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Wednesday, June 30, 2004 Viewpoint Continued from page 2 my concerns. Fanners are told not to grow root crops such as potatoes, turnips and carrots in the fields dumped with sewage sludge for at least one year. To my knowledge knowledge no one enforces this guideline, guideline, but there are fanners, such as one particular potato farmer I know, who do follow the guidelines, guidelines, and wait the designated period. Since the Region deems this sewage disposal method so safe, I asked the representatives why they don't make the potato farmer inform his customers on the bag of potatoes that they were grown in fields where sewage sludge has been applied in copious quantities. For instance, we like knowing our food is grown organically and locally. We like to be informed when the food is genetically modified. We have labelling that identifies foods harmful to individuals individuals with allergies, or that is good for diabetics, Why not label foods fed sewage sludge? The Region's representatives felt that such labelling might negatively impact the price of those potatoes, and in fact wondered wondered if the farmer would even be able to give away the fann produce! Imagine! I inquired as to who was the ' typical farmer that would agree to have this sewage put on their land. It was felt that with few exceptions, they are large scale farmers (possibly they don't even live near the farm where it's being applied) and it was being used to offset fertilizer costs. Is this the case of large scale, probably wealthy farmers, profiting at the cost of our environment, environment, but not in their own Orono Weekly Times - 3 back yards? The Region's, consultant consultant told us this sewage is so safe, that people who work in sewage plants have no unusual health problems. When I countered countered that the Toronto Star had published an article a few years ago concerning the health problems problems of these workers in Toronto, that countered the Region's position, the consultant retorted something to the effect, what did you expect of the Star, as though it were a sleazy tabloid! Of particular interest to those of us who live with septic systems systems are changes regarding the disposal of the waste that the sewage haulers pump from our tanks. Within five years all septic septic waste will have to be taken to a sewage treatment plant to be properly treated instead of just being dumped on fanners fields. This will, of course, involve additional costs to homeowners. T asked how they intended to " ensure that an unscrupulous operator would be prevented from charging a customer for proper disposal and then clandestinely clandestinely dumping it, particularly particularly since there will be no way of recording what the volume pumped out was. What of the operator who might pump for cash; that is, without documentation documentation (e.g. 'under the table')? There are many unanswered questions, and its the Region's view that enforcement will be left to the Ministry of the Environment. You know, those guys in Toronto! All-in-all, the whole topic stinks! But, as long as we can buy bottled water and the produce produce we eat comes from the grocery grocery store, not a sewage injected field, we've got nothing to wony about... right? STRICKLANDS PERENNIAL FARM 5467 Middle Rd., Bowmanville North of Taunton, west of Liberty OPEN Monday to Friday . 9:00am - 8:00pm 905-263-2772 i HJ .ni y j j i ilfyujjMW ■ ORONO - Library Bandstand 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 30 - The Jazz Cats Wednesday, July 7 - Beyond Reason Bluegrass Band NEWCASTLE - in the Parkette 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 6 - Oshawa Horseless Carriagemen (Barbershop Chorus) Tues,, July 13 - The Mountaineers (Country Favourites) PORT HOPE - Memorial Park 8 p.m. Every Thursday evening. Bring your lawn chair. COBOURG - Victoria Park Bandshell Tues. 8 p.m. July & August - Cobourg Concert Band Free Thursday Conceris - July 8th, 7 p.m; - Blues Night a--a 11 jj'l : !!i If II iii ... Il i i lipl, .liij;, Hi} Il 'i .■■i \ 'li t b L !ji: ^ v , $ iii : ll iiillll . "ni;:;»! s ill S u-, ;i|> : 1 • i F lÉÉllf |ill|l i iifflffliiiiiii iii!| 11 li I Photo submitted Prime Minister Paul Martin made an election campaign stop at the Clarington Library's Main Branch last week Friday morning. Partisan politics To the Editor: In the final days before the election, leaders of both the Conservative and Liberal parties parties made visits to Clarington. When Stephen Harper came to our fair town, flags and banners were put around the museum and the former library building. At the next council meeting meeting Mayor Mutton made mention mention of the fact that this partisan partisan display of politics on Municipal property would not be tolerated and he was going to personally look into this matter, and find out who was responsible. Paul Martin and his entourage rolled into town last Friday morning with much hoopla and fanfare. Liberal flags and banners were seen all around the Town Hall, Cenotaph and the new Library. From the microphone set up on Municipal property, the Mayor gave a speech welcoming welcoming Paul Martin. The display display showed blatant partisan politics. This whole act left little doubt about the party affiliation affiliation of our Mayor and the rest of council. It appears the same rules do not apply to all. Yours truly, George Van Dyk Bowmanville Happy 65th Walter! -- iiiiintj--*i--1-- "•* !• IliliiSSllll.v ■ . ■' lilt i i":, tt:'i: ; : • ; n ~ -u 7*-*-.. '«1 iHii'-'i i iu.h i. i :• . ' : . E p Ipililitotsfeilfi ■ v , .. ; > i '"î-Mrr : !Y ' - mi ' i ..i!' love from your family ~ HAPPENINGS - Orono Summer Concert Series presents the Jazz Cats at Library Bandstand at 7 p.m. Bring your lawn chair. Celebrate Canada Day at Bowmanville Museum - Sack races start at 10 am. Opening ceic- monies at noon, main stage entertainment, a heritage lent, guided lours, jumping castle, lace painting, free birthday cake and more! For more info call 905-6^3^734. MeCrcu» Cemetery Decoration Day Service - Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 11 a.m. Guest speaker, speaker, Mabel Henderson. Please bring lawn chairs.