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The Times Advocate, 2008-04-30, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, April 30, 2008 High school goes "green" with digester cone By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — The Special Education class at South Huron District High School is taking the lead to help the school become more green by introducing a Green Cone Digester, courtesy of the Bluewater Recycling Association (BRA). The cone was brought to the class April 24 by Wendy Chapman from the BRA who said the digester was available from the BRA seven or eight years ago but was dropped because of cost. Teacher Jeanne Melady said the class, which has a courtyard, wanted to be environmentally friendly and was inspired by Earth Day to do something. Since the class has a courtyard and a weekly food program, Melady said she called Francis Veilleux, president of the BRA and asked if they could get a donation towards the cost of the cone. Melady said Veilleux, along with members of the board of the BRA in Huron Park went one better and supplied the class with the digester. According to the BRA, the Green Cone reduces food waste to its natural components of water, carbon dioxide and a small residue. The solar -heated garden unit takes all cooked and uncooked food waste including meat, fish, bones, dairy products, vegetables and fruit. Although the cone normally retails for $160, it is available through municipalities and the BRA for $90 which includes the digester, a kitchen caddy to store waste in before taking it to the cone and accelerator powder. The powder is a mix of natural bacteria that break down the mate- rial. The Green Cone isn't a composter and Chapman said it works through heat generated by sunlight. In the winter when there isn't as much heat, Chapman said the accelerator powder can be added to grow the bacteria. Melady added the class will also collect food waste from the rest of the school and tie the program into the class science course on how the waste is converted into the soil. Going green — The SCC -DD class at South Huron District High School (SHDHS) is helping the school become more green with the introduction of a Green Cone Digester donated by the Bluewater Recycling Association (BRA) which will break down food waste at SHDHS. Pictured are back from left, Joanne Pickering, Diane Steep, Kathy Coolman,Wendy Dayman, Jamie Livingston, Janet Clarke,Wayne Walper, Jeanne Melady and Kathy Bray. Middle: Eli Callejas, Marley Baker,Abby Line -McComb, Brendan GiII,Arron Kramers, Judy Cator and SHDHS principal Jeff Reaburn. Front: Brooke Bell, Stephen Denomme, Brent Butson, Jan Easton, Mark Koopmans, Danielle Black (representing SHDHS Green Team) and Rob Sangster.Absent: Zak Laye and Christopher Grotentraast. Kneeling with the Green Cone is Wendy Chapman, education director for the BRA. (photo/Pat Bolen) Slight budget increase Continued from front page "We're spending a lot of money," says Reymer, adding that money has been aside each year in reserves for these pro- jects. Reymer also says with all of the proposed growth in the communi- ty this year, a sewer optimization study will be done by Stantec to determine what changes can be made to improve the process or expand the water pollution con- trol plant. REGIONAL WRAP UP Drug lab causes fire COLDSTREAM — A man was in serious condition after his home on Ilderton Road, between Coldstream and Middlesex Centre exploded April 23. His wife and two children escaped uninjured. At around 10:15 p.m., the north side of his house was knocked out, sustaining heavy damage. A fire erupted after the blast. While the Ontario Fire Marshall was in the basement to investigate the cause of the fire, he encountered evi- dence of an illegal drug lab. Middlesex OPP and OPP Drug Enforcement Section executed a CDSA and a Criminal Code search warrant at the residence. The OPP seized evidence related to the production of a controlled substance. The Ontario Fire Marshall determined that the fire was caused by an accelerant (butane). The investigation is continuing and no further infor- mation was available as the T -A was going to print Tuesday. • Kippen woman honoured STRATFORD — A Kippen woman was recognized recently as a volunteer with the Victoria Order of Nurses' palliative care program. Dianna McBride was honoured with an Ontario Volunteer Service Award for helping families cope with the pain of losing a loved one for the past 15 years. McBride, formerly a registered practical nurse, was part of the first palliative care unit offered in South Huron in 1993. Through nursing homes and long-term care facilities, McBride has provided personal support for families of dying patients. "You can just sit and talk with someone or just hold their hand, to provide support emotionally," says McBride, adding, "Some people don't know what to say when a person is dying...every situation is different." Although McBride isn't volunteering on a regular basis anymore, she still volunteers about four times annually. Landowners look at better stewardship By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Ideas for both long and short term solutions on rural land stewardship were put forward April 24 at the Ranch House Inn, in a meeting spon- sored by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA). The meeting is one of several that have taken place in the area, including in Zurich and Clinton. The South Huron Chamber of Commerce hosted the workshop presentation on environmental changes that business owners and residents alike can make easi- ly. At the meeting property own- ers were guided through the county's "Rural Landowner Stewardship Guide" by Sam Albert, a facilitator hired by the ABCA for the workshops. The guide covers several cate- gories, including buying rural property, construction, waste- water and septic systems, gar- dening and landscaping, waste management, living with wildlife and working with ecosystems. The "Stewardship Guide" pub- lication was developed by Huron County representatives, the ABCA, Friends of the Bayfield River, Huron Stewardship Council, Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation and the University of Guelph. Albert asked the landowners to pick the topics which applied to their property and answer a series of questions in a work- sheet. They were also asked to rate their stewardship from best to poor, although Albert said the Lucan Lions donate $ 150,000 aim was not to judge but to pro- vide clues on ways to improve environmental practices. Albert also asked that the landowners consider options how they can improve their land stewardship both right away and in ways they can work towards. Some of the ideas put forward by the landowners included planting more trees and becom- ing more aware of what plants are invasive species. Other ideas put forward included the use of coloured dots at property boundaries to signify the uses permitted, such as green for full access and red for no access, although it was pointed out few people are aware of what each colour means. For more information visit www. huronstewardship. on. ca A Lion -sized cheque —Above, the Lucan District Lions Club last week presented the Lucan Biddulph Heritage committee with a cheque for $150,000 to support the construction of the new Lucan Area Heritage and Donnelly Museum.The Lions have also donated the lot on which the museum is being built. From left are Lucan Lions Bruce Lamb, Ian Trotier, Mike Hodgins, Paul Dykeman, Gary McFalls, Don McFaIIs, Mike Tuxford, Larry Hotson, Jack Ryan and Glen Nevin. (photo/submitted)