The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 27

I i jimi Hi THE OTTAWA CITIZEN THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1989 B3 Local Neighbor's wandering mountain lion terrifies North Gower family By Karen Turner Citizen correspondent Owner says big cat poses no danger, but expert warns wild cats always 'unpredictable' and can kill. politan Zoo, said Xanthacou has a right to be afraid. "This animal has the potential to he said. Xanthacou is demanding action from Rideau Township. She wants an end to the disruption in her family's life and a guarantee of their safety.

But David Ball, the township's assistant chief administrative officer, said existing bylaws don't cover exotic animals. Ball said contacts will be made with neighboring municipalities to help draft a new bylaw. Xanthacou, who is on maternity leave for the summer, wants the problem resolved immediately. claws and fangs, Whitham describes the 43-kilogram lion as "shy" and "playful." He maintains a child could pet him without risk of injury. Zimba, given to Whitham nine months ago as a gift from a close is treated like to a pet dog.

Although chained or kept inside a back shed during the day, it "has never seen a cage" and is allowed to run freely if accompanied by its master. Xanthacou said this loose security, coupled with the absence of a fence between her property and Whitham's, gives no assurances of her family's protection. And she is afraid. "Cougars or lions should not be pets. Even if they could be tamed, this animal has the potential to kill," Carnio explained.

He said wild cats can't be trusted, especially males who become increasingly unpredictable when they reach their sexual maturity around the age of two. If kept as pets, Carnio maintains, the animals must always be caged. "A chain is not sufficient. A person can still walk up to the cat and be placed in potential danger," he said. NORTH GOWER Anna Xan-thacou is afraid to let her children play in their backyard.

The mother of four isn't worried about the children falling on the rough ground or wandering into the thick brush that borders the 54-acre rural lot. Xanthacou said she is "petrified" that her neighbor's pet mountain lion will wander onto her property for a second surprise visit. And John Carnio, curator of mammals at the Toronto's Metro Only eight days ago, the year-old lion, called Zimba, drove her young family screaming into the house when it stalked by less than eight metres from their front door. Although no one was injured, Xanthacou said fear has cancelled outdoor family activities. The children, ages five months to 4V years, remain inside unless Xanthacou takes them to a Kanata playground, or her husband, armed with a machete, supervises their outdoor games.

"I'm not going to take a chance of leaving my children to play in the yard," she said. "What if the animal shows up again and cuts us off from the front door?" Zimba's owner, David Whitham, said the wild animal "is not any physical threat" to area residents. Although Zimba is equipped with '(DID i Beepball exposes sighted to blindness BRIEFS Citizen staff writers By Rob Linke Citizen staff writer tBgpDEn) By Dan Karon Citizen staff writer ft if I cf i A A- i Mf law i Kyj I yJ, i 'linn -muH Hill rF if h- 1 The blind leading the blindfolded. That was the baseball story Wednesday at Ottawa city hall as three visually-impaired veterans tutored two dozen sighted rookies in the game that goes beep-beep. In beep baseball, the batter kneels to swing at an oversize, beeping ball thrown by a sighted pitcher.

The batter gets five strikes. Most often, it's hit on a quick roll toward the six blind fielders. When one of them finds the ball, any runner who isn't on base is called out. Two dozen city staff and a reporter attended the brief training camp as part of National Access Awareness Week, which promotes the integration of the disabled and the able-bodied. A player seeking reassurance asked Gord Hope, who's heard many a game, if the blindfolded rookies would look foolish.

"Yes, you will," he said with the candor of a born manager, "because you haven't done anything with a blindfold on." Playing third base, I kept focusing on narrow beam of light that entered my blindfold, stubbornly relying on sight. It didn't work. The. first ball hit near me struck my leg before I knew where it was. I was no better on the other plays.

Like the other blindfolded players, I stumbled around, arms outstretched, fingers splayed, bent forward at the waist. The experienced players had to keep reminding the sighted players to stop talking so everyone could hear the ball. The point of the afternoon was education. "We are exposing sighted people to something they don't normally have access to," said Peter Field, 24, who plays regularly with the National Capital-Eyes, a sports club for the visually impaired. "It shows them some of the limitations but also some of our possibilities." The 30-member club encourages sighted people to join in their weekly games.

