As published in The Erin Advocate
I once rented part of a farm house, where the landlord was so worried about his well water that he would turn off the water supply if I ran the shower for more than 15 minutes.
My habits have become more conservative over the years, but like most environmental efforts, it is never quite enough. Now I'm being challenged to limit showers to three minutes.
The advice comes from Wellington Water Watchers, a non-profit group dedicated to preserving this valuable resource. Ontario has one-third of the entire earth's fresh water supply within and along its borders.
They are also urging people to turn off the tap while brushing their teeth, get a rain barrel for watering gardens, install low-flow shower heads, switch to low-flow toilets and give up drinking bottled water – both to save money and reduce the demand on well water.
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) has still more advice, asking people to choose drought-resistant grass and avoid mowing it short, to reduce the need for watering. They suggest using soaker hoses instead of sprinklers, and leaving clippings on the lawn.
"Here in the Credit Valley Watershed, we've had a relatively dry fall and winter," said John Kinkead, CVC Director of Water Resources. "If this trend continues, we're going to see lower groundwater tables and reduced flows in area streams. Water conservation measures will be even more important this year."
Erin homes rely on wells, whether private or municipal, and it is easy to take that supply for granted. The Town reports that the average urban household uses 750 litres per day: 35% for showers and baths, 30% for toilet flushing, 20% for laundry, 10% for kitchen/drinking and 5% for cleaning.
Opportunities for waste abound. Dishwashers and laundry washing machines are often run without full loads. A slowly-leaking faucet may waste 70 litres per day, adding $10 to your 90-day water bill. A steadily running toilet could waste 2,500 litres a day.
Erin Water Superintendent Frank Smedley said a dry summer is not likely to force restrictions on the municipal supply, since the Town's wells are quite deep, and are not directly affected by short-term variations in surface water. Shallow private wells are at greater risk of shortages and contamination.
Get more information on local water at www.erin.ca. Check out the Ontario Drinking Water Surveillance Program, which includes Erin, at www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/water/dwsp.
While the Town does extensive testing for bacteria and chemicals, owners of private wells are legally responsible for the quality of their drinking water. The Ministry of Health recommends testing each summer, fall and especially spring, when surface water is plentiful.
Test if you notice any change in the clarity, colour, taste or smell of your water, after major plumbing work, after an extended dry spell or after a lengthy period of non-use. Three samplings spaced one to three weeks apart are needed to be sure of a stable supply.
Testing for bacteria is free, but I am sure many people do not do it, because of the inconvenience. You can pick up a test bottle at the Town of Erin offices on Trafalgar Road, but the bottle has to be delivered in person to the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health offices in Guelph, Fergus or Orangeville, with restrictions on acceptable times.
Results are mailed out, with the most common issue being "total coliform" contamination. These bacteria do not usually make people sick, but you may need to repair or disinfect your well. Evidence of E. coli bacteria is serious, meaning you must stop drinking the water until it is treated. For advice, call the health unit at 1-800-265-7293.
Testing service is much better in Halton Region, where they will mail you a test bottle if you phone, or request it on-line. Halton Hills residents can drop off samples not only at the health office at 93 Main St. S. in Georgetown (as I do too), but at the Acton and Georgetown libraries, including some evening hours. You can sign up for testing reminders by mail or email.
Halton also provides additional free testing for nitrates, a compound that can come from fertilizer, sewage or plant decay. It is particularly dangerous for infants, and cannot be boiled away. The Ministry of Health recommends testing once a year for nitrates, but in most places it is at your own expense.
For nitrate and all other chemical testing, you have to shop from a long list of labs published on the Ministry of the Environment website. Google "Ontario accredited labs", or call 416-235-6370 for assistance.
May 05, 2010
April 28, 2010
Waste initiatives show strong community spirit
As published by The Erin Advocate
They may seem to have little in common, but Erin Auto Recyclers and East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) have a natural sort of partnership when it comes to making the best re-use of valuable materials.
EWCS is primarily a social service agency, but it raises money by recycling clothing at its New To You and Bookends stores. These provide affordable options for people who need to make their money go further. Erin Auto Recyclers deals in scrap metal, but also sells used auto parts, an essential service to help people keep older vehicles on the road.
The two already work together through the Auto Angel program. People can donate cars and trucks to EWCS for a tax receipt. Erin Auto Recyclers takes possession of the vehicle, determines its value and makes a cash donation to EWCS.
With the final closing of the Hillsburgh Transfer Station this weekend, and the lack of a County facility in Erin for large usable goods and bulky waste, EWCS is planning to open a re-use centre.
EWCS can proceed knowing it has strong public support. It would be best if the County provides funding to get the project started, but Executive Director Glenyis Betts is confident that funding will be found.
The re-use centre will enable residents will drive their donations of household items right into the building, to be inspected by EWCS volunteers.
"If we don't want them, we'll send people over to Rob," said Betts.
Rob Smith, owner of Erin Auto Recyclers, has offered his site just down the road as an alternative drop-off point for some material that will normally have to be driven to the Belwood Waste Facility. His staff are already qualified to handle hazardous material like freon, motor oil, antifreeze and batteries.
He will accept appliances, electronics and all sorts of metal. It is mainly an extension of his regular business, but there is an element of community service as well. There will be more traffic, and more items to handle and store – not all of them profitable.
"When you're doing the right thing, it pays dividends," said Smith. He is willing to cooperate with the County if they want to take advantage of his site.
Since buying the business four years ago, he has worked to improve its public image, with a new roof over the open storage area, a better parking area and a computerized parts inventory. The timing is good, as the public takes more interest in environmental issues. "It's a great time to be in the recycling business," he said.
The company was recognized by the Clean Air Foundation as the first in Canada to recover mercury switches from ABS brakes, removing a harmful neurotoxin from the waste stream.
Smith said that land he owns next to the auto recycling yard could be used for a permanent re-use/recycling centre, if and when EWCS is ready to make that move. This would provide convenience to the public, while ensuring that any household hazardous wastes could be stored on the auto yard, which is licensed for them.
How this centre would be financed and operated has not been determined. Ideally, such facilities should be publicly owned, and on a larger scale. A partnership with a private business could be a benefit for Erin residents, though, if the County is not able to provide local service.
Councillor Lou Maieron points to the Bolton Recycling Centre as an ideal type of small-scale transfer station. It handles a wide variety of material, including excess household garbage, as a supplement to curbside pick-up. According to a Wellington County consultant, the Bolton facility was built in 1997 for about $2 million and costs $1.2 million a year to run. Caledon Community Services has a ReUstore on site, selling everything from jewelry to antiques. The agency leases its building for about $25,000 a year – 10 per cent of the store's annual net revenue.
Peel Region was forced to take serious action on waste diversion when it ran out of landfill space and had to start paying to ship trash to Michigan. Wellington County still has landfill space, but it will not last forever, and the Province may not approve any more in this area. Perhaps it will soon be in Wellington's financial interest to start investing in a better network of waste diversion facilities.
They may seem to have little in common, but Erin Auto Recyclers and East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) have a natural sort of partnership when it comes to making the best re-use of valuable materials.
EWCS is primarily a social service agency, but it raises money by recycling clothing at its New To You and Bookends stores. These provide affordable options for people who need to make their money go further. Erin Auto Recyclers deals in scrap metal, but also sells used auto parts, an essential service to help people keep older vehicles on the road.
The two already work together through the Auto Angel program. People can donate cars and trucks to EWCS for a tax receipt. Erin Auto Recyclers takes possession of the vehicle, determines its value and makes a cash donation to EWCS.
With the final closing of the Hillsburgh Transfer Station this weekend, and the lack of a County facility in Erin for large usable goods and bulky waste, EWCS is planning to open a re-use centre.
EWCS can proceed knowing it has strong public support. It would be best if the County provides funding to get the project started, but Executive Director Glenyis Betts is confident that funding will be found.
The re-use centre will enable residents will drive their donations of household items right into the building, to be inspected by EWCS volunteers.
"If we don't want them, we'll send people over to Rob," said Betts.
Rob Smith, owner of Erin Auto Recyclers, has offered his site just down the road as an alternative drop-off point for some material that will normally have to be driven to the Belwood Waste Facility. His staff are already qualified to handle hazardous material like freon, motor oil, antifreeze and batteries.
He will accept appliances, electronics and all sorts of metal. It is mainly an extension of his regular business, but there is an element of community service as well. There will be more traffic, and more items to handle and store – not all of them profitable.
"When you're doing the right thing, it pays dividends," said Smith. He is willing to cooperate with the County if they want to take advantage of his site.
Since buying the business four years ago, he has worked to improve its public image, with a new roof over the open storage area, a better parking area and a computerized parts inventory. The timing is good, as the public takes more interest in environmental issues. "It's a great time to be in the recycling business," he said.
The company was recognized by the Clean Air Foundation as the first in Canada to recover mercury switches from ABS brakes, removing a harmful neurotoxin from the waste stream.
Smith said that land he owns next to the auto recycling yard could be used for a permanent re-use/recycling centre, if and when EWCS is ready to make that move. This would provide convenience to the public, while ensuring that any household hazardous wastes could be stored on the auto yard, which is licensed for them.
How this centre would be financed and operated has not been determined. Ideally, such facilities should be publicly owned, and on a larger scale. A partnership with a private business could be a benefit for Erin residents, though, if the County is not able to provide local service.
Councillor Lou Maieron points to the Bolton Recycling Centre as an ideal type of small-scale transfer station. It handles a wide variety of material, including excess household garbage, as a supplement to curbside pick-up. According to a Wellington County consultant, the Bolton facility was built in 1997 for about $2 million and costs $1.2 million a year to run. Caledon Community Services has a ReUstore on site, selling everything from jewelry to antiques. The agency leases its building for about $25,000 a year – 10 per cent of the store's annual net revenue.
Peel Region was forced to take serious action on waste diversion when it ran out of landfill space and had to start paying to ship trash to Michigan. Wellington County still has landfill space, but it will not last forever, and the Province may not approve any more in this area. Perhaps it will soon be in Wellington's financial interest to start investing in a better network of waste diversion facilities.
April 21, 2010
Computers should not be buried with the garbage
As published in The Erin Advocate
It's finally time to get rid of my Windows 98 PC. No tears will be shed when I bring it to the Electronics Recycling Day this Saturday in Erin at Centre 2000. Only memories will remain, mostly about hours spent dealing with viruses, unloadable software, malfunctioning peripherals, glacial processing, and of course, dial-up internet.
I am not ready, however, to part with my pre-internet Macintosh. It is resting comfortably in the crawl space, primarily as an antique for the benefit of future generations, an amusing relic of simpler times.
Our family has a reluctance to discard electronics that still work. I still have the black and white Zenith TV I bought with my first summer job paycheque in 1971.
Then there is the Nikon digital camera that cost $999 in 2002. It hit the ground during a hike last week, disabling the auto-focus. Now I have a choice: buy a used one of the same model on e-Bay for $49, buy a new camera that is three times more powerful for $99, or get the broken one repaired for $349.
The E-Waste Recycling Day hosted by Wellington County starts at 9 am and ends promptly at 3 pm this Saturday. There is no charge, but residents are encouraged to make a donation of food or cash to the East Wellington Community Services food bank.
Bring your computer equipment, answering machines, cameras, phones of all types, TVs, stereos, MP3 players and electronic typewriters. Not accepted: tools, games, toys, fluorescent tubes and appliances like microwaves and toasters. For more details, go to www.wellington.ca.
