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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-08-03, Page 101O -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, August 3, 1994 Donations to Rwanda through local churches continued from front page The Anglican Church of Canada has also addressed the issue, said Rev. Gordon Redden, of St. Thomas Anglican Church. ""There was a major appeal by the Anglican Church of Canada through the central office in Toronto," he said. St. Thomas Anglican Church distributed an envelope for dona- tions to the hunger problem and featured a picture of the crisis on its bulletin. Nationally, there was a special appeal through the Primate's World Relief Development Fund. Local residents can donate to the Anglican church's Huron Hunger Fund, c/o Anglican Church of Canada, Diocese of Huron, 4th Floor, 220 Dundas St., London, Ontario, N6A 1H3. They should specify donations specifically for Rwandan relief. St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Dublin and St. Vincent de Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Mitchell are accepting donations for the Rwandan Relief Fund. Donations may be sent to: The Roman Catholic Diocese of London, 1070 Waterloo SI, London, Ontario, N6B 2M3. Details of local fundraising efforts from the local United Churches and other arca denominations were unavailable at press time. 47. CARDS OF THANKS i MOYLAN I wish to thank my neighbors, friends and relatives for their many kindnesses to me during the weeks following my sudden stroke. Special thanks to Father Hardy for his immediate attention and also to Sister Rita and to Father Cassano for their visits. I remember with gratitude the kindness of those who sent cards, flowers, treats and fresh garden produce to me in hospital and at home. It is wonderful to live in a supportive, caring community. - Mary Moylan 47-31x1 MILLER There aro no words to fully express our deep appreciation for the many acts of kindness shown to us during Cindy's illness and subsequent death. Thanks to Dr. Malkus and the staff of the Seaforth Community Hospital, you are the greatest. To the V.O.N. and the nighttime nurses you sure did everything you could to make it easier both for Cindy and the family. Thanks to Pastor Bob for the love and support you gave Cindy and our whole family during these trying times. To Holly for being with us at the funeral home when we all really needed her. Thanks to Ed and the choir and to Holly for your beautiful messages in song, 'Safe In the Arms of Jesus'. To each one of you who came to visit Cindy, just a tow minutes of your time let her know you were there for her. For all the food, flowers and cards received during her illness and after we Thank You. Our warmest thanks to the Lockhart Funeral Home for your special guidance; to the E.L.W. for the lovely lunch; to the pallbearers and flower bearers, and to Luckhart Transport for all their support. Last but not least we want to thank our St. Peters Church family, relatives and friends tor all your prayers, love and especially your financial support along the way. To all who have and continue to show us so much love and concom - WE THANK YOU. 47-31x1 Crop update for Huron farms continued from front page "It's an average, to above average looking crop," he said. Soybean is crushed into oil which is used in a multitude of products. The meal from the crushing process is sold as a high protein feed sup- plement. Huron County's number one crop, corn, is looking good as well, said Harunan. "Most fields have tasseled and are past the silking stage. Generally, I thing we'll be looking at average yields." Hartman added that corn and soybeans are entering the time period of the greatest growth. "We have the factory. Now we have to see it utilized to capacity," he said. "We should have a good corn crop if we get ideal heat and mois- ture from now till the end of the season." Some Huron County corn crops experienced problems this year with a new herbicide called Ultim. But Hartman said that the plants seem to be recovering though "nobody will know until harvest time." Early planted corn varieties are growing well in the county. and Hartman credited favorable weather conditions for that success. "The later planted stuff is also still in the running," he said. Huron County farmers planted over 200,000 acres of corn this year, ranking the area as the second largest producer in the province. Another popular crop in the county is white beans, with over 50,000 acres currently in area fields. Huron County is the number one grower