3

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©Copyright 2004Fareasterner

Volume 1 Issue 2October 2004

PublisherIan Ross

FeaturesDan Benoit

Wendy Patterson

Sales & DesignIan Ross

ContributorsDr. Sue Bulman

Christine DavisonStephen MacKnight

Jim SaundersGeorge Stephens

April Walsh

This Issue...

Look to the Camera ........................... 10

On with the Hunt..................... 15

COVER STORY

Paws on Patrol................. 7

Features

Introduction................................................................4Interior Decorating.................................................................5MUSIC: Robbie Tucker................................................10RECIPES........................................................................12PETS: Wintering Horses..........................................................14Woodlot Certification................................................................17RESP Basics ....................................................................20Hallowe’en Safety..........................................................21ASTROLOGY.................................................................22

4

From the Publisher

I t’s been an exciting month at Miramichi Monthly. On be-

half of everyone involved in this publication, I’d like to thank you,our readers, for the positive support and warm welcome. This month we will again endeavour to please with brand newstories and some even newer expansions to our line up. First letme welcome April Walsh who will be answering your questionsin a new column devoted to interior design and decorating. Also,Wendy Patterson brings us the first of what we hope will be manyworks as she takes a look at the fast arriving hunting season.

Dan Benoit returns with two pieces. He’s been researching theworld of television and shows us what it takes to get started on T.V.for yourself. To begin with, however, this month’s cover story is alook at the faces behind the Miramichi City police’s K-9 corps.

Dr. Sue Bulman is the author of this month’s veterinary columnand she reminds us that it’s time to get our larger pets, in this casehorses, ready for winter. Songwriter and musician, Robbie Tucker, recently passed throughthe area and Stephen MacKnight caught up with him in thismonth’s music column. In addition, forester Jim Saunders has volunteered to teach us alittle about woodlot certification and we have a piece submitted byGeorge Stephens, a reader from Brampton, ON, who has offeredinformation on financial planning for your children’s education. And finally, the mysteries of the fall are explained by astrologer,Christine Davison. Once again, with Thanksgiving so close, it seems only just forus, to once again offer our gratitude for taking the time to spendwith Miramichi Monthly. Blessings to you, your family and friendsat this time. Let’s get some turkey.

Until November,

Dear Editor In the recent issue of Miramichi Monthly we sawand took note of the article by Ian Ross regarding thepossibility of bringing a University to the Miramichiarea. Since the relocation of the original St. Thomas Uni-versity from Miramichi to the Fredericton area, ourcity has only had the option of offering post-second-ary education through our local Community College,by Private Colleges, by Extended-Learning or by hav-ing our youth leave the area in order to obtain a de-gree. As a local business person I would like to give myfull support so that we can once again offer educationto all our youth and to those who would come to ourCity to further their education. As a professional mentor of young people and as aparent I feel that bringing a University to our areawould benefit all. Our youth would stay in their com-munities and new people would relocate to our areathus enhancing our business districts. Miramichi Engineering Ltd. is a local company whospecializes in the design of institutional buildings andwould love to offer their services to design the re-quired renovations to existing buildings or to designnew buildings.

Sincerely,Larry MacLaggan, P. Eng

Letters to the EditorLetters to the EditorLetters to the EditorLetters to the EditorLetters to the Editor

Dear Editor: A copy of the first issue of the Miramichi Monthlyhas arrived in Brampton, ON. We found all the arti-cles very interesting, and are particularly impressedwith the appropriateness of the front cover and storyfor your first issue. It looks like you have started a great thing! Keepup the good work!

Yours truly,Jeanne & George Stephens

To submit writing, ideas, photos, or artwork to MiramichiMonthly, please send an email to editor@fareasterner.com.No phone calls or walk-ins please.

Letters to the Editor should be concise and may be sent toeditor@fareasterner.com, or through regular mail ad-dressed to Fareasterner, attn: Editor, 1773 Water St.,Miramichi, NB, E1N 1B2.

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For advertising, please contact us at (506) 778-2494, emailus at sales@fareasterner.com, or fax us at 778-2491.

Submission Guidelines

5

Dear April, We recently purchased an older homethat has beautiful hardwood floors, darkwood trim and wainscoting. We love thewood but it makes the space seem darkand gloomy. The home is very tradi-tional with small rooms and a ceilingheight of 10’. How can we create a newlook without tarnishing the home’soriginal charm?

Paint it! Paint is magical. It can cre-ate the illusion of a larger space, affectone’s mood and helps create ambience.I know the thought of painting woodmakes most people cringe. However,today there are many great historicalcolours on the market. Choosing to paintwood in a creamy light colour with aco-coordinating wall colour will bringa current fresh new look to your space.Your room will appear cheerful andlarger. Ask a professional to help choosea hue that will suit your needs and sayhello to your more current charming“older” home.

I keep hearing about Feung Shui. Be-sides not being able to pronounce it, I’mnot sure how it is relevant in decorat-ing.

