Spiel

....Gosh "dang" it I wish I was still there having a "pontificating" session wit ya Glen. Twas great to see you again.

....You should have been John, DANG you should have been.

Giant Mudcat has found a home June 18, 2008 / dunnvillechronicle.com TO THE EDITOR: We have a home for our project. Terms of a land use agreement have been agreed to by Haldimand County and the Rotary Club of Dunnville, which is the lead organization for us in connection with The Ontario Trillium Foundation, as well as with the county. Additionally an agreement has been signed by each of the 5 Dunville service clubs, agreeing to share equally the costs of maintenance, repairs, insurance, etc. This is in addition to cash contributions made, so that this is truly a project of all the 5 Dunnville clubs. A first, we understand. Our next step will be to make application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, for some of the funding, and if successful, construction can start towards the end of the year, with an April or May 2009 completion date Those who have followed this saga will know that Centennial Park was not our first choice of location, nor was it second or third. Incidentally, 106 Main Street, the present location of the Braund House is not our first or second choice of location either, notwithstanding the fact that the Chronicle continually links the Big Mudcat project with the saving of the Braund house from demolition. We were offered this location at one time, and accepted it, but were not able to follow through at the time. We have gotten over the fact that we will not be building at this address, and find the continual linking of the two to be unnecessary, disconcerting and potentially divisive. Incidentally, all committee members, representing the 5 service clubs, were unanimous in wanting a waterfront location for the statue and the closer to the downtown the better. So too were our sponsors. Additionally, 90% of the attendees at a public meeting held last May voted for a Wingfield Park location, while only 5 per cent voted for Centennial Park. In any event, now that we have agreed upon a location, it is up to us, as a group, to make the Centennial Park location work. Please be aware that we have agreed to this location on the understanding that county will substantially improve this park, including placing portable washrooms there, cleaning and refurbishing the fountain (this fountain is actually quite beautiful), moving some trees, doing some reseeding, maintaining the grounds better than has been the case, and so on. We are proud of the fact that because of our previous interests in various locations, improvements to these locations have been made. To wit, the large clock has been refurbished, Centennial Park will be greatly improved as a result of our efforts and of course a committee has been established to save the old Braund house from destruction. We wish this committee well and hopefully they reciprocate the feeling. We all need to work together, for the good of the whole. As mentioned our original plan, of course, was to have it placed near the water, and near the downtown, so as to encourage visitors to walk to the downtown and spend a dollar or two there. The Centennial Park location will make it not quite as easy for visitors to make it to the down town, as they will have to get back in the car, find parking etc. However, if the downtown is attractive, clean and welcoming, we feel this will happen. There is a downtown revitalization committee and hopefully this group, together with the downtown merchants, and the B. I. A, etc are working diligently to make the foregoing happen. It was reported a couple of weeks ago that we would also be building a parade float, again with The Big Mudcat theme. A design has been completed and it was to be built at a cost of over $5,000. The theme of the float was to be "Come to Dunnville, to see the Worlds' Biggest Mudcat" and "Come and shop in Dunnville". We had offered this float to the Chamber of Commerce, at no cost to them, with only some easily managed provisos. Regrettably, they showed no interest in this and it will not therefore likely be built. Unless, another organization steps forward and agrees to take ownership of this in the very near future. While, the Mudcat will not be placed close to the downtown, we feel it will be very good for Dunnville, wherever it might be placed, provided it is properly promoted and we intend to do this. After all, how many towns have the biggest of anything in the WORLD, a record we hope to establish. Furthermore, both the Wawa Goose and the Sudbury Nickel are located on the outskirts of their respective towns, and who has not heard of these two icons? Incidentally, we wrote the Town of Wawa and asked for advice on how they went about establishing the goose. Interestingly, we were advised, among other things that "The idea was originally LAUGHED at by locals, but has since become the most successful icon in our community". Who would know of Wawa, had it not been for their goose statue? We feel the Mudcat as an icon is already well established in our community, by way of the yearly festival, just finished again, the former hockey club, a former baseball club and of course the fact that people come from miles around just for the chance to catch one of these ugly critters. We realize that there are some in the community who are less than enthused with the idea of the town being identified with a lowly catfish. One letter writer called it an "ill conceived idea", but who nowadays is really enamoured with the Canada goose? What about the beaver, a national symbol, with the beaver nowadays being mainly a nuisance and of course he is just a rodent. What about the Nickel? What can you do with a nickel? We realize that we are not going to convince everyone of the potential benefits the statue will have on the community, but we do ask that they be patient and reserve judgment until the project is completed and has been given some time to prove itself. Thanks to the Kinsmen Club, the Rotary Club, the Lion and Lioness clubs and the Optimist Club for spearheading the project, and of course to the many other sponsors for their very generous support. Jack Hooghiem The Big Mudcat Committee Dunnville

