A 6 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 31, 2001 T h e Oa k v ille B eaver Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Associate Publisher Norman Alexander Editor Kelly Montague, Advertising Director Steve Crazier Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager Mark Dills Production Manager Riziero Vertolli Director o fPhotography Metroiand Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd., includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier. Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Barry's Bay This Week. Bolton Enterprise, Brampton Guardian. Burlington Post. Burlington Shopping News. City Parent. ColSngwood/Wasaga Connection. East Mxk Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes. Etobicoke Guardian. Ramborough Post. Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press. Hamston Review. Huronia Business Times, Kingston This Week. Lindsay This Vteek, Markham Ecnomist & Sun. Micfland/Penetanguishine Minor, Milton Canadian Champion. Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News. 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Canadian Community f * C N A Newspapers Association ^ °T V iP TV AUCTION s n rrm w United Way of Oakville JMena JAward 0 Oakville FOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont L6K 3S4 (905) 8 45 -3 82 4 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-2809 Circulation: 845 -9 74 2 B R O N < I V' ctterfly fftu f m a m | oakville galleries [ Editorials S a v in g s o m e h is to ry One of the reasons why people like living and visiting Oakville, is the historic nature of the town. But over the years, more and more of our living history is being destroyed and unless something is done to correct this problem, within a couple of generations, much of what we had will be gone. In the old area of town south of the Lakeshore, The o ld fra m e Church o f coundess old homes have been demolished to the E pip ha n y co u ld be make way for in-fill development. They might be dem olished w ith in 90 tasteful but they're not historic and don't relate to days unless som eone o r the area. The same thing is of continuing concern west some g ro u p can com e up of Navy Street and south of Lakeshore Road. w ith a w a y to save the Here too, original housing is being levelled for monster homes and other infilling. So much for h is to ric stru ctu re . any historical context for the area. _________________________ Houses along Robinson and Church Street have long fallen to the wrecker's ball for parking lots. Progress, but at a very high price. But perhaps no area has had to withstand the demolition of history as in Bronte, where commercial and residential structures have been bulldozed for condos, plazas and townhouses. The upshot of that reality has been a completely obstructed view of Bronte Harbour and the lake beyond. One of the last remaining landmarks of `Old Bronte' is now on a deathwatch and unless some group or individual comes forward to save it, this old building will also be a part of our forgotten history. The building in question is the original structure of The Church of the Epiphany that still stands on the north east comer of Bronte Road and Sovereign Street. The 70year-old frame building costs the congregation of the newer adjacent church a lot of time and money for upkeep. They have applied for a demolition permit and despite its historic designation, it can legally be levelled in 90 days. What a waste. The Town, through Heritage Oakville, is anxious to save the building and is open to just about any suggestions in that regard. We suggest moving it to a site near the Sovereign House on Bronte Bluffs or Bronte Creek Provincial Park are' two options worth considering. Does anyone out there have any other ideas? SK Suburban Newspapers off i O A ^kJU U Children's Choir m i T h e O a k v ille . M ilto n a nd D is tric t REAL ESTATE BOARD htakrMM Letters to the Editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be typed, signed and include the writer's address and phone number. Send to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 Bronte students deserve better from Board E very seco n d ary school stu d en t in Oakville deserves the best education we can provide. G len A bbey students deserve a high school in their neighbourhood. B ronte students deserve equal rights to quality education. I think we w ould all agree with the truth o f the preceding statem ents. However, in the recent 'n e w s' from the H alton D istrict S chool B oard o f O ct. 18, 2001, Gary Sadler, Superintendent o f Education, failed to address the needs o f Bronte stude*ts. L e tte r o f t h e W e e k N o th in g to d e b a te in s m o k in g issu e I recently read a letter to the Editor from a reader (obvi ously a smoker) commenting on an article that dealt with the recent public opnion polls relative to a proposed smok ing ban in Oakville. Everyone is entitled to be heard, and to their opinion, so here is mine. In my strong view, this is not an issue of which percentage of the popu lation is on which side. TTiis comes down to the rights o f a fellow human being, no mat ter what city you reside in. As a member o f the public, I have the right to enter public places of my choice. I also have the right to be protected from per sonal harm whilst in these public locales. There is enough concrete evidence that proves second hand smoke in an enclosed area is harmful to your health. These are all facts, not opinions. Therefore, based on these facts, why are we even debating this as a choice? By smoking in an enclosed public area, you are knowing ly commiting harm to others. How is this very much differ ent than physically assaulting other members of the public? The normal smoker's reaction to this would be "if you don't like it go somewhere else". Why should I, a citizen with no intention of causing harm to others be neglected from attending venues of my inter est because they contain indi viduals who are causing harm? Isn't that like asking all of the patrons to leave the bar except for the trouble-maker? Come on fellow Oakville residents, let's get caught up with the other cities who have evolved into the Millenium. The com m unique answ ered the transi tion plans extensively for students north o f the highway. Students in French Im m ersion or elem entary schools also had their ques tions answ ered. But Mr. S ad ler's bulletin totally failed to address the transition plans for existing secondary school students liv ing south o f the QEW. We can only hope that the same options detailed for students north o f the highw ay w i|l be extended to students south o f the highway. Mr. Sadler, do