OTTAWA Parking meter rates won't rise Ottawa Council Wednesday rejected staff proposals to increase the city's parking meter rates by 50 per cent and eliminate free downtown parking on Saturdays. The proposal suggested increasing rates to $1.50 an hour from $1. However, council did approve a recommendation to increase the city's monthly parking fee to $95 from $85 in the central area and to $70 from $60 elsewhere. This would raise about $30,000 a year. City rezones 19 acres in By-Rideau Ottawa Council approved rezoning Wednesday of 19 acres of land in By-Rideau Ward to restrict residential development.

The R-4 residential zoning will act as a buffer between areas of more intense residential development to the east, and lower density to the north and west. The property includes 342 row-housing units, five houses and 12 apartments located. The former R-5 zoning could allow high-rises under certain conditions. Alderman wants ward renamed Queensboro Aid. Mark Maloney wants to change the name of his ward to Carlington-Westboro, which he says will more accurately reflect the community.

Maloney's notice of motion will be considered by council June 21. The name Queensboro has no historical significance, Maloney said. Council selected it in 1956 by combining "Queens way" with "Westboro." The ward is composed of two major geographic areas, Carlington and Westboro. Carleton building ramp after all Disabled students who graduate from Carleton University this week will have a ramp to allow them onto the stage, vice-president Tom Ryan announced Wednesday. Until Tuesday, Ryan had said wouldn't be possible to build a ramp for the outdoor convocation.

Ryan said he has now ordered a ramp constructed. REGION Grants aid groups to help disabled The Ontario government Tuesday awarded over $150,000 to two local organizations for the disabled. Ottawa Valley Autistic Homes in Nepean will receive a yearly grant of $115,000 to establish a support service for adults with autism. The Ottawa and District Association for the Mentally Retarded will receive $40,000 toward renovations of its West End Fairlawn House. The building is being modified to accommodate youths with physical and developmental disabilities.

Active local seniors honored Two area seniors have received Ontario Senior Achievement Awards. Jean-Charles Gobeil, of Vanier, and Madelein Honeyman, of Ottawa, are among 21 Ontario seniors chosen by Premier David Peterson. The awards are presented to seniors who have made "outstanding contributions." Gobeil is president of the local Association of Francophone Seniors. Honeyman founded the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa-Carleton in 1980. The awards were to presented at Queen's Park Monday AYLMER Residents split over sports proposal A survey of Aylmer residents shows one-third are willing to pay higher taxes to build a $12-million sports complex.

But another third says they want no facilities. The complex would cost the average taxpayer an extra $122 a year while less ambitious projects such as a community centre would cost taxpayers $3 a year. HOGANSBURG, N.Y. Defiant Mohawk businessmen say they will re-open their gambling operations despite a second day Wednesday of police raids. Armed New York state troopers hit five more gambling dens on the U.S.

side of the St. Regis Indian reserve after raiding two on Tuesday. Four owners were charged with possession of illegal gaming devices. Police confiscated 233 slot machines. "The slot machines are illegal and I hope the message is finally out that we're going to enforce the law," said New York State Police Maj.

Robert Brooks. Brooks warned state troopers will take similar action if the slot machines reappear on the reserve, located five kilometres southeast of Cornwall. Despite the warning, Tony Vegas and Eli Tarbell, who were charged Tuesday, said they will buy new machines. "We are a sovereign nation and we can damn well do as we please," said Vegas, the owner of the TVI Casino where police confiscated 142 slot machines. "The slot machines don't hurt anyone and I'm going to get more machines," said Tarbell, owner of the Bear Den.

Police took away 74 of his machines. The 4,000 Mohawks who live on the U.S. sector of the reserve are bitterly divided over the casino. "Even if we wanted to, we couldn't permit the machines," said Chief Harold Tarbell. The Mohawk leader said U.S.

federal law won't permit a tribal council to licence anything that is prohibited by local state law. Wednesday, troopers found only seven slot machines at two locations. At the three other casinos, the machines had been removed before police arrived. Six of the machines were confiscated at the Golden Nugget and its owner Terek Paul Tatlock, 24, was charged. The other slot machine was found at Burns Casino and its owner Audrey Burns, 33, was charged.

John Major, Citizen Kim Stanzel listens as reporter Linke misses Petition protests Millar murder conviction By Carol Doran Citizen staff writer veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police, received an unfair trial. They want a new trial. John Pepper, assistant Crown attorney, said he's never heard of such a petition being presented to a court, but said it's up the judge to decide what he wants to hear. Millar is expected to appeal. began circulating a petition supporting Millar on Saturday and Murray says they've already got 800 signatures to present to defence lawyers on Friday when Millar is to be sentenced.