Wellington's first e-waste days were in other towns last October, with 1,200 vehicles delivering 120,000 lbs of waste. The line-ups were too long for some people.
"The response from the public was incredible,” said Cathy Wiebe, Administration Supervisor for Solid Waste Services. “We are extremely pleased that residents took the opportunity to drop off their old electronics to ensure they go for recycling, instead of taking up space in a landfill site.”
Some environmentalists believe that hazardous e-waste metals like lead, cadmium, beryllium and mercury are a serious problem in landfills. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says they are not a threat to human health if handled properly.
The EPA still promotes e-recycling to reduce environmental impacts and energy demands from mining and manufacturing. It says recycling one million laptops saves enough energy to power 3,657 homes for a year. And circuit boards have far higher concentrations of gold and copper than ore mined from the earth.
Recently I took a printer to the transfer station. The ink cartridges were saved as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), but the rest went into the regular garbage. The Belwood Waste Facility is set up to handle HHW and re-usable items, but not electronics as a separate waste stream. Addition of that service would be a logical improvement over the once-a-year event.
Staples has just expanded its recycling services. Their stores have offered bins for discarded ink and toner, cell phones, pagers and chargers and batteries, and they now accept TVs, computers and many other products.
Locally, alkaline batteries up to Size D can be dropped off at any library branch. For more options, go to www.dowhatyoucan.ca. Enter your waste item and postal code, and get a list of destinations.
An estimated 100 million cell phones are discarded every year in the US, along with 32 million computers. Millions of tonnes of e-waste are shipped to impoverished areas of China, in violation of a UN treaty. There it is torn apart and melted under appalling working conditions to extract reusable plastics and metals, resulting in severe environmental damage.
The County has contracted Global Electric Electronic Processing (GEEP) to recycle material from its seven e-waste event days, one in each municipality this year. GEEP has locations across Canada and abroad, with ten facilities and 350 employees, diverting 200,000 tonnes of e-waste from landfill annually. Based in Barrie, they boast the "largest, most comprehensive state-of-the-art processing facility for e-waste…globally."
They re-use what they can, including purging and re-imaging hard drives ("If there's any value left in it, we'll find a user for it!"), and the rest is crushed and sorted into salable commodities. In February, GEEP was designated as a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher, allowing them to install Windows XP on recycled computers.
So my PC may live again, but it will have to live somewhere else.
It's finally time to get rid of my Windows 98 PC. No tears will be shed when I bring it to the Electronics Recycling Day this Saturday in Erin at Centre 2000. Only memories will remain, mostly about hours spent dealing with viruses, unloadable software, malfunctioning peripherals, glacial processing, and of course, dial-up internet.
I am not ready, however, to part with my pre-internet Macintosh. It is resting comfortably in the crawl space, primarily as an antique for the benefit of future generations, an amusing relic of simpler times.
Our family has a reluctance to discard electronics that still work. I still have the black and white Zenith TV I bought with my first summer job paycheque in 1971.
Then there is the Nikon digital camera that cost $999 in 2002. It hit the ground during a hike last week, disabling the auto-focus. Now I have a choice: buy a used one of the same model on e-Bay for $49, buy a new camera that is three times more powerful for $99, or get the broken one repaired for $349.
The E-Waste Recycling Day hosted by Wellington County starts at 9 am and ends promptly at 3 pm this Saturday. There is no charge, but residents are encouraged to make a donation of food or cash to the East Wellington Community Services food bank.
Bring your computer equipment, answering machines, cameras, phones of all types, TVs, stereos, MP3 players and electronic typewriters. Not accepted: tools, games, toys, fluorescent tubes and appliances like microwaves and toasters. For more details, go to www.wellington.ca.
Wellington's first e-waste days were in other towns last October, with 1,200 vehicles delivering 120,000 lbs of waste. The line-ups were too long for some people.
"The response from the public was incredible,” said Cathy Wiebe, Administration Supervisor for Solid Waste Services. “We are extremely pleased that residents took the opportunity to drop off their old electronics to ensure they go for recycling, instead of taking up space in a landfill site.”
Some environmentalists believe that hazardous e-waste metals like lead, cadmium, beryllium and mercury are a serious problem in landfills. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says they are not a threat to human health if handled properly.
The EPA still promotes e-recycling to reduce environmental impacts and energy demands from mining and manufacturing. It says recycling one million laptops saves enough energy to power 3,657 homes for a year. And circuit boards have far higher concentrations of gold and copper than ore mined from the earth.
Recently I took a printer to the transfer station. The ink cartridges were saved as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), but the rest went into the regular garbage. The Belwood Waste Facility is set up to handle HHW and re-usable items, but not electronics as a separate waste stream. Addition of that service would be a logical improvement over the once-a-year event.
Staples has just expanded its recycling services. Their stores have offered bins for discarded ink and toner, cell phones, pagers and chargers and batteries, and they now accept TVs, computers and many other products.
Locally, alkaline batteries up to Size D can be dropped off at any library branch. For more options, go to www.dowhatyoucan.ca. Enter your waste item and postal code, and get a list of destinations.
An estimated 100 million cell phones are discarded every year in the US, along with 32 million computers. Millions of tonnes of e-waste are shipped to impoverished areas of China, in violation of a UN treaty. There it is torn apart and melted under appalling working conditions to extract reusable plastics and metals, resulting in severe environmental damage.
The County has contracted Global Electric Electronic Processing (GEEP) to recycle material from its seven e-waste event days, one in each municipality this year. GEEP has locations across Canada and abroad, with ten facilities and 350 employees, diverting 200,000 tonnes of e-waste from landfill annually. Based in Barrie, they boast the "largest, most comprehensive state-of-the-art processing facility for e-waste…globally."
They re-use what they can, including purging and re-imaging hard drives ("If there's any value left in it, we'll find a user for it!"), and the rest is crushed and sorted into salable commodities. In February, GEEP was designated as a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher, allowing them to install Windows XP on recycled computers.
So my PC may live again, but it will have to live somewhere else.
April 14, 2010
Meet the new pro at Try Tennis Day
As published in The Erin Advocate
Smaller racquets, smaller courts and slower balls are some of the innovations planned by Erin's new tennis pro, to help beginners have fun while learning the basics of the game.
As a coach for 35 years, Doug Ing works on both the physical and mental skills that tennis players need in order to meet their goals – whether it is being competitive in a tournament, or simply getting the ball over the net.
Adults and children are invited to attend Try Tennis Day, hosted by the Erin Tennis Club this Saturday, April 17, from 9 am to 1 pm, at the courts behind Centre 2000. It is free and racquets are provided, along with prizes and a barbeque.
A club membership costs $85 for adults, $50 for juniors and $140 for a family. It includes free use of the courts, house league play, a singles ladder, various themed fun nights, tournaments, junior house league on Tuesday mornings (starting July 6), ladies' tennis on Saturday mornings and men's tennis on Sunday mornings.
It also includes four free group lessons, on Monday evenings starting April 26 for the kids, and on Tuesday evenings starting April 27 for adults. For more information on the club, call Brian Gentles at 519-833-9715.
Children as young as five and six are encouraged to learn the game. Special equipment helps beginners of all ages, but it is especially important for the younger ones. The softer balls are less likely to go flying out of control and Ing starts with a mini court, just 36 feet. Students can keep the ball going back and forth, even on their first day, which is almost as fun as winning.
It is called Progressive Tennis, an official coaching initiative of Tennis Canada. There are three training stages: each step brings a livelier ball, longer racquet and larger court size. This helps the player stay in control while they work on proper positioning and stroke technique.
"The idea is to get kids to a secure place, with values like sharing and cooperation," said Ing. "We start with movement, and it's important to understand that everyone learns at their own pace." He offers free assessments to determine the level of each child, so they can be grouped with compatible players.
Tennis is a livelihood for Ing, so members (or non-members) can sign up for lessons at an additional cost. There are also clinics for adults, including Cardio Tennis, Beginners, Doubles Strategy and high-paced drills. Ing can be reached at 519-217-8772.
"I just love coaching," he said. "That's really the drive for me – it's exciting to work with people and develop them."
In addition to the free lessons, the Junior Spring After-School Clinics offer eight sessions, at a cost of $80 for members. There is also a Competitive Player Development Program, which includes intensive drills and video analysis.
The Summer Tennis Camps are back, with six one-week sessions, 1-4 pm. The cost is $115 per child, per week. It includes physical exercise, skills training and match play.
With support from the Optimist and Rotary Clubs, the Tennis Club offers up to 3 slots per week for kids that need financial help to attend. Application for these slots can be made through East Wellington Community Services.
The Erin Tennis Club is a self-financing committee of the Town of Erin, which owns the courts. Guests are welcome to play when accompanied by member. The guest fee is $5.
Smaller racquets, smaller courts and slower balls are some of the innovations planned by Erin's new tennis pro, to help beginners have fun while learning the basics of the game.
As a coach for 35 years, Doug Ing works on both the physical and mental skills that tennis players need in order to meet their goals – whether it is being competitive in a tournament, or simply getting the ball over the net.
Adults and children are invited to attend Try Tennis Day, hosted by the Erin Tennis Club this Saturday, April 17, from 9 am to 1 pm, at the courts behind Centre 2000. It is free and racquets are provided, along with prizes and a barbeque.
A club membership costs $85 for adults, $50 for juniors and $140 for a family. It includes free use of the courts, house league play, a singles ladder, various themed fun nights, tournaments, junior house league on Tuesday mornings (starting July 6), ladies' tennis on Saturday mornings and men's tennis on Sunday mornings.
It also includes four free group lessons, on Monday evenings starting April 26 for the kids, and on Tuesday evenings starting April 27 for adults. For more information on the club, call Brian Gentles at 519-833-9715.
Children as young as five and six are encouraged to learn the game. Special equipment helps beginners of all ages, but it is especially important for the younger ones. The softer balls are less likely to go flying out of control and Ing starts with a mini court, just 36 feet. Students can keep the ball going back and forth, even on their first day, which is almost as fun as winning.
It is called Progressive Tennis, an official coaching initiative of Tennis Canada. There are three training stages: each step brings a livelier ball, longer racquet and larger court size. This helps the player stay in control while they work on proper positioning and stroke technique.
"The idea is to get kids to a secure place, with values like sharing and cooperation," said Ing. "We start with movement, and it's important to understand that everyone learns at their own pace." He offers free assessments to determine the level of each child, so they can be grouped with compatible players.
Tennis is a livelihood for Ing, so members (or non-members) can sign up for lessons at an additional cost. There are also clinics for adults, including Cardio Tennis, Beginners, Doubles Strategy and high-paced drills. Ing can be reached at 519-217-8772.
"I just love coaching," he said. "That's really the drive for me – it's exciting to work with people and develop them."
In addition to the free lessons, the Junior Spring After-School Clinics offer eight sessions, at a cost of $80 for members. There is also a Competitive Player Development Program, which includes intensive drills and video analysis.
The Summer Tennis Camps are back, with six one-week sessions, 1-4 pm. The cost is $115 per child, per week. It includes physical exercise, skills training and match play.
With support from the Optimist and Rotary Clubs, the Tennis Club offers up to 3 slots per week for kids that need financial help to attend. Application for these slots can be made through East Wellington Community Services.
The Erin Tennis Club is a self-financing committee of the Town of Erin, which owns the courts. Guests are welcome to play when accompanied by member. The guest fee is $5.
