The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

The Oakville Beaver NORTH AMERICA'S MOST AWARDED COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER www.oakvillebeaver.com Home Alarm Systems Call Chubb First Mississauga Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Clinic LIP ENHANCEMENTS 1-866-565-9351 ALL ABOUT OAKVILLE · Statistical pull-out section in today's Home & Garden "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2006 25% OFF* * Expires JUNE 30, 2006 905-273-3045 A Metroland Publication Vol. 44 No. 62 68 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Region may go out on a $500,000 limb for giant white oak Public works committee recommends rerouting Bronte Road around tree By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Rocking and Rolling At the Hop It looks like Halton Region has a heart after all -- it appears poised to save the giant white oak tree that has stood just north of Halton's Regional Centre for 240 years and that is in peril thanks to the Bronte Road widening. Inside Artscene..........................26 Worship...........................28 Sports..............................33 Real Estate......................35 Classified.........................39 Full Delivery: Petcetera, Canadian Tire, Smart Source, Food Basics, Leons, Superstore, No Frills, Wal-Mart Partial Delivery: . Office Depot, Bioped, COBS Bread, Palma Brava, BBQ Experts, DOT Patio, Sick Kids Lotto, Stan West, Price Chopper, Halton Children's Aid, Ho Lee Chow, Holland Park, Home Hardware, Loblaws, M&M's, Mark's Work Warehouse, Sobeys, Pharma Plus, Rabba Fine Foods, Fortino's Salvation Army, Sears, Zellers, Centennial Windows, JYSK Bed & Bath, Shoppers Drug Mart, Home Depot, The Barn, Best Buy, Dominion, Bulk Barn, Meat Factory, Michaels, The Source by Circuit City, Pay Less, Uniloc, Alberto Culver, Future Shop HOT TUBS! SEE OUR AD PAGE 11 After much public outcry about saving the tree, regional council is set to make a final decision Wednesday. The call to save the tree, however, made it past the first hurdle Wednesday as Halton's Planning and Public Works Committee recommended council to save the tree. A lengthy environmental study process resulted in a preferred option on the road widening to save the Bronte Creek Valley and mitigate affects on nearby residents -- both to the west -- by expanding Bronte Road to the east. That, however, would have routed the road through the exact spot where the majestic old tree has stood for years. Regional council voted in favour of the option to widen to the east some time ago, but reserved its call on what to do about the tree. Though the option would require elimination of the tree, there remained an option to relocate the oak. Early studies estimated the cost of relocating the white oak at approximately $535,000 and the tree was deemed a good candidate for transplanting. However, a more recent arbourist report indicates the old oak tree is no longer a good candidate for transplanting. That news left regional staff scrambling to find another alternative. PAUL WRIGHT / METAL MONKEY PRODUCTIONS WARMING UP: Julia Campbell and Tommy Matejka found the newly renovated diner at Zellers at Hopedale Mall the perfect setting to practice their dance steps for the upcoming At the Hop, a night of 1950s-style entertainment and décor in celebration of the Oakville YMCA's 50th anniversary. For more on this event see page 12. See Tree page 4 THE BIG BLOWOUT SANTA FE All In-store Santa Fe's qualify for a $1000 discount from already reduced prices! ABS pg, CD,alloys. Pg, alloys, leather Pg, CD, alloys. Pg, CD, alloys. 1071 Speers Road (Just west of 4th Line) $21,995 $17,995 $15,888 $16,888 905-845-7791 www.hyundaiofoakville.com