you now w onder why res idents south o f the QEW no long trust the H alton D istrict School B oard? No one deserves to be ignored. Joshua Creek children need lesson in manners To Parents o f Joshua Creek area. Do you know what your kids are up to? Do you know where they were in the past two weeks during the evening hour of 7.00 to 8.00 PM ? In the past two months there are a group of three to four Caucasian boys between the age o f 10 to 13, roam ing the area on their bikes around the intersection of Bayshire Drive, North Ridge Drive and Grand Blvd. They carried out a series of mischief to the houses in the Bayshire Drive playground area. The mischief were ringing doorbells, hiding in the wooded area and throw rotten fruit to houses in broad daylight on a Saturday afteipoon. Ringing doorbells after dark, leaving behind stink bombs. I believe these boys are also residents of the immediate neighborhoods close to the playground. It is really ashamed that in a nice neighborhood like Joshua Creek with mostly educated professionals that parents either do not care what their kids are up to or they are so busy that they do not pay attention to their kids and let them roam the neighborhood carrying out pranks to your neighbors. Dear parents o f young children, please pay attention to your kids, know what your kids do when they are not at home and who they hang out with. If your kids are one of these boys, please teach them what is right and what is wrong, to teach them to respect other people's property before they get involve in some thing serious or of a criminal nature. L a u rie K ondo 4 Wing reunion planned Message: Attention all students who attend ed 4 Wing Senior High School in Baden, Germany during the 1960s. A reunion is being planned. Let other former 4 Wingers know. Details at: http://members.home.net/4winghigh/home or phone 519-421-1612. Helen Bain, Woodstock, Ontario. Doug LaD oucer Personal well being demands planetary well being And in the beginning was the word o f God and experience o f God. Shortly thereafter, and for thousands o f years to come, battles have been fought, cultures have been destroyed and millions have been killed as the word o f God was spread throughout the world. The lov ing face of God must weep, (or do the Godly equivalent of weeping!), every time a life is lost or a battle is fought in G od's name. In modem times, the many and vastly varied interpretations of the word o f God, both within and between the major religions of the world, have fueled much hatred, killing and destruction. On the other hand, the direct, non-verbal experience of God, as experienced by chil dren and mystics, has led to unity and oneness with God and all cre ation. The tragedy o f Sept. 11 is further proof that the word of God has failed to bring peace into the world. These recent horrific events are rooted in a global, religious mindfulness and convictions that one reli gion is superior and incompatible with others. For the most part, cler ics of all persuasions have failed to succeed in teaching their followers that religious sacred story and ritual are about pathways to God and not about the essence o f God. We have taken literally that which was given to us as metaphor. We have mistaken the roadmap for the territory. The essence of God is rooted in spirituality and not religiosity. This truth has always been acknowledged by mystics o f all religions. To the extent that we, as a global people are spiritual, we can live in harmo ny. To the extent that we are addicted to and blinded by one set o f reli gious beliefs, we are destined to facilitate ongoing death and destruc tion in the name o f God. The events of Sept. 11 serve as a reminder that it is a greater per sonal and global spirituality, a greater direct, non-verbal experience of the divine and not a greater religiosity which will give a greater and lasting peace. Father Tom Berry clearly expresses the incredible hope and poten tial for individuals, nations and the world when the divine is known through experience. In the words o f Tom Berry, "It can easily be seen that the universe is the primary self-manifestation of the divine, our primary revelatory experience. Verbal revelation can never be primary revelation. As soon as divine communication enters into human language, it takes upon itself the peculiarities o f the language, o f the social structures , o f the historical moment. Understanding the message in the context is too difficult. Our primary experience is more immediate with our daily experience, as anyone could testify who has reflected on their experi ence of the stars in the heavens or the wonders of the earth." Name w ith h e ld by re q u e s t T e r r o r is t b ill n e e d s s u n s e t c la u s e The American terrorist bill is being described as very restrictive and invasive, (compared with Canada's Bill C-36) What is not being stressed is that it includes a four (4) year "sunset clause". This is a very important issue. The time limit should seen as a balance to whatever extraordinary powers are being given. The Government of Canada is refusing to include any time limitation. In a democracy there must be checks and balances on any power given to any leader-- the Americans have done so~ Canada's government prefers ultimate power-- which is not acceptable in our democracy. Rebecca G ingrich Jim H o llin g w o rth , M.D. Founding member, Physicians fo r Global Survival Carousel of Nations kudos On behalf of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Oakville, the Campaign Cabinet 2001, the United Way Staff, and I'm sure the thousands who attended, I want to extend my sincere thanks to hundreds of volunteers who have con tributed their time, their talent, and their energy to the success of the 3rd Annual Carousel of Nations Festival October 20th and 21st. The organizers of each pavilion have once again gone that extra mile to generate cultural awareness in our wonderful community, and in such an elegant way. From tra ditional dancing, to authentic menus of food and refresh ments, we are so fortunate to be able to learn from those who have chosen Oakville as their home. As we continue with our Annual Campaign this fall, we have so much to be thankful for. We have generous citizens and corporations that continue to recognize that we are a changing community, whether its understanding and celebrat ing our cultural diversities, or meeting the growing needs from those less fortunate. Congratulations to all who embrace these changes - Without you there would be no Way. Pud Look a t a u .the . o w d y ' VJE QOTFbR HAUOWKnI/. Don Pangman Chair, Board o f Directors - United Way o f Oakville