Milton blog

Mike Cluett says you’re taking your life in your hands trying to make a left turn onto Thompson Rd. from Yates Dr.

The following post is by Mike Cluett. Please visit Mike Cluett’s Milton blog site here:

One of the many concerns in Hawthorne Village (Ward 1 mainly) is traffic. While campaigning last year, that issue ranked number one as most residents were concerned about stop signs, traffic flow, and lights.

If anyone drives down Thompson Road south of Derry, you will find there to be a high level of traffic at Yates Drive. Those who live on the west side of Thompson on Yates have found it increasingly difficult to turn north or south without taking their lives in their hands. Many residents have asked for and demanded a stop light be installed…

To continue reading this column, go to Mike Cluett’s Milton Blog.

The tiny town of Eden Mills outside of Milton wants to become the first carbon neutral community in North America

Idyllic Ontario town wants to become the first carbon neutral population centre in North America

About 10 kilometres past the village of Brookville on the northwestern outskirts of Milton, past modest Victorian houses now being challenged by monster homes, is Eden Mills, population 350.

Nestled demurely by the Eramosa River, Eden Mills is turning away from the kind of progress symbolized by monster homes. Instead, it is contemplating a different path: It wants to become the first carbon neutral community in North America.

Reaching zero net carbon dioxide emissions won’t be easy. Many residents travel a fair distance to work – to Guelph, Kitchener, Cambridge, Toronto. Most heat with oil or propane, have air conditioning, and use electric water heaters.

Arriving at a zero balance will call for reducing emissions, substituting renewable energy for energy based on fossil fuels, and removing CO2 from the air. It will mean living with a much smaller environmental footprint.

The idea of going carbon neutral was brought home to Eden Mills in June by Charles and Anna Simon, fresh from a visit to Ashton Hayes, which is aiming to be England’s first carbon neutral village. Ashton Hayes claims on its website (www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk) to have reduced CO2 emissions by 20 per cent in its first year.

Once home from England, Charles and Anna invited people over to discuss the idea. Glenn and Libby Little were among those who came. They immediately embraced the idea.

It’s not as if environmental issues were new to the two couples. Charles is an architect who has designed environmentally advanced buildings; the Littles live in a straw bale house that Charles helped them design; they, in turn, are trying to persuade the district school board to erect straw bale classrooms that could substitute for some of the board’s 180 portables.

This environmental gang of four quickly became a core group of 15. Another dozen people now assist.

For their formal launch next month, they’ve created a project outline that establishes goals, and proclaims a determination to “change the way we behave and think about the products we use.” In other words, the outline says, “It’s about changing the way we live.”

Everything is so scattered, says Charles, that reducing the amount of driving will be a major problem. It’s necessary to go to a nearby town even for routine shopping. A bike path and car pooling can only help so far and a more comprehensive solution is needed.

For Eden Mills, it’s a shame that the Toronto Suburban Railway no longer exists. It was an electric railway.

“Really,” says Charles, “it was just a long streetcar line,” which ran from Keele and Dundas Sts. in Toronto to Guelph and passed about three kilometres south of Eden Mills. It was abandoned shortly before the Great Depression. Were it still operating, it would solve many of Eden Mills’ transportation problems.

The organizers will work with the University of Guelph to measure the environmental footprint of households in the village. They will record emissions attributable to heating and cooling, appliances, and transportation, and will repeat the survey every year for the first five years to measure progress at each household. The university will also help develop plans for planting trees to absorb CO2.

The group also intends to create a scientific advisory board to provide ongoing advice, launch educational initiatives, generate renewable energy, and reduce fuel consumption.

With global warming advancing, sleepwalking into the future is not an option, says Charles. “We’re not powerless. Together we can do things.”

Maybe they can inspire other communities to do the same.

Written by Cameron Smith

Will the Patriots remain unbeaten? Maybe the more intriguing question is whether or not they can cover a 17-point spread against the league’s worst team, the 0-6 Dolphins….

Arizona (+7) at Washington
Washington is the clear-cut favourite to cover this spread – playing at home, having the 3rd ranked defense in the league AND playing a Cardinal team that is likely down to their third string quarterback for this game – Tim Rattay, whom they signed just after week 5 (so he’s still no where close to learning the play book for his new team – which will mean the Redskin D are licking their chops for a feast at home).
Redskins

Atlanta (+8.5) at New Orleans
Saints fans have to be praying that last weeks first win over Seattle means their team is finally back on track, and with the two teams leading their division having major injuries (4-2 Bucs down to third-string running back, and 4-2 Panthers having lost their star QB Delhomme for the season) the Saints have to take advantage of the opportunity they’ve been given (as their only other division opponent is the Falcons – say no more)! The Saints blew the Falcons out of the water in both meetings last season by scores of 23-3 and 31-13 – and that was when the Falcons had an All-Star QB.
Saints

Baltimore (-3) at Buffalo
The Ravens 4th ranked defense will spell trouble for the football-illiterate Bills. The only positive the Bills have is a great special teams unit – if they kept them on the field all game they’d have a shot! Baltimore should have no problem winning by over a FG in this one, and they beat Buffalo last season by 12 points.
Ravens

