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6 Orono Weekly Thnes, Wednesday, August 7, 1996 One week of holidays is all I can take. t ail started when my wife Peggy and I went for a small tour in our boat and ended up getting out of the main channel and stiiking an unmarked rock in Rice Lake. The lower unit and prop were crushed an-d we had to be towed home. I arn not sure what the cost will be. Peggy mused afterwards that my skills as a navigator are not, the best and she wondered if this reflected on my abiity te, navigate at Queen's Park. The second cail to realitý was that our five children are home for the summer and naturally have summer jobs. The car they were using to get to work stopped working. This problem meant our fain- ily had to share one car amongst seven busy people. So much for the leisurely vacation. 1 arn starting to sound like R.J., and who is this Gord titat I see being rou- tinely criticized in the press? There are continuing new releases from Queen's Park which I think are important to Durham East. For instance, the Land Lord Tenant Act and changes to Rent Control which I spoke of a few weeks ago will begin hearings the week of.August l9th. I requested input from local groups and have written to the minfister on the concerns of the Wilmont Creek Associations. These hearings will serve as input to the dis- cussion paper which will result in new legislation this faîl. Mfter second reading, there will probably be addi- tional public input. The Minister of Community and Social Services, David Tsucouchi lias announced a four year plan to move people with developmnental disabilities into their communities. Traditional regional insti- tutions like Palmerston and the Adult Occupational Centre near Barrie and Prince Edward Hleiglits near Picton will be phased out by Mardi 1999. This move to more community based and indi- vidualized funding was wel- comed by many farnilies deal- ing with dependents in my iding. I would encourage any famnily dealing with i- vîduals with developmental disabilities to contact the office to get more detailed information on these pro- posed changes. The Minister of Education and Training, John Snobelen had respond- ed to the concerns raised by teachers, parents and stu- dents with the elimînation of the OAC (grade 13) th year of higli schoQl. The time required to change the cur- riculum has been extended an additional year. I amn on the education advisory com- mittee and arn please that the Minister lias extended the time to make these changes. As a parent, 1 believe changes must be made in our educ-a- tional system to ensure our chidren are competitive and that quality education is affordable. The MunÎcipality of Clarington fias passed a res- olution regarding the dispo- sition of the Orono Tree Nursery property. 1 under- stand that this item will be discussed at a special August * 2th council meeting. This is an important issue and it is my duty to work with both the Ministry and the Municipality to ensure the appropriate end use of this is achieved. The Highway 7A sehool crossing issue in Port Perry lias not been resolved as of this time. The traffie study did not indicate the volumes necessary to warrant a cross- ing light. 1 arn pursuing a mid -block signal which would have to be funded by the school boards as well as the MuLnicipality and the Province at an approximate cost of $50,000.00. This is an old issue but I consider safety a top priority. The Highlands of Durham Gamnes field from Thursday, July 25th to Sunday July 28th in the Townships of Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog were a big success. On Friday July 26th, the Lieutenant Governor, the Hon. H. Jackmian commented that gaines such as these are a highlight to his summer itinerary. 1 would like to thank Stu Bennett, chairman and Doug Moffatt as well as Jim, Chiuck and Bob for their classie car chauffeur service. August marks the half way mark of sum-mer. Whule speaking to a couple of agri- cultural people, they tell me we are stili a couple of weeks behind in the growing season. Well, August will probably be warmer 50 the future does looks brighter. *Our interest should be in our future -.-- we are going to spend the rest of our life there, 43 Summer Students Gain Job Experilence at CLOCA Finding rare species of flowers, helping kids and adults discover the wonders of nature, assessing the health of the streains and ero- sion/flood protection are just a few of the duties summer students are performing at the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority. The 43 students have been hired through various employment programs sucli as Environinentai Youth Corp (EYC), and Ontario Summer Jobs. Positions include, Environmental Day Camp Counsellors, Environmental Educators, Aquatic/Natural Areas Assessment and Erosion/Flooding Control ~Monitoring. "t is great being able to apply our education to practical situations," states Shawn McDermott, Aquatic Assessmient Prograrn. Shawn is attending Sault Ste Marie College. The Natural Areas Assessment Crew documents the flora and fauna of an area for Authority records and have to date documnented three regionally rare planits: Small Yellow Ladies Slipper, Maiden Hair Fem and Showy Orchis. "After walking through the area without finding anything significant, discovering a rare plant makes the day seem al worthwhile," notes Jody Van Schaik, University of Waterloo student. Ail 43 students also participated in a Summier Safety Day which inciuded suchi topics as first aid, rabies, fire extinguisher, acci- dent prevenion and more. "AlI of the. summer pro- grams related to the Conservation Authority's theme and focus of 'Healthy Watershieds'," states Gord Geissberger Community Relations Officer for CLOCA. -A healthy watershed benefits everyone by giving us dlean drinking water, flood/erosion protection and passive recre- ation (fishing, hiking etc.)." At the conclusion of the summer the students will have obtamned marketable job skills along with knowing they have helped to maintamn and pro- tect 'Healthy Watersheds' in Durhamn Region. GalreatAUTOIES? 9 The Third Annual AUT- OFEST rolîs into Oshawa on Sunday, August 25. In just three years AUTOFEST lias become one of the top three auitomc¶tive events of its kind mý Canada. With over 500 vehicles on show in 1994; over 600 in '95 and registrations to date run- ning one month ahead of last year. the Motor City Car Club (AUTOFEST organizers) are anticipating over 800 classic beauties on August 25, at the General Motors of Canada Headquarters on Colonel Sain Drive in Oshawa. Perennial favorites '55, '56 and '57 Chevy's will be joined by the late '50's finned mon- sters from Chrysler, FIat- Hlead Fords, lead sleds, street rods, customs, antiques, a Parade of Race Cars and just about everything else imagin- able. Complementing these beautiful vehicles wiill be over 40 commercial exhibitors and for the first time, a large Arts and Craft Shiow and Sale. AUTOFEST '96 opens to the public at 10:00 amn and the event concludes with an awards ceremony and parade of winners fromn 4:00 to 5:00. Admissions is $5.00 per per- son, chidren under 12 are free. Ail spectators over 18 years of age are eligible to win a tnp for two to Montreal, couirtesy of Marlin Travel and VIA Rail. Free parking and shuttle bus service will be provided at two offside loca- tions: Kerr Industries at Farewell and Bloor and Gagnons Trucking on Colonel Sain Drive: both will be well signed for public access. For further inform-ation contact: Mike Kalynko - (905) 571- 1045 or (905) 571-2613; Gary Challice (905) 579-7051 or (905) 723-7828. NORTHERN RECREATION AND POOLS Repairs *Service, Installation Ongsround, Above Grouind & In Ground Pools Interlocking Stone Concrete Patios, Walkways & Retaining Walls Insuirance Work Randy Wirtanen R.R. 8 Peterboroughi 1-705-741-1042 SERVING DURHAM REGION SINCE 1841 FUNERAL SERVICES PRE-ARRANGED & PREPAID '14z'Fere Trofessiona(Etiquette s important" Funeral Directors Paul R. Morris Robert E. Wiliams Gary M. Conway Doug R. 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