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local foundation that A:Ivas borne out of a 10ther‘s sorrow is gaining a stronger presence across the country. Meningitis foundation to gain a stronger national presence The Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada [MRFC), which Waterloo‘ s Kathryn Blain founded in 1998 after losing her son, 19â€"yearâ€"old Michael Longo to the deadly disease in 1995, will hold its first national forum in Toronto this Friday to announce its plans to have a coordinator and a medical advisor on meningitis available in every province. "We want to create more of a national focus," Blain said. "We‘re in our seventh By Anorea Baney Chronicle Staff â€" year now as a foundation and all this time we‘ve been trying to deal with all the issues that come up from our Waterloo location. "The fact is the issues greatly differ from province to province in terms of vacâ€" cine programs and concerns about meningitis. Having people in each province will allow us to address those "Parents have a responsibility to find out more about meningitis..." â€" Kathryn Blain MRFC founder CITY NEWS issues on an {individual) basis." Blain said the foundation plans to continue to inform the public on meningitis and the misconceptions that surround the illness. "We saw a mass inoculaâ€" tion program here in 1998 and many people felt that if they had the vaccine they were set (for life}," she said. "But really, that vaccine no longer covers them." This year, provincial funding allowed Region of Waterloo Public Health to provide free Meningitis C vaccine to eligible students born in the period from Jan. 1, 1985 to Dec. 31, 1990. The province has also introduced the Men C vacâ€" Continued on page 5 CHRONICLE | oncerned â€" citizens ‘ came out in full force to rally against urban sprawl, heightened density, and the numerous environâ€" mental harms they feel could happen if three longâ€" proposed Waterloo subdiviâ€" sions were to be built in the city‘s west end. Council heard several delegations from local citiâ€" zens who felt there were many reasons why the city should not permit the conâ€" struction of up to 1,784 new residential units in the area that borders Wilmot Line, at an informal public meeting at city council on Monday night. Subdivision proposals still under civic attack The region‘s groundwater resources were a big concern to residents who were worâ€" ried about developers buildâ€" ing over a crucial part of the Waterloo moraine. The moraine supplies drinking water to 75 per cent of Waterloo Region. Development planner Joel Cotter addressed many concerns that have been expressed over the Waterloo moraine, sharing fhat the proposed subdivigons are planning to be built on only 0.17 per cent of the moraine‘s 736 square kiloâ€" metres â€"â€" an area that‘s not a key groundwater recharge area of the moraine. But despite how little of the moraine is planned to being built on, some deleâ€" gates couldn‘t help but feel emotional when sharing what they felt was the future of Waterloo‘s major groundâ€" water tesources. Louisette Lantéigne, a member of the Citfzens for the Protection of the Waterâ€" loo Moraine (CPWM) comâ€" mittee, was almost brought to tears as she told city council the reason why most developers want council to ignore the protection of the moraine is because it makes a large profit for a lot of peoâ€" ple. _ "Ground source water protection is the number one priority when securing a By Ryan Connet For The Chronicle water supply because it allows nature to effectively do the work and it protects people from the effects of groundwater contaminaâ€" tion," Lanteigne said. Ginny Quinn of Kitchenâ€" er shared the same views on protecting Waterloo‘s groundwater sources, adding that the residential units are "packed in like sarâ€" dines so they (developers) can get the density needed to increase profits." Susan Smith of Waterloo also was among one of the delegates to complain about the heightened density of the subdivisions. "We need community squares and community centres in this area... places for people to go and do, not just a place for streets and homes and congestion," Smith said. "There should be a soccer field in there at least." Smith urged council to review the lot sizes for each residential area because the land won‘t be able to accommodate the amount of cars each household will be requiring, indicating there there won‘t be any foreseeable public transit being brought to this area for at least 12 years. "The size of these lots will not accommodate two to three cars that will be needâ€" ed because they can‘t get anywhere with public tranâ€" sit," she said. "You will be approving another Columâ€" bia Forest nightmare." The proposed three subâ€" divisions, Vista Hills, Clair Creek Meadows and Greyerâ€" biehl are mapped to cover 132 hectares (326 acres}, located along Wilmot Line as far as the Waterioo Goif Academy. The area plans to include a range of single detached homes, semiâ€" detached, _ townhouses, multiâ€"residential blocks for apartment buildings, parks, and stormwater manageâ€" ment facilities. A buffer has been estabâ€" lished along Wilmot Line to ensure it remains a picâ€" turesque countryside road and that the environmentalâ€" 565 King St. N. @ Northfleld in GTO Gas Bar , www .qtwireless.ca B80â€"1477 ly sensitive lands (ESL) surâ€" rounding the road are left protected. s However, Deb Swidrovich, who lives at the north end of Wilmot Line in Waterloo, doesn‘t think there‘s enough of a buffer dividing Wilmot Line from the proposed subdivision to ensure that the gravel road won‘t be used as a frequent means of transportation through the neighbourâ€" hoods. "If you do not put meaâ€" sures in place that will furâ€" ther reduce vehicle traffic in the proposed ESL, then you will leave this area unproâ€" tected," Swidrovich said. Columbia â€" Street is expected to be extended as far as the nearby Wilmot Line where a roundabout is planned to be constructed at the bottom of the Greyerâ€" biehl subdivision. The roundabout would limit the amount of people traveling north on Wilmot Line, where the ESL is located. Michael Frind of Waterâ€" loo was another concerned citizen who suggested severâ€" al bonuses in extending the buffer along Wilmot Line by at least 40 metres. "The gravel road will genâ€" erate noise and dust for nearby residents, and these problems will be especially acute with the current narâ€" row buffer," Frind said. "A 40â€"metre buffer would go a long, long way... and it would help preserve the scenic qualities of Wilmot Line. Furthermore, property valâ€" ues would again increase." Coun. Mark Whaley added his concerns for the road, mentioning a promise he made a year ago when voting on the extension of Columbia Street, that it would not affect the amount of traffic travel north on Wilmot Line. "All I want to know is who is holding the Region accountable for keeping that promise which was made in the council chambers?" Whaley asked. The proposals aren‘t slatâ€" ed to return to council for approval until 2006. PCS. Blackberry, Mike & Data Bring in is ad & receie a FREE HEADSET 1$20 00 value) TELUVS