The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Orono Weekly l imes, Wednesday, August 24, 1983-7 Executive of Durham County Senior Citizen's Lodge The above are directors of Lodge in Orono and provid- the Durham County Senior ed the facility of the recrea- Citizen's Lodge who have tion building officially open- developed and managed the. ed tin Monday. . Gerald Shackleton, Elmer Harry Wade, Cliff McElroy, Scott, Edgar Butler, Bee Rae Stewart, Lew Woods and Grey, Mrs. Clarence Page, Lawrence Staples. * Presents picture for Recreation Building Sam Cureatz, M.P.P. for Durham East, presents a picture picture of the Queen and Prince to hang in the new récréation facility at the Senior Citizen's Lodge in Orono. The gift was received by Rae Stewart, president of the organization. Cureatz also presented the group with a flag. Environemnt minister takes the low road WOODS, WATER and WILDLIFE by Arlin Hackman - Federation Federation of Ontario Naturalists' Ontario's new Environment Environment Minister, the Honourable Andrew Brandi, wasted no time in setting his priorities. Unfortunately, his recent refusal to initiate an environmental assessment of the Obonga Lake forest access access road shows that •environmental •environmental protection does not head the list. The notion of a forest access access road may spark images of a picturesque trail winding through the woods. In reality, reality, the Obonga Lake Road Under construction north of Thunder Bay is an all- weather industry highway,/ which carves a wide swath through the forest,' and allows huge logging trucks to pass at high speed. Far from benign, these roads disrupt fish and wildlife habitat and cause serious erosion and sedimentation, with consequent consequent effects on water quality. quality. On the economic side these are obvious benefits, In remote areas road access opchs the door to development. development. Sound forest management, management, requires extensive road networks. And this access may also serve a variety of recreational'pursuits. But all these benefits only add up, and exceed the costs, if there is a lot of careful planning before construction begins. Otherwise any particular road, let alone the poorly planned networks which criss-cross Northern Ontario, can cause land use conflicts and resource depletion. The Obonga Lake road is one of rriany examples. Being built into virgin territory, at public expense, to help Dom- tar salvage some aging timber, 'it is in reality being used to get at much younger wood which should not be cut now. In the process, traplines, fish spawning areas and remote tourist operations are being sacrificed. Though he acknowledged the validity of these concerns, Mr. Brandt quickly rejected a request request from local outfitters, conservationists, and their MPP. for an environmental , assessment. He also chose not to seek the counsel of the Environmental Environmental Assessment Advisory Advisory Committee, established established for this purpose. The buck must ultimately stop at the desk of Natural Resources Minister Alan Pope, whose department is responsible for the sorry state of forest management planning planning in this Province. However Mr. Brandt had a perfect opportunity, opportunity, and the mandate, to take the initiative in finding finding 'a remedy for this particular particular problem and spur his colleague .to action. He chose ' not" to take it. Perhaps ongoing, public pressure, including . some from his own advisory com- i mi^tee, will cause . him to reconsider. That is to be hoped, because the Obonga situation is far from unique and Ontario deserves more than a "Minister of Exemptions" Exemptions" as defender of the environment. environment. WORK WANTED D&R Custom Fencing and custom chain-sawing 983-9627 or 623-7353 Orono, Ont. J'Me Fashions Main St., Orono Phone 983-9341 The latest in fashions for all times and all needs The Corporation of the TOWN OF NEWCASTLE PUBLIC NOTICE Please be advised that the Newcastle Fitness Centre and Darlington Sports Centre will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5th, 1983 (Labour Day). T.A. Fanning, R.D.M.R.(F Director of Community Services Qate of Publication: August 24, 1983. • e m • 9 e . 9 "S e NIGHT SCHOOL REGISTRATION DURHAM COLLEGE IN OSHAWA SAT., AUG. 27, 8:00-12:00 NOON I LLS.. AUG. 30,6:30-9:00 P.M. ■ TIIURS., SEPT. 1,6:30-9:00 P.M. e e e e « * •- REMINDER Orono Figure Skating Club and Orono Minor Hockey Registrations ORONO ARENA 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday, August 26th and Tuesday, August 30th Tyke, Novice, Atom, PeeWee, Bantam: $95.00 Midget and Juvenile: $105.00 'Registration fee covers ,10 hours Power Skating , 'ànd Family Pass until February 1, 1984 , AM hockey players must register on above dates. Late registration on availability of-team. Anyone going to be away please contact the Arena before above dates. Orono Amateur Athletic Association