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Wednesday August L, ZIHXJ 1Hfa OAKVILLE BhAVbK A/ COMMENT She I I take Arctic swim before packing anytime Last Sunday, I joined about 600 or so insane souls on the edge of 14 C water to begin the start of a triathlon. A few days later, having survived the coldest swim I can remember, so cold in fact my feet and hands were numbed well into the bike portion of the race, I am now contemplating another scary thought: packing for a little more than a month at the cottage. Now, which is worse, do you think? 14 C water without a wetsuit or pack ing the car for the cottage? Believe it or not, I'll take the water any day. Swimming in Lake Simcoe last weekend was nothing less than unbe lievably crazy, I admit. For a moment, as my arms grew heavy and my lips began to numb, I wondered if I'd suffer the indignity of being carried away from the whole thing. We knew it was going to be a bit of a challenge when the announcer warned swimmers to hold up their arms if they needed help from the lifeguards, perched expectantly on boards, just DIANE HART waiting to fish out some poor soul. We knew it was going to be a bit of a chal lenge when even those in wetsuits called it chilly. During my wave, two people even turned back; one put up an arm indicat ing help was needed. Usually, there is some good-natured kibbitzing. But not that day. Everyone wanted to preserve what little heat they had, treading water just before the horn was blown. But I tell you, cold water or not, this getting ready for the cottage is worse, much worse. One week later, I can safely say that it's more taxing to try to cram all the books, bikes, helmets, noodles, pad dles, in-line skates, puzzles, balls, buckets, suitcases, towels, sheets, pil lows, tennis raquets, rafts, games, puz zles, tiny boxes of cereal, two disgrun tled kids, one smelly dog and two weary adults into very small quarters without going out of your mind. Really and truly, I wonder what is worse: 15 C water, living through a reno or getting your own place ready for another family AND pack the car. You see, this year we're loaning out our house to a reno-crazed family liv ing in their house as it is taken back to its studs. But I'm starting to think they just might have been better among the dust. Suddenly, as we opened our doors to another family, we looked around and began to notice the little things that make our house a home: the floors that slope, the tap that leaks, the door that doesn't close, the plug that's missing from the bathroom sink. We know we love the place, but we also know it could drive this family right back to the hammer and nails....quickly. And so, as fast as I ran out of that frigid water last week, I moved into action and began handing out lists: closets to clean, shelves to wipe, latch es to be replaced, floors washed. I announced to all at the breakfast table one morning, lists in hand, we were going to the dollar store. "Oh great," says Drew, leaning back in his chair, "I need a new cap gun." Um, no, I said. We're heading for fun stuff like buckets and sponges. After all, I said in that tell-tale mother sort of voice, we can,t have the place looking like a bomb went off. This was greeted with something less than enthusiastic cheering. But no matter. We had just a few days to get the place in shape AND pack for the cottage. In between the list-making and the hinge-repairing, my spouse had declared a one-bag policy. I love these pronouncements: he announces every one has to fit everything into one bag. And then, about 12 hours later, every one lugs about 23 bags to the front door and begins to plead. Somehow, though, we are going to make it. We are going to fit it all in the cars, make our way up to a place we have yet to see and unpack it all before taking the plunge in the not so bitterly cold waters of Lake Huron. And when we sit and watch our first sun set, we'll think of the people now housed comfortably in our place back home. We hope. Legislation not needed for organ donations The provincial government should support the organ donation program without intervening in the process through legislation. It is necessary to give hospitals enough money to pur chase sufficient ventilators to keep the bodies of brain-dead candidates for organ transplants functioning and to pay for harvesting the organs. We recommend that a less intrusive program to enhance organ donations should be introduced: · The government should provide sufficient funding for Organ Donation Ontario to carry out an on-going major public awareness campaign on the bene fits of organ donations, integrated with the Sandrine's Gift of Life National Letters to the Editor Organ Donor Awareness Campaign. · Mr. Harris could become the spokesperson for this campaign. · Special Organ Donation Consent Forms should be mailed to all Ontario households as part of this campaign and regularly be available in public places