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TREE he THRIIET FTE I. To mmaaany TEN NIRS "A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, September 12, 1995 -3 er Co RIOT EY BN &/IDIEI EST PAVE MMUNITY Folk's back! 'Old Friends' Washington, Scarlett and Whiteley in Greenbank Sept. 16 By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star 'Summer' s coming to a close, but don't despair; the changing of seasons is actu- ally good news for music lovers. That's because the Greenbank Folk Music Society is set to launch another season of great performances, and they're kicking things off with some of the area's favorites. "Where Old Friends Meet" next Saturday (Sept. 16) in the Greenbank Hall will bring back folk greats Jackie Washington, Mose Scarlett, and Ken Whiteley. All of them played Greenbank last year, and Jackie and Mose will once more open the season. Here's some of the vital statistics on the Canadian greats you'll be able to catch next Saturday: 0 Mose Scarlett is a 26-year veteran of the music business who can escort lis- teners through the 20's 30's and 40's with a freshness that transcends any date and time. His voice has been described as "a velvet baritone that could smooth the scales off an armadillo", and he's an internationally acclaimed guitarist who entertains with a disarm- ing warmth and humor. a His partner, Jackie Washington, was born in 1919 and is a staple of the Canadian music scene. Possessing a huge repertoire that extends from slavery days to the present, Mr. Washington has played with jazz greats the likes of Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton, and blues giants Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, and Lonnie Johnson. He recent- ly received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Arts council. 0 Ken Whiteley has been called a "playing encyclopedia" for his vast reper- toire, command of a wide variety of styles including swing, blues and gospel, and his mastery of more than a dozen instruments. He has appeared on more than 80 albums, sales of which have col- lectively topped 3 million. He has received Juno nominations, a United Way Communications Gold Award, and his walls are adorned with numerous gold and platinum albums for past pro- ductions. Opening act for the first show of the season will be Curly Boy Stubbs. Tickets for the event are $15, and can be picked up at: a Chicken Coop Bakery in Greenbank; a Circular sounds on ol Callan Music in Port Perry; 0 Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge, and Q The Hands on Music Company in Bowmanville. In addition, series subscription tickets are still available. for more info on sub- scriptions or Saturday's show, call 985- 8351 or 852-7578. Mose Scarlett, Jackie Washington and Ken Whiteley perform together when the Greenbank Folk Music Society opens its 1995 season here Saturday night, Sept. 16. The show takes place at the Greenbank Hall, and tickets are available locally at Chicken Coop Bakery, Circular Sounds, and Jayson Callan Music. Folk lovers will want to see the dynamic trio, who feature a huge repertoire and mastery over a humber of instruments. Port Perry neighborhoods overrun by rodents Raccoons, skunks, taking up residence in peoples' houses in search of shelter By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star Although the Ministry of Natural Resources says there is no indication of a boom in the raccoon and skunk popula- tions, area residents are report- ing a great number of the crea- tures residing in their heighborhoods. The local Animal Control office has seen an increase in the number of people renting traps, and currently has a wait- ing list for those requesting the cages. The traps, which can be rent- ed for $1 a day, can be used for transporting raccoons or skunks from residences. Residential areas such as Queen, Ottawa, Ella and North Streets, among others, have all reported families of the ani- mals in the neighborhoods. Vickie McWhirter, of Uxbridge/Scugog Animal Control, said the raccoons are not sick; they are just looking for food and, possibly compan-, ionship. The Ministry of Natural Resources agrees that the ani- mals are in the residential areas because of the readily available food. "They are very opportunistic animals. If food is available they are not going to leave," said biologist Teresa Cunningham. She said the main problem is people putting their garbage out days ahead of time and leaving lids off the cans. "They are not going to give up a free, easy meal," she said. The animals are also invad- ing residential areas to feed on grubs in lawns. Population boom? "I haven't heard of a popu- lation boom, but the numbers of the animals has always been healthy in the area. With the habitat and availability of food the population has its ups and downs. This year may be one of the ups," Ms. Cunningham said. Dr. John Churchill of Agriculture Canada also said that raccoons do not currently pose a health threat as there has been no rabies cases report- ed in the area this year. Raccoon rabies does not currently exist in Ontario. Although some raccoons have contracted rabies, it is with the arctic fox strain of the dis- ease. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources there is a form of the raccoon rabies strain apparent in New York State, and it is expected to reach Ontario in 1995 unless protective actions are taken. Currently a task force is work- ing on a community response tothe threat. To date no raccoon in Ontario has ever been diag- nosed with raccoon rabies. Skunks are more susceptible to the fox strain of rabies. After an outbreak in rabies cases in the Scarborough area in 1987 a vaccine drop was implement- ed in the area. Since that time only three cases have been diagnosed. Last year 23 cases of rabies were reported in Durham, with foxes accounting for 11 of the cases and skunks seven. Although there does not appear to be an imminent health threat from the animals, the Ministry of Natural Resources reminds residents that wild animals belong in the wild and one should always be wary . Both skunks and raccoons can be aggressive creatures, but they are usually more afraid of human then humans are of them, said Ms. Cunningham. "Raccoons can be very aggressive when cornered. They are not known to just attack someone, but it is that type of strange behavior that points out there may be a prob- lem such as rabies, " she said. Cut food supply The MNR suggests the best way to keep raccoons away is to not provide any food or shel- ter, and to bring in any pet dishes that may be outside. Potential entrances to your home, such as uncapped chim- neys, loose shingles and open- ings in attics, roofs and eaves should be closed off. If you find a raccoon den the Ministry suggests sprinkling naphtha flakes in the area or hanging ammonia soaked cot- ton rags near the entrance. Bright lights, loud noises and strong smells discourage the animals. The other way to dispose of the animals is to place traps; a solution the MNR does not rec- ommend. "We don't encourage the movement or transportation of the animals," Mrs. Cunningham said. Aside from creating a possi- ble imbalance in the population of the animals, she said it can also lead to the starvation of the transported animal as the species 18 very territonal. She said she realizes most people will not be sympathetic to the plight of the raccoon should its hving environment be changed, but said trans- portation of the animal can also bring a threat of spreading disease. If a transported animals do. have the rabies virus ands _ moved to another rural area, it will then spread the disease to more areas and effect different populations of the species.