“(Phong Shway)” is based on how chi(or energy) moves around a space,mainly by the placement of objects orfurniture. That sounds confusing butactually we see Feung Shui throughoutthe environment and simply describe itas good design. One way to explain itis when you enter a space and you ei-ther get an inviting or an unwelcomingfeeling. That, in essence, is what Feung

Shui is all about: how the space makesyou feel. For instance grouping furni-ture in two, draws people together andencourages harmony. Through this an-cient practice, Feung Shui incorporatesfive elements ( fire, earth, metal, waterand wood). To simplify this, if you see these prin-ciples in a kitchen, all five elements areusually present. Fire would be the stove,the sink is water, etc. It would be un-usual to see a stove beside the fridgewithout wood (a counter in between).

Feung Shui or good design? Thereare many different takes on this issue.Some believe it is superstition while

others feel it’s a way of life. Howeveryou decide, incorporating natural ele-ments into design is always favourable.

April Walsh is an interior decorator withJust Because... in Miramichi. If you havea question, give her a call at 622-7745 or

email her at april@fareasterner.com.

6

Profile: Bremner Farms

With the season of Thanksgiving upon us, Bremner Farms would like totake the time to thank their customers and friends throughout this year, andthe more than thirty years since Bremner Farms first opened for business. “Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on those things that are good to us,” saidLeon Bremner. “It is a time to reflect on family, friends, and business.” Leon Bremner founded Bremner Farms, having seen the need for greaterservice in the local agricultural community. Though it began as a one-man operation, John Gilliss and Perley Jardinewere the company’s first employees. “They were two ambitious and sincere young people,” Bremner recalls.“Both being raised on farms, they had an excellent work ethic of sincerityand honesty.” That ethic continues today. Throughout the years, more staff joined thecompany and Bremner Farms now has twenty-six employees who remaindedicated to servicing the needs of customers, handling service, parts andsales for a full line of Ford and New Holland products, throughout NewBrunswick and Prince Edward Island. Bremner Farms also features a full line of agricultural tractors and equip-ment, lawn and garden equipment, construction tractor/loader backhoes, ex-cavators, graders, bulldozers, and more. Their customers stretch beyond theagricultural sector to include those in many industries who rely on depend-able equipment and fair, honest service. On September 20th, a fire broke out on the property. Friends, neighbours,and staff joined the fire fighters in battling the blaze and to hope for a speedyrecovery. That too, is a cause for tremendous thanks at this time of year. This Thanksgiving, a special thank you goes out to the many withoutwhose support Bremner Farms would not exist. Happy Thanksgiving, every-one, from Leon and his staff.

7

By Dan Benoit

Standing in front of Miramichi policeheadquarters in Chatham, constableLorri Grant pulls an orange ball on arope out of her pocket. Her partner, afemale German shepherd named Koala,is instantly alert, eyes never leaving theball. Grant laughs. “She’ll do anything for that ball.” Grant has been a police officer for 14years, seven of them on the Miramichi.“I worked in Ontario for seven yearsbefore I came home.” Since K-9 officers must be in topphysical condition to keep pace withtheir dogs, Grant’s university degree inPhysical Education comes in handy. “Ifinished university and decided to gointo policing. It’s just something I al-ways wanted to do.” Grant and Koala make up half of theMiramichi police’s K-9 unit. ConstableDana Hicks and his dog Al make up theother half of the team. The K-9 unit here in Miramichi getsa lot more mileage than they would inlarger centres, she said. “On bigger forces, a K-9 can just doK-9, but this is a smaller force. We doeverything.” It’s a much different work environ-ment here on the river than it is inOntario, she said, but she loves it. “Likethey say, you can take the girl out of theMiramichi, but you can’t take theMiramichi out of the girl.” Koala and Grant met for the first timeat the Ontario Provincial Police Acad-emy Canine Training Centre four yearsago. “Her and I trained together in thespring of 2000. Our initial training was16 weeks,” Grant said. Careful consideration is given to the

selection of both the dog and the han-dler. German shepherds, aged 18 to 24months, are chosen for general serviceduties. The breed is renowned for itskeen sense of hearing and smell, eventemperament, stability, alertness anddependability in various weather con-ditions. The first three weeks of the trainingwere devoted to obedience, a founda-tion for the rest of the training, Grantsaid. “The dog knows you’re the boss andthey do what they’re told. A lot of dogswill feed off the handler’s reaction tothe situation.” For the remainder of the training,Grant and Koala learned how to trackhuman scent, search buildings and dis-arm assailants. The dog was also ex-posed to obstacles like stairways, lad-ders, tunnels and water with an empha-sis on tracking.

The pair later tacked on another 10weeks for explosives, firearms and am-munition training. The dogs are alsotrained to protect the handler on com-mand even in the face of gunfire. The pair has been together ever since.They even live together. “It’s a 24-hour-a-day job.”