Minnesota (+9.5) at Dallas
Although only 2-3 this season, the Vikings have yet to lose by more than 7 points in their three loses – and that was to Favre when he threw for 332 yards – their other two loses were each by a field goal – so watch for this to continue. The Vikings strong defense (#2 rush defense in the league) and their awesome running game (ranked #1 in the league) will keep them in this game against an impressive Cowboy team that will be looking for redemption after being pounded at home by New England last weekend. Watch for Dallas to start this game flat, after two tough games (winning with the last play against Buffalo in the Monday-nighter two weeks ago, then being throttled by the Patriots in week 6).
Vikings

New England (-17) at Miami
I’d take New England to cover a 30 point spread in this game – they’re 6-0 with each win so far thus season being by at least 17 points, so why the hell would they not be able to keep that up against the horrendous Dolphins who have a honest-to-goodness “Lemon” for a QB. At least Lemon does complement a nicely fried fish!
Patriots

San Francisco (+9) at N.Y. Giants
The 49ers – who were offensively-challenged with QB Alex Smith in their line-up are really hurting for points with him still out nursing a sore shoulder. Sure back-up QB Dilfer looks like a spry young pup compared to re-incarnated Vinny Testaverde, but he’s not a game breaker. Watch for the Gaints D to feast on old-man Dilfer, as they did when sacking McNabb 12 times two weeks ago.
The New York Football Giants

Tampa Bay (+2) at Detroit
Detroit’s fifth ranked passing game will hope to duplicate the success the Colts had throwing against the Bucs for over 250 yards two weeks ago, however the Bucs D can focus on the Lions air attack knowing their running game is as weak as a kitten – averaging under 65 yards per game the past 4 weeks. The Bucs will win this game if their defense plays like they’re capable of.
Bucs

Tennessee (-1) at Houston
Before losing QB Vince Young with a leg injury last week the Titans were 9 and 2 in their past 11 regular season wins, with their only loses being to New England and Indi – the top two teams in the universe! Tennessee beat Houston in both meetings last season, but if Young is not playing Houston will win, despite going up against the top ranked run defense in the league, as Texans QB Schaub has looked good throwing for about 300 yards per game the past three weeks.
Texans

Kansas City (+3) at Oakland
With Duante Culpepper at QB the Raiders have the 3rd best rushing offense in the league, however K.C. has been keeping their opponents ground games minimized and they beat Oakland both times last season. Watch for Larry Johnson to have a great game against Oakland, with this game going down to the wire.
Chiefs

N.Y. Jets (+6) at Cincinnati
The Bears listened to me and benched Gross-man for Griese (and are already reaping the rewards), now I have to get the Jets to realize that the Chad Pennington era has to come to an end if they want to improve – he’s a bum! Trick question – which of these two teams has the better defense – the correct answer is “neither” as they’re both non-factors, with a slight edge to the Jets who’ve at least held two opponents to under 20 points, while the Bengals have yet to achieve this. Only because it’s in Cincinnati and because the Jets will in all likelihood start Chad the Bum again I’ll take the Bengals to cover.
Bengals

Chicago (+5) at Philadelphia
Brian Griese is starting to click as the Bears starting QB – throwing for 369 yards last week and as a result the Bear defense needs to get back on track with their ability to make things tough on the very sackable Donovan McNabb (sacked a back-cracking 18 times in the last three games!). The Bears will play tight in this game and could very well beat the Eagles at home.
Bears

St. Louis (+8.5) at Seattle
Seattle won both meetings against this division rival last season – but both were won by only 2 point margins. Rams back-up QB Frerotte should have an easier go passing against the soft Seattle secondary, which have averaged less than 1 INT per game over their past 5 games, while the Rams have thrown 8 INT’s in the past two weeks.
Rams

Pittsburgh (-3.5) at Denver
Pittburgh is 4-1, and is coming off a bye week with the #1 overall defense in the league (2nd against the pass and 4th overall against the run) along with the second best rush offense. The Broncos have been mediocre at best, with three straight loses and no chance against a much stronger Steelers team.
Steelers

Indianapolis (-3) at Jacksonville
Tune in for this game – it should be a great one! This game will not be a given for the Colts – as the Jags have the 5th best offense and the top pass defence in the league – meaning Manning’s passing game will be challenged. The Jags come into this game with four straight wins, and are yet to allow their opponents to score more than 17 points in a game. On top of that the Jags defeated Indi in one of their two meetings last season by a blow-out score of 44-17, and are a better team this year with Garrard at QB (who has yet to throw a pick this year).
Colts

Survivor

(Pick one team to win outright each week, trying to put together the longest streak of consecutive winning picks while not able to pick any given team more than once during the season.)

Here’s a summary of my correct picks in the first six weeks, my streak ending in week 6 with New Orleans shocking the Seahawks in Seattle.

Week 1 - Denver over Buffalo
Week 2 – Pittsburgh over Buffalo
Week 3 – Carolina over Atlanta
Week 4 – Dallas over St.Louis
Week 5 – Tennessee over Atlanta
Week 6 – Seattle over New Orleans XXX, you are dead to me Seattle – you let me down!
Week 7 – if I wasn’t eliminated last week, I’d pick Washington over Arizona – with the Cardinals potentially starting their recently signed third string QB they’ll be up to their eyeballs in turnovers….

Now Milton, what do you think?

The Milton Pigskin Prognosticator is a weekly contributor to MiltonSearch.com. His NFL picks can be read on Fridays every week from now until Super Bowl Sunday. Submit your predictions vs. the spread and see how well you stack up!