April 07, 2010
Good riddance to the Hillsburgh Transfer Station
As published in The Erin Advocate
I am going to miss the Hillsburgh Transfer Station when it closes next month. I will have to forgo the satisfaction of loading my vehicle with trash and spending 45 minutes on Saturday making the round trip from south Erin. I will have to figure out what to do with the $200 per year I will save on gasoline.
Actually, when rural pickup starts, the main thing I will miss is the ability to deal with my garbage and recycling on my own schedule. Soon, I will have to put them at the end of my driveway early in the morning on every second Thursday. But I will be glad to never again wait in line at "the dump".
Some people are upset about closure of the station, and I do respect their sentiments. There will be new inconveniences, affecting some residents more than others. Urban dwellers will no longer have the option of skipping their pickup and bringing garbage to Hillsburgh for just $1 per large bag. Now both urban and rural residents will have to buy special bags at local stores ($1.75 for large, $1 for small).
Rural pickup every two weeks is not ideal, but it is manageable. Overall, I think the advantages of the new system far outweigh the disadvantages, and there are still opportunities for improvement, especially weekly pickup in the summer.
Environmentally, the benefits are clear. It takes a lot less labour and gasoline to operate garbage trucks than it does to have between 700 and 925 residents making weekly trips to a fully-staffed station. Rural pickup is an economical service that has been unreasonably withheld from us by Wellington County for the past ten years.
The Hillsburgh site has to be closed because it sits on an old garbage dump that is leaking pollutants. Presumably it was a matter of expedience for the Township to put a transfer station on top of a closed landfill site in 1984, but in hindsight, not a good idea. The last day of operation for the Hillsburgh site is set for May 1, but Councillor Lou Maieron is asking the County to postpone closure until the end of May.
The County's strategy, when it took responsibility for the site in 2001, was to propose a new station near Ospringe. There was opposition in Erin, forcing the County to scrap the plan. I thought the environmental risks at Ospringe were minimal, but I knew that if they built a new transfer station, we would never get rural pick-up. Instead of coming up with a new plan, the County studied, and waited.
In its March newsletter, County Solid Waste Services (SWS) brags about being "good custodians" of closed landfill sites. It appears, though, that it was primarily pressure from the Ministry of the Environment that prompted closure of the Hillsburgh site after so many years.
Here is the SWS comment on the Ospringe site controversy, from its newsletter: "Unfortunately, the County was unable to proceed with the development of this facility due to public and political opposition."
Unfortunately? That is like saying: "Unfortunately, democracy worked." Or: "Unfortunately, we had to listen to the taxpayers." What is truly unfortunate is the arrogant attitude that Erin often senses from County officials.
Fortunately, Mayor Rod Finnie and Councillor Maieron have listened well to residents and worked hard to advance Erin's interests at County Council.
Now, Erin residents are upset that they will have to drive to the Belwood Waste Facility to drop off bulky garbage, scrap metal, wood, tires, reusable items and household hazardous waste. The cost of a new comprehensive facility to handle these items for Erin-Rockwood would be far less than that of a full transfer station.
Belwood is not "conveniently located" as the County claims. Councillor Maieron said other areas in Wellington are well-served with convenient transfer stations that have far lower usage than Hillsburgh. He also estimates that garbage bag sales could cover the full cost of Erin garbage collection. "Our taxes are going to subsidize service in other parts of the County," he said.
The Belwood site is 40 minutes one way for me, but I will only have to make the trip three or four times a year. It is about 30 minutes (31 km) from Erin village, and 20 minutes (23 km) from Hillsburgh, taking County Road 22 west, north on the Town Line (Road 26) through Belwood village, then west 2 km on Road 19. The alternate route through Marsville is a bit slower.
Nothing definite yet, but there are ongoing discussions with East Wellington Community Services about creating a reuse store, where people could donate good used bulky items (not garbage), which could be sold to the public at low prices.
"We would like to generate revenue to support our other programs," said Executive Director Glenyis Betts, who hopes a location can be opened soon.
I am going to miss the Hillsburgh Transfer Station when it closes next month. I will have to forgo the satisfaction of loading my vehicle with trash and spending 45 minutes on Saturday making the round trip from south Erin. I will have to figure out what to do with the $200 per year I will save on gasoline.
Actually, when rural pickup starts, the main thing I will miss is the ability to deal with my garbage and recycling on my own schedule. Soon, I will have to put them at the end of my driveway early in the morning on every second Thursday. But I will be glad to never again wait in line at "the dump".
Some people are upset about closure of the station, and I do respect their sentiments. There will be new inconveniences, affecting some residents more than others. Urban dwellers will no longer have the option of skipping their pickup and bringing garbage to Hillsburgh for just $1 per large bag. Now both urban and rural residents will have to buy special bags at local stores ($1.75 for large, $1 for small).
Rural pickup every two weeks is not ideal, but it is manageable. Overall, I think the advantages of the new system far outweigh the disadvantages, and there are still opportunities for improvement, especially weekly pickup in the summer.
Environmentally, the benefits are clear. It takes a lot less labour and gasoline to operate garbage trucks than it does to have between 700 and 925 residents making weekly trips to a fully-staffed station. Rural pickup is an economical service that has been unreasonably withheld from us by Wellington County for the past ten years.
The Hillsburgh site has to be closed because it sits on an old garbage dump that is leaking pollutants. Presumably it was a matter of expedience for the Township to put a transfer station on top of a closed landfill site in 1984, but in hindsight, not a good idea. The last day of operation for the Hillsburgh site is set for May 1, but Councillor Lou Maieron is asking the County to postpone closure until the end of May.
The County's strategy, when it took responsibility for the site in 2001, was to propose a new station near Ospringe. There was opposition in Erin, forcing the County to scrap the plan. I thought the environmental risks at Ospringe were minimal, but I knew that if they built a new transfer station, we would never get rural pick-up. Instead of coming up with a new plan, the County studied, and waited.
In its March newsletter, County Solid Waste Services (SWS) brags about being "good custodians" of closed landfill sites. It appears, though, that it was primarily pressure from the Ministry of the Environment that prompted closure of the Hillsburgh site after so many years.
Here is the SWS comment on the Ospringe site controversy, from its newsletter: "Unfortunately, the County was unable to proceed with the development of this facility due to public and political opposition."
Unfortunately? That is like saying: "Unfortunately, democracy worked." Or: "Unfortunately, we had to listen to the taxpayers." What is truly unfortunate is the arrogant attitude that Erin often senses from County officials.
Fortunately, Mayor Rod Finnie and Councillor Maieron have listened well to residents and worked hard to advance Erin's interests at County Council.
Now, Erin residents are upset that they will have to drive to the Belwood Waste Facility to drop off bulky garbage, scrap metal, wood, tires, reusable items and household hazardous waste. The cost of a new comprehensive facility to handle these items for Erin-Rockwood would be far less than that of a full transfer station.
Belwood is not "conveniently located" as the County claims. Councillor Maieron said other areas in Wellington are well-served with convenient transfer stations that have far lower usage than Hillsburgh. He also estimates that garbage bag sales could cover the full cost of Erin garbage collection. "Our taxes are going to subsidize service in other parts of the County," he said.
The Belwood site is 40 minutes one way for me, but I will only have to make the trip three or four times a year. It is about 30 minutes (31 km) from Erin village, and 20 minutes (23 km) from Hillsburgh, taking County Road 22 west, north on the Town Line (Road 26) through Belwood village, then west 2 km on Road 19. The alternate route through Marsville is a bit slower.
Nothing definite yet, but there are ongoing discussions with East Wellington Community Services about creating a reuse store, where people could donate good used bulky items (not garbage), which could be sold to the public at low prices.
"We would like to generate revenue to support our other programs," said Executive Director Glenyis Betts, who hopes a location can be opened soon.
March 31, 2010
The two-furrow riding plow
The Advocate's Devil – Historical Flash Fiction
“MONEY TO LOAN: – I have any amount of money at a low rate on first mortgage. W. HULL”
It was just the sort of filler that Wellington Hull loved to drop into the pages of his newspaper. Like most businessmen, he wore several hats.
Case in point, the advertisement on page one of today's Erin Advocate (Wednesday, March 30, 1910) from J.W. Turner, the Hillsburgh funeral director: “Our wallpaper has been tried and found guilty and condemned to be hung. Call early and get the bargains before they are all hung. Four cents and upwards per single roll.” Hillsburgh humour at its finest.
Here in Erin village, Mr. Hull was in the business of knowing everyone else's business. People who didn't qualify for a loan at the Union Bank could simply go upstairs to the newspaper office and make a deal with Hull. He was constantly auctioning farms and machinery, offering eight months of credit on sums over $10.
Hull was also the Erin “Correspondent” for the Standard Mercantile Agency of Toronto. That meant he was not only a debt collector for far-away wholesalers, but was empowered to rate the credit-worthiness of any Erin businessman. Information was the key to his success, which is why I was in his office. A printer's devil always gets the dirty jobs.
“Robert Campbell wants to borrow money from me, but he's new in town, so no one knows much about him. Last fall he showed me a brand new horse-drawn gang plow. Two-furrow. Seat for the driver and big wheels. International Harvester. Wants to put it up as collateral, but I don't think it he owns it. Suspect he borrowed it from his brother in Rockside, just for show.
“Now I have it on good authority that he and his family are going by stage coach to Fergus today to visit his uncle, who has taken ill. Take this letter to Campbell's farm, and when you find no one home, take a look in his barn. I need to know what implements he has there now.”
I took my 25 cent bonus and smiled about the things Hull didn't know, like the fact that I knew the combination to his office safe. And the distinct possibility that Campbell's 17-year-old daughter Edna would be home, alone. I packed a flask of Erin's finest and set off.
Caught a ride with a buggy headed for Alton and got off at the Tenth Line. As I neared the farm on foot, I saw a man on horseback riding down the lane from the house. I ducked into the swampy bush beside the road, and when he turned and rode by I saw it was George McCutcheon, a slimy sort who hung about the hotels and loaned money at usurious rates.
My friend at the post office said McCutcheon had received a mail order package of Phosphonol, advertised as an “Electric Restorer for Men” that would return every nerve in the body to its proper tension. “Premature decay and all sexual weakness averted at once.” Just $3 a box – almost half a week's wages.
Running up the lane, I found no one at the house. I stepped into the barn and heard a curse from the horse stalls. Edna stepped out, covered in straw, fastening the buttons of her blouse.
“Ethan! So nice to see you. Come here. Let's have a li'll dance.” Her words were slurred as she stumbled and grabbed my shoulders. I remembered last year's Fall Fair, when we had danced, then snuck off into the woods near the river. “What's the matter, you don't wanna dance?”
“Did he force you?”
“Ha!” She started laughing, caught herself, then put on her serious face. “No.”
“Why was he here?”
“I invited him. He was here last week, arguing with papa. We owe him 5 dollars. Or should I say, we used to owe him.”
“You shouldn't have.”
“Don't worry. I didn't.” She started to giggle. “Georgie Porgie wasn't up to the task.” She laughed, coughed, gagged, and soon the whiskey she had consumed was on the barn floor.
As she composed herself, I looked around. There was a small harrow, a rusty mower, a big wagon and an old-fashioned one-furrow walking plow.
I took Edna to her bedroom and laid her down on the bed. I covered her up, placed a kiss on her temple, breathed in the soft scent of her hair, and left.
“Yes, sir. I had a good look around Campbell's barn. There was a small harrow, a rusty mower, a big wagon and a brand new two-furrow riding plow.”