The walleye will bite again June 14, 2008 Terry Curtis / northumberlandtoday.com What happened to our walleye bite? After such a good start to the season, I guess we got spoiled. And with good reason, I'd say. After all, the first weeks of the season were the best they've been in years and we thought it would continue for a bit longer. Boy, did the anglers in the Bewdley Firefighter's Walleye Tournament get a shock last weekend, though. That hot weather pattern that rolled in turned the fish right off, just the opposite of what we thought would happen. Many teams had trouble getting any kind of bite at all and Ed (the Old Coot) Baker and I struggled to get 10 hits and land eight fish, let alone try to put together enough weight to cash a cheque. That sure didn't happen, but we weren't alone by any means. Some teams only had one or two fish all day, while others had several hits but couldn't find the right size walleye to weigh in due to the new size regulations. Oh, well. It was still a good tournament and it grew again this year in numbers of teams entered, which is key to keeping it going. I sure plan to fish it again next year. Do I think the walleye will turn the bite back on again? You bet your boots I do! There are so many walleye in Rice Lake right now, all competing for food, it can't help but happen. Every walleye I filleted last week had no food at all in its stomach and everyone else I spoke to who cleaned fish noticed the same thing. They've got to eat soon! If you're wondering why we were looking for their stomach contents, it's because we wanted to see what they were dining on so we could try to match our lures to whatever they were consuming. Personally, I had the best luck on perch-coloured crankbaits and plastic body baits that looked like actual tiny perch. That's what they had been eating up until just a few days before the tournament, so it made sense to go with them. While I]m on the topic of the tournament, the Bewdley Firefighters Association is trying to raise money for a new rescue boat which is needed to cover the waters at the west end of Rice Lake when an emergency occurs in that area. To help them out I've given them a free voucher for a four-hour bass fishing trip on Rice Lake so they can sell tickets on it to help make some money for them. As soon as I get the details how they're going about selling them, where they'll be available and how much they cost, I'll pass the scoop on to you. Hopefully, lots of folks will spend a few dollars to help them raise some boat money. Keep an eye on this column for more information shortly. Are you getting the itch for bass season to open? I know I sure am! I've got my gear all ready for the big day two weeks from this Saturday and I plan on being on the water at daybreak, chasing those suckers all day long. I like catching all species of fish but, overall, I'd have to say bass are the most exciting for me; I never tire of catching them. Day or night, good weather or bad, I don't care. Wind me up and turn me loose! Here's a tip for this week. Stock up on plastic baits now if you want to save some money. As petroleum prices keep rising, so will the costs of making baits and you know for sure we'll have to fork out more loot to the manufacturers as their costs rise as well. Anything made of plastic such as tubes, worms, etc. is going cost a bit more, so buy them now. In bulk quantities if you can. Hey, with the cost of boat fuel these days you have to save where you can, right? One more thing before I leave for this week. Last week, I said I was going to put a revenge whupping on Steve Scowcroft in the tournament and I bet you want to know how it went, eh? All I can say is it wasn't a real whupping, just enough to earn bragging rights again. Sorry, Scowy, but revenge sure is sweet!

