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~ * Ü Planet-gazing can be an effortless experience if one has a good telescope to help out. Bowmanville resident Laura Spoelstra took advantage of an opportunity to view the planets last week at Lord Elgin Public School. Grade 7 students, their parents and siblings had the chance to do some star-gazing on Thursday, May 6. by Laura J. Richards A member of the Royal Astronomical Astronomical Society of Canada told an interested group at Lord Elgin School on Thursday night, May 6, that there were probably hundreds of objects resembling comets in the schoolyard this past winter. "A comet is just like a dirty snowball," Steven Spinney said. A comet, such as Haley's Comet, is believed to be made of ice and frozen gases, he said. During a slide show, Mr. Spinney Spinney led the group of about 40 children children and 15 adults, through a tour of our galaxy. He started off with a discussion on the Aurora Borealis (northern lights) and Aurora Australis (southern (southern lights). "You can see northern lights as far south as Florida," he told the interested interested group. The aurora takes place when high-speed particles from the sun collide with air molecules and become become luminescent. From die Aurora Borealis and suggestions on the best time to look at the moon, the discussion proceeded proceeded as the light outside the Lord El- gin Public School faded into night- - fall; - : "The partial phase of the moon is the best time to view it, because that is when you can see the craters," he said. Eclipses are also interesting to the sky-watcher, he said. Lunar eclipses occur when the earth is between between the moon and the sun while a solar eclipse occurs when the moon is between the sun and the earth. "People travel thousands of miles to go see a solar eclipse," Mr. Spinney Spinney told the group. "I travelled to California only to have the sky cloud over 10 minutes before the last solar eclipse." He warned the students to "not look at the sun directly," since doing so would damage their eyesight. Mr. Spinney then began describing describing some of the surface textures on some of the planets in our solar system. system. "Venus is not a friendly place," he began. It has numerous caustic chemicals on the surface, including sulphuric acid. Mars was visible on Thursday , night and the group was told how that planet goes through seasons as does Earth. "It too goes through seasons where its polar caps come and go," he said. Jupiter, with its giant red spot, "could eventually become a star." However, people should not worry. "It won't be in our lifetime," he noted. noted. When the sky became dark enough to view the stars, Mr. Spinney Spinney and his assistant, Roy Dyers, went outside to set up two larger- than-average telescopes that they brought with them. A couple of parents had also brought small telescopes and set them up on the lawn behind the school. Students and parents then had the opportunity to view the moon and Mars through the telescopes. Armless Guitarist Inspires and Entertains St. Stephen's H.S. by Lorraine Manfredo St. Stephen's High School students students were rocking right along with T ony Melendez last Wednesday as ; strummed his way through a sees sees of popular songs in the school ym. Although he was born without ms, the 31-year-old visiting Texan m play the guitar with his feet. His unusual style seemed of lit- e importance to the young crowd St. Stephen's. They were totally tught up in the musician's sing- ong style and infectious high spir- s. Melendez uses his feet, his head, ;ck and mouth for just about every sk in life. He can drive, write and trry a tote bag. Since age 16, he is played the guitar. Learning how "just kind of hap- ;ned," Melendez said, since his fa- icr always had a guitar handy and icouraged him to sing and dance : a child. He couldn't find a teacher who tew any technique using the feet, ) he taught himself. He's right- toted and usually uses a pick. Melendez has evolved into both a ne guitarist, as well as an inspira- in. He tours high schools all over orth America and has been on TV Ik shows. He says he would be rilled if he can be a source of in- liration to young people. As a teen entering high school in alifomia, Tony was initially the rget of much insensitive treatment om both his peers and his teachers. But, his patience and determina- an helped him fit in. So did his older brother, Jose. Jose recalls how watching out for Tony was his daily responsibility. But, he also remembers the day when that responsibility turned into a revelation. Appreciation Evening For Heart Volunteers The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario has realized that our wonderful wonderful volunteers in Bowmanville have never had an appreciation evening. evening. Well, we are putting that RIGHT. Bowmanville's FIRST-EVER appreciation appreciation coffee and dessert evening will be held May 12th at St. Paul's United Church at 7:00 p.m. It is a small way of saying "thank you" to the volunteers of Bowmanville Bowmanville Service pins will also be given out at this special evening All captain, canvassers and other special guests arc invited to share this special evening. Also, we will be having a draw for ALL of the canvassers and volunteers in Bowmanville, Courtice, Hampton, Orono and Newcastle for a wonderful framed print called "Gala on Ice". A Heartfelt Thanks to Miracle Food Mart, I.G.A. and A&P Stores for being so very generous in donating donating the desserts for our special evening. evening. "I remember this one day I was tired of having a handicapped brother," brother," Jose confided to the St. Stephen's Stephen's students. "I just wanted a brother I could play with, who could throw a football or a frisbee." Aware of his brother's frustration, frustration, Tony grabbed a frisbee in his foot and suggested, they play. Jose was reluctant at first, thinking thinking Tony would wind up getting hit in the face, bleed, and bring on a scolding from his mother. But Jose gave his brother a try. Tony caught the toss neatly between between his neck and his chin. His return throw walloped Jose right on the bridge of his nose. "It was then that I saw his hands," Jose said. " I don't, mean I saw his actual hands, but I saw his capacity. I was the one who was. seeing his limitations all that time." "Sometimes, you and I are more handicapped than Tony. I've never