“Did anyone see you?”
“Not a soul.”
“MONEY TO LOAN: – I have any amount of money at a low rate on first mortgage. W. HULL”
It was just the sort of filler that Wellington Hull loved to drop into the pages of his newspaper. Like most businessmen, he wore several hats.
Case in point, the advertisement on page one of today's Erin Advocate (Wednesday, March 30, 1910) from J.W. Turner, the Hillsburgh funeral director: “Our wallpaper has been tried and found guilty and condemned to be hung. Call early and get the bargains before they are all hung. Four cents and upwards per single roll.” Hillsburgh humour at its finest.
Here in Erin village, Mr. Hull was in the business of knowing everyone else's business. People who didn't qualify for a loan at the Union Bank could simply go upstairs to the newspaper office and make a deal with Hull. He was constantly auctioning farms and machinery, offering eight months of credit on sums over $10.
Hull was also the Erin “Correspondent” for the Standard Mercantile Agency of Toronto. That meant he was not only a debt collector for far-away wholesalers, but was empowered to rate the credit-worthiness of any Erin businessman. Information was the key to his success, which is why I was in his office. A printer's devil always gets the dirty jobs.
“Robert Campbell wants to borrow money from me, but he's new in town, so no one knows much about him. Last fall he showed me a brand new horse-drawn gang plow. Two-furrow. Seat for the driver and big wheels. International Harvester. Wants to put it up as collateral, but I don't think it he owns it. Suspect he borrowed it from his brother in Rockside, just for show.
“Now I have it on good authority that he and his family are going by stage coach to Fergus today to visit his uncle, who has taken ill. Take this letter to Campbell's farm, and when you find no one home, take a look in his barn. I need to know what implements he has there now.”
I took my 25 cent bonus and smiled about the things Hull didn't know, like the fact that I knew the combination to his office safe. And the distinct possibility that Campbell's 17-year-old daughter Edna would be home, alone. I packed a flask of Erin's finest and set off.
Caught a ride with a buggy headed for Alton and got off at the Tenth Line. As I neared the farm on foot, I saw a man on horseback riding down the lane from the house. I ducked into the swampy bush beside the road, and when he turned and rode by I saw it was George McCutcheon, a slimy sort who hung about the hotels and loaned money at usurious rates.
My friend at the post office said McCutcheon had received a mail order package of Phosphonol, advertised as an “Electric Restorer for Men” that would return every nerve in the body to its proper tension. “Premature decay and all sexual weakness averted at once.” Just $3 a box – almost half a week's wages.
Running up the lane, I found no one at the house. I stepped into the barn and heard a curse from the horse stalls. Edna stepped out, covered in straw, fastening the buttons of her blouse.
“Ethan! So nice to see you. Come here. Let's have a li'll dance.” Her words were slurred as she stumbled and grabbed my shoulders. I remembered last year's Fall Fair, when we had danced, then snuck off into the woods near the river. “What's the matter, you don't wanna dance?”
“Did he force you?”
“Ha!” She started laughing, caught herself, then put on her serious face. “No.”
“Why was he here?”
“I invited him. He was here last week, arguing with papa. We owe him 5 dollars. Or should I say, we used to owe him.”
“You shouldn't have.”
“Don't worry. I didn't.” She started to giggle. “Georgie Porgie wasn't up to the task.” She laughed, coughed, gagged, and soon the whiskey she had consumed was on the barn floor.
As she composed herself, I looked around. There was a small harrow, a rusty mower, a big wagon and an old-fashioned one-furrow walking plow.
I took Edna to her bedroom and laid her down on the bed. I covered her up, placed a kiss on her temple, breathed in the soft scent of her hair, and left.
“Yes, sir. I had a good look around Campbell's barn. There was a small harrow, a rusty mower, a big wagon and a brand new two-furrow riding plow.”
“Did anyone see you?”
“Not a soul.”
Public input crucial for highway improvements
As published in The Erin Advocate
They actually wrote back to me, and it wasn't a form letter. In December, I wrote to the Ministry of Transportation team that is planning new links for the Brampton-Milton-Guelph area, voicing opposition to a major highway through the Escarpment and the farms of south Erin.
"In regards to your comments about making every possible effort to avoid crossing the Niagara Escarpment with new transportation infrastructure, the EA (Environmental Assessment) process being followed by the GTA West Project Team is designed to carefully consider potential impacts to environmental features including the Niagara Escarpment, Greenbelt, Oak Ridges Moraine and other conservation areas during the generation and evaluation of alternatives."
The language may be bureaucratic, and it isn't signed by an individual, but at least someone read my letter and took the time to respond. My view that it would be better for the economy to build a highway from Brampton to Milton, south of Georgetown, instead of to Guelph via Erin has been "noted".
They made no comment about the possibility of expanding Wellington Road 124 or other roads like Winston Churchill, other than to say that public feedback and other factors are being weighed to come up with a "recommended" strategy, to be presented at a Public Information Centre this spring.
When I expressed concerns about the high rate of growth in Southern Ontario, they reminded me that the Ontario government has identified growth centres like Brampton, Milton and Guelph, and that their job is to improve transportation linkages.
Ontario's Places to Grow program attempts to manage growth in a way that "supports economic prosperity, protects the environment and helps communities achieve a high quality of life." This includes "more compact" communities, to avoid urban sprawl. The Greater Golden Horseshoe is expected to add 3.7 million more people by 2031. Do we need that many more people, or could we manage with 2.7 million? How about 1.7 million?
I was surprised to learn that the population of Brampton is estimated at 510,000. It was only about 180,000 when I worked there in 1985, when it was already one of Canada's fastest-growing cities, having added 100,000 people in the previous ten years.
I suggested to the GTA Project Team that a GO Transit shuttle bus service between the Georgetown train station and nearby communities would make better use of the rail capacity, which is now being expanded. They said they are already recommending expansion of inter-regional GO Bus routes to feed GO Rail stations.
With a recent provincial budget that deferred many transit projects, we shouldn't expect much soon. But still, bus service is an achievable goal that Erin should lobby hard to obtain, since it would be a substantial benefit for many residents and businesses.
In other commuter news, the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for rebuilding Winston Churchill Boulevard from Olde Baseline Road to the top of the Terra Cotta hill has been completed.
Project Manager Solmaz Zia said that in response to public concerns, "a number of adjustments were made to limit grading impacts to properties, heritage stone fences and mature trees along the existing right-of-way."
The project will resolve serious safety issues on the road, but result in more traffic through Terra Cotta. The two-lane road will be paved, with improved sightlines and drainage, and the speed limited reduced from 70 to 60 kph. There will be four-way stop signs at Ballinafad Road and Olde Baseline. Zia said that wildlife habitat will be protected in compliance with the Ontario Endangered Species Act.
Objections to the plan can be submitted until May 4. If they cannot be resolved in discussion with Peel Region, any person or group can request that the Minister of the Environment order further review. The ministry would make the final decision.
They actually wrote back to me, and it wasn't a form letter. In December, I wrote to the Ministry of Transportation team that is planning new links for the Brampton-Milton-Guelph area, voicing opposition to a major highway through the Escarpment and the farms of south Erin.
"In regards to your comments about making every possible effort to avoid crossing the Niagara Escarpment with new transportation infrastructure, the EA (Environmental Assessment) process being followed by the GTA West Project Team is designed to carefully consider potential impacts to environmental features including the Niagara Escarpment, Greenbelt, Oak Ridges Moraine and other conservation areas during the generation and evaluation of alternatives."
The language may be bureaucratic, and it isn't signed by an individual, but at least someone read my letter and took the time to respond. My view that it would be better for the economy to build a highway from Brampton to Milton, south of Georgetown, instead of to Guelph via Erin has been "noted".
They made no comment about the possibility of expanding Wellington Road 124 or other roads like Winston Churchill, other than to say that public feedback and other factors are being weighed to come up with a "recommended" strategy, to be presented at a Public Information Centre this spring.
When I expressed concerns about the high rate of growth in Southern Ontario, they reminded me that the Ontario government has identified growth centres like Brampton, Milton and Guelph, and that their job is to improve transportation linkages.
Ontario's Places to Grow program attempts to manage growth in a way that "supports economic prosperity, protects the environment and helps communities achieve a high quality of life." This includes "more compact" communities, to avoid urban sprawl. The Greater Golden Horseshoe is expected to add 3.7 million more people by 2031. Do we need that many more people, or could we manage with 2.7 million? How about 1.7 million?
I was surprised to learn that the population of Brampton is estimated at 510,000. It was only about 180,000 when I worked there in 1985, when it was already one of Canada's fastest-growing cities, having added 100,000 people in the previous ten years.
I suggested to the GTA Project Team that a GO Transit shuttle bus service between the Georgetown train station and nearby communities would make better use of the rail capacity, which is now being expanded. They said they are already recommending expansion of inter-regional GO Bus routes to feed GO Rail stations.
With a recent provincial budget that deferred many transit projects, we shouldn't expect much soon. But still, bus service is an achievable goal that Erin should lobby hard to obtain, since it would be a substantial benefit for many residents and businesses.
In other commuter news, the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for rebuilding Winston Churchill Boulevard from Olde Baseline Road to the top of the Terra Cotta hill has been completed.
Project Manager Solmaz Zia said that in response to public concerns, "a number of adjustments were made to limit grading impacts to properties, heritage stone fences and mature trees along the existing right-of-way."
The project will resolve serious safety issues on the road, but result in more traffic through Terra Cotta. The two-lane road will be paved, with improved sightlines and drainage, and the speed limited reduced from 70 to 60 kph. There will be four-way stop signs at Ballinafad Road and Olde Baseline. Zia said that wildlife habitat will be protected in compliance with the Ontario Endangered Species Act.
Objections to the plan can be submitted until May 4. If they cannot be resolved in discussion with Peel Region, any person or group can request that the Minister of the Environment order further review. The ministry would make the final decision.
March 24, 2010
Economic committee wants input from local firms
As published in The Erin Advocate
Erin's Economic Development Committee is hoping to get more advice on how the town's business climate can be improved.
Preliminary assessment is being done on a questionnaire that could end up going to every business in Erin. It is part of an Ontario government program called Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E), designed to help communities attract and keep the type of development that they want.
"It is potentially a huge project," said Brian Gentles, who recently took over as chair of the committee, which advises Town Council on business issues. He said they cannot presume to tell business people what is best for them.
"We want to get advice, but in a structured way," he said. "People have different frames of reference. We need a well-communicated plan."
His own opinion is that Erin should pursue moderate growth. "When you don't grow, you decline," he said.
If the Town proceeds with the BR+E program, it will help the community build up a data base that identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A team of volunteers would be trained to conduct the confidential survey and a task force of community leaders assembled to analyze and summarize the key needs and issues facing the business sector. The process builds partnerships and helps the Town develop specific actions to improve the business climate.
In other Ontario towns, this has included improved municipal approval processes, more effective tourism marketing, goals for new infrastructure, and training programs for skills development and customer service. More information on this and other Rural Economic Development Programs is available from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: www.reddi.gov.on.ca, or email: bre@omafra.gov.on.ca.
The Economic Development Committee's best known project has been the successful Home & Lifestyle Show, now in its sixth year. It will be held Saturday, May 1 at Centre 2000, 10 am to 4 pm, with admission $2 for adults. The Rotary Club will help staff the show this year. Gentles is expecting more than 800 visitors, checking out 80-90 booths. Businesses can register until March 31 – go to www.erin.ca, call (519) 855-6683 or email: ewintersinger@hotmail.com.
