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May Fox Talk
Digest
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 5 2002

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Articles:
S & E
POTABLE WATER
GROUNDS
LAKE AND PONDS
MOSQUITOES

Events:
Future Events
PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Social:
Care
MOTHERS

Notices:
SEWING MACHINE
MODEL RAILROAD
FOX TALK

A MESSAGE EVERY ADULT SHOULD READ, BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE WATCHING YOU, AND DOING AS YOU DO, NOT AS YOU SAY.

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say "thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking".

Future Events

Travel Talk April 24th
Shunpiking Tour May 8th
Pancake Breakfast May 10th
Garage Sale May 31st

Care Committee Co-ordinators:

CC #1 Barb Koerber/Norma Fisher
CC #2 Marg Macdonald/Pat Tibbles
CC #3 Faith Mundy/Marion Koehler
CC#4 Audrey Euler/Ellen Bowring
CARE COMMITTEE REPORT Marg Macdonald
Keeping in Touch
We lost another resident this month, neighbour and friend Archie Robinet. Our sympathies were given to his family through visitation, a card and a donation to World Vision.
Alice and Dick Demers lost their son. Our hearts go out to them. A donation was made to the Trillium Camp, Hamilton, in his memory.
Andy Fournier lost his mother. In her memory, he received a card and plants for the garden.
We extended sympathy to Elaine Hill at the loss of her son with a card and flowers.
Doris Bruder has finally had her surgery. She received a lovely basket of Easter flowers to welcome her home!
Joyce Morrison was given a card and an African violet. She received some good earth and fertilizer to make sure it flourishes in Flora's lovely pot!

MISSING SEWING MACHINE
June Davies
There have been many requests for the sewing machine that has been gone for the winter. We really don't think it went south with any of our residents. Please return it to the craft room, as it is needed there. Thanks.

SPRING PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Al Keith
Our two sittings will feature:
� All the pancakes you can eat
� Generous portions of Heidelberg ham and scrambled Omega 3 eggs
� Genuine maple syrup
� Fresh orange juice
� Coffee (decaf also) or tea

The cost is $4.00/person with proceeds going to the Social Committee.

Sign up for either the 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. or the 9:30 to 1l:00 a.m. sitting. You are encouraged to come anytime during your sitting time. The sign-up list is now posted in the mailroom.

MEN! A duty roster is also posted in the mailroom for you to volunteer. We need cashiers, batter preps, pancake flippers, egg crackers, egg scramblers, table clearers and fill ups, dishwashers, and kitchen cleaners upon completion. Please help us out.

Contacts - Alan Groves, Al Keith, Ron Wilkinson

VILLAGE PHONE BOOK

New Residents in May:

James & Kimalee Thorpe
10 Spruce Grove

Louise & John Coffey
124 Golflinks Drive

E-Mail
Ruth & Jim Cooke [email protected]

GROUNDS TALK
Cam Mangnan
We have good news for everyone who appreciates the beauty the swans bring to our lake. The swan keeper in New Hamburg has been successful in pairing our swan with a new female companion. A male was not an option as our male would not accept a new male in his territory. A point of interest is that the cost of two swans is only a little more than one as you pay for a pen not per bird in the winter. The cost of feed is trivial. They should be happily located on the lake by the time you read this. Perhaps we should have a "Name the New Swan" contest.

Don't forget to mark your calendar on May 29th for the information meeting outlined in the ponds section. We will preface the meeting with an overview of all the 2003 Grounds programs. The main emphasis will be on the Ponds and the Lake.

Sandy Moore re the flowers and shrub activity prepared the following:

Not an awful lot of news right now, we're all just watching our seedlings grow and waiting for a break in the weather. (Is the Weather Network always on at your house?? Seems to be at mine!) The annual/perennial order has been placed and the planting of the flowers will likely take place around the beginning of June; again weather cooperating! During the next few weeks we will be concentrating on cleaning up the beds, removing rogue tulips from previous plantings, adding triple mix and compost and generally preparing for the planting. Our volunteers for the Compost Day, Saturday, May 10th, will be visiting the landfill site and will bring back a small trailer of the 'black gold'. At this time, we will be adding this compost to the front entrance beds only, leaving the Rec. Centre beds for the fall. In this way, we will not interfere with the Pancake Breakfast or the private party taking place that same day. The Waterfall Plan will be received by the time you read this and will be out for tenders - more on this next month.

