Contacts are appreciated

Contacts Earl Plato

This Plato is not a great world traveler but he has friends and relatives who are. This article is about some of those who have sent their nature observations to me.
Olive (Weaver) Rickersey and Fiona McFarlane of Ridgeway have both reported extensively about Australia’s flora and fauna by letter, booklets and film at different times. Fraser Churchill of Port Colborne sent back letters and great nature booklets from New Zealand. I developed articles from my friends’ first hand information.
Antarctica? My cousin’s daughter, Natalie Plato, was in Antarctica a year ago in January. She had been hired by BASA - British Antarctica Survey. She was conducting a survey at one of their stations. She wrote me saying. “ I spent the summer on the Antarctic Peninsula, very exciting. I had a blast!”
Natalie sent me a photo of herself in the Antarctic. I hadort of questioned her being there. She replied with a brief letter and photo proof. The back of the neat picture of her said, “ Rothera Station, Antarctica. A letter dated January, 21, 2002 she wrote. “I haven’t had a chance to put together anything on the Tundra. I have been very busy with work.” Her future agenda involves work meeting trips to Kingston, Ontario then back to Edmonton, Alberta. She works for our government at Iqaluit, Northwest Territories. She adds. “... then I’m off to Mexico for holidays. When I return in late February I will get you something.” I’m looking forward to hearing from this young scientist.
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In mid-March 0f 2002 my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson Jage are heading to Europe with the Niagara Falls Major Bantam AAA hockey team. Jage and his team mates will play five games in the Czech Republic and Hungary. Will they have time to see some nature and historical sites? I hope so for that’s three more reporters for me.
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The Cuilleniers of Niagara Falls have been sources of interesting nature material fore. Their visit to the Timmins area in Northern Ontario where they saw mushrooms being saved by red squirrels was fascinating.
Going on a trip where you might see something of natural history that interests you, I hope so. ***
What has happened to the large cattail area and the important wetlands on Gorham Road, Ridgeway? Are they going the way of development? Vegetation, including small trees, have been bushwacked on the 80 acre plus area. This previously untouched plot was the home of countless songbirds. Hey, wetlands are important to the environment.
They are to be protected by provincial statutes!
Beaver Creek has its headwaters there on that property that now has been plowed and disced up. Answers needed. We wonder who is protecting the town’s natural environment on Gorham road. We know to many that it’s now a ‘throw away” society. Let’s not throw away Fort Erie’s natural heritage.