The committee is also reviving the idea of hosting informal business breakfast meetings, including guest speakers. The first one is planned for May.
In a related development, former Town Councillor Mary Shields has been working towards launching the East Wellington Chamber of Commerce, which will encompass Erin and Guelph/Eramosa (Rockwood). It would be independent of the Town, the BIA and the Economic Development Committee, though there are overlapping interests.
It sounds like a good idea, worthy of some enthusiasm and cooperation to get it started. Chambers of Commerce are voluntary associations of business and professional people working to strengthen the community. Unlike Business Improvement Areas, they are not supported by a surcharge on municipal business taxes. They act as a voice to government and the media for the broader business community.
The new Chamber will host a sign-up night for businesses that may be interested in becoming founding members. It will be at the Town of Erin offices on Trafalgar Road on Tuesday, March 30, 7:30-8:30 pm. For details, contact Acting Executive Director Mary Shields, 519-941-9419, or mary.shields@sympatico.ca.
For an idea of how it could work, take a look at what Georgetown and Acton are doing through the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce. The organization gives businesses exposure on the internet and through directories, including a quarterly newsletter published by The Independent & Free Press.
It offers group insurance and on-line business training, provides social/networking groups, including Halton Hills Women in Business, runs events such as the Halton Hills Home and Leisure Show, does tourism promotion, and gives out various awards. The group has been a business advocate since 1912, getting involved in local and provincial/national issues and providing a link to the Ontario and Canadian Chambers of Commerce.
Annual membership costs range from $212 for firms with 1-4 employees, to $630 for those with more than 200 employees. Check it out at www.haltonhillschamber.on.ca.
Erin's Economic Development Committee is hoping to get more advice on how the town's business climate can be improved.
Preliminary assessment is being done on a questionnaire that could end up going to every business in Erin. It is part of an Ontario government program called Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E), designed to help communities attract and keep the type of development that they want.
"It is potentially a huge project," said Brian Gentles, who recently took over as chair of the committee, which advises Town Council on business issues. He said they cannot presume to tell business people what is best for them.
"We want to get advice, but in a structured way," he said. "People have different frames of reference. We need a well-communicated plan."
His own opinion is that Erin should pursue moderate growth. "When you don't grow, you decline," he said.
If the Town proceeds with the BR+E program, it will help the community build up a data base that identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A team of volunteers would be trained to conduct the confidential survey and a task force of community leaders assembled to analyze and summarize the key needs and issues facing the business sector. The process builds partnerships and helps the Town develop specific actions to improve the business climate.
In other Ontario towns, this has included improved municipal approval processes, more effective tourism marketing, goals for new infrastructure, and training programs for skills development and customer service. More information on this and other Rural Economic Development Programs is available from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: www.reddi.gov.on.ca, or email: bre@omafra.gov.on.ca.
The Economic Development Committee's best known project has been the successful Home & Lifestyle Show, now in its sixth year. It will be held Saturday, May 1 at Centre 2000, 10 am to 4 pm, with admission $2 for adults. The Rotary Club will help staff the show this year. Gentles is expecting more than 800 visitors, checking out 80-90 booths. Businesses can register until March 31 – go to www.erin.ca, call (519) 855-6683 or email: ewintersinger@hotmail.com.
The committee is also reviving the idea of hosting informal business breakfast meetings, including guest speakers. The first one is planned for May.
In a related development, former Town Councillor Mary Shields has been working towards launching the East Wellington Chamber of Commerce, which will encompass Erin and Guelph/Eramosa (Rockwood). It would be independent of the Town, the BIA and the Economic Development Committee, though there are overlapping interests.
It sounds like a good idea, worthy of some enthusiasm and cooperation to get it started. Chambers of Commerce are voluntary associations of business and professional people working to strengthen the community. Unlike Business Improvement Areas, they are not supported by a surcharge on municipal business taxes. They act as a voice to government and the media for the broader business community.
The new Chamber will host a sign-up night for businesses that may be interested in becoming founding members. It will be at the Town of Erin offices on Trafalgar Road on Tuesday, March 30, 7:30-8:30 pm. For details, contact Acting Executive Director Mary Shields, 519-941-9419, or mary.shields@sympatico.ca.
For an idea of how it could work, take a look at what Georgetown and Acton are doing through the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce. The organization gives businesses exposure on the internet and through directories, including a quarterly newsletter published by The Independent & Free Press.
It offers group insurance and on-line business training, provides social/networking groups, including Halton Hills Women in Business, runs events such as the Halton Hills Home and Leisure Show, does tourism promotion, and gives out various awards. The group has been a business advocate since 1912, getting involved in local and provincial/national issues and providing a link to the Ontario and Canadian Chambers of Commerce.
Annual membership costs range from $212 for firms with 1-4 employees, to $630 for those with more than 200 employees. Check it out at www.haltonhillschamber.on.ca.
March 17, 2010
Who really cares about protecting fresh water?
As published in The Erin Advocate
The Credit River is pleasant to behold, so as long as it doesn't dry up or catch on fire, it is easy to treat it as just part of the scenery. Here in Erin, since we are have the privilege of living in a headwaters area, we should be concerned with protecting the mix of wetlands, aquifers and streams that give life to our river.
"When you look around the world, you realize how precious fresh water is," said Andrew McCammon of the Ontario Headwaters Institute, speaking at a recent community workshop at the Terra Cotta Conservation Area.
He warned that climate change could reduce water flows, killing off a high percentage of fish and other wildlife in the Credit. His group urges the Ontario government to strengthen environmental policies, which control the work of conservation authorities, municipalities and developers.
"The function of a river is not just to move water off the land – it's much more," said Bob Morris, an aquatic biologist with Credit Valley Conservation. The CVC works to keep the river clean and cold, with the right mix of nutrients and sediment to support wildlife.
As land is developed for human activities, it is no longer acceptable to simply channel small streams into underground pipes and pave over large areas that allow water to seep into the earth.
"How many roots can we cut off a tree before it dies? It's the same for rivers," said Morris. He will be the guest speaker tomorrow night (Thursday) at the Erin Legion, at the FAST Forward environmental film series, presented by the Climate Change Action Group of Erin and the CVC. The film is Waterlife: The Story of the Last Great Supply of Drinking Water on Earth, about preservation of the Great Lakes ecosystem. It starts at 7 pm and admission is free.
The public is not always enthusiastic about preserving natural treasures. Late in the previous century, when it became common knowledge that Erin's septic waste was a serious source of pollution, there was little public concern. If enough people cared about the Credit, the problem would have been solved long ago. Environmental awareness has been taught in our schools for a long time now, but we seem to have little to show for it.
Inconvenience is more likely to stir people up than environmental damage. I cannot agree with those who would preserve the Hillsburgh Transfer Station, a leaking pile of garbage that should have been shut down 20 years ago.
The opposition to the Rockfort quarry shows how the public can be mobilized for a clear-cut cause. Erin's need for a septic sewer system, however, is more complicated, because it will involve major costs, affect future growth and require a treatment plant that will discharge into the Credit. Without strong support, the project could be put off indefinitely. Will Erin's environmentalists rally to that cause?
Education on environmental issues is key to attitude change, and one of the best ways to combine that with some fun and exercise is to get out into the natural environment. On Sunday, April 11, the CVC is holding a grand re-opening of the Terra Cotta Conservation Area, at 14452 Winston Churchill Boulevard.
It is not a return to the intensive recreational use of the 1970s and 80s, when the site was known for its campgrounds and huge outdoor pool. The focus now is on nature hikes, and events at the refurbished Watershed Learning Centre, where they have already started holding educational programs. The re-opening will include maple syrup demonstrations and wagon rides. Go to creditvalleyca.ca.
Admission is free that day, but normally it is a bit expensive if all you want to do is walk your dog for an hour. In peak seasons the cost is $4.75 per adult, $2.75 for children and seniors, and a maximum daily fee per vehicle of $20. I'd rather spend $55 on a 12-month membership ($45 for seniors, $100 per family), for unlimited admission to all the CVC Conservation Areas.
The CVC publishes an excellent 58-page booklet called Rising to the Challenge: A Handbook for Understanding and Protecting the Credit River Watershed. Well-illustrated and clearly-written, it provides basic scientific information and outlines issues at the political and household levels. Download a PDF version in the education section of the CVC website, or contact them for a printed copy.
The Credit River is pleasant to behold, so as long as it doesn't dry up or catch on fire, it is easy to treat it as just part of the scenery. Here in Erin, since we are have the privilege of living in a headwaters area, we should be concerned with protecting the mix of wetlands, aquifers and streams that give life to our river.
"When you look around the world, you realize how precious fresh water is," said Andrew McCammon of the Ontario Headwaters Institute, speaking at a recent community workshop at the Terra Cotta Conservation Area.
He warned that climate change could reduce water flows, killing off a high percentage of fish and other wildlife in the Credit. His group urges the Ontario government to strengthen environmental policies, which control the work of conservation authorities, municipalities and developers.
"The function of a river is not just to move water off the land – it's much more," said Bob Morris, an aquatic biologist with Credit Valley Conservation. The CVC works to keep the river clean and cold, with the right mix of nutrients and sediment to support wildlife.
As land is developed for human activities, it is no longer acceptable to simply channel small streams into underground pipes and pave over large areas that allow water to seep into the earth.
"How many roots can we cut off a tree before it dies? It's the same for rivers," said Morris. He will be the guest speaker tomorrow night (Thursday) at the Erin Legion, at the FAST Forward environmental film series, presented by the Climate Change Action Group of Erin and the CVC. The film is Waterlife: The Story of the Last Great Supply of Drinking Water on Earth, about preservation of the Great Lakes ecosystem. It starts at 7 pm and admission is free.
The public is not always enthusiastic about preserving natural treasures. Late in the previous century, when it became common knowledge that Erin's septic waste was a serious source of pollution, there was little public concern. If enough people cared about the Credit, the problem would have been solved long ago. Environmental awareness has been taught in our schools for a long time now, but we seem to have little to show for it.
Inconvenience is more likely to stir people up than environmental damage. I cannot agree with those who would preserve the Hillsburgh Transfer Station, a leaking pile of garbage that should have been shut down 20 years ago.
The opposition to the Rockfort quarry shows how the public can be mobilized for a clear-cut cause. Erin's need for a septic sewer system, however, is more complicated, because it will involve major costs, affect future growth and require a treatment plant that will discharge into the Credit. Without strong support, the project could be put off indefinitely. Will Erin's environmentalists rally to that cause?
Education on environmental issues is key to attitude change, and one of the best ways to combine that with some fun and exercise is to get out into the natural environment. On Sunday, April 11, the CVC is holding a grand re-opening of the Terra Cotta Conservation Area, at 14452 Winston Churchill Boulevard.
It is not a return to the intensive recreational use of the 1970s and 80s, when the site was known for its campgrounds and huge outdoor pool. The focus now is on nature hikes, and events at the refurbished Watershed Learning Centre, where they have already started holding educational programs. The re-opening will include maple syrup demonstrations and wagon rides. Go to creditvalleyca.ca.
Admission is free that day, but normally it is a bit expensive if all you want to do is walk your dog for an hour. In peak seasons the cost is $4.75 per adult, $2.75 for children and seniors, and a maximum daily fee per vehicle of $20. I'd rather spend $55 on a 12-month membership ($45 for seniors, $100 per family), for unlimited admission to all the CVC Conservation Areas.