of white beans in the province. White beans are usually canned for the supermarket. "The beans are looking average," said Hartman. "There have been some problems with flooded areas and some root rot. "You could see one field that looks terrific, and another beside it with poor growth." Hartman said there was also some problems with low levels of insects such as leaf hoppers and Mexican bean beatles. Traditionally, white beans have been a southern crop, but changes - in the ozone layer have increased growth of the crop to as far north as Barrie. Huron County's earlier planted spring grains, such as oats and barley, are also looking good said Hartman. "The later planted stuff is looking average and the yield potential won't be as high," said Hartman. "But it will be respectable." Huron County farmers planted roughly 60,000 acres of spring grains this year, ranking the area as the number one producer. Overall, Hartman said, Huron County farmers are relatively opti- mistic about their crops, but added, "Nobody knows if they will make any money until harvest time." U.S. farmers are also anticipating a huge crop, and this has caused a big drop in the price for corn and soybeans on international markets. "Farmers who marketed their crops before June -July are happy," said Hartman, "because there has been a big drop since then." Community Calendar WED.„ AUG. 3 1 30-4.00 p m - Senior Shuffleboard at the Arena 6 30-7:30 p m - T -Ball at the High School South Diamond 6 30.830 p m - Minor Soccer at the Optimist Park 9 00-10:30 p m - Men's Fastball at Lions Park THURS., AUG. 4 6 308.00 p m - Pee Wee Girls Game at the Lions Park 8.00.9'30 p m - Squirt Boys Game at the Lions Park 8 00-9.30 p m - Sluggers Slo-Pitch at the Optimist Park FRI., AUG. 5 6 00 p m - Mite Boys Fastball at the High School South 6 30-8 30 p m - Bantam Boys Fastball at Lions Park 9.00-11:30 p m - Rats Slo-Pitch at Optimist Park SAT., AUG. 6 8:30 a m - Swim Meet at the Lions Pool SUN., AUG. 7 8.00-11 30 p m - Men's SIo-Pitch at both Optimist and Lions Parks MON., AUG. 8 12 noon -1 p m - Aqua Fitness at the Lions Park Pool 6:30-8:30 p.m. • Houseleague Ball at the High School South 7:30.10:30 p.m. - Bingo at Arena - Hall opens at 6:30 p m. 7:30-10:30 p.m - Men's Fastball at the Optimist Park 8:00-11:00 p.m - Men's Slo-Pitch at Lions Park TUES., AUG. 9 9 00-2:00 p m - Trade up to the Book Leagues at the Library 1:30 p.m. - Seaforth Women's Institute Meeting at Kay O'Rourke's. Guest speaker. 6:30-7:30 p m - Houseleague ball at the High School South Diamond. 6:45-9:00 p.m. - Ladies' Recreational Ball at the Lions Park. 8:00-10:15 p m. - Seaforth Harmony Hi-Lites practice at Seaforth Public School. 8:00-11:00 p.m. - Men's Slo-Pitch at the Optimist Park WED., AUG. 10 1:30-4:00 p.m - Senior Shuffleboard at the Arena 6:30-7:30 p.m. - T -Ball at the High School South Diamond 6:30-8:30 p.m - Minor Soccer at the Optimist Park 7'30-10.30 p m - Men's Fastball at the Lions Park 9.00-10:30 p m - Swingers Sto-Pitch Game at the Optimist Park If you're organizing a non-profit event of interest to other geeforth Brea residents, phone the recreation office 527-0882 or the Expositor at 527-0240, or mail the information to Community Calendar, The Huron Expositor, Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1W0 well in advance of the scheduled date. Free listing includes date, time, name of event and location only. Space for the Community Calendar is donated by The Huron Expositor. News and Views Pretty plant killing area wetlands BY PAUL CIUFO It is six feet tall and covered in pinkish -purple spikes. It can pro- duce 3 million offspring in a year. Rampant across Canada, the mon- ster is destroying wetlands at a horrific rate. "It's a very bad flower," said Isabelle Huppd, biologist at Hullet Wildlife Management Area. Lythrtun salicaria or purple loosestrife was named after Lysimakhos, the Greek doctor who discovered it. He likely never would have attached his name to the plant had he known the havoc it would eventually wreak. Brought to North America in the 1900s, the flower found a continent devoid of natural predators and began multiplying like mad. The consequences for Canadian wetlands coast to coast have been dire. "No birds or mammals or insects eat it. The seeds are too small. That's why it has spread so fast. Nothing kills it. If you have one seed that goes into a marsh, in five years the marsh can disappear. "One plant can produce two point seven million seeds. The plants' roots collect soil, causing a faster succession of the wetland. It destroys every spot of water you can imagine. It's pretty dangerous," Hupp explained. The biologist said purple loosestrife dominates other species. It grows so fast, all other plants are choked. The displacement of the plants means less habitat for water- fowl since purple loosestrife is too dense for birds to nest in. • CONTROL MEASURES As more and more people have become aware of the insidious nature of purple loosestrife, the efforts to control the plant have intensified. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters have declared August 1-7 "Project Purple Week" and is calling on everyone to launch local control efforts. The plant is in' full bloom at this time and ready to release mature seeds. The effort to curb the spread of the plants is an uphill battle. "The best way is to pull out the plant, get all of the roots and burn it. But when you have 20,000 plants, it takes too much time. If you cut it down soon enough, at least it can't produce more seeds," Hupp said. Burning the plants without uproot- ing them is an ineffective control method because the roots remain. Also, if loosestrife is flooded, it can develop seeds that will float, so it will still reproduce. Herbicides are not an option since none have been approved for use near water; also herbicides kill off all broadleaf plants when used, not just the target plant. "They arc trying biological con- trol. They have three species of insects from Europe that eat part of the plant. But they have to be sure the bugs won't eat other plants here and leave the purple loosestrife," No public viewing of wildlife continued from front page He explained that when dealing with Great Blue Herons, it is imperative that the handier wear glasses, because a heron's weapon is its sharp beak, and it attacks the most vulnerable spot - the eyes. However, when Dunbar had to enter the heron's area, with his eye glasses that darken outside, he noted that the heron would see him as a predator, with big dark eyes, staring at the bird. "He can't handle that stress...you try to minimize the stress." In giving care to birds and help- ing them in rehabilitation, the reduction of stress is very import- ant, he continued. In providing the care, he said, one provides medical attention, as well as such items as food, cleaning and perches for the -birds. "Then the other big thing is stress; managing the stress of ani- mals," Dunbar noted. It is due to this latter factor, he continued, that there is no public viewing of the animals or birds at Huron Wildlife Rehabilitation. Continuing on the theme of stress, Dunbar noted that while zoo ani- mals are constantly trained to reduce stress through contact, that is the exact opposite of care pro- vided at the rehabilitation centre. Everything a person does to com- fort their pet, he said, is a sign of a predator to wild birds. Even the message on the answer- ing machine for Huron Wildlife Rehabilitation outlines steps to reduce stress in injured or orphaned birds and animals. Dunbar noted that people that find animals should first call the rehabilitation centre, then place the bird or animal in a cardboard box in a warm, dark, quiet place, such as a closet. "By placing it in a box, you are reduc- ing stress." He also noted that the birds or animals should not be given food or water, as it could prove harmful. The Great Blue Heron, after receiving its care at the centre, was scheduled to be released a few 'People needlers' hurtful BY THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER What do you do when it is high pressure -high stress time? Some of us over eat, overdrink, over -sex, over -spend, over -smoke, over -seek -other's -approval, over - control others, over -clean, over - over, etc. Shoving the feelings, down numb- ing the pain. Now some people and God bless their angel hearts - truly don't do anything destructive to others - BUT, it is the unidentified sheep that get my goat. It is the seemingly pious, Mrs. Priss types and Mr. Pries too - but - They'are carriers. They seemingly don't over -dose. They just drive everyone around them to over -eat, over -drink, etc. Watch out for those sewerats and seweratessesl It definitely is not right to blame others for our addictions... We must take responsibility for our own actions. 