Koala and her partner, Constable Lorri Grant

Paws on Patrol

8

Even though school is long over,Grant tries to get some sort of trainingin for Koala every day. “On top of theregular police work that I have to do,we do obedience in the morning.” Koala has a great personality, Grantsaid. “She’s real laid back… but when she’sworking, she’s all business. When Icome out of the house she comes withme.” Like other K-9 units across the coun-try, the Miramichi police department’s4x4 K-9 vehicle is specially designedto provide proper security for the dogand storage for equipment the handlersrequire. “They live to get in the back of thesetrucks. Too bad every police officercan’t be like that,” she said, laughing. They’re on call 24 hours a day andhave had a lot of interesting cases. “She’s found people in buildings.She’s found stolen money a kid hid in atree stump.” But even though she’s a tough ladycop, Koala still has a softer side, Grantsaid. She loves kids and applause. “A lot of people, especially kids, wantto pet her.” But that’s a big no-no. Praise andphysical contact has to come from thehandler and the handler only, she said. “If they pet her, she has no reason todo her work for me. She’ll think I canget petted ‘just because’.” If all goes well, Koala will probablywork until she turns 10. “Then she retires. Then she’ll becomea lazy dog.” Another side of Koala and probablynot her best quality is her fondness forsmelly animals. “She loves skunks. She’s been sprayedtwice,” Grant said laughing. The pair has been pretty successfultogether. “I think they really appreciate the factthat we are here. I’m always here, orDana. And if we’re not, one of us is oncall.” The other half of the K-9 unit, Cor-

poral Dana Hicks, trained with his part-ner Al in 1999. Hicks says the best part of being a K-9 officer is helping people. “It’s the ones where you find some-one lost in the woods and their life is indanger. As nice as it is to catch the badguys, these are the ones that most oftenstay with you,” he said. But being a K-9 officer isn’t for ev-eryone, Grant said. “You have to enjoy the company of adog. She’s my partner. I spend more timewith her then most people.” But Grant doesn’t mind it. “This is agreat part of the job. You get to chasethe bad guys and you get to promote thepolice service and your dog.”

Koala poses outside the station.(Dan Benoit photos)

Ideas for upcomingIdeas for upcomingIdeas for upcomingIdeas for upcomingIdeas for upcomingfeature stories?feature stories?feature stories?feature stories?feature stories?

Email us atEmail us atEmail us atEmail us atEmail us ateditor@fareasterner.com!editor@fareasterner.com!editor@fareasterner.com!editor@fareasterner.com!editor@fareasterner.com!

by Stephen MacKnight

Robbie Tucker

Up,Up and Away

Music

9

White Rapids native, Robbie Tucker,is on his way to catch a flight toMontreal. He is starting fresh again andthat restless spirit is the driving force inhis music as well. Tucker recorded “TheLedden Street Sessions” literally in hisbedroom on a digital recorder, and sinceApril 2003 he has pursued his muse allover Canada. The songwriting talentwas evident to anyone who heard thesolo album and it quickly earned himsome exciting opportunities. He playedthe Hard Rock Café in Toronto and alsohad an intimate show right inside thehuge Chapters in T.O. The big city wastempting but Robbie decided to moveback east. He arrived in Halifax in February2004 and quickly put together a band,with drums, bass, and piano behind him.CKDU, Dalhousie University’s radiostation, eagerly championed the album

and Robbie played about twenty-fiveshows in clubs around Halifax. Sud-denly the realities of the music businessabruptly caught up to him; the bars inthe city sell more beer if they have aband that plays covers. The gigs went well but the pressurewas on to leave the original songs be-hind in favour of the easy sell. Robbieconsiders himself a songwriter first andsaw no point in performing other’s ma-terial. “It’s so much more satisfying toplay your own stuff,” he decided and sostepped back to concentrate on a newbatch of songs. The new songs are mov-ing in a different direction because ofall the places he has been and the peoplehe has met. “If you liked the old albumyou will like the fresh songs but theyare different.” Even though he claimsRoy Orbison as his biggest influence itis the unique style he brings that makesthe album such a success. The next task for Robbie is to put to-gether a new band in Montreal and tofind a way to get into a real studio. He’sdone the bedroom/basement recordingthing and now he wants a professionalear and space to work with. The newmaterial has a sophistication that re-quires a lot of effort to match the soundin Robbie’s head. “Lovely Rose” is anew track that has to have a string sec-tion in it to make the song work. “Si-lent Professor” is a complex lyrical andmusical idea that will require studiowork. Robbie says the whole process ofsongwriting is becoming very satisfy-ing, “Sometimes it feels like someonestapled the song to my brain and I only

have to write it down.” The structure ofthe song shows growth from the firstrecord. Robbie enjoys putting chordstogether that don’t usually belong andhe often will have sections to his songs. All of the praise and attention cameas a bit of a surprise to Robbie at first.“I had only played those first songs forfriends and family. I wondered if theywere too simple, too childlike”. Now thepath is clear but difficult as Robbie es-sentially starts again in a new place, try-ing to build on what he has done be-fore. He had to move somewhere big-ger in order to get a chance to make adent with his own songs, so Montreal isthe base for now. It is a sad fact thatthose with ambition and an artistic call-ing often cannot remain in easternCanada. We here, unfortunately, do notoften support those with an originalsound. There is nothing wrong with thefolk style that dominates east coast mu-sic but we must make room for more orwatch other young artists head awayfrom home.

To keep up to date on

Robbie’s career, viewwww.robbietucker.com.

Photos: RobbieTucker.com

10

By Dan Benoit

If you think being a television star isreserved for glitzy, glamorous Hollywoodtypes, think again. In fact, it’s notdifficult at all to break into the world be-hind the small screen. Rogers Television’s community accessstation is looking for people who’d liketo volunteer their time to produce televi-sion programs. A broad spectrum of people get involvedin community programming, said ScottJackson, the regional station manager inNew Brunswick. Some volunteers are looking for com-munity service hours, some want to gainexperience for school while others vol-unteer as a way of giving back to theircommunity.