The CVC publishes an excellent 58-page booklet called Rising to the Challenge: A Handbook for Understanding and Protecting the Credit River Watershed. Well-illustrated and clearly-written, it provides basic scientific information and outlines issues at the political and household levels. Download a PDF version in the education section of the CVC website, or contact them for a printed copy.
March 10, 2010
Sports groups launch registration blitz
As published in The Erin Advocate
On Erin's smorgasbord of organized fun, perhaps the most eccentric option is Rocketry. On two Saturdays this summer, Erin Hoops offers budding scientists the chance to build and fly their own rockets, for just $30.
Erin Hoops has expanded its selection of summer camps to 32 this year, with a different mix of activities every week. Most are $45 for the whole week, 9 am to 4 pm, with choices that include basketball, baseball, soccer, skateboarding, tennis, floor hockey, badminton, lazer tag, dance, archery, kites, golf and crafts.
"It offers a broader range for kids," said organizer Patrick Suessmuth, at the February 27 sign-up fair hosted by the Town of Erin Recreation and Culture Committee. Erin Hoops also has a March Break Variety Sports Camp, with supervision from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. Go to erinhoops.ca or call 519-833-2058.
Many children now get into organized sports even before they get into kindergarten. The Hillsburgh Minor Softball Association has their Peanuts group (for kids born in 2006) or T-Ball (2004-2005) for just $40. "It is set up to be fun, and the kids learn together," said Peanut and T-Ball Convenor Doug Todd.
Registration fees range up to $115 for teens. There will also be a Pitching Clinic, April 26-28, with separate sessions for beginners, intermediates and seniors. For more details, go to hillsburghminorsoftball.ca.
Hillsburgh Erin And District Soccer (HEADS) had more than 800 players last year. Early bird registration rates are in effect until March 15, ranging from $90 for the Under 5s to $155 for older groups (family maximum $420). Regular rates are $120 to $200 (family maximum $550). There is a Let Our Kids Play fund to help families who cannot afford the fees.
Debby Gear of HEADS has been impressed with the number of adults willing to coach and take on other duties. "It's nice when you live in a town where everyone works together," she said.
There will be another soccer sign-up session on Saturday, March 20, 10 am to 1 pm in the Centre 2000 lobby. For forms and more details, got to headsoccer.ca or call their office line, 519-855-4431.
The Erin Tennis Club is expanding its schedule of events and training. The membership cost is the same as last year: $140 per family, or $85 for adults and $50 for juniors (17 and under).
Members do not have to pay additional fees for regular court use or club activities, such as the summer junior program on Tuesday mornings. Membership also includes four free lessons (for both adults and kids), but there are fees for additional lessons.
Junior Spring After School Clinics are $80 for eight one-hour sessions. Half-day summer camp sessions (1-4 pm) are $115 per week, but families can apply to have the cost waived. There will also be a Competitive Player Development Program.
Everyone is invited to a free Try Tennis Day on April 17 at the courts, located behind Centre 2000. For more information on the club, call Brian Gentles, 519-833-9715.
New club pro Doug Ing of No Limits Coaching is starting a Munchkin Tennis class for ages 5 and 6, emphasizing fundamental movement skills. Using smaller racquets, smaller courts and slower balls at first, players progress in stages to regular tennis.
"There is no better way to ensure proper tennis development," said Ing, in his newsletter. "The focus is on physical activity, safety and tennis FUNdamentals. We don't emphasize competition for small children."
About 100 families registered for one thing or another at the fair. While it was mostly for sports, though there were two booths dedicated to reading, one from the Wellington County Library (www.wclib.ca) promoting their pirate-themed events for March Break and one from Barbara McKee of Tutor in the Hills, 519-927-01010. There was also a display on Erin's walking trails – call Steve Revell at 519-833-2571 for more information.
On Erin's smorgasbord of organized fun, perhaps the most eccentric option is Rocketry. On two Saturdays this summer, Erin Hoops offers budding scientists the chance to build and fly their own rockets, for just $30.
Erin Hoops has expanded its selection of summer camps to 32 this year, with a different mix of activities every week. Most are $45 for the whole week, 9 am to 4 pm, with choices that include basketball, baseball, soccer, skateboarding, tennis, floor hockey, badminton, lazer tag, dance, archery, kites, golf and crafts.
"It offers a broader range for kids," said organizer Patrick Suessmuth, at the February 27 sign-up fair hosted by the Town of Erin Recreation and Culture Committee. Erin Hoops also has a March Break Variety Sports Camp, with supervision from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. Go to erinhoops.ca or call 519-833-2058.
Many children now get into organized sports even before they get into kindergarten. The Hillsburgh Minor Softball Association has their Peanuts group (for kids born in 2006) or T-Ball (2004-2005) for just $40. "It is set up to be fun, and the kids learn together," said Peanut and T-Ball Convenor Doug Todd.
Registration fees range up to $115 for teens. There will also be a Pitching Clinic, April 26-28, with separate sessions for beginners, intermediates and seniors. For more details, go to hillsburghminorsoftball.ca.
Hillsburgh Erin And District Soccer (HEADS) had more than 800 players last year. Early bird registration rates are in effect until March 15, ranging from $90 for the Under 5s to $155 for older groups (family maximum $420). Regular rates are $120 to $200 (family maximum $550). There is a Let Our Kids Play fund to help families who cannot afford the fees.
Debby Gear of HEADS has been impressed with the number of adults willing to coach and take on other duties. "It's nice when you live in a town where everyone works together," she said.
There will be another soccer sign-up session on Saturday, March 20, 10 am to 1 pm in the Centre 2000 lobby. For forms and more details, got to headsoccer.ca or call their office line, 519-855-4431.
The Erin Tennis Club is expanding its schedule of events and training. The membership cost is the same as last year: $140 per family, or $85 for adults and $50 for juniors (17 and under).
Members do not have to pay additional fees for regular court use or club activities, such as the summer junior program on Tuesday mornings. Membership also includes four free lessons (for both adults and kids), but there are fees for additional lessons.
Junior Spring After School Clinics are $80 for eight one-hour sessions. Half-day summer camp sessions (1-4 pm) are $115 per week, but families can apply to have the cost waived. There will also be a Competitive Player Development Program.
Everyone is invited to a free Try Tennis Day on April 17 at the courts, located behind Centre 2000. For more information on the club, call Brian Gentles, 519-833-9715.
New club pro Doug Ing of No Limits Coaching is starting a Munchkin Tennis class for ages 5 and 6, emphasizing fundamental movement skills. Using smaller racquets, smaller courts and slower balls at first, players progress in stages to regular tennis.
"There is no better way to ensure proper tennis development," said Ing, in his newsletter. "The focus is on physical activity, safety and tennis FUNdamentals. We don't emphasize competition for small children."
About 100 families registered for one thing or another at the fair. While it was mostly for sports, though there were two booths dedicated to reading, one from the Wellington County Library (www.wclib.ca) promoting their pirate-themed events for March Break and one from Barbara McKee of Tutor in the Hills, 519-927-01010. There was also a display on Erin's walking trails – call Steve Revell at 519-833-2571 for more information.
March 03, 2010
Volunteers needed to improve Erin trails
As published in The Erin Advocate
The view from the top of the water tower hill is a spectacular asset, now enjoyed by a relative few. If the Height of Land Trail could be converted to a loop route into the downtown core, with proper markings and educational signage, it would be something of which Erin could rightly be proud.
I mention that trail only because it is my favourite, but there are others in the village and elsewhere in Erin that need improvement, and I would gladly work on any of them.
There's a new effort being launched to plan and carry out trail upgrades in the Town, and volunteers are needed. Better trails would not only improve the walking experience for residents, but give the town an economic boost by making it a more attractive destination for visitors.
"If we want to build the community, we need connections," said Steve Revell, an avid hiker who has been involved with the Erin Trails Subcommittee. "We need planners and dreamers and schemers and workers."
He was speaking at the recent screening of the film Who Killed the Electric Car?, sponsored by Rob's Automotive Service, part of the Fast Forward environmental film festival presented by the Climate Change Action Group of Erin and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). It was a receptive audience for the trails message, and several people signed up to help.
Picking up on the car theme, Revell held up a pair of sturdy shoes. "These get good mileage, and use a variety of fuels," he said. While there were no details about emission controls, the point was clear: walking is great for both human health and the environment.
To find out more about the trails effort, call Revell at 519-833-2571, or the Town office at 519-855-4407. An informal meeting will be held to look at maps and discuss possibilities.
For those of us who depend on vehicles, but would love to part ways with gasoline, the 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? was a discouraging chronicle of how oil and car companies, governments, inadequate technology and even consumers contributed to the death of the GM EV1 car in the 1990s.
While interesting, the film was too long and sentimental for my taste. It follows activists in their quest to stop GM from obsessively destroying virtually every electric vehicle it had put on the market. Fortunately, it is old news. Watch for Revenge of the Electric Car this year.
More interesting was the live presentation after the film by Ross McKenzie, Managing Director of the Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research at the University of Waterloo (watcar.uwaterloo.ca). Funded by governments and the auto industry, WatCAR has more than 300 researchers working on new fuels and ways to make vehicles lighter, safer, more "intelligent" and user-friendly.
Conditions are better now than in the 1990s for electric cars. Gas prices are higher, the public is more open to new technology, environmental concerns are more urgent, and car companies see innovation as a means to survival.
Recent electric cars include the Toronto-based ZENN (Zero Emissions No Noise), like a golf cart with a car shell, for short-distance, low-speed city driving only.
"The challenge is to downsize the battery without compromising performance or power storage," said McKenzie.
Commuters with "range anxiety" are more likely to go for something like the Chevy Volt, coming out late this year in the US. It uses both electricity and gasoline, but unlike other hybrids, all the power to the wheels is provided by the batteries. The small gas engine only kicks in as a generator to boost the batteries after you travel about 65 km, providing an uninterrupted range of about 500 km. The price has not been announced, but it is estimated at $40,000 US, minus possible tax credits.
A batteries-only car with more range and speed than the ZENN is the Mitsubishi i-Miev. It is now undergoing cold-weather testing (using the heater cuts the 160-km maximum range in half), but it won't be available here until next year. A full re-charging with 100-volt household current could take 14 hours, but new inventions in quick charging could cut that to less than an hour.
It looks like a Smart Car and sells in Japan for about $50,000 US, according to ConsumerReports.com. That's what I would expect to pay – for three or four used cars.
The view from the top of the water tower hill is a spectacular asset, now enjoyed by a relative few. If the Height of Land Trail could be converted to a loop route into the downtown core, with proper markings and educational signage, it would be something of which Erin could rightly be proud.
I mention that trail only because it is my favourite, but there are others in the village and elsewhere in Erin that need improvement, and I would gladly work on any of them.
There's a new effort being launched to plan and carry out trail upgrades in the Town, and volunteers are needed. Better trails would not only improve the walking experience for residents, but give the town an economic boost by making it a more attractive destination for visitors.
"If we want to build the community, we need connections," said Steve Revell, an avid hiker who has been involved with the Erin Trails Subcommittee. "We need planners and dreamers and schemers and workers."
He was speaking at the recent screening of the film Who Killed the Electric Car?, sponsored by Rob's Automotive Service, part of the Fast Forward environmental film festival presented by the Climate Change Action Group of Erin and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). It was a receptive audience for the trails message, and several people signed up to help.