Fishy fence has serious message June 18, 2008 Eric McGuinness / The Hamilton Spectator Residents of Burnaby, B.C., decided some years ago to beautify a chain-link fence by decorating it with painted wooden fish to remember thousands killed by a chemical spill into a local creek. The idea turned into the Stream of Dreams mural project, a tool to teach children how to protect natural waters and the life in them. It's now spreading to school fences across Halton and Hamilton, thanks to Conservation Halton and the Bay Area Restoration Council. The latest dreamfish installation goes up today at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Elementary School on Belmont Avenue in the Gage-Cannon area. About 250 students from junior kindergarten through Grade 8 attended watershed workshops over the last two days before putting their imaginations and paint brushes to work on wooden cutouts ranging from finger-length sculpins to salmon almost half a metre long. Cris Giavedoni-Keravica, a parent who helped organize the effort, said the resulting mural will serve as a reminder of the need to protect Hamilton Harbour's watershed, "brighten up a barren stretch of fence and beautify the neighbourhood with original art." The restoration council's Kelly Pike told a group of Grade 7 students their fish could be symbols of those in Spencer Creek and Cootes Paradise killed by contaminated runoff from a pesticide packaging plant fire in Dundas last year. "Go to Spencer Creek today and you're still not finding all the insects you should. The fish population is recovering, but the insects on which they feed are definitely down."

Level plan a mistake, lakes commission told: Critics say Hamilton Harbour cleanup at risk June 10, 2008 Eric McGuinness / The Hamilton Spectator The International Joint Commission (IJC) was told last night that its proposed new plan for regulating the level of Lake Ontario jeopardizes the cleanup of Hamilton Harbour and efforts to remove it from the list of Great Lakes pollution hot spots by 2015. John Hall, co-ordinator of the harbour Remedial Action Plan, Jim Hudson, executive director of the Bay Area Restoration Council, and Tys Theysmeyer, aquatic ecologist for the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG), presented a united front against the IJC's favoured Plan 2007, which they said would result in high water at the wrong time for plants and animals. "Timing is everything in plant and animal life," Theysmeyer said. They were joined by Laurel Thompson, who presented a petition signed by 350 people opposed to the plan. Backing also came from Doug Cuthbert of Burlington, Canadian co-chair of the five-year, $20-million IJC study that proposed three alternatives that the commissioners set aside in favour of Plan 2007 that was devised later at their request by commission staff. All the Hamilton-Burlington speakers called on the six commissioners to adopt Plan B+, one said to be best for the environment but more costly to landowners because the lake would be higher during spring storms that erode shore properties, especially along the Niagara Peninsula and in New York State. Hall said restoration of the Cootes Paradise marsh and Grindstone Creek estuary, both on RBG lands, is a criterion for delisting the harbour as an IJC area of concern, and delisting "may not be possible if Plan 2007 is approved." He reminded Canadian co-chair Herb Gray, a former deputy prime minister, and the other commissioners that York University researchers estimate a billion-dollar payback from delisting the harbour, and said: "Do not approve Plan 2007 as this will be very difficult to move away from. "It will set a clear path, entrenching errors of the past that allowed for properties to be built in areas susceptible to flooding and erosion. Plan 2007 will set a path that clearly compromises the environmental benefits of the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system." Cuthbert said the IJC study had been very public and transparent, but Plan 2007 was devised behind closed doors, "raising suspicions as to how and why." Last night's public hearing was the first of 10 the commission will hold before making a decision. Written comments will be accepted until July 11. For more information, go to ijc.org.