heard him say T can't'". During Wednesday's concert, Melendez played a song written for him and his new wife entitled, "I Wish I Could Hold You in My Arms." ' He broke off part way through and told students he had recently found out he is unable to have children. children. It was a terrible blow to him. "I can deal without having arms. But when I found out I couldn't have kids, it hurt a lot. I really wanted wanted to have kids and watch them grow. "Sometimes, God throws things at you that you'll never understand. I was never mad at God, but it sure hurt a lot." He didn't dwell on his latest setback setback long. His next couple of songs had the audience smiling and singing singing once again. • As the concert drew to a close, he said: "You don't need arms, eyes, or legs to love. You need a heart, Don't ever forget thati "I hope and pray that I can give you inspiration." A short presentation about Covenant Covenant House, a shelter for teens in Toronto, was made by Gena Kaipf, a Covenant House worker. * . Students Deanna Brown and Monica Brown presented Melendez with a St. Stephen's cap as token of their appreciation. Monica said: "I was really feeling pretty down this morning. But then, when I went in there and heard, him it turned my day around." Deanna agreed. "He was fantastic," fantastic," she said. "An inspiration. I feel that I can do absolutely anything now." MMSSSi Texan guitarist Tony Melendez may have been bom with no arms, but he has plenty of heart and determination. Having taught himself how to play tire instmment with his feet as a teenager, Melendez now» tours schools all across North America, hoping to be an inspiration to young people. He was at St. Stephen's High School in Bowmanville last Wednesday and had everyone singing along, including this - enthusiastic enthusiastic student at right. Recycling Efforts at D.G.S. Have Cut Waste Dramatically by Laura ,1. Richards Step by step, the Recycling Committee Committee at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station has been able to organize recycling activities at tire plant. "For some, the action 1ms to be almost effortless," said Recycling Committee member, Suzanne Stick- Icy, last week. "It has to be ns easy as possible so people will do it," she said. Collecting material for recycling has become a part of the job at Ontario Ontario Hydro's nuclear generating sta- Each year, 2,000 or more telephone books are recycled. lion near Bowmanville since 1988 when workers began recycling cardboard cardboard and fine paper. Since then, a lot of material has been diverted from regional landfill sites. "Prior to 1991, Darlington was sending 55.5 tonnes per month to landfill. In 1993, waste to landfill had been reduced to about I3.fi tonnes per month," states a newsletter newsletter from the Darlington Recycling ■ Committee. ■ In 1991, the Recycling Committee Committee and workers began to divert pop cans, newspapers, (and magazines), wood, metals and oil filters. Each month, Darlington recycles 21 tonnes of paper, 1.4 tonnes of imp cans, 3.9 tonnes of newspapers and magazines, 12.9 tonnes of wood and 12.9 tonnes of cardboard. Phone books arc also being recycled. recycled. "We have a special pick up for those," Ms Slicklcy told The Statesman, Statesman, "Each year 2,000 or more telephone telephone books arc recycled." The work of the Recycling Committee Committee continues as it teams up with Beaver Food employees who work at the plant's cafeteria. "We're going to soon start polystyrene polystyrene recycling at a second lunchroom lunchroom that docs not have a dish washer," Ms Sticklcy said, That program will sec to it that the polystyrene products used at that lunchroom arc put into clear bags and will be stored on site until taken away. Ms Sticklcy said the polystyrene collection will also help a local business business owner as well. The owner of the Skylight Donuts will also lie contributing to the polystyrene collected collected for recycling. "This way, he doesn't have to drive all the way to Mississauga. It saves him gas and the environment," environment," she said. Right now, the dumpster on site is pretty empty, but when it is filled, the hauler will lie contacted and the load will lx) taken away, Ms Slick- ley explained. It Is not known how long It will take the plant to fill the dumpster, they are beginning the program "on an as needed basis," she noted. . . , , , . , als in landfill sites is polystyrene Currently, polystyrene is repro- r n ,? brochure produced by the products, cessed into office equipment like Canadian Polystyrene Recycling As- "Discai "Discarded cups, plates, glasses "In" and "Out" baskets, pens and sociation (CPRA) it is slated dial am | packing materials arc sorted, _.i-- 1 less than one per cent of all maten- -i--L, --r rulers. cleaned and made into resin, which ■jtpB -7. ■ , The employees at Ontario Hydro's Darlington Nuclear Generating Station arc In their fifth year of collecting materials for recycling, Gary Sparks and Chris Lane me a part of the employee recycling recycling effort. is sold to companies that produce toys, furniture, household and office supplies, and cassettes," states information information from CPRA. The recycling process of polystyrene polystyrene is environmentally safe and all polystyrene products -- from foam cups to plates to transparent goblets -- can be recycled. ' The brochure informs readers dial "making a foam cup takes 12 times LESS steam, 36 times LESS electricity, HALF as much cooling water and produces 100 times FEWER FEWER contaminants in waste water than a paper cup." Currently, 210,000 tonnes of polystyrene polystyrene are produced each year in Canada, with 55,000 tonnes being used in the food service industry, 90,000 tonnes for grocery products and protective cushioning for electronic electronic equipment. Even though the recycling committee committee at Darlington Nuclear Generating Generating Station is unsure how much waste is produced from their second lunchroom, Ms Sticklcy is sure the amount will be interesting to document. document. The Recycling Committee won't be stopping with the polystyrene products. Tills Is just one of the products Ontario Hydro is diverting from Ils Bowmanville plant. Ms Sticklcy even foresees a lime when composting might hapiien at the plant. However, that won't be until the current projects' kinks are worked out and the recycling committee is ready for a new project.