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I ve been having a love affair or fifteen yean A glorious enthusiastic affair with the writing of Gordon Green one of Canada s most valuable authors Why he t a national institution 1 11 never know unless be wants It that way He written masses of books articles and stories worked for the Montreal Star edited the Family Herald broadcast his own syndicated radio column The Old Cynic for years won awards and medals for his work and his pioneering In farming What a lot of man to pack into a well lived stocky body thatched with horse hair and chimneyed by a well chewed pipe Gordon has a new book out produced right in our neck of the woods Erin The author was raised In Arthur but now lives in Ormstown southeast of Montreal Only the Lord knows why he chose to leave southern Ontario Corey of Publishing and Printing has pulled his second Green book off his presses A couple of years ago the pair published God and the Rooster a collection of Green a poultry spiced writings in honor of the feather fancy the hobby or raising exhibition poultry of which Green is on enthusiast and is publisher of the national Fancy newspaper WithMySock Feet on Ihe Oven Door a collection of Gordons is well worth the five dollar asking price Green has also blrthed a new radio program airing right now over radio Listen to CKLA on your dial at 9 19 on a Wednesday evening to hear H Gordon Greens Almanac His Old Cynic program airs dally on CJOY at noon and in the early morning between milking and Dirty old duo As an avid reader I ve been influenced by many writers from Kahlil Gibran Richard Bach and Farley Mowot to Erica Jong and Louisa May But Gordon Green Is my favorite His thoughts on rural life farming and politics tickle my fancy and guarantee a raucous belly laugh of agreement In fact I can become quite a bore on the subject Most of my friends have been given at least one of his books and lent many more It hard for me to keep track of his books they re spread all over the countryside One friend on receiving the Diary of a Dirty Old Man my all time favorite reacted the way I hoped she would to Two days later she phoned me and said Gordon Green rata Gordon Green an honest gentleman in an age when honesty Is akin to lack of ambition and as great a sin An honest man who has learned not only to be honest with others but to be brutally honest with himself Gordon Green on marriage Men and women are sup posed to argue and one of the reasons why they get married Is so they won t have to argue with strangers On horses If you never seen a 2000 pound draft mare It will be difficult for you to Imagine how any hide can bono full of horse On humor most formers humor Is too truthful to print On the religion of fanning Vet I cannot escape the belief that man Is not only designed to wrestle with God himself but on God own fields and under whatever skies God sees fit to provide On Heaven My father is still living and still forming and sometime I must try to extract a confession of faith from him But I am quite sure that his idea of Heaven is a place where it not only eternal morning but where it is good farmland as well His writing style is When he s got something to say he pull any punches but he sees the world with per humor you re not familiar with Gordon Green you be a after reading one of his books He dido me townte this either The Acton Free Press Wednesday Feb 22 BB Estimate 10000 at region winter carnival IT WAS A GREAT CHANCE to do some skating at the winter carnival Sunday Local birds easily spotted in each of four seasons District bird watcher Jeff Harvey writes this week about local birds season by season Jeff Harvey Winter Winter as far as bird watching goes is the least productive season and ob viously so Most summer residents have moved far south but there is still a fair population of birds which are residents these birds do not migrate but shy with us all year long Among these arc the Mallard Ducks on fairy Lake together with some Whistling Swans and Canada Geese which also stay on the unfrozen parts of the lake Other hardy which brave our northern climes and may be seen at bird feeders I are the beautiful Cardinal Black Capped Chickadee Tree Sparrow Dark Junco and the common Starling At our feeder c have had these plus Downy ami Hairy Woodpeckers Nuthatch Mourning Dove Cow bird Yellow Humped Warbler Snow Bunting Common Redpoll American Goldfinch and even a SharpShinned Hawk which was looking tor small to feed on Also you may or may not notice of largo yellow birds which sweep over These art northern Evening which come down from Northern Ontario every year Spring By he end of March many birds have started the long trip from the south nor as warmer tempera lures arc being experienced here As the thermometer con this upward climb and the snows dwindle birds such as robins and red winged blackbirds can easily be been on any late March morning Mocks of these blackbirds blacken trees the birds arc roosting in on ihc trip northward HRCA refuses to cut budget The Region Conser vation Authority has rejected regional council demand that the authority cut its 1978 budget Last week endorsed Its executive committees recommendation to stick