2 Friday, September 25, 2020brooklintowncrier.com Less than half the picture: By Richard Bercuson The NDP and a chicken Onward the NDP! There are 124 seats in the Ontario Legislature. Premier Ford's PCs hold 72 of them; the NDP, the official opposition, has 40. The math is simple: no matter how much wrangling the NDP tries with the Liberals (8), Greens (1), and Independents (3), they can't touch the ruling party. As editor, I am on the mailing list for the provincial parties and get occasional missives from MPP Lorne Coe's office. The NDP though has taken it to an entirely different level. Since Sept. 1 alone, they've filled my inbox with over 50 announcements. (Nothing from the Libs. What does that say?) For instance, on Sept. 18, they sent me a notice that their leader Andrea Horwath was going to comment later in the day about the spike in COVID cases. What was she going to say? "Wow. That sucks!"? They're certainly trying to keep the government's feet to the fire. But do they need to uphold this one simple law of physics, that every action has an equal and opposite reaction? As I wrote last issue, take a breath, people. We're all just trying to get by. More About Pinky Elsewhere in this issue you'll find photos of Pinky, allegedly the world's largest chicken. You need to know that Pinky took umbrage with my presence when we met a week ago. However, any journalist worth his salt needs to take risks in order to land a story. Pinky ambled toward me as I snapped photos and chatted with his "handler/dad." Not considering the dangers of being near an over-sized rooster with an attitude, I was wearing shorts and sandals. In much the same way as I might have ogled Pinky's girth as potentially the best chicken breasts I could ever imagine barbecuing, he found my feet enticing. So he pecked on them a few times. But a story is a story after all. Till Pinky up and snapped at my shin. That's when dad advised, "You might want to step back a bit." Now, I don't know how much more damage Pinky could have caused beyond the small red welt on my right leg. I am a domesticated human and have no experience around farm animals unless they're on my plate. So I did as suggested and stepped up onto a ledge that was too high for Pinky to reach without keeling over from exhaustion. I did check with this publication's owner to see if our medical plan covers being clocked by a clucker. (it does not). However I wanted to share with you the lengths we go to at the BTC to get the story. A reader sent this A yellow road sign with a picture of a bridge with some damage and the sign reads, "Don't cross this bridge because it is unsafe, unless you think this is limiting your personal rights and freedoms and if so please proceed." Ride for Covid Relief: Ride4UnitedWay On September 27, cyclists are invited to come to Durham Re- gion and ride their bikes for COVID relief. The annual ride will look a great deal different than it has in the past. But there remains the idea that you can ride a bike for the sheer enjoyment and satisfaction and at the same time help to raise funds for the COVID-19 Relief and Recovery effort. The Ride4 in 2020 will emphasize the distancing aspects of cycling. Riders will have the opportunity to connect in purpose and cause as cyclists and com- munity members while distanced to help those most vulnerable. All ride proceeds will support Durham's COVID Relief and Recovery effort. The priority is: support for seniors and the most vulnerable, support for those facing food precarity, support for children, and support for families in crisis. "As if we needed reminding," says Robert Howard, Chief Possibility (and Bicycle) Officer, United Way of Durham Region, "the COVID crisis has revealed how interconnected we all are, how the health of us all can depend on helping those most at risk and that the surest way to contribute to a return to any sort of normality or economic security is to help those most vulnerable. "That is at the core of building a better and more prosperous community for all. And if anyone has ever gone for a bike ride when they've wondered if it was OK not to be OK, I hope they'll keep riding. And maybe join us." Whether one is an experienced and familiar cyclist, new to the pastime, or rediscovering a passion and joy they may not have experienced in many years, all are welcome to come to Durham and ride. Riders may register to ride at: www.ride4unitedway. com, For further information or comment please contact: Robert Howard at: rhoward@unitedwaydr.com