like post offices and banks. · Specially trained organ donation co-ordinators could be introduced in hospitals through pilot projects to ensure the campaign works as effectively as possible before it is extended to all hos pitals -- to ensure that the co-ordinators are as sensitive as possible during this vulnerable period for the family of the Support s till strong for French instruction A recent national survey shows that Canadians are holding firm in their sup port for French-second-language instruc tion in schools. The opinion poll, commissioned by Canadian Parents for French, was carried out by Compas Inc. in April 2000. · There is a strong, intense support for the value and importance of learning a second language: 87% believe that "The ability to speak more than one language is very important in this period of grow ing international trade" and 78% believe that learning a second language is impor tant to Canadian students. This is virtual ly identical to the situation in 1995. · Nearly half of the English-speaking Canadians surveyed continue to think that it is important for English-language children to learn French in Canadian schools as part of their education (31% say it is very important). Few (14%) believe that learning French is not impor tant at all. French-second-language education is taught both in immersion programs, where the second language is used to teach a variety of subjects and, as Core French, where the language is taught as a subject. · Nearly six in 10 (57%) say they feel very or somewhat positive about French immersion education, while 18% feel negative. Support exceeds opposition by more than 3:1. Again, very little has changed since 1995. Attitudes toward regular French-second-language pro grams are largely positive, with almost two-thirds (64%) saying they feel very or somewhat positive about it; 7% feel neg ative. Support exceeds opposition by almost 4:1. Canadian Parents for French, a national non-profit volunteer organiza tion, believes that solid research is an important aspect of informed decision making in education matters. As part of this commitment, CPF will be publishing its first annual report, The State of French Second Language Education in Canada 2000, this month. Carole Burton CPF national president deceased. · Driver's licences should continue to include an organ donation consent form. ·An integrated "routine referral" sys tem for hospitals to identify brain-dead patients to a centralized agency can be established without legislation. · People over 75 years of age should be permitted to donate organs, if they so choose. According to the fact sheet issued by the Sandrine's Gift of Life National Organ Donor Awareness Campaign, "the oldest organ donor was 90 years old and the oldest tissue donor was an incredible 102 years old! It is not a matter of age as much as general health." · Consideration should be given to how palliative care at home, which is increasing, will be included in the organ donation program. · Advanced directives, such as living wills, although not legally enforceable, should include a clause on organ dona tions. It could be a great irony if an individ ual requested in a living will that no heroic measures be undertaken to extend life, only to have death delayed through a ventilator, unless the individual wishes to donate organs. The individual should have the right to make the final decision about the disposition of his/her organs after death, even though the corpse becomes the property of the next-of-kin. And, who will decide about organ dona tions if the deceased has no next-of-kin? As always, the devil is in the details, despite the best of intentions. We need to balance what grieving families are going through when faced with the loss of a loved one with the needs of people who are waiting for organ donations. Lillian Morgenthau President, CARP Canadian Association of Retired Persons What's a tuna can got to do with my lawn? R educe a s u m m er w a te r use through law n-w atering restrictions in Halton R egion. Your participation is requested in our even/odd w atering program . Even num bered addresses w ater on Even days Odd num bered addresses w a te r on O d d days. Tips to Conserve Water: W a te r law n once a w e e k (less in w e t w eather) O n ly use 1" (2 .5 c m ) of w a te r p e r w e e k (use tuna can to m onitor) W a te r law n early in the m orning, betw een 6 and 10 a.m . For m ore inform ation or to receive oor new `Horrvttvoid Guide to W ater Efficiency' cat) extem ion 77>7 a t th e num bers below Halton Region Planning & Pubic Worta Department 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario LfiM H I B u ftn g to n / M M to n / Q a fc v flte ( 9 0 S ) M S -6 1 6 1 E x te n s io n 7 7 8 7 G e o r g e t o w n ( 9 0 S ) 8 7 8 -8 1 1 3 , A c t o n ( S 1 9 ) 8 5 3 4 5 0 1 , A ld e r s h o t ( 9 0 S ) 6 3 9 -4 S 4 0 . Stre e tsvilie ( 9 0 S ) 8 2 3 -6 7 2 0 e m e u b a t h c b r e g i o n .h e H o n .o n .c j < w v n v .r e g io n .h e lt o n o n .c e > G> 1. O A K V IL L E 8 4 5 -6 6 0 1 NOTICE OF SURPLUS AND SALE RE PART OF LOT 13, CONCESSION 1, SOUTH OF DUNDAS STREET AND PART OF LOTS 5, 6, 7, 8 AND 9 AND PART OF POST ROAD (UNOPENED) REGISTERED PLAN 473 TAKE NOTICE THAT: The Council for the Corporation of the Town of Oakville at its meeting of June 12, 2000, declared certain lands surplus. These lands are described as follows: Part of Lot 13, Concession 1, South of Dundas Street and Part of Lots 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and Part of Post Road (unopened) Registered Plan 473, Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton. 2. 