully demonstrated in differing differing drift forms and volume of drifts. Nature has been a most talented, creative artist. Travelling easterly on the 5th Concession I soon came to the area of Mount Tom. I had to stop. The area is large in scope both in east/west and north/south direction. It was a proverbial blanket of white for as far as the eye could see and along with a brilliant lighting of sun from out of the west. This, in itself, was well worth the drive. After 15 minutes, I continued continued the drive, again at a slow pace--easterly passing a couple couple of side roads and then south to the lake front. I stopped at the Newcastle Lake Front park and spotted a few Canada Geese, a duck or two and three Trumpeter Swans. Take some time to view what nature has been creating throughout the countryside. Indeed it is a carpet or blanket of snow. It is indeed a winter wonderland. Severance Continued from page 2 reported that the Regional Council is going to be considering considering for approval a staff report recommending a fifty per cent increase to salaries, benefits and severances for Councillors. Then, I am told by very reliable reliable sources at the Region, of Clarington Council having approved recently a very healthy severance package for themselves and any future Clarington Councillors. This one really has me puzzled since, first of all it wasn't reported in the press (!!!) and secondly, it is less than four years ago that three of the members of Clarington Council were adamant that they could not and would not support severance packages for the elected at the local level of Government. They also now can apply for a pension from their being on Council. These recent events have me rather stunned! For those of us who went before, no matter how long we served, at the local level of Government there was and is no pension and no severance package for service. We never expected it! And, very definitely, anything anything Council did, especially to do with compensation for Council, was reported in the press. How different it all is in only three short years! Boggles ones mind! It appears from all the forgoing forgoing that not only have times changed but, very definitely, so have some people and their beliefs. Sincerely, Diane S. Hamre Havelock i-iiii, ni, mill iiii(liiiii!i:n i' urn uiiiiiiMi , ,.iiuiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiini!li! 'Ï " Clarington Older Adult Association's Cupid's Dance Saturday, February 14th at 8 p.m. Clarington Beech Centre, Bowmanvillc, featuring the D.J. "Then and Now Sounds" Tickets $10, available at the door 905-697-2856 ( Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, February 11, 2004 Letter to the Editor Re: Oops Dear Editor: And your excuse this week would be? That's right, it's Oops again for the Orono Weekly Times. Although Opium has been with our society for many many years and could be a topic at the Newcastle Historical Society's annual 'Show and Tell' meetings, I don't really believe it was shared with the group. Opinions, I think, is the word you were looking for in this instance. For many of your reader's, your blunders can sometimes turn out hilarious results as is the case this week. I feel that your dedicated volunteers could use some help. That's right, I volunteer! I'm sure I'll be hearing from you soon. Colleen Wolff Pontypool (This time we got it right! The tiny peppercorn-like substance was part of the 'Show and Tell' portion of the evening.) Mayor continued from front Veridian Connections, plus a $1,000 honourarium for chairing chairing the Ganaraska Conservation Conservation Authority for a total of $120,500. Mayor Mutton stated in an interview with the Times on Monday afternoon, that he had nothing to do with the resolution resolution Councillor Schell brought forward. "It is somewhat uncomfortable for me to deal with," he stated. "At the end of the day I'm not going to gain anything," he said, "the increase puts me in a higher tax bracket, and I'll be paying more taxes," stated the Mayor. Schell said he handled the pay increase motion, in such a way, that if any councillor was uncomfortable with it, he Fire plan Continued from front 10/10 was a proper fit for a municipality like Clarington, which is urban along the lakeshore and has a large geographic geographic area. would not bring it forward. "There was absolutely no attempt to ram this through in an untoward way," he stated. With this new wage increase and the new severance severance package, Mayor Mutton said he can't see any kind of . adjustment to salaries at the Region or in Clarington for any time soon. Councillor Don Mac- Arthurs who seconded Schell's motion for the pay increase and the severance package stated, for the amount of work the Mayor was doing, he was vastly underpaid. "He is essentially the Chief Executive Officer of a fairly large organization, and is being paid a pittance," Local councillors Adrian Foster, Don MacArthur, Pat Pingle and Gord Robinson, will now be paid $25,856. "We try to paint a picture," said Covelli, it needs a sustained sustained effort over a period of time." Staff will begin preparing a business plan to address the recommendations in the Master Fire Plan. Regional councillors Jim Schell and Charlie Trim will be paid $65,840 if the proposed proposed increase in the Regional portion is approved. If you see I "Gump" 1 1 on Feb. 18 th I wish him f Happy 40 th !! ~ HAPPENINGS ~ February 11 Orono Soccer Registration - 7 to 9 p.m. at Orono Arena Meeting Room. Saturday. February 14 St. George's Anglican Church Valentine Luncheon and Bake Sale -10:30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. at the Parish Hall on Edward & Mill Sts. in Newcastle. Luncheon $6.00. Bake Table, Slate Art, Jewellery, New to You Sweaters. "Link" Fundraiser. Saturday. February 14 . _ 4 0 ^ OAAA Fundraising Valentine's Dance at Orono Arena and Community Centre. 8 p.m. to l a.m. Tickets' $20/couple. Thursday.February 19 TT . , Orono Horticultural Society St. Valentine's Day Show - 7:30 p.m. at Orono United Church. Topic "Preserving seeds of the Past for the Future". Slide presentation - all welcome. 9U) U Annual Lasagna Dinner, Silent Auction & Talent Show - 5:30 p.m. at Orono United Church. Tickets at Morrison's Hardware EastDurhamHistmrtcal Society 40th Anniversary Heritage Fair-Noon to 4 p.m. at Port Hope Lion's Centre. Admission $2 includes coffee, tea or soda (free admission if boin in 1964!) Demonstrations include quilting, rug hooking, doll making, spinning, weaving, and many of grandmother's skills and much more. Turkey SupperT Silent Auction at Orono United Church 6 p.m. Tickets $10 available at the Apple Blossom Shop or call 983-9737 or 983-9519. Proceeds to support 1st Orono Pathfinders trip to England. Hampton*Ctomis' Association presents the band 'Nothing Serious' Irish Stew - an Irish evening with a Celtic Band„.will be Hampton's best dance ever! Irish lood, drinks and lun. Doors open at 8. Por tickets call 905-263-2027 or 905-263-8012 or any committee member.