with the original proposal region had asked authority to reduce the administration budget to a live per cent increase over the budget from a per cent increase It also asked for a cut from the 1978 conservation areas capital development budget As progress into April many more birds arrive The spring chorus has begun once again Often arc ringing with the songs of the many arriving species As ponds and lakes melt many types of waterfowl rind easy resting spots Vet the bulk of the migrating birds hove not even arrived yet By late April the butterflies of the bird world the wood war biers are popping up in various parts of the country side By June all of these small colourful birds arc here to nest Among them are some extremely rare war one of which is known only to nest within the Acton Milton area I north of the Lake Erie shoreline Thb small four inch long bird is the BlueWinged Warbler There art other ran birds which nest within this area and be seen quite frequently locally provided you look hard enough in thi right places Within this region best places ore a south of via Highway No Road This whole area is excellent from mid April to the end June Milton Heights Rattle snake Point northeast of Campbell villc Same not ill on Acton SwampFairy Lake March through May and from early September till late October there is an abundance of waterfowl to be seen Hilton Falls complex Found a mile south of along a dead end road this area which ex tends as far south as the Line No Side Road paved miles north of is entirely forested and is the best ore for rare songbirds which arc found locally from mid May through August There arc several government owned woodland tracts plus aires and these arc open to the public There are walking trails which run through the heavily forested region Trail very famous nature trail runs right along the Nngaru Escarp ment is quite good for locating migrating woodland species In the spring bummer those in the spring rail Man birds which winter In the tropics te here as late as Jura and begin to movt south as early as mid July Cerulean Warbler for example However the height of fall migration doer not occur early October and it this time it is best to avoid the forests and con on the smaller wood lots for woodland birds Waterfowl is often abundant in large ponds and lakes at this time so overlook lhtse irons Fairy Lake and Kelso Lake just south of 401 arc very good to concentrate jour for the such as ducks grebes and geese An estimated 10 people took advantage of Ideal weather conditions to partic ipate in the second annual Regional Winter Carnival held at Kelso Conservation Area Sunday Organizers acknowledged it Is difficult to come up with an accurate estimate of how many people attended But Bill Warwick of the Region Conservation Authority said calculations Indicated that some people parked in and around the park Organizers were excited about the excellent turnout and bow smoothly the large crowd was handled People assigned to parking and traffic flow found it difficult to the great flood of people that arrived between 1 and Aside from parking and traffic flow plans were executed without a hitch The Available parking in the park filled quickly and the overflow filled on both sides of the road from the gate house right back to the Milton Heights corner and the other cars were channelled Into the parking lot at the Ontario Agricultural Museum Susan Clark of the Recreation Department said three busses made a total of and from Milton Mall to the park Warwick noted the estimate of 10 might be a bit high but he indicated it far off the mark A pancake and sausage brunch was set on at one end of the park by the Gun and Rod Gun Club while Milton Firefighters Auxiliary served hot chili at the other end Both ran out early In the Drinks and cakes were served during the day at the Regional Museum and they too ran out or food at one point Museum tours a dog sled team demonstration a winter camping demonstration and helicopter rides got underway at 11 am and the family competitive events started at and continued through out the day In planning the event organizers placed heavy emphasis on family par llclpation Skiing skating and toboggan races were well supported as were eating competitions and family snow sculpturing A log sawing competition was held as well The event drew a heavy response from outside as well as Inside the region with many people coming from Mlsslssauga and Toronto and some from as far away as Willowdale and Scarboro A spokesman for Milton Parks and Recreation Karen said she was pleased with the number of families that turned out She suggested the event would probably continue and become an annual event but indicated the festival wouldn t likely be expanded to two days for at least another year Conservation Authority employees worked Friday night and all day Saturday flooding the pond in preparation for family skating and skating races It was a really terrific day Warwick commented Any time when you can spend eight hours on the site and not hear complaints other than parking you know things must have been done right People were smiling They were happy and It was really great he said We like to have Burling ton take part We