3. This notice is in compliance with the Town's By-law 1995-71. A copy of a plan showing the lands to be sold is available for inspection at the office o f the Manager, Realty Services at the address shown below, by appoint ment by calling 845-6601, extension 3022 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Maynard Millman, AACI, P.App., Manager, Realty Services Legal Department, The Corporation of the Town of Oakville 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6 5 D l w w w .b o u clair.co m THE FABRIC & DECOR ouCiciir I ID TA NOTICE OF THE PASSAGE OF BY-LAW 2000-152 BILLBOARD/THIRD PARTY SIGNS REFERENDUM QUESTION NOVEMBER MUNICIPAL ELECTION BALLOT TAKE NOTICE that the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Oakville passed By-law 2000-152 on the 25th day of July, 2000, pursuant to the provisions of the Direct Democracy Through Municipal Referendums Act, 2000, to submit the following question to the electors on the ballot at the Municipal Election on November 13, 2000: "Should the Town of Oakville amend its Sign By-law 1994-142 to allow for the erection and display of billboard/third party signs within the Town of Oakville?" The results of the question will be binding on the Town if at least 50 per cent of the eligible electors in the municipality vote on the question and more than 50 per cent of the votes on the question are in favour of those results. If the results are binding and an affirmative answer receives the majority of the votes, the Town shall do everything in its power to implement the results of the question in a timely manner. Town staff will generate criteria for the consideration of Council to incorporate in the Sign By-law for the determination of suitable locations for billboard/third party signs in the Town of Oakville. An affirmative answer to the question may prevent the Town from having to defend its Sign By-law from legal challenge. If the results are binding and a negative answer receives the majority of the votes, no amendments to the Sign By-law, which currently prohibits billboard/third party signs throughout the Town, may be enacted for a period of three years following voting day to allow for billboard/third party signs in the Town. A negative answer may necessitate the Town defending its Sign By-law by legal and other professional consultants, which may cost the Town approximately $100,000.00. Any person may appeal to the Chief Election Officer of the Province of Ontario on the grounds the question is not clear, concise and neutral, or capable of being answered in the affirmative or the negative, by filing with the Town Clerk, within 15 days after the Clerk gives notice of the passage.of the by-law, a notice of appeal setting out the objections and the reasons in support of the objections. The last day for filing a notice of appeal is August 17. 2000 An individual who is normally resident in Ontario, a corporation that carries on business in Ontario, or a trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario, that proposes to incur expenses with respect to the question shall, in person or by agent, file with the Town Clerk not later than nomination day (October 13, 2000) a Form 7 Notice of Registration pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended. For further information, please contact Judith Muncaster, Town Clerk, at (905) 845-6601 extension 4178 or by e-mail at jmuncaster@town.oakville.on.ca. ...lowest prices of the season, FABRIC 9 MAKE ROOM FOR NEW FALL MERCHANDISE MUST CRAFTS SAVINGS DRAPERY HARDWARE BUNDS BEDDING See details in store 'O ff regular price excluding all 'Conso" decorative trimmings and tassels, plus all custom orders 1 In-stock merchandise only, while quantities last! ^ Xtra Card members cannot combine this offer with their additional discounts. J _____ OAKVILLE 2501 H A M P S H IR E G A T E R O A D - (905) 8 2 2 - 8 4 4 4 For store locations in · R IC H M O N D HILL · B R A M P T O N · SUDBURY · ANCASTER · STONEY CREEK · CAMBRIDGE · AJAX · M A R K H A M · SCARBOROUGH · VA UG HA N · MISSISSAUGA (2 STORES) · BARRIE · K IN G STO N dial 1-800-BOUCLAIR or visit our website N O W O P E N AT D U N D A S A N D DIXIE A N D AT LAWRENCE SQUARE 1225 TRAFALGAR ROAD · OAKVILLE, ONTARIO · L6J 5A6