The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 10, 2002 - A5 Cutting pesticide use will cost town more money With the debate raging over the safety o f pesticide use. the Town of Oakville believes the "precautionary principle" makes sense in working to reduce pesti cide use on Town-owned land. To that end. Parks and Recreation Assistant Operations Director Chris Mark is recom mending the 2002 budget com mittee spend $90,000 in an effort to reduce pesticide use on Townowned land. Mark's advice stopped short of recommending further pesticide-use reductions that would cost $235,000. For its $90,000. the Town would switch to an organic fer tilizer applied once a year ($35,000). It would reduce the use of Round Up by using aquacide or steam to get rid of weeds on all lockstone. cul-desacs. patios, sidewalks and hard surfaces ($20,000). A small equipment operator would be contracted to do extra aeration and fertilization season ally ($20,000). The Town's existing trial pro gram of using com gluten meal and organics would continue on turf cul-de-sacs ($10,000). And. $5,000 would be spent on developing, by next Septem ber, an educational brochure on the benefits o f organic lawn care and promoting healthy landscapes without pes ticides. The $235,000 option offers more o f everything, including the addition of topdressing and overseeding Town lands. It would also require additional fertilization, aeration, aquaciding and the installation o f irriga tion at more than a dozen local sports fields. "The process of improving the soil structure and overall turf vigor will be the key to promot ing healthy turf without the use of pesticides," reported Mark, adding. "This will not. however occur in a short period, but will evolve over a period of years." The move to healthier turf will require more work and more staff time, said Mark. Mark said Council may want to gradually move away from using pesticide, particularly for broadleaf weeds in parks, except in emergencies -- like poison ivy, grub infestations or vine like weeds on athletic fields. The health of local sports fields would also be safeguarded for future by the additional of irrigation. Some fields like Shell Park, River Oaks and Glen Abbey have virtually no weeds because they're irrigated. Shell Park, which has four fields that are used seven days a week for five months, hasn't been sprayed for weeds in four years, reported Mark. However there are 18 fields in town that would need to be irrigated -- at a cost of $25,000. Mark recommends adding $50,000 to the budget to do two fields per year over the next sev eral years before opting to go pesticide-free. He did report that in the last couple o f years the Oakville Little League and Oakville Soccer Club have handed over money to irrigate sports fields and have both offered to pay for further irrigation. C A SH REBATE OR Up to 6 Months No Payment, No Interest $ i,ooo u p to H A N K S & so n Algae clean could add $100,000 to budget The Town wants to run a $100,000. eight-week pilot proj ect as the answer to algae clean up along Oakville shores this year. A firm would be contracted to clean up algae, town-wide, dur ing July and August, the worst months. A $ 100,000 budget would pay for the work -- cost-shared 50/50 by the Town and Halton Region. That may be the best the Town will do in its 2002 budget on the issues that's both complex and becoming more of a nuisance each year. Oakville's shores are apparendy the ideal home for algae. Lakeside residents complain the stinky algae interferes with their quality of life. Others, who are further removed, argue it's part-and-parcel of living on the lake and not worth the expense. While it's tempting not to do anything, the Town admits that tourism could ultimately suffer if nothing is done. So. parks and recreation staff are recommending the pilot proj ect for this summer. Other options -- that will be debated during this year's budg et deliberations -- include every thing from the status quo -- a manual pick-up that costs $24,500 annually; contracting equipment and staff to clean up algae at $221,850: or, buying equipment and cleaning up using Town staff at $223.110. Yet even if the Town enhances its algae clean-up. Parks and Recreation Assistant Operations Director Chris Mark warns resi dents shouldn't expect too much. "There will be an expectation that staff will be able to respond quickly to every `hot spot.' The reality is that areas could be cleaned up one day and the next day could be inundated again. However the harvester may not be back for some time. And. a harvester must work on water that is relatively calm and as a result may not be able to work continuously which may be frus trating for some residents," reported Mark. .AIR H EATING & \ A I CO ND ITIO NIN G ELECTR IC Family Owned 4 Operated lor Ovtr 30 Yejrs \ CALL FOR YOUR FREE IN-HOME ESTIMATE 9 0 5 3 0 4 -3 0 0 0 o r 1 -8 8 8 -2 2 2 -4 2 5 1 New Christian Private School Opening in September 2002 If you need a challenging environment filled with dedicated, educated teachers who are not afraid to introduce students to awe-inspiring experiences, then you should take a look at our new middle school program. To equip the next generation of high school students, we are embarking on a much-needed project that will raise the expectations and yet focus on the individuality of each student. Our school will be operating in the Mississauga/Oakville corridor in the Fall of 2002 and we invite you to come to our