HAPPY PLANTING!

P.S. Apologies to Chuck Fox and Marg McDonald who both manage an adopt-a-bed and were inadvertently missed in my listing last month.

S & E COMMITTEE
Bill Simpson
Your reporter is back from Arizona and back in the saddle, so to speak. We are looking forward to getting on with some of our projects.

We have two drainage projects which were started last fall, one beside the Wills' property on Golf Links and the other behind the Riedlinger property on Woods Edge Ct. The drains were installed, however, the grading and sodding have to be completed.

The irrigation water system is slated to be turned on April 30th. If it's not too late, you should insure that both of your outside taps are turned off.

As you read this, the waterfall should hopefully be operating normally. Some initial difficulty was encountered in getting the system up and running after the winter shutdown, however, the minor problems should now be overcome. The pump and motor are still under warranty.

Path walkers will be anxious to see a continuance of our path improvement program. While major rebuilding will be contracted, there are many smaller areas which can be improved by ourselves with the use of work parties.

This brings us to another subject; we welcome new members to our committee. We meet every other Thursday, with our next meeting on May 2nd, in the library. We have a few individuals who have indicated that while they want to contribute to the community, they hate meetings but are willing to help out in work parties. We welcome both contributors. Why not come out to a meeting and make yourself known and you can choose whichever way you wish to participate.

LAKE AND PONDS COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING
Marg Macdonald
Thursday May 29th @ 7pm in Salons A & B
The Lake & Pond Committee members invite all residents to an information meeting in which we will describe in detail the long-term plan designed by Limnoterra to improve the condition of the lake. We will discuss outcomes we expect, and costs and time periods over which this could be implemented. We know as a result of the Grounds Committee Community Questionnaire that a large majority of residents wish to see improvements in the condition and appearance of the lake and ponds. Ninety-two of the 171 completed surveys rated the ponds as being the area of Grounds needing more emphasis. The next most important was weed control (53 of 171), followed by grass care at 45. We need your feedback! The committee is convinced that we need a plan and that we need competent and experienced help to restore our lake and ponds to health.
In the March issue of Fox Talk, everyone received the "Lake & Ponds Committee Update 2003" which includes the "Expectations" written by the committee to ensure that Limnoterra, our aquatic biology contractor, knew what the community hoped to achieve when managing these bodies of water. Please review that before coming to the meeting. Also, two copies of the proposed "Lake Management Plan" are available in the Library. We hope that you will take the time to read one of the copies before attending the meeting.
If necessary, we will hold other meetings but this meeting will open the discussions.

MODEL RAILROAD OPEN HOUSE
Graham Macdonald
Some of you already know that I am an avid model railroader and that I have a large layout in the basement, a work in progress! Others will have seen a crossbuck and train sign on our front lawn from time to time. The sign was for public tours organized annually by a local RR club. Margaret and I cordially offer the residents of Foxboro Green, their friends and family, the opportunity to visit the layout on Thursday June 12th, between 1pm and 5pm. Mark your calendars and wait for more details in the June Fox Talk.

FROM THE FOX TALK STAFF

A big "thank you" to Flora and Bill Congdon, and Don Schaaf for their help in collating Fox Talk while Marg Leppington was away. Your help was much appreciated.
We owe an apology to Peter Soloman, whose name was inadvertently left off the list of people who were instrumental in getting our computer armoire finished. Peter acted as a go-between, between our community and Fred Matthews of the Baden Seniors' Woodworking and Craft Centre, picked up the wood, and ensured that directions and diagrams were updated whenever a change was made. Thank you Peter.

WAYS TO FIGHT MOSQUITOES

1. Use Bounce fabric softener sheets. Just wipe on & go - great for babies.
2. Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October. He said it works. He was right. Hasn't had a mosquito bite in 33 years. It works on most who have tried it. Vitamin B-1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.)
3. If you eat bananas, the mosquitoes will like something about the banana oil as your body processes it. Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitoes will be much less interested.
4. This is going to floor you, but one of the best insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods every day), is Vick's Vaporub.
5. Plant marigolds around the yard; the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in the garden to help ward off bugs without using insecticides.
6. "Tough guy" marines who spend a great deal of time "camping out" say that the very best mosquito repellant you can use is Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol.
7. One of the best natural insect repellents is made from the clear real vanilla. This is the pure vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It works great for mosquitoes and ticks.

