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Lakeshore Advance, 2012-05-02, Page 16Bayfiekl rec committee pitches third soccer field Vanessa Brown QM Agency It is becoming increas- lgly likely that Hayfield ili•6ccer players will have to wait until next year before they get a third field to play on, Members of the Hayfield Recreation Committee recently requested that the ball diamond in Bayfield be converted into a soccer pitch, but Bluewater coun- cil nixed that proposal after one of the Bayfield Shad- ows' baseball players argued the diamond's his- tory and importance to the community, Now council is eyeing the possibility of installing a field at the Varna Complex. It would take time before work can start on that property, Mayor Bill Dowson said at last week's council session. "For this year, it's going to be tough to get that per- mission in time for what you want," he said. "If you can find other places for this year, it would certainly be a relief to us." The current options appear to be either tearing out Varnat's back ball dia- mond and replacing it with a soccer field or installing a brand new one behind the diamond. Council would face considerable red tape in either move. Councillors said they can't rush into replacing a ball diamond with a soccer field without consulting the ball teams that play in Varna. As previously reported, there are 170 registered soccer players this year in Hayfield and no active minor baseball league. Peter Walden, who sits on the recreation committee, said it would make sense to convert one of the ball dia- monds into a soccer field because they are underused. "I would love to have a new field there, that would be just ideal. However, we have others that aren't being used," Walden said. He added that conver- sion "would save the municipality a lot of money.* "I would ask people not to be afraid of a little con- troversy if you can save money and use facilities riw"�t"�"ww rw.fM wM ��• Lassiter* Athena Welcome to the Pinery Park! The weather has been great to get out and enjoy all the Pinery Provincial Park has to offer. more," he said. Council is looking into how often the diamonds are being used and the approximate cost of a con- version. 'Those numbers were expected to come down on Monday, "Until all of us have that in front of us, we can't mike a decision right now," said Hayfield (;oun. (;eor- die Palmer. Palmer asked Walden and Jeff Braunton, the vil- lage's soccer convenor, if they could make due with two fields this season. lie also suggested that teams could use Zurich's field for practices. The two soccer fields in Hayfield have games scheduled every night of the week, making It tough to find facilities for practices. "Temporarily it would be fine, but 85 per cern of our kids are from Bayfield, and they ride their bicycles," Brandon said, He and Walden said they understand it will take time to reach a decision, but urged council to make it a priority. "A growing, vibrant pro- gram is being stifled right now," Brandon said. "1f Adiswould love to have a new field there, that would be just ideal. However, we have others that aren't being used." —Pe'ter Walden nothing happens by next spring, 1'01 going to have to start backing the program off." Bayfield in bloom Bluewater council has given a tree renewal project in Bayfield the green light. The Hayfield Tree Project Committee, of which Roma Barris and Sondra Buchner are a part, will begin plant- ing 26 trees along Louisa Street later this month. Harris and Buchner came before council last week to secure approval, "This is great news," Buchner said. "It's great to PcR1- FRANKS ARIA TURTLE MONITORING 2011 Learn how you can become part of the Turtle Monitoring Program for the Port Franks Area Please Join us for an information evening: Thursday, May 26, 2011 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Port Franks Optimist Centre * light refreshments provided " Please pre-reglster by calling Kari at Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) 519-225.2610 or toll-free 1-888-216-2610 or e-mail koanfabca.on.ca by May 24, 2011 Meeting will include: • Information about turtle biology and Ontario's turtles species • Information on the Port Franks Turtle Monitoring Program fvenk p pneeted Ay the AutoWN aorM1N,l t ememotson Authantr N, pwtneiMy with the Uneven!(y of lunula and Potty 1►uvi.x.*,l I\ut, r,uw )R()N1,...,,. ®tea 1�;,) vat (elk this Mcytct wet uncles toAee with the financial 1141POIt ol Ow (,u wtxntnt ctr l dnotto petwided ttwuu th Dtportmh,t ot the f nWronntent have unanimous support from council also." The tree project commit- tee has requested that council supports the project with $12,000 over four years. That decision likely won't be made until Bluewater's budget is passed. however, Harris said the committee has secured enough funding to begin spring planting. The group has a $1,200 grant from '1'1) Friends of the Environment Society and has also fundraised about $5,000. They chose maple and scarlet hawthorn trees, which are hardy and have proven to withstand road conditions. Sixteen red sunset maples will be planted along areas of Lou- isa Street that don't inter- fere with overhead wires. Eight scarlet hawthorns will be planted in areas where there are wires overhead as they don't grow as tall as the maples. "'These are trees that nurture at 20 feet in height. They produce beautiful pink flowers in the spring and they're green through the summer," Harris said. She added that the com- mittee has worked in con- sultation with property owners and has had "a very good response" from the community. Members of the commit- tee will come before coun- cil again in the fall for their next phase of planting. Agree to disagree workshop In new developments, council's "how to disagree agreeably" session with municipal affairs expert Nigel Bellchamber will take place on May 17 and will be closed to the public. Choices for Seniors Information on Independent Tiiving The Need for Home Care Grows as We Age Canada's population is aging, and providing quality care for our nation's older adults is already begin- ning to challenge our healthcare resources. According to Dr. Anne Doig, president of the Ctuladlan Medical Association, 'We know that as people age, they require more health care services and right now, there is a very real worry that unless it is signiflca ntl,y transformed, our health care systole will not bo able to Meet the needs of future generat 10118 This information comes as no surprise to the► five million Canadians who aro already serving as Wilily caregivers for older loved ogles who need help managing health txuntltious and the activities of daily living. Many of these caregivers aro baby 1)0011lors, who themselves began to reach ago 65 this year and are becoming more aware of the need to plan for their own senior living needs. A host of studies show that most seniors wish to stay in their own homes, even as they experience healon challenges such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, or memory loss. But changes 111 o111' society cful make this harder than it was in the past. The cost of institutional care continues to grow. For some seniors with medically complex health challenges, nursing hones and other residential health fheilities may be the best choice. But for many other seniors, in-home senior care la the moat desirable and cost-effective arrangement. Sponsored by: Lands Colette Executive t)ireotor Retire -At -Home Services T 1: 51W294-8885 www. rettreethomehpm.00rn • RE;11RE-AT-}{QME YourHeaalth, YotuAoase. YourCholee.