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Bcugog Citizen -- Tuesday, November 24, 1993 -- 0 a | a VIEWPOINT LETTER TO EDITOR. Scugog Township is on the right track with its plans for development of a "natural eco-park" on the shores of the lake just to the north of the public boat launch. Plans for this park development were unveiled at a public meeting held in the municipal chambers last Thursday evening. It's called a park, but it won't be a park in the traditional sense of the word. It will not have acres of grass that must be cut, nor will it have swings sets where children can play (and scream). It will have natural vegetation, some foot- paths and a path for cyclists, platforms on the shore for fishing or observing, some benches, but no picnic tables. In short, it's going to be a public park for relaxation, for passive recreation such as quiet strolls, bird watching, cross country skiing. The Township hopes to develop this area with advice from the Kawartha Conservation Authority over the next three years, starting next spring I say the Township is on the right track with this idea for several reasons First of all, the cost. Bucks are in mighty short supply in the coffers of most municipalities these days (Scugog no exception) so "high profile" projects have been put on the back burner, way back there on the back burner. The cost of developing this "eco-park" is pegged at $40,000, and that is a bargain, especially so since the province is picking up $13,000 of the total 1 think Scugog is going to get a lot of good mileage for many years in the future on this park development. It is a sign of the times we live in Passive recreation is being pursued by Canadians in leaps and bounds. Going for a walk is now the most popular form of recreation in Ontario. And why not? Walking is good for the heart, burns calories, is cheap and you don't need equipment or uniforms, or an expensive facility Walking is a multi-faceted leisure activity. Stroll the residential streets of old Port Perry and enjoy the architecture, stroll parks and wetlands and you'll be amazed at the flowers, vegetation, wildlife and the birds. I suspect that in a few years when # new "eco park" on thr shore of the lake "matures" with vegetation, it will become § haven for birders, photographers, naturalists, and those who just like to take a quiet stroll on a Sunday afternoon to soothe the senses and recharge the batteries The development of this new park is cheap (relative to other forms of rec facilities) and will serve a large number of people in a great many ways. This is the last piece of municipally owned land on the Lake Scugog shoreline in Port Perry and frankly, I'm glad it won't be swarming with pinickers, frisbee tossers, or squealing kids on slides. This kind of lower key recreation is the way of future as the "baby boomers" get older. We can't leave public lands totally "pristine," but leaving them a bit closer to their natural state is welcome. As un "park person," one who has come to appreciate the joys of a good walk, I look forward to watching the development of this park over the next couple of years. THE DUMP SITES: A lot of people in Scugog took a deep sigh of relief Friday morning when it was announced that the five dump sites in the Township are NOT on the IWA's short list. A lot of people spent an edgy Thursday night waiting for that announcement to be made as many were convinced that at least one site in Scugog was destined to go on that short list. It didn't happen. The TWA's short list includes four sites around the hamlet of Whitevale in Pickering and one near Newtonville, northeast of Bowmanville The dump site selection process has been one of the most intriguing and frustrating exercises ever. A lot of people are bitter that the five Scugog sitedfwere identified last June for the long list As anyone who is familiar with this five sites knows, they are the last places in the world for over six million tonnes of garbage Thankfully, the IWA saw this and the Scugog sites were ranked way down the list of the 17 in Durham Region Zero Garbage and PEST worked very hard in preparing briefs to convince the IWA not to put one of the sites on the short list. Personally, I hope now that the immediate crisis has passed that these two organizations stay together and work to raise public awareness about environmental issues in general and garbage issues in particular It would be nice to turn the "negative energy" around into something positive Public awareness of this entire issue is still woefully lacking. Just because there will be no dump in Scugog does not mean the garbage crisis has "gone away." PEST and Zero Garbage members have amassed knowledge and data that are invaluable. And, excuse the expression, it should not go to waste Above and beyond the call of duty To the Editor: I would like to express my sincere and deep appreciation to Colin Kemp, Bill Lishman, Dave Dietlein, Sally Preiner, Ingrid Larmer and all of the many, many citizens of old Cartwright who extended their un-told and tireless effort and skills into the successful elimination of sites YY2 and YY3 from the long list of proposed dump sites for Durham Region. This was a truly dedicated and cohesive group who when called upon in a time of community crisis, came through with very high flying colours I do want you to know just how in- debted I am, and no doubt most of the community feels the same, to your unselfish "above and beyond the call of duty" attitude that propelled their effort to a successful conclusion. I say "successful conclusion" in terms of the here and now. We will not be completely successful until we obtain our goal of *Zero Garbage." Thank you to all who participated and all who supported this endeavour. You have saved my home and rendered a great service to the community. I will be forever grateful Merle Heintzman, Blackstock. Editor's Note: Mrs. Heintzman owns a heritage house that was part of the YY2 proposed dump site on the south side of Highway 7A, a mile west of Blackstock. That site was eliminated by the IWA Friday morning. Reader in despair over labour issues Edigor's Note: The following letter was sent earlier this month to Durham East MPP Gord Mills. Because of the personal nature of this letter, the Scugog Citizen has agreed with the writer's request not to publish his name I am writing this letter to you as my first letter seems to have gone missing at your office I am presently on Workers Compensation with injured elbows and forearms, and have no job to go back to as the trucking company I worked for closed down due to the recession and Free Trade My doctor has given me permission to seek light duty work with many restrictions, which makes it more difficult. But I'm running into a situation that is even tougher Many (job) possibilities are closed to me because of being injured and on compensation, and by company's asking illegal questions on application forms I contacted your office about this and was told to call the Labour Board They told me to call the Human Rights Commission, and they asked if the company went outside Ontario. If so, it would be a federal matter, not their problem I was advised by Ontario Human Rights that | had ten days to put in my claim, provide a copy of the application form and prove that I did not get a job because illegal questions were asked on the application If they are not allowed to ask these questions, why are they doing so? How do you prove you didn't get a job because of this reason. Anyone who is looking for a job these days and knows what it's like, knows that you fill in the application when you are there and hand it in. Having a copy for Human Rights is almost impossible My caseworker at the WCB advised me to stroke out or write NA to any question regarding WC, but that just raises the red flag and brings suspicion Please see Page 11 SNAPSHOT OF THE WEEK "Woah boy! Hold still now, 1 move Oh:-h:h, I'm not so sure | like this. Um, could you uh, get me oft this thing Please" *This Thing? Hey wal just one minute! | have feelings you know. Do you think | like being treated this way? Wrong. Oh and by the way you better run when you get off, cause I'm hungry * NBILVvED MYSIER YI E What sad faces. Were EN they orphans, or was ft that they just dign't feel like having their picture taken Photo taken by Wm. H Leonard, Port Perry, with yet another interesting backarop Any information on our unsolved mysteries would be greatly appreciated by the Scugog Shores Museum, who has photo after photo of forgotten and lost ancestors You can reach them at 985-3589