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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 24, 2002 - A 7 M lf f lS Tl) THE KIIITIII! L ivin g H E A L T H Y a series of free public education events presented by: The concerns that many people have -- not just activists as Mr. Davis states -- are not to be dismissed, for they are indicative of a much larger and impor tant discussion: How are we to live as humans'? Are we to be thoughtful and kindly stewards of nature, or mindless consumers and destroyers of it? Is land something we dwell upon and inhabit, or something we control and rational ize? Although science has a definite role to play in our society, in this case sci entific truths or facts cannot help us. because the answer to the question sur rounding pesticides cannot be found under a microscope, or in a lab. This decision is the domain of the human mind, the human heart, the human soul, and the human spirit. KAREN BIRKEM EYER Quest for perfect lawn not a natural development Re: "Listen to facts not emotional appeals " - Letters to the Editor, Friday, April 5. 2002 I have been following with great interest the many letters regarding the use of chemicals on lawns and other lands in Oakville, and am responding specifically to Ivor Davis' concern about the kinds of emotional appeals and scientific guesswork that he feels are clouding our understanding of this issue. Whereas it is certainly commend able that individuals like Mr. Davis are willing to take the time to sift through all the available data, I believe that the debate over what is fact or truth versus what is fiction misrepresents the prob lem at hand. When we take the time to think about it, we realize that modem lawns are artificial environments that have significantly reduced biodiversity and regional cultural identity in our coun try. Made predominantly from Kentucky bluegrass, a type of grass that originated either in Europe or the Middle East (lawn grasses are not native to this continent), the modem lawn can now be found from coast to coast. In the American southwest (to which I recently travelled), the right to have a lawn seems to supersede the reality of scarce water resources in that desert region. Other than an inch of water per week (in this region) lawns require chemicals (even organic fertilizers can be synthetic, for although they are derived from carbon-based nutrient sources, the ones purchased in stores are chemically engineered), and either electricity or the burning of fossil fuels (used in the machines that cut the grass). Left on its ow n, the lawn reverts to a state of wildness, which is the antithe sis of its being, and what lawn owners fight against. As such, the modem lawn can be viewed as a sign of our alien ation from the natural world. By researching the history of lawns. I have learned that up until the end of the 1 9th century, very few people other than the wealthy had them, since main taining one involved a great deal of labour. As well, back then, grasses held a kind of utilitarian value for most peo ple. since grazing animals were kept on them. It wasn't until post-World War II, when chemicals, technology, and hybrid grasses were introduced and advanced that most people were able to have lawns, as we know them today. By the 1950s. the pressure to have a wellmanicured lawn was apparently immense. A well-kept lawn signified serenity and beauty (in contrast to the horror of war), good citizenship and purity, and the shift from the family existing as a provider and producer of its own sustenance, to existing as a con sumer of it. Lawns also further served to pro mote and enforce the ideology of pri vate property and the nuclear family. Lastly, I have learned that the demand for the " perfect" lawn (lawn as a green carpet) was not fostered by the public, but by the lawn care industry. When we take the time to review the cultural history of the modem, stan dardized landscape, it becomes a bit more difficult to support the perpetua tion of lawns, let alone lawn chemicals. That many people have recently decided to restore their property by planting native species of trees and plants in an attempt to promote biodi versity and ecological well-being may be an indication of our growing aware ness of these matters. Whatever the reason, I applaud these initiatives, since they speak to a sensibility based upon the human place in nature, as opposed to the human as above and separate from nature. The debate over whether or not pes ticides are dangerous is an interesting phenomenon. It is human arrogance and hubris that leads us to think that we can fully predict the future outcome of our mas sive disruption to the environment, or that we can ever fully understand the complexities of nature. As well, let us not forget that in the United States Department of Agriculture Yearbook of 1948 mercu ry, lead arsenate and DD T were advo cated as lawn maintenance tools in the section Pointers on Making Good social ideas and narratives. On the contrary, there are many rea sons why we could be cautious of