1 1/2°h Interest Semi Annually Clinton Community Credit Union 46 Ontario Street CLINTON Phone: 482-3467 116 Main Street EXETER Phone: 235-0610 I like the line that says 'To limit another's growth is to self-destruct.' Growth begins where blaming others for our addictions ends. That's why people have to leave partners who are addicts - alcohol most common. Yes, it's a disease, but self- inflicted if one refuses treatments. If I was ever on the panel to judge people harshly I'd judge the partners of alcoholic spouses the hardest if they turned their children against the alcoholic parent. So, we all tear into something when it is high pressure time. Let's be sure that we are not one of the sewer -rats who tears into the self- esteem of others when it is high - stress time. God, have pity on those glass - tinkling, needle -you -in -the -back, garcastic, emotional bullies, who instead of tearing into the food, or booze or dugs or smoke - tear into tearing down another -fellow human being. If I could equip my kids to go out in the world. I'd give them an infallible P.N. detector - so they could quickly assess when they are dealing with people needlers. •`The Farmer's Daughter' is Bea Maloney -Fadden. Youth challenge seeks volunteers Canadians from ages 18 to 25 who are looking for adventure and who have an interest in global development arc invited to apply to participate on a Youth Challenge International project in Costa Rica in Central America, Guyana in South America, or Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. Youth Challenge International is a non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage young people's active, --sponsible, and continuing participation in issues of local and global development. Young people from around the world will work on a variety of community development, health, and research projects for ten weeks next spring and summer. No experience is necessary to participate; just a willingness to work hard and an interest in global development. The deadline for applications for the projects next spring and summer is October 7. To receive an application and more information about Youth Challenge International contact the Youth Challenge International office at 1 -800 -979 - INFO from anywhere in Ontario. Hupp said. The biologist said purple loosestrife has not been seen in Hullet wildlife sanctuary since a year or two ago, but the plant has been spotted recently in this area. Biologists at the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in Wingham recently removed some from a river in Wingham and beside Hwy. 8 between Clinton and Goderich. "Now that people know what it does, if they find it they report it to the MNR," Hupp6 said. "Now people are more aware of the good things wetlands do. A few years ago they though 'Oh it's just a place for mosquitos. There's noth- ing good in there.' Now they know wetlands make water quality much better in the area. Marshes take pollutants out of the water. Wetlands are a very good habitat for fish and waterfowl. That's important for hunters and fishers." At press time, the OFAH did not know which local clubs will be involved in Project Purple Week. at facility weeks ago, but over the weekend just before it was scheduled to go, it developed a problem in one talon, and the lower part of its leg had to be amputated. Before the amputation took place, the question again had to be answered over whether it would be better to rehabilitate the heron with only one leg, or have it put to sleep. Dunbar then did extensive consul- tation on whether a one -legged Great Blue Heron could survive in the wild. He consulted with two centres in Ontario - one near Toronto and the other on Lake Erie - as well as with the Tri-State Bird Rescue and a centre that deals with shore birds in Louisiana. "All the data said 'yes'," a one -legged heron could survive, Dunbar said. Therefore, the amputation was carried out at the Clinton Animal Hospital, and Dunbar said, "it healed up very well." The stitches from the operation were removed about two weeks ago, and on Friday the bird was transported in a card- board box to the home of Pete and Marj Payne for release. This setting, with a pond, is an ideal release site, Dunbar said, and it is a site he has used in the past. Although the Great Blue Heron will have to live in the wild on one leg, Dunbar was optimistic that it will survive. "He's put on 400 grams since he's been in captivity. He is very healthy, very mean - that's how we like him." While in captivity, the heron ate about two pounds of smelt, contain- ing vitamins, per day. "Luckily all my smelt is donated," Dunbar said. The heron also had some practice in one -legged hunting, as live min- nows were provided. Thus, although the heron will have to adapt his hunting methods, Dunbar said, "He has already proven he can hunt in captivity." He noted that