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....... .... .. ....... ...... . ..... ....... .............. ...... ... At the Mayor's levee Mayor Diane Hamre hosted meet their new counicillors and the Town's Levee on Sunday at to enjoy the delicacies being the Town's Administrative served, along with coffre and Buligwith what appeared to hot cider. be one of the best turnouts to the Members of the Bowmanville event. Sea Cadets were also present to Many took the opportunity to assist wit the event. Stark ville Ne wsaa Bey Higgins (Intended for December 23rd) Shilob Churcb was filled as friends and neighbours gamhered for uts annual Christmas Concert. The ligbts dimmed, and the programn opened witb tbe Children's performance of the Nativity, directed by Niva Rowan. Tbe costumes were great and the hildre did a marvellous job.* This starteti the evening on a special note, remninding us of the true meaning of Christmias. The programn was tben turned over to the M.C. for the evening, Rrian Caswell (more affectionately known as Grandpa Ho Ho). He commented on bow fortunate we were to bave the versatile Rernie Martin providing us witb music for the evening using a variety of instruments. The music from bis bantter dulcimner let tbe sound of Cbristmas ring througb the cburcb. Bernie used the guitar to accompany Ingrid Rerzins and Bey Higgins singing the Huron Carol and Soulcake. Then Mara Rerzins and Maia Higgins sang two Frenich songs. Next lain Scott entertained us witb tbree songs on the piano. David Thompson read a touching poemn about mhe birth of Christ. Then Rernie brought out bis beautiful new handmade button accordion wbich he recently purcbased in Louisiana. It was beautiful to look at and even more beautiful to hear. Nexýt, some of the local fiddlers appeared (Norma Andrews, James Lowery, Brian Caswell and Remnie) and brougbt us some good old foot stomnping tUnes. Doreen Lowery provided mhe piano accompaniment. After the fiddlers, we heard a lovely poem read by Gloria Todd. Then Natasha Ransomn did a fine job singing Away in a Manger. Angi Robinson played a delightful medley of Christmas Kirby Centennial Sehool (Intended for December 23) Bey H-ig gins It was another sellout crowd for Kirby's School Christmas Concert. There was standing room only with the gymnasium packed full of children, parents, egandparents, friends and relatives who came to see the special show in store for tbem. The concert opened with the junior kindergarten students who were as cute as could be as they recited in unison a welcoming poem. They then sang a pretty song called On the Hay. Mrs. Bolton bas to be comtmended for her ability in leading this large group of 4 year olds in such a polished production. Mrs. Bolton also provided the piano accompaniment for the entire evening even though she had tendonitis. The classes of Mrs. Westheuser, Mrs. Bolton and Mrs. Gimblett (Senior Kindergarten, Grades 1 & 2) then presented a lovely musical, The Old Fashioned Christmas. The students did a great jobr in the play and the songs were enjoyed by everyone. The background scenery was artistically done and the props were very professional looking - I heard that Mr. Weatherup made them and the cbildren decoraîed them. This play ended with a spectacula r sleigh ride across the stage (pulled by a horse even) wbile die children sang Over the Meadow and Tbrough the Woods. songs o n the piano. Suzanne Westheuser shared some of ber students' responses to what Cbristmnas is, and ended witb mhis tbought: "A mani only begins to grasp the true meaning of life when he plants a tree under whose sbade be knows be will never sit." Then Santa was welcomed by about 35 cildren on stage singing We Wisb You A Merry Cbristmnas and Jingle Relis. There were candy bags for eacb child and the opportunity for pbotos wimh Santa. A special mianks to Marlene Luxton and Ellen Farrow and mhe Shiloh UCW for their work behind the scenes. And mhanks to the Rerzins' for baving the practices in their warm borne. After tbe concert, tbe entire church was invited back to John and pat Windatt's for refreshmeflts, and so the good times continued. Thanks, everyone, and see you next year! Bacteria help soybeafl farmers ontarîo soybean f armaPut an extra $-j million in their pockets last year thanks 10 recarch at the University Of Guelph. And they did it witb no extra ferilizer or chemnicals. Thle key s application Of a soi) bacterium that boo-sts soybean plants' ability 10 use- nitrogen from the air. th,, in)creasinË yieldIs and protein content. That means bigger profits for groweOn. Legumne crops likle soybe-ans need nitrogen to grow. Tbey can get 't fromn fertilizer, which is expensive and may cause pollution Of groundwater. AltemnativelY. îhey cari effectivclY produce i themnselves by bamnessing nitrogen frm the atmnosphere. a groces called nitrogen fixation. To do tbis. though. they need the help of microbes called rhizobîa bacteria. Typically. farmers dust soybean scd before planting wvitb pa powder containîng the bacteria. Afler planting. the bacteria cause nodules that attract atmnospheric nitrogen tIo form on the root of the plant. "Itjs like a beneficial cooperative effort betwvcen the bacteria and the plant.' says Dr. Dave Humre of the Deparlimenit of Crop Science. Humne and bis colleagueS foutnd a rhizobinnm