durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, December 22, 2022 | | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@durhamregion.com facebook.com/newsdurham @newsdurham WHO WE ARE Publisher and Chief Executive Officer Neil Oliver Vice President, Content, Community and Operations Dana Robbins Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Managing Editor Mike Lacey Director of Advertising Tanya Pacheco Director Distribution Jason Christie Director Creative Services Paul Gostlin Durham Advisory Council Dan Carter; Esther Enyolu; Jake Farr; Dr. Vidal Chavannes; Cynthia Davis; Elaine Popp/Don Lovisa; John Henry; Sue McGovern; Kerri King; Steve Yamada; Kelly LaRocca; Peter Bethlenfalvy; Dr. Steven Murphy; Norah Marsh; Tracy Paterson; Chris Darling; Christina Curry CONTACT US This Week Phone: 905- 579-4407 Newsroom: 905-215-0462 Sales: 905-215-0424 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-579-2238 Web: www.durhamregion.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at durhamregion.com Delivery For all delivery inquiries, call 905- 579-4407 or visit the Contact Us page on durhamregion.com. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT DURHAMREGION.COM With the massive pressure our booming population is putting on the natural world, it's often hard to be optimistic about the future. But we have to be! We have to carry on, with fiery hope in our hearts, and find meaningful ways to protect all the precious eco-systems left on our beautiful planet. Let's make it our New Year's resolution. Every little bit helps, starting with having a heart-to-heart with your government reps to explain how deeply you care about maintaining and enhancing our green spaces. All that isolating during the pandemic made it crystal clear how vital getting outdoors into nature is for our physical and mental health, and how priceless our conservation areas, trails, wetlands and woods, our greenbelts and farmlands are for ourselves and the wildlife that live there. Sending a donation to groups dedicated to protecting wildlife habitat is another good way to help out. Sweeping changes made by the latest provincial government, removing long-standing checks and balances on urban sprawl, prove yet again that the only sure way to preserve a natural area is to buy it. Ontario's many land trusts know that, as does the Nature Conservancy of Canada. I was deeply moved by an appeal from the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), which pours 100 per cent of its donations into securing critical parcels of habitat around the globe. "Our small, dedicated staff and our numerous local field partners are working tirelessly to save what we can of the natural world while we still have the chance. Conserving nature and avoiding extinctions is not just the right thing to do, it's also in the interest of humanity. During this giving season, please consider helping us give nature a fighting chance." Date your check for Dec. 31 and you'll get a charitable tax receipt for this year. One more thing to think about is ecotourism -- yes, something fun! It's true that flying anywhere contributes to global warming, given CO2 emissions of the ever-growing airline industry. But tourist dollars flowing into a remote village give lots of financial incentive for people to protect local "islands of green" instead of carving them up to run cattle or plant oil palms. Enterprising drivers, guides, cooks and lodge keepers all benefit when visitors come by, curious to view sunbirds, trogons, condors, elephants, orangutans -- whatever lives there. And travellers benefit by having their horizons, and their love of the planet, expanded. Plus, it affirms their conviction that such unique, pristine places must be preserved and treasured for all time. So let's do it, together! Protect 30 per cent of Planet Earth by 2030. It's up to you and me. Visit ICFCanada.org or contact HQ@ICFCanada.org. Metroland columnist Margaret Carney finds so much to discover and marvel at when exploring the great outdoors. LET'S RESOLVE TO PRESERVE NATURAL SPACES IN 2023 Whitby's Lynde House, Durham region's oldest home, is a wonderful example of Georgian architecture, originally located on a 200-acre farm beside Lynde Creek, on Dundas Street. Jabez Lynde (1773-1856) and his wife Clarissa (1774-1830) immigrated from Massa- chusetts in 1803 and were among Whitby's first set- tlers. They raised eight children here and still have descendants in the area. Their youngest daughter, Elmina, lived in the house until 1893. Jabez Lynde was a Loyalist and served in the War of 1812. The Lyndes opened their home during that time as an inn, tavern and supply depot, where British soldiers could secure fresh horses, ammunition and a hearty meal on the way to battle in Niagara. One wellknown visitor from this time was General Isaac Brock. Lynde House is perhaps best known for its two moves through Whitby. First to Cullen Gardens in 1986 and then in 2013 to its permanent home at 900 Brock St. S. Today, the Whitby Historical Society operates the Lynde House Museum, open for tours by appointment five days a week, and offers a year-round calendar of events, including special displays, classes, workshops, the Tea and History Speaker Series, Art in the Garden and History in the Park exhibitions. The Warren General Store, located next door and named in honour of Whitby's first store, provides a unique local shopping experience. Gardens offer a glimpse into the past by reflecting the society in which they were created, and Clarissa Lynde's Heritage Kitchen Garden is no exception. Located behind Lynde House, it features items which would have been grown by local 1800's families, including medicinal plants, herbs, vegetables, the Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash), espalier fruit trees and flowers for dye making. Produce is harvested by our volunteers and used for educational purposes. Lynde House Museum is a cultural anchor in the community, demonstrating how the past shapes our town's character. Visit our website, lyndehousemuseum.com, to learn more. Julie Ditta is president of the Whitby Historical Society. Contact the society at info@lyndehousemuseum.com. LYNDE HOUSE MUSEUM 'A CULTURAL ANCHOR IN THE COMMUNITY' JULIE DITTA Column Columnist Margaret Carney urges readers to do what they can to save the planet's reamining wild spaces -- and the creatures that inhabit them. A photo of a blue-naped chlorophonia, taken on Carney's recent trip to Colombia with friends. Larry Hubble photo BLUE-NAPED CHLOROPHONIA MARGARET CARNEY Column