Ontario Community Newspapers

Oakville Beaver, 23 May 2001, A7

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

Wednesday May z j , zuu I 1H t UAIS. VILLh BfcAV fcK COMMENT Men need solace when living with women Growing up in a family o f all girls was nothing if not interesting. At the very least, there was never a dull moment. Angry feet stomped up and down the stairs daily, tempers flared at all hours o f the day: "I hate you I hate you; I'm never going to speak to you for the rest o f my life." Followed, quickly, by a last minute zinger: "And you can't borrow my blue sweater for Friday night." It always amazed me that your sister could tell you she hated you and never speak to you for the rest of her life and you'd shrug half heartedly. Do me a favour, you'd mumble under your breath. But lose the ONLY sweater that matched a pair of pants and you'd be upstairs pound ing on her bedroom door, grovelling in a second. I always thought every household was like mine: a million tantrums a day, the phone and shower going non- stop, the barking, mad dog and tunes from the latest gem from Barbra Streisand as background noise. Little wonder, with all the commotion, that my father spent the better part of his life in the small downstairs bathroom. In much the same way the fathers o f today take refuge in their cars, the fathers o f yes terday would hole up in the bathroom. There, my beleaguered father would escape the antics o f his four daughters. There, he'd get a much needed break from the squabbles that resulted in tears, the endless piles o f laundry, and an insane dog that subsisted on three tablespoons o f canned dog food from Dominion whose main task in life was escaping through the screen door. It was in this tiny but spotless bath room that he took refuge from the storm so to speak. In a house filled to the brim with the clutter o f four girls, he took a perverse delight in keeping that room neat as a pin. His bathroom was lined, meticulously. A with clean dry towels (our larger upstairs bathroom never saw a dry towel in 15 years); its cabinet filled with bottles with caps screwed on tightly. Upstairs, we would draw lots as to who had to use the pliers and reach into the drain to retrieve the latest toothpaste cap. Or, more likely, the caps would be left to clog up the drain until all the water began spilling out and screams and accusations would ensue. At least two o f my sisters would spend five V DIANE HART minutes pounding on the door for the other sister to get out...O R ELSE. My mother would be flying about, threatening all of us with death. Business as usual, right? Today, in this household, our own kids utter complaints o f their own: the lack o f dry towels, the shampoo and conditioner that (horrors) was bought ON SALE, the lack o f privacy. You want lack o f privacy...try living with three sisters and a mother whose favourite expression was "it's got to be here somewhere" or "It's just me. dear" as she'd head towards you in the bathroom, bedroom, whatever. Privacy? When I went away to camp for two summers and lived in a dormitory where people could walk over rafters above you at any time of the day, I got more privacy. Growing up with all girls was, though, the best training for camp life. Nothing fazed me; a fire drill sig nalling an emergency? Get serious. On any given night at my home, some thing caught fire in the oven. Seriously. It could be either the burgers cooking in the winter under the broiler (my moth er: "heavens, girls, did no one notice????") Or a take out pizza that caught fire. Our side door from our kitchen was, luckily, close by...the neighbours I suppose got used to the oddly familiar sight o f another cardboard box, alight, flying out the side door onto the yard. We'd race out to stamp it out...one more time. Emergencies in that household were a dime a dozen. Even garbage day was fraught with emotion. Twice a week, my mother would jackknife up in bed, yelling it was garbage day. As the unmistakable sounds of the garbage trucks drew nearer, out she'd fly grabbing the tins from the garage and getting them out at the road in the final few seconds. My friend from down the road, Sheila, used to envy me and my sisters, in much the way I supposed I envied her broth ers. She'd be surrounded by nifty sports equipment, great toys and an endless line up o f friends o f her older brother all o f whom didn't give us the time of day. - But at least they were boys. But she loved com ing over to our place, happily parachuting in on the lat est melodrama. It's different for us in this household. I've never grown up among boys: my husband never grew up with girls. I get a little antsy when things are all in their place, just so; he gets even more antsy among my clutter. Asked how he copes with the challenges o f a son AND a daughter, he just shrugs and glances over at our son. "Drew and I are buying a condo in the city," he says. He and his son share a laugh. N ext thing you know, I bet they take over the bath room. G> NOTICE O A K V IL L E IQ PROPERTY OWNERS TO DESTROY WEEDS (9 0 5 ) 8 4 5 -6 6 0 1 ___ NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS Official Plan Amendment Town of Oakville Land North of Dundas Street File: 42.14.198 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE L etters to th e Editor Date rape drugs: a cautionary tale I am a 20 year old girl and I just finished my first year at the University of Toronto. I enjoyed iiving in the city very much, but has one bad experience that I would like to recount to you. I was drugged at a party. Luckily, however, my story has a happy end ing: my friends realized something was wrong and stuck by me until I got out of there. My objective in writing this letter is the hope that parents will read this and pass it on to their daughters, and that daughters will read this, and pass it on to their friends. I was at a "fiat" party last month. Within 40 minutes o f my arrival, I had to be led out, supported by a friend. I had only taken a few sips of my first drink, when I began to feel very drunk, yet very tired. I finished it, and my friends noticed something was wrong. I was just standing there, very pale, staring off. Then I fell backwards and lost consciousness. I was propped against a wall, and brought water. I remember feeling that my eyes weren't working properly. They were shift ing uncontrollably and my vision seemed to jump erratically from place to place. 