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Durham integrated community network An initiative la uxiderway to provide ail residents and businesses ta Durham Reglon with access to the newest tecbnology, through one com- muniity network. Regional Chair Jim Witty has invited over 50 senior members from Durbar's public and private sectors to a May 28 meeting at wbich time they wfll dis- cuss how the two sectors, and the comunlty can combine networking needa and oppor- tunities to develop solutions to the benefit of ail. Those involved include industxy leaders, such as GM, DuPont and Mackle Movlng .Systems as well as members from ail local and regionai goverment, education, hoa- pitals, and Bell Canada. This initiative la terrned an Integrated Community Network (ION), and was rec- ognized as a need by The Durham Reglon Econornic Development Advisory Comrnttee (DREDAC). Currently, only big bus!- nesses and industry have the financial ability to keep up with tecbxiological advance- ments happening globally. With an ION, even home- based businessea and non- p)rofit organizations could take advantage of the Internet, the World-Wide Web, and future possibilities. Richard Preston, Bell Canada's ION consultant, will present succesatonies from other integrated cornrunity networks and facilitate dis- cussion on the unlimited o pportunities avalable to the Durham region. Human Resources Development Canada bas nec- ognlzed the importance of this initiative and la a major part- ner, and Chair Jim Witty la giving bis full support to the effort.,I personally feel it (an ION) will have tremendous positive impact on our negion." Normn Taylor, the DREDAC~ member responsible for coor- dinating the ION project says, "Wbat we are dolng is build- ing an electronic road system from the perspective of and to the advantage of Durham Region residents, both 4orpo- rate and residentially." It is not a new concept. The system has been succesaful in many communities for sev- erai years. A public forum will be held miti to late June for commu- itLy and business members who are interested in lending their support towards the project. The public will be advised. Clarington medical equipment recycling program Since the Clarington Medical Equipment Recycling Prognamn began acceptlng equipment donations on June 5, 1995, hundreds of itemis have been donated to the program and then recy- cled as donations back to the public. xI fact, voluxteers wlth the Red Cross - Region of Durham Bnanch, -wich runs the program, flnd that more equipment is now going out than, being returned. Although the storage faclity located at Memioriai IHospital - Bowrnanvllle has a large stockpile of crutches and other cominon medical aida, there ia a waiting list of peo- ple loolng for wheelchairs, batbnoom aida, hospital beds and wheeled walkers. The programl a joint pro- ject set up by a nuxnber of communlty agenciea. la deaigned for Clarington real- dents who need medical aida and equipmenit which they may not'be able to afford. The Red Cross office handles mnquiries and volunteers set up appointments for those who,%wlsh to acquine or doriate equipruent. The Claington Medical. Equlpment Recycling Program accepta donated medical equipmnent. cleans and inspecta it, then gives it to anyone who needa it. Wile there is no charge for thia service, voluxteera encourage recipients to donate the equlprnent back to the pro- gram when there is no fur- ther need. To find out how you can donate or acquire equipment, please caîl the Red Cross office at (905) 723-2933 and ask about the Clarington Medical Equipment Recycling Program. This unique prograrn is possible tbnough the dedica- tion of rny volunteers and several communlty agencies. including the Red Cross - Region of Durham Branch, Clarington Community Cane, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 178, Memorial Hospital - Bowrnanville, and the Bowmanville Rotary Club, with support from the Durhama Region Home Cane Program. highest rates of multiple scierosis in the world. Multiple Society of Canada 1-800-268-7582 FARM CROP PLOTS by Richard Hendry, Sofi & Crop Advlsor They say that the proof of the pudding is in the eatïng and so It is wth well mani- aged on--farrpx crop plots. Across North Anieiica thousands of producers are donating land, equlpment, Inputs and time towards the on-farm testing of new vani- eties and crop treatments. It ia important that plot co- operators have a clear under- standing of the objective of the plot, la the plot a demon- stration or a comparison of speciflc varieties or treat- menta? A comparison plot requires more detailed design but the data collected can be used for comparison purpos- es. A demoriatration plot on the other hand is just that, a chance to look and see, how- ever, littie meaningful data can be collected. *Select a uniform site if pos- sible to try to reduce variabil- Ity in soil fertility, soul type, topography etc. Plots planted across arny variability will help reduce the effect wlthin one plot. Keep the plots simi- ple. Examnine one variable at a Urne and the results will be mucli clearer and rneaning- fui, Record keeping is a rnust. Record everything you do an-d when you do it from start to finish. Write it down! By harvest our memories, are not reliable about fertiliz- er or herbicide rates or what happened where. lnspect the plots on a reg- ular basis and make notes on crop developrnent, weed con- trol, lnsect and disease prob- lemns. Get out the camera. You don't have to be a pro- fessional photographer and slides (don't forget to docu- ment) taken durlng the sea- son can be moat informative at your Sofilanid Crop annual meeting next faîl and winter. The vldeo camera also works, well. I arn aware of at least one producer who uses a vldeo camera to photograph and describe bts plots. MPP John R. O'Tooie was very pieased to learn that the Minister of Transportation, the Honourable AI Pailadini, announced safety improve- mnents to a section of Highway 401 which is situated in lis Durham East riding. Construction will consist of 6.7 kilometres of concrete median barrier and widening to six lanes on the Highway 401/35/115 interchange east- eriy to just -east of Mill Street in the Village of Newcastle. Lt wiil include the Ontario tai waIl concrete median barrier, widening of this section of Highway 401 from two to three lanes in each direction, and other improvements, such as resurfacing of the driving lanles and structural repairs and electricai upgrades. "Highway safety is a prior- ity of this government and this announicement is another example of its commitment to the publie" said Mr. O'Toole. "This section of the highway bas had a higb incidence of median cross-over accidents that might have been prevent- ed with a concrete mnedian barrier". Construction is scheduled to begin in May witb comple- tion in November. gL Let's Re-elect Alex! Alex Opted Out of MPs Pension Planf * People dernand accountability. * People want credibility. * They voted for a change of governrnent in 1993; and, for a change in the attitudes of elected representatives. * As your MP I would have difficulty arguing for change while still being eligible to collect a pension many of you neyer receive. * The pension plan gives MPs an incentive to stay on in politics long after they are useful to you in that job. * I amn arazed at the number of politicians who choose politics as a career path. Poitics was neyer meant to be that. I chose to opt out of the MP's Pension Plan because, in these times of deficit reduction and beit tightening I feit it was the only responsible action to tahe. I intend to continue to be this kind of representative for Durham in Ottawa. Authorzed by Richard Chappelý Officiai Agent for Alex Shepherd Cail or Fax Us at 983-5301 Your News, Sports or Club Events 'Il Il Il