our blind faith in the rationality of science, including, especially, its basic premise that the natural world exists as a series of objects to be manipulated for our benefit. In this day and age. the prevalence of the lawn as an aesthetic form doesn't make sense. Indeed, the front lawn in particular is wasted space -- I rarely see anyone on his or her front lawn, other than when they are caring for it. The debates around spraying are but the tip of the iceberg. I may not be able to sort the truth from fiction when it comes to the use of hazardous chemi cals. but I know that our society is per versely alienated from nature. Halton Healthcare T H E ROAD LESS TRAVELLED C h ild and Youth M en tal H ealth Wednesday, May 1, 7:00 p.m. 7 0 7 G a la x y B a n q u e t H a ll -- O a k v ille . with: Dr. Alan D . B row n, M .D ., Psychiatrist D iscu ssin g : · m en tal health assessm ent · b eh av io u ral issues vs m en tal illness · tre a tm e n t o p tio n s fo r d ep ressio n . O .C .D .. etc. For more information or to reserve your seat call or email 905.338.4379 vvw w.haltonhealthcare.com Made possible through an educational grant from AstraZeneca Halton Healthcare Services is an amalgamation of Milton District Hospital & Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital a QUOTATION FOR: QUOTATION NUMBER: Q-22-2002 O A K V IL L E THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE SUPPLY & DELIVERY OF CUSTOMIZED SPORTS FIELD FERTILIZER (9 0 5 ) 8 4 5 -6 6 0 1 Tro o p e r says: D R IV E D R Y ! A m e s s a g e fr o m th e M a y o r 's S p e c ia l C o m m itte e A g a in s t Im p a ir e d D r iv in g SEALED QUOTATIONS on forms provided will be received by the Purchasing Department, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario, L6J 5A6, until 12:00 noon, local time on MONDAY, MAY 6,2002 Specifications, quotation forms and quotation envelopes may be obtained from the Town of Oakville Purchasing Department, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6; Telephone (905) 338-4197. The Town of Oakville reserves the right to reject any or all quotations and the highest or lowest as the case may be will not necessarily be accepted. R.J. Coumoyer, C.I.M., P.Mgr. Director, Purchasing and Office Services C o u n c il & S t a n d in g C o m m it t e e M e e t in g s Monday, May 6,2002 C o u n cil M eeting C o u n cil C ham b ers 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 13,2002 Plann in g & D evelopm ent C ouncil C ou ncil C ham b ers 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14,2002 Community Services Committee 7:30 p.m. - O akville Room Adm inistrative Services Comm. 7:30 p.m. -T rafalgar Room Tuesday, May 21,2002 C o u n cil M eeting C ou ncil C ham b ers 7:30 p.m. P e s tic id e s T h e To w n of O akville invites you to p a rticip ate in d iscu ssion s re garding pesticide use on both pu blic and private lands at the follow ing C o u n c il & C o m m itte e T o u c h to n e P h o n e L in e 8 1 5 - 5 9 5 9 B ro n te R ad ial B rid g e T ra ffic O p e ra tio n s S tu d y N O T IC E O F S T U D Y C O M M E N C E M E N T On September 18, 2001, the Bronte Radial Bridge opened and now connects Rebecca Street on either side of Bronte Creek. The Town of Oakville is now proceeding with a study to assess traffic operations on the major roads in the area, following the opening of the Bronte Radial Bridge. Roads to be reviewed include: Rebecca Street, Lakeshore Road, Mississaga Street and Bronte Road. The study will also identify and assess potential mitigation measures where appropriate. An information centre will likely be held in June 2002 to receive public comments about the preliminary study findings. If you have any comments about the study or wish to be added to the study mailing list to receive future notices, please contact either: Mr. Chris Clapham Town of Oakville Public Works Department P.O. Box 310 Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6 Tel: (905) 845-6601 ext. 3306 Fax: (905) 338-4159 Email: cclaphamOtown.oakville.on.ca Mr. Nell Ahmed, P. Eng. McCormick Rankin Corporation 2655 North Sheridan Way Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2P8 Tel: (905) 823-8500 ext. 241 Fax: (905) 823-8503 Email: nahmedOmrc.ca P u b lic In fo rm a tio n S e s s io n s : Tuesday, April 30,2002 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Iroquois Ridge C om m unity Centre, 1051 G lenashton Drive, Oakville, O ntario Thursday, May 2, 2002 7:00 9:00 p.m. O akville Municipal B uilding, C ouncil Chambers, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario Wednesday, May 8, 2002 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. S ir John Colborne Seniors Centre, 1565 Old Lakeshore Road, Oakville, O ntario If you are unable to attend the public meetings and w ish to offer feedback on th is m atter please e-mail yo u r com m ents net Ha to w pesticides@ tow n.oakvllle.on.ca Or you may w ish to contact Chris Mark, A ssistant Dlrector-O peratlons, Parks and Recreation Department at (905) 845-6601 ext. 3111 or /- v * \/ i i i r G> THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE SALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER, under the MUNICIPAL TAX SALES ACT Take notice that tenders are invited for the purchase of the lands described below and will be received until 3:00 P.M. (local time). May 21, 2002 at the office of the Clerk, The Corporation of the Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafalgar Road. Oakville. ON L6J 5A6 A public tender opening will be held on the same day at 3:30 P.M. (local time) Tax file # 94-08 Description of Land(s) Block 3, Plan M515, Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton, PIN 24902-0022, vacant land south side of Bristol Circle Lot 73, Plan M34, Town of Oakville. Regional Municipality of Halton, PIN 24873-0177, property municipally known as 141 Oakdale Drive Lot 120, Plan M335, Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton, PIN 24871-0245, property municipally known as 1466 Ambercroft Lane Minimum Tender $55,666.23 Please be advised that a public meeting will be held to discuss a proposed Draft Plan of Subdivision and Zoning Amendment as submitted by the above noted applicant. A Public Information Meeting will be held on May 8, 2002 in the Oakville Room, commencing at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. If a person or public body that files an appeal of a decision of the approval authority, in respect of the proposed Zoning Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision, does not make oral submission at the public meeting, rf one is held, or make written submission to Peter Chaatley, Director of Planning Services Department, Town of Oakville at the above noted address, before the proposed Zoning Amendment, and Draft Plan of Subdivision is approved or refused, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss the appeal. You may direct any written submissions and/or questions to Leigh Musson at the Town's Planning Services Department, Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON. L 6J 5A6. Tel: 845-6601, E x t 3371, email address: Im uaaonQtown.oakvllle.on.ca. Any individuals wishing to attend this meeting and speak to this matter are invited to do so. A summary of the subject proposal may be found below. Location - The subject site is located west of Shomcliffe Blvd. on the north side of West Oak Trails Blvd. The land is legally described as Block 127, 20M-807. Official Plan - Figure Q, West Oak Trails designates the site as an Elementary School. Residential Low Density uses are also permitted under this designation. Zoning - The site is zoned R11 (a) - Mixed Dwellings - subject to Special Provision 89(670). Proooaal - The applicants have submitted a proposal involving a zoning amendment and draft plan of subdivision to permit a total of 44 residential tots for detached dwellings. This development will take place on a redundant school site. Please Note: This application maybe subject to modification at a Council Meeting in the future. Dated April 24, 2002, at the Town of Oakville. David Nelson, Acting Manager, Current Planning Planning Services Department 00-03 $26,895.18 01-08 $27,924.34 Lawns. I am not a scientist, but 1 do know about the history of the scientific method, and how scientific knowledge is produced. It seems to me that, as with global warming, we w ill always be able to find some scientists who deny the human role in it, and some that say that we are the main cause. First of all. the fact that large corpo rations have greater and greater control over the kind of scientific research uni versities produce makes me wonder about what is being studied, what isn't being studied, and why. We tend to think that scientific results are infallible, and that scientists work in a vacuum, uninfluenced by The sale is governed by the Municipal Tax Sales Act, R.S.0.1990, c. M.60 and the rules made under the Act. Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit in the form of a money order, bank draft or cheque certified by a bank, trust company or Province of Ontario Savings Office, payable to the municipality and representing at least twenty percent (20% ) of the tender amount The Corporation of the Town of Oakville makes no representation regarding the title to or any other matters relating to the land to be sold nor does the municipality provide vacant access to the successful purchaser. Responsibil ity for ascertaining these matters rests solely with potential purchasers. The successful purchaser will be required to pay the amount tendered plus any accumulated realty taxes, the relevant land transfer tax and Goods and Sales taxes (GST) where applicable. For further information regarding any issues relating to the sale please contact: Erica Roberts, Tax Collector, Finance Dept. (905) 845-6601 Ex. 3055 For a copy of the prescribed form of tender and information regarding the process, please contact: Purchasing & Office Services Division, Finance Department 1225 Trafalgar Road. Oakville ON L6J 5A6 (905) 338-4197 -- _ 1225 TRAFALG AR R O A D · O A K V ILLE , O N T A R IO · L6J 5A 6