Picking up on the car theme, Revell held up a pair of sturdy shoes. "These get good mileage, and use a variety of fuels," he said. While there were no details about emission controls, the point was clear: walking is great for both human health and the environment.
To find out more about the trails effort, call Revell at 519-833-2571, or the Town office at 519-855-4407. An informal meeting will be held to look at maps and discuss possibilities.
For those of us who depend on vehicles, but would love to part ways with gasoline, the 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? was a discouraging chronicle of how oil and car companies, governments, inadequate technology and even consumers contributed to the death of the GM EV1 car in the 1990s.
While interesting, the film was too long and sentimental for my taste. It follows activists in their quest to stop GM from obsessively destroying virtually every electric vehicle it had put on the market. Fortunately, it is old news. Watch for Revenge of the Electric Car this year.
More interesting was the live presentation after the film by Ross McKenzie, Managing Director of the Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research at the University of Waterloo (watcar.uwaterloo.ca). Funded by governments and the auto industry, WatCAR has more than 300 researchers working on new fuels and ways to make vehicles lighter, safer, more "intelligent" and user-friendly.
Conditions are better now than in the 1990s for electric cars. Gas prices are higher, the public is more open to new technology, environmental concerns are more urgent, and car companies see innovation as a means to survival.
Recent electric cars include the Toronto-based ZENN (Zero Emissions No Noise), like a golf cart with a car shell, for short-distance, low-speed city driving only.
"The challenge is to downsize the battery without compromising performance or power storage," said McKenzie.
Commuters with "range anxiety" are more likely to go for something like the Chevy Volt, coming out late this year in the US. It uses both electricity and gasoline, but unlike other hybrids, all the power to the wheels is provided by the batteries. The small gas engine only kicks in as a generator to boost the batteries after you travel about 65 km, providing an uninterrupted range of about 500 km. The price has not been announced, but it is estimated at $40,000 US, minus possible tax credits.
A batteries-only car with more range and speed than the ZENN is the Mitsubishi i-Miev. It is now undergoing cold-weather testing (using the heater cuts the 160-km maximum range in half), but it won't be available here until next year. A full re-charging with 100-volt household current could take 14 hours, but new inventions in quick charging could cut that to less than an hour.
It looks like a Smart Car and sells in Japan for about $50,000 US, according to ConsumerReports.com. That's what I would expect to pay – for three or four used cars.
February 24, 2010
Someone would have to pay dearly
The Advocate's Devil – Historical Flash Fiction
As published in The Erin Advocate
"This newspaper has to hit the street first thing Wednesday morning," said Wellington Hull. "Nobody goes home until it's done." The publisher of The Erin Advocate was a big fish in a very small pond, and tolerated no lollygagging.
"How long 'til we put this one to bed?" he said to Robert, the weasel who runs our new Linotype machine. To look at McNair, you'd wonder if he could even read, but he makes that machine fly, laying down six lines o' type per minute.
"Two hours, Mr. Hull, sooner if Ethan gets off his arse and fetches more type."
"Let the boy be. I'm going out. Auction's at one. Now get to work."
Hull bought the newspaper 16 years ago, two years after I was born. Here at the Advocate office above the Union Bank, at 128 Main, he also issues marriage licenses, runs his farm machinery auction business and takes pleasure in the influence he wields.
My name is Ethan Callaghan, born in County Cork but shipped to Erin; a papist in a village named for Ireland, but run by Protestants, mainly Scotsmen. A Roman Catholic church will never be built here in my lifetime. Not that I care. The meek take comfort in sermons and incense; I prefer mine straight from the bottle.
I'm what they call a devil – a printer's devil. A lowly apprentice. Hands blackened from mixing tubs of ink. Emptier of the Hell Box, filled with broken lead type for the furnace. Whipping boy if ads appear upside down. Mark Twain was a printer's devil, and I'm going to be a writer too, if I can escape this godforsaken place. Until then I'm just the Advocate's devil, trying to stay warm and well-fed.
Finally, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1910 has been set, proofed and locked down for printing. Nothing too exciting. An obituary for old man Sutton, 89, a loyal Methodist. Township council met at the Grand Central Hotel in Hillsburgh and paid its bills, including $7.84 for gravel from Robert W. Tarswell, the sawmill operator and Mormon preacher from Cedar Valley. The cost of living is up. Elephants have run amuck in San Francisco. Egyptian premier Boutros Ghali was shot by a nationalist student.
On Page 2, another dreary chapter of "Maude De Vere; or, the New Mistress at Laurel Hill". Fiction has no place in a modern newspaper. Almost as offensive as our weekly bible lesson.
Back on schedule, McNair and the crew have slipped across the street for "lunch" at the Globe Hotel before starting the press run, leaving me alone to tend the shop. Ben Mundell walked in. "Yes, Mr. Mundell. No sir. Yes sir, I will tell him." Like Hull, he had the swagger of a wheeler-dealer. I thought of the mansion he had built for Dr. Gear.
My older brother Connor works among the flapping drive belts and whirling blades at Mundell's planing factory, down where the Credit turns. Maybe we could both get work swinging a hammer this summer. With so many fires, there was always building to be done.
Hull's daughter Ella came by with her friend Edna Campbell. Both were 16, and unable to finish a sentence without breaking into fits of giggling. Ella had a mischievous glint, but kept herself prim. Edna had a wild streak that was barely concealed. Like me, she was of a lower class – but unlike me, she was content with it.
I went down to the press, all set up with a sheet of paper up on the platen. I rolled some ink over the raised type on the flatbed. I wasn't supposed to touch it on my own, but I had seen the pressmen work it hundreds of times, and helped with preparation and cleanup. Just a few copies. Just a little fun on a boring day.
I turned the drive wheel and the paper flew down, was pressed against the type and whipped up again. One poor copy. A few more, as I fed paper and the rollers automatically laid fresh ink. Clackity-clack. Clackity-clack. Then a clunk and a low grinding.
The press was jammed, and the crew would be back soon. I tried to reverse it, to no avail. I put a crowbar to the gears, and they moved a bit. I reached with my right hand to lift the platen, while pressing the crowbar with the left, and suddenly the mechanism came free. Off balance, I stumbled towards the gears as the press finished its cycle. A lightning bolt of pain shot up my left arm.
Lying on the grimy floor, I saw my hand had turned from black to red. I was lucky. Only the baby finger was missing. Slipping into shock, I wasn't thinking about how reckless I had been. I felt only a rage against this place and the people who put me here. I comforted myself with a vow that someone would have to pay dearly for this. Then I slept.
* * *
Meanwhile, back in 2010...this has been an experiment in flash fiction, also known as the short, short story. It is a mix of real people like Hull, a real newspaper from exactly 100 years ago, imagined characters like Callaghan and events that might have been.
As published in The Erin Advocate
"This newspaper has to hit the street first thing Wednesday morning," said Wellington Hull. "Nobody goes home until it's done." The publisher of The Erin Advocate was a big fish in a very small pond, and tolerated no lollygagging.
"How long 'til we put this one to bed?" he said to Robert, the weasel who runs our new Linotype machine. To look at McNair, you'd wonder if he could even read, but he makes that machine fly, laying down six lines o' type per minute.
"Two hours, Mr. Hull, sooner if Ethan gets off his arse and fetches more type."
"Let the boy be. I'm going out. Auction's at one. Now get to work."
Hull bought the newspaper 16 years ago, two years after I was born. Here at the Advocate office above the Union Bank, at 128 Main, he also issues marriage licenses, runs his farm machinery auction business and takes pleasure in the influence he wields.
My name is Ethan Callaghan, born in County Cork but shipped to Erin; a papist in a village named for Ireland, but run by Protestants, mainly Scotsmen. A Roman Catholic church will never be built here in my lifetime. Not that I care. The meek take comfort in sermons and incense; I prefer mine straight from the bottle.
I'm what they call a devil – a printer's devil. A lowly apprentice. Hands blackened from mixing tubs of ink. Emptier of the Hell Box, filled with broken lead type for the furnace. Whipping boy if ads appear upside down. Mark Twain was a printer's devil, and I'm going to be a writer too, if I can escape this godforsaken place. Until then I'm just the Advocate's devil, trying to stay warm and well-fed.
Finally, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1910 has been set, proofed and locked down for printing. Nothing too exciting. An obituary for old man Sutton, 89, a loyal Methodist. Township council met at the Grand Central Hotel in Hillsburgh and paid its bills, including $7.84 for gravel from Robert W. Tarswell, the sawmill operator and Mormon preacher from Cedar Valley. The cost of living is up. Elephants have run amuck in San Francisco. Egyptian premier Boutros Ghali was shot by a nationalist student.
On Page 2, another dreary chapter of "Maude De Vere; or, the New Mistress at Laurel Hill". Fiction has no place in a modern newspaper. Almost as offensive as our weekly bible lesson.
Back on schedule, McNair and the crew have slipped across the street for "lunch" at the Globe Hotel before starting the press run, leaving me alone to tend the shop. Ben Mundell walked in. "Yes, Mr. Mundell. No sir. Yes sir, I will tell him." Like Hull, he had the swagger of a wheeler-dealer. I thought of the mansion he had built for Dr. Gear.
My older brother Connor works among the flapping drive belts and whirling blades at Mundell's planing factory, down where the Credit turns. Maybe we could both get work swinging a hammer this summer. With so many fires, there was always building to be done.
Hull's daughter Ella came by with her friend Edna Campbell. Both were 16, and unable to finish a sentence without breaking into fits of giggling. Ella had a mischievous glint, but kept herself prim. Edna had a wild streak that was barely concealed. Like me, she was of a lower class – but unlike me, she was content with it.
I went down to the press, all set up with a sheet of paper up on the platen. I rolled some ink over the raised type on the flatbed. I wasn't supposed to touch it on my own, but I had seen the pressmen work it hundreds of times, and helped with preparation and cleanup. Just a few copies. Just a little fun on a boring day.
I turned the drive wheel and the paper flew down, was pressed against the type and whipped up again. One poor copy. A few more, as I fed paper and the rollers automatically laid fresh ink. Clackity-clack. Clackity-clack. Then a clunk and a low grinding.
The press was jammed, and the crew would be back soon. I tried to reverse it, to no avail. I put a crowbar to the gears, and they moved a bit. I reached with my right hand to lift the platen, while pressing the crowbar with the left, and suddenly the mechanism came free. Off balance, I stumbled towards the gears as the press finished its cycle. A lightning bolt of pain shot up my left arm.
Lying on the grimy floor, I saw my hand had turned from black to red. I was lucky. Only the baby finger was missing. Slipping into shock, I wasn't thinking about how reckless I had been. I felt only a rage against this place and the people who put me here. I comforted myself with a vow that someone would have to pay dearly for this. Then I slept.
* * *
Meanwhile, back in 2010...this has been an experiment in flash fiction, also known as the short, short story. It is a mix of real people like Hull, a real newspaper from exactly 100 years ago, imagined characters like Callaghan and events that might have been.
February 17, 2010
Health Team helps people fight diabetes
As published by The Erin Advocate
When diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, you may be motivated to do some things you should have been doing all along.
With diabetes, both prevention and treatment revolve around the good lifestyle habits that everyone knows about – eating healthy food, getting regular exercise and losing excess weight. Easier said than done of course, but the urgency may be absent because many people do not even know that they have diabetes.
