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

^ Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, January 23. 2002 - 9 ^ Three Caws for Sammy Arthur Black This is a message for Johnny Stutf I don't know where he is or even IF he still is, - but if you happen to run into him, please let him know that I still remember what he did to Sammy. Truth is, I haven't laid eyes on Johnny Stutt for close to half a century, back when we were both apple-cheeked, tow-headed grade schoolers walking back and forth to Humber Heights Public School. Johnny and I both lived on Braecrest Avenue. Sammy? He lived at my place and I could almost always count on Sammy to be waiting at the corner of my driveway to caw me a 'welcome 'welcome home' at the end of the school day. My dad had erected a signpost signpost at the end of the driveway driveway with our name and street number on it. Sammy liked to perch right on the top of the post, about ten feet off the ground. Which isn't so weird when you consider Sammy was a member of the Corvus Corvidae family - which is to say, a common crow. Well...not that common. No crows are. The term 'bird- brain' does not apply to these rascally critters. Biologists have verified that crows can count accurately up to four and that they have a^ 'language' 'language' of at least 24 different calls. "Those calls include specific caw sequences that translate as "Come here", "Come back", "Feeding time", "Man with a gun", and "Let's get ready to rumble!" What's more, crows mate for life and dote almost neurotically neurotically on their, offspring, which often hang around the nest for as long as five years, helping to raise and look after subsequent broods. Sammy didn't have those early life options. He was found at the bottom of ah sugar maple, alone, wet and hungry with no adults in sight. The kids who found him sold him to my Dad who brought him home in a cardboard cardboard box, Sammy soon proved to be an uncommon common crow. He learned to speak a few words and, if you whistled for him, to come swooping in like a Harrier jet, landing on your shbulder with a delicacy that seemed at odds with his bulk. He also learned to retrieve nickels and dimes thrown in the long grass - and ' to exchange them for a piece of fruit. He must have imprinted strongly with his two-legged flightless adopters because he grew to love people. Loved to watch them; loved to try and bum treats off them. People didn't always return the friendship. Generally speaking, mankind seems to have an uneasy, mistrustful attitude towards the birds, and it shows in the language we use to describe them, ■ Correct name for a group of crows? A 'murder'. Name for a crow fledgling? A 'simp'. If Sammy was aware that he was not universally adored by humans, he never let on. He continued to 'people watch' at every opportunity. He Was sitting atop his post watching the kids come home from school one day when Johnny Stutt came by, and, for reasons unknown, chucked a rock at Sammy. It hit him square in the chest. Sammy felt to the ground, thrashed himself upright and flew wobbily off. We never saw him again. Anyone who's lost a pet knows what a void they leave when they go. It was even worse with Sammy. There's something about being' the only kid on the block (in the city, maybe), to have a personal personal friend who will sit on your shoulder, ride on your bike, go indoors and romp on the furniture, go outdoors and perform impromptu solo air shows over your head - there's something about that, -- once gone-- is irreplaceable. I don't suppose I still carry a grudge for Johnny Stutt. Lord knows I made my share • Society holds show and tell meeting The Newcastle Horticultural Horticultural Society met in the Museum Room of the Newcastle Community Hall on Tuesday evening, January 15th. President Ann Best welcomed the attendants to this Show and Tell meeting. Dates of upcoming events were announced by the President: Canada Blooms March 13 - 17 for which Orono Society has a bus trip of stupid and cmel mistakes when I was a kid - still do, unfortunately. But there are those occasions when you wish you could rewind the Master Videotape of Life and edit out the rough spots. Suppose I'd talked Johnny Stutt into playing catch that afternoon? Suppose I'd come home early and taken Sammy into the house, or off in the fields? I think that way about Sammy from time to time. I like to think Johnny Stutt does too. planned, Success In Gardening at the International Centre March 14 - 17, District Annual at Beaverton April 27, OHA Convention June 21 - 23 in Sault Ste. Marie. Secretary Ann Morrison read the minutes minutes of the Christmas meeting- meeting- president Ann Best told of the selection by the Society to nominate Hazel Crago to be awarded the Volunteer of the Year medallion. For Show and Tell Hazel showed the medallion presented on December 20th by M.P. Alex Shepherd at the Clarington Beech Centre. Accompanying the medallion was a certificate, certificate, which was also shown. A photo album donated by Dorèlla Lanças ter-Forget in May 1997 and filled with pictures pictures and clippings by Hazel was circulated. A 'most interesting Swagman Doll was shown by Theo and Josie Welter. From a tea towel Josie read the Waltzing Matilda song and . the defini tions of the various Australian terms. Narda Koogkamp brought a collection of minutes of the Friendship Club, a group of ladies who met at the Newcastle United Church. This began in 1958 with Charlotte Rickard, the first President. Lunch was prepared and served by Narda Hoogkamp and Dorella Lancaster- Forget, Next meeting of the Newcastle Horticultural Society will be held on March 19 when Year Books will be available. Monday, January 28th - Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre offers "Young Hearts" a support group for people with cancer aged 18 - 35, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at 86 Colbome St. W.-, Call 579-4833 to register. Friday, February 22nd - Durham East Junior Farmer's Alumni Dinner and Dance, Blackstock Recreation Centre. RSVP your response to Catherine Found 905-436-2528. . Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM PARENT/GUAODIAN INFORMATION MEETING Parents/Guardians from the following school areas who are considering enrolling their child in French Immersion Senior Kindergarten in September 2002 are invited to attend an information meeting at the following location: MEETING LOCATION MEETING DATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AREA Thursday January 24, 2002 7:00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Bowmanville Mother Teresa, Courtic • St. Joseph's Elementary School St. Stephen's, BowmanviUe Monsignor: Leo Cleary, Courticé . 90 Parkway Crescent St. Elizabeth, Bowmanville St. Francis of Assisi, Newcasde Bowmanville, Ontario Good Shepherd, Courtice , 905-623-5151 If your child is currently registered in Junior Kindergarten and you plan to enroll him/her in the French Ijnmersion Senior Kindergarten Program, please inform the secretary/office at St. Joseph's Elementary School. If your child is NOT currently registered in Junior Kindergarten and you, pfan to enroll him/her in the French Immersion Senior Kindergarten Program, please contact St. Joseph's Elementary School prior to the registration date to set up an appointment. To simplify the registration procedure please bring your child's Baptismal Certificate, Birth Certificate, Immunization Record, your Lot and Concession number (for rural students) and proof of Separate School Property Tax Support. Please contact the school secretary/officc prior to the registration date to set up an appointment: FRENCH IMMERSION SCHOOL REGISTRATION DATES/TIME PHONE St. Joseph's, Bowmanville Principal: Liz Ferguson Frank Flagler Board Chairperson February 11 -, 15 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 905-623-5151 Mike Langlois Director of Education Leading the Way CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON PUBLIC NOTICE www,municipality.e|arington.on.ca NOTICE TO OUR CITIZENS Found on Sunday, December 16, 2001 on 2198 Taunton Road East, 5 black faced Ewes with ear tag numbprs 0059, 0015, 0049, 0075, 0036. The Ewes can be claimed by contacting the Municipality's Pound Keeper at 905-263-9989. If not claimed by January 25, 2002 the Ewes will be sold by auption at the Kawartha Lakes Cooperative Auction Market, R.R. #3, Woodville, Ontario on Saturday, January 26, 2002 at,f0:00'a.m. •... . ' " Patti L. Barrie Municipal Clerk Municipality of Clarington Phone: 905-623-3379 40 Temperance Street eowmanvfllp, Ontario L1C3A6