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| "A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Wedne COVAY 3 AOAC YaAaMmo sday, May 24,, 1995-3 I Ll _. a _-- EE ----.M ee ------------ COMMUNITY Green egg story Is no yoke! By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Calling Dr. Suess... What would you say if a way- ward chicken turned up in a back yard in Oshawa, was taken home to a farm in Epsom, and contentedly began to lay eggs? Okay. But what if the eggs were green? It's true. and it's happening at the home of Don and Stella Asling on Medd Rd. The tale began last November, when a chicken turned up, wandering and apparently lost, in a relative's back yard in Oshawa. Mr. Asling's great-grand daughter, Vicki Ashton, who's seven, took to the chicken and adopted it. She named the hen Caesar. Caesar was brought to the Asling's home in Scugog and settled into a shed, where she 'eventually began to turn out the light green eggs. "It was in there all winter," Mr. Asling said last week. "When spring came, the green eggs came." He's been around chickens a long time, and straight away began looking for a logical explanation. The hen was housed with a bunch of rabbits, and he theorized at first that she'd been pecking around in rabbit food. "We figured likely she got into the green pellets, and that's why the green eggs," said Mr. Asling. VICKI ASHTON holds one of the offspring of Caesar, the wonder-chicken that lays green eggs at her great-grandfa- ther's farm in Epsom. It's a trait of the Aracona breed. But the pellet supply was cut off, and still the green eggs kept coming. So Mr. Asling did some research, and found Caesar is. an Aracona -- and green eggs are quite natural, thank you. Caesar was bred with an Aracona rooster, and now there's a bustling brood of little Araconas who will, one day, turn out a steady supply of the curious eggs, which are quite like regular eggs in every other way. And who knows? Maybe some day, there will be quite a market for the novelty eggs. But green ham might be a stretch... By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star The group that represents Workers Compensation claimants here demonstrated and made a submission when a Royal Commission on pro- posed changes to the program was held last Wednesday (May 17) in Oshawa. Representatives of the Durham Region Injured workers Group held a rally that was followed by a pre- sentation from president Rick Williams when the Commission, which is hearing submissions on Bill 165, made a stop here last week. Injured workers are con- cerned the proposed changes, which would reduce benefits and change the way in which compensation decisions are made, tips the scales in favor of employers, said Lea Metcalfe, a spokesperson for the group. And they say they're being ignored by the leaders of Ontario's three major parties, who are siding with the employers. "In order to get donations for their political parties, they're willing to throw a whole group of people to the wolves," he said. The Commission chair said all submissions made at its stops will be considered when recommendations on WCB revisions go to the govern- ment. "This process is a very important part of the Injured workers picket hearing on WCB bill Commission's work," said Lynn Williams. "We are hop- ing to hear a wide range of opinion and comment about Ontario's system of worker's compensation and sugges- tions about how it could be improved." Cost-cutting measures for the beleaguered system are being aimed at injured work- ers, most of whom have legit- imate claims, Mr. Metcalfe said. The workers want gov- ernment to take a broad look at the WCB system, and implement changes that will make it more efficient without punishing those who are mak- ing well-founded claims. At the same time, there are cheats who ought to be identified and weeded out. "There's no question: There are people on compen- sation who shouldn't be on compensation," said Mr. Metcalfe. The Durham Region Injured Workers Group rep- resents workers in all areas of the region, including Scugog, who are caught up in the often confusing and frus- trating claims system. They can provide advice, and some members are obtaining training that will allow them to represent work- ers at WCB appeal hearings. "If he's injured and he needs help, he can come to us," said Mr. Metcalfe. The group's phone number in Oshawa is 721-9185. Their fax number is 721 8176. Bruce Kellett and Scott Wilson were center stage at a spe- cial auction last Saturday (May 20) where they raised almost $2700 for the Community Nursing Home. Scugog rallies for residents Response after break-in 'overwhelming' By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star The outpouring of commu- nity support following the theft of money from community Nursing Home in Port Perry has helped soothe a sting of "betrayal", says the home's director. But an emotional Edna Goss said last week she remains haunted by the break-in some- time during the May 6 weekend that saw residents' activity funds, raised largely through a bazaar and bake sale that weekend, stolen. A 21-year-old Scugog Island man has been charged with the theft by Durham Regional Police. The suspect is a former volunteer at the nursing home who did community service there as a teen. "I don't think there was any thought it was somebody's grandmother he was stealing money from," Mrs. Goss said of the night-time break-in, which saw someone enter a locked office in the home and steal the money from its hiding place. "I think the thing I'm strug- gling ,most with is the fact we try so hard to see the good in everyone," she added. "I guess that trust has been betrayed. "I'm finding it very hard." Since reports of the theft appeared in The Star a couple of weeks ago, Scugog has stepped forward to try and heal the hurt. the local rod and gun club quickly made a $500 dona- tion, and challenged other groups in town to make contri- butions. and two local business men held an auction where items donated by local mer- chants were on the block this past Saturday. Mrs. Goss also remembers a little girl in Grade 1 who quietly made a personal donation while visiting the home with her class last week. "She went to her piggy bank and made a donation, and wrote a little note," said the director. "Things like that really touch you. That's the positive that's coming out of this." The home is gearing up now for a rummage and bake sale this Friday (May 26), for which numerous items have been donated. The money raised will go the the home's "Rip-off Fund." ne Lm 3 AA A MA a