Wednesday, August 8, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A7 COMMENT F lk ra t o ASteroS d j&ALTOf^/Ai i t v S u m m e r C & m c Cycling enthusiasts in awe of annual Tour de France August 8th - 12th, 2001 featuring $50,000 Grand phx $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 Gerling C an ad a Classic $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 M errill Lynch O pen Welcome $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 Hunter Classic $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 Junior Classic M y older sister went to Paris right on the heels of this year's Tour de France. "You mean you'll be there when they come through?" I asked her the day before she was to leave. I guess so, she answered in a vague voice. Right then and there being near the Champs Elysees at the exact moment Lance Armstrong and his loyal team came through wasn't half as appealing as figuring out some way to cram more gear on the plane. But I have to tell you, I was green with envy. We love the tour and follow it every year wherever we can. We may not be standing on the streets of Paris, but we're there, just the same. We watch as the super-human Lance Armstrong blitzes the rest of the pack both in the mountains and in individ ual time trials. And we dream of being there, in France, enjoying one of the best times of the year: the Tour de France. Visions of crowds thronging the streets -- and she'd be one of them -- cheering on the cyclists as they come through after log ging long miles in the Pyrenees, time trials and gruelling games of cat and mouse. Every year, we read or watch it on the Internet, on television, in newspapers. We just cannot get enough of the race that always holds sur prises. In the evening, we'll read on the Internet about the crashes, the heroics, the stories behind the faces and be amazed at the overall respect the sport of DIANE HART M cycling gets in Europe. A photo in the newspaper described the people watching the tour recently: I loved the shot of one older couple who had laid out, typically French, a lovely picnic by the side of the road to watch the cyclists as they came through a tiny vil lage. It is absolutely amazing to imagine these guys logging the hundreds of kilometres that they do on cobblestone roads and up steep inclines for three weeks. O f course, Lance Armstrong is a surprise all his own. After battling testicular cancer years ago, he came back to win the tour twice. This year marks the amazing accomplishment of wearing the yellow jersey three times in a row. Although he has said he isn't chasing any records -- only one man has won the race five times -- my bet is he's hoping for six. And what an incredible accomplishment that would be. And my sister was there. Talk about luck. We get our vicarious cycling pleasures not in Paris, but just north of Oakville. There, we pass other cyclists all of whom look as though they'd love noth ing better than to be winding their way through the country side in France. On a winding traffic-free route just north of Oakville, lies a deceptively small hill, the kind % you don't even notice in a car. They may not be in the Pyrenees, but they're pretty tough just the same. On a bike, climbing out of the saddle to reach the top, it's a challenge. Believe it or not, it's just north of flat Oakville. In fact, some of the best roads around for cycling lie just north of where we lie, on this flat piece o f land jam m ed in between Toronto and Hamilton. Get out into the country roads and even the air is better. Head up to this route that runs by Blue Heron marsh near Mountsberg Wildlife Conservation Area and it's as though you are in a different place altogether. Lots of road kill, to be sure, but never mind. Last weekend, in the early morning, we were heading up the hills when we passed anoth er cyclist. Well, he passed us. Easily. He was flying. Head down, legs spinning, he must have been going about 60 km. Fast. Very Fast. As he flew by us, you could n't help but think of the amazing Armstrong, the 29-year-old leader of the U.S. Postal Service team. This year, he not only beat everyone in the mountains, but at the end of the Tour won a 61kilometre race against the clock in just one hour and 14 minutes. Up north of Oakville, way past the creeping development that makes it long and longer to get into traffic-free roads, cyclists continue to pedal their own routes, dreaming of the race that's like no other. Past cornfields, horses, sheep and the odd goat, there is but one image fixed in their minds at this time of the year: the yellow jersey. Lm Sharing Prv§rm at Hmkrnie October 3rd - 7th, 2001 FeUtUflttty $ 6 0 ,0 0 0 Grand ·"7* $ » < * « .A y * MILTON 1 * 1 2 ! 