Consideration of Proposed Amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act by Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, News Release June 12, 2008 Today, the Committee presented its report to the House of Commons, entitled: CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE NAVIGABLE WATERS PROTECTION ACT. In February 2008, the government requested that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities undertake consultations to develop a new Navigable Waters Protection Act. This Act, which was written in 1882, is one of the oldest pieces of legislation in Canada. While the Committee appreciates the necessity for developing new legislation, we believe that rather than dealing with the entire piece of legislation it would better serve the needs of stakeholders to first deal with those sections of the Act that could be resolved quickly. To this end, Transport Canada set forth seven areas for the Committee to examine. These include; the definition of “navigable waters”, the definition of “work”, reference to “named” works, fines, removal of wrecks, inspection powers and the review of the Act. Our report makes recommendations concerning these issues as well as on an additional item dealing with inter-departmental environmental assessments and fisheries habitat assessments. The Committee recommends that the government: • amend the definition of navigable waters to exclude minor waters and clearly define what constitutes a navigable water; • amend the definition of “work” to exclude “minor works”; • consider deleting specific reference to the “four” named works in the Act without compromising the review of works that impede or obstruct navigation; • ensure that the “trigger” mechanisms contained in other pieces of relevant legislation for environmental assessment and fisheries habitat assessment are not done away with or impeded; • develop as system of significant fines; • take into account international agreements with regard to removal of wrecks; • clearly define inspection powers to ensure compliance with all provisions of the NWPA; and • include a five - year review clause in the Act to correct any deficiencies in the implementation of the proposed amendments to the Act. We believe that these recommendations can lead to improvements in the current legislation and benefit stakeholders in terms of easing the backlog of projects and more clearly defining the approval process. We would also note that this is the first stage in our process in dealing with changes to the NWPA. Once we receive the government’s proposed amendments we will be undertaking further consultations on this piece of legislation. The report is available at http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte For more information, please contact: Maxime Ricard, Clerk of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Tel: 613-996-4663 E-mail: [email protected]

Pair set out to prove Bay of Quinte healthy Findings could lead to bay being de-listed as a pollution hot spot June 17, 2008 STEPHEN PETRICK, THE INTELLIGENCER Environmentalists in charge of cleaning up the Bay of Quinte believe the area could be de-listed as a pollution hot spot as early as 2011. But for that to happen, they need to prove fish and wildlife populations are healthy again. That's where Justin Robertson and Justin White come in. The two recent university graduates have been hired by the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan to help carry out its goal of proving ecosystems in the bay are healthy and populations of once at-risk species are growing. Robertson, a 23-year-old Frankford native who just finished a biology degree at McMaster University, will be in charge of a regeneration program for shoreline and wetland habitats. White, a 23-year-old from Prince Edward County who recently completed an environmental resource sciences degree from Trent University, is a monitoring technician. He was hired to collect data on populations and assess habitat enhancement activities. Both believe the bay has a realistic chance of being de-listed by 2011 if their summer projects are a success. "I definitely see a future," said White. "I want to say, 'yes, things are turning around.' But for that we need help from the public." Since starting his job last month, White has been monitoring fish populations in Sawguin Creek in Prince Edward County during the day. He is also tracking birds in the evenings and amphibians at night, with the help of volunteers, at 14 different coastal wetlands in the bay area. It is important work, he said, considering remedial action plan staff have not traditionally done their own monitoring of species and have relied on data from various other environmental organizations. Soon the organization will have its own database of information to compare with other organizations' stats. It will confirm if current environmental projects are making a difference in populations or if more work needs to be done. "If we start noticing that species are returning, we can say we are recovering," White said. But, ultimately, action plan staff need public support to make sure habitat-improving plans are carried out. Robertson's job will be to solicit exactly that. He's currently drafting a survey for those who own shoreline properties around the bay. When the survey is finished, likely in mid July, Robertson said, he and a team of volunteers will take it door-to- door in an attempt to figure out how many property owners have completely natural shorelines and how many don't. Those who have unnatural shorelines -- one altered by, say, a retaining wall or a dock -- will be asked if they will consider moving it, in an effort to reduce pollution in the bay. A more natural shoreline, Robertson explained, acts as a buffer zone for runoff that could potentially leak into the bay. "Things such as shrubs and trees absorb run off that may otherwise go into the bay," Robertson said, noting that runoff of gas, fertilizers and pesticides is what has led the bay to be polluted. Action plan staff have a goal of ensuring that 70 per cent of the bay shoreline is considered "soft" -- in other words, natural -- in the near future. But the survey, Robertson stressed, will not be meant to force property owners to make changes to their shorelines. It will just be to gauge how many would be willing to make changes and on what conditions. "We're trying to identify properties where there's potential for naturalization," he said. "We're not trying to regulate anything; we're into promoting a natural shoreline." If the survey reveals that many property owners would be willing to make changes, action plan staff may be able to lobby senior governments for a grant program to subsidize their costs. Robertson said he hopes to take the survey to about 180 properties around the bay in an area stretching from Carrying Place to the east end of Belleville this summer. Later, staff hope to take the survey to property owners in Prince Edward County and the Napanee area. If all goes as planned, the project will reduce pollution in the bay enough so that data collectors, in the coming years, will be able to conclude that more fish and wildlife are returning to the area, Robertson said. A healthy return of fish and wildlife habitats is one item the International Joint Commission (IJC) will look for when determining whether the Bay of Quinte can be de-listed in the coming years. The IJC is a watch-dog organization that monitors conditions in the Great Lakes. It labelled the bay as an area of concern in 1986, triggering the creation of the Remedial Action Plan in 1993. The hiring of the two graduates marks a significant step in the action plan's history, said its implementation manager, Jeff Borisko. He said he's looking to forward to seeing the results of Robertson's survey, because it will indicate whether the public supports action to clean up the bay. "There used to be a sense in the environmental community that people weren't prepared to change," he said. "We want to assess that. If we hit the right people we can go back to them and say this is what you need (to naturalize your shoreline) and this is what we can help you with." He added that having young staff, who are eager to work with volunteers and publicize the importance of cleaning up the bay is nice too. "These guys bring a new attitude and new energy to this whole process," he said. For information about volunteering for the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, e-mail Robertson at [email protected].

