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OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, May 7, 2009 · 6 The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate.The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Commentary Letter to the editor NEIL OLIVER Vice-president and Group Publisher, Metroland West DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Metroland Media Group Ltd. includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Caledon Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager WEBSITE oakvillebeaver.com Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora EraBanner, Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian Bronte revitalization doesn't please everyone Re: Bronte Village Mall revitalization plan hits the right note, Saturday, May 2, 2009 We attended the meeting held by the Bronte BIA on Thursday, April 30 at the Royal Canadian Legion. While we do agree with most of the article, we must state clearly that not all people attending the meeting were in agreement with the total project. We spoke with several people, who, along with us, do not agree with the 21storey "signature" building. It is not representative of the area, does not blend in with all other buildings in the area, rather, it is totally out of place by its conspicuous oversize. The additional people/vehicle population will considerably add to the traffic congestion that this area already suffers because of limited road space. Further, the suggestion of putting the Sobeys store on the second floor is clearly a bad idea. It certainly does not take into consideration the many, many seniors who live in the immediate area. Seniors who have difficulty walking, or with their balance, or have a wheelchair or walker should not have the additional burden of trying to get to the second level. We understand that some type of escalator/moving sidewalk/elevator must be provided, it nevertheless puts the seniors in the awkward position of going the extra mile, so to speak. Why make it so difficult, when a ground level supermarket is beneficial to all? The Bronte Road/Lakeshore Road area has many projects that most certainly will enhance Bronte Village, however, with The Shores starting its project this summer, a proposed site on Bronte Road of 119 assisted living plus 20 rental units and a project such as Bronte Village revitalization indicates that this very small area will have continuous construction issues for, possibly, the next decade. The redevelopment of Bronte Village is a great idea, one that is long overdue, but let's consider those living there now, their needs and the needs of those who will come to Bronte Village in the future. MR. AND MRS. W. SHARP RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: United Way of Oakville TV AUCTION Lessons in Fine Dining NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER CHEERS: Ruth and Jabez Jones lift their mocktails during the Young Achievers of Halton `Fine Dining' workshop at Paradiso's on Sunday afternoon. Sun rises, reality sets and an anaolgy runs out of the ocean S itting on our eighth-floor balcony watching the sun slowly rising over the Atlantic, and the early birds on the beach: ambitious walkers, joggers, casual cyclists, scavenging seagulls and frisky dogs. One daring dog dives into the waves, then retreats back to shore, stopping briefly to shake the water off his coat. I take a sip of strong coffee and reach for an analogy. "That's us," I say to my wife, who's working on a coffee and perusing The Island Packet newspaper. "That dog is us, shaking off winter." Shaking off a ceaselessly long winter, and shaking off reality. Not that our reality is worthy of whining, not that it's all overwhelming or harsh. Thankfully we're healthy and happy, we've got great family, great friends. But our lives can be a bit nuts, leaving us feeling dazed, like butterflies buffeted by a storm. So each spring, if the pocketbook allows, the planets align, and the logistics of leaving three offspring and a business behind can be arranged, we abandon responsibility and reality and we follow the fugitive sun to Hilton Head, South Carolina -- setting our sights south, seeking to refuel, to salvage our souls and rediscover our smiles. Naturally, before we leave, there's chaos. Chaos at work, chaos at home, chaos that makes us consider whether we're completely crazy to even contemplate such a holiday. Maybe the timing isn't right. But, then, is the timing ever right for such a getaway? Hey, is the timing ever wrong for such a getaway? Our eldest graduates from university Andy Juniper -- proud owner of an Honors BA (psychology/communications) ­ and returns to the roost to help us out by looking after the homestead, the hound, and his siblings. We hit the open road and head smack into a heat wave. By the time we reach the Carolinas, we're down to shorts, T-shirts, and globs of sunscreen to protect our pasty, Canadian skin. Crossing onto the island, redolent of summer and in boastful bloom, we fully believe we've gone to heaven, or have at least outrun reality. The next morning we wake to the sounds of CNN screaming about the next great pandemic that is sure to kill us all. Given that CNN is always screaming that something is about to kill us all (the economy, bird flu, O.J. Simpson), and given that we have already been transported by the sea breezes into `chill' mode, we ignore the screams. But we can't ignore that the flu virus is emanating from Mexico where our niece is vacationing. Reality, we discover, has incredible legs and amazing stamina. You can't outrun reality. In time we hear that my niece is fine, holidaying away from the outbreak's epicenter, not altogether oblivious to the virus, but unconcerned as kids her age can be. In Carolina, my wife and I go about recharging with an earnestness that surprises us. We jog on the beach, we bike, picnic on the sand, bake ourselves at poolside, and explore the island until no off-the-beaten-path restaurant has been left undiscovered (and aren't the best restaurants always off the beaten path)? We relax, rejuvenate and shake off the blahs of winter. Upon our return we find that the dog in our life -- a five-yearold hound with apparent, um, `issues' -- was less successful at shaking off his reality. Poor boy cried from the minute we left to the minute we came home. Apparently he was suffering dearly from the wussy-boy blues. Andy Juniper can be visited at his Web site, www.strangledeggs.com, or contacted at ajjuniper@gmail.com.