They believe Millar, 44, who was charged with the Aug. 18, 1987 shooting death of the 20-year PEMBROKE Several friends of Jean Millar are circulating a petition objecting to her conviction last week for the murder of her husband Ralph. Murray Olmstead, Millar's foster brother, and his wife Gwen COMMUNITIES OTTAV7A Heritage route shows Rideau Canal history A heritage route featuring 18 color information panels is to open beside the Rideau Canal June 22. At a cost of $150,000, panels will be placed along the route on both sides of the canal between the federal government Conference Centre and Hartwell Locks. Dave Ballinger, a spokesman for the Canadian Parks Service, said the panels will display information about the history of the canal and points of interest nearby.

Environment Canada is responsible for nine panels, the National Capital Commission four, Agriculture Canada and the region two each, and Ottawa one. One panel near the National Arts Centre will include information about the former turning basin for steamboats nearby and Ottawa's first city hall which burned in 1931. CUMBERLAND TWP. Council to reconsider chip wagon regulations Cumberland Council decided Tuesday to reconsider a proposal for new chip-wagon regulations that would limit the areas where the vehicles can operate. Township staff had recommended council issue no new chip-wagon licences until a study on the space available for the vehicles is completed.

Acting Mayor Linda Dunn said the decision means a committee that was to examine locations where the vehicles could operate can't be established. She said council will reconsider the proposal for new regulations at its June 27 meeting. The township has five licensed chip wagons. Richard Breton, the township's chief bylaw enforcement officer, said there is enough demand to issue 10 licences, but there wouldn't be enough space to park the vehicles. NEPEAN Caribbean festival opens community fair Barrhaven Community Association plans to kick off its community fair Friday with a Caribbean festival.

The two-day fair is at Walter Baker Sports Centre, 100 Malvern Dr. Association spokesman Pat Lammert said the fair begins at 7:30 p.m. with reggae and calypso music by Magic Circle. The evening will include a Caribbean buffet. Admission is $8 for association members and $10 for non-members.

Tickets are available at Barrhaven Smoke Shop at Barrhaven Mall on Greenbank Road, The fair continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Activities include a pancake breakfast, bicycle rodeo, children's games, face painting, clowns, a magic show and a skateboard demonstration. Domenic D'Arcy, Ottawa's singing policeman, will star in a variety show that runs from 6:15 to 10 p.m. Satur-; day.

Admission is free on Saturday, but a 5 p.m. beef barbecue costs $6 for adults and $3 for children. -J in ii i Paul Latour, Citizen Ice on the way Construction workers will be back on the job Monday at the Kanata Parkland Coliseum at Terry Fox Drive and Maple Grove Road. The $1 1.2-million arena is to be in operation by Nov. 1.

tract expires in November 1991. Mayor Harry Allen said council is considering spending another $17,000 to $21,000 a year on an insert provided by city staff because there isn't enough space in the present format for all the information the city needs to give GLOUCESTER Gloucester budgets $300,000 for paper Gloucester will spend $100,000 a year for the next three years on its monthly newspaper, The Leader. Elokem Enterprises Ltd. has published the paper under contract to the city for the last eight years. The company distributes the paper free to 33,000 homes and businesses.

Under a three-year contract council approved this week, the paper is to include at least 23 pages of city Information in each 31-page issue. The con SERVING CITIZENS People to work out for Amethyst centre Amethyst Women's Addiction Centre is holding an "aerobic-a-thon" Saturday to raise money for rehabilitation programs for drug- and alcohol-dependent women. The event begins with a 90-minute workout at 10 a.m. at Lakeside Gardens and Britannia Beach. The $20 registration fee entitles participants to a feast afterwards.

Amethyst spokesman Beth Ferguson said the workout, supervised by seven area fitness studios, will suit beginners and advanced Ferguson said the centre treats about 100 women in its two-year rehabilitation program and counsels about 2,000 women a year. Allen said council will discuss the proposed four- to eight-page insert during its 1990 budget discussions late this year, The mayor said a report produced by R. Harley Consultants Ltd. said the city is "getting excellent value for the money" in its contract with Leader publisher Lois Kemp. The Communities column is co-ordinated by reporter Dave Rogers.

To; let us know what's happening In your community, call him at 596-3565 weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Or, you can write to Communities at the Citizen, 1101 Baxter Box 5020, Ottawa, K2C 3M4.