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•T he IFP• H alton H ills, Thursd ay, M arch 7, 2013 7 GEORGETOWN 211 Guelph Street, Suite 1 (M&M Plaza, across from Winners) Fortunately, the hearing instruments of today bear no resemblance to those produced even 5 years ago. Research to improve the quality and naturalness of sound has resulted in digital instruments that perform up to patient expectations. If you haven't listened to a hearing aid in the last 3 years, come in for a TEST DRIVE* and prepare to be amazed! "The Agil has a 97% overall patient satisfaction rating!" • *No obligation TEST DRIVE (wear hearing aids for 2 weeks without paying for them to experience the benefit in your daily life) • Government grants available, WSIB, VAC, ADP and private insurance plans. If you've forgotten what fair, professional service feels like, call us and prepare to be amazed! Satisfaction guaranteed! HEARING SCIENCES Audiology and Hearing Aid Centre TEST DRIVE A HEARING AID! Call (905) 877-0099 to book your complimentary hearing test ($60 value, Age 55+) NOTICE OF STUDY COMMENCEMENT The Study The Region of Peel has initiated a Schedule 'C' Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the Municipal Engineers Association's Municipal Class EA process for the widening from Chinguacousy Road to Winston Churchill Boulevard (see map). arterial road and forms the boundary between the City of Brampton and the Town of Caledon. Winston Churchill Boulevard forms the boundary between the Region of Peel and Region of Halton. Road to address short and long term issues related to planned future growth up to 2031. The study will review opportunities to facilitate the movement of vehicles, transit, goods movement, walking and cycling. The Process The Class EA process will include: public and agency consultation an evaluation of road improvement alternatives an assessment of the possible environmental effects of the improvements, and, Public Consultation Public consultation is important to the success of this study. We plan to hold two Public opportunity to meet the project team, and: obtain background information on the study and review the study scope discuss issues related to the project, including alternative solutions, environmental considerations and an evaluation criteria advertisement and study newsletters. Upon completion of the study, an Environmental Study Report will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and other key agencies and made available for public review for a period of 30 days. Comments and Information Your participation is important and your comments are valued. Please visit our website at for updates on this project. To provide comments or request additional information about this project please contact Neal Smith, Project Manager. Neal Smith, C.E.T. Project Manager Region of Peel 10 Peel Centre Drive Suite B, 4th Floor Brampton, ON L6T 4B9 Toll Free: 1.888.919.7800 neal.smith@peelregion.ca Study Area 0 250 500 750 1000 M PE EL R EG IO N H AL TO N R EG IO N C a l e d o n B r a m p t o n WANLESS D R MAYFIELD R D MAYFIELD RD W IN ST O N C H U R C H IL L B LV D H ER IT AG E R D M IS SI SS AU G A R D C R ED IT VI EW R D C H IN G U AC O U SY R D SANDALWOOD PY W Environmental Assessment Study With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record of the study. The study is being conducted according to the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, which is a planning process approved under Ontario's Environmental Assessment Act. Be careful what you wish for... As usual, I was listening to the car radio as I drove to the offi ce last week. The DJs were talking about the weath- er, and the impending heavy snowstorm we were going to be facing within the next 24 hours. One of them made reference to the fact that March 23 was only about three weeks away, and on that date last year we had re- cord high temperatures, reaching 26 C. All three agreed how great that would be, to have that kind of warm weather within the next three weeks. I thought to myself, 'My God, are they nuts?!' If they were a little less excited about last March having 20+ C days, and instead recalled the fact that those exceptionally high temperatures were the reason there was no 2012 apple crop in Ontario-- not to mention being a contributing factor to last summer's drought-- they might be a little more careful what they wish for. Last year, when temperatures hit the mid-20 Cs, the buds on the apple trees started to emerge, and in doing so, kick- started the apple crop. The problem was, a short time later the mercury plunged below zero, and the buds were frozen off. In doing so, they pretty much wiped out the 2012 apple crop. At the same time, the lack of snow last year also caused the ground to premature- ly dry out, and when we did have a lack of rainfall later in the summer, there was no reserve moisture in the ground, especially on gravelly land, which is well-drained and drier at the best of times. The outcome-- a drought. We were only able to harvest a fraction of the hay we needed to feed our livestock. At home, one of our hay fi elds-- tra- ditionally a top performing fi eld every year-- produced only 60 per cent of previ- ous years' crops. And that was pretty much typical across Ontario. With that lack of hay in Ontario, the numbers of livestock sent to slaughter last fall increased dramatically, as the price of hay made it cost-prohibitive to keep them and feed them. With less animals being raised for meat, the less there is locally grown, resulting in a price increase. The DJs and their comments simply show a lack of education. Countless times over the years, I've Ted Brown See DROUGHT'S pg. 8