information session and listen to reasons why we think your family should become part of our school family. · Absolute maximum class size is 15 · World Renowned International Baccalaureate Program in all subject areas while surpassing Ontario Curriculum requirements · Extensive Hands-on Science Experiments · Qualified degreed teachers in all subject areas · Total student body of 45 ensures attention and nurturing · Extracurricular activities · Missions program to help students understand the needs and living conditions of people around the world · Real life learning e.g. Economics of staying in school program sponsored by Junior Achievement (TD Canada Trust), field trips to raise awareness of issues in government, science, the environment as well as outdoor education · Technology enhanced learning in a laptop environment · Parental involvement is strongly encouraged Even if your children are not yet at the middle school level, come and listen; we hope that you will be excited enough to place their names on the waiting list. Information session in early May at the Mississauga Civic Centre. Please call Livingstone Hall and ask for Dr. Mary Ashun or Nadia, Bnicc-Miiilcr at (905) 896-4271 for reserved seating. Budget faces pressure from many sources (Continued from page 1) marked for it and a $136 million shortfall. Sanderson said the operating budget maintains current service and pays for some new initiatives like the newly opened Iroquois Ridge Community Centre and library, and Oakville's new youth centre. Additional money has also been built in for playground struc ture inspections and replacement, beefed up winter road mainte nance: a bridge inspection pro gram; park development and tree planting. The capital budget also looks after the replacement of a couple of Oakville Transit buses and fire trucks ($650,000), some new defibrillators on fire trucks, facili ty repairs and program upgrades. Downloading from other gov ernment levels, inflation (to the tune of $525,000 for utilities and supplies) and the Town's inability to delay infrastructure upgrades have been key influences on this year's budget. New to the budget is $283,000 for park maintenance and litter control; $90,000 to reduce pesti cide use on Town land; $30,800 for trail maintenance; and. $50,000 for algae clean-up. R m m l i o u EdMovUl SSS8 I I 3 TOic ©akuillt :©iner 2 0 4 8 W in s t o n P a r k D o t * . O a k r il) * . O n ta r io . C a n a d a L 6 L 6 N 2 W e lc o m e to y o u r d in in g e x p e r ie n c e . W e are h e r e to s e r v e yo u the w a y d e s e r v e to b e tr e a te d an d r e s p e c te d . R ela x an d e n jo y y o u r tim e out. le a v e the c o o k in g an d c le a n in g to us. P le a s e s p e a k to ou r m a n a g e r (o r s p e c ia l r e q u es ts o r re se rv a tio n s at an y tim e. H a v e fun! S a tis fa c tio n g u a r a n te e d o r y o u d o n 't p ay. Breakfast served a ll day C ra n b e rry Ju ice Apple Ju ice O range Ju ice G rapefru it Ju ice M o m 's B a sic G ood Start 2 eggs stnp bacon or ham or sausage A Little L e u C h o le ste ro l One egg instead of two Hold the M e a t P le a s e ! 2 eggs wtth aUthe tnmmings B a ch B a co n P le a s e ! 2 eggs with aOthe trimmings and our dehcious Canadian bacon Fold M y E g g s P le a s e ! (3 e g g om elette) lOox Sox S 2 .9 5 $ 1 .9 0 W estern Ham. onion and green pepper W hole Lot of C h eese Blond of mozzarella. Monterey Jack and Cheddar S 3 .9 5 $ 3 .9 0 S 3 .5 0 H am & C h e e se T he G re e k Way Zesty feta cheese and tomato V eggie-V eggie Onion tomato, green pepper and mushroom S au sag e $ 5 .9 5 All Fblds are Served with T.O.D. Tnxnnung*. $ 5 .9 5 $S.9S $ 8 .2 5 $ 8 .2 5 $ 8 .2 5 $ 8 .2 9 H ungry M an M eal 3 eggs. 2 slices of bacon I sbce of ham and 2 sausages, pancakes or french toast home tnes. baked beans or fruit and toast $ 8 .9 5 Ghre m e m e a t!! Steak and eggs F re s h F ru it P la ts $ 9 .9 5 $ 4 .9 5 S t i l l M o r e C h o ic e s ! S p e cta cu la r G olden B u tte rm ilk P a n ca k e s Add blueberry or strawberry compote or bananas or 2 eggs or meat F a n ta stic F re n ch Toast Sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar W onderful W affles (Home made ·Our grandmothers w ill be pleased') PUin Served with maple syrup, butter, cinnamon and powdered sugar $ 4 .9 5 $ 8 .9 9 $ 4 .9 5 All of our good start breakfasts include your choice of white or whole wheat texas toast or rye toast with home fries and T.O.D. baked beans or fruit. Only grade "A" extra large eggs are served at the Oakville Diner. $ 4 .9 5 W affles with B lu e b e rry o r S traw b erry C om p o te o r B a n a n a and W hipped C re a m $ 8 .9 5 Sugarless Maple Syrup available, no charge Coffee included 7 am to 11 am. Monday to Friday (except on Holidays). 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Property: Comprehensive Homeowners Package. $500 deductible, built in 1990. Coverages: $180,000 building value, $1,000,000 Comprehensive Personal Liability. Discounts include: combined home and auto package, claims-free, new home, burglar alarm. Quote excludes taxes. Premiums are estimates only and are subject to change without notice. HURRY IN FOR BEST SELECTION COMPUTER SUPPLIES · DESK ACCESSORIES · PRESENTATION MATERIALS FILING ESSENTIALS · ACCOUNTING. MAILING & SHIPPING SUPPIES WRITING INSTRUMENTS PLUS MUCH - MUCH MORE n su ra n ce Brokers Inc. 430 SPEERS ROAD - OAKVILLE - JUST WEST OF DORVAL MON - FRI 8:30 - 6:00 SAT 9:00 - 5:00 O ffer e x p ire s April 17, 2002