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Mentoring, The customers the gift of time always write Focus Section b Mercedes-Benz Q.E.W . & D o n a ! Dr. w w w .o a k v ille b e a v e r .c o m T H E O A K V I L L N O R T H A M E R I C A 'S M O S T --- m. U A W A R D E D C O A \ l( -in *1 . it k 1 1'u h li i . Hi* >n _ _ _ Vol. >;» \< > . *£ r , ^ ' , |--- ------------ VVl 1>Nl Sl >AY. MAY I 1 -w s p a rk s c o n c e rn a t re g io n a l h e a lth c o m m itte e By Richard Vivian SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER T h e p ublic must be m ade aw are o f the potential risks associated w ith pesticide use in landscaping, H a lto n 's health and social services (H S S ) com m ittee was told Tuesday. " The data clearly shows that we need to be concerned about the potential for subtle, long-term effects due to exposure (to pesticides)," said Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton's medical officer of health. "The literature is very suggestive -- it does not prove cause and effect. There is enough concern showing that in people exposed to these compounds (pesti cides) there is a higher rate of particular tumors." Committee members approved a lengthy motion outlining the importance of public education and seeking increased research and regu lations from both the provin cial and federal govern ments. The motion comes on the heels of a report from the Halton Intermunicipal Re view Committee on the Use of Pesticides. Outlined in the report are the health concerns -- such as leukemias. lymphomas, reproductive effects and neu rological effects - and how the public feels about pesti cide use. According to Nosal's presentation to the H SS com mittee, 61.9 per cent of Halton residents surveyed feel pesticides have a some what negative or very nega tive impact on human health. In addition, 60.4 per cent of residents surveyed somewhat or strongly support a munici pal ban on pesticide use for landscaping. Landscaping accounts for four per cent of the pesticides used in the region. Farming operations are the main users (S ee `E ducational', pa g e A5) Riziero Vertolli · Oakville Beaver The 20-ton, antique steam engine flywheel that has stood on what is now Cornwall Road since 1932 was excavated and removed Monday. It was then very carefully hoisted across the street to its new home in a garden-filled parkette. Shown here Ls Ja c k Cristiano of York Crane Rental Ltd. who helped guide the mammoth machine onto three custom-made pillars. Toronto Humane Society has medal for Halton police dog Police Service Dog (PSD ) Justice, a long-serving mem ber of the Halton Regional Police Service, will be hon oured next Monday by the Toronto Humane Society. The society -- which is promoting Be Kind to Animals Week (M ay 5-11) -- w ill bestow the medal on Justice, who has worked alongside Const. Greg Casson since 1997, for his ``brave and loyal service." " PSD Justice has served the Halton Regional Policc with distinction, by provid ing support in searches as well as recovery of evidence related to criminal cases," said Deputy Chief Gary Crowell. " Justice represents the service well at public events and appearances and is always popular with the crowds." The award is very timely, considering that Justice -- an eight-year old purebred German Shepherd -- will be retired from active duty this year. Over the years. Justice has looked for missing peo- New home for giant wheel Antique steam engineflywheel now part of Heritage Trails information kiosk By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The antique steam engine flywheel, which has been such a historical fixture on the north side of Cornwall Road, now has a new home on the south side. In 1874, William Biggar Chisholm and Charles Pettit Chisholm established a basket factory on the site in the defunct Victoria Brewery and in 1932, a steam engine that was built around 1896 was installed there. The machine's 75-horse power action ran the plant's entire operation. The boiler's steam, for example, was used for the drying kilns and tanks that 'cooked' the raw logs and to heal the plant. The unit's working life ended in 1967 when electricity replaced steam. The decision to salvage the flywheel in order to preserve and display the artifact in some way was made by Town Council back in 1988 and on Monday, after years of sitting idle against the elements, it was time to move. Domenic DiRisio, of D.D.R. Landscape Contractors Ltd.. explained that the flywheel's re-location was part of his company's contract to construct the parkette on Cornwall west of Trafalgar, basically across the street from its original position. `This is the first job we've had of this scale, no question about it." said DiRisio. who played around the old basket factory as a child. " It's history. I grew up not far from here." pounds, the artifact required two mammoth cranes