1 had trouble walking and keeping my balance. 1 felt dizzy, and extremely tired. So tired, in fact, that I could barely keep my eyes open, let alone move or respond to other's con cerned questions. My friend got me into a taxi, and on the way back to my apartment, I remember shivering and shaking ferociously, although the cab was. in her words, "stuffy...hot." Somehow, my friend got me from the taxi, to my 15th floor apartment. I have no memory of this. She put me to bed, and tried to feed me: I was nauseous. I was sweating ferociously, and felt very hot. I laughed hys terically one moment, then instantaneously switched to sobbing. I felt agitated and frus trated. but couldn't life my body from the bed or move properly. My body felt heavy. By then, it was obvious that something was very wrong: especially when the left side of my face, and parts of my body went entirely numb. Approximately 2 hours after my symp toms began. I was brought to the hospital. After another hour's wait, my urine was test ed. The tests came out negative: there was no sign of a foreign substance. However: the doctor said this was "inconclusive", as many of the current "date rape" drugs dissolve and disappear almost immediately, making them impossible to detect. His personal opinion: I had "very likely been drugged" and I was to be "very careful in the future". Several days later, I was still suffering fainting spells, dizziness and visual "jump ing". I want to see a doctor, and she gave me some information on two drugs that were the most likely to have been the cause of my symptoms: Rohypnol (a.k.a. flunitrazepan) and GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate 10). They are the newest types of drugs used in date rape. Rohypnol is a very strong seda tive, and is about 10 times stronger than Valium. Some symptoms are: quick intoxi cation. impaired judgement and coordina tion, deep sedation, dizziness, disorientation, hot and cold flashed, and memory loss. Rohypnol can be lethal if mixed with alcohol. GHB is also known under the names of "Liquid Ecstasy", "Easy lay", "Liquid E", "Grievous Bodily Harm", "Cherry Meth" and "Gook". It can come in the form of a powder that can dissolve easily in liquid. When mixed with alcohol, many of its effects are strengthened. Symptoms appear within 15 minutes of ingestion and include: delu sions, depression, visual disturbances, agita tion or combativeness, nausea, vertigo, respi ratory distress, loss of consciousness, amne sia and coma. This drug is expired through respiration within minutes after ingestion. In reflecting upon what happened to me, the scariest part was not the symptoms, immediate or lasting. What disturbs me the most, is the fac that I never even put my drink down that night. I merely had my attention taken away from it. How was I to know that the stranger who approached me and emphat ically began pointing out all the features of the house we were in was not just trying to be friendly? I end my letter, hoping that it has made people more aware about a potential and increasingly common danger that exists in our society. Date rape does happen. Luckily, I was able to escape this horror, and can look upon what happened to me as a tough learning experience. Other girls, how ever, will not have this luxury. Notice is hereby given to all property owners, in accordance with the Weed Control Act, R.S.O., Chapter W.5, that all noxious weeds growing on their lands within the Municipality must be destroyed by Friday, June 8, 2001, and throughout the season. The Town of Oakville may enter upon the said lands and have the weeds destroyed and charge the costs against the land in taxes as set out in the Act. * Please note that Dandelion and Goldenrod are not classified as noxious weeds. Your co-operation in destroying noxious weeds, in particular. Poison-ivy and Ragweed, is requested. For further information, please contact Leo Ostner or Rebecca Waldeck. Municipal Weed Inspectors at (905) &45-6601. Acting Town Clerk TOWN OF OAKVILLE CORRECTION Due to an error by Canada Post, the Wards 3 and 6 Newsletters were distributed incorrectly. The Ward Newsletters will be redistributed to die appropriate w ards over the next week. If you do not receive your copy, please contact Public Affairs & Communications at 905.845.6601 ext. 3005 We apologize fo r am/ inconveniences this may have caused. = NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING APPLICANT - Sam-Sor Enterprises Inc. (Zoning, Official Plan Amendment and Subdivision) File: 24T -00013/0, Z. 1428.02 Please be advised that a public meeting will be held to discuss a proposed Official Plan Amendment, Draft Plan o f Subdivision and Zoning Amendment, as submitted by the above-noted applicant. A public information meeting hosted by the Planning Services Department will be held at which time details of the application will be presented and public concerns noted. This meeting will take place on June 5, 2001 commencing at 8:00 p.m. in the Oakville Room Town Hall. 