9 s Prix Xmhto M*>A*pc Oakville B eaver See all your favourite riders and enjoy our fall fair atmosphere Are you or your rider ready to move up to a more committed arrange ment in English riding? Do you feel that you have learned all that a school has to offer? Come to Hendervale! With our new lease program, we buy the horse, feed and take care of all it's require ments. All you have to do is pay a monthly fee and ride. If you are transfered or wish to stop there is no hassle. A great worry free way to enjoy the companionship of the same horse each time in a Work! Class environment. All ages welcome. Burlington Fbst B u m am tw p * Its Ctjampum CHAM Gerling Canada Insurance - .C a n a U u p i * 3 3 * ^ n H J.C . BURLINGTON H W Y 5 OAKVILLE ufldto / s<-1hourId oxw o r x i , v 20rrin. toD vM errill Lynch Log onto www.hendervale.com and see our World Class facility. Phone: (905) 827-2234 Fax: (905) 827-6333 The War Amps Kids-to-Kids... child amputees teaching youngsters about safety. War Amps Safety Ambassadors are members of the CHAMP Program fo r child amputees. Many Champs have lost limbs in accidents. Through videos, community presentations, and safety floats, the Champs help deliver the message: " Safety is no accident, so P LA Y S A FE !" To order a PLAYSAFE video or SAFETY WALK kit, contact: These election issues matter to reader This letter is being sent to those who represent me as a Canadian citizen at any level of government from municipal to federal. Friends and associates will be encouraged to take the same action. In upcoming elec tions, I intend to study the issues closely to determine my candi date's position on the following and shall vote accordingly to assure that: Our water is kept both uncontaminated and protected. Our natural resources, parklands, forests, wetlands and the like are protected from overdevelopment. All genetically modified foods are banned without excep tion. The use of pesticides/chemical sprays is eliminated. Industrial pollution is dis couraged through severe penal ties. Whenever possible, pres sure is applied to neighbouring countries to do the same. More attention is paid to alternative methods of healing and inclusion of same in our overburdened healthcare system. It is urgent that we act imme diately to preserve our health and environment while there is still time to do so. Margo Jamieson The W ar A m ps National Headquarters 2827 Riverside Drive \ M Ottawa, Ontario K1V OC4 Tel.: (613) 731-3821 (Ottawa) or E-ZEE ACCESS: Tel.: 1-800-250-3030, Fax: 1-800-219-8988 Internet: http://www.waramps.ca C h a r it a b le R e g is t r a tio n N u m b e r : 0 2 8 6 8 3 1 0 9 O A K V IL L E B y-law 2 0 0 1 -1 5 7 845-6601 T H E C O R P O R A T IO N O F T H E T O W N O F O A K V ILLE Closure of Part of Fourth Line to vehicular traffic only TA K E N O T IC E TH A T: 1. The Council of the Corporation of the Town of Oakville proposes to pass a by-law pursuant to Section 297 of the Municipal Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter M.45 in order to close and stop up to vehic ular traffic only, part of Fourth Line, Town o f Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton, being part of Lot 21, Concession 2, North of Dundas Street, being described as Part 2 on Plan 20R-14160. 2. Pursuant to Section 300 of the Municipal Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter M.45, before passing this by-law, Council or a Committee thereof, will hear in person or by his counsel, solicitor or agent, any person who claims that his lands will be prejudicially affected by this by-law, provided that such person makes application in writing to the undersigned on or before August 27, 2001 at 4:30 p.m. this matter will be heard at the Council meeting of September 4, 2001 commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. 3. A copy of the Plan for the subject lands is available for inspection at the Clerk' s Department, at the address shown below, during normal business hours. Clerk' s Department The Corporation of the Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafalgar Road Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE PROPOSAL FOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT FOR IROQUOIS RIDGE COMMUNITY CENTRE, OAKVILLE, ON. PROPOSAL NUMBER PROP-14-2001 SEALED PROPOSALS on forms provided will be received by the Town Clerk's Department, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario, L6J 5A6, until 12:00 noon, local time on TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2001 Specifications, proposal forms and proposal envelopes may be obtained from the Town of Oakville Purchasing Department, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6; Telephone (905) 338-4197. The Town of Oakville reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and the highest or lowest as the case may be will not necessarily be accepted. R.J. Coumoyer, C.I.M., P.Mgr. Director, Purchasing and Office Services Proposal advertising is made available through the following Town o f Oakville approved website: www.vaxxine.com/opba u Areyou getting enough ? atin.fr fiv e to ten s e r v in g s o f v e g e ta b le s a n d f r u i t p e r d a y as part o f a h e a lth y d ie t c a n h e lp r e d u c e y o u r risk o f c a n c e r , h ea rt d ise a se and str o k e . F o r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n , visit w w w .5 to l0 a d ay .c o m or call the C a n a d i a n C a n c e r S o c i e t y at 1*888*939'3333 CANADIAN I SOCltTE CANCER I CANADIENNE SOCIETY I DU CANCER * Areyougettingen o u g h? 1225 TRAFALGAR ROAD · OAKVILLE, ONTARIO · L6J 5A6 HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION FONDATION DES MALADIES DU COEUR