“Some people take it up as a hobby,some people do it for the social aspect,”Jackson said. Volunteering is an easy way to get in-volved in TV and gain practical skillsworking alongside professionals. Thereare benefits for the station as well.

“The volunteer program is really thebackbone to the way Rogers does com-munity programming.” While there are about 43 paid staffthroughout the province, 200 or so vol-unteers pick up the bulk of the produc-tion load. “It’s how we make it all work.” However, it’s been difficult to get themessage out to the public about the needfor volunteers. “I don’t have a big adver-tising budget and I don’t have a big pro-motional budget,” he said. Rogers Television’s news program FirstLocal is a prime example of how volun-teers help put a TV show together. Withsix to seven segments for each half-hourepisode of the program, Miramichi-basedassociate producer, Stacey Sarchfield,usually has her hands full putting the showtogether every Monday. “I script it for my host, I shoot all thestories, I edit, script them and put every-thing together,” she said. But volunteers like Brian Siddall, theon-air host of the show, pick up a lot ofthe load. And he’s not alone. More than1,600 volunteers help Rogers Televisionbring over 19,000 hours of locally pro-duced programming to communitiesacross Ontario, New Brunswick and New-foundland and Labrador. Volunteers usually begin in basic levelpositions. As they gain more experienceand training, they have the opportunity tomove into more challenging positions.The opportunity is also there for peopleto produce their own programs, somethingthe larger networks have moved awayfrom, Jackson said. “We’re trying to bean alternative to conventional broadcast

television. “I have a real mandate and a need toput on a wide variety of community pro-gramming. I’m looking for ways to donew, never-before-done shows.” The market is pretty well flooded withcooking shows and the like, he said. “Chances are we’ll say, you know,there’s already a lot of those on.” If someone wants to be the next DavidLetterman, they’d better be prepared todo a lot of the work themselves. In orderfor Rogers to produce a late-night com-edy show once a week, for example, Jack-son would like to have a season’s worthof material in the can before airing it.“That’s a 40-week run.” Once that concept is developed, it closesthe door for other similar ideas, he said.There’s no lack of proposals coming ineither. “I probably get about ten propos-als a month— one hundred a year— Andout of that we might take on twenty.” The network looks at each and everyproposal individually, he said. If peoplewant their proposal to be given seriousconsideration, it’s best to have the detailsworked out first. “We usually say to people, put some-thing in writing.” The process involved for those wantingto produce their own show is relativelysimple. An assessment is done on the pro-gram idea and after review, a decision ismade on whether to produce the program,he said. “From that point on, it becomes ajob of trying to juggle resources.” Time is also a factor in production. “Themore lead time they can give us, the bet-ter. I like to have a minimum of four to

Brian Siddall, host of First Local

six-weeks notice.” This gives him time topromote the show and get sponsorship,he said. “We try to communicate the re-lease of these things.” The opportunity to produce your ownshow is certainly there. Moncton-basedphotographer, Maurice Henri, developedthe concept for a regular program onRoger’s Television called Foto, whichtakes an in-depth look at the world of pho-tography. “He brought the concept to us.” One of the selling points of theprogram was the low cost involved in pro-ducing it. Henri operates the camera, doesthe interviews and produces the showhimself, eliminating the need for otherpeople to devote time to it. “The next thing you know it’s a series,”Jackson said. Developing local programming isn’t aprofit-driven enterprise for Rogers Tele-vision either, he said. “We’re not a com-mercial entity.” A portion of people’s monthly cable billis devoted to community programming. Volunteers are also needed at First Lo-cal, Rogers Television’s weekly televisionmagazine show. First Local delivers anin-depth look at the events, issues andpeople shaping the Miramichi. The pro-gram looks at the softer side of news, of-fering lifestyle reports and communityevents. People in Miramichi who would like towork on the program can call StacySarchfield and do an initial orientation. “People don’t realize this opportunityexists and it certainly does.”

11

Photos by Dan Benoit

12

Turkey or Chicken DressingAnna Watling, Black River Bridge, NB

2 rolls of day-old bakers’ bread, torn or cut into ½-inchcubes or pieces.Combine:½ tsp. salt½ tsp. pepper¼ tsp. gingerMix together 1 cup cooled mashed potatoes, salt,pepper and ginger.Add:1 Tbsp. summer savoury1 large onion, chopped1 Tbsp. butter or margarine

If dressing seems too dry, add 1-2 Tbsp. water, so itholds together.Put into a greased, covered casserole dish.Bake in a 350° oven for 45 min.After dressing is cooked, add 1 or 2 Tbsp. of drippingsif it is too dry.

Pumpkin PieMarie Shaw, Napan, NB

1 ½ cups pumpkin2 Tbsp. molasses¾ cup white sugar2 tsp. Pumpkin pie spice½ tsp. Salt1 Tbsp. flour2 eggs1 ½ cups milk

Combine pumpkin and molasses. Sift sugar, spice, salt andflour. Mix with pumpkin. Add eggs and milk.

Pour into unbaked pie shell.Bake 10 min. at 450° then 45 min. at 350°.

