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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 3 From Around Home by Roy Forrester As far as bird news was concerned, last week it was the appearance of a three year old Trumpeter Swan, number 601, spending time at the Helpard's pond (Clarke- Darlington Town Line road north of Taunton Road.) It since has left the area again. It may well be that it would return to the Rochester area for the winter for all ponds in this area are noXv iced over. Kids are currently skating on the Mill Pond in south Orono. Perhaps the bird could be back to this area sometime next year. Have to keep an eye open and check with the restoration program for Trumpeter Swans. The National Geographic Society bird book has the specie breeding in the Yukon with wintering along the British Columbia coast line. Bill Perryman with whom we have morning coffee, along with Bill Bunting, came up with an interesting bird story a couple of weeks ago. Bill, along with his wife, reside at the Durham County Senior Citizen's Lodge in Orono. , ... For a short period of time the front lawn to their unit became alive with birds. In fact Bill states, "you could almost see the lawn moving." Birds were also perching in the nearby trees. "It was amazing!" The count goes this way: 6 Cardinals, 12 Robins, well over some 100 Chickadees, 12 Bluejays, 15 Starlings and 2 Wrens. That is some count and one would have to wonder how such a mix would happen. happen. There is some bush and shrub areas nearby and possibly possibly that could have some attraction to such a wide variety variety of birds. It is most unlikely unlikely that Bill will make such a count again. Don Lycett reports a recent sighting of 110 wild Turkeys in an open field on Oak School Road south of the 8th Concession Road. The birds have been seen in this location on a couple of other occasions. It seems that midmorning midmorning has an attraction for the birds. Don also reports the sighting sighting of a flock of Snow Buntings along the edge of Country Road just north of Regional Road 9 west of Kirby. This specie of bird is often seen in this particular area during the winter months after spending the summer in the high arctic. Watch for a lot of bottom white on the bird as it feeds along the side of the road. You can also watch for Slate Coloured Junco who can often be seen in the winter winter in the same environment as the Snow Bunting. Have a good week. Bowmanview Farm's corn harvester goose was one one the numerous decorated farm implements implements that were entered in the Farmers Parade of Lights from Enniskillen to Tyone last Wednesday evening. Letters to the Editor Dear Mr. Rock, I write as a simple tax payer. I do not own a gun of any description. I do not belong to a gun club and have not set foot on any sort of range for fifty years. I am considered considered to be moderately intelligent! intelligent! I watched you on television news make a statement that reason tells me is an untruth! You said that your gun reg istry, "had saved lives!" Tell me how this can be? The vast majority of vehicles involved in fatal accidents are all "registered" "registered" even those driven by thieves and other criminals. Is there something vastly different different about your gun registry, if so the wrinkle should perhaps be applied to vehicle! Guns, like vehicles, are inanimate objects! Do you know if the Montreal murderer murderer drove to the scene of his crimes or did he carry his gun on public transportation? If I am somehow mistaken, please explain or refrain from telling me and Canadians generally, generally, untruths in order to 'curry favour' with strident special interest groups. Francis E Smith 1513 Aspen Place, Lethbridge, Alberta. T1K3V4 Open letter to editor and people of Orono Continued from page 2 Finally and most importantly importantly I want to thank my executive who have carried the administrative load during during my term as president. Ray Bester who was president president when we first appeared at council and took the lead in the project as building expansion chairman. Blaine Moffat also has many titles within the OAAA and has served many years as fundraising fundraising chairman for the committee. committee. Peter Maartense, our arena manager, took on the job of project manager through the construction of the addition. To these three and all my executive I offer my heartfelt thanks for their effort which permitted me to be in position position to present the cheque to Mayor Mutton on Monday. Thank you one and all. Orono truly is a great place to live. Neil Allin President, OAAA Clarington Concert Band gives Christmas Concert in Hampton The Clarington Concert Band will accomplish a festive festive first when it takes its Christmas program to Hampton United Church on Sunday December 15 at 2:00 p.m. The church is located at on Scugog Road in Hampton just north of Taunton. Director of music, Mr. Barrie Hodgins will conduct the band at this inaugural Christmas concert of seasonal favourites and it should make for an entertaining outing for the entire family. The trumpeting angle was also on a float in the Farmer's Parade of Lights. ~ Happenings ~ Sunday. December 15 Open House at the Manse - 105 Church Street North, Orono from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome from our churches and community. Good food and fellowship. Sunday. December 15 Clarington Concert Band presents a Hampton Christinas Concert at Hampton United Church at 2:00 p.m. Admission $5.00 per person - children under 12 free. January 6 to 26,2003 Gain creative and effective job search skills in the Job Finding Club - Meta Vocational Services Inc. in Bowmanville is offering a 3-week job search program where you will learn: how to access the hidden job market; effective interview skills; preparing resumes and cover letters and more. The Job Finding Club is sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada. For more info contact Cathleen Lycett at 905 -697-8887. v --^