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. Any individuals wishing to attend this meeting and speak to this matter are invited to do so. An explanation of the purpose and effect of the proposed applications, describing the land to which the proposed applications apply, and a key map showing the location of the land to which the proposed applications apply can be found below. If a person or public body that files a notice of appeal o f a decision in respect of the proposed zoning amendment, official plan amendment or subdivision to the Ontario Municipal Board does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or does not make written submissions before the proposed zoning amendment or subdivision is approved or the official plan amendment is adopted, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. Should Council recommend draft approval of the subdivision plan, it will then be forwarded to Edward Salisbury, Director o f Planning Services Department, at the address below. If you wish to be notified of the adoption of the proposed official plan amendment or subdivision. you must make a written WEST DUNDAS STREET request to Edward Salisbury, Director of Planning Services at the address below. Any other written submissions and or questions may be directed to Leigh Musson at the Town's Planning Services SUBJECT Department. Town of LANDS Oakville, P.O. Box 310. 1225 ROAD WEST MIDDLE UPPER I Trafalgar Road. Oakville, ON. L6J 5A6. Tel: 845-6601, Ext. 3371. email address: lmusson@town.oakville.on.ca. Location -- The subject lands are located approximately mid way between Third Line and Bronte Road (Regional Road 25), north of West Oak Trails, south of Dundas Street The lands are known as Part of Lot 28, Concession 1 SDS. Official Plan -- Figure Q, Land Use, West Oak Trails Community, designates the subject lands as Residential Low Density, Residential Medium Density, Place of Worship, and Neighbourhood Commercial. Zoning -- The land is currently zoned A, Agricultural. Proposal -- The proposal involves an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning Amendment and a Subdivision to permit 612 residential units (417 single detached dwellings, 170 townhouses. 25 medium density residential), a commercial block, a portion of an elementary school block, storm water management block and open space. Please Note: This proposal may be subject to changes or modifications at the public meeting. Dated at the Town of Oakville this 23Mday of May. 2001. Please be advised that four public meetings will be held to discuss a proposed Towninitiated Official Plan Amendment The subject Official Plan Amendment applies to all the land within the Town boundary. The Official Plan Amendment proposes to: incorporate those lands north of Dundas Street into the Town of Oakville's urban area as identified within Regional Official Plan Number 8. establish the conditions for the development of the lands north of Dundas Street; and redefine the Town's municipal structure to reflect this change including revisions to the plan concept, goal and objectives, planning period and planning population and employment levels. Three open houses will be hosted by the Planning Services Department at which time details of the proposed Official Plan Amendment will be presented and public concerns noted. The open houses will take place on: May 23, 2001, 2 - 9 PM in the Oakville Room, Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. May 26, 2001, 9:30 AM - 6 PM, Oakville Place, 240 Leighland Avenue. Oakville May 31, 2001, 2 - 9 PM in the Trafalgar Room. Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. The fourth public meeting will be hosted by Town Council at which time the Staff Report and recommendations are to be considered. This meeting will take place on June 25, 2001, commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall. 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. Any individuals wishing to attend these meetings and speak to this matter are invited to do so. If a person or public body that files a notice of appeal of a decision in respect of the proposed official plan amendment to the Ontario Municipal Board does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or does not make written submissions before the proposed official plan amendment is adopted, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. If you wish to be notified of the adoption of the proposed official plan amendment, you must make a written request to the undersigned at the Town's Planning Services Department, Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road. Oakville. ON. L6J 5A6. Tel: 845-6601, Ext. 3025, email address: lgough@town.oakville.on.ca or to Robert Thun, Planner, Ext. 3029, e-mail address: rthun@town.oakville.on.ca. You may also direct any other written submissions and/or questions to either person. Dated at the Town of Oakville this 23rd day of May 2001. Lynne Gough. Manager. Long Range Planning Section.Planning Services Department On behalf of die Town of Oakville, Environics Research Group will be conducting a telephone survey to obtain public input and opinions starting late May. Environics will interview a random sample of Oakville residents to ensure die results of die survey are representative of die entire population. For more information call 905.845.6601 ext. 3005 OA KVI LLE T -A C o u n c il & S t a n d in g C o m m it t e e Tuesday, M ay 29, 2001 M e e t in g s "W e d n e s d a y , M ay 3 0 ,2 0 0 1 ** Community Services Committee Planning & Development Council 7:30 p.m. - Oakville Room Council Chambers Administrative Services Comm. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. - Bronte Room M onday, Ju n e 4, 2001 Council Meeting Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. M onday, Jun e 11,2001 Planning & Development Council Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. **NOTE: T he P la n n in g & D evelopment C o u n c il M e etin g S c h e d u l e d for M o n d a y , M a y 28, 2001 h a s b e e n m o v e d ___________ W e d n e s d a y , M a y 30, 2001 C o u n c il to & C o m m it t e e T ouchtone John Ghent, Manager. Current Planning Section, Planning Services Department P hone L in e 8 1 5 -5 9 5 9 Name witheld upon request 1225 TRAFALGAR ROAD « OAKVILLE, ONTARIO · L6J 5A6

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