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l3rookv ille Seéhool to hold garage sale and spring fair . .eL i o .(.e, t* à(4ItI< events before school year's end By ROBN DOWNTON- POIRIER Special to The Champion Brookvile Public Sehool is busy planning two major events - a garage sale and spring fair, before thc end of Uic year. The sehool wiil hold Uic garage sale Satsîrday from 8 ar.. to2 p.m. at Long Lane Orchards on Second Line in Nassagaweya. "Ail Uic items for sale have been donated by Uic parents from our school," said Nancy Jolunston, principal. 'Mhe garage sale wiIl be run by members of our school counicil and the money wil k coming back to Brookville Sehool." Donations are always welconic fromn the commnity and resi- dents arc being asked to drop saleable items off at Long Lanc Orchards duing their business howas. Most items for sale will ke used housebcld goods, electrois- ics, books and sports cquipmcnt and likeiy a few "treasurs." Spring fair luneS5 "Mhe Brookvillc Olympics' is this year's spring fair Uieme. Scheduled for Sattsrday, Jonc 5 from 10 arn. to 2 p.rn.. the fair promises to have sorncthing for everybody. "The Kids Aley will be set up again Uis ycar," said Donna Danicîli, chairman of Uie Parent Council and Spning Fair Committee. 'flic gym wii k MI flof games with prizes for tie kids. We wiII aiso have our giant raffle table, many vendor tables, and our cake walk where kids win cakes duiat they have baked themselves." Conscrvatioin Haiton will bring tIhe birds of prcy froin Mountsberg Conservation Arcs to the event for the crowd's enjoyment. face painting, a barbecue, per- formances by flic Bengalos stu- dent choir, a karaoke machine and inflatable structures for bouncing fun. "We are a JK to (grade) 8 school so wc are trying to have something Uiat appeals to ail ages," said Ms Danielli. Any donation of prizes for the giant raffle table would be great- ly appreciated and vendor tables are still available. "We arc very fortunate because we live in an incredibly supportive community," said Ms Danidli. "Through the support of our community, we are able to t'md ways to better suîpport our stu- dent community." If you would like more infor- mation or to donate items for Brookville's garage sale or the sprîng f=ircall the achool 'at (905) 854-2424 or Donna Danielli at (905) 854-2469. ,Area groups seeking to gauge residents' thoughts on growth Many ciizens are forming grass- rmots organizations in an collective effort tu put a halt to what people view as uncontrolled, uunmanaged growth. In rural 1-alton/Milton, the Milton Rural Residents' Association (MRRA) has been reccntly formned. TMe group is inviting area resi- dents to visit its Web site ai www.miltonrra.org and to com- plete a survcy question about responsible growth. 'Me MRRA believes taspayers are paying for politicians' rnis- takes. -Uncontrollcd and unrnanaged growth in our communities uilI cause large tas increases to thun- dcrously cascade down to the alrcady overtaxed residents,' said Bob Beyette of the MRRA. He said many instances of growth stem frum political aspira- tions and a desire for more political control. "The shame of it ail is that dcmocracy appears to have been kidnapped by those pretending to care, but in rcality only care about their growing circle of power and a desire for a greater degrec of prof- il." Mr. Beyettc said. Champion Country, Tuesday, May 25, 2004-23 Stili many unanswered questions in budget for Thc recent budget from the Ontario gov- emment provided a mixed bag for Ontario farmers. Many of the items Uic Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OPA) asked for in its pre- budget submission to the govemment have been addressed, but there are still a numbcr of unanswered questions. The OEA is pleascd that a numbcr ol its issues were incorporatcd imb the budget, cither in whole or in pant. Something we've been workîng on ('or years- the use ol the OFA memhcrship card to achieve Provincial Sales Tax exempt status on farm-related purchases- was approvcd in the budget. Gctting Uic list of exempt items expand- cd to parallel the list in other provinces has- n't happcned, yct. Finance Minister Grcg Sorbara con- firmed in his budget address Uiat within- family farm sales will no longer face the land transfer tas, prcviously imposed by the province. 'Me OPA has workcd on this issue for years and féels Uic $5 million it will save fanners each ycar will be a major boosi to young farmers taking over the family farm. Farmers will benefit from the $20 mil- lion announced to help themn comply wiUi regulations under the Nutrient Management Act. Parmers have a long his- tory of making environmental investmcnts on Uieir farms. Future investunents made to ensure com- pliance with the regulatory framnework will be made at a pace determined by available govemament support. The Ontario Parm Environmental Coalition (OFEC) bas a set of principles it wants Uic govemnment to follow as it devel- ops a cost-sharc programn for compliance. One of those principles calîs for up to, 90 per cent funding of compliance costs - something to ensure Ontario farmers reccive the same trcatment as their trading competitors in other jurisdictions. The OPA and its OFEC partners will mcci with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) in the near Cal te UB ndsae u oe2 % f* s ya'srt RUI 1-88-77702.1 G, I Compeo nsvepoection * ompttv ots 1NSU Who D)oes If... bp-- 'PýT SI CES 438 Uniagligh oet. MjIton TonU: 905875TU ( 8845) OEA Ron Bonnett C'ommentary future to set out details for allocation of the $20 million. Because the tcchnical support OMAF will lbc cxpected to provide farmners as they upgradc iheir lacilities to mieet Nutrient Management Act requirements. the OFA will closely monitor any plans for funding or staffing changes at the miniso-y. We can't afford to lose any of the teclinical expertise OMAF staff can provide during this critical pcriod. Farm families will fmnd the retum to heahth-related premniums an additional liv- ing cost. The OPA will encourage thc province to ensure that a proportionate amnount of those premiums is used to improve health care facilities and delivery of health services in rural Ontario. Farmers and their families have watched their rural health care suifer from funding cuts for too long. Ontario farmers are stili recling from thc effects of BSE and thc high Canadian dol- lar. The budget mentions the singing of the Agricuhtural Policy Framework as a means of securing long-term funding for Ontario farmers. The OPA is committed to ensuring that the new Canadian Agricultural Income Support program rcsponds to heic ome declines that have hit our farmers. The OPA continues to be involved in thc province's source water protection agenda. The new budget provides ini exceas of $400 million tu support Uic source-to-tap water initiatives. This includes $250 million to help municipalities brmng their water treatment facilities up to standard - alI welcome news as everyone's role in delivering safe drinking water cornes under more intense scrutiny. The OPA will work with the provincial govemment as it deals with its financial sit- uation. but evcry effort must be made to ensure equal benefits for Ontario's rural population. Roni Bonnett is president (?fthle Ontario Federation of'Agriculture. 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