re trying to run a regional carnival and you can t really do that with one community missing We learned a lot his year and last year You have to build on your experience and develop a level of expertise A spokesperson from Hills recreation department Anne Pickering said she was very pleased and would recommend continued participation on the basis of the program Itself But she noted a final recommend to Hills Council concerning participation next year would depend partially on an assessment of par by Haiton Hills people Museum Curator Brit tain said she was ab solutely thrilled and the Friends of the Museum were astounded They never anticipated the crowd and they ran out of food at m They say that 11 never happen again They Just never an llcipated the crowd It was a terrific way to introduce people to the museum Now they know where It is and they come back in the warmer weather It was Just a terrific day Mayors Don Gordon of Milton and Harry Barrett of Oakville and HRCA Chair man Brock Harris were in attendance and presented prizes to winners of com pelitlve events Barrett said it was a good show I was amazed at the number of people walking In They had a good time There were a lot of people from Oakville thai I saw It was a good chance to relax and get together really good for families 14000 to comealong Fourteen thousand people of all ages have visited Terra Cotta Conservation Area since Christmas to ski skate or do their own thing in the snowy forest The area has become so popular that facilities arc used almost to capacity and those wishing to rent skis are arriving earlier and earlier on weekend mornings The winter activities at Terra will continue into March as long as the snow stays The area will be open from to4pm and Sundays depending on the weather The gate fee Is per car or a 1978 season s pass available at the gate Warm up areas offer free movies and hot food and drinks are available Horse drawn sleigh rides and skating are other activities for both children and adults Boat race Starts Ski expansion at Cheltenham The route of the Crazy Boat Race April has beer changed This year the boats of all types will assemble at Cheltenham come down the Credit River and end at the Glen ball park This means portaging around the paper mill dam a hazard in the past will not be necessary News letter from Chamber The Chamber of Commerce now has a news letter which goes out lo members The letter lists committees plans and upcoming dates for social events The obstacle course will be set up at the 10th Line bridge the same spot the race has started in previous years groups from many different areas are planning to try their luck on the river and hope service clubs will Join In the fun Jaycec Larry himself a merchant hopes others will use the race as a method of advertising The wind up dance at the Way Jay Club Saturday night where awards will be pre sented will feature Rocking Horse Georgetown plan to navigate the course in a bathtub with Snoopy at the helm Further delays with a new triplechair ski lift at Glen Eden ski slopes scheduled to open in time for Sunday s Regional Winter Carnival are causing for officials at Region Conservation Authority Bill Warwick Conservation spokesman said he would make no comment on the delay nothing only that I am not at all happy with the company Skyway Engineering has told me previous dates whin Ihechatr lift would be opened and it only embarrasses mc each time they to com plcte by the date A spokesman for Skyway Engineering Co blamed the delay on a parts hold up The for the lift arc being built by another company and they let us down and we had to build them ourselves he staled He added that the entire project has been behind The lift is now expected to be finished by Wednesday or Thursday he said The Glen expansion including an an extension to the present ski chalet and a snow grooming tractor began fall RED CROSS INFORMATION SHEETS Mb a Red Campaign Funds month b b advrsed by he Red Cross to keep lha Informal on Shoot 1978 dor red by mail handy by the phone These 1st all ova labia Rod Cross services and trior phono numbers Acton district professionals end ndustry canvassed by mo asked to make a dona Jon wlh given lor to Red Cross Nova Scol a Acton If not by March please send In your dona RobertNewrnan Shoes Everything in holiday footwear for that midwinter break Robert Newman Shoes Will it mm RRSPRHOSP Deadline March 1 1978 Bank of Montreal Mill St EastActon 8531100 We will be OPEN until 6pm WEDNESDAY MARCH 1 1978 to facilitate our plan holders wishing to make contributions and for customers wishing to invest in a planl We can also offer loans for investments in our registered plans Save on Taxes Lets talk Walk jog run skaic paddle pedal don let I catch you your I down NOW OPEN Chiropractic Clinic DrWR Tom Thompson In the ALTEC BUILDING JOS MtlnSMai North Acton 8533460 RnUtnctt2HW730prtna TIFFANY LAMPS Reg 300 NOW 19500 Handcrafted in Milton Custom Coloured All our work is Individually designed and custom created by our own wo specialize in stained glass windows tiffany lamps room dividers in and lot our designer turn your ideas into coloured glass reality GLASS 8788797 164 Main St Milton Just east of the Roxy Theatre