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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, March 27, 2015 | 6 It's spring, time to get out and dig in It's spring. Get out and get involved in the community. It's a good way to shake off winter, make friends, get to know the town and do your part to make it better. There's lots going on in Oakville and there are many ways to get involved -- be it through having your voice heard on municipal issues, making an impact in the business community or by volunteering. April is National Volunteer Month and a time when we recognize those who make our community a better place in which to live by giving of their time. There are many local charities, service clubs and sports groups -- all of which would welcome a helping hand. You don't have to wait to jump in, nor is age a limiting factor. In this week's editions of the Oakville Beaver, and on our website at www.insidehalton.com, we have carried stories about the Canadian Cancer Society, Halton Unit needing volunteers for its annual Daffodil Days fundraising campaign. Earlier this month, we devoted space to the ongoing needs of the Fare Share food bank, which is in the throes of its annual Easter food drive and requires our help. We have a letter on this page about an upcoming public meeting regarding a development proposal on the books. The ward councillors are inviting interested residents to nd out how the system works. On page 18, we have a story about another hot topic of municipal interest -- the future of downtown Oakville. On Monday, April 13, the Town wants to hear from members of the community visa-vis that future vision. On the table is the Downtown Transportation and Streetscape Study. Its mandate is twofold -- to devise a plan to accommodate the need to rebuild Lakeshore Road East, and address transportation access, mobility and safety, and urban design direction for the streetscape and Towne Square. There has been a lot of public interest on this issue and the Town extended its deliberation process in order to give all those who want to have a say the chance to do just that. We have heard from Oakville Mayor Rob Burton that the proposal by CN to develop an intermodal facility in south Milton has not raised concerns in this community. However, it has generated much public reaction in neighbouring Milton and it's worth keeping an eye on. There is no real end to the issues affecting this special place we call home. From increased air traf c over the north to the upcoming conservation efforts, such as observing Earth Hour tomorrow (Saturday) and organizing the annual Earth Week Clean-up, there are just so many ways to participate in our community. It really doesn't matter how you get involved, what's important is that you do. Editorial S U P P O R T I N G S P E C I A L "Connected to your Community" O L Y M P I C S 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 53 | Number 25 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor The Halton Regional Police Service presented a $4,621.67 cheque to Special Olympics Ontario -- proceeds from the most recent regional Law Enforcement Torch Run. Since the torch run began its partnership with Special Olympics Ontario, the number of registered athletes has grown from under 4,000 to greater than 18,000 today, according to Sgt. Barry Hughes, Halton police's Special Olympics representative and co-ordinator. Pictured are: Chief Stephen Tanner, left, Hughes, far right, with Mayor Rob Burton, chair of the Halton Police Services Board, far right in back, with representatives of Special Olympics Ontario. | photo courtesy Halton Regional Police ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution Public meeting on Saw-Whet April 14 Last year a developer submitted an application to build about 780 houses and two multi-storey buildings on what is currently Saw-Whet Golf Course. There was a public outcry against the plan with hundreds of residents writing letters and attending public meetings. It is clear people value this greenspace as an important habitat for wildlife and a popular recreation facility. Oakville has already met its growth obligations to 2031 that were set by the Province. Growth costs taxpayers money, so why accept more development than is required? If Saw-Whet is developed are Deer eld and Glen Abbey Golf Courses next? Council vowed to do all it can to stop the development of Saw-Whet. Last fall, the developer side-stepped your elected council's wishes by taking the devel- Letter to the Editor CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager opment plan to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). A pre-hearing is set for May 1 and the hearing is scheduled to start in October. So now, an non-elected board will decide the fate of this precious green space. What can you do? Please plan to attend a public meeting on April 14, 7 p.m., at the Region of Halton Headquarters, 1151 Bronte Rd. Learn about the OMB process and how you can become involved. Read more about this development plan and the costs of growth in the Ward 4 section of Let's Talk Oakville magazine that should have recently arrived in your mailbox. Visit www.elgar.ca. Allan Elgar, Regional and Town Councillor, Oakville Roger Lapworth, Town Councillor, Oakville Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: For more news, visit www.insidehalton.com The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email to ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.