13

Orange Praline SaladJeanne Stephens, Brampton, ON

¼ cup sugar1 cup pecan halves2 teaspoons sugar½ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon pepper2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar¼ cup olive oil1 large head green leaf lettuce4 ribs celery, chopped2 (11-ounce) cans mandarin oranges, drained1 bunch green onions, chopped

Melt ¼ cup sugar in a nonstick heavy skillet over lowheat. Add the pecans, stirring gently until coated andgolden brown. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Combine 2 teaspoons sugar, salt, pepper, vinegar andolive oil in a bowl, beating together with a whisk. Cut the lettuce into bite-size pieces. Combine the lettuce,celery, mandarin oranges and onions in a large salad bowl. Add the pecans and dressing just before serving and toss tomix. You may substitute fresh orange or grapefruitsections for the mandarin oranges.

Serves eight.

Thank you to everyone whosubmitted a recipe this month!

Next month we are seeking hardy recipes fortackling winter. Please send submissions to

editor@fareasterner.com or mail to: Fareasterner,1773 Water St., Miramichi, NB, E1N 1B2.

October’s Specials:

Thanksgiving Feasts

Double Layer Cranberry Cheese PieChandra Lynch, Miramichi, NB

Cranberry Topping1 package (3 ounces) cranberry Jello1/3 cup sugar1 ¼ cups cranberry juice1 can (8 ounces) jellied cranberry sauce

Filling1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened¼ cup sugar1 Tbsp. Milk1 tsp. Vanilla extract½ cup whipped topping9-inch pastry shell, baked

Combine Jello and sugar in a mixing bowl and set aside.In a saucepan, bring cranberry juice to a boil. Remove fromheat and pour over Jello mixture, stirring to dissolve. Stir inthe cranberry sauce. Chill until slightly thickened. In another mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, milkand vanilla until fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Spreadevenly into pie shell. Beat cranberry topping until frothy,pour over filling. Chill overnight.

Pets

14

Fall/Winter Horse CareDr. Sue Bulman

Waterview Animal Hospital

The last thing any of us want to thinkabout during the last days of summer isthe unavoidable cold that comes with win-ter here in the Maritimes. There are sev-eral concerns for the horse owner as win-ter sets in. It is important to deworm your horse forbots in the summer and fall, with a prod-uct that contains Ivermectin (such asEqvalan). Bot flies lay their eggs prima-rily on the legs and shoulders. These areseen as several small yellow eggs, whichcling to the hair. They end up in the horse’smouth when the horse licks them. Fromhere they travel to the stomach where theyattach themselves to the lining of the stom-ach and remain for almost a year, thenpass out of the body with the manure toeventually become adult flies. To decreasenumbers, the eggs can be removed fromthe legs easily with a bot knife.

Horses tend to drink less in coldweather. This can predispose the horse to“impaction colic”, where the ingested feedblocks the horse’s colon, causing pain andin extreme cases, death. The average horserequires 3 gallons of water a day to keepeverything working properly. How do youmake sure your horse is getting thisamount? The first step is to ensure thewater source is not frozen. Check waterbuckets and maybe even add insulatedbuckets or water heaters. It is also knownthat horses will drink more water if it iswarm. Offer tepid water at least once a

day. Adding an ounce of salt, or electro-lytes to the feed before and during a coldsnap will increase the horse’s thirst. In-creasing the amount of hay has a doublebenefit. The internal digestion processcreates heat and helps to keep them warm. Feed is the fuel your horse uses to staywarm. If his daily rations don’t provideenough fuel, then he starts burning hisbody reserves— fat and eventually mus-cle— and loses weight. The colder theweather, the higher your horse’s metabo-lism is, which results in a higher fuel re-quirement. As horses age (past 15) theymay need even more than a younger horseas their digestive and heating systemsbecome less efficient. The best way toincrease this energy need is to feed morequality hay. Compared to grain, hay pro-duces more internal warmth when di-gested, doesn’t make the horse “high”,doesn’t increase his risk for colic andgives him something to do when insideon a stormy day. Although your horse may be ridden less,and hoof growth tends to slow down, it isimportant to maintain routine farrier vis-its. If your horse isn’t being worked, itmay be a good idea to pull his shoes. Remember that horses were designed tolive outside in average winter weather, butif the weather turns bitterly cold, or thereare ice storms, blizzards or freezing rain,he will need some kind of shelter, such asa three-sided shed facing away from theprevailing winds and, if possible, open to-ward the winter sun. If your horse lives ina barn, make sure there are no drafts, butdon’t have the barn shut up so tightly thatthe air is dusty, stuffy, odorous or mois-ture-laden, all of which can trigger respi-ratory problems. If their natural hair coat is allowed togrow, the average horse will not need ablanket. The exception to this is a geriat-ric horse that may not be able to keepwarm or grow an adequate hair coat. Ifyour horse works throughout the winter,you may want to body clip, to prevent thehorse from sweating heavily and then tak-ing forever to cool out, and possibly be-

come chilled. Clipped horses do requireblanketing. Check the blanket daily toensure it is not rubbing, and that it is nottoo warm.

