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* Chisholm (Q / (9 < )5 ) S 4 4 -3 2 4 0 SCHOOL SUCCESS www.chisholmccntre.com www.oakvillebeaver.com NORTH TH E OAKVILLE BEAVER A M E R I C A 'S M O S T AWARDED COMMUNITY 'USING COM M UNICATION TO BUILD BETTER CO M M U NITIES" TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2003 NEWSPAPER 4 0 Pages $1 .0 0 (plus GST) A Metroland Publication Vol. 40 No. 155 Mayor will lobby for Shell House purchase By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEA V ER STA FF Shocking notice Southeast Oakville residents furious over `humongous' jumps in property assessments By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale will ask the Province and Federal govern ment to buy the former Shell House land as a public park. "I intend to ask the Province, in col laboration with the Federal government, to acquire the former Shell House lands for public parkland dedication when 1 meet with the Honourable John Gerresten. M inister o f M unicipal Affairs and Housing in January," said Mulvale. The mayor disclosed her plan of action just before Christmas. Her declaration came on the heels of an announcement of a Provincial study of a permanent greenbelt in the Golden Horseshoe. Mulvale billed the study as "a step in the right direction." "The greenbelt initiative will com plement the work the Town has under(See Mayor' page A4) Son i charged after stabbing A 20-year old Oakville man has been charged with the attempted murder of his father following a stabbing incident at a Seneca Drive home Saturday night. According to Halton Regional Police, officers were summoned around 7:41 p.m. to a disturbance at the west Oakville residence where they found a 51-year old man bleeding from multiple stab wounds to the back of his head and hand. The victim was treated for his injuries at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and released. *I*A-20-year old resident of the home was arrested at the scene without inci dent then also treated for cuts on his tiiilHt in hospital. * ;Nathan Clarke, of Seneca Drive, has been charged with attempted murder. Matt Kryger · Special to the Oakville Beaver MR. PERFECT: O akville native M ike V anderjagt lines up his NFL record setting 41st consecutive fieldgoal on Sunday afternoon. T he fieldgoal gave the Colts a 20-17 win over the Houston Texans and a division title. It was the perfect end ing to a perfect season for the W hite O aks Secondary School graduate. F or m ore details see Sports. Oakville woman is Halton's youngest cop By Stephanie Thiessen S P E C IA L T O T H E BEAVER INSIDE Editorials........ ........ A6 Focus ............. ......... B1 Artscene.......... ........ Cl Worship.......... ........ C4 Classifieds...... .........D3 Sports............. ......... D5 K u flM to n : The Bride. Soheys, Stars, Staples Busmen Ikpoi, Shoppers fru g .Hart, Lobiaux SoFriBs. Domnon, Canadian The Partial Ddhrrv: Future Shop. B at Buy, letters, The Bay. Food Basics, Littb Caesars, Sleep Factory, The Bam When most little girls were playing with dolls and making plans to become teachers and doctors, Alison Campbell was picturing tracking down criminals. "Ever since I was young, I wanted to be a police officer," said the 19-year-old. Today, a dozen years later, not much has changed -- except the fact that now she actu ally is a police officer. Earlier this month, Campbell went through the emotion-charged swearing-in ceremony of the Halton Regional Police Service, where she was given her badge and deemed an officer. The Oakville resident will begin her duties in Milton cpme January, bearing the title of the youngest officer the Halton police force has hired in at least 15 years -- and one of the youngest officers in Ontario. Once again, Campbell said she feels out of the loop when she's with other people her age. While she's a teenaged cop, they're often still figuring out what they want to do with their lives. But once again, she said she couldn't care less. "I know I'm young, but I don't feel my age," said Campbell, who will turn 20 on New Year's Eve. ``I've completed the training, and I feel confident that I'm ready. I don't look at the age factor." (See 'Young' page A5) Constable Alison Campbell A mushrooming group of southeast Oakville residents are banding together to fight what they see as "the mother of all property reassessments." Colbom e Court resident Mel Erlindson is leading the charge of at least 80 residents -- so far -- who are comparing notes and asking "why" after receiving two recent property reassess ment notices. This isn't just the odd reassessment that appears out of whack -- it appears to affect an entire square kilometre that stretches from Chartwell Road to the west. Morrison Road to the east, Linbrook Road to the north and south to Lakeshore Road, and includes approxi mately 200 to 250 homes. "W e're responding to what appears to be a neighbourhood problem," said Ward 3 Councillor Keith Bird, who has been in discussion with the residents, Ward 3 Councillor Chris Stoate and Mayor Ann Mulvale. The Town of Oakville is now prepar ing to make facilities available to the affected residents for a meeting with officials from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) to answer questions. Last November, the residents received reassessment notices from MPAC. In Erlindson's case, it said his prop erty value had increased by 17 per cent. Most took it in stride. Then, earlier this month, residents received a supplementary reassessment notice. In Erlindson's case that indicated another 25 per cent increase over the first value. Facing a 46 per cent increase, Erlindson said he began talking to neighbours. While one saw a property value increase of 76 per cent. Erlindson said the 46 per cent increase "is a pretty typ ical number." In mid-December, MPAC released its final assessment rolls to be used in determining property taxes for next year. It didn't take long for Erlindson to do the math comparing the $8,558.% in (See Residents' page A3) (Support Your local Carrier) Canadan PuM catona U* P roduct Agraaratt #05-201 S V L C DELIVERY For home delivery A customer tentce caU 1905) 845-9742 Mon.. Tuex. A Ttmn 9 a.m. 6 p,*L. Wrd A Fri 9 am. - 8 p.m. orSaauday 10 am. 4 pm. For n n » iubscnpbonx call (905) 845-9742 or ' . ' . oibu nbr online *,wwioakvillebeaver.com TARGETED F L Y E R D E L IV E R Y BY BY P O STAL AR EA D E M O G R A P H IC S ^ 9 0 5 -8 4 5 -3 8 2 4 Jogger Dave O liver enjoys S unday's unseasonably w arm tem peratures as he ru a s on the w estern pier at Bronte H arbour. 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