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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010 11 2010 OUTDOOR SEASON Registration closes March 31, 2010 Visit our website at www.rkd.ca/rockets For more information contact Shellie (registrar) at 519-856-9284 COACHES ARE STILL NEEDED FOR VARIOUS AGE GROUPS Group Dates PREMIER 2006 - Girl/Boy Mixed U6B or U6G 2004/2005 U8B or U8G 2002/2003 U10B or U10G 2000/2001 U12B or U12G 98/99 U14B or U14G 96/97 U16B or U16G 94/95 U18B or U18G 92/93 COST $120 $135 $170 Canadian Cancer Soci- ety Wellington Unit invites the community to drop in, meet new and existing staff, and celebrate the launch of Daffodil Month during an Open House, to- day (Thursday). April is Daffodil Month, when volunteers sell daf- fodils at local businesses and knock on doors for donations to help fight cancer. Last year, Daffodil sales and the Residential Campaign raised over $255,000 in Welling- ton County. To kick off the months activities, volunteers, community fundraisers, and those in- terested in volunteering are encouraged to drop by between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. today for a meet and greet, coffee, treats and a chance to win great priz- es. Residential canvassers may pick up their canvass kits on these dates. Our mission depends on the strength and dedi- cation of our volunteers says Tania Framst, Unit Manager. Guelph and Wellington is home to such a passionate and diverse volunteer community and we are so fortunate to be a part of that. Framst said they would like to extend an invita- tion to the public to visit and find out more about our information and sup- port services, fundraising opportunities, to register for Relay for Life, and to pre-order daffodils. We look forward to answering your questions and receiv- ing your feedback on the work we perform in the community. Of course, donations are always wel- come. Through our fundrais- ing efforts, the Wellington County Unit is able to continually progress to- wards eradicating cancer and improving the qual- ity of life for people living with cancer. In 2009, the Canadian Cancer Soci- ety funded $1,000,000 locally towards two can- cer research studies at the University of Guelph. To help alleviate the burden on cancer patients we provided over 2500 rides to local clients enabling them to get to their can- cer-related appointments. Also, we have 13 local Peer Support volunteers who provide information and encouragement to people across Wellington County. Hundreds of local people have used our trust- ed Cancer Information Service, Smokers Help- line, www.cancer.ca, and other materials to under- stand how cancer impacts both themselves and their loved ones. Through each of these crucial programs, we continue to Fight Back and demonstrate why we are cancers #1 enemy. We l l i ng ton cance r celebrates Daffodil Month with open house Warm weather is motorcycle weather Wellington OPP would like to alert drivers that the recent springtime weather means many motorcyclists are heading out on area roadways. All drivers must learn to share the roadway and drive courteously to avoid any potentially dangerous situations that may arise. Watch for motorcycles at intersections - over one third of motorcycle collisions occur at crossroads. Be sure that you are safe to proceed before doing so by checking your mirrors and around your car. Slow down as you come to an intersection and look carefully for traffic, yield signs, stop signs, traffic lights, cyclists and pedestrians. Be extra cautious when turning left in front of a motorcycle. Its difficult to judge their speed and their turn signal may be accidentally left on as they dont automatically shut off so carefully assess an oncoming motorcycles speed. A motorcycle is more difficult to see than other vehicles and its profile is smaller from most angles. Drivers can easily misjudge a motorcycles speed and distance. Make sure you dont pull out in front of, or cut off, a motorcycle. Be courteous. Respect motorcyclists - they are just as entitled to use the road as you are. Speed and other aggressive tactics such as tailgating can potentially be more dangerous to the motorcyclist, who has less protection on a smaller, open vehicle. Give other drivers space to change lanes, avoid cutting them off and signal your turns and lane changes properly. Township carbon footprint studied By: Denise Paulsen I think its absurd, was Guelph/Eramosa Council- lor John Scotts reaction to a request made by the Environmental Steward- ship Committee at a recent council meeting. The Township was asked to begin quarterly monitoring and reporting of its carbon emission footprint meas- urements a task done by the Committee annually. Scott is concerned that the carbon emission output data needs to be of direct value and benefit to the mu- nicipality, before changing its reporting timetable. Mayor Chris White, also a member of the Com- mittee, said the Township would look into the amount of time and staff required to prepare the data more often. He also emphasized that the information must benefit the municipality. Carbon emissions and the Townships use of ener- gy are directly comparable. We can use the information provided by the environ- mental focus group to look at how we can reduce taxes. It is all about striking a bal- ance, White said. The Committee, includ- ing Scott, and members of the community is spe- cifically interested in environmental issues. Their responsibilities are advis- ory not administrative. It was never our intention to continue with the recording and reporting of the CO2 information beyond that of the first report which set up a template for the Township to follow, Barb Marshall, a citizen member of the Committee, said. Energy consumption determines the size of the Townships carbon foot- print. This measurement is arrived at by calculating the amount of the Townships electricity, gas/diesel and natural gas use. The data excluded both residen- tial and privately owned businesses carbon emis- sions. The report shows the energy consumed in the day-to-day operations of Township owned prop- erties whose carbon emission output is up 10 per cent in the first year of recording 2007 to 2008. A total of 942-tonnes of CO2 gas (carbon dioxide) was emitted. This represents an increase of 102-tonnes from 840-tonnes emitted in 2007. Travel in municipal- owned vehicles created a 10 per cent increase in CO2 emissions up 33-tonnes (to 402 from 368) in the first year of recording - 2007 to 2008. Scott referred to it as a complex process. The Township is making strides in reducing its CO2 emis- sions, such as replacing the old incandescent lighting with eco-friendly light- bulbs. At our sports parks, the lighting is now on a timer. When they renew any of the Township-owned vehicles theyre replaced with cleaner engines to lower carbon emissions. In related news, Environ- mental Science students from the University of Guelph are tabulating the results of a carbon footprint survey. As part of Eden Mills Going Carbon Neu- tral project, seventy-two homeowners in the village voluntarily took part in the survey to unearth their carbon emission footprint. The residents attended an appreciation dinner recent- ly at the village hall. We bought a new front- loader washing machine, and replaced all of our win- dows, John Gmur said as he detailed his familys efforts to fight climate change. The villages goal is to become the first commun- ity in North America to attain carbon neutrality by replacing its use of fos- sil fuels with sustainable sources of energy - helping to absorb carbon dioxide. The project was launched in November, 2007.