If you have any questions about caringfor your horse contact your equine vet-erinarian. For general information, go towww.myhorsematters.com

15

By Wendy Patterson

In our comfortable corner of theworld, very few people still hunt out ofa need for food, clothing or tools. How-ever, hunting remains a major aspect oflife in Maritime Canada, and an impor-tant part of our economy and ecology. A recent rise in New Brunswick deerpopulation has made deer hunting par-ticularly attractive this year. In pastyears, the Department of Natural Re-sources reduced the number of doe per-mits issued, because of harsh winterweather or other environmental factors.This careful wildlife management, com-bined with last year’s milder winter, hasallowed the deer to prosper. As more deer are available, it is nec-essary to license more hunters, as well.Besides a rise in the number of buckpermits (which are issued every year),there will be more doe permits avail-able this fall. There have been seasonsin the past when only bucks could beharvested, as fewer male deer than fe-

males are required for the continuationof a herd. Human hunters are an important partof the ecosystem. Left unchecked, ani-mal populations can sometimes becometoo large for an area to support them.Without predators (including humans)to reduce the population, many animalsmay meet a much slower and less pleas-ant end through starvation and disease. While harvesting game may be theprimary purpose of hunting (and themeat a definite bonus), there are sev-eral other major reasons why peopleenjoy hunting. For many, it is prima-rily a social activity, an opportunity towork with friends or relatives towardsa common goal. For some, it is the chal-lenge of tracking and finding game,while still others welcome a chance toenjoy nature and spend time away fromcivilization in the relatively worry-freeNew Brunswick wilderness. Hunters are often among the mostconscientious environmentalists in anygiven community. Most make a markedeffort to ensure that animal populationsand the environments which supportthem are maintained for future years.That way, hunters and non-hunters canreturn to a good spot season after sea-son. The Miramichi woods are home tomany kinds of wildlife, and draw plentyof hunters each year. Deer hunters par-ticularly favour woods along the Plas-ter Rock highway, and in the MullinStream and Fraser-Burchill areas,

among others. Moose and black bearare also popular game, as well as ruffedgrouse, waterfowl and smaller creaturessuch as snowshoe hare. The Department of Natural Re-sources reminds both hunters and non-hunters to be careful not to cause un-necessary damage to the environmentor private property. All-terrain vehicles,while useful and enjoyable under theright circumstances, can be dangerousboth to the operator and to the surround-ing countryside when used irresponsi-bly. It is against the law to drive an ATVin a river or stream, and the vehicleshould only be taken onto private prop-erty with the landowner’s permission. Probably the most fundamental as-

On the HuntHunting in N.B.

16

Stay where you are. You willbe easier to find.

Think calmly about your situa-tion. The worst thing you can dois panic.

Observe your surroundings.Consider your options.

Plan your course of action.Have more than one backup plan.

If you realize that you

are lost...

(or that everyone else is)

STOP!

HuntingSafety Tips:

1. Always follow firearms andgame regulations.2. Stay in a group if at all pos-sible.3. Always tell someone exactlywhere you are going and whenyou expect to be back.4. Carry a daypack with matches,a whistle, a compass, a first aidkit and survival supplies in caseof emergency.5. Wear a hunter orange jacketand hat whether you’re huntingor not.6. Be conscious of where yourrifle is pointing.7. Keep the safety on until youare ready to fire.8. Always confirm your targetand your backstop before firing.9. When climbing or crossing anobstacle, unload your rifle andslide it under or pull it up afteryou, rather than carrying it.10. Never use drugs or abuse al-cohol when in the woods.

pect of good sportsmanship is respect:respect for oneself, for other hunters andnon-hunters, for landowners, for theland, and for game and firearms regula-tions. When returning from the hunt, it isnatural to want to display one’s prizefor the world to see. However, dress-ing it up in a funny hat, mounting it onthe roof of a truck, and parking next toa family restaurant is not particularlyrespectful, to the game or to the generalpublic. Such actions tend to cause fric-tion between the hunting and non-hunt-ing communities, and are frowned uponby many sportsmen. Statistically, hunting in Canada is avery safe activity, both for those whoparticipate and those who do not. Dur-ing hunting season, the woods are stillopen to be enjoyed by the public.Hunter orange is encouraged as a pre-caution for non-hunters (and their pets),but the likelihood of a hiker or camperbeing mistaken for game is extremelylow. Regardless of the activity, it iseveryone’s responsibility to follow es-tablished regulations – and commonsense – in order to keep the Miramichiwoods safe and unspoiled.

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We are hearing the word “certifi-

cation” much more often these days inconnection with private woodlots. Thereis some concern about the long-termbenefits and whom it is meant to ben-efit. To some people it is a new “four-letter word”. Before getting into a dis-cussion on the above, let’s look at thestarting point. Some consumers of for-est products, such as Time-Warner forexample, became concerned about howthe forests that produced their raw ma-terials were being treated. Retailers be-came involved because of the potentialimpact on sales if these concerned con-sumers turned to competitors who couldassure them that they were buying prod-ucts from well-treated forests. This hasaffected many industries, from paper tooriented strand board, but eventually allothers will follow. Once it became good for business, itwas necessary to have a structure inplace to set standards and put a moni-toring procedure in place. There are afew organizations that are involved insetting the standards for certification.Some have more stringent standards

