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Stouffville Sun-Tribune www.yorkregion.com Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, 8 Mayor no fan of town's `terrible' gingko trees BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com Mayor Wayne Emmerson is not fond of the fan-shaped, leatheryleaved gingko tree planted throughout Whitchurch-Stouffville. "I don't want any more gingkos," the mayor announced during a council meeting last week. "Oak trees, maple trees, they're lovely," he said, noting how they create a nice streetscape and canopy on the older streets in Stouffville such as O'Brien Avenue. "I have one tree on the front of my property that is terrible. I think it's a gingko," the mayor, who lives in a newer development in northwest Stouffville, told council. The municipality has been planting gingkos on the Main Street boulevard and in residential neighbourhoods for the past few years on the advice of an arborist, according to Paul Whitehouse, director of public works for WhitchurchStouffville. The gingko is native to China and has been planted since ancient times in Chinese and Japanese temple gardens and is now valued in many parts of the world as an attractive fungus and insect-resistant ornamental tree, according to the Britannica online encyclopedia. "All I was trying to do was have a tree that would survive in the downtown core," Mr. Whitehouse told The Sun-Tribune. `We try to get a variety out there ... as opposed to being fairly mundane with maples...' Gingkos are not the only trees being planted along the streetscapes. Others include the locust, crabapple, ornamental pear, japanese lilac, basswood, linden as well as red maples and oaks, he said. YOUR CHOICE sale ends october 7 "We try to get a variety out there ... as opposed to being fairly mundane with maples, although you can do a variety of maples with colours," he said. Part of why the mayor might not like gingkos is because they take longer to grow and flourish -- about six or seven years -- according to Mr. Whitehouse. During the past three years, the emerald ash borer has infected and wiped out a lot of ash trees within the region. They are no longer being planted in new subdivisions and a count of all ash trees within WhitchurchStouffville has recently been completed. A report to council on how to deal with them is expected later this year. $ 11199 $ THIS WEEK $ POLL RESULTS WE ASKED: Are you satisfied with your municipal government so far? YOU SAID: Yes, I am happy so far, 9%; No I think the government has failed the taxpayers, 70%; Unsure. It is too early to pass judgment, 20%. 97 89 RedHead Men's ® 30 Reg. 119.99 ONLINE 1805837 16" Guide Boot yorkregion.com 7 COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM! SaVE $25 OR MORE Reg. 139.99 2XL & 3XL $119.99 Reg. 149.99 1366229, 1688221 $ RedHead® Men's Mountain Stalker Elite Insulated Jacket or Bib NEW Natural Reflections® Ladies' Flannel Shirt 1917799 1X­3X $32.99 29 99 905-642-5111 Andy's 24 Hour Towing Ltd. Serving Uxbridge & Area For Over 20 Years! · 3M Scotchguard · LOOSE RUGS · BROADLOOM · UPHOLSTERY A place in Markham for people ages 16 and up to: · Meet friends · Use a computer · See movies · Learn to cook · Receive supportive counselling · Find out about local services 905-852-3447 5 COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM! SPECIaL BUY! 235 Davis Dr., R.R.#3, Stouffville A safe, open and fun environment The Living Room is a program of the Canadian Mental Health Association, York Region. Call 905-201-0432 $ $ Reg. 199.99 14997 50 Bass Pro Shops® 2-Room Family Dome Tent 1762319 Men's Mesh Thermal Crew 1892559 97 14 NEW RedHead $ ® 97 16 NEW RedHead $ 1892597 ® Men's Mesh Thermal Henley No mail, phone, internet, COD orders, or dealers, please. Bass Pro Shops® reserves the right to limit quantities. Please be aware that descriptive, typographic, or photographic errors may sometimes occur, and are subject to correction. STORE PRICING POLICY: Generally, merchandise prices in our stores, catalogs, and websites will be the same. However, due to sales, clearance events, or market conditions, prices may vary. BP121827 (905) 761-4000 Hours: Mon­Sat 9am­9pm, Sun 10am­7pm One Bass Pro Mills Drive Vaughan, ON L4K 5W4 A member agency of United Way of York Region This message brought to you as a community service of The Stouffville Sun Tribune