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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday July 24, 2002 - A 5 Upgrades to Iroquois Ridge pool to start in September Problems associated with the depth of the Iroquois Ridge Community Centre Pool will be rectified starting in September. The upgrades will be carried out in order to meet recently revised FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation) standards. W hen the pool tank was completed in October 2000, it con formed to the FINA Handbook, but on Nov. 14, 2000, the FINA standards were adjusted. Pools constructed in Canada after December, 2002 must comply with the new FINA standards if they are to be used for competitive swimming. "While FINA does not require the Town to change the pool, it is in the best interest of the community that the pool provide the highest mar gin of protection and the best possible aquatic environment for competitive use and training," said Parks and Recreation D irector Bob McFarland. The pool was meant to meet international competitive standards of 1.25 metres deep, but FINA changed the standard to 1.35 metres deep after the Sydney Olympics. The diving depth at the new pool also became an issue after two young women were injured. One woman struck her face on the bottom o f the pool and received a bloody nose, while a second young woman received a concussion after striking her forehead on the pool bottom during a swim meet. The double-pool aquatic facility is considered the crown jewel of the $10 million, 56,000-sq.-ft. recreation centre, pool and library complex on Glenashton Drive. The pool is unique in that it is a true competitive swim meet-style facility that also serves the community's needs for recreation al swimming and lessons. There's a traditional eight-lane pool as well as a leisure pool. The upgrade involves moving the point of the slope that separates the deep end from the shallow end from five to six metres further than it is cur rently. To do this, a section of the bottom of the pool must be excavated and a new floor installed. Construction is set to begin after Labour Day weekend and last approximately 12-14 weeks. The total cost of the upgrade is approximately $80,000. Thanks to the goodwill contribution of the pool's architect, Stafford Haensli Architects, as well as pool contractor Acapulco Pools and the general contractor Jasper Construction, the Town's share of the cost will be $30,000. H a lto n L in e n O u t l e t Voted O akville's Best Linen Shop K ITCH EN S · BEDROOM S · BATHROOM S· W A LL U N ITS Custom Designs, Custom Finishes, Top Quality Cabinetry, Competitively Priced, Free In-Home Service, Lifetime Warranty Halton Linen where your decorating dollar goesfurther Jamie Smith · O akville B eaver 4150 South Service Rd. Burlington K eegan O 'L eary is Oakville's first Junior W orm Farm er and is excited about the prospect o f creating com post from organic waste. 6 3 2 -0 0 2 9 s c n a> Q EW .1 m 1 CL South Service R d a 1 imque Cabinet Joncepts V 481 N o r t h S erv ic e R d .W ., O A K V IL L E (between Dorval Drive and 4th Line) (905) 847-2274 w w v v . f u re k a 4 y o u . c o m /u n iq u e c a b in e ts MON. - FRI. 10 A.M.- 5:30 RM.* SATURDAY I0A.M.-6 P.M . - SUNDAY. 12 A.M.- S P.M . Junior Worm Farmer Day on Saturday By Howard Mozel O A K V IL L E B E A V E R S T A F F T his Saturday is Junior W orm F arm er Day in Oakville. Yes, you read that right: from 10 a.m. to noon about 40 young invertebrate ranchers, aged seven to 10 years, will learn to raise Red W igglers to make com post from organic waste as part o f a H alton Region pilot project. The project helps encourage youngsters to recycle as an environm entally-aw are program for their schools. A fter all; "verm icom posting" is a perfect way to convert organic material into nutrient-rich com post using worms know n as Red W igglers, the benefits of w hich include a reduction o f garbage h eaded to landfill. (T he average Canadian produces a ton o f waste each year and an estim ated one-third o f this is organic matter.) The Red W igglers, however, are effi cient little eaters w ho consum e half their body w eight in waste every day and their ow n by-product, or castings, is a natural and nitrogen-rich fertilizer ideal for house plants and gardens. Saturday's event takes place at the offices o f