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The Oakville BeaverLetter to the Editor467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742The 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 theThere are always alternativescondition 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 chargedfor, 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 theOakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.On May 31st I attended the public information meeting regarding the DND lands atNEIL OLIVERVice-President and Group Publisher,MARK DILLSDirector of ProductionRebecca Street and Dorval Drive, during which a concept plan was unveiled. The pro-Metroland WestMANUEL GARCIAProduction Managerposed plan very much resembled the typical format being used in new subdivisions allDAVID HARVEY Regional General ManagerCHARLENE HALLDirector of Distributionover southern Ontario and the United States many homes on inefficient lots, rear laneJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. Managertownhomes and a small park to appease the sense of community. We can do much bet-ROD JERREDManaging EditorWEBSITE oakvillebeaver.comter than this.DANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofGiven the expressed mandate of the Canada Lands Corporation is to purchase proper-RIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography Directorties at fair market value, hold them and/or eventually sell them, one would assume aSANDY PAREBusiness Managercertain degree of density must be achieved, such as to at least recover the expenses thusRECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY:far incurred. However, another building form could be so much more suitable to thisOntario CommunityCanadian Community Suburban NewspapersNewspapers AssociationNewspapers Associationof Americaproperty, and achieve many of the stated goals of Livable Oakville and the project itself,far more effectively than the current plan, while maintaining that density.THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:During the meeting, I stood up and asked if (a) higher density multi-family building(s),more central to the property had been considered. I believe something like this would beUnited Wayof Oakvillea far superior solution. A four-storey building, or two, for example, could be set back farenough from all of the property boundaries, such as to allow a much greater portion of ATHENAAwardthe existing trees to be preserved. This type of format is also more conducive to beingable to offer housing at a wider range of price points.The current plan for the property is to aspire for LEED certification; however, LEEDis quickly becoming recognized as not really being a good indicator of environmentalperformance it still allows for excessive roads, cutting trees, inefficient lotting andhomes. Preserving a large, naturalized area, with mature trees (as could easily be doneon the south end of the property), would be a much more environmentally sensibleapproach. This alternate format could also include some community solar power gen-eration, and rain water collection, all while being much less of an eyesore than a wall of townhouses lining the edges.So I ask the mayor, and all those involved, please, consider the alternatives.Matt Gilgan, OakvilleIn search of two little red chairsHelp.Last Thursday, June 16, I put several items out to the curb on Lambeth Road for my areas bulk pick-up the following day. Included were two childrens little red wooden chairs with wicker seats. ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVERA woman in a green car came by and asked politely if she could take the chairs, I COMMUNITY EFFORT: St.replied, Of course. Bernadette Catholic School recently hosted a Jack's Lemonade Stand fund-raiser organized byUnknowingly, I had just given away the childhood chairs of my wife and her brother Grade 6 student Emily Fischer, with help from her brother Adam and Christine Ricci, an edu-cational assistant in Emilys class items of great sentimental value.. Here, the entire student body gathered for a photo captured by The Oakville Beaver.On MayIf you picked up the chairs, and can find it in your heart to return them, please call 28, Oakville resident Jack Yeilding, 8, hosted the fifth annual Jack's Lemonade Stand fundraiserat Pine Glen Park.905-808-3408. We would dearly love to get them back. Some 3,500 people attended raising approximately $76,000 for Toronto's Hospital for SickChildren.J. Perry, Oakville Jack, who had a severe form of epilepsy, had a trio of brain surgeries there in 2010, which have elimi-nated his seizures. Over the past five years, Jack has raised nearly $300,000 with his Lemonade Stand events.Bodacious books for the beach and prose for the poolsideeople often stop me on the streets and beg for spare hun-repeatedly rereading and marveling over by the author. dred-dollar bills and reading recommendations the sentences, paragraphs and pages.The Tender Bar, by J.R. Moehringer. The Pulitzer-Prize win-Passumptions being that as a writer, I must be both ridicu-Cool Water,Dianne Warren. Speaking ning journalists 2005 wistful, nostalgic memoir about growing uplously rich (of course, all writers are Stephen King-ishly compen-of small towns, beautifully rendered: this fatherless in Manhasset, Long Island, and the influence the eccen-sated) and a voracious reader (okay, that part is true).2010 Governor Generals Award-winner tric characters of a neighborhood bar where the authors uncleI rebuff requests for spare hundred-dollar bills by flashing offers us Juliet, Saskatchewan, a prairie was a barkeep exerted on his youth.income statements that, sadly, read like one of Mr. Kings horror burg that is rustic beyond redemption.Its a charming story of an odd upbringing that will have youstories. Even though the story is told over the laughing out loud, or brushing back tears, and that will make youAnd for those looking for book ideas, I simply refer them to this, course of a 24-hour period, by novels end feel like youre right there, ordering a pint at the Publican.Andy Junipermy annual offering of superb summer reading: books for the beach we know with welcome intimacy both the The Matter With Morris, by David Bergen. Everything is theand prose for the poolside, my recommended reading list that has towns character and its characters.matter with newspaper columnist Morris Schutt his son hasbeen known to incite bedlam in bookstores, lunacy in libraries and A bit Miriam Toews, a bit Garrison Keillor, Warrens debut is a been killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, his employer has placedrioting or, at very least, reading in the streets.novel that stands up to multiple reads.him on indefinite leave, and his marriage is on the rocks. Love and Summer, by William Trevor. Imagine, after all these The Imperfectionists, by Tom Rachman. Another excellent first One of my favorite authors, Winnipegs Bergen is a masteryears of insatiable reading, suddenly discovering this 81-year-old novel (albeit a novel-in-stories).storyteller who lifts this yarn clear out of the obvious (mourning,Irish treasure and his 14 acclaimed novels. The story takes place in 2007, and chronicles the decline of the melancholy) and creates a read that is layered, intense, and reward-Its like discovering a goldmine. And Love and Summer(2009) newspaper industry in general, but specifically, an English-ing.is pure gold a beautifully crafted tale of clandestine love bloom-language paper in Rome. Hope everyone has a great summer, replete with the three Rs:ing in a rustic Irish town. Lovers of plot-driven fiction may be frustrated by this book rest, relaxation and reading.I marveled at how the author so captivatingly snared the story while lovers of character-driven writing will revel in getting to Andy Juniper can be contacted at ajjuniper@gmail.com, orand the setting, both time and place; its a novel that had me know each character, lovingly, intricately and insightfully sculpted followed at www.twitter.com/thesportjesters.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, June 23, 2011 6