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

Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, March 1, 1989-3 The Pines Senior School Report Poem Happy Birthday Mom Love Kathleen and Brad Hawks and Owls flew Along with other members of a Ontario Federation of Naturalists outing we had the opportunity of knowledgeable leadership on a visit to Amherst Island in the St. Lawrence River in search of both hawks and owls. It was a rewarding outing. The Island is a somewhat attractive attractive area for birdwatching in the winter months. Voles and mice are prevalent in the open fields which attract such as owls and hawks with some remaining over the year to breed in the summer. The abundance abundance of moles and mice do depend on a four to' five year cycle so some years are better than others in 'attracting 'attracting the predators of these small animals. - % In total we saw four Snowy owls, the second largest owl to the Great Grey owl. The first such sighting came on the ferry trip over to the Island from the mainland. The owl was sitting on the ice which I thought was rather unusual but a native of the Island said it was a common occurrence for the voles often travel out on the 1 ' ice where they are unprotected and easy prey for owls. He said the ice is often dotted with hundreds of s.uch creatures which finally freeze to death. The Snowy owl is a day hunter and thus active during the daytime. Three other sightings were made dtiring the trip. The most noteabie attraction of the visit was the sighting of eight Short Eared'Owls which appeared to be in a playful mood fliting in and out of trees and along the shoreline of the Island. It is understood that the Short Eared owl does, at time, travel about in small flocks and it was apparent this does happen. The Short Eared is smaller than the Snowy by at least a third and is v one owl that hunts both in the day and night. It does prefer the late afternoon early night time for hunting. hunting. To complete the owl success was one Saw Whet owl, the smallest owl in this area, somewhat smaller than a robin but with all the features of an owl. It was found in a Red Cedar tree in the sparce country-side. This owl is a night hunter and as such is quite placent during the daylight hours and one is capable of getting quite close to the owl as it is perched for the day. It is most cute. Other sightings on the trip were numerous Horned Larks who are possibly one of the earliest small birds returning from the south and on their way now to nest in the north. As to hawks, again it was matter of seven Rough-Legged hawks playing playing about in the air and then perching perching for a short time in one lone tree in an open field area. This bird will return to the artic and sub-artic to nest later this spring. Other hawk sightings included a Marsh Hawk and a number of Red Tailed hawks. We completely missed a Red Bellied Woodpecker even though, the other sixteen in the party made * the sighting. It wasn't that we were not present at the time or did not have the bird pointed out to us. We just could not see it in the apple tree as it was pointed out with, clear direction as to it's location, in the tree. It was not my. day day to see a Red Bellied Woodpecker even though it was no more than a couple of hundred hundred feet away. Amherst Island is one of the popular birding areas during the winter and we find that Jim Richards, Orono and the Bob Allens, Newcastle have also tripped to the Island for birds in recent weeks. The Island is sparsely inhabited inhabited with few roads. The neighbouring Wolfe Island is * somewhat more inhabited and more, active farming being undertaken, taken. Town to take on Hydro (Continued from page 1) It was also a stipulation of the agreement that prior to construction construction and operation Of the Station 'the Town must ensure that such construction and operation would be carried out in the public interest. It was to be in the interest of the general health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the municipality. municipality. When asked after the meeting if any figure in dollars and cents had been set by the Town as satisfactory This week at the Pines The Pines Senior Public ■ School has been conducting a fundraising campaign for trips and special equipment in the future. The chocolate bars include a coupon for $1.50 to be deducted from the price of a pizza. There will be a prize for the top salesperson. The students of The. Pines are eligible for draws each morning for the top salesperson salesperson of the day. The prize is $1.00. For every ten chocolate bars sold, students names will be entered in a draw to win a big stuffdd animal or cash prizes. The Pines staff and students appreciate your support! The Pines Senior Public School's student council had come up with another brilliant idea for a Valentine's Valentine's Dance! They came up with the naine of Match-Makers because they are trying to match-make, of course! The students were able to ' buy dance tickets at noon hour before the dance. The dance was