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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-07-03, Page 13GI AND • B 1 N D featuring; SPY HARD & THE ROCK Gates open 8:45/show 9:45 p.m. AAA* U.50.1aAtrsMia $<: ChM** Si 14100395.8819 Second Section - BCA plans guided hikes r evening walk last Wednesday around Morrison Lake was a learning ex- .;rience highlighted by glimpses of local wildlife By Heather Mir T -A Reporter EXETER - Organized by the Aus- able Bayfield Conservation Author- ity, the guided hike held at Morri- son Dam last Wednesday is one of several hikes planed at several con- servation areas this summer. Kate Monk led a small group of participants around the 2 kilometre main trail. She explained how the ecosystem has gradually developed as the environment changed from river to lake due to the construction of the Morrison Dam in 1959. Water from the dam is used to cool the machinery at the Nabisco canning plant. The dam is also used for recreational fishing and the surrounding area makes an ex- cellent wildlife habitat. Although rainbow trout is stocked each year in the dam because the water be- comes too warm in summer months for them to survive, small and large -mouth bass continue to grow. Other fish found in the lake in- clude perch, pike and rock bass. Green ash and sugar maple trees are predominant in the wooded area but white pine, white spruce, black cherry, hop hornbeam and blue beech (sometimes called iron- wood), hemlock and elm also thrive. The Morrison Conservation Area is an excellent location for bird watchers. Bluebirds have been spotted nesting in boxes built and erected by scouts. Wood duck box- es have also been put up near the water. Of special interest is a par- tially albino red -winged blackbird the group spotted near the board- walk at the south east corner of the path. At least two families of Can- ada geese have made the area home. Other birdsinteresting to watch include the northern oriole, rose -breasted grosbeak Mid cedar waxwing. The conservation area has all the elements needed for a variety of wildlike to survive including food, shelter and water. A walk was also scheduled last night at Clinton Conservation Area and evening hikes are planned for August 1 at Rock Glen Conserva- tion Area, August 13 at Joany's Woods and August 29 at Parkhill Conservation Area. All walks will begin a 7 p.m. The cost is $2.50 per person or $10 per family. For more information contact ABCA at (519)235-2610. Kate Monk of the ABCA takes a closer look at the leaves of one of the native tree species. Participants in last week's conservation hike stopped along the trail at Morrison Dam to leam about the varie- r tyorlfee `Irt the -conservation area. At the east end of the trail, a bridge crosses over a rapid section of the Ausable River. This is a favorite spot for bird watchers. Hikers spotted one of th two families of Canada gees that have nested near the lake. _�e/enn Sharpe: management and sales Where Are They Now? Where Are They Now? is an extended series on South Huron District High School graduates and their career choices LONDON ....... ." never escape ..�..:.. ,..,, business," said Glenn Sharpe, who - "You can sales in any business," who a manager at Trane, a company that installs and maintains heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment for larger buildings such as hospitals, schools and large commercial businesses. "The biggest challenge is to make that bottom line look good." With 17 franchises across Canada, Trane services operations world-wide. Sharpe works out of the local branch in London, which has a territory from Woodstock to Windsor and as far north as Hanover. He feels working long-term with customers is very rewarding. Because the company maintains equipment for a good portion of its life span, some contracts last as long as 10 years. However, Sharpe claims an industry trend indicates a temporary move toward shorter contracts. The monitoring of equipment on computers is becoming more prominent in the industry and systems are increasingly sophisticated, with part of the work including converting large refrigeration units so they contain environmentally acceptable refrigerants. - • "We like to consider ourselves environmental specialists," said Sharpe. Prior to beginning his job with Trane in 1993, Sharpe took a sales position with Inter City Products in Brantford for three years. This work involved travelling and marketing 30 product lines as well as setting up distribution agents across the United States. tie was also employed with Franklin Electric in Strathroy for five years as a general les manager until the company relocated to the United States. He previously worked at various jobs with Trane Air Conditioning for 16 years in the is Toronto area. r� ion put him in the marketing department as a product specialist. One job in as a specialist. "Most of my time was spent in administration," he said of his career with the company. He remembers recruiting sales engineers and helping with presentations to university students across Canada. Competition for jobs, he noted, was stiff even back then with 500 applicants for five positions. After attending the University of Guelph for agricultural engineering, Sharpe studied civil engineering at the University of Toronto where he specialized in structures. He credits Andy Dixon, one of his teachers at South Huron District High School, for encouraging him to attend university. Dixon, he said, "had an interesting perspective on students' needs," by presenting unique experiments in class. A 1962 graduate, Sharpe was born and raised near Shipka on a family farm his ancestors established in 1866. After working in Toronto for a number of years he was "looking for a change" and decided to move back to the area. lie now lives in London with his wife and two teenaged children. In his spare time he golfs and engineers computer programs.