bacteim i.mporte-d froml Brazil is far more effective than older strains used by soybewn growVers. I think it's because it bas an unprecedented ability to attract and use other inutrients needed for, itrogen The bacteriumii, known as 532C, produes 10 per Cent more soybelans per acre and increases seed protein content by two per cent, says Humne. " That belps Ont ario soybean pro)ducem. compete with other farmers arouand the world." For the past four years. soybeans have been one of the few profitable crops for Ontario f armers. Acreage has soared to 1.2 million acres and the soybcan harvest is now worth $300 million a year. Funding for this research was provided by the Nitragin, Co. of Milwaukee and the Ontario Soybean Growers' Marketing Board. (Canadian Science News) grades 4-6) were led by Mrs. Peterson and sang a humourous song about someone who was the Christmas tree in the play. It was called The Star of the Christmas Play. The next song was a beautiful and heartwarmiîng song, Romn For Us This Christmas Night. I expect Mrs. Bolton and Mrs. Peterson will be taking this choir "on mhe road" in the future. The Letters to Santa, performned by Mrs. Peterson's grade 3/4 class kept mhe crowd amusedas each was read. One student asked for a puppy, but not too small because Grandnia might step on him. The final letter was the entire class singing about special wishes like their wish to make the world a better place. There wasn't a dry eye in the bouse after that song. The Primary Choir sang "Down the Holiday Trail" and "Cbristmas Relis Are Ringing". Then Mr. Dupuis' talented class performed "Ahl I Want For Christmas", and requests. Steven Foster, with help from bis friends, performed a sporty skit called Santa Knows. Tara Arnott and Leah Keys' "Little Surprise" was actually a big surprise as they appeared witb otbers on stage dressed as Sesame Street characters, lip syncing and playing guitars, drums, keyboard to a Sesame Street Christmas song. Adami Colville performed the Great Sle igb Ride. Mrs. Chappel's grade2/3 class and Mr. Hutcbinson's grade 4/5 class performed a play about a poor family who meets up and belps a toymaker front Toyland. The props were excellent and the singing of Toyland was beautiful. The finale saw ail the children on stage for mhe singing of We Wisb You A Merry Christmas. The professional quality of this concert made obvious the amount of work the teachers and students put into its preparation. Another spectacular performance, Kirby! Vtamins For Health Birth defeot inked to shortage ýof folle acid (NC)-PhsiCiafSno w routinely prescribe a muivtami supplement when a woman is pregnant, and one ingredient in particular is considered a top prioriy-folate. Folate, or folic acid, is believed to play a role in the prevention of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs), a cluster of spinal and brain deformnities that affect the embryo 17-30 days after conception. Researchers are not sure whether folate atone is responsible for reducc- ing the incidence of NTDs. or whether it acts in conjunction with other nutrients. They also are not sure Yet whether women would benefit from taking a folate-contaifling vitamin before they conceive. Research is stili continuing into the "true causal relationship between periconceptional multivitamin use and NTDs," according to Dr. Joseph Mulinare of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. "ýApproxirmately 60-70,000 women will be studied in Northern China this year to determine the cause and effect relationship between multi- vitamin/folate use or folate use atone and the risk for NTDs.". So fare, studies have shown a promising link. One study recentlY reported in The Lancet showed that womnen at high risk for conceiving a baby with an NTD who took folic acid atone, before and during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, could obtain ai 72 % protective effect over simjilarly at-nisk womien who took no supplemnent. The other vitamiîns testd-A, B, B 2, B6'C, D-showed no such protective effect. The authors of the study concluded that -folic acid supplemnentation can prevent neural tube defects." if you are of child-bearing age and contemrplating pregnancy, ask your doctor, dietitian, or pharmacist about a multîvitamin supplement containing folate. The Recommended Nutritional, Intake for folate for woman weighing approximately 55 kg is 170 ,ig, per day, but this requiremnent triples duing pregnaflcy. ~Kicheit CornC4er~ Chunky Tomato, and Ham Stew Ontrio Wbole Canned Tomates make this stew colorful and full of sunimertimne fresbness ail winter long. Serve crusty whole wheat bread with this tbick stew and bave a meal on the table in less than tbirty minutes. 1/2 cup fmnely diced omion 1 can, (28 oz.) Wbole 1/2 cup diced green pepper Tomnatoes 1/4 cup butter 1/8 tsp black pepper 1/4 cup ail-purpose flour Pincit cayenne pepper 1 cup chicken bouillon 2 cups diced, cooked ban or stock In large saucepan, sauté onion and green pepper in butter until onion is transparent. Remnove from beat. Stir in flour, and chicken bouillon; continue stirring until mixture is smooth. Gradually add tomatoes with juice, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste. Retumn to beat; bring to boil. Add bam. Simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring often. n