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THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012 Acton Aqua Ducks dominate in pools Members of the Acton Aqua Ducks (AAD) were busy competing in April at the Guelph Spring Skills and Thrills Meet and the Victor Davis Memorial Cup against swimmers from across the province. The Ducks had many outstanding finishes and many swimmers continue to beat their personal best times. Following are the results for the Acton Aqua Duck Club members: Victor Davis Memorial Cup Girls ­ 12 year olds Victoria Scott: 2nd - 50m butterfly, 3rd 100m butterfly, 6th - 50m freestyle, 6th - 200m individual medley Girls ­ 13 year olds Lili Paradi: 5th - 50m breaststroke Girls ­ 15 & above Alexandra Kroezen: 2nd - 200m individual medley, 6th - 400m freestyle. Laura Lobelio: 6th 200m individual medley Guelph Spring Skills and Thrills Meet Girls ­ nine & under Mackenzie Scott: 1st 100m individual Medley, 1st - 100m freestyle. Madison Boyer: 4th 100m freestyle, 6th - 50m butterfly. Girls ­ 10 years old Ashley Josiak: 5th 100m freestyle, 5th - 50m breaststroke, 6th - 100m freestyle Emma Rodhde: 3rd 100m individual medley, 3rd - 50m freestyle, 4th 100m freestyle, 6th - 50m breaststroke Jordyn Kroezen: 2nd 50m butterfly Girls ­ 11- 12 year olds Emily Roden: 1st - 50m butterfly, 2nd - 100m freestyle, 3rd 100m individual medley MacKenzie Boyer: 1st - 50m backstroke, 1st 50m freestyle, 2nd - 50m breaststroke, 5th - 100m freestyle Martha Biernacka: 3rd 50m butterfly, 4th - 100m freestyle, 4th - 100m individual medley Megan Somerville: 1st 50m breaststroke Jessica Pond: 2nd - 50m freestyle, 2nd - 100m freestyle, 3rd - 100m individual medley, 5th 100m freestyle Vi c t o r i a S c o t t : 1 s t - 100m freestyle, 1st - 200m freestyle, 1st 100m individual medley, 1st - 50m butterfly Girls ­ 13 years old Victoria Todaro: 1st - 50m backstroke, 2nd 50m butterfly, 3rd - 100m freestyle, 4th - 100m individual medley Anna Maria Woodhead: 2nd - 50m freestyle, 2nd 50m backstroke Boys ­ nine & under Adam Zagula: 2nd 50m freestyle, 4th - 100m freestyle, 4th - 100m individual medley Benjamin Sadgrove: 6th - 50m breaststroke, 6th 100m freestyle Mark Craddock: 3rd 50m freestyle, 3rd - 100m freestyle THE NEW TANNER 15 Boys ­ 11-12 year olds Benjamin Gray: 2nd - 50m freestyle, 2nd 100m freestyle, 2nd - 50m backstroke, 4th - 100m individual medley Jack Craddock: 1st 50m freestyle, 2nd - 50m backstroke, 2nd - 100m freestyle Devon Harview: 2nd 50m freestyle, 2nd - 50m backstroke, 2nd - 100m individual medley The AAD team is looking forward to attending a few more meets before our culminating meet in Collingwood in June. Green vision offers cure for plant blindness Science Matters A colleague told me his toddler was wandering through a neighbourhood park picking up twigs and sticks, brandishing them as tools for digging, poking, and tapping. Suddenly the boy stopped and pointed excitedly to the canopy of branches above. "Look papa. Sticks come from trees!" Mentally reconnecting fallen branches to their home on the trunk is obvious to an adult, but many of us have lost our profound sense of wonder about the interconnected web of life that surrounds us. This is especially true when it comes to the plant world. Trees filter pollutants, absorb carbon dioxide, and breathe out lifegiving oxygen, and plants provide food and medicine. However, most folks are largely oblivious to our photosynthesizing companions. This has led some researchers to examine "plant By David Suzuki we tend to lump plants together into a green backdrop, failing to distinguish between the millions of blades of grass or multitude of plant species. the flora accompanying the charismatic fauna. Part of the problem may be related to the overwhelming amount of data our eyes send to our brains. Danish blindness," a condition whereby we cannot see the forest or the trees. In 1998, American botanists James Wandersee and Elizabeth Schussler defined plant blindness as "the inability to see or notice the plants in one's own environment," which leads "to the inability to recognize the importance of plants in the biosphere and in human affairs." This prognosis rings true in an age when most youngsters can identify hundreds of corporate logos and branded products but can't name the plants and trees in their backyards. Why are we suffering from a nagging case of plant blindness? There is no simple scientific answer, but Wandersee and Schussler argued that plants don't capture our attention like animals and other stimuli. To t h e h u m an e y e, th e y are largely static. Thus Show someone a photo of a lush forest with a grizzly bear and ask what's in the picture. Most will answer, "A bear." Add a spotted owl to the scene and the response might become, "A grizzly bear under the watchful eye of an owl." What you are unlikely to hear is a description of author Tor Nørretranders estimates that the human eye generates more than 10 million bits of data per second. Our brain extracts only about 40 bits of data per second, and only 16 bits reach our conscious vision and attention. Unfortunately, nature's greenery tends to be drowned out in a visual flurry of noise and shinier items of interest. Nørretranders also found that people who have had meaningful educational and cultural experiences with plants are more likely to notice greenery. How do we reconnect with nature and learn to give plants their due? The answer is simple. People, especially kids, need to connect with nature in their everyday environment, and we need to bring more to our neighbourhoods, public spaces, and backyards. It might surprise you, but most urban spaces are already jam-packed with natural wonders. After volunteering in an urban apple orchard at the Spadina Museum i n To r o n t o , L a u r a Reinsborough began seeing the world through ACTON'S 2012 "fruit goggles." Once she became familiar with fruit-bearing trees in the city, she suddenly noticed them everywhere ­ cherries, plums, crabapples, pears, grapes, and walnuts. This largely untapped urban bounty spurred her to found Not Far From the Tree, a group that has organized volunteers to help harvest more than 14,000 kilograms of fruit from hundreds of backyard trees over the past four years. If you want to help bring nature to your co mmu n ity, jo in o n e of the many groups working to enhance it. Local efforts to restore wetlands, forests, parks, and public spaces provide great opportunities to get hands-on outside time and boost your c o m m u n i t y 's n a t u r a l wealth. Citizen of the Year Sponsored by Acton Rotary Club Put it in a letter to the Editor! It's better than just chewing your cud! What's Your Beef? Renovations and New Management! · Tuesday - Seniors 20% OFF · Mother's Day Gift Cards Save 15% on all services 374 Queen St. East Acton Tel: (519)853-9538 Acton Nails & Spa Julie Conroy Dinner and Awards Friday, May 11, 2012 Blue Springs Golf Club 13448 Dublin Line, Acton Cocktails: 6:30pm, Dinner 7:15pm Tickets: $40.00 per ticket or $75/couple Honouring Deadline is Tuesday at noon. · Wednesday - Men 20% OFF · Free WI-FI Mon-Fri 9:30 - 7:00pm Sat 9:30 - 6:00pm Sun Closed Tickets available at: Halton Hills Furniture Prosperity One Credit Union Bob MacKinnon 519-853-0350 Last Day for Ticket Sales Monday, May 7, 2012