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Error: PDF version 1.6 -- xpdf supports version 1.5 (continuing anyway) www.oakvillebeaver.com Council heard pleas to save tree SUBSCRIBE NOW 2006/2007 SUBSCRIPTION The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 23, 2006 - 13 SEASON SEPT 20 - NOV 26 2006 NOV 30 - FEB 18 2007 The Auxiliary to Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital presents the 8th Annual VINTAGE ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLE AUCTION Saturday, September 16, 2006 FEB 22 - APR 29 2007 MAY 3 - JULY 8 2007 Continued from 1 Some say it's in poor health, others say it has a 90 per cent chance of surviving if the new, widened Bronte Road is built around it. Most recently, political debate has pitted the tree's environmental and heritage value against traffic and taxpayers' dollars. There, too, however opinions have varied. Regional staff reported the cost of building Bronte Road around the tree was $500,000 -- since it would entail construction of an $850,000 ring road internal to the Regional Centre to move traffic. However, some, like Victor Enns who lives across the street from the Regional Centre and has more than once been out to save the tree, said the ring road costs shouldn't be a factor. It would likely be needed anyway. While various regional staff financial analyses always ended with the $500,000 figure, backup figures in comparing various options led to a wide variety of cost estimates. Included was $693,000 to transplant the tree and $600,000 for reforestation. Burlington Councillor John Taylor called that "unreasonable," noting reforestation costs were more likely to be $25,000 to $50,000. Oakville resident Diana Levey -- who was the first to pledge $1,000 of her pension to the new tree fund -- said she determined the cost of building around the tree was $343,000, that it would cost $257,000 to cut down the tree, and if those two figures were played against one another, it would really cost $86,000 to save the tree. Though confusion about numbers was admitted, at the end of the day, regional politicians accepted $343,000 would save the tree. It was really Oakville's Joyce Burnell -- a retired teacher, Oakville Historical Society member and author of The Ghosts of Oakville-- who helped sway council. Not only did Burnell hit the right emotional chords -- she sang her own version of God Save Our `Oak' -- she suggested the community raise funds to save the tree -- and then offered to head up the effort. Nearly a dozen delegations pitched their case to save the tree, including everyone from Ward 4 Councillor Renee Sandelowsky and Enns, to Burlington resident Suzanne Robertson and John Northwood, a former Oakville resident, who now lives in Beeton, Ontario. Terry Paunkoff, who now lives across from the Regional Centre, reminded council of Dr. George Atkins, who sold his family's farm to the region -- a farm that produced Don Juan, winner of the first Queen's Plate -- and then lived across the road in what's now Paunkoff's home. Atkins, a farm broadcaster with CBC who received the Order of Canada, is now 88, but through his life protected the old oak -- including having a legal agreement with the ministry of transportation in 1972 to protect the tree. Over the years, hydro lines have been DONATIONS NEEDED We are particularly in need of fine old furniture such as cedar chests, blanket boxes, side chairs, small tables, desks, curio cabinets, end tables, dining room furniture, bedroom suites and more. JULY 12 - SEPT 16 2007 All articles are professionally appraised and a Fair Market Value tax receipt will be issued. Proceeds support the purchase of medical equipment for Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital Box Office 5400 Dixie Rd, Mississauga · 905-238-0042 or book online & ticket printing at www.stagewest.com For further information, please call the Auxiliary Office at 905-336-4102 www.oakvillebeaver.com LIMITED TIME B TO OO DA K Y THE MOORES SUM M E R SA LE IS ON NOW SUMMER SUITE SALE $ Valid June 16 to September 5, 2006 I T ' S T H E O N LY WAY T O B E AT A M O O R E S P R I C E ! 129 * per night, per suite, plus taxes excluding June 23-25, July 13-30, August 18-20, August 25-27, 2006 Including four FREE full buffet breakfasts *Per suite, per night, plus taxes, based on a family of four with two adults and two children 12 years or under sharing. Limited time offer, subject to availability and change without notice. Excludes Jacuzzi suites. 109 139 50 % Sport Shirts LONG WEEKEND SUITE SALE 19 29 $ 109 * per night, per suite, plus taxes Valid Canada Day June 30-July 4, Civic Holiday August 4-8, Labour Day Sept. 1-5, Thanksgiving Oct 6-10. Reservations 905-238-0159 or 1-800-668-9887 Book online www.stagewest.com 5400 DIXIE ROAD, MISSISSAUGA Including two FREE full buffet breakfasts WELL MADE. WELL PRICED. WELL DRESSED. call 1-877-MOORES-6 for the store nearest you mooresclothing.com Selection varies by store. See Meeting page 16