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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, M ay 27 ,2 02 1 | 10 Interlocking & Concrete Specialists Call Mario 905.842.7171 sunmarlandscape.com ™ La n d s c a p in g 3133 Burnhamthorpe Rd W, Milton, On L9E 0J7 • Pebble Concrete • Stamped Concrete • Interlocking • Flagstone • Walkways • Garage Floors • Patios • Driveways • Curbs (French) Interlocking & Concrete Specialists Communities we serve: Located in Halton region, we work in and around • Milton • Campbellville • Burlington • Aldershot • Hamilton • Oakville • Mississauga • Waterdown • Carlisle WINDOWS & DOORS VISIT OUR SHOWROOM: 11 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD N., GEORGETOWN, ON L7G 4T3 905-873-0236 www.buy-wise.ca + + Spring Homeowners Guide 221 Miller Dr., Georgetown 905-873-6776 • GenesisHealthTeam.com InPerson, Phone & Virtual Appts WALK-IN & FAMILY CLINIC FLU VACCINE AVAILABLE Call today! Open 7 Days a Week Where good health begins IN-PERSON & PHONE APPOINTMENTS 221 Miller Dr., Georgetown GenesisHealthTeam.com905-873-6776 Open 7 Days a Week Don's quality of life better. He suffered from Parkin- son's and succumbed to the disease this past March. "He was having difficul- ties sleeping, and just when he would get to sleep, the horns would wake him up," said Gordon. As Don's illness prog- ressed, Gordon said she was also sleeping poorly as she was up several times during the night with him. During the fleeting mo- ments that she could close her eyes, a freight train would come through. "At 1:55 in the morning, there would be one horn blast, followed by eight other long, loud ones from a freight train," she said. "I thought, why would you do that? There was one train where I counted 16 blasts of the horn. They're through the crossing and they're still honking." Worried about the det- rimental health effects that lack of sleep would have on Don, herself and others in the neighbour- hood, Gordon began strongly pursuing local elected officials and re- gional staff in an effort to initiate the lengthy whis- tle cessation process. Now that it's finally al- most a reality, she's cau- tiously optimistic. "Because it's gone on for so long, I almost have to see it to believe it; see that final step where it's a done deal," she said. "It's been a very, very long, frustrat- ing road for sure, but I had no intention of giving up. I've been waiting a long time for regional council to have this meeting. I'm hap- py, as this was a big step." A staff report on the top- ic from Halton Public Works commissioner An- drew Farr explains that both the region and Metro- linx hired separate consul- tants to conduct detailed safety assessments at the Trafalgar Road crossing to determine if it's eligible for a train whistle exemption. Both studies concluded that this location is "suit- able for whistle cessation," he said. During the regional council meeting, Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette thanked staff for seeing the lengthy process through. "This has been a strug- gle for the neighbourhood over the last number of years," he said. "It's good to see there's a light at the end of the tunnel on this." He noted that the issues around this crossing aren't unusual, with other com- munities, like Acton and Milton, having similar problems with train noise. Halton Hills Coun. Clark Somerville added that this situation isn't one where new residents moved in around the crossing and complained about the nearby train track. "This is one where the residents have been there for a long time, they no- ticed a change in whistling patterns and they brought it to us," he said. While unfortunately Don didn't live to hear the trains go quiet, Gordon says she knows he would be pleased that all of her time and effort paid off. "I think he was very proud of me for persever- ing," she said. The whistle cessation is considered an interim measure as the crossing is slated for construction starting in 2024, when a railway overpass/road un- derpass will be built. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We've been follow- ing the lengthy whistle cessation process at this train crossing since 2019 and wanted to let residents know about the impending horn prohibition. NEWS Continued from page 1 BID TO SILENCE HORNS A LENGTHY ENDEAVOUR Susan Gordon, pictured with late husband Don, has been fighting for silence at the train crossing for years. Melanie Hennessey/Metroland Graham Paine/Metroland