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09 | 27 | 2014 VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 39
BREAKING NEW GROUND IN HAWKESVILLE VENTURE PAGE 15
COMMENT PAGE 8
$25,000 REVIEW RAISES EYEBROWS ... AND QUESTIONS
Candidates stake their ground in Wellesley debate
Some concerns addressed in skate park plan
WIN MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW
WHITNEY NEILSON Wellesley’s mayoral and councillor hopefuls met on Tuesday evening for a friendly debate, much of which focused on the need for more parkland in the township. Roughly 75 people filled the Wellesley Community Centre to hear brief summaries of the candidates’ platforms, followed by prepared questions and queries from the audience. Mayoral candidates Paul Hergott, Joe Nowak, and Jim Olender took the bulk of the heat, answering questions on development, bylaw enforcement and taxes. Olender said his perspective on growth and development is very simple. “We have to look at our township with some longer-term perspectives,” he said. “The first thing I think we have to consider is strategic investments at both the recreational lands and employment lands. Leisure and recreation are even more important to us now than they were 20 years ago.” Nowak said growth and development need to be looked at according to the different communities. Linwood and St. Clements have both faced declining populations over the DEBATE | 6
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Following receipt of petition, Woolwich officials met with residents worried about facility’s impact on the area STEVE KANNON With construction underway, the race is
Elmira Sugar Kings captain Mitch Klie skates the puck up the ice during the club’s 3-2 shoot-out victory over the Stratford Cullitons at the WMC September 21. [SCOTT BARBER / THE OBSERVER]
on to complete the new skateboard park in Elmira before winter settles in. That won’t mean work will be allowed through the weekends, however. The construction schedule will conform to the township’s standard practice – Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., if necessary – councillors decided this week, turning down a request for an exemption to that policy. Council also agreed to spend up to $5,000 to move the community garden from its existing location at Bristow Park to a new site at Victoria Glen, resolving any conflict with the new skateboard park. Other conflicts might not be so easily remedied, including concerns raised in a petition by nearby
residents. Having met with a representative of the group, Glen Irvine, recreation and facilities director Karen Makela told councillors meeting Monday night that many of the issues have been addressed. There will be no lights on the site, for instance. As well, there is to be no excessive noise, with the facility operating on the same hours as other parks: closed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. No events or large gatherings are to be permitted without a special licence. No music is to be played. Concerns about parking are likely unfounded, she said, with users expected to walk or skate to the park rather than drive. “We don’t anticipate a need for additional parking.” Nor will the site be suSKATE PARK | 5
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