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Page 4 Make An annual tree-planting day in Russell Township? That's the proposal from Paul Boardman, a local contractor, who wants to replenish the township's tree stock which he says has been sorely depleted over the years. As the first tree-planting day, Mr. Boardman suggests May 24 with seedings to be imbedded on township property adjacent to road allowances. - Marionville residents back 417 link Tired of Osgoode and Russell townships "tossing it back and forth," a group of local ratepayers has decided to take a stand on the Marionville-to-417 connector issue. Spearheaded by. Claude Grégoire and Keith Dugdale, the group is circulating a petition re- questing from the province development road assistance for. the $2 million project. "This idea has been on the go for quite awhile and all that the two townships have been doing is blaming each other for the fact nothing has been done," Mr. Dugdale said. Pointing out that the petition will only be in circulation for a few more days, Mr. Dugdale urg- ed all residents who feel they could benefit from an improved Boundary Road to sign a copy. Osgoode Reeve Albert Bouwers has twice accused Russell council of a lack of commitment to the Boundary and Russell Reeve Gaston Patenaude has retorted that the project as envisioned by '| Osgoode is impractical. Mr. Dugdale said the petition specifies that the 11.4-mile con- nector should be constructed as a development road because the province would pay 100 per cent of the cost. Under normal sub- Gaston questions precedent Russell Township has donated $100 to the Salvation Army, a move that Reeve Gaston Patenaude says might set an undesirable precedent. Councillor Baird McNeill pro- posed that the donation be made and he was supported by other township councillors. Reeve Patenaude was absent from that particular meeting. Mr. McNeill insisted that, while the Salvation Army is not active in Russell, it provides a service that "transcends comimunities."' 'Almost any worthwhile organization that asks us for money gets it," the councillor said. But Mr. Patenaude pointed out that a contribution made to one outside organization could open the doors to a flood of similar re- quests. He noted that Russell has never before aided the Salvation Army. As Russell enters a new decade, "it's time to reverse the trend, to restore the original beauty," Mr. Boardman insists. Should he gain public support for the proposal, the community- minded contractor would seek the help of groups such as the Lions Club, Boy Scouts and Junior Farmers for the actual planting. | Eventually, planting would be - _ extended to private property along ' fence lines in rows of up to three trees deep depending on the varie- ty selected by the owner. Lan- downers would sign a form authorizing planting. Mr. Boardman underlines the desirability of planting a wide range of tree types so as not to flood the township with a single species and risk a destructive plague such as Dutch Elm Disease. He notes that seedlings can be purchased for a nominal sum provide wind shelter for livestock and winter sport, and guard against soil erosion and a drop in the water table. All one has to do is inspect the support beams in basements of old houses for a picture of the size of trees that flourished locally before the loggers went to work decades ago, he says. ussell 'eau-Tree-Ful Although Russell has come to life residentially and commercially during the past 10 years, road- widening projects and Dutch Elm Disease have intensified and have scarred the landscape. The countryside is naked and must be reclothed, Mr. Boardman says. Get involved in the from the Ministry of Natural Resources, suggesting that the necessary funds could be raised through donations, government grants, and a tree-planting day party. Work would be done ona volunteer basis. The value of a tree planting pro- gram is multi-faceted, Mr. Board- man points out. In addition to beautifying the landscape thereby attracting visitors and boosting residential development, trees sidies, the municipalities would have to pay a prohibitive 50 per - cent. Ratepayers will also seek the support of local provincial representatives Norm Sterling and Albert Belanger. : Mr. Patenaude hopes a meeting can* be organized between ratepayers and the two councils to sort out the confusion. OLD BERWICK STATION AS IT STANDS NOW € Russell Tree Plant Fill out this form and send it to Paul Boardman, Box 418, Russell, Ont. KOA 3B0. Name: Address: Phone: Old Berwick Station on Track for Embrun Russell Township plans to move a dilapidated New York Central Railway station from Berwick to Embrun where it will be restored and pressed into community ser-_ vice. The old station, abandoned for several years and owned by Bell Canada, is almost a duplicate of the New York Central station that once stood proudly on Embrun's Notre Dame Street, Reeve Gaston Patenaude explained. Bell is prepared to turn over the building free of charge to the township which will then pay the cost of hauling it the 12 miles from Berwick to Embrun and in- stalling it on the former station site. : , Mr. Patenaude said premature to give a cost estimate stelle Yaternick Photo) for the project. The move should it was ABs NOTICE RUSSELL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING Sat. Jan. 26, -- 12:00 Noon Dr. F. Kinnaird Community Centre Meal served at 1:00 PM Tickets $5.00 per Person - Contact: George Young 445-4561 Barry McVey 445-2824 METCALFE PHARMACY LTD. Metcalfe -- 821-1224 REGULAR HOURS Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to.5 p.m. UNISEX -- culottet 443-3018 477 NOTRE: CLOTHES DAME EMBRUN be completed this winter, he noted. Russell owns the site of the former station which was divided into two sections and converted to housing about 20 years ago. Once the building is restored, it could be used as a library or given some other role which would allow ready public access, the reeve said. RON VEH BUILDER & DESIGNER Renovations ®@ Additons "POETS OF THE.. CASTOR, Custom Kitchens ® Bathrooms Free Estimates 445-2048 RUSSELL Continental Mushrooms wishes to all suppliers and friends the very best for the New Year. Metcalfe, Ont.