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The Times Advocate, 2006-06-14, Page 1616 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, June 14, 2006 The Relay for Life held at South Huron District High School over the weekend saw a vari- ety of costumes and teams from the area.Above are 'Danny's Crew', which was named in honour of Danette Farrell who passed from cancer Nov. 7, 2005. Standing from left, are Dwayne Martin, Michael Diamond, Connor Diamond, Susan Diamond, Paul Diamond, Chantal Martin,Tracy Benson, Nakita Benson, Derek Geddie,Tyler Farrell, Murray Diegel. Kneeling are:Tess Diamond,Amanda Diamond, Alysha Martin and Julie Diamond. Below, balloons and flowers greeted the survivors at the finish line after they completed their first lap of the night.(photos/Pat Bolen) Summer Reading Club starts in July HURON — The Huron County Library is gearing up for summer and seven weeks of exciting children's pro- gramming throughout the county. This year's TD Summer Reading Club will be held weekly at all 12 library branches, starting the first week in July and ending in mid - A u g u s t. Children ages four through 12 will go on a `Quest for Heroes' encoun- tering super heroes and vil- lains, figures of historical importance and even the unsung heroes of Huron County, through stories, con- tests, crafts and games. Natalie Vander Burgt is back for her third year as a literacy co-ordinator and will be joined by Amy McConnell, a new addition to the reading The Huro Library is up for sum seven wee exciting ch programm throughou county. club team. The summer reading pro- gram is made possible by grants from Young Canada Works in Heritage Institutions, a youth employ- ment initiative of the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Summer Career Placements Program of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada which fund the coordina- tors salaries. TD Bank Financial Group is a major sponsor of the pro- gram across the province in co-operation with the Toronto Public Library, which plays a large organiza- tional role. The reading pro- gram also relies heavily on the support of all of Huron County's Libraries and the generous donations of many publishing companies, local businesses and service clubs. n County gearing mer and ks of ildren's ing t the The summer reading club is an excellent opportunity for children to have a fun filled and educational experi- ence over the summer months and learn what they can do to become heroes in their own communities. For more information or to regis- ter, visit your local library or e-mail Natalie Vander Burgt or Amy McConnell at sum- merreading@huroncounty.ca The program times at area libraries are: • Kirkton: Thursdays, 1-2 p.m.; • Hensall: Thursdays, 3- 3:45 p.m. (ages four to six); Thursdays, 3:45 -4:45 p.m. (ages seven -12); • Zurich: Fridays, 10-10:45 a.m. (ages four to six); Fridays, 11 a.m.- noon (ages seven -12); • Exeter: Fridays, 1-1:45 p.m. (ages four to six); Fridays, 2-2:45 p.m. (ages four to six); Fridays, 3-4 p.m. (ages seven -12). RSD Authentics Scott Bogart presents a cheque for $1830. to Michele Desjardine of South Huron DHS for the Canandian Cancer Society's Relay for Life. The money was raised from RSD Authentics annual Mulligan's Golf Tournament. (photo/submitted) Parks for the future 1951-55 (Note: The following is the second of 12 columns in 2006 about the Ausable Bayfield watershed's conservation pioneers, during the 60th anniversary year recognizing the formation of Ontario's first Conservation Authority — the former Ausable River Conservation Authority, now the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority — and the cre- ation of the Conservation Authorities Act of 1946.) EXETER — We left you in our first column with the tale of a beehive of activity — the first five years of Ontario's first conservation authority. We told you about the massive job of creating the 1949 Conservation Report, a comprehensive document that would become a lasting watershed atlas and TIM road map to the future. CUMMING This month we look at the five years of local con- ABCA servation that followed — vital years in the devel- COMMUNICATIONS opment of parks for the future and protection of SPECIALIST critical habitat lands. The first major project of the former Ausable River Conservation Authority was a straightening of the Ausable River Cut from Highway 21 to Lake Huron at Port Franks. The year 1952 was the beginning of the Farm Pond Assistance program. The ABCA and its partners would spearhead programs like this one for decades to come. In April of 2006 dozens of interested volunteers took part in a Hay Swamp Clean-up Day. More than 50 years earlier — in 1953 — the former Ausable River Conservation Authority planted the first trees in Hay Swamp. The year 1953 also saw the local Conservation Authority initiate the vision for a land acquisition that would result in the Pinery Park. The Province of Ontario carried on the work which was begun and created a legacy: a wonderful natural tourist destination and an important ecosystem. The Pinery protects almost half the Oak Savanna in the world and is home to the single largest contained area of Oak Savanna on the planet. We can thank the pioneers of local conservation for their work in laying the foundation for this precious resource. Jean Davies Wright, in her book "The River and the Rocks," writes that: "When the Pinery Provincial Park was opened about five miles southwest of Grand Bend in 1957, it consisted of over 5,000 acres of virgin land with about 6,000 feet of Lake Huron beach, and it included part of the old river bed. Here today the Ausable receives the attention it deserves. Its course is kept free of vegetation, and its flow through the sand dunes to its outlet is wide and unhampered — a proper end- ing for that ancient river." The early 1950s were the days when Exeter's Riverview Park Reservoir was dredged. The Conservation Authority bought Rock Glen Conservation Area, home of scenic Rock Glen Falls, in 1954. The local conservation body had land holdings of more than 1,600 acres (660 hectares) by 1955. Ontario's first Conservation Authority was off to a busy start in its first five years and in the years that followed the authority moved steadily forward in advancing the cause of conservation. But some of its busiest years were yet to come: The last half of the 1950s would see the creation of Morrison Dam. But that's a story for another day. The next "60 Years of Conservation" column will cover the years 1956-1960 — important years in local watershed conservation as the Morrison Dam, east of Exeter, was opened during those years. The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is honouring the local pioneers of conservation who helped protect our lives and property through flood management and watershed stewardship during 2006 and the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Ontario's first Conservation Authority.