/ { Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, November 20,2002 From Around Home by Roy Forrester Surely the weatherman has got a jump on winter with a good covering of white snow this immediate past Sunday. Often we are hopeful of such an event for Christmas which often gets somewhat iffy even up to December 25th. My thought was, "it's here to-day lets enjoy it" and there is no better place than hiking in the tree nursery lands west of the village. It was somewhat surprising the amount of snow that had fallen and was continuing to flutter down. It was enough that perhaps I should have had the skis in the car but that was not the case. Another day will come for that before the new year chimes ring out. ; There is something to being alone in the outdoors and especially especially in the tree nursery lands and other such locations in this area. It is quite easy to drift off into the past and thé comradely of time with others who hold an intense feeling for the outdoors and nature. Everything, no matter matter how small, has à purpose. The early snowfall fortunately fortunately came but a few days after I had dragged the last load of leaves off to the compost pile which in a two year period will come back to the flower beds. Everything seems to work in a cycle. In that cycle, and soon to come, is the untangling, testing, replacing and stringing of the Christmas lights and attachments attachments for view during the holiday holiday season. And soon after, they come down. Again, it all works in an unending cycle. But that is life. I noted in the Toronto Star with some interest that our hydro supplier, Veridian, has entered into a partnership with Enersource Corporation of Mississuaga forming "First Source" with the intent to sell hydro at a fixed price. Some advertising has already been in the Toronto Star. In the meantime Ernie Eves, our premier, has announced a fixed rate of 4.3c per Kw. and that is for a 6 year period. It would be most surprising if "First Choice" could better that price because that will be the price they would pay for the . generation of hydro. If Veridian is interested in giving their hydro users a reduction they could do so by reducing their Customer Charge and Delivery Charge which jumped some 36 and 37 percentage points only a few months ago. It would be interesting interesting to see their balance sheet lip to this point and that should be a privilege of its customers in Clarington. That's it for this week. HIKING IS HEALTHY Sponsored by the Oak Ridges Trail Association You are welcome to attend the following: Saturday, November 23 - 10 a.m. - Edging the Ganaraska. I Meet 1.5 kms. east of Hwy 115 on Wilcox Road. 4.5 kms, s.25 hours. Futher information call Roy Forrester 905-983-5147. Saturday, December -10 a.m. - Long Sault CA., east from 57 I Hwy on Road 20 to go north on Woodley Rd. to parking lot. Moderate pace. Peter Parrot 905-623-2662. Chocolate Letters are fere... IllaoejM • Wedding Cafes • Cafes for a\\ Occasions • Pastries - Donuts - Pies • Bread & Buns 905-983-9779 Main Street, Orono . .. , Proprietors: Gary & Carol Vrceker Closed Sunday and Monday fop Firefighters Continued from page 2 would like to see these small communities replace the larger larger part-time crew with a smaller full-time staff to sit inactive for sometimes a week or more is a ridiculous waste of money and resources. The union, however, would benefit since they would be collecting union fees which they don't collect from part-time firefighters. firefighters. (Could this be the real crux of the problem?) Point three - by forcing the experienced and trained firefighters firefighters to resign their part- time positions and therefore having a large majority of young inexperienced recruits manning the station, the union is creating a potentially dangerous dangerous situation in many communities. communities. I have to wonder how many of these union leaders live in communitieslike communitieslike ours? Not many I'll wager. This decision may never have occurred if it were their families families and homes at risk! The motto of the fire department is "To Protect And Serve " I feel the union needs to be reminded of this. In closing, let me assure you it is the firefighter's union at fault here not the fire department. The fire department department is no different than any other unionized company being directed by union edicts. The firefighters that have handed in their resignations have done so under extreme