Page 3 Accused going directly to trial Awardwinning physician Health www.insidehalton.com 916 Winston Churchill Blvd. t k ill www.carstaroakville.com t k iill Collision & Glass Glass Service Service Collision & 905-845-7579 905-847-2595 2212 Wyecroft Rd. dentistoakville.com 905-842-6030 Stay Connected! Thursday, July 24 2014 | 32 pages A Publication of Metroland Media Group Connected to your community - $1.00 incl. tax Weather for Oakville, ON Thu Fri Sat Sun R E A D Y T O S E T S A I L 23° 16° 25° 14° 24° 17° 23° 16° Hydro warns residents of fraud scam by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff by David Lea Close park because of hogweed: resident Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville Hydro is warning residents not to be taken in by a phone scam currently making the rounds in which the fraudster pretends to be an Oakville Hydro employee seeking payment. Cassandra Umbriaco, a spokesperson with the utility, said a handful of customers were contacted on Friday, July 18 from a 1-800 number and told they owed Oakville Hydro a certain amount of money, which needed to be paid immediately. The caller demanded credit card or banking information and stated he would cut off the customer's power in one hour if they did not provide the money. Umbriaco said this person is not afliated with Oakville Hydro and noted the company does not conduct business in such a manner. She said that even if a person's bill see Fraudulent on p.8 The 10th annual Easter Seals Kids' Regatta gave physically challenged children and their families an opportunity to cruise Lake Ontario aboard vessels from the Bronte Harbour Yacht Club, Oakville Power Boat Club and Oakville Yacht Squadron. Pictured is Ryder Riley, 4, who arrived ready to cruise in style with shades and a hat. For more photos, see Spotlight or visit www.oakvillebeaver.com. | photo by Graham Paine Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) An Oakville resident and avid y sherman is calling on the Town to close Petro Canada Park to the public to protect people from the dangers of giant hogweed. John Serre said the park has seen an increase in the number of the invasive plants taking root this year. Appropriately named, giant hogweed can grow up to six metres tall and can be identi ed by a thick stem with reddish spots and cabbage-like leaves. Serre is concerned because giant hogweed sap contains chemicals that can cause skin to become hypersensitive to sunlight and erupt in painful blisters. He became all too aware of that last summer. "I have no clue what the heck happened. I guess I brushed up against a branch, the branch broke and a little bit of sap got on me," said Serre. "I went into the sunshine and I had this blister within seconds. It took weeks and weeks for it to go away. I have read sometimes it doesn't go away ever." A short time after, Serre was shing from the shore at Petro Canada Park and nearly had another encounter with the toxic plant as he'd been standing next to it unaware it was giant hogweed. see Resident on p.15 saunderssaxtonwinter.ca 905.845.8908 Sotheby's International Realty Canada, Brokerage. Not intended to solicit propeties already under contract. 132 Allan Street, Oakville, ON L6J 3N5 SAUNDERS, SAXTON & WINTER Wendy Saunders Sales Representative Kim Saxton Sales Representative Ruth Anne Winter Broker