C onnectU s International, located at 379A Kerr St. with Cathy Nesbitt, o f C athy's Craw ly Com posters, providing the worms and the expertise. "I know there are plenty o f parents who would w ant to encourage their chil dren about the environm ent," said D onna M esser o f ConnectUs. "We want to do this as many tim es as possible." Vermicomposting encourages chil dren to put their organic leftovers (everything but dairy products and meat) into their worm bin so they can w atch natural recycling in action with no unpleasant smell. W hen it's tim e to harvest the castings, worm s can easily be redirected away to make the collec tion job easier. "You can actually herd worm s," said Messer. "T hey're easy to keep and they do their jo b." Worms work faster than traditional com posting and can be used all year -- outdoors when the temperature is appro priate for them, inside during the winter. Even their "bedding" -- coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, shredded new spa per -- wind up as castings, too. Crushed eggshells act like surrogate teeth for the worms by helping grind up organics as the creatures move. According to Messer, children will not only have fun w hile they learn, but can start a fundraising activity at school by selling the castings as fertilizer. (This is already in use nourishing flowers along Kerr Street.) The worm s can also teach kids a biology lesson or two, since one handful o f the critters will soon becom e two once they reproduce. M esser said her grandson, Keegan O 'Leary, is "O ak v ille's first w orm farm er" He is thrilled by his hom e composter, said Messer, and will be a speak er at Ju n io r W orm F arm er Day. Attendees -- w ho are com ing from area schools and sum m er cam ps -- will also be treated to the special video. Worm M ania , a w orm mascot and a verm i com posting starter kit. (A full outfit can be purchased for $29.95.) "It'll be the kids w ho will be stars of the day," said Messer, w ho can be reached at 905-337-9578 for m ore information. "We're all pretty excited." This Friday & Saturday Only! save 10 ® on almost everything in the store even if it's on sale when you put it on your Sears Card Sears will deduct 10% from your purchase price, on approved credit, only with your Sears Card. Some exclusions apply. Offer ends Saturday, July 27, 2002 Sears stores dose toyou, close to hom e Furniture and sleep sets are available at the following Greater Toronto locations: Central Getrand Square (416) 461-9092 Allen Rd. Furniture & Appliances Store Allen Rd. & Sheppard Ave. (416) 398-9947 Eatons, Toronto Eaton Centre (416) 349-7111 Sherway Furniture & Appliances Store 30 Boncer Dr. (416) 695-3888 North Markham Furniture, Appliances S Home Improvements Store Don Mills & Steeles (905) 881-6600 Markville Shopping Centre (905) 946-1866 Promenade Shopping Centre (905) 731-3388 Newmarket Furniture & Appliances Store Yonge St & Davis Dr. (905) 830-0049 Richmond Hill Furniture S Appliances Store Hwy. 7 S Yonge S t (905) 762-0870 Woodbine Shopping Centre (416) 798-3800 Woodbridge Furniture & Appliances Store Hwy. 7 S Weston Rd. (905) 850-6406 East Scarborough Furniture & Appliances Store Kennedy Rd.S 401 (416) 332-8577 Whitby Furniture Store Thickson Rd. & 401 (905) 579-4048 or 1-800-336-8073 West Brampton Furniture & Appliances Store 535 Steeles Ave. E (905) 455-1255 Mississauga Furniture & Appliances Store Hwy. 5 S 403 (905) 820-6801 Sleep sets are also available at the following Department Stores: Bramalea City Centre (905) 458-1141 Erin Mills Town Centre (905) 607-2300 Pickering Town Centre (905) 420-8000 Scarborough Town Centre (416) 296-0171 Sherway Gardens (416) 620-6011 Sguare One Shopping Centre (905) 270-8111 Offer applies to m erchandise in Sears Furniture and Sears Furniture and Appliances stores. Excludes L iquid ation/O utle t stores. Catalogue and Website purchases. Cannot be combined w ith any finance offers. Offer ends Saturday, July 27, 2002. D/601 Furniture Shop: excludes baby and patio fu rn itu re in our Sears Retail Mall Stores. Furniture selection varies by store. P l^ s e contact your local Sears store for details. Also available at Eatons, Toronto Eaton Centre location Sears Furniture & Appliance Store M ississauga NE074F102 M o n -Fri 1 0 a m 9 p m s a t. 10 am 6 pm S u n . 11 a m - 5 p m C opyright 2002. Sears Canada Inc,