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6 Friday, March 16, 2018 brooklintowncrier.com Many of you have noticed the conversion happening throughout Whitby to LED lights. This has been a long time coming. The public consultation began in 2012. The Light Pollution Awareness Committee of the Durham Region Astronomical Association (DRAA) worked closely with the Town of Whitby on the adoption of the new lights. There was an LED street light project run in 2012 and lighting guidelines for any new site plans were developed. We are in the final phases of converting the remainder of all street lights throughout Whitby. Light directed down Notice that the new lights are FCO (full cut off), meaning that they direct light 'down' where it is needed, not sideways or up causing significant light pollution and wasting energy. As well, they don't cause significant glare to pedestrians and drivers, which increases safety. An interesting lighting observation: next time you are driving north on Thickson coming into Brooklin as you come over the 407, take a look at the Esso and Petro gas stations on the corner of Winchester and Thickson. Notice that Esso does not use FCO, and Petro does. Petro is much more pleasing lighting for drivers as it has less glare. It's also safer because the drivers' night vision isn't affected as much. Esso has glaring lights which cause driver vision issues, such as when you first shut off a bright light at night and you can't see well for a brief time. That station was built before the site guidelines came into effect. Any new commercial properties must now use FCO. Some have wondered about the aethestics of the lights with the coach-style lanterns being converted to cobra heads in the Watford area. I can appreciate the concern as I live in that area myself and will soon watch the lamp post outside my window be converted to the modern style, too. Not exactly what I would have preferred. However, these particular lamp posts could not have been converted to the coach lantern style. Health concerns addressed I've also heard the concern for health. This is something that came up early in my tenure as North Ward Councillor. I asked staff to review all the material with concern to health. They did a thorough vetting and the report came back last June with updated information. I am satisfied, as was council, that we are operating within safe levels as far as lighting pollution and colour of light is concerned. Overall, the lighting is better for pedestrians and vehicles as it's more focused on the area where it's needed. The cost savings is enormous. We are saving over a million dollars a year on energy. This translates into about 1% of property taxes in operational costs. It's one of those efficiencies we look for that simply could not be passed up. I'm hoping over time we will see the benefits realized and that the lights will be something we no longer even notice being different. Our Councillor's Report by Rhonda Mulcahy North Ward Councillor, Town of Whitby mulcahyr@whitby.ca Lighting things up It's easy to get into an eating rut. We all do it whether we-re plant-based or not. We begin to rely on the same foods because the recipes are familiar and therefore easy for us. To really meet our nutrient needs though, we need a variety of foods as there's no one miracle food. These foods, classified as super foods, are such because they're nutrient dense and therefore provide high elements of something our body needs, such as antioxidants, vitamins, protein, and minerals. Super foods in general tend to be plant-based although salmon is often categorized as a super food. Blueberries are considered a super food as is kale. Almonds, too, since they are the most nutritionally dense "nut," meaning they offer the highest concentration of nutrients per calorie per ounce. An interesting fact about almonds is that while they are often called a nut, they are actually a seed of the almond fruit. When I was a kid, I hated almonds. I'd bite the chocolate off the covered ones and hide the almonds in the couch. But today I enjoy this nutritious nut in a variety of ways, including as almond butter. One of the greatest side benefits of being plant-based is that it forced me out of my comfort zone and I began exploring new foods and recipes. There are many cultures that consume little or no meat which has led me to make and eat great Indian, Thai, and Moroccan foods. Many Asian-inspired sauces use Plant-Based Eating by Sheree Nicholson Getting into super foods almonds rather than peanut butter. I've always been an adventurous person so I love to try new things. Dinner bowls are an amazing way to combine super foods. You can top quinoa with chili lentils, chopped kale, roasted broccoli, beans, seeds such as chia or pumpkin and then drizzle a sauce such as the one below over the bowl for a fantastic super food meal. Easy almond sauce • 3 tablespoons almond butter • 1/4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon water • 1 tablespoon minced garlic • 1 1/2 tablespoons tamari • 1 teaspoon sesame oil • Juice of half a lime • 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar Combine all the ingredients in a mini chopper and blend until smooth. Alternatively, you can whisk all ingredients together until smooth. This great recipe is from the One Green Plant blog. Sheree's Hack: Double the sauce recipe to use as a pasta sauce or salad dressing.