....Sounds kind of strange, was the origional prop lost due to a rock? Perhaps you've damaged the clutch dog, or maybe the prop is not seating properly against the shear pin?

....You're just swell Miss Joey. It's almost certain I'll be stopping by for coffee, mmmmm baileys.

....I might pop in later. Got some last minute things to pack.

....Bring the rain gear folks and some warm clothing gonna be wet and cool but at least we'll see some sun by the weekend and hopefully for our tourney and fish fry. Sturgeon Falls Weather

....I don't think there's much I could leave behind. Clothing is minimal but all weather is covered. Fishing gear, a must! I've taken enough food for two dinners and I'll be there for five days so I'm definitely light there....LOL A portable BBQ and a single burner naptha stove rounds out the gear. Sleeping in my conversion van so that's easy. My trouble most of the time is trying to remember where I stowed things from last year.

....Well I never got one? Any trout articles in it?

....No worries Bud, it's not common knowledge.

....Brutal, always said there's nothing lower than stealing another man's property.

Well where I'm off to Drew is the OFC Lakair gathering, fun times for sure. Where you fly'n in to? Oh and Brian I gave up drinking two years ago this August but I may indulge myself for one or two cold ones.

....Sure, fun that's it....lol I'd like to be out washing and waxing the boat and van but it's currently raining. Kind of puts a real damper on that. It's also why I have a minute to sit here and type.

.....I swear to God it takes me more days to get ready for a trip than the trip itself will last. I mean getting clothing laundered and organized, getting all the camping and cooking gear together, grocery and beverage shopping. Then there's all the boat crap and fishing gear not to mention ensuring the vehicle is in top working order. Then there's the numerous trips back and forth to the local shops for all the things I need and the things I keep forgetting. Do you know what I mean or is it just me? Oh and this year I also have a dog whose needs will need tending. Oh and......... I also had four rods to build and complete cause they're going with me too!

....Perfect! But then you already knew that.

....Nothing I hate more than getting caught out on the water during an electrical storm. Has happened more than once and when the hair on my arms is standing vertical it scares the crap out me. These days I'm off and running for shore at the first signs of potential lightning. Sheeeeesh, gets me nervous just thinking about it.

Whoa, you's getting way to teknikal for me Doug.

....Best take them all back for recycling anyway Roy, least before Alcan has to up production at their smelter.

....One would almost think you've never been there Pete.

....Just in from Fishing World and Mike was kind enough to fill a bag full of assorted tackle and stuff for the prize table. Thanks Mike.