duress, forced to protect the jobs that support their fami Q Santa is coming to Stutt's Pharmacy Saturday, November 23 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Phone to hook your FREE photo session VJ" 905-983-5009 Stutt's l-D-A- Pharmacy J 5344 Main Street, Orono ISal -3 .wiumjkWimBiiLWiamihilOlkflWWihTihflWiUilNfe lies. How very sad that these dedicated men who have served for so many years are being put on the sidelines against their wishes instead of being allowed the dignity of deciding for themselves when to retire. Full and part-time firefighters firefighters respect each other for the mutual job they do, too bad their union doesn't. The end result is the union is creating creating a black cast over a profession profession that truly deserves praise, respect and honour, what a shame! Jane Ann Tillson Orono Peter Jawarski Continued from page 2 meet. If one of the two partys is unwilling but the sale goes through anyway then it's no longer a market-it becomes something else. People are different and value things differently. For instance, you valued a dollar less than you valued the Orono Weekly Times. That's why you have it in your hands. You may change your mind later, thinking that the dollar could have been spent more usefully elsewhere, but that's not the point. The point is that at the moment of the exchange, you wanted the paper, and the fellow at the store wanted the dollar. When you made the exchange, you were both made happier and, what's more, wealthier (wealth, after all, is simply having more of what you want, whatever it happens to be). That's the beauty of the market-you don't have to buy or sell anything. You can choose to buy or sell only if you think the exchange improves your position. You can always tell them to go fly a kite, if you'd like. Thus, 'fair market value' is whatever price two people agree on, not what some 'expert' may say it's worth. With this plan, however, some people are going to be told that they are selling their home and that's that. My neighbour, for instance, may be one of them. So might you be. . -'. tincv The trouble with the 407 plan is that the government committee can make you sell your home, even if you don't want to. Most of us are in favour of a new highway, but we shouldn't have to lose our home to get it. That's how I see it. "palffitFi liif Pill ! ipipiipl ! Trim!! illji III ~ Happenings ~ Saturday. November 23 Christmas Bazaar - Penny Raffle Draw - Fosterbrooke Long Term Care Facility, at 330 King St. W., Newcastle from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. November 23 2nd Annual Down Home Roast Chicken Dinner - Orono United Church Hall at 6:00 p.m. Also Baked goods & Preserves Auction (donations appreciated). Adults $12; Children 6-12 $6; Family $30; Tickets available at Morrison Hardware 983-5207. Proceeds to Orono United Church fundraising. Monday. November 25 Free Influenza Clinic (Durham Region Health Dept.) - St. George Anglican Church Hall, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. November 29 Moonlight Madness and Tree Lighting - Newcastle Community Hall 6:00 p.m. Participating stores open til 11 p.m.; in-store specials; free draws; free balloons; Christmas Carols; free picture with Santa Claus, light refreshments served in hall. Sponsored by Newcastle BIA and Chamber of Commerce. December 2 to December 20 Are You Looking for Work? - Meta Vocational Services Inc. in Bowmanville is offering a three-week job search program. You will learn how to access the hidden job market, effective interview skills, preparing resumes and cover letters and more. The Job Finding Club is sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada. For more info contact Cathleen Lycet 905-697-8887. Saturday. December 7 Heather Rebekah Lodge #334 Bazaar -2 to 4 p.m., at 124 Church Street North, Orono. Baking, Crafts, Candy, Quilt Draw, Penny Sale, "New to You" Table, Refreshments. Saturday. December 7 Breakfast with Santa - Newcastle Community Hall 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (all you care to eat.) Tickets: Adults - $5; Seniors/Tccns - $4; Children (3-12) $3; Family (4 people-2 adults) $15; Children under 3 free. For more info call Diane 905-987-5653. Sunday. December 8 Victorian Christmas Dinner & Déjà Vu Choral Ensemble - St. Saviour's Anglican Church, Orono. Dinner 6 p.m. Déjà Vu 7:30 p.m. Tickets available from Charles Gray 987- 4551 or Maureen Tomlinson 983-9642. Dinner & Music $ 17/person; Music only $6/person.