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10 - Orono Weekly Times Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Meanwhile back on the ridge by David Craig I've spent most of the spring and summer building a fence. It's not the kind of fence you'd take a picture of. I've used old wire, posts and rails, and I didn't have anyone helping me by saying, "That's not straight or tight enough or level." But as Tom Sawyer would say, "It suits me." When we drive through the country, different things interest different people. My wife looks at gardens and clothes lines. I watch the cattle, crops and fences. Going to Ottawa once, the chap I was riding with watched and commented on the different way the hydro and telephone workers had used to fasten the to wire the poles. He had worked as a linesman once. Some of my fence is made with rails. I don't think there have been many rails split in the last hundred years so rails like war veterans are becoming scare. A rail fence even with hundred year old rails can be rebuilt and look good for another forty years. Rail fences come in several different varieties. Snake fences take lots of rails and lots of space. There are socalled stake and rider fences, workman fences that are built over ground too wet or rocky to set posts, and various other types with posts and rails. A workman fence is made with short and long rails wired together and is a work of art when properly built. My Reduce Reuse Recycle friend north of Lindsay had twenty rod or so of workman fence get blown over by a very strong wind. It was so well made he was able to turn it back up with no damage done. A fence around a bit of land makes the land parcel look smaller just as a tight dress on a big woman makes her look bigger. This is the law of diminishing returns or Victoria's secret or something. The original people in the country believed the land belonged to everyone to share. Of course they didn't pay taxes. The different landowner groups across this part of Ontario say This land is their land, according to their signs. My belief lies somewhere between. It certainly isn't our land very long in the grand scheme of things. Building a fence is a welcome change from cutting grass or drying dishes and hopefully will be a little more permanent. Students return to school September 8 It won't be long before the return of school heralds the end of summer for close to 33,600 students across the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPR). After a busy summer filled with major cleaning and more than $27.4 million in building renovations and improvements, KPR's schools will reopen it's doors for students on Tuesday, September 8. School offices will open on Monday, August 31. Students who moved over the summer should register at their new school between August 31 and September 4. They will require a birth certificate or other proof of age, proof of address, and current immunization record. New secondary students also should bring a current transcript or report card. "We're looking forward to another successful year," says Board Chairperson Diane Lloyd. "We expect to build on the steady improvements in student achievement and innovative programming we have seen over the past few years. "We also look forward to working in partnership with our staff, students, school councils, parents and guardians, and community," she adds. "While we will face continuing challenges as a result of declining enrolment and financial pressures, we will move ahead with providing programs and services that meet the needs of our students." These programs and services include an enhanced arts program, ensuring students of all ages receive the learning benefits of exposure to music, visual arts, dance and dramatic arts. They also include the introduction of 14 new Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs in the Board's secondary schools, bringing the total to 44. "We're pleased that all of the Board's secondary schools will be offering at least one High Skills Major," notes Sylvia Terpstra, retiring Director of Education. "I believe the way our staff has embraced and expanded the SHSM program is one of our greatest accomplishments and has made our Board a leader in the province." "Each High Skills Major helps us to better meet the needs of students who are more interested in, and thrive in, practical and hands-on learning environments," she adds. "Students who complete their SHSM program receive a specialist designation on their diploma, as well as industry-recognized certifications that offer major advantages after high school." More than 20,700 elementary students and over 12,800 secondary students are expected this year, in 76 KPR elementary schools and 16 KPR secondary schools. The Board's three Centres for Individual Studies also will welcome students to their programs offering alternative and adult education. Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO) has also been busy ensuring busing is in place for more than 19,000 students across the Board. Parents whose children will be riding the bus for the first time will receive a call from their bus company before the first day of school, detailing the bus stop location, pick-up and drop-off times. School offices also will have access to information on bus routes and bus stop locations. In addition, parents may call STSCO's automated voice response system at 705748-9240 or toll-free at 866433-4441, to confirm busing arrangements. To access the information, parents will need their child's nine-digit student number ready. It is at the top of each report card. General busing information also is available at www.stsco.ca and at 705-7485500 or toll-free at 1-800757-0307, ext. 231 or 232 for Northumberland and Clarington. Apple and Carrot Snack Cake This cake is a great lunch-box idea for the kids or yourself! You can skip the icing, if you wish. It's moist, delicious; nutritious enough for breakfast and works well as a unique dessert. Preparation Time: 15 minutes Baking Time: 1 hour Serves: 9 Ingredients: 1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, softened 1 cup (250 mL) packed brown sugar 2 Ontario Eggs 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla 1-2/3 cups (400 mL) all-purpose flour 2 tsp (10 mL) cinnamon 1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) baking powder 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt 1/2 cup (125 mL) milk 2 Ontario Cooking Apples (such as Northern Spy, or Empire, peeled, seeded and grated), about 2 cups (500 mL) 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) shredded Ontario Carrots (about 2 large) Frosting: 1 pkg (8 oz/250 g) cream cheese, softened 2 tbsp (25 mL) butter, softened 1 tsp (5 mL) lemon juice 1/2 tsp (2 mL) vanilla 1 cup (250 mL) icing sugar Preparation Instructions: In bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy; beat in eggs and vanilla. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Stir into butter mixture alternately with milk, making 2 additions of dry ingredients and 1 of milk. Fold in apples and carrots. Scrape into parchment paper-lined 9-inch (2.5 L) square metal cake pan. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven until puffed and golden brown and cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in pan on rack. (Make-ahead: Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 2 days. Or overwrap with heavy-duty foil and freeze for up to 2 weeks.) Frosting: In bowl, beat cream cheese with butter until smooth. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla. Beat in icing sugar, one-third at a time, until smooth. Spread over top of cake. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.) Nutritional Information: 1 piece of cake: Protein: 6.0 grams Fat: 23.0 grams Carbohydrates: 62.0 grams Calories: 475 Source of Fibre