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A8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER W ednesday N ovem ber 10, 1999 Too bad th e sw im m ing pool's in the basem ent I am a feminist until I have a wet basement. That puts me over the edge. Of course, you never think it's going to happen. After all, you've got a sump pump. Now until we moved I, ignorant city gal, had never even heard of a sump pump. And yet here I was two years later, told by my spouse on the other end of the phone after I interrupted his meeting to screech we have a flooded basement that I was to go down and look in the sump pump hole. Great idea, that. Peer into the sump pump hole. I just knew there would be some poor dead squirrel going round and round and I would have to figure some way of hauling it out. Just like the dead bird I found lying on its back last week that I had to pick up with a hockey stick and put in a bag so Harry didn't go for it. You would think my entire day was filled with dead or caged animals and wretched sump pumps. What it is not filled with is feminist zeal. Not when I am squishing about in cold water. But I told myself that when all is said and done, it's just a hole. A deep dark hole, by the way completely filled with stagnant water. Now, says my spouse, instructing over the phone. "Now put your hand into the water and yank the gray pole until it starts up again." Easy, right? Hand in a cold dark hole. Yank gray pole. .Are we having fun yet? With closed eyes, I did just that and the water went away. Magically. "Great," said Bob, ringing off. I looked about me, a despondent Noah's wife kind of feeling, to see water every where. That's when I did what any 90s woman does - she gets the telephone book. I love men who come in with gigantic vacuum hoses and tell me everything -m u f? f§ ·'w , DIANE HART will be okay. I just love them. I don't care what they bring into the house; I don't care how many of them walk through the door. They always look like they know what they're doing. Betty Friedan should look so good. This is why when they arrived I greet ed them like long lost brothers. "Thank heavens you've arrived," I said, as though the baby was coming any minute. They looked a little startled. My mother recalls a repairman coming to her house years ago to fix her dryer and her telling him she was losing her mind. "Lady," he said, leaning over to screw in a plug, "If this is the worst problem you have in your life, count your bless ings." How true. But when you're in the midst of flood hysteria everything just looks like, well, a bit of a mess. And the timing was unbelievably poor, even for me. The very minute they cranked up the vacuum, an important editor phoned, asking about a photo shoot and couldn't be heard because Harry the mad dog decided his mission was to protect us all from the massive hose....The answering machine clicked in as the editor contin ued to yell over the phone, Hany contin ued to yelp, one of the men almost tripped over a bike helmet in the hall and I couldn't find my notes anywhere. But as bad as it sounds, I began to smell a deodorizing smell. I tell you, it was one of the best smells, ever. A little while later, they gathered up their stuff and told me it wasn't so bad. "Yup... we've arrived and people have been in two inches of water," said one of the men. He was the one who told me, excitedly, the size of the engine that ran the vacuum hoses. I tried hard to look impressed about what I think he said was a four-cylinder engine for a vacuum. But you know, he could have told me anything. I just become absolutely insanely grateful at times like this. I feel absolutely magnanimous. Now my spouse, he's a little less magnanimous. But he's happy he doesn't have a raving lunatic on the end of the phone. You know some days I think this is a man who is going to get convenient ly lost on the highway after work. That's what the newscasters will say, you know: Man gets lost on the way home from work....never to be seen again. In any case, we are happy homeown ers once again. No dead birds, no drowned squirrels. Happy and dry. Oh, bliss. ONTARIO G O V E R N M E N T NOTICE PUBLIC INFORMATION CEN TR E QUEEN ELIZABETH WAY, EASTBOUND LANES FROM TRAFALGAR ROAD TO HIGHWAY 403 TOWN OF OAKVILLE G.W.P. 284-99-00 THE PROJECT: In 1991, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) initiated a Preliminary Design Study, which examined potential ultimate improvements to the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) from Dorval Drive to Erin Mills Parkway. This study, which included consultation with affected municipalities, government min istries and agencies, local residents, business owners and the public, was completed in 1996. MTO is currently proceeding with operational improvements on the section of the QEW between Highway 403 and Trafalgar Road in the Town of Oakville. Construction of QEW westbound improvements, including a new auxiliary lane from Highway 403 to Trafalgar Road, pavement rehabilitation, the replacement of the Royal Windsor Drive structure and ramps, stormwa ter management, landscaping and other associated improvements, is now underway (MTO Contracl 99-08). MTO has also retained McCormick Rankin Corporation to proceed with design of QEW eastbound improve ments, including a new auxiliary lane from Trafalgar Road to Highway 403, median reconstruction including installation of concrete median barrier, final paving, realignment of the exit ramp to Royal Windsor Drive and upgrade to a two lane exit, installation of "rumble strips" on paved shoul ders, installation of new high mast illumination and landscaping. I love men who come in with gigantic vacuum hoses and tell me everything will be okay. I just love them. I don't care what they bring into the house; I don't care how many of them walk through the door. They always look like they know what they're doing. Betty Friedan should look so good. THE PROCESS: This project is following the Provincial Highways Class Environmental Assessment process for Group "B" projects, which is approved for highway projects of this type. The project is being considered for a "step down" to a Group "C" project. This means that if the environment assessment process indicates that the project will not result in significant detrimental environ mental effects, then it is not necessary to prepare a formal Environmental Study Report. Public notice of this decision will be provided. PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE: PREGNANT & NEED HELP? Free Confidential Service O a k v ille M ilto n 8 2 5 -1 2 1 6 8 7 5 -1 2 4 5 To allow residents and members of the public an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed improvements, an information centre has been scheduled for: D ate: Tuesday, Novem ber 16,1999 Tim e: 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Location: Tcwn of Oakvie Municipal Office "Trafalgar Room" 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville (1km North of the Q E W ) Access: Barrier free access is provided Representatives of MTO and McCormick Rankin Corporation will be avail able to answer questions and discuss the project. Monday - Thursday 1 1 a.m. - 5 p.m. COMMENTS: We are interested in hearing any comments or concerns you may have about this project. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become pari of the public record. Comment sheets will be provided at the Public Information Centre. If you are unable to attend the Public Information Centre but wish to obtain additional information about the proPaul Turner, P. Eng. McCormick Rankin Corporation 2655 North Sheridan Way Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2P8 8 Friday 1 1 a.m. - 2 p.m. Hotline: 24 Hour Service 1-800-550-4900 Phone: (905) 823-8500 Fax: (905) 823-8503 IRTHRIGHTho® H o lla n d 0 ^ © O ntario C H U E Call 825-TIPS or 1-800-668-5151 Pharmacy burglar still sought Detectives in Oakville are still seeking clues to the identity of the thief respon sible for a bur glary at a phar macy in midMay, of this year. Sometime overnight Wednesday, May 12th a base ment window was forced at the front of the M edical Arts building on Reynolds Street at MacDonald Road. Security bars for this window were also forced by a thief look ing for drugs in the basement pharmacy. Once inside, the suspect forced open locked cabinets housing nar cotics. Demerol and morphine were among the drugs taken. It is hoped someone saw or heard the culprit breaking into the building, and can provide some details of interest to investigators. If you did see something, or if you can suggest a possible sus pect, give Crime Stoppers a call. If you have any information that leads to an arrest in this or any other case, you may be eli gible for a cash reward. You need not give your name, and your information can be taken with complete anonymity. C r i m e Stoppers does not subscribe to Call Display. 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