than others, but the bottom line is thatour forests are now being treated betterthan in the past. Some items of con-cern are maintenance of biodiversity,soil conservation and protection ofaquatic habitats. “Maintenance ofbiodiversity” basically means leaving asmany species and/or habitats as pos-sible. Minimizing rutting and subse-quent soil compaction and erosion aremajor concerns with respect to “soilconservation”. “Protection of aquatichabitats” is promoted by leaving bufferzones that intercept sediment before itreaches the water to help maintain wa-ter temperature. This process has started on privatewoodlots in Northumberland County.Interested woodlot owners have begunby having woodlot management recom-mendations prepared that are practicaland based on the owner’s objectives.Acting on these recommendations is a

crucial element in the process. Formany woodlot owners, this part of theprocess is mainly a confirmation anddocumentation of acceptable forestrypractices they already carry out. The implementation of the recommen-dations is also a key factor in havingthe woodlot recognized as a commer-cial woodlot by Revenue Canada. Alsoit is a major determining factor in thedeferral of capital gains tax when theproperty is transferred to a family mem-ber during the lifetime of the owner, orby will. I believe the benefits of certifi-cation will include priority in access tosome markets for our forest productsalong with higher prices.

Jim Saunders is a forester withAditi Consultants Ltd.

Ian Ross photo

WhyWoodlotCertification?

by Jim Saunders

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Profile: The Wood Doctor

John Moore’s truck is instantly recognizable as he drives the streets ofMiramichi and the surrounding area. Perched atop the back, one can see anew Wood Doctor outdoor wood furnace ready for delivery. In an area where so many rely on wood to heat their homes, the WoodDoctor is a cleaner and safer alternative to conventional wood stoves. It alsooffers significant savings over gas or electric heat. Depending on your needs,four sizes of furnace are available, from 4000 sq.ft. models ideally suited forsingle homes to 25,000 sq.ft. furnaces suitable for commercial buildings ormultiple dwellings. “Multiple units allow for the most savings of time and money,” says Moore. In addition to being a private woodlot consultant, Moore is also the localdealer for Wood Doctor furnaces. He sells the boiler plate models of theWood Doctor and is willing to deliver anywhere in New Brunswick. Deliv-ery can be made in as little as three to four weeks. The Wood Doctor heats water (170° to 190° Fahrenheit) which is thenconducted through an open system of piping into your house or any otherbuildings on your property, up to 300 feet away. This makes the Wood Doc-tor great for people who wish to heat more than one house, a garage, or agreenhouse, for example. It also makes wood heating a lot easier. Logs don’t need to be split and thefurnace handles lengths of wood from three to six feet. The need to stockand maintain wood indoors is also gone, and not only does that cut down onthe amount of work but also gets rid of the problem of bugs in the basement. Best of all, Moore says, “You only need to feed it in the morning and thencheck it in the evening.” Wood Doctor boiler plate furnaces come with a 30-year warranty. To learnmore call 624-3935, or visit Wood Doctor on the web atwww.wooddoctorfurnace.com.

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At this “back to school” time of year, it isan ideal time to review the need to save foryour children’s education. Although anoverwhelming number of Canadian parentshope their children will go on to higher edu-cation after high school, studies show thereis a serious savings shortfall. Projections by Statistics Canada indicatethat the average post-secondary graduate (in2002) will earn about $1.5 million more thana high school graduate over their lifetime.That gap is expected to triple by 2015, mak-ing the saving for post-secondary educationbecome even more compelling. Establishing an individual or family Reg-istered Education Savings Plan (RESP),with a pre-authorized chequing plan to makecontributions automatically on a regularbasis, is the most convenient and tax-effec-tive way to save for education. Subscribers, usually parents or grandpar-ents but always related by blood to the ben-eficiary, can contribute up to $4,000 annu-ally, for a total of $42,000, per beneficiary.Contributions are not tax deductible, likeRRSP contributions, but the growth insidethe plan is tax protected until the studentwithdraws the money. Only withdrawals ofthe growth portion are taxable, and are gen-erally claimed by the beneficiary student,who usually has a lower income tax rate. Since January 1, 1998, the federal gov-

ernment has provided a Canada EducationSavings Grant (CESG) equal to 20% of thefirst $2,000 of annual contributions to anRESP for each child, up to the age of 17. The maximum annual grant, therefore, is$400, which over 18 years can amount to$7,200 plus the growth on the grants de-posited over the years. Note that if the grantcontribution room is not used, it may becarried forward to future years. Contributions for children aged 16 and 17are eligible for CESG grants only if contri-butions of at least $300 per year have beenmade in any four years before the childreaches age 16, or a minimum of $4,000 hasbeen contributed before the year in whichthe child reaches age 16. So it is importantto start a plan early enough to take full ben-efit of the grant programme. In 2005, the CESG will be expanded, withthe 20% grant doubled to 40% for lower-income families and increased to 30% formiddle-income families. These new ratesapply to the first $500 contributed to theRESP. There is definite financial benefit of con-tributing to an RESP. Saving $100 permonth over 15 years for education outsidean RESP, assuming a marginal income taxrate of 40% and an annual return of 8% perannum, would provide approximately$26,171. Saving the same amount inside anRESP, with the CESG grant, would provideapproximately $40,773. Principal can be withdrawn from theRESP at any time, tax-free. However, theallowable “contribution amount” is lost. Thewithdrawal may also create a CESG repay-ment of 20% of the withdrawn amount,since “assisted contributions” are deemedto be withdrawn first. Withdrawals of un-

