South Frontenac
Township Hazardous Waste Collection Day. South
Frontenac Township plans to hold a hazardous waste
collection day. Based on preliminary information, the date
will be Saturday, June 3. The collection site would be in
Sydenham. This is the only date planned at present, and
future collections will depend on the response to this one.
We will have more information on this in the spring
newsletter.
Bedford District
Introduces Bag Tags. The Westport Mirror reported that
Bedford District residents will have to use bag tags for
their trash disposal starting next fall. The article stated,
"South Frontenac's Bedford District residents will have a
new financial incentive to recycle this year with the start
of bag tag requirements starting this September. Households
will receive 100 stickers for the first year of the new
policy, with seasonal and permanent residents both receiving
an equal number. …Additional tags are anticipated to be sold
for $3.00 a tag and will be available at stores within the
district."
South Frontenac
Township will use telephone and Internet voting. Susan
O’Brien-Mactaggart reports that the township council has
approved using telephone/internet voting for the November
13th township election. Voters will be able to cast their
ballot from anywhere in the world by Internet and anywhere
in North America by telephone. They will receive a package
in the mail with a " pin" number to authorize them to vote
on the system. This practice has been used successfully in
other locations.
Ten-digit telephone
dialing is coming. Ten-digit local dialing will be
introduced in area code 613 and other areas in the region
starting on June 17. It will be necessary to reprogram
automatic dialers and your computer to accommodate this.
During the summer you will still be connected if you dial
seven digits. However, this will be after you receive a
reminder to dial ten digits. Based on personal experience
that “reminder” likely will include a really nasty tone
before the message. You should get more information from
your telephone company. You may also find information at
the website
www.dial10.ca.
Getting Your Garden
Ready for Spring. Susan Freeman reports, “Come to an
interesting evening of advice with Sheila Sim, the Gardening
Coach, at the ABC Hall, Bolingbroke Road on Thursday, March
30th at 7:30 p.m.” For more information on events and Tay
Valley Township developments visit Susan’s website at
www.susanfreeman.ca.
Friends of the Tay
Events. The Friends of the Tay will be hosting several
events in the coming weeks. There will be a workshop on
land use planning on Saturday, April 1 at the Canadian
Legion Hall in Perth. A speaker from Ontario Nature will
highlight recent policy trends, how to participate in
planning at the local level including an overview of the
official plan process and how to work with local governments
for creative development and the protection of the
environmental integrity. There will be a presentation on
climate change, Sunday afternoon, April 2 in the
conference room at the Perth Pool. The speaker, Mr.
Egginton, is the former Executive Director of the Climate
Change Impacts and Adaptation Program of Natural Resources
Canada. He will review current national and international
discussions of the cause and impact of climate change and
provide examples of indications of what is now happening to
our climate. He will also and discusses potential
implications for human society and the natural environment.
Contact the Friends of the Tay at
www.tayriver.org
for more information on these and other coming events.
Sustainability
Seminar, April 22. There will be an all-day seminar in
Bellville on the topic of sustainability. Topics will
include natural wastewater treatment, sustainable
construction, harnessing renewable energy, and healthy and
efficient homes. Go to the H. R. Frink Outdoor Education
website at
www.hpedsb.on.ca/frink
for more information.
Proposed
Legislation to Limit Residential Tax Increases. A bill
has been introduced into the Ontario legislature to limit
property tax increases to no more than 5% per year until the
property changes ownership. The legislation includes other
provisions as well. Visit the WRAFT website at
www.wraft.com
for more information.
Ontario Hummingbird
Study Initiated. Along with many projects to study our
wildlife and natural conditions, a project was started last
year to study the life cycle of Ontario hummingbirds. The
sponsors are interested in collecting data on breeding,
migration timing and other factors. As with other studies
the value is in many observations over a period of years.
Visit their website at
www.ontariohummingbirds.ca
for more information. The website also has information on
attracting and feeding hummingbirds.
Statistics Canada
is Seeking Census Enumerators. May 16th is
census day. Every residential dwelling will receive a
census form that must be completed. Statistics Canada wants
to hire temporary workers to distribute enumeration
forms--especially to cottages. The employment period is
from March until July. More information
and on-line application can be found on their website at
www.census2006.ca or by calling 1-866-215-5354.
Eagle Nesting Study.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Bird Studies Canada
are jointly seeking information on Bald Eagle nesting in our
area. We have had a pair nesting near the entrance to Mud
Bay and more recently in the West Basin. The researchers
are interested in obtaining observations about future
nesting activity and success rates. For more information
visit the BSC website at
www.bsc-eoc.org/baeaont.html.
Around the Lakes.
Susan O’Brien-Mactaggart reports that the lakes still are
well covered with ice but there are open sections appearing
where there is water flowing into the lakes. She says
Canada geese have been flying overhead in great flocks for
the past ten days and robins have been seen at the north end
of Green Bay. The chipmunks are out again and the red
winged blackbirds have returned. She observed that the
roads are in terrible condition and drivers should be very
cautious on the dirt roads—not only because of the
condition, but because of the number of deer. The maple
syrup flow is better than expected. Finally, Barry and
Donna Jenkins have reopened the Burridge store. They had
closed it during the winter months and enjoyed a respite in
warmer climes. Welcome back! Sure sounds like spring
coming.
