Untitled Document
Burning
Issue At The Learning Centre
By Brian Wilson
As regular readers of The Apsley Voice will recognize,
there has been some publicity of late regarding burning issues at
the North Kawartha Lifelong Learning Centre. Now don't go scratching
your head trying to recall specifics or even leafing through back
issues looking for controversy and juicy gossip. It's not that type
of burning issue. We're talking about burning CD Roms.
In any listing of the resources available for you at the Learning
Centre, the 'burning' of CD Roms is usually included, sometimes
even prominently. But this fact is usually tucked away in the back
of our minds and ignored. What's so special about being able to
record information on a small plastic disk? Why visit the Learning
Centre, especially now that the recorders come with virtually every
new computer on the market? What if I'm not a teenager wanting to
download the latest music to glue to my ears? What practical use
is this technology?
The Learning Centre has answers to these questions. More importantly,
the staff can supply the motivation and assistance for you to get
started with new technologies. They can walk you through applications
like the ones described below or help launch your personal brainstorms.
If you want to dabble with the technology just for interest's sake
or are investigating in preparation for serious |
work, you can choose the level of your
involvement. Perhaps, you might even use the CD recorder the salesperson
insisted was essential when you purchased your new computer.
As a starter application, consider the electronic collection, preservation,
and possible distribution of print and photos. Every family has material
which records the highlights of family history, achievements, people,
successes and failures. It helps to have a picture of Great Aunt Tilly
when trying to fix one's place in the labyrinth of family relations
or just to have a face to associate with family anecdotes. Legal documents
list important dates and strange names obscured by the passage of
time. Wedding photos of great grandparents are coveted by a vast array
of cousins and other relations, some of whom have invested considerable
effort in recording family genealogy. Those boxes of old photos that
record such significant events, the growth of children or our recent
trip abroad, need to be rescued from the inevitable flood and the
ravages of time. The list is endless. The Learning Centre can scan
documents and photos with you or set you up to work independently.
Slides can be changed to digital images and recorded on compact disk.
Not only is your collection preserved but it is more readily accessible.
A vast array of photos with which to embarrass your daughter on her
wedding day can be at your fingertips. The family archives can be
quickly copied and sent |
to those annoying relatives.
Learning Centre
staff will even help you E-mail the material to the usual suspects.
If history isn't your fortè, then consider a stint as arts
preserver. Not all music must be loud and incomprehensible. Your vast
and irreplaceable collection of vinyl records can be restored to its
former glory. Although many records have been re-released as audio
CDs, it is difficult, nay nearly impossible, to get a cherished copy
of The Witch Doctor or The Purple People Eater in this format. And
your record player is warbling, missing vital parts or is dead. What
to do? Have the Learning Centre assist with converting your high school
LP of Music for Spring into an audio CD that everyone can enjoy. You
have the last copy of the church choir concert in which you sang tenor
solo? Fear not! This too can be preserved for posterity.
The staff of the centre provide a congenial learning environment and
opportunities to practise with technology. You may choose to pursue
projects of short term duration using staff assistance or embark on
longer term independent studies. Someone is there to explore with
you. Perhaps your photos don't reflect your version of reality. Staff
can show the subtleties involved in 'data enhancement', even removing
whole tracks of out-of-tune oboe playing. History should record what
was meant to be! And while you are there, check out the history section
up front in the library. See how the pros do it!
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Ministry of Natural Resources: Bear Problem
Courtesy of Doug Hutton
(also see page 10)
Brian Vermeersh, from the Ministry of Natural Resources, discussed
concerns about commercial garbage bins attracting bears. Discussion
quickly reached an emotional high when members of the audience demanded
action by the MRN to the bear problem. Deputy Reeve, Warren Smith,
who has had bears in his back yard, stated that the MNR tells the
public to remove bird feeders, install electric fences and take other
defense measures against bears, but there is no action to actually
solve the problem. Councilor at Large, Arnie Brown said he is concerned
that a bear will attack citizens at the landfill sites if something
is not done to reduce the number of bears.
Mr. Vermeersh admitted that the MNR does not know if commercial
bins are attracting the bears to Apsley, but some of the nuisance
bears have been eliminated. |
He also stated that there "may be"
an increase in the number of bear hunting permits for areas where
bears are a problem. Katherine Smith, a resident, demanded to know
when there will be a real solution to the problem.
She stated that
there has been lots of meetings and information distributed, but these
do not get rid of the bears. She also asked if the MNR advised neighboring
townships when a captured bear is moved into their area. Mr. Vermeersh
stated that this was not done because the areas are very remote. He
also added that there are no "good areas" to place bears
captured in Apsley. After leaving the council meeting, Mr. Vermeersh
was approached by another resident who continued to discuss the bear
problem with him.
MNR encouraged council to carry out a "hazard assessment"
when funding is available to determine if commercial garbage bins
are attracting the bears. Council will write to the minister to encourage
the return of the spring bear hunt to the province. |
COME JOIN THE BAND!
By Sandy Zimmerman
If you are looking for some music in your life we're looking for members
to play in the Firefly Band.
Here is a chance to learn to play a wind
instrument or a string bass.Sandy and Joe will teach you.
Practises are Mondays, 10AM, at #846, Highway 504.
Phone Sandy Zimmerman or Joe MacNab at 656-2745 for details. You can
bring music into your life at any age.
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