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What do fish say when they hit a concrete wall? DAM!

FOR ALL THE MOTHERS

This is for all the mothers who have sat up all night, with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Kraft dinner and wieners, birthday cake, and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's OK honey, Mommy's here." Who have walked around the house all night with their babies when they kept crying and they wouldn't stop.
This is for all the mothers who have shown up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and with diapers in their purse. For all the mothers who have run carpools and made dozens of cookies for school teas and sewn Hallowe'en costumes. For all the mothers who HAVEN'T, because they're at work trying to keep on top of the bills.
This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see and the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes and all their love.
This is for all the mothers who have frozen their buns off on metal bleachers at hockey, baseball or soccer games any night of the week instead of watching from their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me?", they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and meant it. This is for all the mothers who have yelled at their kids in the grocery store and swatted them in despair when they stomped their feet like a tired 2-year old does who wants ice cream before dinner and then hated themselves for "losing" it.
This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school and for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.
This is for all the mothers who taught their sons to cook and sew and their daughters to be brave and strong.This is for all mothers whose heads turn automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home or grown up.
This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get a call from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up right away�and they did.
This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, and who can't find the words to reach them.
For all the mothers who bite their lips when their 14-year olds dye their hair green.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion, broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cooks dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it the heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? Or the terror in your heart at 1am. when your teenager with the new driver's license is an hour late getting home? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2am. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby, or to feel the dull ache as you look in on your sleeping daughter or son the night before they leave for a college in another city or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, or a child dying.

For all the mothers of the victims of all the school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror hugging their child who just came home from school safely.
This is for mothers who have tearfully placed flowers and teddy bears on their children's graves, whose children have died from illnesses, accidents, and the worst of all and hardest to comprehend, suicides.
This is for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation. And mature mothers who have learned and are still learning, to let go.
For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers, single mothers and married mothers. For grandmothers whose wisdom and love remain constant for their grown children and their children's children.

REPORT RE: POTABLE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE
The following are the current issues of concern:

1. Responding to the Ministry of Environment letter recommending that we implement a maintenance program for the operation of our system including the preparation of operation and maintenance manuals. We need to have in place an arrangement with an accredited company to perform recommended maintenance tasks including the flushing of our system on a prescribed regular basis and to be on call to perform any necessary repairs to the system as may be necessary.

2. Responding to the new Drinking Water Systems Regulations which came into effect on June 1, 2003 presumably requiring us to have daily testing of our system for chlorine residue.

3. Applying for relief from weekly testing for contaminants in our system to bi-weekly. In fact when these regulations came into effect over two years ago, on the recommendation of Stantec and in the interest of being extra cautious, we decided to go with twice weekly testing. This is the manner in which the program was tendered and has been carried on since then. During what is now over a two year period, we have had nothing but zero readings for contaminants. On the basis of these reports, the regulations appear to allow for us to now apply for biweekly testing.

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In line with our usual procedures for our committee, we have established a new sub-committee for the Potable Water Distribution System to be chaired by Denis Etiene. For the time being I will remain primarily involved until we get these issues adequately dealt with.

Before OCWA unilaterally started daily testing, we had already contacted them to obtain advice on the procedures for applying for bi-weekly testing. See faxes from Teresa dated May 22 & May 23. We were to the point of following up on these when Teresa & I encountered Aqua's "tester" at the Centre last Friday and queried him as to why he was there on a day when normally their bi-weekly would not be conducted. This is the first that either of us knew that daily testing for chlorine residue had been commenced. I initiated a call to Brian Bretz of Aqua to challenge him as to why they had commenced daily testing without informing us. He advised that they decided to implement this for all of their clients on the basis of their interpretation of the new regulations. He indicated that this was after their consultations with the Ministry office. I requested and obtained the name of their contact at the Ministry office in Guelph. I also challenged him as to why we had received no reply to our faxes regarding an application for reduced testing for contaminants and he indicated that they were still looking into this. I arranged for a meeting with Bretz for this Friday June 13.

