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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, A ug us t 25 ,2 02 2 | 8 oakville.ca The Town of Oakville intends to control weeds in medians and shrub beds along the following roadsides and parks: • Lakeshore Road, Church St, Robinson St, Dunn St, Reynolds St, Navy St, Thomas St, Allan St, Trafalgar Rd, Randall St, Kerr Street, Bronte Rd, East St, Nelson St, Jones St, Marine Dr. Upper Middle Road, Third Line, Dorval Drive, Neyagawa Blvd, Cornwall Rd, Dundas St., Bridge Rd, Rebecca St, within the Town of Oakville • Using the pesticide Finalsan Pro Commercial Concentrate containing active ingredient Soap (ammonium salt of fatty acids) Registration No. 30012 under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada). Commencing on April 18, 2022 weather permitting, and ending October 8, 2022. For further information contact: Service Oakville at 905-845-6601 Collect calls will be accepted from individuals calling long distance. Public notice of pesticide use A group of Oakville par- ents is calling for change after being told amplified music cannot be played at town sports fields during games. Sheila Sranko, whose 10- year-old son Jonas plays baseball with the Oakville A's, says personalized walk-up songs for the young batters and music in between innings has been a fun part of the game for years. She noted her boy en- joys hearing "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles as he steps up to the plate. "He loves it," said Sran- ko. "The boys always ask for their walk-up songs to be played, even during prac- tice because it gets them going, gets them energized, gets them pumped up for when they are about to hit the ball." However, not everyone appreciated this music. Director of Parks and Open Space Chris Mark said that earlier this sum- mer the town received some complaints about music from residents liv- ing next to sports fields. "To address the con- cerns, an email was sent out in late June to sports field users letting them know of the complaints the town received," said Mark. "User groups were re- minded that amplified sound is not allowed under the permit issued to use the sports fields." Sranko said she was dis- appointed by these restric- tions. She said she could un- derstand if the music ban just applied to evening games, but the restrictions apply to all games at town sports fields, played any time. "These kids have been through so much over the last two years," said Sran- ko. "They were stuck in lockdowns. Now they have been finally able to come out and play and then this happens." The Oakville mother says her son and his friends still enjoy playing baseball, but have difficulty under- standing why they can play their music when they travel to surrounding com- munities, but not in their own. The municipality of Mil- ton confirmed it has no prohibitions against play- ing amplified music at its sports fields during games while the City of Burling- ton said it permits ap- proved amplified music at sporting events. The City of Mississauga said it permits amplified music at some sport ameni- ties, especially during events like tournaments and festivals. It noted there are areas where amplified music is not permitted due to prox- imity to homes. Mark said the town's rules around amplified music at sports fields have been in place for years and thinks some coaches may have forgotten as a result of the pandemic halting play for so long. He also pointed out field users can approach the town about music for cer- tain outdoor sporting events. "If the groups would like to have music/announce- ments for tournaments/ special events we will like- ly approve it, subject to times, commitment to monitor sound levels and directing speakers away from homes if possible," said Mark. He noted no such con- sideration would be given to requests for music at regular season games or practices. James Brown, head coach for the minor mos- quito T2 team, said the ban does not reflect well on Oakville particularly when visiting teams come to the area and are told they can't play music during the game. He argued some kind of balance needs to be reached between sports field users and nearby resi- dents. "There are people living next to a park complaining about noise," said Brown. "I don't know what they expect, but there is going to be noise coming from a park, whether it is music or not." Ward 1 Coun. Sean O'Meara said the town is trying to find that balance between the kids playing sports and the residents who abut the parks. He said he has heard from a baseball league and some parents about this is- sue. O'Meara also noted that prior to the music restric- tions taking effect he would hear from dozens of residents around the Bron- te Athletic Field every time there was a major sporting event. Since the music restric- tions came into effect, those complaints have vir- tually stopped, he said. In late June, Sranko started a change.org peti- tion titled "Let the music play on," which calls on the town to reverse the ban. As of Aug. 10, the peti- tion had 279 signatures. She said one supporter who signed the petition called this a "Footloose" kind of moment for Oak- ville. PETITION STARTED AFTER TOWN HALTS MUSIC AT LOCAL SPORTS FIELDS DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com Sheila Sranko and her son Jonas. Sranko served as the DJ for her son's baseball team before being told by the Town of Oakville that amplified music is not permit during games at local sports fields. Sranko family photo NEWS