to move it safely from its old resting place and onto a flatbed truck. Cables were affixed to both the flywheel itself and the cylin der. "You need the two cranes for balance." said D iRisio, a local contractor. " It's virtually impossible with one crane." Traffic was restricted up Cornwall Road as the flatbed crossed the street and the cranes hoisted the flywheel up for a second time. It finally came to rest on three, custom-made con crete pedestals that were engineered to precise specifications, reinforced with substantial amounts of steel and formed over a week and a half. After some gentle nudging (if such a term can be used for a 20-ton object) and a few shims, the flywheel settled down for good at its new home. " You have to make sure everything is square and level. The important thing is that everything fits," said DiRisio, who feels the flywheel is a wonderful visual focal point for the parkette. " You can't miss it." The parkette - which itself is constructed in a wheel design - overlooks the Sixteen Mile Creek and forms a rest stop in Oakville's popular Heritage Trails system, with an information ltiosk at its centre, a gazebo and gardens all around. "This is a big day for us," said DiRisio. " Now we can give a sigh of relief. We accomplished what a lot of people wanted for such a long time." Justice pie. tracked suspects who have fled the scene of crimes and searched for evidence in police investigations. " The application of a police service dog can be immeasurable, due to the versatility of their abilities," said Crowell. " They are always a w illing partner, regardless of the situation." The purpose of Be Kind to Animals Week is to pro mote responsible animal care as well as to honour the ani mals themselves. One-quarter of the flywheel was buried in the ground so the first order of business on Monday was to excavate it and cut all the bolts that held it place for so long to its concrete pad. The flywheel was then power-steamed so that a clear-coat protectant can be applied later. Next came the fun pan: moving. At 41,000 A n in s id e lo o k a t a m a r iju a n a g r o w o p e r a tio n By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Touring an O akville m arijuana growing operation makes it clear the lengths to which people w ill go to make drug money while underscor ing the very real dangers associated with this illegal activity. After all, says Halton Regional Police Drug and Morality Bureau offi cers, these houses pose a threat to fire fighters, funnel money to organized crime activities and often create fear and uncertainty in residential neigh bourhoods where they exist. SPECIAL Report R e p o rte r H o w a rd M o z e l g iv e s cat in -d e p th lo o k a t a m a r iju a n a g ro w o p e ra tio n When a Parklane Road residence was raided by police on April 24, they discovered a complicated growing sys tem worth more than $40,000 plus approximately 700 marijuana plants with a street value of $700,000. With the potential to harvest three crops in a year, the house could have produced more than $2 million worth of pot annu ally. From the outside the house looks nondescript, with a tended lawn and none of the tell-tale signs of neglect that tipped off neighbours and police in the past. According to Det. Larry Bums, offenders sometimes leave children's toys and bicycles outside to give their place a lived-in look when in fact they only drop by every couple of days to monitor their crops. In one case, an elderly neighbour unsuspectingly helped a pot grower shovel his driveway and was rewarded with a bottle of wine as a gesture of thanks. The attempt at deceptive civility failed, however, as police raided the place not long after. Last week, the Oakville Beaver was allowed inside the Parklane house once it was secured and for the first time police conducted a tour of a Halton growing operation, led by Bums. The first stop was the front living room, which contained furniture and lights on timers to act as a cover. Adjacent to the " normal" kitchen was a (S ee 'M ariju a n a ' pag e A3) Classified........... Business............ Focus ............... Education.......... Artscene............ Hom e & Garden.... Sports.............. Best Wheels........ R4 Rfi n f4 Cl C8 m 1 )6 fartfel Dtfiven: Sjiort C het Rona Cashuxix Speed\ Autu Seme*. Ptisan* Change Hypnosis, Home Depot, Ale.umum Carpets. I Ando L tfuinf. Rrwut Ianm ji Staples Business Depot Cndte Hohduyi. Holland Pari Gallery, bale Conor of Canada for. liu/on Guide. Mari's Mbri Wurhtnar. Hoopers Pharmacy Shendon Sunehes LuL. B la is Camera. Futurr Swp, Sean Canada. The BayLaicshotr Place Retinrmrnt O akville Volksw agen 557 Kerr Street 1 PeterWatson liil I N V E S T M E N T S 9 0 5 .8 4 4 .3 2 8 5 w ww.oakvillevwaudi.com RETIREMENT PLANNING SPECIALISTS Free C o n s u l t a t io n 8 4 2 -2 1 0 0 Peter C W atson M .B .A .. C J J , R JP J» .