the heron was also _ released early enough in the sum- mer to adapt to the wild again, and . the bird will be able to migrate this fall. "He is a young bird; he is capable of adapting." Wildlife program necessity BY DAVID EMSLIE It is a sad fact that facilities such as Huron Wildlife Rehabili- tation are necessary because of the effects man has on nature. Tom Dunbar, executive direc- tor of the rehabilitation centre, stated, "Every animal that comes in here is in the rehabilitation centre because of man." He said whether a bird struck a wire or a window, was orphaned because a tree was cut down, or is sucked into the slip -stream of a truck such as the Great Blue Heron, they all come to the centre through the "direct or indirect influence of man." Although man must claim responsibility for the ills it brings onto the animal kingdom, all have the opportunity to help undo some of the harts through Huron Wildlife Rehabilitation. Dunbar explained that the rehabilitation centre is a federal- ly registered charity, "whose full purpose is the rescue, rehabilita- tion and release of injured or orphaned wildlife." With a main emphasis on shore birds, the centre docs deal with all wildlife calls, and can plug into a huge wildlife net- work. Dunbar explained that Huron Wildlife Rehabilitation is part of a North American wild- life network, and thus informa- tion can be shared, and birds can be moved about to where they will receive the best care. "I get birds sent to me from as far west as Toronto; as far north as Tobcrmory," he said, noting To spot purpl FLOWERS: Five or six, long pink/purple petals with many flowers along its spike. LEAVES: downy, with smooth edges attached directly to the stalk. Arranged opposite to each other and pairs alternate down the stalks at 90 degree angles. STALK: Square or six -sided, woody with several stalks on mature plants, THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND Purple loosestrife is available for sale. Do not buy it. Even "Sterile" hybrids such as Morden Pink can cross-pollinate with wild purple loosestrife to produce seeds. Purple loosestrife seeds are present in some wildflower seed mixes -check the label before you buy seeds packages. Purple loosestrife should be dis- posed by: 1) putting all plant pieces in plastic bags (vegetation rots quickly in plastic) and taking the bags to a sanitary landfill site. If the landfill site in your arca requires bags to be broken open use that he has also had birds. shipped to him for care from the Windsor area. Aside from caring for birds, Dunbar also works to educate people on what to do if they find injured or orphaned animals or birds. "The more information that gets out there, the less ani- mals have to come in. It should be an unusual case to get in orphans," he said. He stressed that before people drop off an animal or bird, they should call first. "The majority of animals don't need to come to me." He noted, for instance, that nestlings that fall from a nest can be returned to the nest, which is opposite to the old tale that a mother bird won't take a baby back after it has been touched by human hands because of its smell. In fact, birds don't smell, and thus the nestlings can be replaced. "They will never by raised better than by their par- ents," he said. As the rehabilitation centre receives no government funding, donations of cash or time will always be appreciated by Dunbar, who will send a tax receipt and a newsletter to those who make financial donations. Anyone interested in lending a hand, helping to fill the wish list, or making a cash donation which may help undo some of the harm wrought by man can contact Huron Wildlife Rehabilitation at 482-3138, or write Box 2099, Bayfield. e loosestrife the second option; 2) drying the plant parts in a sheltered arca and then burning them. Composting is not advised, as seals may not be destroyed and the thick woody root will take a long time to decompose. Be aware that your clothes and equipment may transport the small sce& to new arras. Stand in a garbage bag and brush off your clothes and equipment before leav- ing the site. Wash muddy equip- ment thoroughly in a bucket and pour out water in a gravelled area where seeds arc not likely to germi- nate or sprout. Wetlands provide habitat for many native song birds, water -fowl, mammals, amphibians and fish which depend on the wetland veg- etation. Wetlands arc also home to many rare and delicate plants. Take care not to trample or damage native vegetation when controlling purple loosestrife. *Copyright 1993 by the OFAH