Quite frankly, in my opinion, this whole matter seems incongruous in that we are presumably eligible to apply for reduced testing for contaminants (which should be the major concern) while being required to institute daily testing for chlorine residue. The Region inputs chlorine at the pumping station and they test this online on a remote basis daily before it enters our pipes.

I initiated a call to the Guelph Ministry office for the contact recommended by Bretz however it was Carola Serwotka who returned the call (the inspector who did the surprise system audit back in early May and who wrote us recommending our setting up of a maintenance program). She indicated that daily chlorine residue testing is required. She also indicated that it was the Ministry who would initiate an advice to us that we qualified for reduced (bi-weekly) testing for contaminants and that we could not apply for the reduction until we received this advice from the Ministry.

I also initiated a call to Lane Stevens of the Regional Water Department to discuss the daily testing requirement for chlorine residue with him. I was exploring whether there was a possibility of installing a remote test station in our system and piggybacking it with the Region so that they monitored it for us. Subsequently they advised that their regulations would not permit such monitoring.

Denis and I met on June 10 with Wayne Yantzi of Weitzel Pumps and Water Treatment and Dan Smuk of DJS Water Services Inc. whom they state work together on water systems. Yantzi's company operates the equipment for maintenance and repairs. Smuk is a chemical engineer. These are the people recommended us by Lane Stevens from the Region. Our original intent was only to meet with them regarding the setting up of the maintenance program. They were one of the original tenderers for the water testing set up two years ago but were outbid by OCWA. However in setting up the appointment, I discussed this whole matter of the daily chlorine water testing as I was not comfortable with what we were being told by Aqua and quite frankly Aqua's non-communication attitude. It is Smuk's opinion that firstly we do not necessarily fall into the category of a Non-Municipal - Year Round Residential system, as we do not operate a "system". In his opinion, a system such as ours consists of a ground water source, treatment plant/ pumping station and distribution system. We only own the distribution system. Therefore in his opinion we should qualify under Section 5 which can give exemption if we are receiving water from another drinking water system that is subject to the regulations and provides disinfection. In his opinion our situation is anything but clear and as such leads to misinterpretation. In his opinion, water that leaves the plant, which is already daily monitored for chlorine residue, should not be subject to further testing. The potential for any significant loss of chlorine in our closed system is remote. He has agreed to discuss these points with the Ministry and if necessary assist us in the preparation of a formal application to exempt us from daily chlorine residue testing. At the same time, without waiting for the Ministry to advise us that we qualify for reduced contaminant testing (which he feels will take an indefinite length of time), he will assist us in assembling the necessary data to apply for reduced contaminant testing now. Teresa is preparing copies of our quarterly reports for him.

Assuming the concurrence of the board, I have engaged Smuk to pursue this course of action and bill us on a fee for services basis. While I feel we are morally obligated to continue with our relationship with OCWA for the remainder of the three year term for contaminant testing, I feel that this should only be on the basis that they appropriately modify their fees based on biweekly testing, assuming this is approved. A formal contract with OCWA was never completed.
Denis & the writer met with Don Thompson and Brian Bretz of OCWA on June 13 as indicated on the previously circulated report. They apologized for their lack of communication in the implementation of the daily chlorine residue testing stating that they did not have time after their internal deliberations for implementation for their customers. They are unable to give a cost at this time but state that cost should be significantly reduced as quarterly reports to the ministry are no longer required and if we can reduce our contaminant testing to bi-weekly. They are to immediately apply for this reduction which should be two-fold:
1. To reduce testing immediately to weekly which conforms to the regulation although they state that approval is required even to do this.
2. To apply for bi-weekly testing in view of our clean reports for the past two years. This will require back-up information.
We challenged their interpretation in a couple of other areas and they will get back to us after conferring with their superiors and legal counsel:
1. Whether we are considered as operating a system under a non-municipal, year round residential category. From our discussions with Dan Smut, he questions whether we operate a system per se (water source, treatment plant, pumping station and distribution network) or do we only operate the distribution system after buying treated and tested water from the Region.
2. The timing for the implementation without a grace period. There would appear to be a contradiction in the regulations whereby it is stated water that requirements have to be fulfilled by December 31, 2005.
3. Whether we can apply for an exemption based strictly on the common sense that water is tested for chlorine residue as it leaves the pumping station and that there should be no reduction by the time that it travels to the last house in the subdivision.
They are to revert back to us within a week and we will have another meeting.

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