held on Thursday, February 16th, starting at 2:05 p.m. ending at 3:25 p.m. The guys and gals were able to buy their sweethearts a small, Town keeping eye on Cameco plans The Town of Newcastle council has given authority to the Town Administrator and Solicitors to report to council as to Cameco licence extension proposal for the Port Granby Waste Disposal Site. The Atomic Energy Control Board has advised that it will consider consider an application for renewal of the Cameco licence. Cameco has had a report prepared known as "Preliminary Designs for Interim Stabilization". This report is to be heard and considered by AECB on April 6th, 1989. Council has authorized a report to council prior to this date as to the implication of the report. Council to meet with Police Chief Newcastle councillors have accepted accepted an invitation from the Regional Chief of Police, David J. Edwards, to meet and discuss items of mutual concern. Council received a, letter from Edwards in which he along with senior officers of Division 16, Bowmanville, would be pleased to meet with members of council, to discuss any problems which may be of concern in the area. Council authorized Mayor Hubbard Hubbard to arrange such a meeting. It was pointed out that Edwards was sending out such invitations to all municipalities in the Region. to them Larry Hannah said the amount was negotiable. Hannah did refer to the desire to purchase the whole of the Rural Ontario Hydro system within the municipality. He said there is a lot of pressure to reduce the cost of rural hydro rates which have been, at time estimated, some fifteen to twenty percent above those paid in Bowmanville, Newcastle and Orono. A figure of $14 million has also been estimated as a cost to purchase the rural hydro system. This is being being reviewed again this year and a report will come forth later this year. The battle lines have been drawn between the Town and Ontario Hydro. medium or large heart. The hearts were signed by their owners, plus whoever their sweethearts were and hung on the wall in the gym. The Pines is also putting on a play called, "The Life and Death of Sneaky Fitch" by James L. Rosenberg. Right now they are at the rehearsal stage on Monday and Wednesday afternoons after school. They are in the second act of. the play. They are involved in getting props and in the making of the set. Ms. Wilson, the director of the play, says, "The play is coming along very well and the actors can put their books down for the first act." The grade 8B students had a big bake sale Wednesday, February 15th. They raised, over $60 and are using the money to go to the Ryer- son Theatre to see The Time Machine on March 8th. The bake sale was a great success. The grade 7 students are going to the Outdoor Education Centre this week. At the Outdoor Education Centre students will learn about nature and also go on long hikes. 7C was going to go skiing but the lack of snow prevented them from doing so. by Ryan Locke, Laurie Walsh, Samantha Hoskins and Tanya, Mercer ' What Winters All About Spring was in the air this Morn For I heard the robins song, Winter must be over And if not it won't be long The tulips soon will break the ground The grass will start to grow And all that's left of winter Is the memory of snow. But with the coming of the spring, There is a price to pay, Like the roar of noisey lawnmowers, That destroy a quiet day. The weeds that fill your gardens, And never cease to grow, No matter how you care for them, With rotor till and hoe. The windows all need cleaning The house could use some paint. If you think the list is finished Well I'm telling you it aint There's garbage in the basement, You didn't know you had. Be careful what you throw away, You could make someone mad. Now your roof, it needs new shingles The driveway needs some tar And now that winter's over, Change the tires on. the car. So take a look at winter, And what springtime has in store, The snow will seem nfuch better And you'll probably wish for more. Paul Jones Opening March 1 Dry Clèaning Services 24 HOUR SERVICE 1 DAY SERVICE A Division of Betty Brite Cleaners GOOD RATES 1 MILL ST., NEWCASTLE NINTH ANNUAL Kidney Foundation Dance Saturday, March 4 Newcastle Community Hall Music by "THE TRADESMAN" Time 8:00 to 1:00 * TICKETS AT THE DOOR LUNCH PROVIDED Sponsored by the RANSBERBY FAMILY For Information phone 983-9597 DURHAM REGION COMMUNITY CARE ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The Town of Newcastle Community Care is a non-profit organization of volunteers providing services to senior citizens. We are seeking volunteers to serve on the Local Advisory Committee. Applications will be received received by the undersigned in writihg until Wednesday, March 8,1989 from any eligible person who would like to be considered for an appointment. Applicants should submit a letter which includes their full name, address,, telephone number and possible qualifica- i tiops or. related experience. Roxann Brown, Chairman Newcastle Community Care 80. King Stree.t West •Bowmanville, Ont. L1C 1R4