"You cannot go by how you feel," said Pat White, a Registered Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator with the East Wellington Family Health Team (EWFHT). Even if there are no symptoms, people with specific risk factors should speak to their doctor about diabetes testing.
"Doctors are more aware and are very proactive," she said. "Once you know, you can improve your lifestyle."
She hosts sessions for Erin and Rockwood residents on Diabetes Prevention, Learning to Live with Type 2 Diabetes and Meal Planning (not just for diabetes). These events are free (your tax dollars at work), and open to all residents, even if they do not have a doctor at the local Health Team.
The Canadian Diabetes Association calls it an epidemic, with 285 million people affected world-wide – including 3 million Canadians. That is expected to hit 3.7 million by 2020, costing Canadian healthcare $17 billion annually. A US study projected that a North American child born in 2000 stands a one in three chance of being diagnosed with diabetes during their lifetime.
People in wealthy nations are living longer, and obesity rates are climbing. Lifestyles are more sedentary, and we fall prey to the marketing of food that provides inadequate nourishment.
Type 1 or "juvenile" diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to produce the hormone insulin, which regulates how the liver releases sugar to the body. Type 2 diabetes (90 per cent of cases) is a lack of insulin developing over time during adulthood, but now starting more often in teens. Preventive measures are especially important during the borderline state of pre-diabetes.
Here are the risk factors. Get tested if you: are more than 40 years old; have a parent or sibling with diabetes; are of Aboriginal, Hispanic, South Asian, Asian or African descent; are overweight; have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or glucose problems; have had diabetes during pregnancy; have had a baby that weighed over nine pounds at birth; or have been diagnosed with a hormone imbalance called polycystic ovary syndrome, with acanthosis nigricans (darkened patches of skin), or with schizophrenia.
Also get tested if you have: unusual thirst, frequent urination, unexpected weight gain or loss, extreme fatigue, blurred vision, frequent infections, slow-healing cuts, or sexual impotence.
Because high blood sugar is toxic to blood vessels and damages nerves, complications can happen throughout the body, increasing the risk of heart and kidney disease, vision loss and serious circulation problems. Smoking accelerates the complications. Visit www.diabetes.ca.
When diet and exercise cannot control the condition, it may be necessary to take insulin, or other medications, which can be expensive. Self-testing with a glucose meter and other regular testing, plus specific diet control is often needed to keep glucose levels in a safe range.
The good news is that a long and healthy life is an excellent possibility for diabetics – all the more reason to deal with the reality of a problem in its early stages. Do not wait until serious damage has occurred.
Local seminars are held at the EWFHT office in Erin, 18 Thompson Cres., or at the Rockwood clinic. Call 519-833-7576 or go to www.ewfht.ca for details.
When diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, you may be motivated to do some things you should have been doing all along.
With diabetes, both prevention and treatment revolve around the good lifestyle habits that everyone knows about – eating healthy food, getting regular exercise and losing excess weight. Easier said than done of course, but the urgency may be absent because many people do not even know that they have diabetes.
"You cannot go by how you feel," said Pat White, a Registered Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator with the East Wellington Family Health Team (EWFHT). Even if there are no symptoms, people with specific risk factors should speak to their doctor about diabetes testing.
"Doctors are more aware and are very proactive," she said. "Once you know, you can improve your lifestyle."
She hosts sessions for Erin and Rockwood residents on Diabetes Prevention, Learning to Live with Type 2 Diabetes and Meal Planning (not just for diabetes). These events are free (your tax dollars at work), and open to all residents, even if they do not have a doctor at the local Health Team.
The Canadian Diabetes Association calls it an epidemic, with 285 million people affected world-wide – including 3 million Canadians. That is expected to hit 3.7 million by 2020, costing Canadian healthcare $17 billion annually. A US study projected that a North American child born in 2000 stands a one in three chance of being diagnosed with diabetes during their lifetime.
People in wealthy nations are living longer, and obesity rates are climbing. Lifestyles are more sedentary, and we fall prey to the marketing of food that provides inadequate nourishment.
Type 1 or "juvenile" diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to produce the hormone insulin, which regulates how the liver releases sugar to the body. Type 2 diabetes (90 per cent of cases) is a lack of insulin developing over time during adulthood, but now starting more often in teens. Preventive measures are especially important during the borderline state of pre-diabetes.
Here are the risk factors. Get tested if you: are more than 40 years old; have a parent or sibling with diabetes; are of Aboriginal, Hispanic, South Asian, Asian or African descent; are overweight; have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or glucose problems; have had diabetes during pregnancy; have had a baby that weighed over nine pounds at birth; or have been diagnosed with a hormone imbalance called polycystic ovary syndrome, with acanthosis nigricans (darkened patches of skin), or with schizophrenia.
Also get tested if you have: unusual thirst, frequent urination, unexpected weight gain or loss, extreme fatigue, blurred vision, frequent infections, slow-healing cuts, or sexual impotence.
Because high blood sugar is toxic to blood vessels and damages nerves, complications can happen throughout the body, increasing the risk of heart and kidney disease, vision loss and serious circulation problems. Smoking accelerates the complications. Visit www.diabetes.ca.
When diet and exercise cannot control the condition, it may be necessary to take insulin, or other medications, which can be expensive. Self-testing with a glucose meter and other regular testing, plus specific diet control is often needed to keep glucose levels in a safe range.
The good news is that a long and healthy life is an excellent possibility for diabetics – all the more reason to deal with the reality of a problem in its early stages. Do not wait until serious damage has occurred.
Local seminars are held at the EWFHT office in Erin, 18 Thompson Cres., or at the Rockwood clinic. Call 519-833-7576 or go to www.ewfht.ca for details.
February 10, 2010
Nash makes a splash at downtown concert
As published in The Erin Advocate
People look at me kinda funny when I tell them I'm a fan of folk music. Sometimes I think it is a look of pity for an old fart whose musical tastes got stuck in the '60s, which is of course totally untrue. More often they just have no clear idea of what folk music is.
Mainstream radio stations will not play even the best of it, since they do not believe there is a large enough audience, and even CBC Radio 2, which is sympathetic, steers more towards pop on its morning and afternoon commuter shows.
Folk has been known for centuries in Europe as music of the lower classes, played with simple instruments and passed on by tradition. In North America it now encompasses a wide range of acoustic instruments, avoiding high-tech production and often giving emphasis to thoughtful lyrics.
It is actually the lack of clear boundaries that endears the genre to many fans, who are willing to go out of their way to hear today's top performers. It is a special pleasure when one of them comes to your own town.
Jory Nash has six albums to his credit, is well-known at many Toronto clubs, gets airplay on CBC, plays events like the Hillside Festival in Guelph and takes his show on the road across North America. He was the main act at a January 29 concert held at the Paul Morin Gallery, sponsored by Erin Radio.
Julian Petti from Palgrave started the evening off with some strong, rhythmic guitar, and bluesy finger picking on songs like, Leave the Light On. You can check him out on myspace.com and see his Echo Bay recording sessions in Algonquin Park on YouTube.
A lively instrumental set was provided by WhirlyGig, a dance/celtic band from the Guelph area, based at Celtic College (riversidecelticcollege.ca). With Irene Shelton on piano, Carolyn Buck on fiddle, Jakob McCauley on bodhran and Eva McCauley on mandolin, fiddle and concertina, we were treated to a wide variety of jigs, reels and even polkas. Unfortunately, with about 65 people in attendance, there was no room to dance.
Jory Nash is an independent who labels his style as a mix of folk, acoustic, country, jazz, pop, blues, soul and storytelling. He plays the guitar, piano and five-string banjo. His fingerpicking style is confident and precise, without being flowery or overbearing.
From the second he presents himself, you get an upbeat feeling. His sound is happy and friendly – even when singing about the recession in It Don't Add Up. And although he has plenty of good songs of his own, he recognizes the appeal of covering old standards, like the jazzy Fly Me To The Moon, or Smokey Robinson's Tracks of My Tears.
The audience was chatty as they sipped their wine and snacked on apple bread cheese from Spirit Tree Cidery in Caledon. But with a combination of funny stories, a light, soaring voice and a guitar style that was often spare and haunting, Nash ultimately had everyone's full attention. He had people laughing with Spaz Loves Weezie, singing along with My Girl, and thinking hard with Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come.
It is always worth the effort to seek out talented performers who have not yet struck it rich with commercial hits. They are never just coasting, and are not stuck on one style. They are willing to play in small towns, and are working hard to provide good entertainment. This was an excellent event, and here's hoping Erin has many more like it.
Here are a few more websites to check in your spare time: myspace.com/jorynash; jorynash.com; and maplemusic.com.
People look at me kinda funny when I tell them I'm a fan of folk music. Sometimes I think it is a look of pity for an old fart whose musical tastes got stuck in the '60s, which is of course totally untrue. More often they just have no clear idea of what folk music is.
Mainstream radio stations will not play even the best of it, since they do not believe there is a large enough audience, and even CBC Radio 2, which is sympathetic, steers more towards pop on its morning and afternoon commuter shows.
Folk has been known for centuries in Europe as music of the lower classes, played with simple instruments and passed on by tradition. In North America it now encompasses a wide range of acoustic instruments, avoiding high-tech production and often giving emphasis to thoughtful lyrics.
It is actually the lack of clear boundaries that endears the genre to many fans, who are willing to go out of their way to hear today's top performers. It is a special pleasure when one of them comes to your own town.
Jory Nash has six albums to his credit, is well-known at many Toronto clubs, gets airplay on CBC, plays events like the Hillside Festival in Guelph and takes his show on the road across North America. He was the main act at a January 29 concert held at the Paul Morin Gallery, sponsored by Erin Radio.
Julian Petti from Palgrave started the evening off with some strong, rhythmic guitar, and bluesy finger picking on songs like, Leave the Light On. You can check him out on myspace.com and see his Echo Bay recording sessions in Algonquin Park on YouTube.
A lively instrumental set was provided by WhirlyGig, a dance/celtic band from the Guelph area, based at Celtic College (riversidecelticcollege.ca). With Irene Shelton on piano, Carolyn Buck on fiddle, Jakob McCauley on bodhran and Eva McCauley on mandolin, fiddle and concertina, we were treated to a wide variety of jigs, reels and even polkas. Unfortunately, with about 65 people in attendance, there was no room to dance.
Jory Nash is an independent who labels his style as a mix of folk, acoustic, country, jazz, pop, blues, soul and storytelling. He plays the guitar, piano and five-string banjo. His fingerpicking style is confident and precise, without being flowery or overbearing.
From the second he presents himself, you get an upbeat feeling. His sound is happy and friendly – even when singing about the recession in It Don't Add Up. And although he has plenty of good songs of his own, he recognizes the appeal of covering old standards, like the jazzy Fly Me To The Moon, or Smokey Robinson's Tracks of My Tears.
The audience was chatty as they sipped their wine and snacked on apple bread cheese from Spirit Tree Cidery in Caledon. But with a combination of funny stories, a light, soaring voice and a guitar style that was often spare and haunting, Nash ultimately had everyone's full attention. He had people laughing with Spaz Loves Weezie, singing along with My Girl, and thinking hard with Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come.
It is always worth the effort to seek out talented performers who have not yet struck it rich with commercial hits. They are never just coasting, and are not stuck on one style. They are willing to play in small towns, and are working hard to provide good entertainment. This was an excellent event, and here's hoping Erin has many more like it.
Here are a few more websites to check in your spare time: myspace.com/jorynash; jorynash.com; and maplemusic.com.
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