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Page6 Friday, February 9, 1979 CASTOR REVIEW There is a_ place called Amberwood Village near Stitts- ville, which takes out a large display ad in a local newspsper proudly to proclaim that they have wilfully and wantonly and with. malice aforethought des- troyed a beaver habitat and replaced it with a golf course. For shame, Amberwood Vil- lage. What kind of a country are we living in where such things can happen? To compound the fatuity, they have inserted a photo showing three young ladies, two in shorts and one in a skirt, swinging golf clubs over the rolling greens. In the background are various assorted items of male humanity dithering about aimlessly a- mong the trees. We ask you! Is this what we want our country to become. Is it for this that the poineers fought and died, suffered and endured? It is with a profound feeling of melancholy that we quote from the text of the advertisement, as follows: "We started with a flooded beaver swamp and changed it Ne Beaver Bob-- For Shame into a chain of ponds surrounded by rolling greens and fairways." The sheer savagery of such a statement, framed as a proud boast, takes one's breath away. Are there no laws in this country? Is the beaver not protected from the vandalism of promoters with their bull dozers and earth movers, who move in and rip asunder one of nature's most intelligent and harmless creatures. Are there no environmental protection officials, federally or provincially? Can anyone simp- ly go out for his own purposes and destroy an entire beaver community in a day? If this is the case, then the beaver, our national symbol (approved by Act of Parlia- ment) has no more protection in this country than the meanest earthworm. The proud boast of these gentlemen is that they destroyed a 'flooded beaver swamp"'. What is a_ flooded beaver swamp? Generally, a series of small ponds, three or four, sealed off from one another by beaver dams. Sometimes this can result in a flooded area of several acres. This means that there is water on the ground. This water, held back all summer by the beavers is peculiarly useful in that it serves an irrigation function, a habitat for wildlife, ducks, raccoons, muskrats, lynx. It holds back floor waters and releases water when it is most useful in the dry months. Once the beaver dams are destroyed, the complaints come in about flooding and an uncon- tolled spring runoff. Of course, it's uncontrolled, because the beaver, who did it for nothing over the centuries, have been eliminated. The result usually is an expenditure of millions to replace what a little animal accomplished out of his own innate genius. What purpose does a golf course serve? As far as human- ity is concerned, recreation, always useful and commend- able. But as far as_ the environment goes, and _ the protection of our wildlife heri- tage, very little. wy, RON VEH BUILDER & DESIGNER Renovations ® Additons Custom Kitchens ® Bathrooms Free Estimates 445-2048 RUSSELL COUNTRY FLOWERS & GREEN HOUSES SEND FLOWERS TO YOUR VALENTINE Beautiful red and white arrangements Say Ilove youin a special way. $10.00, $12.00, $15.00 and larger. Also available, spring plants such as: Hyacinths, Daffodils and Tulips at reasonable prices. \ - Orders for Roses must be placed early to avoid disappointment. FLOWERS ARE OUR ONLY BUSINESS Daily deliveries to Metcalfe, Russell, Embrun, Kenmore Greely, Vernon, Vars, Ottawa and area Regional Rd. 8, Edwards 821-2573 Leo Marion LOADER OPERATIONS SAND ® TOP SOIL © MUCK AND FILL CRUSHED GRAVEL RUSSELL 445-5775 M. D. Ross Realty Ltd. FOR YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS CALL: RITA MacDONALD: 448-3335 GRANT BOWMAN: 821-2030 DON HOPE: 821-2255 JIM MoVEY: 821-2446 KEN DUGDALE: 835-2583 Hwy. 31 at Greely 821-2362 Guy Brasseur Ltd. Flooring Contractor Ceramics, Carpets Corlon, Drapes FREE ESTIMATES 584 Notre Dame St. Box 278, Embrun 443-2155 These distinguished-looking gentlemen will be serving Russell Township ratepayers for at least the next two years, working out of the municipal offices at Embrun. The future of the foursome in the backrow is a little more predictable than that of the GROUP OF NINE The councillors are Leo Marion, Albert Bourdeau, Reeve Gaston Patenaude, Leo Provost, and Baird McNeill. The standing staff members are Armand Brisson, Lucien Millaire, Jean-Guy Bourdeau, and Michel Dignard. group of five seated who'll have to face re-election. DON MAY @ Electrical ro te dirt, ale Residential © Commercial ® Farm FREE ESTIMATES THE PROFESSIONAL WAY. Rent the fantastic new Up & Out Hydro-Mist Machine for superior carpet clean- sens an ous shampoo residue, 3< and up to 90% of the * ; moisturg in just one step. Save money... get results just like a professional! 445-5332 Bus. 445-3020 HONEY'S GARAGE @ General repairs, 24-hr. towing and road service, snow ploughing | We have regular and supper unleaded gas ' Garage Hours: 6a.m. to 10 p.m. 64 Castor St., Russell AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL | 4 HOUR--8 HOUR-- OR OVERNIGHT BASIS LORAL HOME HARDWARE Ted Lehowski, Prop. RUSSELL, ONT., 445-2171 Home: 445-2890