assisted contributions, those not eligible forCESG matching, will result in restrictionsof future CESG payments. All funds in theplan must be withdrawn before the end ofthe plan’s 25th year. When the student requires money for post-secondary education, an RESP EducationalAssistance Payment Form must be com-pleted, showing the details of the plan, theamount required, the student’s name, theeducational institution and the program en-rolled in. The payments will be made firstfrom the capital (contributions) tax-free,then from the grant and growth portions. If the beneficiary does not pursue post-secondary education, contributions to theplan will be returned to the subscriber. Ifthe plan has been running for at least tenyears, and the beneficiaries are 21 years ofage and will not pursue post-secondary edu-cation, in most cases the unused growthfrom the plan may be transferred to thesubscriber’s or spouse’s RRSP providedadequate RRSP contribution room exists. Ifthe transfer to an RRSP is not possible, theunused growth portion will attract an addi-tional 20% income tax turned to the gov-ernment. Investments allowed inside the RESP arefairly broad, similar to RRSP investments –mutual funds, GICs, etc. – but are not re-stricted by any maximum foreign contentrules such as those that apply to RRSPs.Many of the mutual fund companies inCanada administer RESP plans, and arrangefor the CESG payments for the subscriber. The RESP may be a cornerstone of a largereducation savings plan, which could alsoinclude accounts in trust outside the RESP,or education funds in life and disability in-surance policies. Although an individual RESP offers valu-able benefits, how well your plan meets yourparticular and individual needs will dependon the quality of advice you receive whenyou set up the plan and in the future. Besure to get sound advice on all aspects ofyour education savings and investment pro-gram from an independent financial advi-sor who represents a mutual fund dealer,investment brokerage firm or financial plan-ning firm.

Contributed by George Stephens,CA, CFP, a financial planner in

Brampton, ON

Readin’,‘Ritin’and RESPsby George Stephens, CA, CFP

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� Trick or treat in a group. Younger children shouldbe accompanied by an adult.� Wear masks that do not interfere with vision.Better yet, avoid masks by wearing makeup.� Wear costumes short enough so they will not trip.� Wear clothing that can easily be seen at night.Retro-reflective materials are best.� Dress appropriately for the weather and carrya flashlight.� Trick or treat in one well-known area and notwander into unknown neighbourhoods.� Never go into anyone’s house.� Avoid stray animals.� Never take short-cuts through backyards, alleys,or parks.� Watch for moving vehicles whencrossing streets.� Plan your route with your parentsbefore going out.� Never eat any treats until they havebeen inspected by an adult to make sure thatno one has tampered with them. If it lookssuspicious, the police should be contacted.

Provided by the N.B. Block Parent Association. Please call 1-800-665-4900 for more information.

The Starry EyeThe Starry EyeThe Starry EyeThe Starry EyeThe Starry EyeBy Christine Davison

Venus positions this month indicate an excel-lent time to start new relationships, travel, andsocialize with family and friends, but as plan-ets shift into Scorpio, interests turn toward theotherworldly and occult. A mysterious airabounds!

Aries (21st March – 20th April) Try not to rushinto anything headfirst this month. Passionsflare as far as relationships are concerned. Tryto put those fiery energies to good use. Makelove not war.

Taurus (21st April – 21st May) Inheritance orfinancial windfalls may come your way. Youwill be attracted to all that is mysterious andsensual. There is a strong magnetic air aboutyou.

Gemini (22nd May – 21st June) Long journeysare favoured this month, as are possible appren-ticeships or other long-term educational endeav-ours. There is the possibility of foreign rela-tions or news from afar. Try not to be overlysceptical this month. Keep an open mind.

Cancer (22nd June – 22nd July) Persistence,diligence, you can put your mind to anything.Emotions may run high, but you’ll have the in-ner strength to deal with them. Success!

Leo (23rd July – 23rd August) You will receivethe support and admiration of friends. It’s awonderful time to socialize. You will love andbe loved. Radiance.

Virgo (24th August – 22nd September) You findyourself deeply attracted to the occult and ex-ploring the unconscious mind. Trust your in-tuition, it’s more than likely right.

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Libra (23rd September – 23rd October) Thiswill be a time of harmony and fulfilling long-awaited artistic potential. Beauty surrounds you.Your words and movements flow freely. Youcharm everyone you meet.

Scorpio (24th October – 22nd November)Secrets of the past may come to surface. Try toshift away from previous tendencies towardsmaterialism. You will find yourself especiallyattracted to others this month.

Sagittarius (23rd November – 21st December)You view your relationships and surroundingswith a new intensity; it’s a good time to dis-cover hidden things and a time for new begin-nings.

Capricorn (22nd December – 20th January)Life revolves around the family and home; seeto any repairs that need to be done for theupcoming winter. An excellent time to redeco-rate and prepare the house for guests or to plana party.

Aquarius (21st January – 18th February) Thismonth you are a musician, an artist, and a lover!Your inventive genius knows no bounds. Cre-ate and explore.

Pisces (19th February – 20th March) Expectthe unexpected this month. Creativity and in-spiration follow you wherever you go; fertilityin all its forms.

Lucky numbers for October are: 8, 18, 23,25, 38, 42.

If you are interested in arrangingfor a personal star chart, you can

contact Christine via email atchristine@fareasterner.com